Small World by Martin Suter

Konrad has grown up in the shadow of Thomas Koch. He's always been at Thomas's beck and call. Lately Konrad has become absent-minded. When he catches fire to one of the Koch family homes the family is sure that this will be the last time that Elvira(the Koch family matriarch) supports him. They are wrong. Elvira sets him up with a weekly allowance and a place to live.

More and more Konrad is forgetting things. Thinking that it is the alcohol causing his forgetfulness Konrad stops drinking. When he meets a woman and falls in love, Konrad decides to break ties with the Koch family once and for all.

Sinking further and further into Alzheimer's Konrad finally no longer recognizes his lover and has to be institutionalized.

When Thomas's son Urs marries Simone he carries on with his fathers philandering ways. When Konrad escapes the institution the Koch family find him on their property. Disheartened by Urs' behavior Simone decides to start visiting Konrad to find what his connection with the family is. Agreeing to set Konrad up in the guest house, Elvira believes that this will help her keep track of Konrad's memories. After all, there are family secrets that she never wants him to remember.

The blurb on the back says that this is a "gripping psychological thriller." I have to say that I did not find this in any way a thriller. Despite that, I found the story entertaining. I became attached to Konrad's story and felt for his decline into Alzheimer's. The majority of the book was mainly what was happening with Konrad's care, the last bit of the book did delve into some thriller-like aspects, but not enough to get the heart pumping.

FUN!

This is a t-shirt that my daughter's in-laws gave me for Christmas:

Isn't it the truth? I have so many books that I want to read and there just isn't enough time in the day. I love the t-shirt!

And THIS is what I won in a contest given by author Julie Lessman:

 I tried to get a picture of me holding it with Julie's book showing, but the light and camera weren't cooperating. But anyway, new toy, new fancy cover for new toy and then Julie's book on my new toy! I love the cover of this book. It was designed by Julie's husband and their daughter is the model. Just beautiful! And the series is a MUST READ! Thank-You Julie for the fun contest and the WIN!!!

Formula For Danger by Camy Tang

Rachel Grant's latest research has her creating a skin cream to help remove scarring. Break-ins to the family spa and to the greenhouse that is raising the plants that she needs are just the beginning of the danger to come to Rachel and her family.

Edward Villa owns the greenhouses that are raising Rachel's Basil plants for her project. Edward has distanced himself from Rachel because of her workaholic ways, but when he realizes how much danger Rachel is in he steps in to protect her.

Everything Rachel does is overshadowed by her perception that her father disapproves of her. She has pushed herself continually to please him and seems to have failed. Edward must help Rachel to see that the only one she needs approval from is her Heavenly Father and she already has His approval.

As the danger escalates both Rachel and Edward must increase their faith in the God of all creation and let go of their reliance on self.

Formula for Danger is a suspense-filled ride that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat! I enjoyed every bit of it. Camy Tang is a versatile writer it seems. I have read her Sushi for One series that is filled with humorous situations, and have read the first two books in her Protection for Hire series that also have a flare for suspense and have enjoyed every one of her books! This is the first Love Inspired Suspense that I have read, but with Camy Tang as the author I can tell I'll be reading more!

Other books I've reviewed of Camy's:

Weddings and Wasabi
Protection for Hire
A Dangerous Stage

Waiting for Morning by Margaret Brownley

Molly would do anything for her young brother Donny. After all she believes that it is her fault that he is in a wheelchair. Molly has been working as a dance hall girl in order to support herself and Donny since their father has died. When the town they live in catches fire Molly barely escapes with Donny and a few clothes that she can save from her tent home that they share.

When Molly hears of a rancher looking for an heiress to run her ranch in Arizona Molly and Donny head there. The only catch to becoming the heiress is to sign a contract to agree never to marry. Molly doesn't believe that she will ever have a chance to be married. Every time she has been proposed to, when the man finds out about her invalid brother Donny the potential groom runs for the hills.

