Fatal Liaison By Vicki Tyley

I was drawn into this story from the very beginning and totally engrossed throughout. The plot twists and characters are woven into this story in such a fashion that I had a hard time putting this book down.

Greg’s sister is missing and his only lead is a singles meeting event sponsored by Dinner for Twelve. Megan and Brenda attend a couple of Dinner for Twelve events and when Brenda goes missing Megan has reason to suspect someone in the group. Greg and Megan eventually form an allegiance to search for the truth.

This is a fast paced story that is fluid and effortless and coupled with the mystery and suspense I was hooked. The twists and turns are endless and the character development was an essential and compassionate part of the story. The character dialogue flowed with ease and believability and I found that I could relate to the characters of Greg and Megan in a realistic way. The descriptive writing paints a clear picture of what’s going on and made me feel part of the story. 

I really enjoyed Vicky Tyley’s writing style and her ability to keep me guessing while keeping me absorbed in the story. Her presentation of characters and events throughout the story combined with the elements of suspense succeed in making this a great read.

To me this is also a story of family, friendship and loyalty. It is a story that shows how strong family and friendships are and what lengths a person would go to protect and save the ones they love.

I recommend this book to all readers who love mystery/suspense and drama that will propel you forward and keep you guessing until the end.

The Covert Element By John L. Betcher

This is the first book that I have read by John L. Betcher and I was totally enthralled throughout the whole story. It was very evident from the onset that the author did his homework to get the accurate facts and details to make this story enticing and believable.

The characters of James Becker  a semi-retired lawyer, his wife Beth, the “computer goddess” Terry "Bull" Red Feather an American Indian and Doug Gunderson (Gunner), Ottawa County Chief Deputy Sheriff successfully bring richness and flavor to this story. They each have a story of their own which is woven together in a complex yet charming way.

The story begins with a mass-murder and fire at a Meth-lab in Red Wing, Minnesota. Becker and his wife become deeply involved with Bull and Gunner as they attempt to uncover the truth about the massacre and find themselves dealing with the Mexican drug cartel Los Cincos. I was immediately swept away into the deadly world of drug cartels and the horror and reality of their destruction.

This is a very complex story, focusing not only on the present time but also depicting the history and background of the existence of drug cartels. The author brings to the surface a great understanding of the subject which is a huge contributor it making this story a memorable and engrossing read.

 I loved the interplay between Becker and his wife Beth and the ability to portray them both as strong characters in their own right. They are believable and likeable and the understanding and mutual respect between them is palpable.

I appreciated the viewpoint of the character(s) of Fuentes/Santos, whose dedication to elimination of the Drug Cartels due to the ravages faced by his family and his country. We are given a glimpse into the heart of many Mexicans who become innocent victims of the drug cartels and witness the unspeakable horrors and tragedies that befall them and their families.

I think that the writing is this book is vivid and realistic and interwoven with the issues of drugs and drug wars bring this to a personal level that is relatable to the reader.  

I highly recommend this book and I will definitely be reading more from John L. Betcher.

Catch Me If You Know How - Internet Edition By Travis Morgan

From my perspective as an IT Analyst this is a book that every parent must read. If you have kids that are able to access the Internet and are involved in social networking and chat rooms there is essential information in this book that every parent should be aware of.

This book is a written on a level easy to understand that gives you the ability you need to discover the dangers of the Internet as well as the habits of those using the computer on the internet. The valuable information presented in this book can aid in the prevention of abuse and potential tragedies that can arise from Internet use.

This book is a concise and easy to understand guide into the basics of surfing the web, Email, social media sites like Twitter and Facebook as well as how to monitor and control what your children are viewing on the Internet. The author provides tips on all the topics that can aid you in determining the safety and privacy of the computer you and your children use. The author also advises you to obtain additional information on his website which is a great resource as well.

I recommend this book to readers who want an easy to understand guide to Internet safety.

Love And Money By Ruth Harris

Love And Money is the 3^rd book in the 20^th Century Series by Ruth Harris and again I am effortlessly transported back in time. The dazzling world of Wall Street comes to life as we enter the world of the Dahlen family in the 1950’s and their journey into the 1980’s. It is a stunning portrait of a family obsessed with love, money and fear. A family rich in wealth yet devoid of emotional stability and love. A family that is headed down an unforeseen path of great wealth and prosperity. A family full of secrets and betrayal on a collision course of emotional upheaval and destruction.

Deedee Dahlen was born with the proverbial “Silver Spoon” in her mouth. A million dollar heiress who learns that money can’t protect her from the trials and tribulations of life.

Lana Bantry was born poor and never knew her father as a child. She is strong and tenacious and her story reflects a time when women were struggling for their rightful place in the business world. She is fueled by anger and resentment that keeps her emotionally void of love in her life.

Slash Steiner was adopted from an orphanage by a wonderful family and always vowed that he would be rich one day. He is determined and strong yet struggles to find his place in the business world as well as in the Dahlen family.

The characters are brought to life by the tremendously descriptive writing as you take on their journey as they progress and grow throughout the story. The dialogue between characters is real and believable and the historical events of the time period are woven into the story with compassion and ease.

This is a highly charged emotional story that spans decades of the Dahlen family. It is fast paced and full of twists and turns that will keep you engaged in the story. It is a tale of a family that is perceived to the outside world as having it all yet behind closed doors face tremendous hardship, scandal and ultimately love and survival.

I highly recommend this book to all readers; I totally enjoyed and was swept away with the story.