What Are You Reading?

2012-01-16T11:37:00.000-08:00

Solomon’s Oak is a lovely novel of three wounded people who find each other. Glory is a recent widow in her late 30’s that is trying to keep her head above water financially while also feeling buried by grief. Juniper is a fourteen year old who has been abandoned by her father after losing both her mother and sister. She is in foster care and living with Glory. Joseph is a wounded former police officer who is trying to recover from a horrific injury.

The three find each other and form a type of family. The story is moving, frustrating, and terribly realistic. It takes place somewhat locally and it’s fun to read about places I know of and that are part of my community. I can’t say that I love the story or was blown away, but I will say that it’s good. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s slow moving and emotional which can be frustrating for me if I’m not in the right mood! I do recommend this book though. The characters will stay with you.

Hero by Perry Moore

2012-01-15T11:35:00.000-08:00

I didn’t read Hero, I listened to the audio book, and I loved it. Thom Creed is a super hero. His powers are new, not quite controlled, and he is on probationary status with The League. He’s also gay and a teenager. All those things mixed together cause a bit of angst.

I love superheroes and I think that Thom makes a great addition to the genre. He’s growing and learning, becoming more powerful all the time, and is scared to tell his father that he’s gay. He’s so absolutely human. He wants his father’s approval so badly and I think many of us can relate to that feeling.

The book is emotional, hilarious, and exciting. Pretty much everything that a good book needs. I definitely recommend Hero highly. Just a note, it’s a young adult book but really should be read by older teens. The language can be raw at times and there is one scene that might not be appropriate for younger readers - even though it’s very tame.

I’d like to mention that the audio book was read by Michael Urie and he did a fabulous job.

Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

2012-01-14T11:30:00.000-08:00

If you look over my past reading history, you’ll notice that Infidel is not a book that I normally would pick up. Ever. But that’s the funny thing about book clubs, they get you to read books you normally would avoid. Infidel is the story of Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a former member of Dutch Parliament who grew up a Muslim home. She was born in Somalia and moved from there to Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Kenya, back to Somalia, back to Kenya, and finally to Germany and The Netherlands. She now lives in the United States

Without a doubt, Ayaan is a strong woman. She overcame unbelievable hurdles to make it to The Netherlands and start her new life. She is someone to admire in that sense. I don’t agree with all the choices she made in her life but I see that for her, there were no real choices.

This is a great book for very interesting discussions. It hits on tolerance, religion, culture and politics. Consider it for your next book club.

Wow. 2012.

2012-01-04T12:09:00.000-08:00

At some point I lost my blogging mojo. It was not a good year for me keeping up with this blog. I'm just going to put it behind me and move on. And try to catch up? I have a ton of reviews that I didn't do. Some I wrote for other places but never posted here. And some won't ever get done. Let's face it, life happens, things get busy and I let things (like this blog) go. We'll see how 2012 goes.

To close out the year (although I still need to get to some reviews), here are the facts.

I read 58 books this year. I listened to one audio book which brings my total to 59. That's not as good as last year but I'm not surprised.

I did meet my goal of reading at least 25 books from my existing stash. I more than met that goal, so that's awesome. Of course I acquired more books than I read so that was kind of a waste. So maybe my goal this year will be to read more and acquire less. Probably won't happen but it could.

I did update the listing of the books I read in 2011. The link is here. If I've written a review, the book will have a link that will lead there.

My top 10 books this year are. . . (in no particular order)

1. The Search by Nora Roberts
2. Across the Universe by Beth Rivas
3. The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan
4. If You Were Here by Jen Lancaster
5. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarity
6. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
7. The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder
8. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (Audio Book)
9. Night Road by Kristin Hannah

Okay, that was only 9. I read a lot of good books this year but I'm having a hard time being "in love" with any of them. Those top nine are probably the closest. I really want to be obsessed with a book again. I'm on the hunt. Let me know of your obsessions.

I also joined a book club. Yes, it's online so I still don't have to interact with real live people, but it's still a book club. The first book was Frankenstein. Okay. Well then. I had no idea the monster was such a chatty guy. That book was completely unexpected. I am very glad I read it but I'm never going to read it again.

So that brings us to 2012. Hooray! I hope to fall in love with a good book this year. I hope all of you do too.

Books Read in 2012

2012-01-01T11:30:00.000-08:00

January:

1. Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
2. Hero by Perry Moore (Audio book)
3. Solomon's Oak by Jo-Ann Mapson

The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

2011-12-01T15:31:00.000-08:00

The Probability of Miracles is a very special book. It made me cry which is always a good sign because it means I grew to love the characters. The story is about Cam, a seventeen year old with cancer. She’s been fighting and surviving for years until she receives the news that there isn’t anything more the doctors can do. Medically, they’ve reached the bottom of the barrel.

Cam deals with the news in a typical Cam way. She acts tough and strong. Her mother decides to take Cam and her younger sister to a town in Maine that is known for it’s miracles. Cam doesn’t believe in Miracles but she is charmed by the odd little town and quickly sets about making miracles for other people.

This story is really, very lovely. The characters are all fantastic and really feel authentic. Wendy Wunder created a little town that I’d like to visit. One where the sun rises and sets in the same place, dandelions are purple, and whales leap at the same time every night. This story will make you wish for a miracle too.

Prophecy - The Fulfillment by Deborah Jaeger

2011-10-08T16:18:00.000-07:00

I didn't know what to expect when I started reading Prophecy - The Fulfillment, by Deborah Jaeger. I thought it was a modern retelling of the virgin birth but I was slightly off in that assumption. The story is actually about the second coming of Christ, but in a different way.

Jillian is a typical teenager. After a breakup with her boyfriend, she learns that she is pregnant. Not only is she pregnant, but she insists that she is a virgin. It is difficult for her family to believe. Even the doctors are baffled by the odd results to every medical test they can throw at her. Things take an even odder turn as miracles start to occur.

At the same time that Jillian is going through medical testing, Stephen, a Biblical scholar, has begun to have prophetic dreams. He understands that he is somehow to take Jillian away from the chaos and the danger that surrounds her. He is to be her protector.

The story is exciting and very intriguing. It's an interesting question to ask - what if the virgin birth were to happen today? What kind of medical anomaly would occur with the Son of God? While some of the scientific parts dragged, and the end seemed rushed, the book on a whole is very worth reading. I enjoyed it very much and recommend it to anyone who has faith in miracles.

Review Blast! August Catch- Up Edition

2011-08-22T15:36:00.000-07:00

I hate doing these quickie reviews but there comes a time when I realize I’m so far behind that I just need to get over
myself and get it done. So here you go. . .

Just Listen, by Sarah Dessen, was an excellent read. The story was very real - nothing sci-fi, supernatural, or dystopian about it, which is rare with Young Adult novels these days. The story was about a teenager, her sisters, and her attempt at holding her family together and deal with fall-out after a sexual assault led to rumors and misunderstandings. This story tackles rape, anorexia, and depression amongst other themes. It’s a heavy novel with a very real core. Definitely worth reading. I recommend it to older teens and adults of all ages.

Airhead, Being Nikki, and Runaway, by Meg Cabot, are the three books that make up the Airhead trilogy. The story is very far fetched. After an accident in a department store, Emerson wakes up to find her brain transplanted onto the body of a supermodel. Emerson has to pretend to be Nikki while trying to remain herself. The first book hooked me enough to keep reading but honestly I find them all a bit silly. That darn Meg Cabot can always hook me into her stories, weird as they might be. While I can’t wholeheartedly recommend them to adults, the target teen audience might enjoy the trilogy.

I’m pretty well convinced that I’ve read Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry, before. It’s a familiar story. That being said, I read it again and once again found myself caught up in one family’s courage to stay together through the worst possible time, and another family’s bravery to help them no matter the cost. It’s always worth a read - or a re-read.

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes is part of an ongoing series by Robin Jones Gunn. The stories are stand -alone novels of women getting together and finding out more about themselves, and God, along the way. In this installment, Summer heads to the Netherlands to meet her longtime pen pal Noelle. The women had been great friends for years but had never met face to face. Summer is escaping from a possible breast cancer diagnosis and Noelle is still running from a difficult relationship with her father. As the two women share adventures, they learn that their friendship was meant to be and they both find healing.

Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton

2011-08-21T15:14:00.000-07:00

I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. I wanted a big, rousing, pirate tale. Pirate Latitudes just didn’t hit the mark. I think part of it was a mental block. As someone who has written a few unpublished novels, I have to wonder if the late Michael Crichton really wanted this story to see the light of day. For those unfamiliar, it was found on his computer after he passed away. I’m not sure I would love it very much if my un-edited, un-polished manuscripts saw the light of day without my consent.

That’s not to say the story was un-polished. It was well written, obviously edited, and really was a complete story. It just didn’t quite do what I wanted it to, which was to sweep me into the Caribbean and immerse me in a story. This novel is fine as a pirate story but it wasn’t more than that. It was just a story. It didn’t stick with me. It didn’t make me want to revisit the pirates again. That’s what I wanted.

I’m glad I read this novel. I enjoyed parts of it very much and once the large cast of characters came together, the story had a nice flow. But then it was over and I put the book away. It’s worth a read and would be fun to read while cruising the Caribbean!

Honeymoon by James Patterson and Howard Roughan

2011-07-09T15:54:00.000-07:00

Right up front I'll say that this is one of James Patterson's better books. Honeymoon was both horrifying and intriguing. While I wanted to know a little more about what drove Nora to be the way she was, I was still satisfied with the ending.

The story begins with Nora juggling a husband and fiance. Through crafty computer skills and a little bit of luck, she manages to get wealthy off of these men, which in turns makes them expendable. Nora has little regret as she ends their lives. The story is also told from the perspective of John O'Hara, an FBI agent who is suspicious of Nora. Despite his job and his knowledge of the woman, he becomes too close.

I liked both the characters! I know I'm not supposed to like a murderer but she was so matter of fact about it all. I couldn't help but want to know what she would do next. John was smart and sarcastic, which to me means he was quite lovable. It was a quick and easy read that kept me reading to the end.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

2011-07-09T14:47:00.000-07:00

Okay. I really like this book! Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater is unique and yet comfortable all at the same time! It's very much girl meets boy who isn't quite human, yet the story behind it all takes it all in a new and unique direction.

Shiver is the story of Grace and Sam. Grace is a fairly typical high school student who is drawn to a wolf that lives in her woods. That wolf happens to be Sam, a human for part of the year and a wolf for the rest. When Grace finds the human Sam injured on her porch, they quickly fall in love. It's not overly corny or overly romantic, it is just right. Time is against the couple as the time is coming for Sam to become a wolf again. They struggle against nature to stay together.

This is the first in what is so far a trilogy. I'm anxious to start reading Linger, the sequel. While this is definitely a young adult book, I know a huge number of adults who enjoy books in this genre. If you are one of those people, you won't be disappointed. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and highly recommend it.

Matched by Ally Condie

2011-07-08T16:22:00.000-07:00

I had high hopes for Matched, by Ally Condie. For the most part, they were met. It's a bit of a formula now with one girl torn between two guys. Fortunately the plot is different enough for the story to be interesting. The story takes place in a future where everything is controlled. People are told what activities they can choose from, what job to take, what to eat and how much, what to wear, etc. Any step out of line, and there are problems. Even death is controlled

The story starts with Cassia attending her Matching Ceremony. At this formal dinner, she finds out who she is to marry. To her relief, she is to marry Xander, her best friend. Due to a glitch in data, she finds herself wondering if she was actually supposed to be matched to Ky. She finds herself drawn to him and he begins to challenge the life she knows.

The story moves quickly but, like many young adult novels, it doesn't have a clear ending. It's a good thing there is a sequel coming! It's really getting frustrating! I didn't love the book like I wanted to, but it certainly kept me reading. It's a solid young adult novel.

If You Were Here, by Jen Lancaster

2011-07-07T16:01:00.000-07:00

For those who read my blog (anyone?), you'll know that I am a big fan of Jen's. I'll read pretty much anything she writes, from her memoirs, to her blog, to her Twitter feed. I jumped right into If You Were Here, right after it was released (I'm just late with the review). This is Jen's first novel and it is just a ton of fun.

Mac and Mia buy a house. Not just any house, Jake Ryan's house. If you are around my age and female, your heart gave a little thump at the mention of Jake's name. Right? Mac and Mia buy the house used in the movie Sixteen Candles. Unfortunately the house has seen better days and can use some help. It does have a panic room so that's a bonus.

The story is about a couple, a house, and their attempts to make it a home. Anyone who has done construction on a home knows the things that can go wrong and in this book, it all goes wrong. If You Were Here, is not a literary masterpiece but it's a hilarious look at real people and real situations. It's typical Jen and if you love her, you'll love this. It will make you laugh.

Behind the Gates, by Eva Gray

2011-07-06T15:42:00.000-07:00

Behind the Gates, by Eva Gray, is the first in a new series for children, called Tomorrow Girls. It looked interesting as it's a dystopian novel for kids, which as far as I know is fairly unique. The young adult shelves are full of them but for ages eight - twelve, I don't see as many.

The story starts with Louisa and Maddie heading toward a special boarding school. They anticipate freedom and activities, but they find that the school is very different than expected. They are taught survival skills and have all of their electronics taken away. Louisa loves it but Maddie wants to go home.

The girls, along with some new friends, discover that things aren't quite what they seem and they begin to wonder about the school's intentions. With the world at war, are they being taught survival for a reason?

The story ends just as the story gets going. It will be interesting to continue the series eventually. I enjoyed the book but was not blown away by it. It will probably appeal more to its intended age group but I can see where kids might not be patient enough to wait for the second book. It might be an idea to get the entire series!

Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon

2011-07-05T15:36:00.000-07:00

Don’t Breathe a Word, by Jennifer McMahon, is a story that grips from the start. The introduction of a missing child is one that strikes fear into anyone who has loved a child. Lisa is missing and her brother, Sam, is just as much a victim. He grew up always wondering what happened to Lisa, never knowing that the truth was very close.

Phoebe, a broken woman herself, is in love with the now adult Sam. They are planning a future together when Sam gets a call from someone who claims to be Lisa. The story really gets going as deception and memories of literal fairy tales are brought to the forefront.

The novel is cleverly written. We get to know Lisa and her story before she disappears. She believes in fairies and her fairy king who will make her his queen. Sam never does believe but when things start spiraling out of his control, he has to question the truth. The twists and turns the story takes, kept me very interested and although the ending was disturbing, it made sense. It’s definitely worth a read.

The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin

2011-07-04T15:19:00.000-07:00

I have mixed feelings about The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb. It’s the story of Mercy Lavinia Warren Bump Stratton, known to most as Vinnie or Mrs. Tom Thumb. She was only thirty-two inches tall as an adult, having the condition known as proportionate dwarfism. While Vinnie was in fact a real person, the story is a novel told from her perspective.

Vinnie’s small size does not mean she had a small personality. Vinnie had plans to see the world and have everyone know her name. When a “cousin” invites her to join his traveling show, she anticipates that she would be performing. She had no idea her size was to be the show. The story follows Vinnie’s life in show business, both at the beginning and later under contract with P.T. Barnum.

I enjoyed the first part of the story a great deal. I enjoyed Vinnie as a child and a young adult learning her way in a big world. The story takes place in a fascinating time in history, so interesting that I found myself doing research into some of the people and places mentioned.

I had trouble with the story when I started disliking Vinnie just a little bit. Her marriage to Charles Stratton (General Tom Thumb) was never real to her and I felt that Vinnie became hard and cold after that. Ms. Benjamin does an excellent job of story telling but I have to wonder if the real Vinnie was that hard or not. I liked the innocent Vinnie a little bit more. This is worth a read but I can't recommend it like I want to.

Night Road by Kristin Hannah

2011-06-11T08:46:00.000-07:00

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book by Kristin Hannah. I remember being a fan back in the 90’s so I’m not sure why I stopped reading her books. The interesting thing is that I’ve collected several of her books over the last couple of years and just haven’t read them. I’ll have to remedy that because I’m still a fan.

Night Road has two narrators. The first narrator is Jude, the mother of twins Mia and Zach. She’s a very involved mother who defines herself by her children. When senior year begins, she knows that she has to take control of her kids, making sure they apply to the right colleges and get good grades. She hates that they want to go to parties and cautions them about driving drunk. She reluctantly loosens the reigns but she hates every minute of it.

The second narrator is Lexi. She’s a teenager who moves in with her aunt after a string of foster homes. Lexi meets Mia the first day of high school and the two become best friends. She becomes a part of Mia’s family even though things change when she starts dating Zach. One night, after a party, things change for everyone.

While the novel was sad and tragic, there was always a bit of hope. Ms. Hannah created three dimensional characters with lovely hopes and dreams. The story read like a saga. I knew something bad would happen but I was shocked at the ramifications from one event. It’s a story that will suck you right in and leave you a little worn out at the end. I highly recommend it.

The Sweetest Thing by Elizabeth Musser

2011-06-10T08:42:00.000-07:00

The Sweetest Thing, by Elizabeth Musser, is a story of friendship despite differences. It’s a story about how a life of faith can be tested and how a tragic loss can change a life, sometimes for the better.

Perri is a daughter of privilege. She grew up in Atlanta, in a community more or less immune to the depression plaguing the nation. At least that’s what Perri thought. Mary Dobbs is a teenager who has watched her family struggle her entire life. As the daughter of a pastor, she fully believes that God provides, because she’s experienced it in her daily life.

When Dobbs moves in with her aunt in Atlanta it is to give her the chance for a different kind of life. She meets Perri and after a family tragedy, becomes the one friend that Perri can really count on. The two girls experience highs and lows with Perri slowly growing in her relationship with Christ at the same time Dobbs begins to lose her faith, when old family secrets are revealed.

One lesson to take away from this book is that even in the darkest times, one little bit of God’s love, no matter what form it takes, can pull you out. I recommend this story to anyone who needs a reminder of that.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarity

2011-06-09T08:40:00.000-07:00

I thoroughly enjoyed What Alice Forgot, by Liane Moriarity. It is an extremely well written novel about getting second chances and a fresh perspective. The novel flowed easily, even with three different stories being told. The focus was on Alice but I was just as moved by Alice’s sister, Elisabeth, and her story.

The story is fairly simple. Alice hits her head during a spin class and when she comes to, she can’t remember the last ten years of her life. She believes she is pregnant with her first child while in fact she is a mother of three and is in the process of a messy divorce. The Alice who wakes up is very different from the Alice who went to the spin class that morning. She doesn’t remember her children and doesn’t know why she and her husband are separated.

What the author does so well, is make us, the readers, care for the “new” version of Alice. She’s naive and sweet. She is encouraging and not bitter. The “old” version was frazzled and angry. While she may have had her reasons, I couldn’t help but hope that she would never get her memory back. I’ll remember this story for many years and have already passed the book along to another friend. I’m sure she’ll love it too.

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

2011-06-08T20:38:00.000-07:00

I almost gave up on The Distant Hours, by Kate Morton. It was moving slowly, I just wasn’t in the mood, and the book was too long. That’s what I thought anyway. I’ll tell you upfront that I am totally happy that I kept with the book. It is long, and it does move at a slow pace, but everything fits and the story is satisfyingly wrapped up in the end, with most of the mysteries being resolved.

The story begins with Edie discovering a part of her mother’s life that she had never known. As a young girl, Meridith was evacuated to the countryside during World War II. During this time frame, she lived at Milderhurst Castle with the odd trio of Blythe sisters. The novel jumps time frames, with the modern focusing on Edie discovering the secrets of the house, the sisters, and the mystery revolving around Mr. Blythe’s famous novel, “The True History of the Mud Man”. The flashbacks to the past are narrated by Saffy Blythe, her twin sister Percy, and the young Juniper Blythe.

The author does a wonderful job of making Milderhurst come alive, both during the war and in more modern days. Each sister has their own dreams and secrets and yet you can feel the fierce protectiveness they have for each other and as a reader you know they would stick together, through anything. When all is finally resolved, it all clicks and makes so much sense. While parts are disturbing, and I may have a few nightmares about the Mud Man, I really feel that the story was completely satisfying. I definitely recommend it, even if it takes you a while to read!

Max by James Patterson

2011-05-01T14:37:00.000-07:00

I just love the characters in the "Bird Kid" series by James Patterson. Loving the characters does not mean that I love the books. This is written with a big sigh. The first couple of books in the series were good. They kept my interest but the last few have really gone downhill. The stories are more frantic, the dialogue is affected, and the plots are dull. I can't even tell you much about the plot. I am also pretty sure that I've written the same type of review for the last book in the series.

Can I recommend the series? Yes, to young teens or fans of the characters. The are the only think keeping me reading.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

2011-04-23T05:19:00.000-07:00

Here’s a book that’s been around a while. The Handmaid’s Tale was published in 1985 and I’ve been encouraged to read it several times. Now that I’ve read it, I’m not all that sure what to think. I did enjoy the book and I do think it was worth reading, it was just not quite what I expected. I knew the basics of the plot but I didn’t know anything about the writing style. Of course, it’s hard to anticipate a writing style for an author you’ve never read. Even so, I was surprised.

The story is about Offred, a handmaid who’s sole purpose is to bear a child for the Commander and his wife. She once lived a normal life and was married with a little girl. When the world changed, politics changed, and the rules changed. She was separated from her husband and daughter, forced to enter the life of a handmaid. Everything was controlled for her, she had no real freedom.

While I enjoyed the story, I don’t know that I’d recommend it widely. I’ve read a great deal of dystopian novels lately and I do think that the Handmaid’s Tale may have influenced several of them. That being said, it’s a difficult story to read because we never truly get into the soul of Offred, not even enough to know her real name. While I was able to form an image of her before everything changed, it didn’t always translate to the quiet woman that did her duty month after month. Only towards the end when she was taking a few risks, did I feel like she was a whole person. The bottom line is that the story is beautifully written and very thought provoking. It’s worth reading if you haven’t already.

The Beach House by James Patterson

2011-04-22T04:59:00.000-07:00

The Beach House, by James Patterson, is one of his stand-alone novels that are not a part of any series. I expected it to be a quick read, like many of his books are, and I was right. It was quick and somewhat pointless.

Honestly? I didn’t love the book at all. I thought the premise was good but the end was pretty ridiculous. Essentially the story is about a young lawyer trying to find out who killed his younger brother. He goes to some pretty extreme measures to accomplish this task.

I complain a good deal about Patterson’s books and yet I do continue to read them. They are rarely satisfying and yet they keep me occupied when I need something quick to read. If you are a fan, you might as well read it. If you haven’t read his books, I wouldn’t start with this one.

The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan

2011-04-21T04:50:00.000-07:00

The Dark and Hollow Places is the third book in a trilogy by Carrie Ryan. The first book is The Forest of Hands and Teeth. It’s a fantastic book and I highly recommend it. The sequel, The Dead Tossed Waves, did not disappoint either and I’ve been anxiously awaiting the third book. It was worth the wait.

The Dark and Hollow Places takes place pretty soon after the end of The Dead Tossed Waves. The narrator is Annah, Gabry’s twin sister. Annah is living in the Dark City by herself, waiting for Elias to return. While trying to leave the Dark City to make her way back to the forest, in the hopes of finding her sister again, she sees Abigail (now Gabry) passing the other direction. Annah fights her way back to the city and meets Catcher as well as eventually reuniting with both Elias and Gabry. The four have to find a way to escape what is left of the Dark City while avoiding both the recruiters and the unconsecrated.

A good deal of the first two books involve characters trying to make their way through the forest. I kind of missed that in this book but subway tunnels took the place of the forest paths. Like the two previous novels, the story moves along at a fast pace and it’s easy to get caught up and sucked in. I love Ms. Ryan’s writing style and her characters. There’s always an aspect of hope, despite a hopeless situation. I know this was supposed to be a three-book series but I wouldn’t complain if there were another! Or two or three. I really enjoyed the entire series and I highly recommend all three.

The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler

2011-04-20T16:48:00.000-07:00

This is another one of those books that I kept seeing over and over but never read. Maybe it’s because the cover is pretty and that attracted me! I’m not sure it was one hundred percent worth the wait. The book is aimed at pre-teens and I think that if I were a ten year old girl, I’d be obsessed with the book and the series. As I am not a ten year old (although I still act like it occasionally), I found the book to be entertaining but it lacked something.

The story is about Emily, a twelve year old who lives on a boat with her mother. Her mother is terrified of water and has never let Emily learn how to swim. When her school provides swimming lessons, her mother gives in. Emily is a natural in the water and for good reason. She’s part mermaid. The rest of the book follows Emily’s quest to find her father and figure out why her mother can’t remember a thing about him.

I can’t put my finger on what was missing. The character of Emily was great, she had a lot of personality. I’m not sure if it was just too simple for me or what I was looking/hoping for. Eventually I may get to the rest of the series but not right away. I am curious as to the island they were referring to. I would recommend it to girls in the appropriate age range. I can see my nieces enjoying it when they are older.

Gone With a Handsomer Man by Michael Lee West

2011-03-29T14:52:00.000-07:00

Gone With a Handsomer Man, by Michael Lee West is a clever and witty mystery romance. I found it to be a fun read. I'm not good with mysteries though so I did peak ahead to see the culprit!

The story is about Teeny Templeton, an amateur baker who is engaged to a wealthy Lothario. When she comes home to find him playing naked badminton with a couple of women, she gets angry and starts throwing peaches. This is where the story spirals, with her having to move out, try to regain custody of her dog, and eventually solve a mystery. She also meets a handsomer man from her past who helps her to get over Bing.

The writing is very clever with some great lines that I shared with my mother on several occasions. The story moves fairly quickly and the dialogue is snappy. It might be a little too snappy and clever at times, but it all worked, especially set in the city of Charleston. While the story resolved itself, there was a definite cliff-hanger so I can only assume there will be a sequel. I hope.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

2011-03-13T15:50:00.000-07:00

I’ve been hearing about the Mortal Instruments series for a long time but never really thought it would interest me. It turns out that I did enjoy the first book in the series but I’m not really sure why. The story was fairly predictable and yet I found myself wanting to know what happened next.

Clary is a fifteen year old who begins seeing people that nobody else can see. When her mother disappears she relies on Jace, a mysterious shadowhunter (demon slayer) to help her find her mother. Clary learns some truths about who she is and the life she came from.

The characters were great, I will say that. They will keep me reading the series. I confess to not being a fan of big mythology type books. I felt that parts of the stories were very similar to other books and movies that I’ve enjoyed, specifically Star Wars. In the end, I can recommend it for great characters and a well paced story. It’s not the greatest book I’ve ever read but I still had fun reading it.

The 5th Horseman by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

2011-02-28T09:07:00.000-08:00

I have mixed feelings about James Patterson's books. I know he writes with a co-author and I know that some of his books - specifically his novels for teens - can be quite silly. That being said, I do enjoy some of his books and his Women's Murder Club series is one that I do like.

The 5th Horseman is the fifth book in the series. It starts out with Lindsey Boxer, the usual narrator, on the job as lieutenant on the police force. She's investigating a series of murders where the victims are left in cars for anyone to find. It was very disturbing. I had to put the book down a few times.

The other storyline involves a hospital where healthy patients with non-life threatening conditions or injuries are dying, usually by an "accidental" mix up with medications. Yuki's mother is taken to that hospital and the story takes off from there.

