A Dark Romance

Rating: 5/5

Review: Well, this was certainly a powerful novel. I can't believe that this is the author's first book! The details were amazing, and even hard to bare at times. I could see the burning of flesh far too vividly in my mind, but I suppose that's what held me captive. It definitely gives you a new outlook on life, and even love. The stories that were interwoven with the main one could be a bit tedious at times, but not overly so. Take the time to read this one, and I am sure you won't regret it.

Book Description: The narrator of The Gargoyle is a very contemporary cynic, physically beautiful and sexually adept, who dwells in the moral vacuum that is modern life. As the book opens, he is driving along a dark road when he is distracted by what seems to be a flight of arrows. He crashes into a ravine and suffers horrible burns over much of his body. As he recovers in a burn ward, undergoing the tortures of the damned, he awaits the day when he can leave the hospital and commit carefully planned suicide—for he is now a monster in appearance as well as in soul.

A beautiful and compelling, but clearly unhinged, sculptress of gargoyles by the name of Marianne Engel appears at the foot of his bed and insists that they were once lovers in medieval Germany. In her telling, he was a badly injured mercenary and she was a nun and scribe in the famed monastery of Engelthal who nursed him back to health. As she spins their tale in Scheherazade fashion and relates equally mesmerizing stories of deathless love in Japan, Iceland, Italy, and England, he finds himself drawn back to life—and, finally, in love. He is released into Marianne's care and takes up residence in her huge stone house. But all is not well. For one thing, the pull of his past sins becomes ever more powerful as the morphine he is prescribed becomes ever more addictive. For another, Marianne receives word from God that she has only twenty-seven sculptures left to complete—and her time on earth will be finished.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Rating: 4/5

Review: I am so glad that I finally read this Christmas classic! The movies that I have seen certainly do it justice. The book had a little bit more detail, of course, and the particular version I was reading had a few interesting facts on every page to go along with it. I can definitely see why this is such a beloved classic.

Book Description: One of the best-loved and oft-quoted stories of "the man who invented Christmas"--English writer Charles Dickens--A Christmas Carol debuted in 1843 and has touched millions of hearts since. Cruel miser Ebeneezer Scrooge has never met a shilling he doesn't like. . .and hardly a man he does. And he hates Christmas most of all. When Scrooge is visited by his old partner, Jacob Marley, and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come, he learns eternal lessons of charity, kindness, and goodwill.

Greywalker by Kat Richardson

Rating: 4/5

Review: This was an interesting take on the paranormal genre. I loved the lead character, Harpor Blaine, and the Danzingers (Ben and Mara), who help her figure out what's happening to her. There wasn't a whole lot of suspense, but there was plenty of action. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Book Description: PI Harper Blaine sees a strange shift in clientele in Richardson's dizzy urban fantasy debut. After being dead for two minutes as a result of a clobbering by an angry perp, Harper discovers icky side effects complicate her Seattle life in unexpected ways—she sees ghosts and attracts otherworldly business as she pops in and out of a shadowy overlapping world. Harper seeks the assistance of Ben Danziger, self-proclaimed "ghost guy" and linguistics professor, and his wife, Mara, a witty Irish witch. They educate Harper on the Grey, "a place between our world and the next." Harper tries to maintain a normal life, dating a sexy antiques expert while battling wits with Seattle's vampire king, but being a Greywalker means she can only "pass for human."

In God We Trust; All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd

Rating: 4/5

Review: This was a fun, light, read. There were only a few stories that had actually been featured in the movie, A Christmas Story, however. Yes, there is the famous "you'll shoot your eye out" scene. Shepherd's writing definitely takes the reader back in time to a small Indiana town in the 1930s and 40s. Each childhood tale is filled with humorous nostalgia. I still like the movie better, though, as it has long become a yearly tradition in my family.

Book Description: Shepherd's wildly witty reunion with his Indiana hometown, disproves the adage "You can never go back." Bending the ear of Flick, his childhood-buddy-turned-bartender, Shepherd recalls passionately his genuine Red Ryder BB gun, confesses adolescent failure in the arms of Junie Jo Prewitt, and relives a story of man against fish that not even Hemingway could rival. From pop art to the World's Fair, Shepherd's subjects speak with a universal irony and are deeply and unabashedly grounded in American Midwestern life, together rendering a wonderfully nostalgic impression of a more innocent era when life was good, fun was clean, and station wagons roamed the earth.

Two Books Since last entry

Rapture in Death by J.D. Robb

Rating: 4/5

Review: This book didn't grab quite like the other books in the series did, but I really love the relationship between Dallas and Rourke. They are such a good team. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Book Description: Each murder victim died with a smile on their face. The only one who isn't grinning is Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas-because she's got to find out why.

Dead Sexy by Tate Hallaway

Rating: 4/5

Review: It wasn't nearly as good as the first book, but I plan on continuing the series anyway. I really like the lead character, Garnet, she's such a hoot.

Book Description: Tall, Dark & Dead introduced Garnet Lacey, a bookstore manager/witch who accidentally unleashed the dark goddess Lilith on Vatican assassins. Now she has other things to worry about-like pesky frat boy zombies, a gorgeous FBI agent hot on her trail, love spells gone wrong, and keeping her vampire boyfriend a safe distance from her vampire ex-boyfriend. There's just no rest for this Wiccan...

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

Rating: 4/5

Review: This was an interesting story about a boy who goes on an adventure to a dark and mysterious world. And it is very dark at times, let me tell you. There were a few disturbing moments in the book, but overall it was a good read. I suggest, however, that you not read it while in a down mood, because this story does not induce happiness. In fact, I'm really not sure what made the book so good for me, since it never really had a happy ending. I suppose it was the writing style, the interesting characters, and the determination and wit of an twelve-year-old boy. The book drew me in right away, and I still think about it. I do wonder what kind of childhood this author had, though. Hmmmmm...

Book Description: High in his attic bedroom, twelve-year-old David mournsthe death of his mother, with only the books on his shelf forcompany. But those books have begun to whisper to him in thedarkness. Angry and alone, he takes refuge in his imaginationand soon finds that reality and fantasy have begun to meld. Whilehis family falls apart around him, David is violently propelledinto a world that is a strange reflection of his own -- populatedby heroes and monsters and ruled by a faded king who keeps hissecrets in a mysterious book, The Book of Lost Things.
Taking readers on a vivid journey through the lossof innocence into adulthood and beyond, New York Timesbestselling author John Connolly tells a dark and compelling talethat reminds us of the enduring power of stories in our lives.

Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson

Rating: 5/5

Review: This was a wonderful surprise of a romance. I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did, and I thought the premise was going to be silly. It turned out to be a wonderfully sweet romance, and a great story that has a great ending. A woman who has been in the shadow of her mother all of her life, runs into her imaginary friend from her childhood, and they fall in love. Sound hokie to you? Well, it turns out to be quite good, trust me. It's about enduring love, believing in miracles, believeing in yourself, and opening yourself up to possiblities.