On their way to the Last Chance Ranch Molly and Donny meet Dr. Caleb Fairbanks. When his new horseless carriage backfires Molly believes they are being shot at. Molly has always protected Donny so she instantly gets out her rifle and shoots back! Caleb makes an even lesser impression when once again his carriage backfires and he starts a stampede that runs straight for Molly and Donny's wagon.

Caleb is attracted to Molly but Molly has put up many barriers to her heart. She believes that The Last Chance Ranch is definitely hers and Donny's "last chance". When Caleb starts working with Donny to help him build up his inactive muscles Molly is less than happy. Miss Walker the ranch owner is also less than happy when she realizes that Molly had failed to mention her brother Donny. But Molly is determined to make this last opportunity work for she and Donny. She promises Miss Walker that she will be able to care for Donny's needs along with all of her duties on the ranch.

Having been shunned and gossiped about in her former church Molly has had no use for churches since. She hates the fact that people judge her by her dress. Molly's reason for dressing loud is to bring attention away from her crippled brother. Through Caleb, Molly learns that she too has judged church people wrongly and therefore limited God in her life.  It is hard for Molly to realize that the guilt she has carried around for years was false guilt and that God has directed her path throughout.

Waiting for Morning is the second book in The Brides of Last Chance Ranch series. The first is Dawn Comes Early. Also the character of Caleb Fairbanks is from another book written by Margaret Brownley A Vision of Lucy. I'm really liking The Brides of Last Chance Ranch series and am hoping that soon Miss Walker will have her romance. I think that in Waiting for Morning she was starting to soften a bit so I'm looking forward to seeing what the author has in store for her and her ranch.

I received my copy of Waiting for Morning from Booksneeze.

Top 12 of 2012

12. Black Dawn and Bitter Blood by Rachel Caine:

Rachel Caine never ceases to amaze me with her Morganville Vampire series. Each new book that comes out is just as exciting as the beginning of the series so I couldn't just pick one. 

11. The Sanctuary by Ted Dekker

 This was a companion novel to The Priest's Graveyard which I haven't read(but definitely want to).


10. Glamorous Illusions by Lisa T. Bergren

I chose two of Lisa Bergren's books but gave them separate ratings because they were from different series unlike choosing 2 books from Rachel Caine and 2 books from Julie Lessman. Glamorous Illusions is the first in the Grand Tour series and I am looking forward to the next one!

9. Curveball The Year I Lost My Grip by Jordan Sonnenblick

 Jordan Sonnenblick never disappoints me! I have enjoyed every book he has written. His stories make me laugh and make me cry and I am definitely a fan!


8. Flesh & Bone by Jonathan Maberry

One more book after Flesh & Bone in the Benny Imura series. This one left me hanging and I cannot wait until the last one comes out! I must find out how everyone ends up. I never thought I would be a fan of zombie fiction, but this series has definitely kept me wanting more!


7. Kiss of Death by Debbie Viguie

A Christian writer that writes about vampires? Yep! Kiss of Death is the 2nd book in the Kiss Trilogy. And yes, I am a fan!

6. A Dangerous Stage by Camy Tang

This is the 2nd book in the Protection for Hire series. I love the kick-butt heroine in this series and I'm looking forward to the next installment. Camy Tang's character Tessa has a sense of humor and skills that keep the reader turning til the last page.

5. Bourne by Lisa T. Bergren

I love The River of Time series! I hope that Lisa will write more!

4. Wish You Were Eyre by Heather Vogel Frederick

 A bit bitter-sweet since this is the last book in the series. I was hoping that the author would continue on through the characters high school years but that is not the case and it makes me sad. A definite favorite series of mine.



3. Invisible by Ginny Ytrtrup(available April 1, 2013)

 There is definitely something in Ginny Yttrup's writing that captures and holds my attention. This is the 2nd book I have read by this author and I was not disappointed in either read. Her book WORDS made my top 10 picks in 2010 so I was very pleased to be able to include Invisible on this year's top 12.


2. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer(Available February 5, 2013)

This series is definitely now in my favorites! I loved the first book Cinder, but I found that I liked Scarlet even better! This one hasn't even come out in stores yet. Thanks for my friend Karin who loaned me her ARC copy. I have a hardback on order because I love the covers of these books. Can't wait for the next one to come out!

1. A Love Surrendered and A Light in the Window by Julie Lessman

I read this series totally backwards. I had no idea that I wasn't starting at the beginning. I read The Winds of Change first and fell in love with the O'Connor family. Out of those 3 books A Love Surrendered was definitely my favorite. Then I read The Daughter's of Boston(the first 3 books in the O'Connor saga) and finally I read the prequel to the whole series A Light in the Window which tells the parents Marcy and Patrick's love story. Julie Lessman proclaims herself as a CDQ(caffeinated drama queen) and that definitely shows up in all of her books. While I am adverse to drama in my own life the characters throughout the series grew on me and I found myself reading each book with anticipation.  Julie was nice enough to allow me to read A Light in the Window before it was published and she even put up with me constantly contacting her on facebook to complain about this or that characters behavior! She is definitely a gracious and sweet person and I am looking forward to a new series she is starting.

Woo hoo! So there you have it! My top 12 picks of 2012. Feel free to leave a link in the comments with your post for your top 12. Looking forward to seeing what you all have read!

The Elite by Kiera Cass

The Selection started out with 35 girls and now in The Elite it is down to 6. America is still confused about her feelings for Maxon. Sometimes she feels that her heart will break when she sees him with another one of the girls, but then she will see a side of him that reminds her once again why she feels so inadequate to be the future Queen. And what of her feelings for Aspen? Her boyfriend from home, now a guard in the palace. He is still the only one that she feels truly knows her. If she is chosen by Maxon what will happen to her friendship with Aspen? When America distances herself from Maxon and he turns his affections elsewhere will America realize her mistake or has she lost his trust for good?

I actually found myself liking The Elite better than The Selection. There seemed to be much more going on in The Elite. Also it seemed that we were able to see more of the characters personality, the author dug a little deeper and gave the characters more complex feelings. In The Selection I was all for America and Maxon getting together. In The Elite I now have my doubts. I still like Maxon, he has a depth to him that I didn't see before. But he also made me angry because he seemed wishy-washy,  one minute he was telling America she was the girl for him and then in the next he would be all over another of the girls. I also got frustrated with America for not showing Maxon more of her true self. Plus the fact that she continues to lead Aspen on. But all of those feelings and relationships are what keep The Elite entertaining. And don't you just love the cover?

Which cover do you like better? I like The Selection cover better. Both are beautiful, but for some reason The Selection draws me to it more. Check out my review of The Selection HERE.

Vanished by Irene Hannon

When driving in a rainstorm Investigative Reporter Moira Harrison hits a woman in the middle of the road causing Moira to run off of the road. When a Good Samaritan stops to help, Moira blacks out. When she comes to there are no emergency crews, no woman and no Good Samaritan. 

Unable to get the terror-filled eyes of the woman out of her mind Moira goes to Phoenix Inc. to enlist the help of a Private Detective. Cal Burke is the PI that interviews Moira. He agrees to do some checking to see if he can find anything of the missing woman or Moira’s Good Samaritan, admitting to her that it is probably a long-shot that anything will turn up. 

Pretty soon Moira and Cal are investigating the Humanitarian of the Year. Everything he represents points to him being a pillar of the community, but when Moira and Cal dig below the surface they find that not is all as it should be. 

Irene Hannon writes great suspense novels and Vanished did not disappoint. Book #1 in the Private Justice series introduces Cal, Dev and Connor as Private Detectives. Along with the suspense that keeps the reader turning the pages there is also the romance between Cal and Moira. Still mourning the death of his wife 5 years before, Cal and Moira are willing to explore their feelings for each other. As the case unfolds they find that they are more attracted to each other the longer they spend together. I enjoyed Vanished and look forward to more books in the series. After all, I’m sure there is more detecting to be done and there are still two PI’s that could use a little romance in their lives.