Subtitle: The True Story of Gary Cohen Man in Blue.
Gary was a Chicago police officer from 1966 to 1988. Enough years have passed now that he feels comfortable talking about the way it was - which was NOT the way it should be.
Crime was rampant in Chicago (still is to be honest), and Mayor Daley wanted to slow and stop all the crime he could, so he instructed the police to get out there and DO IT.
While the concept of fighting crime is a good one, when the Mayor lets the leash go on the cops and they have freedom to end it how they wish, the outcome will not be a good one.
This book names names, Gary includes the exploits in his cop life and has admitted he did bad things, too.
While there was much public outcry and newspaper reporting about the issue, this is an inside look at how the boys in blue operated and can make you wonder if one side was any better than the other.
It reads with a good flow, the stories are short and pithy, and you have to admire someone who tell about his own transgressions as well as others.
If you'd like my ARC of this book, leave a comment here on the blog and send me an email to info NOSPAM @bookfaerie.com (take out the spaces and no spam) with your name and address and why you'd like to read the book. I'll pick a winner in about a week.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
9 Dragons by Michael Connelly
I've been reading Connelly's Harry Bosch books for years now, and he's never disappointed with any of his stories.
Harry Bosch is almost too human. He has his faults, sometimes he doesn't take the right action or respond in the right way, but it's his way and he means well for the most part. His life has not been all a bowl of cherries. He has his sorrows, his vices, and his own demons.
Despite all that, he's a good cop. He sometimes steps outside the lines of allowed behavior to get the criminal, but he doesn't worry about it.
This story begins with the suspicion that a Hong Kong triad has murdered a local store owner that Harry knows. But as the story escalates, there is more than one plot involved, and somehow he has to figure out the true reason the old man was shot.
In the meantime, someone near his own heart is in danger, and he is afraid that might also be the actions of the triad.
Harry still has his demons when the story ends, but you know there will be another story coming. There are still more cases in Harry's future. And more challenges in his personal life.
If you'd like my ARC of this book, please leave a comment here on the blog, and then email me at info NOSPAM @bookfaerie.com (take out the spaces and NOSPAM) and tell me why you'd like to read it. I'll choose a winner in about a week.
Harry Bosch is almost too human. He has his faults, sometimes he doesn't take the right action or respond in the right way, but it's his way and he means well for the most part. His life has not been all a bowl of cherries. He has his sorrows, his vices, and his own demons.
Despite all that, he's a good cop. He sometimes steps outside the lines of allowed behavior to get the criminal, but he doesn't worry about it.
This story begins with the suspicion that a Hong Kong triad has murdered a local store owner that Harry knows. But as the story escalates, there is more than one plot involved, and somehow he has to figure out the true reason the old man was shot.
In the meantime, someone near his own heart is in danger, and he is afraid that might also be the actions of the triad.
Harry still has his demons when the story ends, but you know there will be another story coming. There are still more cases in Harry's future. And more challenges in his personal life.
If you'd like my ARC of this book, please leave a comment here on the blog, and then email me at info NOSPAM @bookfaerie.com (take out the spaces and NOSPAM) and tell me why you'd like to read it. I'll choose a winner in about a week.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Easy Stuffed Pork Chops
I like quick and easy menus - probably from all those years of working and only having an hour to cook dinner!
I buy a package of pork stuffing mix (chicken will work if they don't have pork), and make it according to the package instructions, but add green pepper, celery, onion, and canned mushrooms to it.
Once the stuffing is cooked, I mix it up, put it over the top of chops on a cookie sheet, and cook at 350 degrees until done. Usually that's about 45 minutes, but it can take longer depending on the number of chops and their thickness.
Ready in about an hour. And real, real popular with my family and friends. And not real expensive to do.
Make a good meal with all food groups and add some stewed tomatoes if you'd like. My hubby loves those!
I buy a package of pork stuffing mix (chicken will work if they don't have pork), and make it according to the package instructions, but add green pepper, celery, onion, and canned mushrooms to it.
Once the stuffing is cooked, I mix it up, put it over the top of chops on a cookie sheet, and cook at 350 degrees until done. Usually that's about 45 minutes, but it can take longer depending on the number of chops and their thickness.