Book Description: As a little girl, Jane has no one. Her mother Vivienne Margaux, the powerful head of a major New York theater company has no time for her. But she does have one friend--Michael--and no one can see him but her. But Michael can't stay with Jane forever, and on her eighth birthday, her imaginary friend must leave her. When Jane is in her thirties, working for her mother's company, she is just as alone as she was as a child. Her boyfriend hardly knows she's there and is more interested in what Vivienne can do for his career. Her mother practically treats her as a slave in the office, despite the great success of Jane's first play, "Thank Heaven." Then she finds Michael--handsome, and just the same as she remembers him, only now he's not imaginary. For once in her life, Jane is happy--and has someone who loves her back. But not even Michael knows the reason behind why they've really been reunited.

The Devil You Know by Mike Carey

Rating: 3.5/5

Review: This was interesting, suspensful, and had a good ending. So, why the heck did I have such a hard time trying to finish the book? I'm not quite sure. The main character, Felix, wasn't exactly boring. Perhaps it was just the writing style. I found myself caring about the characters, but too bored to find out what happened next. Of course, I was curious enough to keep returning to the book, but there was never an intense need to get right back to it. I'll only reccomend this one to the die hard paranormal fans who really love a good ghost story and the occasional succubus out for some male libido.

Book Description: Felix Castor used to cast out demons for a living. But in a time when the supernatural realm is in upheaval, his skills are in renewed demand. The one final, well-paying assignment he accepts, however, is rapidly turning into a "who can kill Castor first" competition, with demons, were-beings, and ghosts all keen to claim the big prize.

Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Rating: 4/5

Review: This is an enchanting tale about a woman who is bound by her oath to use her spices to help people in need and to never have desires of her own. Of course, she inevitably falls for a young man, and trouble soon follows. The book is quite different from the movie, however. In the movie, Tilo is young and beautiful, whereas in the book, she his old through the majority of it. The secondary characters are pretty much the same, though, and her relationship with the spices was portrayed well in the movie. The book is full of magic and wonder. The author has a beautiful way of describing each scene, and helping the reader to see through Tilo's eyes. Her descriptions and her words make me want to know more about these spices of which she writes, and to explore further the wonders of Indian culture.

Book Description: Magical, tantalizing, and sensual, The Mistress of Spices is the story of Tilo, a young woman born in another time, in a faraway place, who is trained in the ancient art of spices and ordained as a mistress charged with special powers. Once fully initiated in a rite of fire, the now immortal Tilo--in the gnarled and arthritic body of an old woman--travels through time to Oakland, California, where she opens a shop from which she administers spices as curatives to her customers. An unexpected romance with a handsome stranger eventually forces her to choose between the supernatural life of an immortal and the vicissitudes of modern life. Spellbinding and hypnotizing, The Mistress of Spices is a tale of joy and sorrow and one special woman's magical powers.

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Rating: 5/5

Review: The book is definitely not quite as raunchy as the tv show on HBO that has been based on it (seriously, what is up with HBO and raunchy sex). Sookie Stackhouse is an interesting character in that she can hear other people's thoughts and inner most desires. This is something she's had to live with all of her life, and it gets pretty overwhelming at times. In walks Bill the vampire, and her life is changed forever. She can't hear his thoughts, and the quiet she has with his presence is amazing to her. Vampire Bill is interesting enough, but I was more intrigued by Sam, Sookie's shapechanging boss. He's been in love with her for some time, but he's never wanted to do anything about it until she falls for a vampire. Sookie can't read his thoughts either, by the way. I see a love triangle forming here. The story is fun, sometimes very dark, and often creepy and mysterious. I will certainly have to continue this series.

Book Description: Sookie Stackhouse is just a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. Until the vampire of her dreams walks into her life-and one of her coworkers checks out....Maybe having a vampire for a boyfriend isn't such a bright idea.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Rating: 5/5

Review: This was a wonderful story, and much better then the movie, which I loved. Ella has far more troubles and adventures in this book, and there are a few things that the movie portrayed that didn't happen in the book. The ending was very sweet. I loved Ella's personality, her bravery, and her kindness. This will definitely have to go down on my wishlist, as I would certainly read it again and again.

Book Description: In this incredible debut novel comes the richly entertaining story of Ella of Frell, who at birth was given the gift of obedience by a fairy. Ella soon realizes that this gift is little better than a curse, for how can she truly be herself if at anytime anyone can order her to hop on one foot, or cut off her hand, or betray her kingdom'and she'll have to obey? Against a bold tapestry of princes, ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, and fairy godmothers, Ella's quest to break the curse once and for all and discover who she really is is as sharply funny as Catherine, Called Birdy and as richly poignant as Beauty, and has all the marks of a classic in the making.

Wizard's Hall by Jane Yolen

Rating: 5/5

Review: This was a great little book. If you love fantasy and you're ever in the need for a fast read, I highly reccomend it. The story had a hint of Harry Potter, but it has plenty of it's own original elements too.

Book Description: Poor Henry. It’s not enough that his mother has sent him away from home to learn magic. It’s not enough that everyone at his new school calls him Thornmallow because he’s “prickly on the outside, squishy within.” It’s not enough that the only talent he shows at Wizard’s Hall is an ability to make messes of even the simplest spells. Now, when Wizard’s Hall is threatened by a cruel sorcerer’s fearsome beast, it is up to Henry--er, Thornmallow--to figure out how to save not only his new friends but also the entire school for wizards.

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

Rating: 5/5

My Review: This was an excellent piece of fantasy. It was unique, interesting, mysterious, and fun. As always, I love to read about strong women, and Sarene is that and more. She's a wonderful main character in this story who isn't afraid of standing up to anyone. She wishes to be loved, but will not change her ways just to get it. Raoden is a fallen prince who must find the power within himself in order to truly be free. The struggles and triumphs of these two would-be lovers is a thrilling experience I know fans of fantasy will enjoy. It's a book for everyone.

Book Description: Elantris was the capital of Arelon: gigantic, beautiful, literally radiant, filled with benevolent beings who used their powerful magical abilities for the benefit of all. Yet each of these demigods was once an ordinary person until touched by the mysterious transforming power of the Shaod. Ten years ago, without warning, the magic failed. Elantrians became wizened, leper-like, powerless creatures, and Elantris itself dark, filthy, and crumbling.Arelon's new capital, Kae, crouches in the shadow of Elantris. Princess Sarene of Teod arrives for a marriage of state with Crown Prince Raoden, hoping -- based on their correspondence -- to also find love. She finds instead that Raoden has died and she is considered his widow. Both Teod and Arelon are under threat as the last remaining holdouts against the imperial ambitions of the ruthless religious fanatics of Fjordell. So Sarene decides to use her new status to counter the machinations of Hrathen, a Fjordell high priest who has come to Kae to convert Arelon and claim it for his emperor and his god. But neither Sarene nor Hrathen suspect the truth about Prince Raoden. Stricken by the same curse that ruined Elantris, Raoden was secretly exiled by his father to the dark city. His struggle to help the wretches trapped there begins a series of events that will bring hope to Arelon, and perhaps reveal the secret of Elantris itself.