I feel like this is a solid addition to the series although there wasn't anything that moved the series along. Nothing much changed with the women, with the exception of Yuki. If you've been reading the series, you should continue. The authors tells a good story. If you haven't read the series, go on back to 1st to Die. They are quick reads and you'll get an idea of whether or not the series is for you.

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

2011-02-27T16:56:00.000-08:00

Wither, by Lauren DeStefano, is one of those books that caught me from the start. The concept alone was very interesting. I seem to be attracted to books that disgust me with the general idea and then intrigue me the rest of the way through.

The novel focuses on Rhine. She's a teenager living in a futuristic America where an overload of genetic testing has caused the downfall of society. In this future, men don't live beyond the age of twenty-five and women die at age twenty. The desire to continue the population leads to kidnapping and polygamy. Rhine is sixteen years old when she is kidnapped and taken to a grand mansion in Florida. While she bonds with her sister wives and a servant named Gabriel, she longs for escape and finding her brother.

One of the things that really struck me about the book is that Lindon, the young groom, is as much a victim as the girls in many ways. His first wife has died and he's controlled by his father. While I like the blooming relationship between Rhine and Gabriel, I think that Rhine actually has an affection for her husband, even if it isn't love.

I really enjoyed the story and although it didn't end - a pet peeve of mine - it's the first in a planned trilogy so hopefully I'll find out what happened! The characters were well formed and the setting was described in such a way that I can completely see the mansion in my head. There are plenty of dystopian novels out there right now and this is a good one. Enjoy it!

What Are You Reading Wednesday - Feb 16 Edition

2011-02-16T15:12:00.000-08:00

Behind on my blog again. Drat. So frustrating! I promise to catch up on reviews as quickly as I can.

As for what I'm reading. . .

I am still reading The Distant Hours! I can't believe it either. I like the story and the characters but the pace is so plodding. I've had to demote it to my bedtime book because I just can't read more than a chapter at a time without getting a bit bored. I hate to admit that. I will get through it. It's just going to take me a while.

Because I like to make progress, I've started reading City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. It's very different but it's also very interesting and it moves along.

So what are you reading?

What are You Reading Wednesday - Jan 26

2011-01-26T16:29:00.000-08:00

Argh!

I hate it when I finish a good book and then have to start a new one with new characters and a new style. It's frustrating to leave characters I care about.

But. . . I have three books started.

I started reading 5th Horseman, by James Patterson, last week as my "bedtime" book but I have decided that I can't read about murder before going to bed. Not a good fit.

So last night I started reading Coraline, by Neil Gaiman, before bed and it's kind of disturbing too. I think it should be all right. I've seen the movie (didn't love it) and I'm familiar with the story.

And that brings me to my "main" book which is The Distant Hours by Kate Morton. Right now I'm slightly intimidated by it's size but so far, I'm enjoying her writing. It might take me a while to finish but I'll get it done.

The question is, which will I finish first? Coraline is pretty short but I don't always read for very long at night. Still, I should get that finished pretty quickly. I'm going to shelve 5th Horseman for a little bit just because I can't read it at night and The Distant Hours will take a while. Time will tell.

Teaser Tuesdays - January 25

2011-01-25T08:10:00.000-08:00

I haven't done a Teaser Tuesday for a while but I want to get back in the habit!

Today's teaser comes from Wither by Lauren DeStefano.

Rhine is a young woman who was kidnapped and sold as a bride. The story takes place in a dystopian future where lifespans are dangerously short and the way of doing everything has changed.

From page 87:

I hesitate, unsure if I can trust her with my plan to earn Linden's trust and escape. She seems resigned to rotting in this mansion, but maybe it never crossed her mind that there could be a way out.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

2011-01-24T10:51:00.000-08:00

Across the Universe, by Beth Revis, is a completely satisfying book. I say that because the story was neatly wound up and questions were answered. One of my pet peeves lately is with books that don't really have a conclusion. I get irritated with books that plan for sequels and don't really end. It leaves me feeling very unsatisfied and let down. Fortunately Across the Universe didn't do that.

Before I started reading, I imagined this book was about a teen romance set on a space ship. I was really wrong. Yes, the story took place on a ship in outer space and there was a touch of romance, but it wasn't the focus of the story at all.

Amy is a teenager who has chosen to accompany her parents on a mission to colonize another planet. She is cryogenically frozen and placed on a ship bound for the planet. The trip is set to take three hundred years. When she is unfrozen fifty years too early, she must cope with life on a ship where she is a stranger. The people who were born and raised on the ship are very different, mono-ethnic and all look very similar. She stands out with her red hair and pale skin.

Elder is a sixteen year old boy who is the future leader of the ship. He will replace Eldest, the current leader and his teacher. Elder is intrigued with Amy and her tales of Earth. With new information he begins to question the system of control that Eldest is using on the residents of the ship.

This book is full of mystery, conspiracy and secrets. I think the author did a fabulous job making sure that questions were answered and things made sense. When the story came to it's conclusion, I felt that I knew everything I wanted to know - except what happens next! The story did end and I don't know if a sequel is planned, but I would read it. I encourage anyone to read this, don't be afraid of the science fiction element because it's not really a sci-fi book. It's more of a dystopian world - that takes place on a space ship.

Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich

2011-01-19T16:44:00.000-08:00

Visions of Sugarplums is a "between the numbers" edition of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. This story takes place between books 8 and 9. I was actually surprised that it advanced the series as I thought it was going to be more of a stand alone book.

Stephanie wakes up one morning to find a strange man in her living room. Fortunately, this is not an unusual situation for her. She tends to have that problem regularly. Diesel is something not quite human and that puts Stephanie more on guard than normal. Stephanie's current case is to find a man named Sandy Claws (appropriate at Christmastime) and Diesel is trying to find him as well.

The story moves right along as the paperback is only around 160 pages. There are a few developments regarding Stephanie's family but nothing much changes in her very mixed up love life.

These books are all on the light and fun side which is a nice thing to read when life gets a little heavy.

Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich

2011-01-13T09:18:00.000-08:00

Hard Eight, by Janet Evanovich, is the eighth book in the Stephanie Plum series. I've grown terribly fond of the characters after reading eight novels. The books are easy to pick up and jump right in because I know what I'm getting into. It's like going to a party where you know everyone! No awkward moments. Some books in the series are pretty light and don't have much substance but I didn't find that with Hard Eight.

Hard Eight is one of the few books in the series where I really felt that Stephanie was in big trouble. Stephanie started off trying to find a mother who had disappeared with her young daughter. In the process she angered a very bad "business" man who made it his job to terrorize her. And he terrorized her in some severely creepy ways. There was also the very needed humor -especially with the introduction of Albert Kloughn. Such a needy little guy!

Throughout the story, I was completely drawn in to see what was going to happen to Stephanie next. It was actually pretty dark and scary. This is definitely one of the better books in the series as far as suspense goes. I really enjoyed it and look forward to continuing the series.

What Are You Reading Wednesday - Jan 12

2011-01-12T08:36:00.000-08:00

This week I am reading Across the Universe by Beth Revis. It's a love story set in space. Or I assume it's a love story! I'm only about seventy pages in. I'm actually quite attached to the story already and I am really looking forward to getting back to my book! I love being excited about what I'm reading!

Tonight I'm going to start reading Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich. I've found that reading lighter books before bed is a good thing for my brain. I'm familiar with the characters and it's like hanging out with friends before I go to sleep.

So my Lunchtime Book is Across the Universe and my Bedtime Book is Visions of Sugar Plums.

The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens

2011-01-11T12:45:00.000-08:00

The Emerald Atlas, by John Stephens, is a bit of fantasy and adventure with a large dose of reality. Kate, Michael, and Emma are siblings who were taken from their parents one Christmas Eve and begin a life of moving from orphanage to orphanage. Kate, the eldest is the one with the memories of her parents and knows that they loved her very much. She and her siblings continue the hope that somehow their parents will find them or come back for them.

When they end up in Cambridge Falls at an orphanage where they are the only children, strange things begin to happen. They find a book that takes them back in time and their adventure really gets going at that point. They find an evil witch, a kind wizard, an army of odd zombie like creatures, and some kind people who are willing to help them.

I did enjoy the story. The first one hundred pages or so were a bit slow going as the stage was set for the adventure. There were moments where I doubted I would have much good to say about it, but that didn't last. Once the children went back in time, the story became fun and quite intriguing. It was interesting to try to figure out the what and the why of things, how time travel worked, the history of the book, and the secret to why the children were taken from loving parents. The character were wonderful. King Hamish's tantrums made me laugh and the bravery of Gabriel nearly had me in tears. I feel that Mr. Stephens wrote a rich, interesting book and I look forward to the future sequels.

What Are You Reading Wednesday - Jan 5

2011-01-05T14:53:00.000-08:00

So I decided to create my own Wednesday series where I'll write about what I'm reading and how it's going. I apologize if other blogs are doing a meme similar to this. This is more for me as I have very slim readership! I'm beginning to think that I'm just doing this blog for my own personal reading record. If so, that's fine. I'm still doing something.

So. . . What Are You Reading Wednesday begins! (I've got to come up with a graphic!)

This week I am *still* plugging away at The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens. It was an ARC that I received from the publisher and I know there is a lot of hype about this book. So far it's not blowing me away, but it's still keeping me interested. My lack of reading time and my distraction with Angry Birds on my iPhone have kept me from finishing the book. I'm over halfway through at this point. I hope to have it finished this weekend. I'm traveling this weekend which usually means a lot of time to read in the car.

I'm also reading - barely started actually - Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich. It's the 8th (duh) book in the Stephanie Plum series. I can't say much as I think I'm on page 16. It's my bedtime book but I've been so tired at night that I just haven't been able to read much. There's a good chance I'll have that finished this weekend too! Let's hope that by next Wednesday I will have two new books going!

Goals for 2011

2011-01-03T15:55:00.000-08:00

It's time to clean up this blog and get rid of most of the challenge lists. I'm not doing any formal challenges this year. This year I hope to clean out my bookshelves. They are sagging. I know myself well enough to know that I will always have full shelves, but I would like to get to the point where my shelves are full but the extra piles are gone.

I'm hoping to accomplish that by reading at least 50 books this year and twenty-five of those (hopefully more) must have been on my shelves or piles or Kindle when the clock struck midnight on Jan 1, 2011. That of course meant I needed a new spreadsheet to keep track of what I acquire during the year. I just love spreadsheets. There is already one book on it as I downloaded a free book to my Kindle on Saturday.

Now as for the Kindle? Out of those 25 books, only five of them can be from my Kindle. That doesn't help me clean off my shelves, and that's the purpose of this challenge.

This led me to think about where I get my books. Why do I have so many? I read 65 books this year and only about a dozen of those were read on my Kindle. Yet my shelves are still full.

I get about a dozen advanced readers copies of books from various publishers. They all get read in the timeliest manner I can manage so they really don't sit on my shelf for very long.

I buy about a dozen actual- paper not digital - books a year from various stores. Usually these are books from authors I love and am chomping at the bit to get my hands on the book. I typically read those quickly as well.

The biggest chunk comes from the library book sales. It's easy to buy a book when it only costs 50 cents. It's not so easy to get it read when there are so many other books to read. I average eight books a sale so that means I'm buying at least forty-eight books a year and those are usually the lowest priority. That's where I need to think and cut back. Those sales are sagging my shelves. I'll still go but I'm going to take a little more time.

So that's where I stand. I hope 2011 is an awesome year!

Books Read in 2011!!!

2011-01-01T12:17:00.000-08:00

January

1. The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
2. Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich
3. Visions of Sugarplums by Janet Evanovich
4. Across the Universe by Beth Rivas
5. Wither by Lauren DeStefano

February

6. The 5th Horseman by James Patterson
7. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
8. The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler

March

9. Max by James Patterson
10. Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich
11. Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon
12. The Beach House by James Patterson
13. Gone with a Handsomer Man by Michael Lee West

April

14. The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan
15. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
16. The Distant Hours by Kate Morton
17. The Sweetest Thing by Elizabeth Musser

May

18. Behind the Gates by Eva Gray
19. Night Road by Kristin Hannah
20. If You Were Here by Jen Lancaster
21. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarity
22. Matched by Ally Condie
23. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

June

24. Airhead by Meg Cabot
25. Being Nikki by Meg Cabot
26. Runaway by Meg Cabot
27. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
28. The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin
29. Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton
30. Honeymoon by James Patterson.

July

31. Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes by Robin Jones Gunn
32. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
33. To the Nines by Janet Evanovich
34. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
35. Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

August

36. The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder
37. Joy School by Elizabeth Berg
38. Prophecy - The Fulfillment by Deborah A. Jaeger
39. The Bright Side of Disaster by Katherine Center

September

40. The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern
41. That Summer by Sarah Dessen
42. The Search by Nora Roberts
43. Deeply Desperately by Heather Webber

October

44. The Sixth Target by James Patterson
45. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
46. Seriously I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres
47. So Many Books So Little Time by Sara Nelson
48. Now You See Her by James Patterson
49. 7th Heaven by James Patterson

November

50. The Mist by Stephen King
51. The 8th Confession by James Patterson
52. The 9th Judgment by James Patterson
53. The 10th Anniversary by James Patterson
54. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (Audio Book)
55. Coming Home by Mariah Stewart
56. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

December

57. The Next Always by Nora Roberts
58. The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson
59. Twas the Night by Sandra Hill, Trish Jensen, and Kate Holmes

Wrapping Up 2010

2010-12-31T17:53:00.000-08:00

Another year coming to an end. Ugh. I'm not sure I'm ready to say goodbye to 2010. I had a lot I wanted to accomplish. Now I'm going to have to set my goals high for 2011. I think it would be nice to occasionally meet goals before the New Year starts and then don't set anymore! They only lead to heartache. . . But enough of that.

