Strategic Moves by Stuart Woods - Book Review

Did you like Magnum PI with Tom Selleck?

If yes, then you will enjoy the Stuart Woods, Stone Barrington novel series.  They are always fun, face paced mysteries written with a touch of humor and sarcasm.

In the latest aptly named, Strategic Moves, Barrington finds himself a pawn in a game where he doesn't have all the pieces.  There is a financial "madoff" type crisis, a terrorist escape, oh and did we mention his latest romantic interest turns up dead?

This books works because even with all the crazy twists and turns it never overcomplicates itself and never loses it's sense of humor.  And, while at times you will think Barrington is a jerk, like when he goes out to dinner after finding out the girlfriend is dead, you will admire his ability to plan his various moves for himself and his clients throughout the book. 

Author, Woods also gives Barrington some new life with some sudden financial windfalls and some interesting new characters to work with in future novels, maybe we'll see some in Bel-Air Dead his next book due out April 26th.

Tales from the Yoga Studio: A Novel - Book Review

I am not a yoga person, but I am happy to report you don't have to be to really enjoy Tales from the Yoga Studio: A Novel by Rain Mitchell.

The story revolves around the lives of a group of diverse women who come into and go out of each other's lives through the local yoga studio.  The main character, Lee is the owner of the studio and it's her story we get into the most, though I am hopeful there will be more books with these same characters in the future.

Lee, the owner of the yoga studio is married and has two kids, twins.  She runs the studio with her husband, Alan who is a wanna be musician, and has decided he needs time away to get his life in perspective.  Lee wants him back and considers selling her studio as a way to get her marriage back.

The other women characters in the novel also face their own trials and find yoga as a way to bring balance into their out of balance lives.  This is a fun read with moments of humor mixed into the dramas.  This is a gal pal fiction novel that you could happily give to your Mom, Mother-in-Law, co-worker, sister, etc. and feel good about having picked a fun book.