Skinny Dip by Carl Hiaasen

Rating: 5/5

Review: This was a great book about a woman who was horribly betrayed, and works on getting revenge with the help of a guy who saved her life. There's a bit of humor here amd there, and the storyline moves swiftly from scene to scene. The characters were well developed, and the heroine of the novel was wonderfully spirited and sarcastic. I'll definitely have to check out more by this author.

Book Description: Chaz Perrone might be the only marine scientist in the world who doesn’t know which way the Gulf Stream runs. He might also be the only one who went into biology just to make a killing, and now he’s found a way–doctoring water samples so that a ruthless agribusiness tycoon can continue illegally dumping fertilizer into the endangered Everglades. When Chaz suspects that his wife, Joey, has figured out his scam, he pushes her overboard from a cruise liner into the night-dark Atlantic. Unfortunately for Chaz, his wife doesn’t die in the fall.Clinging blindly to a bale of Jamaican pot, Joey Perrone is plucked from the ocean by former cop and current loner Mick Stranahan. Instead of rushing to the police and reporting her husband’s crime, Joey decides to stay dead and (with Mick’s help) screw with Chaz until he screws himself.

Behind Again

Well, I've been rather busy lately, so I've gotten behind again.
Here's what I read since my last entry:

Haunted Ground by Erin Hart (Good)
Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy by James Anderson (Very Good)
The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (Very Good)

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Rating: 5/5

Review: Well, this one wasn't quite as amazing as the first, but it was a great way to go out with a series. It was completely unexpected, and very intense. I don't want to say too much here, because I don't want to give anything away. Just trust me when I tell you that it is well worth your time, and you will be in awe. The ending was nicely done, too, and actually left it just open enough should the author decide to pick it up again or branch off into other spinoff series.

Book Description: Twilight tempted the imagination. New Moon made readers thirsty for more. Eclipse turned the saga into a worldwide phenomenon. And now, the book that everyone has been waiting for...
Breaking Dawn, the final book in the #1 bestselling Twilight Saga, will take your breath away.

The Outlander by Gil Adamson

Rating: 4/5

Review: This was an interesting book. The main character, Mary, has a disturbed mind, but she is not crazy. She has lost a child, killed her husband, and is now on the run from her twin brothers-in-law. The experiences that she has, and the people she meets makes for an intriguing story. I didn't like how abruptly it ended, however, and would have liked an epilogue or something for better closure. The writing style is very eloquent, though, and you can really tell that the author is a successful poet.

Book Description: In 1903 a mysterious young woman flees alone across the West, one heart-pounding step ahead of the law. At nineteen, Mary Boulton has just become a widow—and her husband's killer. As bloodhounds track her frantic race toward the mountains, she is tormented by mad visions and by the knowledge that her two ruthless brothers-in-law are in pursuit, determined to avenge their younger brother's death. Responding to little more than the primitive fight for life, the widow retreats ever deeper into the wilderness—and into the wilds of her own mind—encountering an unforgettable cast of eccentrics along the way.

Gorgeously Green by Sophie Uliano

Rating: 5/5

Review: I absolutely loved this book. It is such a wonderful resource for anyone who wants to become eco-friendly. I loved the idea of taking care of the planet and being as "green" as possible. There are loads of web sites to check out, great advice and how-to tips, and even a small section on losing weight. I highly reccomend this for the girl who wants to become "green".

Book Description: In Gorgeously Green, Sophie offers a simple eight-step program that is an easy and fun way to begin living an earth-friendly life. Each chapter covers topics from beauty to fitness, shopping to your kitchen—even your transportation. Whether it's finding the right lipstick, making dinner, buying gifts, or picking out a hot new outfit, finally, there is a book that tackles your daily eco-challenges with a take-charge plan. Just consider Sophie your go-to girl with all the eco-solutions. Find out how to:
Green your entire beauty regime
Detoxify your home
Indulge in guilt-free shopping
Adopt a home fitness routine
Prepare eco-licious treats
Give your kitchen a green makeover
Become more aware of your impact on the earth

I haven't really felt like writing reviews lately for some reason. It could be that I just got a little behind and didn't feel like catching back up, trying to remember exactly how I felt about the last three books I read. I enjoyed them all, though.

My recent books:

Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh (Very Good)

Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews (Had some slow parts, but a great read otherwise)

The Good Guy by Dean Koontz (Very Good)

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

Rating: 4/5

Review: The beginning was a little too corny, and I almost gave up on reading it. I was reading it for my book club, however, so I felt obligated to continue. I'm actually glad I did, because it kept getting better and better. By the end, I was a fan, and I really want to read the next book. The intensity between Kate and Curran was awesome. The fight scenes were exciting, the characters interesting, and Kate's humor was fun.

Book Description: Mercenary Kate Daniels cleans up urban problems of a paranormal kind. But her latest prey, a pack of undead warriors, presents her greatest challenge.

Born Standing Up by Steve Martin

Rating: 4/5

Review: This was a very interesting inside take of the comedian's life, and how he developed his craft. He shows himself as a sensative, intelligent, and wounded person. He's funny, of course, and certainly has a way with words. I would like to read his fiction work, now that I see how good of a writer he truly is. I have always liked Steve Martin as an actor/comedian, but now I respect him as a human being too. That's the beauty of biographies.

Book Description: At age 10, Steve Martin got a job selling guidebooks at the newly opened Disneyland. In the decade that followed, he worked in Disney's magic shop, print shop, and theater, and developed his own magic/comedy act. By age 20, studying poetry and philosophy on the side, he was performing a dozen times a week, most often at the Disney rival, Knott's Berry Farm. Obsession is a substitute for talent, he has said, and Steve Martin's focus and daring--his sheer tenacity--are truly stunning. He writes about making the very tough decision to sacrifice everything not original in his act, and about lucking into a job writing for The Smothers Brothers Show. He writes about mentors, girlfriends, his complex relationship with his parents and sister, and about some of his great peers in comedy--Dan Ackroyd, Lorne Michaels, Carl Reiner, Johnny Carson. He writes about fear, anxiety and loneliness. And he writes about how he figured out what worked on stage.
This book is a memoir, but it is also an illuminating guidebook to stand-up from one of our two or three greatest comedians. Though Martin is reticent about his personal life, he is also stunningly deft, and manages to give readers a feeling of intimacy and candor. Illustrated throughout with black and white photographs collected by Martin, this book is instantly compelling visually and a spectacularly good read.

Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Rating: 4/5

Review: The book starts out excruciatingly slow, but starts to pick up in the middle. By the end, I was completely consumed, and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. I'm told that the movie version wasn't very good and that they actually left out Agent Pendercast, who is one of the main characters.

Book Description: The book that started the New York Times bestselling collaboration of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.

Just days before a massive exhibition opens at the popular New York Museum of Natural History, visitors are being savagely murdered in the museum's dark hallways and secret rooms. Autopsies indicate that the killer cannot be human...But the museum's directors plan to go ahead with a big bash to celebrate the new exhibition, in spite of the murders.Museum researcher Margo Green must find out who-or what-is doing the killing. But can she do it in time to stop the massacre?

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Rating: 5/5

Review: Surprisingly, this was my first Agatha Christie book. It was a very fast read, as I finished it in half a day. I loved it! The mystery was so complete that there was no way of knowing for sure who the murderer was. The characters were just real enough that I worried what would happen next. A truly wonderful classic, that I now know why it has stood the test of time.

Book Description: First, there were ten - a curious assortment of strangers summoned as weekend guests to a private island off the coast of Devon. Their host, an eccentric millionaire unknown to all of them, is nowhere to be found. All that the guests have in common is a wicked past they're unwilling to reveal - and a secret that will seal their fate. For each hsa been marked for murder. One by one they fall prey. Before the weekend is out, there will be none. And only the dead are above suspicion...

Black Order by James Rollins

Rating: 5/5

Review: I started out listening to this book on audio cd, but ended up buying it in hardback for a great price at Waldenbooks. Definitely skip on the audio version, as it is much harder to follow, and you lose a bit of the excitement. This book was definitely full of adventure and suspense. I loved all of the main characters, and really cared what happened to them. I certainly plan to read more books in this series. I have discovered a new favorite author in James Rollins.

Book Description: In Copenhagen . . . a suspicious bookstore fire propels Commander Gray Pierce on a relentless hunt across four continents—and into a terrifying mystery surrounding horrific experiments once performed in a now-abandoned laboratory buried in a hollowed-out mountain in Poland.
In the mountains of Nepal . . . in a remote monastery, Buddhist monks inexplicably turn to cannibalism and torture—while Painter Crowe, director of Sigma Force, begins to show signs of the same baffling, mind-destroying malady . . . and Lisa Cummings, a dedicated American doctor, becomes the target of a brutal clandestine assassin.
Now only Gray Pierce and Sigma Force can save a world suddenly in terrible jeopardy. Because a new order is on the rise—an annihilating nightmare growing at the heart of the greatest mystery of all: the origin of life.

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

Rating: 5/5

Review: Well, this was certainly a very interesting take on the wonderland books by Lewis Carroll. The lead character, Alyss Heart, is nothing like Alice from the original novels. She is a princess, and she has an evil aunt who likes to shout "off with their heads". This was actually the audio version of the book, my first experience of that kind, and it was done very well. Gerard Doyle did an excellent job on all of the voices, and bringing the story to life in my mind. I loved this book, and I will certainly have to partake of the next one in the trilogy.

Book Description: The Myth: Alice was an ordinary girl who stepped through the looking glass and entered a fairy-tale world invented by Lewis Carroll in his famous storybook. The Truth: Wonderland is real. Alyss Heart is the heir to the throne, until her murderous aunt Redd steals the crown and kills Alyss’ parents. To escape Redd, Alyss and her bodyguard, Hatter Madigan, must flee to our world through the Pool of Tears. But in the pool Alyss and Hatter are separated. Lost and alone in Victorian London, Alyss is befriended by an aspiring author to whom she tells the violent, heartbreaking story of her young life. Yet he gets the story all wrong. Hatter Madigan knows the truth only too well, and he is searching every corner of our world to find the lost princess and return her to Wonderland so she may battle Redd for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts.

The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas

Rating: 4.5/5

Review: This was a very sweet book. I loved the small town feel, and the togetherness of the women in the club. It definitely had a Steel Magnolias feel to it, but there's actually a mystery element that gives it flavor. I adored the main character, Queenie, and seeing the women through her eyes. This was a quick, fun, and uplifting read.

Book Description: It is the 1930s, and hard times have hit Harveyville, Kansas, where the crops are burning up, and there's not a job to be found. For Queenie Bean, a young farm wife, a highlight of each week is the gathering of the Persian Pickle Club, a group of local ladies dedicated to improving their minds, exchanging gossip, and putting their quilting skills to good use. When a new member of the club stirs up a dark secret, the women must band together to support and protect one another. In her magical, memorable novel, Sandra Dallas explores the ties that unite women through good times and bad.

Mary , Bloody Mary by Carolyn Meyer

Rating: 4/5

Review: This was an interesting account of the life of Mary Tudor. I liked getting an idea of what it must've been like for her, being the daughter of Henry VIII. She was cruelly treated after Henry fell for Anne Boelyn, and was forced to care for their daughter, Elizabeth. The story was fast paced, and I like the facts that Ms. Meyer threw in at the end. It is quite ironic that both daughters Henry renounced ended up being queen. Meyer wrote another book about Elizabeth, so I think I will have to check that one out someday.

Book Description: The story of Mary Tudor's childhood is a classic fairy tale: A princess who is toinherit the throne of England is separated from her mother; abused by an evilstepmother who has enchanted her father; stripped of her title; and forced tocare for her baby stepsister, who inherits Mary's rights to the throne. Believe itor not, it's all true.Told in the voice of the young Mary, this novel explores the history and intrigueof the dramatic rule of Henry VIII, his outrageous affair with and marriage to thebewitching Anne Boleyn, and the consequences of that relationship for hisfirstborn daughter. Carolyn Meyer has written a compassionate historical novel about love and loss, jealousy and fear--and a girl's struggle with forces farbeyond her control.

Eye of the Beholder by David Ellis

Rating: 4/5

Review: The first half dragged a little bit, which made me want to give up. The second half, however, was so riveting that I could barely put the book down. It just kept getting more exciting and even more intense. It also had a shocker at the ending. So, if you can trudge through the first several chapters, it is actually a great book.

Book Description: Renowned attorney Paul Riley has built a lucrative career based on his famous prosecution of Terry Burgos, a serial killer who followed the lyrics of a violent song to gruesomely murder six girls. Now, fifteen years later, the police are confronted with a new series of murders and mutilations. Riley is the first to realize that the two cases are connected-and that the killer seems to be willing to do anything to keep him involved. As the murderer's list of victims becomes less random and more personal, Riley finds himself at the center of a police task force assigned to catch the murderer-as both an investigator and a suspect. Driven by his own fear that he may have overlooked something crucial during the investigation years ago, Riley must sift through fifteen years of lies in order to uncover the truth-but the killer isn't the only one who wants to keep the past buried. . . .