2010 was a good year for reading! I read 64 books this year which is a new record! Well, actually I think it is. I've only kept track for the last five years or so. I can safely say that my numbers have improved every year since 2006. I met two of the challenge goals that I set for myself last January so that's good.

The highlights of 2010:

* The Hunger Games trilogy! I discovered the series in 2010 and read all three books. I am so glad that I did. They are full of action and great characters.
* The Forest of Hands and Teeth and The Dead Tossed Waves: Again, two books in a series that I seriously loved. I can't wait for the third book.
* Under the Dome: I fussed about how long the book took me to finish but I still think about it all the time. It's good.
* The Help: Another book that will stay with me. I read a few books about the horrors that humans can inflict on others just based on religion or race or color of skin. It's not right and this book sheds light on that.
* The Book Thief: Wow. Just an amazing book again, focusing on human horrors - this time the Holocaust. The difference in this book is that the book centers on a different view, one of the German people, innocent and yet still living in fear.
* Infinite Days: Another vampire book, yet so different. It was nice to read something so very different.
* The Passage: Another long book that took me FOREVER to read but it was worth it. Very good book about survival.

The low-lights of 2010

* Going Overboard: The more I think about this one, the more I think it was a waste of time.
* Out of Eden: A very boring romance.
* Briar Rose: Very disappointing to me. I didn't enjoy the story and I really expected something different.
* The Dangerous Days of Daniel X: Pointless read. Good thing it was quick.
* Witch and Wizard: Another pointless Patterson book. I didn't enjoy it at all.

The good news is that I enjoyed more books than I disliked. That's always a positive! I'm really looking forward to 2011 and the wonderful books that it will bring!

New Author Challenge Wrap Up 2010

2010-12-31T16:35:00.000-08:00

My goal for the New Author Challenge was to read 25 new authors for 2010. I am happy to say that I completed that goal with a few extras. I read 33 new authors in 2010. Please note that these are new authors to me, not necessarily new authors to the industry. The links are attached to the reviews here on my blog.

1. Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
2. Lauren Kate
3. Jeffrey Stepakoff
4. Suzanne Collins
5. Aprilynne Pike
6. Kieran Scott
7. Rick Riordan
8. Christina Skye
9. Kathi Appelt
10. Kathryn Stockett
11. Beth Ciotta
12. Jane Yolen
13. Sarah Dessen
14. Markus Zusak
15. Anna Quindlen
16. Robin Benway
17. Shannon Hale
18. Rebecca Maizel
19. Barbara Freethy
20. David Nicholls
21. Cathie Beck
22. Dona Van Liere
23. Maureen Johnson
24. Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez
25. Lucy Dawson
26. Carrie Ryan
27. Linda Urban
28. Margaret Peterson Haddix
29. Lauren Oliver
30. James Manos Jr.
31 Eva Ibbotson
32. James Cronin
33. Joanne Fluke

A to Z Challenge Wrap Up 2010

2010-12-31T16:07:00.000-08:00

Way back in January of 2010, I committed to read a book by an author for every letter of the alphabet. Not long into the year, I thought that I might as well do the title challenge as well. Oops. I soon realized that I had lost the joy in reading. It had become a chore to find the book, read the book, and review the book. Back in July, I made the decision to stop pursuing the title portion of the challenge.

I'm happy to report that I did read a book by an author for every letter of the alphabet! I completed the goal that I set for myself in January so I'm satisfied with my reading for the year. And yes, I cheated for "X"

Here is my completed list for the A to Z Challenge!

A = Appelt, Kathi (Keeper)
B = Barry, Brunonia (The Map of True Places)
C = Collins, Suzanne (The Hunger Games)
D = Divakaruni, Chitra Banerjee (One Amazing Thing)
E = Evanovich, Janet (Hot Six)
F = Freethy, Barbara (On Shadow Beach)
G = Giffin, Emily (Heart of the Matter)
H = Harris, Charlaine (Club Dead)
I = Ibbotson, Eva (Journey to the River Sea)
J = Johnson, Maureen (13 Little Blue Envelopes)
K = Kate, Lauren (Fallen)
L = Lancaster, Jen (My Fair Lazy)
M = Maizel, Rebecca (Infinite Days)
N = Noel, Alyson (Evermore)
O = Oliver, Lauren (Before I Fall)
P = Pike, Aprilynne (Wings)
Q = Quindlen, Anna (Blessings)
R = Roberts, Nora (Bed of Roses)
S = Stepakoff, Jeffrey (Fireworks over Toccoa)
T = Trigiani, Adriana (Big Stone Gap)
U = Urban, Linda (A Crooked Kind of Perfect)
V = Van Liere, Donna (The Angels of Morgan Hill)
W = Wickham, Madeleine (A Desirable Residence)
X = Haddix, Margaret Peterson (Found)
Y = Yolen, Jane (Briar Rose)
Z = Zusak, Markus (The Book Thief)

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

2010-12-30T15:57:00.000-08:00

I was reluctant to jump back into the world of Twilight with an unfamiliar character so it took me a long time to read this book. I enjoyed it quite a bit! The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner is a short little book about a minor character in Eclipse. Bree is one of the newborn army sent to distract the Cullens while Victoria went after Bella.

Because I've read Eclipse, and have seen the movie, I know how Bree's story ends so that made the whole thing a little difficult. She's a smart little vampire who thinks about more than her next meal. I also liked the character of Freaky Fred and would like to know more about where he went and how his story continued.

If you've read the Twilight saga, you might as well read this one. It fits in nicely and gives a different perspective.

2 Quick Reviews

2010-12-30T08:56:00.000-08:00

Almost done with my reviews for 2010. . . Just a few more.

Seven Up by Janet Evanovich is the seventh book in the Stephanie Plum series. I do enjoy coming back to this series and hanging out with the characters for a few days. In Seven Up, Stephanie is on the hunt for old Eddie DeChooch. He's a slippery old guy who likes to shoot at Stephanie. While looking for him, she has to locate her missing friends Dougie and Mooner.

It's a fun book, with a ton of humor and ridiculous situations. It's exactly the kind of book to read when you just need to be entertained. Plus there is the whole triangle between Stephanie, Morelli, and Ranger. It just gets more intriguing.

Sugar Cookie Murder, by Joanne Fluke is part of a series but unfortunately I haven't read any of the other books. I don't think I will either. While I found parts of the book to be fun, the rest was just a little boring and didn't hold my interest. I was also surprised that the whole second half of the book was recipes! They do look good so I'm going to keep the book!

Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts

2010-12-29T15:54:00.000-08:00

I'm just so sad that this series is over. Maybe Ms. Roberts can write a book about Mrs. G! She's due a wedding of her own. Anyway. . . Happy Ever After is the fourth book in the Bride Quartet. It isn't my favorite of the series but I still enjoyed it very much. It was nice to read just a good romance with very little conflict, just love.

I've grown to care for the gals at Vows and it was nice to at least get one wedding (Mac and Carter's) in this book. I want one more book so that I can read about the other weddings! In Happy Ever After, Parker continues to be grumpy at Mal and Mal continues to pursue Parker. It's a match made in heaven. If you've read the other books in the series, you've already met Mal and probably already figured out that he's perfect for the extremely organized Parker. He messes with her life just enough to make it interesting.

The whole series is just romantic and fluffy. If you like Nora Roberts, you've probably already picked up this series, but if not, I do recommend it. They make you want a happy ever after of your own.

The Passage by Justin Cronin

2010-12-29T10:40:00.000-08:00

Have you ever picked up a book, started reading, enjoyed it, but still didn't know if you could finish it? The Passage, by Justin Cronin, was like that for me. So, if you are considering reading this really great book, just plug through. You'll be glad you did.

The focus of the story is Amy, a young child who is just a little different and very brilliant. When her desperate mother leaves her at an orphanage, the government swoops in. The government is creating super weapons - vampire like creatures - to combat terrorism. Of course, nothing quite works out the way they planned and after a mass escape, the creatures invade and infect at least the United States. It's never clear how far it spreads.

The next part of the book is about a pocket of survivors who are living on borrowed time and old batteries, with a system of walls and bright lights to protect them from the "virals". When Amy arrives at their village, they discover a secret and a few set out to bring Amy back to where it all started.

Mr. Cronin crafted a very well detailed story with many surprises. It is long and epic, spanning many, many years, but it's gripping and disturbing. While it may be a vampire story, these are not your typical vampires. They are not charming, that's for sure. They are scary and not terribly human at all. If I have any minor complaint it's the transitions between "sections" of the book. I felt like so much was left hanging and all of a sudden I was one hundred years in the future trying to get to know a new group of characters. Once I figured things out, the story began to flow again. That's minor and it might not bother other people - I have a very linear mind, time-lines are very important to me in the books I read. I do highly recommend this novel. Just set aside a good chunk of time.

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

2010-12-28T16:05:00.000-08:00

I was slightly disappointed by Sophie Kinsella's last book so I was hesitant to read Twenties Girl but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a fun story that provokes some deep thoughts.

The story centers on Lara, a woman who is struggling in many areas of her life. Her perfect boyfriend isn't so perfect, her business partner has abandoned her, and work isn't exactly pouring in. To top it off, she has to go to her great Aunt Sadie's funeral, where Great Aunt Sadie's ghost happens to show up -with Lara the only one that can see her. Sadie asks Lara to help find a necklace - and stop the funeral until she does.

Sadie wants to have fun in her afterlife. She wants to dance, flirt, and be playful. Lara has a life to lead and work to do. The odd pair finally work out a system to benefit them both, all while Lara searches for the missing necklace.

Twenties Girl is a book that will put a smile on your face while making you think about your own family and who and what is important to you. Enjoy!

Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

2010-12-28T12:47:00.000-08:00

I still haven't seen the new movie version of Voyage of the Dawn Treader, so this review is strictly on the book, which is a good one. I've been trying to journey through Narnia for several years now. I think I received the set of books when I was around twelve or thirteen. That means I've had them for well over twenty years. I kept reading The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe over and over and over again. I am now making progress. I'm at least keeping up with the movies!

Voyage of the Dawn Treader is quite a fun adventure book. We are introduced to Eustace, a spoiled cousin of the Pevensies. Lucy and Edmond go to stay with Eustace and his family one summer and are whisked back into Narnia, with Eustace along for the ride. They are hauled aboard a ship called the Dawn Treader where they find their old friends Caspian, Reepicheep, and others. The ship is sailing to find the seven lost Lords of Narnia.

Through their search, they encounter strange islands and odd creatures. This is where the story really gets going. In my opinion this is one of the lighter and more fun books in the series. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I regret that I didn't read it twenty years ago. It could almost be read as a stand-alone book if someone was not familiar with the rest of the series. Voyage of the Dawn Treader is recommended for all ages but there are a few places that might be a little intense. If your kids aren't reading independently at this level, I recommend you read it with them. You'll all enjoy it.

Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson

2010-12-27T16:27:00.000-08:00

I picked up Journey to the River Sea, by Eva Ibbotson, strictly because I needed a book written by an "I" author. Fortunately I chose wisely and thanks to the A to Z Challenge, I found a wonderful book that I probably would never have looked at otherwise.

Maia is an orphan who is leaving the security of her boarding school in England to travel to the Amazon to live with distant relatives. She has images of her twin cousins becoming fast friends, and having adventures in the jungle. Once she arrives, she realizes that nothing is as it seems. Her aunt is paranoid, her uncle unaware, and her cousins are downright creepy. It is Miss Minton, Maia's nanny and teacher, who protects Maia from her awful family.

Maia does find her adventure in the jungle, and with a great cast of characters, we the readers go along for the ride. Journey to the River Sea is one of those special books that is going to stay with me. I plan to share this book with many people and I really highly recommend it. If any of you are teachers, it's an excellent book to read aloud, with all the twists and turns.

Family Affair by Debbie Macomber

2010-12-27T10:07:00.000-08:00

Family Affair, by Debbie Macomber, is one of those quick, light reads that are good to fit in between big serious books. That being said, sometimes they are too quick and too light.

Lacey is recovering from a painful divorce and moves into a new apartment. Her neighbor is relentless in pursuing her but she wants nothing to do with him. Through a series of misunderstandings, the two finally connect.

This book is a re-print from an original publishing date of 1994. I definitely see a difference in Ms. Macomber's writing style and quality of work. It's cute but there is very little substance.

Another Response to Little Ellie Claus

2010-12-22T14:39:00.000-08:00

*Spoiler Alert*

If you don't want to know how the story ends, please skip this post and go down to the next, where there is a nice mild review.

You know how some books stick with you, good or bad? Some books I read, put away and don't really think much about. Others seem to stay with me and Little Ellie Claus, by James Manos Jr. has. Not in a good way. I keep thinking, and thinking, and thinking about this story. I thought about writing a letter to the author but I can't find an e-mail address.

Here's my problem. . . I'm adopted. I was adopted at birth and my parents are amazing. They have done nothing but love and support me my entire life. If, at age eleven, my birth parents had come back into my life, there is absolutely no way my parents would have just waved goodbye to me. There is no way I would have let them.

In Little Ellie Claus, Ellie finds out that she is adopted (not formally or legally, but essentially she was adopted). She's only eleven years old but she immediately takes off for New York to find her birth mother. There was nothing pointing to a strained or difficult relationship between Ellie and her parents. She was raised by Santa and Mrs. Claus! What could be bad? When Ellie finds her birth mother, she bonds with her immediately and after some drama, she says goodbye to the parents who raised her so she could stay with the mother who was forced to give her up many years earlier.

I can't imagine that the author really understands how adoption works, not the legal aspect, but the emotional bond. Ellie was an infant when Santa took her in. She had no memory of her birth mother, so why the instant bond? I find it all very disturbing and frankly the ending ruined the book for me. That's all I have to say.

