Citizen Vince

Citizen Vince / Jess Walter, 293 pgs.

Vince runs a credit card scam.  He is also a donut maker.  He learned that skill after being sent to training when he entered the witness protection program.  Of course he started up his credit card scam too...I mean, a donut maker doesn't make enough money to pay off debts etc. Life is going pretty good until another wit sec guy shows up and tries to kill Vince.   Vince heads back to New York to figure out how to get the "hit" removed. Turns out, this guy is really into killing people. In the middle of this drama, Vince gets his voter registration card. Something about getting that card moves him to think about politics, voting and the idea of civic duty.  Vince starts to see things differently and begins to think he needs a fresh start.

I think I've done a poor job of summarizing this book but can't say enough about how much I enjoyed it.  Vince is such a wonderful character, flawed but thoughtful.  Sometimes I think that there are a lot of similar books out there but this one is special.

Choke hold

Choke Hold / Christa Faust, 251 pgs.

Former porn star Angel Dare is back in this sequel to "Money Shot."  Now in the witness protection program, she runs into a former flame while waitress just to witness his murder as he is meeting his teenage son for the first time. Vic''s dying breath is used to make Angel promise to take care of his kid, Cody.  Cody is eighteen and a mixed martial arts fighter. He has a mentor Hank who is suffering from memory loss after years in the ring.  Hank, Cody and Angel each have someone on their tails and this book is a lot of trying to get away from someone holding a gun on them.  In the end, there is a lot of bloodshed and a few unresolved issues, I assume enough for there to be a next book.

A Million Ways Home

A Million Ways Home by Dianna Dorisi Winget, 242 pages

12-year-old Poppy Parker has lived with Grandma Beth all her life – until 11 days ago, when Grandma Beth suffered a stroke.  Now Poppy has to live in a children’s home while Grandma Beth gets better.  While on her way to visit Grandma Beth, Poppy witnesses a horrible crime – in fact, she’s the only witness.  To ensure her safety during the investigation, Poppy will stay with a police officer's family.

Poppy’s temporary home is much better than the children’s home, and she even gets to volunteer at an animal shelter where she takes an interest in a problem-dog with an uncertain future.  But Poppy won’t stay here forever – only until Grandma Beth gets better, or the suspect of the investigation is caught.  What Poppy wants most is for Grandma Beth to get better so they can be together again – but instead she seems to be getting worse.  Will things go back to the way they were for Poppy and Grandma Beth?  Find out by reading A Million Ways Home.

A 16-17 MT Readers Award nominee, and a touching read.  Readers  experience how the main character faces difficult changes – with both grace and impulse.

Killshot

Killshot by Elmore Leonard 287pg.

Elmore Leonard has a way of making almost anything seem exciting.  This book had me on the edge of my seat through this whole book.  Wayne and Carmen are accidentally involved in witnessing a crime  and end up being a target of a couple of creepy guys, one with mob connections, one just a psycho who wants to kill people with every type of gun that he can think of.  Wayne and Carmen end up in a witness protection program in Cape Girardeau, MO when a sicko federal marshal harasses Carmen when Wayne is out.  They return home and end up hostage to the criminals.  Even at the very end it is hard to tell what is going to happen but you hope the good guys win.