I hope everyone survived the Christmas scene! My grandchildren sure made out like bandits!

So did my kids! It seems funny now to say “kids” when they are all over thirty! I’m just twenty-nine!

Got some great gifts myself especially the new books I received!

As I look to the New Year, reading is still my first priority! Does that sound selfish?

Getting lost in a new novel is my only way of escape!

Several Patterson novels including “I, Alex Cross” which I am now enjoying will make 2010 a great reading year!

I hope everyone did as well as me with their gifts!

Happy New Year!

As Tess and Reilly pursue the truth as to who is responsible for the Met/Vatican robbery, the mastermind behind it Professor Vance has escaped detection so far. Vance met Tess at one of her father’s digs, and the two were sort of an item. Now Vance feeling that the church let him down in the death of his wife, has ideas to force the lost “gospel” on the world to embarrass the church.

As the ship carrying Martin of Carmaux, a Knight’s Templar, and his mentor Aimard of Villiers is nearing the coast, the storm intensifies to the point the ship goes down. The chest they were entrusted with is hidden away in the bow of ship and a encrypted message to tell the rest of the remaining Knights the chest’s whereabouts.

The race is on to capture the chest, a race not only being run by Tess, Reilly, and Vance, but the Vatican must protect their gospel “truths.” Vatican envoy, the Monsignor De Angelis is a ruthless killer assigned to do anything within his power to protect the Vatican’s image.

The storm approaching the dive boat that Vance and Tess have hired to bring up the chest is like unto an “act of god.” The Captain wants to go in when Vance produces a revolver and makes sure the chest is brought up from the depths of the sea. But wait, Reilly is approaching in the Police Boat with Monsignor De Angelis and he starts firing on the dive boat. Will Tess and Vance survive? Get “The Last Templar” for yourself!

The Last Templar is a good read like unto The Da Vinci Code. I’ve always been fascinated with tales of Templars. Mr. Khoury’s way of taking us back to their thoughts and rituals was very entertaining!

While most of the books I read about this era of history are novels, I really need to delve into their actual beginnings. There are so many untruths written about the Knights that only research could uncover the accuracy of the novels.

Visiting the Metropolitan Museum to see the exhibition of Vatican treasures, Tess Chaykin is suddenly thrust into the “Templar” limelight as four horseman dressed as Templar’s crash through the front doors and begin looting the treasure.

Tess has a first hand look and listen as one of the horseman smashes the case next to her and takes a strange looking old machine. The horseman utters a cryptic message as he grasps his loot “Veritas vos libera!”

Of course after all the mayhem inside is finished, Tess learns one of the “Templars” had hacked a guards head off with his sword, UGH!

Sean Reilly, the principle FBI agent in charge of the investigation,  interviews Tess and immediately there is a spark between the two. With Tess background of being an archaeologist her antennas are up as to why steal an old machine.
She informs Sean about the history of the Templars as the story progresses and finally convinces him as to why this bold atrocities were carried out.

More twists and turns as three of the four horsemen turn up murdered!

Really have enjoyed this book so far more next week…

Does money really play into most political races? Sure!

Does the media affect and effect our mindset as to who we support in these races?

Ron Fisk , a goody two shoes lawyer, is “talked” into running for supreme court justice in Mississippi against the “liberal” Sheila McCarthy.

Little does he know the setup!

Everything he says, every appearance, every handshake is orchestrated by Carl Trudeau’s money to get his lawsuit thrown out!

Could this really happen?

If we only knew what really goes on behind the scenes!

Payton and Payton wind up with nothing!

Much more the sick people of Bowmore wind up with nothing!

Mr. Grisham, you made me step back and think again!

Read “The Appeal!”

Just the usual John Grisham novel, good characterization, small community, people suffering, and lawyers ranting.

Getting the verdict first was different, but I should have known, the title “The Appeal.”

I guess the first real surprise, thinking that a law firm would actually sacrifice everything to help a fellow citizen out!

In the small town of Bowmore, Mississippi, Mary Grace Payton of the law firm Payton & Payton knew everyone after all she had lived in Bowmore.
This story is the classic case of big business versus the little man on the street.

Not only in lawsuits, but in politics as well.

Will the money hungry Carl Trudeau, CEO of Krane Chemical cough up the $41 million awarded to the Payton’s client?

Will he settle out of court?

Who is Ron Fisk?

Who is Sheila McCarthy?

Find out some answers next week…