Little Ellie Claus by James Manos Jr.

2010-12-16T14:57:00.000-08:00

Little Ellie Claus, by James Manos Jr. has been sitting unread on my shelf for quite a while. I was determined to read it this year. Lucy and Peter are young, in love, and setting off on an adventure. With all their pets in tow, they head to New York in 1933 where Peter has been offered a job. When things don't work out quite like they hoped, they struggle along with most of the country, in the midst of depression.

I feel that almost everything else I put in a summary will ruin the story, so I'm going to refrain. There were a few things that I loved about the story. The basic idea was really great and I knew from the beginning that something I didn't like was going to happen. It worried me and I considered putting the book back on the shelf. I did plod through and I found a lot of joy in the story. Peter and Lucy were great characters, with a lot of life and warmth. Santa and Mrs. Claus were joyful and fun loving, just as Santa should be.

I did not care for the character of Henry. I didn't get it. He confused me and was way to excitable. He wasn't necessary to the plot. I also had a problem with the very end. Without giving anything away, I am an adoptee and I don't feel that the end was handled very well. It just wouldn't happen. Very hard to be specific without giving things away!!!

I think the book is worth a read. It's pretty short and could be read fairly quickly. I would go in knowing that some characters may annoy you and that the ending is a bit rushed.

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

2010-12-16T09:53:00.000-08:00

I had no concept of what to expect with Before I Fall, by Lauren Oliver. I bought it for my Kindle and by the time I read it, I had completely forgotten the summary and didn't bother to look it up online again! All that to say that I was surprised by what I was reading. The basic concept -and I don't think I'm giving anything away here - is that a teenager, Sam, must re-live one day of her life, over and over and over again until she figures things out.

I don't want to re-cap the story but I do want to hit some key points. Sam is popular at school and can be a bit of a mean girl. That struck me a bit because I can't relate. Fortunately, Sam is a good person at heart and gets better as the story progresses. The novel deals with drunk driving, bullying, and many other real teen issues. I loved that it was real in that sense. Sam had plans to lose her virginity to her boyfriend and as she relives that day over and over again, she realizes that he's probably not the one for her. She also tries to help the girl who is constantly picked on and finds that while her parents might not be cool, they are still fun to be with.

I really loved the story and the concept. It was gripping and while it could have been boring to relive a day with the main character so many times, there were enough differences that I wanted to see what would happen next. While I didn't love the ending - I was hoping for something different - I see where it was supposed to go and it all fits. This book is appropriate for older teens because of the subject matter - and of course all you adults who love young adult books. Enjoy!

Call Me Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber

2010-12-15T05:20:00.000-08:00

Call Me Mrs Miracle, by Debbie Macomber, is the second Mrs. Miracle book. It's a sweet, predictable story but I did find that I enjoyed it more than expected. The story centers on Holly, a woman struggling to stay afloat in bad economic times. She recently took custody of her eight-year-old nephew, Gabe. Holly's brother Mickey has been deployed to Afghanistan and Gabe has nowhere else to go.

Holly meets Jake Finley, son of the head of Finley's Department Store. Jake and Holly have a very instant attraction and with a little help from one of Jake's employee's, Mrs. Miracle, they grow close. As in the book Mrs. Miracle, several characters come together for a nice happy ending, despite a bit of drama.

I'm not always a huge fan of sticky sweet books but I'm trying to embrace them this December! While I think the whole story was rushed and that the so-called drama, really was anti-climatic, I was happy with the end. I'm sure Mrs. Miracle will be back next Christmas with another family to help.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

2010-12-14T16:38:00.000-08:00

I read Mockingjay back in August so I can't believe I'm just now getting to review it! Warning, don't read this if you haven't already read The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. I can't promise not to spoil anything.

In Mockingjay, Katniss finds herself in District 13, which isn't supposed to exist anymore. She learns that there is an underground army forming and she is expected to be the face of the revolt. They want her, the Mockingjay, to be their spokeswoman of sorts. She does the job but she has an agenda of her own, to kill President Snow.

Mockingjay is full of action, just as the previous two books. The arena is gone and in it's place is the Capitol, just as nasty and full of traps as the arenas were. Katniss, Peeta, and Gail have to make their way through the Capitol to get to the President. It isn't easy.

The book was good yet I felt something was missing. It didn't leave me with the insane love I felt when I read The Hunger Games. I am satisfied with the ending and the story but I wasn't blown away. I feel like Katniss was a little too whiny and broken. She hid in closets instead of facing what needed to be faced. Yes, she'd been through hell twice, but I wanted her to be stronger. I wanted her to be bold and not hide away. But that's only my opinion. The Hunger Games Trilogy is a great series and I encourage everyone to read the books. I'm so very glad I did and I look forward to whatever Suzanne Collins has coming out next.

Booking Through Thursday - 9 DEC

2010-12-09T15:53:00.000-08:00

I haven't participated a Booking Through Thursday in quite a while but I'm ready to jump back in. (I hope. I make no promises! My life is kinda crazy.)

So today's topic:

Do you ever crave reading crappy books?

Oh yeah, I definitely do. I balance every notable book with at least five crappy books. And I love them all!!! I'm all about the light and fluffy reading. The fluffier the book, the better. I actually don't think they are crappy at all. Unless they are, because some books are REALLY crappy.

A Whole Bunch of Reviews!!!

2010-12-09T08:59:00.000-08:00

I am behind in my reviews which is fairly typical for this time of year. I looked at the past history and August is when the downward spiral begins. In order to at least say something about each of the books I’ve read this year, I thought I’d do a quick post which includes short and simple reviews of a few books.

A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban

This is a very sweet little story about a young girl, Zoe, with a desire to play the piano. Not only does she want to play the piano, she wants to be a maestro! So her dad buys her an organ. She embraces her new instrument with as much enthusiasm as she can as she and her teacher prepare for her to perform in a competition. The story is about how a family that doesn’t quite fit the ideal, is actually pretty perfect in their own way. It’s very good and I highly recommend it.

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Found is the first book in a series by Ms. Haddix and I was a bit disappointed that more of the story wasn’t resolved before the book ended. I haven’t read the second book yet and I feel as if I still haven’t finished the book. The story revolves around two friends who discover that they were both adopted and there is a big mystery surrounding where they came from. I didn’t love the book and really can’t recommend it unless you plan to read the series.

Club Dead by Charlaine Harris

This is the third book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. It’s a nice addition to the series and moves quickly. Bill is missing and Sookie enlists the help of a werewolf, Alcide, to help her find him. I love Alcide. Honestly, I can’t remember all of the details but I remember the end and that Sookie stood up for herself. Good for her.

Witch and Wizard by James Patterson

Well, I read it. All of it. That’s about all I can say about this book. At least it was a very fast read. The book was silly, the characters were a bit manic, and the plot had holes. I didn’t like it at all and don’t plan to continue the series unless the book falls in my lap and I have nothing better to do.

Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich

Metro Girl is a fun, quick read that I really did enjoy. Metro Girl introduces us to Alex “Barney” Barnaby, the daughter of a mechanic who knows her way around an engine. She heads to Miami when her brother disappears and she’s determined to find him. During her search, she meets Sam Hooker, a NASCAR driver who sets his sights on Alex. The two get mixed up with interesting characters and head off into dangerous situations on their search. If you are familiar with Janet Evanovich’s writing, you’ll recognize the formula in the Metro Girl books, but they are fun and worth a read if you are looking for something quick and entertaining.

The Grand Finale by Janet Evanovich

The Grand Finale is a quirky, fun little piece of fluff. Berry owns a pizza shop and hired three homeless ladies as delivery people. The only problem is that they weren’t really cut out for deliveries, meaning Berry had to do it herself. While out on a delivery, she climbs a tree to help a cat and of course falls out of the tree after getting a good look at a half naked man. The man she was supposed to be delivering pizza for. Jake falls hard for Berry and her trio of old ladies. They form an odd little family with a very sweet happy ever after. This is definitely a light read and there isn’t a whole lot of substance but sometimes it’s nice to not think so much.

The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

2010-12-08T16:18:00.000-08:00

Because I loved The Forest of Hands and Teeth so very much, I had to read The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan. While I didn't adore it as much as the first book in the series, it still ranks very high. It's definitely one of my favorite books for 2010.

The Dead Tossed Waves takes place several years after The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Mary is living in a lighthouse with her daughter Gabry in the small town of Vista. Their job is to kill the unconsecrated (zombies), called mudo in this book, that wash up on the shores. Gabry is completely content in her little town and has a crush on Catcher, the brother of her best friend. In one night, everything goes wrong and Gabry finds herself on the run with Catcher, Cira, and a new friend Elias.

Gabry's past is exposed and she finds out that she wasn't quite who she thought she was. Just like in the first book of the series, the story is action packed and heartbreaking. The love triangle between Elias, Catcher and Gabry is sweet and I'm still left unsure of who she will ultimately choose.

The story will continue in a third book out this coming spring (2011) and I really look forward to what it brings. If you've read The Forest of Hands and Teeth, there is no excuse to skip The Dead Tossed Waves but I do suggest you read Forest first as it does set the back story. Go read!

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

2010-12-07T14:47:00.000-08:00

With little knowledge of the book but based on good recommendations, I decided to give The Forest of Hands and Teeth, by Carrie Ryan, a try. Wow. I am really glad I did. Although I don't have a love for all thing Zombies, like some of my friends, I definitely loved this book. I loved it so much I bought the sequel when I was only fifty pages in.

The story is about Mary, a young woman who is looking forward to her future. She lives in a small village that happens to be surrounded by fences. The fences are to protect the villagers from the "unconsecrated", we know them better as zombies. When Mary loses her mother to the unconsecrated, she is forced to live with the Sisters, who run the town. She begins to learn more about the unconsecrated and some of the town's secrets. When the village is breached, she and some of her friends are forced into the forest on a series of protected paths.

Mary's goal is to get to the ocean. She'd heard stories of it's existence but she had been so secluded in her village that she isn't sure it is still there. The book moves quickly, with a great deal of action and adventure. It's heartbreaking and terrifying. I was so wrapped up in the story that I found myself dreaming about it! That's the first time in a long time I can say that. For fans of The Hunger Games, you'll see a similar quest for survival. I highly recommend this book and can't say enough good things about it.

The Carousel by Richard Paul Evans

2010-12-05T16:21:00.000-08:00

The Carousel, by Richard Paul Evans, is a sweet but heartbreaking love story. While it was a quick read, I wouldn't say that it was enjoyable. Mr. Evans seems to write in the same vein as Nicholas Sparks. Lovely little stories of love and tragedy. One needs to be in the right mood to enjoy the books. In this case, I'm writing the review a couple of months late and honestly, I had to look back through the book to remember it. Uh oh.

My quick review in my journal - which is always written on time - states: "Sweet and sad. I'm not sure what to think! It was good, just slow."

See I thought it was a quick read but maybe it wasn't. Or maybe I meant slow moving? Either way, I was confused then and I'm confused now. The story revolves around Michael and Faye. Michael is working his way through law school while Faye was about to begin medical school, several states away from their home in Utah. Faye and Michael are deeply in love but Faye's father does not approve of the relationship. Impulsively they get married but keep it a secret as they are living separate lives in different parts of the country. Family tragedy strikes, as well as a personal one for the couple. They are torn apart and their relationship changes. I won't tell you what happens.

I don't think that there is anything remarkable about the story. It wasn't good and it wasn't bad, it was just a story. If you need a quick (I think) read, you might consider picking up The Carousel.

What My Best Friend Did by Lucy Dawson

2010-12-04T11:43:00.000-08:00

What My Best Friend Did, by Lucy Dawson, is a story of a young woman dealing with a friend who is suffering from a mental illness. It's fairly depressing as a whole and I had a hard time relating to it. That's probably a good thing.

Alice is a young woman, living with her longtime boyfriend when she meets Gretchen. She and Gretchen become fast friends and Alice finds herself pulling away from Tom, her boyfriend. When she begins a flirtation with Bailey, Gretchen's brother, things start to fall apart.

Alice soon learns that Gretchen is suffering from bi-polar disorder and is not always rational, especially when off her medication. Alice feels guilty and responsible for helping to care for Gretchen even though she is dealing with her own problems.

I didn't really care for any of the characters in this story, except for Tom. Alice was whiny, Gretchen was manic, and Bailey was selfish. Tom was the only one who seemed to be relate-able. Maybe it's because I have not had personal experience with mental illness, but I found the story to be boring and annoying. I wish I enjoyed it more. The big reveal at the end was even a let down. This is one of those books that I will forget quickly.

The Three Kings by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez

2010-10-19T11:27:00.000-07:00

The Three Kings by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez was really an interesting read. By the description I thought it was going to be a light and fluffy romance novel but it was actually pretty light on the romance. My overall thoughts on the book were quite positive but I have a few minor issues which I’ll get to in a moment.

Christy is a very successful interior designer. She makes a lot of money and has been able to “escape” the barrio and live a very different life than her Mexican American family. I grew up -and still live- in an area with a huge Mexican population. I recognized many of the stereotypes laughed about in the book because I do see them on a daily basis. Christy makes sure that nobody thinks she is Mexican. She is Mexican American. I never thought about the difference before.

Christy is recently divorced so of course her family wants her to get married again. Her wonderful cousin, Maggie, invites three men to one of her family dinners. The three Reyes cousins, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar all agree to take Christy on a series of dates at the end of which she’ll decide which she wants to continue to see. They all open her eyes to who she has become and where she came from. She learns important lessons from all three men and ultimately is a better person by the end.

I learned some of the lessons along with Christy and I love that part of the book. I love her realizations about her family and her background. My only complaint is that I felt some parts were missing. Somehow I missed her third date with Melchior which I assume didn’t happen but there was no mention of her cancelling. I felt that parts of the story was disjointed. Overall, I do recommend the story. It’s really quite sweet.

