I gave Goodbye Stranger another chance after enjoying Stead's newest book The List of Things That Will Not Change. I managed to finish it this time and there were parts that I enjoyed (Stead writes friendships very well). Overall though I just don't think it's her best work, and I still found it less enjoyable than her other books.

Alex when to the south of France with Sabrina and met Yassen. Alex knew nothing good when he was there and followed him.

In the process, he met the rich pop singer Damian Cray, en ego maniac who is actually a psychopath. 

Alex when to the opening of a new game and played it. He has met Cray and found his creepy and have such an ego that he would cheat to get his way. 

He couldn't leave it alone so he went to the MI6. No one believed him. Alex shared his identity with Sabrina and MI6 betrayed him by making him out to be a liar. 

So he has to go at this alone. Jack believed him and they both go to find out what Cray evil plan. 

In the meantime, Sabrina's father, a journalist was hurt by a terrorist attack. It was Cray. Sabrina's father was working on a story linking it to Cray and got hurt. 

So Alex went into the compound to see for himself. He passed the gate, he also got some evidence that might spoil Cray plan. 

A fast read with Alex Rider doing a lot of spying stuff. He was on his bike that was given to him with gadgets. Quite a lot of action and running around. The bad guy is obviously the bad guy. 

The only surprise is how reluctant Yassen is unwilling to hurt Alex. 

Sabrina is quite nice as an addition to the story. Only Jack knew about what Alex do and now Sabrina got involved, Alex is not so alone. 

Fast read. Highly recommended. 

My first book from this author. I expected grocery store cookie cutter romance. It was a library shelf surfing find, I needed something light, it was light with a touch of sadness. The characters were all interesting, will developed and likeable. It didn't follow to obvious road of romance novels, it was an enjoyable surprise. I'll give this author another try,

I don't read a lot of sci-fi, but I'm trying to stretch myself this year. Kindred isn't as sci-fi as I expected, which possibly added to my enjoyment. I wasn't planning on starting the book until this month, but since it took me so long to read The Warmth of Other Suns I thought I should start early. I finished in three days. The ending was a little abrupt, and I wanted a little more time with some of the characters, but other than that the book is very good. Butler writes about horrifying material in a way that is both readable and non-desensitizing. 

A coworker recommended this book to me at least a year ago and it took me until now to read it. I'm very glad I did though. (I read part on desk and that was a mistake because I kept wanting to cry.)

The stories each on their own are compelling, covering (probably) lesser-known aspects of well-known time periods. And they all come together in interesting ways.  

The book is very long and by the time I got to the end I had kind of forgotten the beginning (much like the first time I watched Moulin Rouge... it took me three days to get through it). So as I was reading the ending I was kind of like, "What is happening? This feels a little like a cop out." But then I went and reread the beginning and remembered a kind of important fact that I had forgotten which really changed the way I was reading the end and made it more enjoyable.