Tell Me Lies By Jennifer Cruise

Rating: 4/5

Review: Well, it started out pretty lame, and I almost gave up on it. I'm so glad that I didn't, though, because it actually turned out to be a pretty good book. I think she started out trying too hard to be funny, but ended up just relaxing and being real. I loved the romance between Maddie and C.L. The small town gossip and closeness seemed pretty dead on. I liked that there was even a crime to be solved.

Book Description: Maddie Faraday's life would be perfect--if it weren't for her cheating husband, her suspicious daughter, her gossipy mother, her secretive best friend, her nosy neighbors, and that guy she lost her virginity to twenty years ago...

Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Rating: 5/5

Review: This was such a wonderfully imaginative and thrilling story. It moves swiftly, yet you can't help but savor each part. It's a story that stays with you long after you've closed the book. The really great thing is, that it continues. I can't wait to read the next book in the trilogy. I am completely hooked, and I am dying to know what happens next in the life of Kvothe. He is a fine character, one that must go down as one of my all time favorites. This book is full of life, hardships, magic, wonder, mythical creatures, and an endless array of interesting people and places.

Book Description: Travelers to the village where Kote runs an inn are rare, but those who've shown up lately have brought bad news. A sort of demonic spider attacks a local, and then Kote rescues a wandering scholar, bringing him to the inn to recover. The man recognizes Kote as the legendary hero Kvothe and begs him to reveal the reality behind all the legends. Most of the novel is Kvothe's autobiography, that of a young genius growing up in a troupe of elite traveling players, tutored by an old arcanist, until marauders (mere marauders?) destroyed it, after which he made his way to the great university and petitioned for admission. Rothfuss skillfully handles the change of Kvothe's voice from child to youth to student, and the voice of the mature Kvothe in retrospective interjections.

A Good book and a Storm

I am in the middle of reading Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. It was a stormy night last night, but not the kind where you want to huddle under your blanket and wish it would settle down so you could sleep. It was the soothing, I love having this moment to myself, kind. I was curled up on the loveseat, a soft breeze blowing through the open window, with the glorious sound of rain falling steadily. Thunder rumbled in a nonthreatening way, and I was completely at ease with an enthralling story. I even paused to write a little bit, which was excellent, as I haven't been doing much of my own writing lately. I have been reading other author's excellent works. Alas, I am in a rut and will stay there until I drag myself out. Anyway, here is a wonderful excerpt from my current read (one of many moments that have moved me in this story so far):

The strings felt strange against my fingers, like reunited friends who have forgotten what they have in common. I played soft and slow, sending notes no farther than the circle of our firelight. Fingers and strings made a careful conversation, as if their dance described the lines of an infatuation.
Then I felt something inside me break and music began to pour out into the quiet. My fingers danced; intricate and quick they spun something gosamer and tremulous into the circle of light our fire had made. The music moved like a leaf twisting as it falls to the ground....

I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence By Amy Sedaris

Rating: 5/5

Review: I know this is actually considered a cookbook, but it was such a fun read that I had to share it. It is chalk full of great looking recipes, and even some interesting ideas. It's also one of the most hilarious books I have ever read.

Book Description: The charismatic and multi-talented Amy Sedaris is many things: actress, author, and yes, David Sedariss sister. Now, she takes on the world of entertaining in this blisteringly funny collection of bizarre tips, recipes and craft ideas (like mini pantyhose plant-hangers!) perfect for hosting an unforgettable fete. Your guests will rave.

Fire Study By Maria V. Snyder

Rating: 5/5

Review: I loved this book! It was much better then Magic Study, which I thought could have been a little more exciting then it was. The author has also left it open, should she decide to make this into a series instead of just a trilogy. I hope she does. Yelena is one of my favorite characters, and I would love to read more of her adventures. I do believe Snyder is working on another novle now, so I can't wait to find out what that one is about. She definitely had a magic touch with words and descriptions.

Book Description: When word that Yelena is a Soulfinder—able to capture and release souls—spreads like wildfire, people grow uneasy. Already Yelena's unusual abilities and past have set her apart. As the Council debates Yelena's fate, she receives a disturbing message: a plot is rising against her homeland, led by a murderous sorcerer she has defeated before.…
Honor sets Yelena on a path that will test the limits of her skills, and the hope of reuniting with her beloved spurs her onward. Her journey is fraught with allies, enemies, lovers and would-be assassins, each of questionable loyalty. Yelena will have but one chance to prove herself—and save the land she holds dear.

Boy's Life By Robert McCammon

Rating: 5/5

Review: The boy in question, is Cory Mackenson. He's an average eleven-year-old in the early 60's, that goes through some not so average events. The descriptions by this author were amazing. I could see every detail in my mind. The characters were lively, and very interesting. I loved the coming of age story with a murder mystery thrown in. This is a book that stays with you long after it's been returned to the shelf. Loved it!

Book Description: Zephyr, Alabama, is an idyllic hometown for eleven-year-old Cory Mackenson -- a place where monsters swim the river deep and friends are forever. Then, one cold spring morning, Cory and his father witness a car plunge into a lake -- and a desperate rescue attempt brings his father face-to-face with a terrible vision of death that will haunt him forever.
As Cory struggles to understand his father's pain, his eyes are slowly opened to the forces of good and evil that are manifested in Zephyr. From an ancient, mystical woman who can hear the dead and bewitch the living, to a violent clan of moonshiners, Cory must confront the secrets that hide in the shadows of his hometown -- for his father's sanity and his own life hang in the

A Great and Terrible Beauty By Libba Bray

Rating: 4/5

Review: This book made me think of The Craft while reading it. The only similarity, however, is the powers the girls were able to obtain. There is also the one girl who actually has all the power. I liked the gothic feel, the characters were interesting, and the story was good. I certainly plan on reading the rest of this trilogy.

Book Description: A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.
Gemma, 16, has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother’s death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls’ academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left wi! th the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order.

PS I Love You By Cecelia Ahern

Rating: 5/5

Review: This isn't a book I would have normally picked out for myself, but I enjoyed it very very much. It wasn't depressing as one might expect, it being about a woman coping with her husband's death and all. It was actually quite uplifting. The characters were fun and interesting, and the story moved along at a steady pace. The writing style was a little bit ametureish, but it really didn't matter. The story was firmly in place and all the characters were believable. It didn't end quite how I expected it to, but that was fine.