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

2010-10-06T16:10:00.000-07:00

13 Little Blue Envelopes, by Maureen Johnson, is a story about discovering the world, and oneself. When Ginny’s aunt passes away, she is surprised to receive an envelope with instructions for a trip to Europe. She can only bring a backpack, no guides, no language books, no electronics - including cell phones, and no extra money.

For someone like me, that sounds completely terrifying. Ginny embraced it as well as she could considering she was seventeen years old. That was the biggest hurdle for me to get over. She was only seventeen and her parents let her go to Europe completely on her own with now way to contact her? My parents never would have considered that.

Ultimately, the tasks that Ginny must complete - all told in a set of thirteen blue envelopes, allow her to grow as a person, discover who her aunt really was, and learn about the world. She faces challenges that would defeat a normal person but she did what she had to do and was better for it. She survived.

I highly recommend this to anyone who likes to travel -regardless of age. It’s an adventure for Ginny and the reader as we wait to find out what her aunt has in store for her next.

The Angels of Morgan Hill by Donna Van Liere

2010-10-05T21:51:00.000-07:00

The Angels of Morgan Hill, by Donna Van Liere is an extremely sweet book that kept me turning the pages. The narrator shifts between a few characters but the principle narrator is Jane, a nine-year-old girl who has just lost her father. The story is set in the late 1940’s in a small town in Tennessee. The times are hard, the jobs are scarce, and life isn’t easy for the Gable family.

After Jane and John’s father dies, their mother, Fran, struggles to raise her kids while dealing with the news that there is another baby on the way. When a black family moves to town, the Gable family’s life is turned upside down. Fran forms a friendship with Addy, despite what people think.

I don’t want to give anything away but when the worst happens, the people of Morgan Hill come together to make things right. They are the Angels of Morgan Hill. The core group of characters are so wonderful to each other that it makes me long for a tight knit community like that.

While the ending was a little too neat and tidy, the story moved along at such a rapid pace, with so much happening in the span of a year, it was a relief to have a tidy ending! I didn’t know what to expect from Donna Van Liere but I can say that this is a beautiful story with some good lessons. It isn’t perfect but it’s worth a read.

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

2010-10-04T21:50:00.000-07:00

Crescendo, by Becca Fitzpatrick, is the sequel to Hush, Hush, which I reviewed in 2009. In this sequel - which may be better than the original - Nora learns more about her family history and the death of her father. The story begins with Nora and Patch happily dating although he is now her guardian angel. He isn’t supposed to fall in love which causes a rift between the two.

Nora begins to see her father - her dead father - and has strange dreams. She becomes suspicious of a new guy in school and struggles with her lab partner in her summer school chemistry class.

I enjoyed Crescendo, probably more than I did Hush, Hush. I’m not sure I can explain why but I thought the story was richer. I suppose it built on the story, as it should. Both are good, exciting reads for teens (and adults like me). I’m anxious for the next book as once again, we were left with a cliff hanger. If you’ve started the series, I encourage you to continue it. If you are new, make sure you pick up Hush, Hush first.

Cheap Cabernet: A Friendship by Cathie Beck

2010-09-21T11:50:00.000-07:00

I'll be honest with you. . . I wasn't in the mood to read a memoir and I really didn't want to read a sappy story of friendship. I was dealing with my own friend drama at the time I picked this book up and my mind was soured to the thought of reading it. I'm so glad I did though. It's certainly not sappy. Thank goodness.

Cheap Cabernet: A Friendship is written by Cathie Beck, who had a friend named Denise. This book is their story. Cathie was in desperate need of friends and decided to start a women's group in order to find those friends. While the group met for about a year and a half, the purpose of the group was fulfilled the first night with one person. Cathie and Denise clicked in that rare, special way. Denise was also suffering from MS.

Through their few years of friendship, they had extreme highs and lows where they wouldn't talk for weeks. They argued, they disapproved, they laughed, and they celebrated. I encourage you to read, enjoy, and grieve a friendship that ended too soon. While I didn't love everything about it, I can respect the emotion behind it.

A Desirable Residence by Madeleine Wickham

2010-08-23T11:20:00.001-07:00

A Desirable Residence, by Madeline Wickham, is a story with multiple characters and a hazy ending. The story centers on the Chambers family. Liz and Jonathan buy a tutorial college taking out several loans to do so. They are both teachers and are anxious to get going on their new venture. Their daughter Alice is a sulky teen who smokes in the garage of the house she no longer lives in. Other characters include Marcus the realtor who is attempting to help Liz rent her house, and Ginny and Piers, the new tenants. We also get to see the story through the eyes of Marcus's stressed out wife and his two sons.

The lives of these characters intertwine in a very believable way. There are affairs, crushes, obsessions, and career failures that color the few months time in which the book takes place. We are ultimately left with a bit of hope and a bit of heartbreak. The story never really ends. There isn't a neat and tidy ending for any of them. I'm still wondering where Ginny and Piers went.

All in all, the story was entertaining enough to keep me reading. I was hoping for a happy ending. Every book I read lately has an open ending. I need to find a happy ever after book to read next! It's a good book but not a great one. It's worth a read.

One Day by David Nicholls

2010-08-16T15:47:00.000-07:00

I had high hopes for One Day, by David Nicholls, and most of them were met. The story is about a man and a woman who meet on July 15, 1988. Every chapter takes place on July 15, year by year, for twenty years. Emma wants to be a writer who changes the world. She's a bit of an idealist at times. Dexter just wants to have fun. He wants to travel and do things that are exciting.

Despite their differences, their friendship thrives. They have years where they don't talk at all. They have years where they lean heavily on each other. There are some chapters when I hated Dexter. I hated that he drank too much, partied too much, and didn't realize that Emma was there for him. There were chapters where I hated Emma. She was too complacent and accepting of her dull life. I, being the hopeless romantic, wanted them to fall in love from the start.

As frustrating as the story was at times, I couldn't help but want to know what was going to happen next. A year in their lives would go by as I moved to a new chapter, but talented writing filled in the gaps. Ultimately, the book left me heartbroken - but in a good way. I miss Dex and Em. Em and Dex. I look forward to meeting them again in the upcoming movie.

One Day is a very high concept novel that really works. It's just right.

Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

2010-08-04T14:17:00.000-07:00

Heart of the Matter, by Emily Giffin is one of those books that is completely frustrating and yet completely readable. The story is a triangle of sorts, two women, one man.

Tessa and Nick have been married for years, with two small children. By all accounts, they have a satisfying, happy marriage. Nick is a surgeon and works odd hours, something the family is used to. When Nick meets Valerie, the mother of a young boy in his care, he is instantly attracted.

The reader is treated to two views. We see the story through Tessa's eyes as she begins to doubt her husband's faithfulness. We see the story through Valerie's eyes as a woman who is falling fast for the good looking doctor. Personally, I liked both women. That's what made it all so difficult. I also kind of liked Nick despite him being a cheating husband.

I've read a few other books by Emily Giffin and recognized some of the characters from past books. I always enjoy those little connections. Heart of the Matter is a solid read with believable characters and a believable situation. I recommend it

On Shadow Beach by Barbara Freethy

2010-08-04T04:05:00.001-07:00

My mother is very picky about books, movies, etc. When she likes something, I take notice. She enjoyed On Shadow Beach, by Barbara Freethy, and I did too. It's always nice to read a romance novel with some substance. Solving a murder that took place thirteen years prior, is good substance, especially when you care about the characters and don't figure out who "did it" until the end of the book. I didn't even read ahead! That's an accomplishment for me.

Lauren returns to Angel's Bay thirteen years after her sister was violently murdered. Lauren had turned her back on the town and the people in it, including her father and her ex-boyfriend, Shane. When Lauren and Shane meet again, their old attraction remains, despite the rift between them, and the lingering suspicion that he had something to do with Abby's death. They join forces to finally solve Abby's murder and clear Shane's name.

The book was a quick and very satisfying read. I found out later that it is the second in a series which upsets me because I'm very linear in my thinking. I don't like reading books out of order! That being said, I will definitely be looking for the first book and will continue the series. I'm excited to find a new author that I enjoy!

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

2010-08-03T16:02:00.000-07:00

Finally! I've been on a hunt for a young adult novel that was satisfying, and I finally read one! Infinite Days, by Rebecca Maizel, is yet another vampire story. The good thing is that it's new and different - at least to me. The story is about Lenah, a 500 year old vampire who becomes human again - as a sixteen year old high school student. She tries to find her place at the exclusive boarding school she's attending, while getting used to being mortal. There is danger lurking as her coven eagerly awaits for her awakening, unaware that she is human.

One thing that I appreciated about this novel is that Lenah wasn't terribly sorry for her life of murder and viciousness. She accepted it. She wasn't tortured by her past -at least at first. I appreciate that she wasn't a tortured soul. Lenah's romance with Justin was a bit rushed and didn't quite feel genuine to me. I'm hoping that in the future books in the series, he will become more defined, and that we will learn what he's truly about. I found myself quite suspicious of him but at this point there is no reason for that.

I definitely recommend this book to fans of the supernatural. As I prove, you don't have to be a teen to appreciate a good young adult book. I do recommend this for older teens as there is a bit of violence and a fairly casual attitude toward sex.

The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale

2010-07-27T12:48:00.000-07:00

The Actor and the Housewife, by Shannon Hale, is a charmer. It took me a long time to read and not because I disliked the book but because it was deceivingly long! While the paperback looked completely normal, the paper was thin and the font was small. That's my theory anyway.

The story is about a housewife, Becky, who loves her husband and children fiercely. She loves being a wife and mother. You can feel how much while reading. She's so satisfied and happy. It was nearly unrealistic, but Becky is such a real character that it was hard to find fault. Felix, the actor, is Becky's best friend. They meet while Becky is in Los Angeles selling a screenplay. They become enamored of each other in a strictly platonic way - at least on Becky's part. Felix is British, charming, successful, and terribly witty. I fell in love with him. I confess.

The dialogue between the two main characters made me smile. It was fun, quirky and you could feel the chemistry. I wanted this story to be a romance so badly! But maybe at heart it really was. If this story has a weakness, it's that Becky and Felix weren't together enough. The two were magical together. When they were apart, when Becky was going on and on about how happy she was with her family, it got a little long. That's minor though.

Becky is a Mormon so there are several mentions of her faith and her relationship with God. This doesn't bother me in the slightest but let that serve as a warning for those who would be bothered. This is a great story of friendship that I highly recommend.

A Decision

2010-07-22T15:11:00.000-07:00

Reading is one of my favorite things. (Big surprise!) It's not quite top 5 for priorities in my life but it's right up there. Everything about books makes me happy. That being said, I'm not enjoying reading at the moment. I started out the year planning on doing the A to Z Challenge and the New Author Challenge. For the A to Z Challenge, my goal was to read an author for every letter. I'm doing pretty well actually. At some point I decided to do the titles as well. That is fifty-two books just for that challenge. As last year's total was around fifty I knew it was possible.

It's probably still possible but I'm just not going to pursue it anymore. I'll leave up the list on the right and fill it in as I read something that fits but trying to read that many books because they fit into the alphabet was taking too much pleasure out of reading. I'm still planning on finishing the author section. That was the original goal and it's really possible. The titles will have to wait until next year - if I choose to continue. The idea of picking a book off my shelf because I want to read it sounds pretty good right about now.

Why do I put the pressure on myself? I'll never know. I have enough work/home/dog pressures to stress about what I'm reading - especially if I don't like what I'm reading. Why bother? The freedom of that decision makes me incredibly happy by the way. I look forward to choice.

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June by Robin Benway

2010-07-21T15:06:00.000-07:00

I wasn't sure what to expect from The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June by Robin Benway. I wasn't sure if it was a superhero novel or something supernatural. Really, it was a neither. It was at heart a story about growing up, dealing with circumstances beyond control, and living with changes. Add in a few "super powers" and you have a strong story.

April, May, and June are sisters who are dealing with their parent's divorce. They've moved to a new town with their mother while their father moves to a different state. While dealing with a new school in a new town, strange abilities - that they noticed briefly as children - manifest themselves again. April discovers that she can see the future, May can disappear, and June can read minds. Initially their abilities are exciting but when April starts getting visions of a dangerous situation, her need to protect her sisters hurts their relationship. They learn that they do best when working together.

I enjoyed this more than I expected. It's a quick read and it's an interesting story. I wonder if there is a sequel planned which might explain more about how the girls got their abilities. It was hinted that there was a family history and I'd like to know more. Highly recommended for older teens and adults as there is some alcohol usage and talk of sex.

4th of July by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

2010-07-15T16:38:00.000-07:00

4th of July, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro, is the fourth book in the Women's Murder Club series. I've been slowly making my way through the series even though each is a quick typical Patterson read. The characters are established and the rythym moves the story along. The introduction of Yuki brings the group of women back up to four. I read a lot of James Patterson's books although I have mixed feelings about them. I won't get into all of that here and just try to review the book.

This book begins with a horrible event that sends Lindsey to her sister's home in Half Moon Bay. She needs a retreat and a break from the situation back in San Francisco. The news of murders in the quiet town peaks her interest and she becomes involved with local police force. She's suspicious about a link to the current murders and a John Doe that has haunted her since early in her career.

Lindsey's friends, Claire and Cindy, make cameo appearances but the focus is truly on Lindsey. This is all her story. Her boyfriend literally appears here and there as he flies back and forth to Washington. I don't have high hopes for this long distance relationship.

I figured out one of the murderers towards the end of the book but the others were unexpected. It was nice to not feel the need to read ahead (I'm a last page reader) as the book moved so quickly. While it's not the best writing in the world, it is still a solid story and was fine for a summer read.

