Die Trying, Lee Child

Reacher novel. And of course... our wandering ex Military Police man of mystery is wandering, minding his own business when he helps a woman out of the door of a dry cleaners because she is juggling the clothes and a cane due to a recent injury. Unfortunately, once again our tumbleweed is in the wrong place at the wrong time and she is destined to be kidnapped. Reacher, of course, gets kidnapped with her. Now that we have the story set up...

I decided that Child has an amazing knack for action scenes. When I was a pump my adrenaline action scenes multiple times in one book... I'm going to grab Reacher. He's like you're basic, I can do anything Rambo type of character. hotness. :D

I did figure that at some point that Reacher and Holly would hook up. On top of being an irresistable stud muffin that can get any girl's heart pumping, he seems to be a bit of a whore... he sleeps with all his damsels.

I thought that the story was interesting though. I've had previous experience with books who incorporate government conspiracy groups in the stories (i.e. Soul Catcher, Kava) but never one that was attempting to declare it's own independence from the U.S. with such a blatantly insane leader.

The book get's one and half thumbs up and I'll admit, I'll stay tuned for now.

Wake, Lisa McMann

I got this because they had an entire section at Borders for "if you liked Twilight...you may also like..." while there was still Twilight movie madness going on. With New Moon coming out, there is probably another similar rack there. Anyway, I found this book. the subtitle states that, "your dreams are not your own" ... plus I liked the cover.

I started this the day I finished I, Mona Lisa and finished it the next morning. Granted it's not that long, 210 pages. And it's a young adult book so the actual text is almost double spaced and larger than a regular novel as they can sometimes be. But I genuinely liked the story. I had never read anything where your heroine could partake in the dreams of others around her.

I think her romance with Cabel is cute and how they help one another with their insecurities. Though I think her friend Carrie is a bit of a twit though.

I have to admit that I plan on staying tuned with Fade. I can't wait to see what Ms. Stubbin's part in this whole thing is... in-treguing.

I, Mona Lisa, Jeanne Kalogridis

Okay, so the art historian in me couldn't resist the title. And I couldn't resist the description either. Leonardo, the Medici and a romance between the young Guiliano and Mona Lisa? I prepared myself for disappointment, it was too good to be true.

I'll admit, I put this book aside... for whatever reason. But when I picked it up again to read on the way home from vacation (a little behind, I'll admit) I decided to just start it all over because I had no clue what was going on where I was.

I was not all together disappointed, I actually liked the story. But it was a little predictable in many areas. I figured that her mother had an affair with Lorenzo's brother Guiliano. I predicted that in the city's uprising that Lisa's Guiliano did not die that he was actually in hiding and that Lisa was tricked. I began to suspect that her father was involved with Lisa's second husband and Sarvonarola but only a couple chapters before it was revealed.

Overall, if you don't mind a historical novel with a fair amount of art reference, this is a good choice. I would advise some knowledge of Italian Renaissance period art and history because I counted myself lucky for already knowing a good deal about the Medici.