Book Description: A novel about holding on, letting go, and learning to love again.
Now in paperback, the endearing novel that captured readers' hearts and introduced a fresh new voice in women's fiction — Cecelia Ahern.
Holly couldn't live without her husband Gerry, until the day she had to. They were the kind of young couple who could finish each other's sentences. When Gerry succumbs to a terminal illness and dies, 30-year-old Holly is set adrift, unable to pick up the pieces. But with the help of a series of letters her husband left her before he died and a little nudging from an eccentric assortment of family and friends, she learns to laugh, overcome her fears, and discover a world she never knew existed.

Blood Memory By Greg Iles

Rating: 4/5

Review: This was a great book, but a little disturbing because of the subject matter. I didn't like Cat, the lead character, at first, but soon grew to understand her and respect her a little more by the end. The suspense was written perfectly, the characters were believeable, and the plot moved pretty steadily.

Book Description: Forensic expert "Cat" Ferry has a stellar reputation until a panic attack paralyzes her at a New Orleans murder scene. Praying the attack is a one-time event, she continues working, but when the same killer strikes again -- raising fears that a serial killer is at large -- Cat blacks out over the victim's mutilated corpse. Suspended from the FBI task force, Cat returns to her hometown to regroup. Though her colleagues know her as a world-class forensic odontologist, Cat lives a secret life. Plagued by nightmares, and deeply involved with a married homicide detective, Cat holds herself together with iron nerves and alcohol, using her work as a substitute for life. When some of Cat's forensic chemicals are spilled in her childhood bedroom, two bloody footprints are revealed. This discovery sets in motion a quest to piece together Cat's past -- buried memories that could tie her father's murder to the grisly deaths occurring in New Orleans in the present. For only by finding this remorseless killer can Cat save her sanity -- and her life.

Midnight Bayou By Nora Roberts

Rating: 5/5

Review: I loved this book! Oh my gosh, it was so good! You've got a little bit ghost story, a steamy romance, and the ineteresting scenery of New Orleans and the swamps of Louisianna. I pretty much consumed this one. The characters were great, the story moved quickly, and the history was intriguing. Don't miss out on this one!

Book Description: Declan Fitzgerald had always been the family maverick, but even he couldn't understand his impulse to buy a dilapidated mansion on the outskirts of New Orleans. All he knew was that ever since he first saw Manet Hall, he'd been enchanted-and obsessed-with it. So when the opportunity to buy the house comes up, Declan jumps at the chance to live out a dream. Determined to restore Manet Hall to its former splendor, Declan begins the daunting renovation room by room, relying on his own labor and skills. But the days spent in total isolation in the empty house take a toll. He is seeing visions of days from a century past, and experiencing sensations of terror and nearly unbearable grief-sensations not his own, but those of a stranger. Local legend has it that the house is haunted, and with every passing day Declan's belief in the ghostly presence grows. Only the companionship of alluring Angelina Simone can distract him from the mysterious happenings in the house, but Angelina too has her own surprising connection to Manet Hall-a connection that will help Declan uncover a secret that's been buried for a hundred years."

Blood Trail By Tanya Huff

Read: February 2008

Rating: 5/5

Review: This is the second book in the series, and it was very good. This one involved a family of werewolves who were being assasinated one by one. I loved the characters, and the mystery of who was doing the killing kept me on my toes. Henry and Vicky also get very intimate in this one, and Mike doesn't like it one bit.

Blood Price By Tanya Huff

Rating: 5/5

Review: I love the tv show, Blood Ties, that this series of books is based on, so I thought I'd check it out. This is the first book in the series, and man was it good! I love that I've already got the characters visualized in my head. The story moved very quickly, anf it was almost exactly like the pilot of Blood Ties Season 1. I loved being inside all of the characters' heads, especially Henry's. You get to see a little more into his past throught the book. I am looking forward to reading more of this series.

Book Description: Victoria Nelson, once a homicide inspector with the Toronto police, she has been forced to retire by the start of retinitis pigmentosa. Tough and intelligent, Vicki refuses to be beaten by the disease and has set up as a private detective. Mike Celluci was Vicki's partner on the force and her lover as well. Anger over Vicki's decision to leave the police force has separated the two lovers, but sparks still fly when they are together. Their bickering disguised a deeply held mutual affection.
A sudden rash of hideous killings, throats torn out and blood drained, brings Vicki and Mike back together. As the body count mounts Vicki begins to suspect that the killer is not quite human. The newspapers warn of a vampire, but Mike refuses to believe that any such creature can exist. Vicki is not so sure. When she manages to be present at the next killing she discovers Henry Fitzroy at the death scene. Henry, a handsome, intelligent writer of romantic novels, manages to convince Vicki that he is not the killer. But to do so he must reveal that he is a 450 year old vampire, the illegitimate son of Henry VIII, no less.
Henry realizes what Vicki does not. The killer is not a rogue vampire, but a demon, called into service by someone in the city. But the creature serves two masters, the human who called him and one of the greater demons of hell. By using the killings to spell the name of the greater demon across the Toronto landscape, this evil force intends to open the way for a reign of terror on the earth. All Vicki and Henry have to do is identify which of the greater demons is trying to cross over, catch the lesser demon, and stop the human mage who is casting the summonings.

The Water's Lovely By Ruth Rendell

Rating: 2/5

Review: I thought this book was really quite strange. I did feel compelled to finish it once I started, however. The characters were forgettable, and the plot was only vaguely interesting. There was no suspense whatsoever, and the ending was very disapointing.

Book Description: The award-winning author of The Babes in the Wood and The Rottweiler brings us another terrifically paced, richly drawn novel of suspense and psychological intrigue.Weeks went by when Ismay never thought of it at all. Then something would bring it back or it would return in a dream. The dream always began in the same way.She and her mother would be climbing the stairs, following Heather’s lead through the bedroom to what was on the other side, not a bathroom in the dream but a chamber floored and walled in marble. In the middle of it was a glassy lake. The white thing in the water floated towards her, its face submerged, and her mother said, absurdly, “Don’t look!”The dead man was Ismay’s stepfather, Guy. Now, nine years on, she and her sister, Heather, still live in the same house in Clapham. But it has been divided into two self-contained flats. Their mother had lived upstairs with her sister, Pamela. And the bathroom, where Guy had drowned, had disappeared.Ismay worked in public relations, and Heather in catering. They got on well. They always had. They never discussed the changes to the house, still less what had happened that August day. . .But even lives as private as these, where secrets hang in the air like dust, intertwine with other worlds and other individuals. And, with painful inevitability, the truth will emerge.

A Poisoned Season By Tasha Alexander

Rating: 4/5

Review: This book started out pretty slow, but I'm glad I stuck with it, because it kept getting better and better. I really feel that I probably should have read the previous book, And Only to Deceive, since it was Emily Ashton's first mystery. Still, I don't think it's actually necassary in order to enjoy this one. I love Lady Ashton, and Colin is a dream. Margaret, the American, is a fun character, and I would have liked to have learned more about her. The mystery kept me guessing, and the ending was great. I don't normally read cozies, but I'm glad I read this one.