Blessings by Anna Quindlen

2010-07-14T11:25:00.000-07:00

Blessings, by Anna Quindlen is one of those books where the story just stays with you because of it's simplicity. There isn't an overwhelming plot, no truly unexpected twist, and a relatively small cast of characters. It's truly the story of two people and how a baby that doesn't belong to either of them, changes their lives.

Skip is a young man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. After being released from jail, he goes to work for Mrs. Blessing. She is an elderly woman who owns the grandest estate in the area. She likes Skip and hires him as her groundskeeper. She's formal, stuffy, and very much into her routine. She's got secrets though and is not as perfect as she looks. They are an odd pair.

Skip finds a baby that was left at the estate and secretly cares for her. He's afraid to turn her in and grows to love the baby girl, considering himself her father. When Mrs. Blessing finds out about little Faith, she assists in her care and the deception.

The descriptions of the house and land are so lovely that the house almost becomes a character in the novel. Mrs. Blessing is described so beautifully that I can see her standing at her window, looking disapprovingly at everything she sees. While the book isn't long, it is full of wonderful words. I truly enjoyed the story and recommend it to everyone.

Insatiable by Meg Cabot

2010-07-06T17:07:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: I am a fan of Meg Cabot. I enjoy many of her books (not all) and I think she writes fun, quirky stories. So I really wanted to enjoy Insatiable. It's a vampire story by an author I enjoy! What could go wrong? Only a few things.

The story focuses on Meena, a writer for a soap opera called Insatiable. When her new boss wants to do a vampire storyline, she gets upset because there are too many vampire stories out there. While out walking the dog in the middle of the night, she meets a mysterious man who saves her from a swarm of bats - in the middle of New York City. He sweeps her into a quick and intense relationship before telling her the truth about who - and what - he is.

The good . . . Everything moves along quickly and the supporting characters are quirky and fun, despite being slightly annoying. The story builds off the historical story of Vlad the Impaler and I enjoyed the more traditional vampire traits - as seen in Bram Stoker's Dracula. The historical take on things was interesting a different from what I've been reading. I also appreciated that Lucian was not completely reformed. He wasn't attacking innocents but he had a temper and he wasn't perfect. Meena recognized this and that was good too. It's nice to see a realistic heroine.

The bad. . . The writing was slightly choppy with needless descriptions. We (the readers) don't need to be told that Jon is her brother at end of the book. We've been reading, we know this. Jon is a major character. That annoyed me. The whole story took place in a matter of days which didn't give a lot of time to build a romance. I'm assuming that this is the start of a series and the end was definitely left open to a sequel. I do like a more solid ending. Despite that, I will be reading the next book that comes along. I'm interested enough to continue but not excited enough to mark my calender.

Vampire fans may like the "pure" version of the vamps in the story but I don't know that it will satisfy. I guess we'll just have to wait for next summer.

Looking Back

2010-07-02T16:07:00.000-07:00

It's July 2nd, which means the year is half over. Amazing. I still have a few reviews to catch up on but I want to review my year so far. I hate when I get behind in my reviews. . .

2010 started out as a great year for reading. I started off with my plan to at least complete the author side of the A - Z Challenge. At some point I started reading titles too so now I am overwhelmed with all the books I need to read. Lovely. I'm doing all right though and I have a vacation coming in October which means lots of reading will be done. I'm over halfway to my goal.

January: I read five books which is a really good start to the month. All five counted toward my author goal which was fantastic. My favorite for January was The Hunger Games. I can't wait to read Mockingjay in August. Unfortunately it won't count toward my goal. My least favorite in January was Fireworks over Toccoa which was a good book. It was hard to pick a least-favorite.

February: I only finished two books in February because the majority of the month was taken up by a book I finished in March. Both books were good with Hot Six in the lead. It was a good installment in the Stephanie Plum series and I was happy to hang out with Stephanie, Ranger and Joe Morelli again.

March: Four books finished in March. That's pretty standard for me and it was good to finish Under the Dome and move on. Ironically, it was my favorite book of the month so despite the fact that it took FOREVER to read, I did enjoy the book. My least favorite was Going Overboard which wasn't great.

April: Four books again. I really can't pick a favorite. While all four were good solid reads, none stand out enough for me to reward them.

May: I read eight books in May! Wow! That's pretty amazing for me. I did go on a quick vacation but that is still a significant total for me. The book I enjoyed the most was My Fair Lazy. It was so fun. It made me happy!

June: I read five books in June which keeps me on track. My favorite was The Book Thief but I liked all the books I read during the month. It was a good month.

Now I need to catch up on late reviews and move on toward July.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

2010-06-14T14:53:00.000-07:00

Wow. That's the perfect word for The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. Yes, I loved the book. I thought it was brilliantly written, incredibly moving, and terribly devastating. This is the second book I've read that takes place during World War II and the Holocaust. Believe it or not, I have two more on tap for the year. Sometimes book themes come in waves, usually unintentionally. I figure I'm supposed to be learning something. I hope I do.

What makes The Book Thief different, and special, is that it is not the story of the soldiers. It isn't the story of the Jewish people. It's a story about a German family, trying to survive. Obviously I knew that not every German during that time period was a Nazi, but I rarely thought about the people living in a devastated country, led by an insane ruler.

The Book Thief is narrated by Death -who or what he is can be your interpretation. I choose to believe he was an angel of death, taking souls to some Heavenly processing center. Death is moved -as much as death can be- by a young girl named Liesel and he tells her story. Liesel's mother can not take care of her anymore due to her ties with the communist party. On the way to Munich, where Liesel and her brother will be placed in foster care, Liesel's brother dies. At his funeral, she spies a book in the snow and steals it, having no idea what it is called or what it's about.

Fortunately for Liesel, she is placed in a good home with good people. Sure Mama has a temper and a foul mouth. She still treats her new daughter with love. Papa is wonderful. He is warm and comforting to the girl plagued with nightmares of her brother's death. He gives her the greatest gift by teaching her to read. She makes friends, steals more books, and learns how important words are.

I don't want to give anything away so I won't go on but I will tell you to go read this book. It's a life changer.

Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen

2010-06-11T16:40:00.000-07:00

I confess that I struggled to finish Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen. It took me a very long time to get into the book. It didn't help that I read it at night and only a chapter at a time. That doesn't reflect on my thoughts at the end of the book though.

The story is about Colie. She's fifteen years old and spent her childhood as the fat girl. She'd recently lost weight with her fitness/nutrition guru mother but never got over the trauma of being teased. Colie's mother heads to Europe on a promotional tour and sends Colie to live with her eccentric aunt.

While at her aunt's house, Colie makes friends for the first time in her life. She is taught how to feel beautiful and gains confidence. She even learns that being different is not always a bad thing.

By the end of the book, Colie has evolved and I can imagine that she goes home stronger and more confident than ever before. This is a great story for girls with body image issues. It may focus a bit too much on being thin, but I think it leans toward being healthy.

The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson

2010-06-09T11:10:00.000-07:00

I've read several of James Patterson's books but I didn't intend to read The Dangerous Days of Daniel X. It didn't appeal to me and frankly it didn't get great reviews. This one won't be great either.

The book centers on Daniel. He's a fifteen year old orphan that comes from a long line of alien hunters - outer space not illegal. He is also an alien himself, just a good alien. This gives him super speed, the ability to change form, and a few other unique gifts. Daniel has a list of the twenty bad aliens. The worst of the worst. They apparently are wreaking havoc on earth, of course. Think Men in Black but even sillier. Daniel's goal is to destroy each of those bad aliens.

The best thing I can say is that the book was a very quick read. Patterson's typical quick pacing and short paragraphs moved things along. While I never became invested in the character, I was at least slightly entertained by him. He was completely on his own in the world and yet he made the best of it. I give him credit for that.

From what I understand this is going to be a series, but I doubt I will go any further. It might appeal to teens, particularly young boys. It isn't horrible, it's just not very good.

Evermore by Alyson Noel

2010-06-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

So I continue my quest for a supernatural-ish series that will grip me and force me to go out and get all the sequels available. Evermore, by Alyson Noel, isn't quite there. It's just all right.

The plot is interesting. What or who exactly is Damen? He's not a vampire, he insists on that. He must not want to be compared to his sparkly counterpart over in the Twilight series. He is immortal though, and what that means is all a bit confusing. It involved chemistry (alchemy) and frankly I got a bit lost. I think it's flashbacks to 11th grade.

Just like all good teen books, Ever is a high school student with a lot of angst. Ever's angst is more valid than some. She lost her entire family in a car accident and she is suffering from survivor's guilt. While Ever is the new kid in school, Damen is even newer and conveniently he sits next to Ever in English class. She is drawn to him and he seems to know an awful lot about her.

I just couldn't find any affection toward the couple. I tried. Once again I was left wanting more of a conclusion. I felt that all the elements were there, they just weren't that exciting. I want to be sucked into a book and this one didn't do that.

Briar Rose by Jane Yolen

2010-05-29T16:21:00.000-07:00

When I picked up Briar Rose, I really anticipated reading a version of Sleeping Beauty. I had no idea I'd be reading a book about the Holocaust. That said, it took nearly 150 pages to get to the portion of the book about the Holocaust.

First the good . . . The last fifty pages or so were quite gripping. Gemma's story was horrifying and tragic. I was completely engrossed.

Then the bad . . . The first one hundred and fifty-ish pages were boring. I didn't like the style of writing. It seemed very amateurish and way too detailed. Details can be lovely but not when the author describes the main character bending over to get a magazine. That's not important.

The book got rave reviews for the most part. I'm afraid I can't contribute to those. While I feel the story of the Holocaust is important to tell, I don't think this book was good enough to really do that. It is listed as a novel for young adults and yet the subject matter was quite adult and there are scenes of homosexuality that may not be appropriate for younger readers.

My Fair Lazy by Jen Lancaster

2010-05-28T11:06:00.000-07:00

Loved it! I'll let you know that up front. I am a huge fan of Jen's and I will pretty much read anything she writes, including her blog (jennsylvania), her twitter posts (atgeldshrugged), and her books (of course). She makes me laugh and that's a very good thing.

I might be able to relate a tiny (a lot) bit with her reality show obsession. In this book, Jen decides that reality shows are making her dumb. She sets out to experience new things, like theater, foods from around the world, and great literature. She finds that she loves some things, hates others, but that her life is richer for the experience.

I hope you've read some of her other memoirs. If you haven't, you should. She doesn't disappoint in this latest edition and I found myself growing along with her. But I'm not giving up my reality television.

My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares

2010-05-26T00:37:00.000-07:00

I was thrilled to receive an advance copy of My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares. I've been a fan of hers for several years and I was looking forward to this book. It didn't disappoint. Except the ending - which I'll get to later!

I'm not one who believes in past lives but this story made everything seem very possible. Daniel has lived a very long time, in many different bodies, in many different parts of the world. What's unusual is that he remembers each of his lives. He sees Sophia in one of his first memories and meets her again several times during different lifetimes. She's always different but he knows her. She doesn't have the memory and never remembers her past lives. Daniel knows that he is meant to be with Sophia but their lives rarely connect at the right moment. She is usually married to someone else or the wrong age.

When Lucy/Sophia meets Daniel, she is instantly drawn to him, unaware that she has met him several times before. Daniel scares her away and spends several years watching her from afar. Daniel is forced to reveal himself to Lucy once again after a threat from their past arrives to take back what was his.

The story is told both in modern day and the stories from Daniel's memory. It sucked me in quite quickly and I enjoyed the entire story. Until the end. I like neat and tidy endings and this one left some things open. I hear rumors this is a planned trilogy and I really hope it is! Go out and pick up this book. It's a good one.

Out of Eden by Beth Ciotta

2010-05-21T16:12:00.000-07:00

Out of Eden, by Beth Ciotta, is a typical romantic novel. We’ve got instant attraction, misunderstandings, shoes, nosy neighbors, the long suffering best friend, and the Mafia. Maybe the Mafia isn’t typical but the point is, there wasn’t anything surprising about this novel. I was anxious to read a funny romance but instead I found myself just wanting to get through it.

It’s well-written, there isn’t a problem with that. The novel has a plot that moves along fairly quickly, but it just wasn’t interesting. I found the main character to be rather annoying. She ran her family’s shoe store and let her family walk all over her because she never expressed what she wanted. She wanted adventure. She wanted to travel throughout Asia. She wanted to paint the shoe store! I wanted to shake her and tell her to just do it! I understand putting dreams on hold but the constant whining about it was annoying.

And then there was Jack. He’s not a very well defined character. I know he was good looking -as all romantic leads must be - and was a police officer. Other than his loyalty to friends and family, and his endearing affection for the dog that adopted him, he was pretty boring.

I guess my thoughts are that I’ve read similar plots that were much more interesting. When you really don’t care if the romantic leads get together, it’s a problem. I was disappointed. It’s not horrible, but it just didn’t get to the point where I’d call it good.

Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts

2010-05-14T08:33:00.000-07:00

I waited patiently for Savor the Moment, by Nora Roberts, to come out and I snatched up the book as quickly as I could. It is the third book in the "Bride Quartet" and if you know me, you know I love a good series. It's always nice to know that the story goes on.

For those unfamiliar with the series, it focuses on four women who run a wedding business. There is the wedding planner, the florist, the photographer, and the cake artist (seems to little to call her a baker). This book is Laurel's story. Laurel makes wedding cakes. She's also had a lifelong crush on her best friend's brother. Del has never considered Laurel in a romantic light because she's always been his sister's friend, one of his girls. When Laurel gets frustrated and kisses Del instead of hitting him, emotions turn and the romance begins.