Ready in about an hour. And real, real popular with my family and friends. And not real expensive to do.
Make a good meal with all food groups and add some stewed tomatoes if you'd like. My hubby loves those!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
The Brick Layer by Noah Boyd
This book grabs your attention and runs off into the night without you if you don't keep up!
The Brick Layer is no ordinary guy working with mortar. He was previously in the FBI and last served as a contract investigator, but he didn't take commands well, and often "colored outside the lines". As a result, he left the FBI and went into brick work.
However, as is usual, when a big case comes up that they don't want the public to know about, they invite him back to work again - on his own terms.
It's a face paced, hard hitting story with some mean edges. But the story draws you in and holds you.
It's well written, the characters are bigger than life, and I highly recommend this book. I'm sure there will be more adventures with the Brick Layer. After all, he doesn't follow the rules...
If you'd like my ARC of this book, please leave a comment here on my blog and email me at info NOSPAM @bookfaerie.com (take the spaces and NOSPAM out) and tell me why you'd like to read it. I'll pick a lucky winner in about a week.
The Brick Layer is no ordinary guy working with mortar. He was previously in the FBI and last served as a contract investigator, but he didn't take commands well, and often "colored outside the lines". As a result, he left the FBI and went into brick work.
However, as is usual, when a big case comes up that they don't want the public to know about, they invite him back to work again - on his own terms.
It's a face paced, hard hitting story with some mean edges. But the story draws you in and holds you.
It's well written, the characters are bigger than life, and I highly recommend this book. I'm sure there will be more adventures with the Brick Layer. After all, he doesn't follow the rules...
If you'd like my ARC of this book, please leave a comment here on my blog and email me at info NOSPAM @bookfaerie.com (take the spaces and NOSPAM out) and tell me why you'd like to read it. I'll pick a lucky winner in about a week.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Locked In by Marcia Muller
I've been reading Sharon McCone mysteries for years, so I was very happy to see another one published. Marcia Muller always has a fast paced story, where Sharon's brains are her biggest safeguard against danger and death - and even then that doesn't always work.
The premise of this story scares me to death! Sharon is shot when she tries to enter her office late one night, and the bullet lodges at the top of her spine - and renders her helpless. She can't speak, she can't move, and it's a while before they realize her brain is still functioning and she's awake and aware. The prognosis isn't good.
All her husband and her staff can do it try to solve the cases she was working on because they feel one of them must have been the cause of her injury. She can't offer them input like she usually does, so they have to determine themselves what she might suggest they do.
Not being able to communicate would scare me to death, and it certainly effects all the characters in the book.
If you'd like my ARC of this mystery, leave a comment here on my blog, and send me an email at info@ NOSPAM bookfaerie.com (take out the spaces and NOSPAM) with your name and address and why you would like to win it. I'll be giving it away in about a week.
The premise of this story scares me to death! Sharon is shot when she tries to enter her office late one night, and the bullet lodges at the top of her spine - and renders her helpless. She can't speak, she can't move, and it's a while before they realize her brain is still functioning and she's awake and aware. The prognosis isn't good.
All her husband and her staff can do it try to solve the cases she was working on because they feel one of them must have been the cause of her injury. She can't offer them input like she usually does, so they have to determine themselves what she might suggest they do.
Not being able to communicate would scare me to death, and it certainly effects all the characters in the book.
If you'd like my ARC of this mystery, leave a comment here on my blog, and send me an email at info@ NOSPAM bookfaerie.com (take out the spaces and NOSPAM) with your name and address and why you would like to win it. I'll be giving it away in about a week.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Everything for a Dog by Ann M Martin
Ann M Martin has been writing children's books for years, and she's been very successful at it. I was intrigued about the fact she writing about dogs, because I'm a dog lover second (cats are my first love) and I truly wanted to see her work.
This is great book, but it has sad spots. It's about how life is, things you need to accept if you can't understand them, and how to go on when you feel like you can't.
It's written in three voices. The dog's, the father's, and the son's voice. Ghosts of the past come to haunt the present, and the current little boy just knows he wants to have a dog!
Having a cat and various other pets doesn't take his desire away to have a dog. His father won't allow it, but doesn't tell him why.