Book Description: From Publishers WeeklyWhen Lady Emily Ashton, an unconventional young widow, comes to London for the social season at the start of Alexander's highly enjoyable late Victorian novel of suspense (the sequel to And Only to Deceive), a presumptive heir to the French throne and a slew of robberies by a thief obsessed with Marie Antoinette soon become the talk of the town. The stakes rise after the murder of one of the thief's victims. As Emily risks her reputation to solve the crimes, she must contend with a mysterious beau, who woos her in Greek. The author deftly works in background material pertinent to Emily's life as well as period detail that never slows the narrative. Emily sometimes behaves in unlikely ways (e.g., visiting a man at his bachelor residence, getting on a first-name basis with a woman after a brief acquaintance), but readers looking for a lighter version of Anne Perry will be well rewarded. (Apr.)

Immortal in Death By JD Robb

Rating: 4/5

Review: This one wasn't quite as good as the first two in the series, but it was still interesting enough to hold my attention. We get to find out just what exactly happened to Dallas when she was a child, and what she did in response to it. She grows closer to Peabody in this book, too, and really gets an idea of who her true friends are. This book was a little bit slower paced, which made it harder to get through, but overall it was still worth the time.

Book Description:It is 2058, New York City. Lieutenant Eve Dallas uncovers a world where technology can create beauty and youth, but passion and greed can destroy them. She was one of the most sought-after women in the world. A top model who would stop at nothing to get what she wanted -even another woman's man. And now she's dead, the victim of a brutal murder. Police lieutenant Eve Dallas puts her life on the line to take the case when suspicion falls on her best friend, the other woman in the fatal love triangle. Beneath the façade of glamour, Eve finds that the world of high fashion thrives on an all-consuming obsession with youth and fame-one that leads her from the lights of the runway to the dark underworld of New York City, where drugs can fulfill any desire, for a price.

Real Murders By Charlaine Harris

Rating: 4/5

Review: I thought this book had a very old fashioned feel to it. It was set in modern day, but at times it felt like I was reading a story that was taking place in the 50's. The lead character is a fun person, but a little too drab at times. The storyline was fast most of the way through, but slowed to a crawl towards the end. The final revealing of the real killer was a bit anti-climatic. I don't want you thinking this was a terrible story, though. I liked the characters well enough, and I'd love to see how things develop between Roe and her beaus. I will most likely read the next book in the series.

Book Description: Though a small town at heart, Lawrenceton, Georgia, has its dark side-and crime buffs. One of whom is librarian Aurora "Roe" Teagarden, a member of the Real Murders Club, which meets once a month to analyze famous cases. It's a harmless pastime-until the night she finds a member killed in a manner that eerily resembles the crime the club was about to discuss. And as other brutal "copycat" killings follow, Roe will have to uncover the person behind the terrifying game, one that casts all the members of Real Murders, herself included, as prime suspects-or potential victims.

Enchantment By Donald Spoto

Rating: 4/5

Review: I didn't realize just how much I actually didn't know about Audrey Hepburn. I knew that she was a superb actress, a humanitarian, and that she was a loving person. That's all, though. This woman has been through a lot. Just the section about her childhood was enough to amaze me. Another thing I didn't know was that Cary Grant was supposed to play the older brother in Sabrina. Oh my gosh, that movie would have been so much better if he had actually taken that role. I founf out a lot of things like that. If you love classic movies, and if you particulary enjoy Audrey Hepburn, than you should most certainly read this book.

Book Description:Her name is synonymous with elegance, style and grace. Over the course of her extraordinary life and career, Audrey Hepburn captured hearts around the world and created a public image that stands as one of the most recognizable and beloved in recent memory. But despite her international fame and her tireless efforts on behalf of UNICEF, Audrey was also known for her intense privacy. With unprecedented access to studio archives, friends and colleagues who knew and loved Audrey, bestselling author Donald Spoto provides an intimate and moving account of this beautiful, elusive and talented woman.Tracing her astonishing rise to stardom, from her harrowing childhood in Nazi-controlled Holland during World War II to her years as a struggling ballet dancer in London and her Tony Award–winning Broadway debut in Gigi, Spoto illuminates the origins of Audrey’s tenacious spirit and fiercely passionate nature.

Beg For Mercy By Toni Andrews

Rating: 4/5

Review: This was an extremely fast read. The characters were interesting, especially Mercy Hollings. She is able to make people do things with her mind. It was a different spin on the paranormal for me, which made it more exciting. I can't say that this was one of my favorite books, but I am intrigued enough to want the next book in this series or whatever it intends to be.

Book Description:I've never been certain I'm human
Oh, the X-rays and blood tests are normal, and most people have no reason to suspect I'm more than I appear to be. But if I tell you to do something? You do it—no ifs, ands or buts.
I call my power the 'press.'
My name is Mercy Hollings, and if you think that having the power to control people makes my life easy, you're dead wrong.
Because when I get angry, everyone around me is at risk—Sukey, my friend who has frightening taste in men; my clients, who, ironically, come to me for help; my neighbors, who regard me as a loner; and Sam, a man who wants to know my darkest secret.
I have hurt people in the past, and I don't want that to happen again. But now a powerful stranger is threatening the new life that I've made for myself.
And I'm afraid my anger is taking over.

Eclipse By Stephenie Meyer

Read: January 2008

Rating: 5/5

Review: Extremely good, of course. This writer continues to amaze me with her talent. She makes it all seem so real! I love it! I really cannot wait for the next book in this series, and I am dying to know what will become of Jacob.

Book Description: Readers captivated by Twilight and New Moon will eagerly devour Eclipse, the much anticipated third book in Stephenie Meyer's riveting vampire love saga. As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob--knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?

Glory In Death By J.D. Robb

Read: December 2007

Rating: 5/5

Review: Very good, as usual. I am really glad that I started this series from the beginning, because it it so much fun seeing how Eve and Rourke's relationship develops. It is also a much better way to get a good idea of who Eve is, and how much she has struggled. We also first meet Peabody in this book, Eve's future partner.

Book Description: The first victim was found lying on a sidewalk in the rain. The second was murdered in her own apartment building. Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas had no problem finding connections between the two crimes. Both victims were beautiful and highly successful women. Their glamorous lives and loves were the talk of the city. And their intimate relations with men of great power and wealth provided Eve with a long list of suspects--including her own lover, Roarke. As a woman, Eve was compelled to trust the man who shared her bed. But as a cop, it was her job to follow every lead..to explore every secret passion, no matter how dark. Or how dangerous.

Inkspell By Cornelia Funke

Read: November 2007

Rating: 4/5

Review: Not quite as good as the first book in this trilogy or series(I'm not sure which). It was a little harder to get into, which is dissapointing, because you actually get to go inside the Ink World with the characters. I just thought it would be far more exciting.