This book solidly moves the series along and definitely provides the light and fluffy romance. The only villain in these books is stubbornness and possibly Mac's mother who is just a pest. We'll see if she shows up to cause more problems in the final book. I'm looking forward to Parker and Malcolm's story. Parker seems a tough nut to crack. Should be interesting.

Romance fans will definitely enjoy the series!

Booking Through Thursday - 13 May

2010-05-13T17:24:00.000-07:00

Are your book choices influenced by friends and family? Do their recommendations carry weight for you? Or do you choose your books solely by what you want to read?

I am definitely influenced by what my friends and family read and recommend. Some of my favorite authors were introduced to me that way. The majority of the time I make my own decisions but have on occasion read a book based on peer pressure. That sometimes backfires on me. I've read some stinkers!

There are certain people who I feel "get me." I am more apt to jump on a book they recommend over some other people (who will remain nameless). I love them even if I think their choices of books are a bit off my taste.

Last night my dad asked me if I ever read non-fiction. I told him I do and mentioned a few memoirs and humor books. He didn't seem to think that counted. No, Dad. I don't read books on World War II. Sorry.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

2010-05-11T12:38:00.000-07:00

I'd been wanting to read The Help, by Kathryn Stockett for a while. I was fortunate to have a co-worker loan me a copy and that gave me a good excuse to jump right on it! I wasn't disappointed. I was hooked from the beginning.

Abilene is the narrator of the first chapter and she sets the tone with absolute love for the child she is raising and frustration -maybe even disgust- for the little girl's mother. Abilene is a black woman, a maid, living in Jackson Mississippi in the 1960's. The Civil Rights movement is just beginning to take form but in Jackson people are stubborn and don't want change, let along integration.

Another narrator is Minny, a mother of four. She is a maid with a fast tongue who gets herself in trouble with the ladies she works for. When she gets a job working for the odd Celia Foote, she is secure in her paycheck but terrified that what she did to a former employer's daughter will come back to haunt her.

The third narrator is Miss Skeeter, a white woman. She was raised by a black maid and was extremely close to her. When Miss Skeeter returns from college to find that Constantine has moved away without a goodbye, she starts to think of the stories of these women, who wait on her and her friends. She is motivated to write their stories. It's a risk for her and for the women who share their lives with her.

I was born in the 1970's, raised in California, and I'm white. I can not relate in the slightest to what it must have felt like to be told to use a separate bathroom because of skin color. Despite not living any part of this story, I was still moved by the book. I was struck by the fear. The women who told their stories to Miss Skeeter were terrified of getting caught. They were afraid for themselves, and their families. It was shocking and horrible.

The book is wonderful. It opened my eyes. I highly recommend it.

Musing Monday - 10 May

2010-05-10T13:02:00.000-07:00

I haven't done a Musing Monday in a while. I'm hoping to get back in the routine!

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS:

Do you have to carve out time in your day for reading (due to work and other obligations), or does your reading just happen naturally? (Question courtesy of MizB)

I do carve out reading time. And I'm very selfish about it! I read at lunch almost every day. I have a forty-five minute lunch break and I read while I eat. I get very annoyed when I have to run errands or do something else during that time. Like today's eye appointment. Drat.

I do try to read a little at night as well. That doesn't always work as it depends on family obligations. Like tonight's dinner with my aunt. Drat again. At least I'll get to read for a few minutes before bed. I hope.

You can see that today is not going to be a good day for reading.

On a normal day, I would say I average an hour of reading time. Not nearly enough.

Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani

2010-05-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

Big Stone Gap, by Adriana Trigiani, is a charming novel with a wonderful cast of characters. The main character is Ave Maria, a thirty-five year old pharmacist who considers herself the town spinster. After her mother passes away, she learns the truth about who she really is and that the man who raised her was not her biological father. As her world tilts beyond what she has always known, she finds herself letting go of her past and looking toward the future for the first time in her life.

The characters that make up the town add so much to the charm of the novel. It wouldn't be the same without Iva Lou, Pearl, or Theodore. There is even a cameo by Elizabeth Taylor! If I have any complaint, it's that it took a while to get to the romance. Ave was just way too stubborn!

This is the first novel I've read by Adriana Trigiani and I enjoyed it. It is a sweet story and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys smiling!

Booking Through Thursday - May 6

2010-05-06T16:35:00.000-07:00

So … you’re halfway through a book and you’re hating it. It’s boring. It’s trite. It’s badly written. But … you’ve invested all this time to reading the first half.

What do you do? Read the second half? Just to finish out the story? Find out what happens?
Or, cut your losses and dump the second half?

It all depends. If it's a book for a review, I'll plug through. Sometimes I just want to see how bad it can get. If it's a book I've heard a ton about and have been encouraged to read, I'll probably skim. If it's a book I bought for fifty cents at a library book sale, I'm going to put it down.

I don't like giving up on a book. I do give most books a fighting chance. I usually give it to fifty pages. If I get to one hundred and I still don't like the book, I'm not apt to quit. If I've invested that much time, I'm going to finish. I do find myself skimming at times just so I can find out what happens. I don't like doing that either. I want to enjoy, think about, and immerse myself in a book.

Quick Reviews!

2010-05-05T15:53:00.000-07:00

I get distracted easily. I get very excited about something - like this blog - and am pretty faithful for a while but then something shiny passes by and I'm distracted. Sooooo, to make a really long story short, I missed a few reviews and I'm not terribly motivated to go back in time for a few reviews. I've decided to write a few quickies so that I don't feel the guilt and can move on to bigger and better things. And more recent reads that are more fresh in my memory! My mind ain't what it used to be.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is a fun, action packed children's novel. I enjoyed it enough to buy the next few books in the series but not enough that I've already read them! I wanted Percy Jackson to be more like Harry Potter but he isn't. The books were very informational with regard to the Greek legends of Gods and Titans. I found myself googling a few things just to get them straight in my head. The premise is good and I do look forward to reading more. Just not yet.

Hot Six by Janet Evanovich is the sixth book in the Stephanie Plum series. I enjoyed this one a lot. The characters are so wonderful and it's like an old friend when I pick up a book. I admit that the plots get a little jumbled in my memory but each is unique. This is definitely a series I will continue to read and enjoy!

Going Overboard, by Christina Skye is a fun romance. There isn't anything wonderful about it, it's pretty standard boy meets girl fare. I read it fairly quickly and even though the timeline was a little wacky for me, it was still worth finishing. The end read like bad fan-fiction (triplets? Really?) and that soured it a bit. Not bad, not good, just okay for a beach read.

The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry

2010-05-01T04:21:00.000-07:00

As a fan of Brunonia Barry's The Lace Reader, I was really looking forward to reading The Map of True Places. In her latest novel, we again return to Salem, which just seems to grow more and more charming in my head. I'll have to get there someday. While this book is not a sequel to The Lace Reader, there are a few familiar characters.

The Map of True Places centers on Zee, a psychologist from Boston who returns home to Salem to help care for her father. She's lost a client to suicide and is in an unhappy relationship with her fiance. Her father, Finch, is suffering from Parkinson's and as the disease progresses into signs of dementia and alzheimer's, he breaks up with his longtime partner who has been a faithful caregiver. Zee can't leave him alone and takes a leave of absence from her work to care for him. Back in her childhood home, memories of Zee's mother and her suicide are brought to the surface.

I was quickly caught up in the many layers of stories offered in the book. While everything circles back to Zee, we are given opportunities to read stories about the other characters. I wanted some to go on and on. One mark of a wonderful book is the knowledge I take from it. This book was full of facts, history, and legends. It's a wonderful book, with wonderful characters, and sly twists that keep you reading even after you've figured things out. I highly recommend it!

Keeper by Kathi Appelt

2010-04-26T11:59:00.000-07:00

Keeper, by Kathi Appelt, is a children's novel that probably will mean more to adults. I don't think I would have understood the meaning behind the story as a ten-year-old. As a thirty -something adult, I "got it". Or at least I understood my version of the story. I wonder if my thoughts line up with the intention of the author?

Keeper is a ten-year-old girl who lives on a little stretch of land on the Gulf of Mexico. It is the World Unto Itself according to her neighbor Mr. Beauchamp. Keeper lives with Signe, who is like her mother but isn't. She works for Dogie, who is like her father but isn't. Next door is Mr. Beauchamp who whittles her figurines and tells her stories. He is like her grandfather but isn't. Along with the adults who watch over her, she has BD (Best Dog), Captain the seagull, Too (another dog), and Sinbad the one-eyed cat.

Keeper believes that her mother was a mermaid who left her with Signe when she was a toddler. When the perfect day goes completely wrong, she sets out in a boat to try to find her mother. She truly believes that Meggie Marie, her mermaid mother will make things right.

I thought this story was beautiful. It's all about figuring out that you have exactly what you need, even when you don't realize it. It is perfectly appropriate for the audience it was meant for although there are hints of homosexuality between two characters. That's only a small caution in a lovely story. Like I mentioned above, children may not understand the deeper meanings so it's a great book to read and discuss with your kids.

Under the Dome by Stephen King

2010-04-21T11:26:00.000-07:00

Under the Dome, by Stephen King, is a big book. A really big book. Over 1000 pages of big book. Thank goodness I chose to read this on my Kindle! First off, I want to say that I loved the book. I thought it was great. The only bad thing I have to say is that it took me forever to read it. I think it took me over a month, which is just ridiculous! Yet it was all good. I'm going to blame the Olympics again. Watching all those events sucked a great deal of my reading time away.

Under the Dome is the first Stephen King novel I've read. I've read On Writing, which is excellent, and I've read his columns in Entertainment Weekly. I've also seen many movies based on his books so I'm not completely out of the loop. That being said, I still wasn't prepared for the chipmunk dying at the beginning of the book. Wow. I had to put the book down for a bit after that! And that was just the start.

The story is about a small town in Maine that is trapped by a dome that clamps down over the town. Things turn chaotic very quickly as the town Selectman, Big Jim Rennie, starts taking over. He thrives on the chaos as he wants very much to be in control. He's very evil. I don't want to give much away but there is a clear line drawn between good and evil. There are the rebels, fighting to find an answer and destroy the dome. There are those who are working for Big Jim who follow orders blindly. And there are those who are just trying to keep their families safe.

This is a book that makes you wonder what you would do, trapped in a town, freedom taken away. It's a great big interesting book. I recommend it.

She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott

2010-04-20T16:57:00.000-07:00

She's So Dead to Us, by Kieran Scott, is a well -written teen drama. There are mean girls, crushes, sports, pranks, and miscommunication. The book centers around Ally Ryan, a high school junior who moves back to her hometown after being away for a year and a half. When Ally left her town, she was one of the rich kids, a "Crestie" who lived in an exclusive area. Thanks to some financial mistakes made by her father, she returns to town with only her mom and lives in a condo in the Norm side of town. Going from Crestie to Norm is rough considering that her old friends are shunning her.

Jake lives in Ally's old house. He is a Crestie who is immediately drawn to Ally. He fights a battle between going after the girl he's got a huge crush on and his friends who won't understand. While the mean-girl Cresties plan pranks to pull on Ally, he grows closer to her.

The novel switched between Ally's point of view and Jake's. I enjoyed being able to get Jake's perspective on things as most of the young adult books that I read are told from a female view. The writing is sharp and the dialogue is all very natural. Both characters have issues to work out and neither are perfect. This is also a relief as I'm tired of perfect teen characters.

The only problem that I had with this novel, and it's something that is really bothering me lately in Young Adult fiction, is that there wasn't a great ending. There was a conflict, drama, and then the novel was over. The resolution was missing. I'm guessing there is a planned sequel and that is why it was left the way it was. Maybe not, maybe the rest is up to our imagination. I'm just seeing a trend and it can be irritating to a person like me who likes happy ever afters and long, detailed epilogues!

One other note. . . I am a child of the 80's and with main characters named Ally Ryan and Jake, you can bet my mind put those names together to be Jake Ryan. *sigh* The perfect teen movie hunk.

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

2010-04-08T16:34:00.000-07:00

I bought Wings after hearing good things about it. Sad to say that I was disappointed. It sold itself as a story about a fairy and I suppose it was, but it wasn't anything like I expected. It isn't a bad book, it's just not a great book. I wanted it to be a great book. It took me a long time to read because I couldn't get into it.

Laurel and her family move to a new town and she starts school for the first time. She's been home-schooled her entire life and is forced to go to a public high school for her sophomore year. She quickly meets David who becomes her best friend. When odd things start happening to Laurel, she discovers who she truly is and meets Tamani, a fairy. Tamani, David and Laurel must work together to save the fairies' land.

Pretty simple story but it didn't have an end. It seems to be a trend with young adult books. They don't really end or come to a conclusion. I know the point is to get the reader to read the next book in the series, but in this case, I don't know that I will bother. I'm not that interested.

The book is perfect for teens but I don't think adults will get much out of it.

Catching Fire by Suzzane Collins

2010-04-07T16:28:00.000-07:00

I'm weak. I wasn't going to read this book until May but I was pressured into it. Now I have to wait around to read the third book in the series. Drat.

Catching Fire continues the story of Katniss, the co-winner of The Hunger Games. I don't want to spoil anything but the Hunger Games are back and even more twisted. This story was nothing like I expected. I had scenarios playing through my mind and none of them fit the reality.

The story moves along quickly and tosses the reader around a little bit. There are moments of pure action and moments of frustration when you want to smack Katniss to get her act together. The relationship between Katniss and Peeta grows and I found myself enjoying his character much more than I did in The Hunger Games. I'm sure that Katniss will ultimately have to decide between Peeta or Gale but frankly she's not a romantic character and would probably be better off on her own. Yes, I have strong opinions on fictional characters and their romantic lives.

Bottom line, if you've read The Hunger Games, you must read Catching Fire. I'm not sure how you could resist. Don't read Catching Fire first though. These books must be read in order. Go read The Hunger Games. I'll wait.