Bone has been traveling around since his youth, because the world isn't safe for dogs unless you find an owner with love. He has several homes, sometimes thinks it will be for "forever", but no.
How father, son, and dog meet each other and resolve their issues will most likely make you cry.
If you'd like my ARC of this book, please leave a comment here on my blog and email me at info@ NOSPAM bookfaerie.com. (Remove the spaces and the NOSPAM to send it.) Tell me why you'd like to read it. I'll end the contest in about a week.
This is great book, but it has sad spots. It's about how life is, things you need to accept if you can't understand them, and how to go on when you feel like you can't.
It's written in three voices. The dog's, the father's, and the son's voice. Ghosts of the past come to haunt the present, and the current little boy just knows he wants to have a dog!
Having a cat and various other pets doesn't take his desire away to have a dog. His father won't allow it, but doesn't tell him why.
Bone has been traveling around since his youth, because the world isn't safe for dogs unless you find an owner with love. He has several homes, sometimes thinks it will be for "forever", but no.
How father, son, and dog meet each other and resolve their issues will most likely make you cry.
If you'd like my ARC of this book, please leave a comment here on my blog and email me at info@ NOSPAM bookfaerie.com. (Remove the spaces and the NOSPAM to send it.) Tell me why you'd like to read it. I'll end the contest in about a week.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Tell Me Something True by Leila Cobo
This is an interesting tale. It's the story of Gabriella, whose mother died when she was only four.
She's always had lots of love from her father in Los Angeles and her grandmother, who lives in Columbia. She enjoys the cultures of both countries, and loves being coddled by her grandmother.
While visiting her grandmother in Columbia she learns they are going to tear down the old house which has greatly deteriorated. So she goes to visit it one last time. And finds a diary that her mother kept.
She decides to read it so she can learn more about her mother. But the diary is full of secrets...
She's also found a new love interest. Her cousin took her to a party and she met Angel and was attracted to him. Her cousin tells her Angel is part of the drug cartel and she can't see him. She tells Angel that and he tells her he's in the music business and gets his money that way, he doesn't do drugs.
The diary tells her that her mother also found a love interest here in Columbia when she was visiting without her family.
After fomenting over the information and trying to decide what to do with, she confronts her grandmother - who tells her it's true.
So has everything she's been told about her mother been a lie? Or part of it? Could her father not know?
I don't want to give away more of the story line, but it will keep you busy reading to see just what happens next. What else her mother says in the diary. What Gabriella and Angel do.
Life isn't certain at any point, but when you find out you've been fed lies, it's hard to begin to trust again.
If you'd like my copy of the ARC, leave a comment here on the blog and then email at info NOSPAM @bookfaerie.com (take the spaces and the NOSPAM out) with your name and address and why you'd like to read the book. I'll be picking a winner in about a week or so.
She's always had lots of love from her father in Los Angeles and her grandmother, who lives in Columbia. She enjoys the cultures of both countries, and loves being coddled by her grandmother.
While visiting her grandmother in Columbia she learns they are going to tear down the old house which has greatly deteriorated. So she goes to visit it one last time. And finds a diary that her mother kept.
She decides to read it so she can learn more about her mother. But the diary is full of secrets...
She's also found a new love interest. Her cousin took her to a party and she met Angel and was attracted to him. Her cousin tells her Angel is part of the drug cartel and she can't see him. She tells Angel that and he tells her he's in the music business and gets his money that way, he doesn't do drugs.
The diary tells her that her mother also found a love interest here in Columbia when she was visiting without her family.
After fomenting over the information and trying to decide what to do with, she confronts her grandmother - who tells her it's true.
So has everything she's been told about her mother been a lie? Or part of it? Could her father not know?
I don't want to give away more of the story line, but it will keep you busy reading to see just what happens next. What else her mother says in the diary. What Gabriella and Angel do.
Life isn't certain at any point, but when you find out you've been fed lies, it's hard to begin to trust again.
If you'd like my copy of the ARC, leave a comment here on the blog and then email at info NOSPAM @bookfaerie.com (take the spaces and the NOSPAM out) with your name and address and why you'd like to read the book. I'll be picking a winner in about a week or so.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
