City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

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.

Call Me Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber

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. 

A Whole Bunch of Reviews!!!

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 Carousel by Richard Paul Evans

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.

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

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

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.

Catching Fire by Suzzane Collins

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.

The Christmas Train by David Baldacci

I'd waited a year to read this book.  My mother gave it to me last Christmas but I didn't have time to read it.  All year long I toyed with wanting to read it but it never seemed right.  My decision to read Christmas books during the month of December allowed me the opportunity.

I don't typically go for the sappy, feel-good Christmas stories.  Fortunately this book wasn't like that.  Yes there was a happy ending, but the characters were charming and flawed.  The book revolves around Tom.  He's a fortyish journalist who loses his patience with the TSA and ends up losing his flying privileges in the United States.  Needing to get from Washington, DC to California for Christmas, he decides to ride the rails.

I've traveled short distances by train and while they were good experiences, they weren't quite like Tom experienced on his long -haul trains.  The story brings up a whole host of quirky characters, like the young couple planning to get married on the train and Agnes Joe, a lonely but feisty woman who isn't all she seems.  The biggest surprise for Tom was running into his long lost love, Eleanor.

Tom and Eleanor face challenges as they try to get to know each other after so many years apart.  They struggle to face the past and why they broke up.  They also face the weather, when the train gets caught in a winter storm.  Christmas is nothing like any of them planned, but it was better than they ever expected.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a little love, and a little adventure at Christmastime (or anytime really).  If you love trains, you need to read this book.  If you don't love them, read it anyway!  You'll want to have your own cross country adventure.

The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory

The Constant Princess is the story of Katherine of Aragon, who was the first of Henry VIII's wives. She was a princess of Spain, the daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. She was the mother of Henry's daughter Mary (Bloody Mary).

The story began with Catalina, Infante of Spain, Princess of Wales, and future Queen of England, as a little girl living in Spain. She was beloved by her parents and brought up as a princess of both Spain and England, having been betrothed to Prince Arthur at a young age. Catalina traveled to England at the age of fifteen and married Arthur. After a trying few months, Catalina found herself in love with her husband. Not long after, he died of illness. She struggled to maintain her dignity while being tossed back and forth between her parents and King Henry VII. She fought for her place in England and eventually married Arthur's brother, King Henry VIII.

I really struggled with this book. It was well written and interesting, much like Ms. Gregory's other books on the Tudors, but I had a hard time getting into it. I suppose it was because I knew what was going to happen. There wasn't much mystery really. I enjoyed The Queen's Fool and The Other Boleyn girl more because they were about characters that I didn't know anything about. While I knew about Anne Boleyn, I knew nothing of Mary Boleyn.

I have a confession. . . I skimmed the last hundred pages or so. It was all about battles and war planning. That didn't interest me, I would have rather Katherine have some joy at the birth of Mary, but that was barely touched on. It was a bit of a disappointment over all but I still plan to continue reading her books.

The Cinderella Pact by Sarah Strohmeyer

The Cinderella Pact, by Sarah Strohmeyer is a cute book. From the cover, to the title, to the love story, it appeared to be basic chick lit. I don't say that in any derogatory way. I love chick lit. I read it, I write it, I enjoy it. It's take the place of the good old fashioned bodice rippers and I have to say that for the most part it's a huge step in the right direction.

As for The Cinderella Pact, something was different. The normal formula was followed with a twist. Nola, the main character, was overweight. So were her friends. After the three friends were discriminated on because of their weight, the ladies decided to form the Cinderella Pact, which was to lose weight.

Each lady approached it differently. The book hit on topics such as gastric bypass, counting points at Weight Watchers, personal trainers, and falling off the wagon. I hadn't read a book, a novel at least, like this one before. You don't see overweight main characters too often. Even by the end of the book, she wasn't skinny, but she was healthier and that's the point.

There were a few different sub-plots going around. The Cinderella Pact itself was only one part of the story. Nola found herself in a situation at work that was her own fault really. Her attempts to get herself out of it were cute. She also fell for a mystery man named "Chip" who turned out to be the last person she expected.

Anyone who's tried to lose weight will relate to a good part of this book. Because of that I found it hard to read at times. Sometimes the things Nola was going through hit a little close to home. I think that's one of the reasons it took me so long to finish. Ms. Strohmeyer gave me a few nudges to make some changes in my own life.

Candy Girl by Diablo Cody

I just finished Candy Girl by Diablo Cody. Wow. What a ride. Really, it's a good read. My only caution is you should be very comfortable with the different names for body parts and not be too prudish. Diablo is an interesting gal. I loved Juno so very much and I enjoy her articles in Entertainment Weekly. My friend bought me Candy Girl after I commented that I'd like to read it but was a bit embarrassed to be buying a book about a stripper. With good reason. She was graphic in parts. On the whole though, I think it was a very interesting memoir. I was under the impression that she started stripping for research purposes. I thought the book idea came before the stripping. I was wrong. She was intrigued by the idea and did it. More power to her.

I would never be a stripper. It just wouldn't be a good choice for me. Ever. I get why women do though. For so many it's about money, and they can make good money. For others it is about power, some I'm sure are just desperate for something. If you are willing to read a book that might make you blush and will definitely squick you out, go for it. I enjoyed it. It's just not for everyone.