Book Description: Although a year has passed, not a day goes by without Meggie thinking of INKHEART, the book whose characters became real. But for Dustfinger, the fire-eater brought into being from words, the need to return to the tale has become desperate. When he finds a crooked storyteller with the ability to read him back, Dustfinger leaves behind his young apprentice Farid and plunges into the medieval world of his past. Distraught, Farid goes in search of Meggie, and before long, both are caught inside the book, too. But the story is threatening to evolve in ways neither of them could ever have imagined.

The Undomestic Goddess By Sophie Kinsella

Read: November 2007

Rating: 5/5

Review: This was such a fun book, and a very light read. The characters were realistic and enjoyable. I will definitely read more books by this author.

Book Description:Workaholic attorney Samantha Sweeting has just done the unthinkable. She’s made a mistake so huge, it’ll wreck any chance of a partnership. Going into utter meltdown, she walks out of her London office, gets on a train, and ends up in the middle of nowhere. Asking for directions at a big, beautiful house, she’s mistaken for an interviewee and finds herself being offered a job as housekeeper. Her employers have no idea they’ve hired a lawyer–and Samantha has no idea how to work the oven. She can’t sew on a button, bake a potato, or get the #@%# ironing board to open. How she takes a deep breath and begins to cope–and finds love–is a story as delicious as the bread she learns to bake. But will her old life ever catch up with her? And if it does…will she want it back?

Garden Spells By Sarah Addison Allen

Read: November 2007

Rating: 5/5

Review: This was a great book for women. It had a little bit of magic, a little romance, and sisterly love. It was also a quick read. In fact, I read it so quickly, that I can barely remember it, so I really want to read it again sometime.

Book Description: Two gifted sisters draw on their talents to belatedly forge a bond and find their ways in life in Allen's easygoing debut novel. Thirty-four-year-old Claire Waverley manifests her talent in cooking; using edible flowers, Claire creates dishes that affect the eater in curious ways. But not all Waverley women embrace their gifts; some, including Claire's mother, escape the family's eccentric reputation by running away. She abandoned Claire and her sister when they were young. Consequently, Claire has remained close to home, unwilling to open up to new people or experiences. Claire's younger sister, Sydney, however, followed in their mother's footsteps 10 years ago and left for New York, and after a string of abusive, roustabout boyfriends, returns to Bascom, N.C., with her five-year-old daughter, Bay. As Sydney reacquaints herself with old friends and rivals, she discovers her own Waverley magic. Claire, in turn, begins to open up to her sister and in the process learns how to welcome other possibilities.

Late Summer and Fall 2007 List

• Nineteen Minutes By Jody Picoult(5/5)- A powerful story, one that really makes you think.
• This Pen For Hire By Laura Levine(3.5/5)- It some good parts, but overall it wasn't very entertaining to me.
• Naked in Death By J.D. Robb(5/5)-I had read a couple of books from this series out of sequence and decided I needed to read them all. This is the first of the series, and it is excellent.
• Twilight By Stephanie Meyer(5/5)-This book absolutely consumed me. It was extremely good. It is about vampire, though, so you have to like that kind of genre.
• The Venetian Mask By Rosalind Laker(4/5)- It was an interesting story, but not my favorite of this author's.
• Cell By Stephen King(4/5)-The beginning is extremely graphic, but it soon settles down into a surprisingly good book.
• Watermelon By Marian Keyes(5/5)-So good!
• Deep Storm By Lincoln Child(4/5)-A great book that will give you goosebumps at the end.
• Outlander By Diana Gibaldan(4/5)- A great romance with a little bit of time travel.
• Water For Elephants By Sara Gruen(5/5)- An amazing Book! Everyone must read this story! Oh my gosh it was just so good!
• Poison Study By Maria V Snyder(5/5)- Very good fantasy with great characters and a fantastic storyline.
• New Moon By Stephanie Meyer(5/5)- This writer really gets the emotions on the page and you feel every one of them. Excellent book. Great series!
• The Shining By Stephen King(4/5)-A classic, obviously, but very very different from the movies.
• Magic Study By Maria V Snyder(5/5)-Not quite as good as the first book in this series, but still a great read. I am so looking forward to the next one.

Another 2007 List (Spring and Summer)

• The Tall Pine Polka By Lorna Landvik (4/5)-Interesting characters, great scenery, and a fun read. It did start out a bit slow, however.
• The Traveler By John Twelve Hawks(5/5)- Fast-paced, intriguing characters, adventure, excitement, and powerful. It would make an awesome movie!
• Every Which Way But Dead By Kim Harrison(5/5)- A fun and interesting take on the paranormal.
• Moon Called By Patricia Briggs(5/5)-Exciting tale of werewolves and "walkers".
• Death At Wenwater Court(4/5)- a very light read. Fun British slang from the 1920's, and a lovely amateur sleuth happily solving a crime.
• Storm Front By Jim Butcher(4/5)-A refreshing fantasy complete with wizards, powerful magic, and evil lurking in the dark.
• Inkheart By Cornelia Funke(5/5)-An absolutely beautiful book. I loved this one so so much!
• The Glass Castle By Jeanette Walls(5/5)-Very interesting true story, and surprisingly entertaining. The author had a positively atrocious childhood, but managed to keep the story light and fun to read.
• Divided in Death By JD Robb(5/5)- I loved this book! The Eve Dallas series is wonderful, and completely engaging. Eve is one of my all time favorite characters!
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows By J. K. Rowling(5/5)-Heartbreaking, of course, in many ways. But still, a wonderful book! A perfect end to the Potter saga.
• Lean Mean Thirteen By Janet Evanovich(5/5)- Funny as all get out, of course!
• Exit Strategy By Kelley Armstrong(4/5)-Pretty good, but not exactly memorable.
• The Cinderella Rules By Donna Kauffman(4/5)-A fun, romantic, and light read. There was even a dash of intrigue thrown in.
• Candy Apple Dead By Sammi Carter(3.5/5)-It was just barely interesting enough to keep me reading. I was a little bit disappointed to tell you the truth.
• 1st To Die By James Patterson(5/5)- An excellent mystery. Don't even bother with the tv series based on his books, because it isn't even close.
• Anybody Out There By Marian Keyes(5/5)-Wonderful! I love the Irish family, the humor, and the strong storyline. Keyes is a wonderful, spunky little Irish writer, and I plan to read all of her books.

The Red Tent By Anita Diamant

Read: May 2007

Rating: 5/5

Review: This book was so beautifully written, and I highly reccomend it to all women whether they are religious or not. Because, that's what this book is all about, really. Women, and their strength to endure. Very powerful stuff.

Book Description: Her name is Dinah. In the Bible, her life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters of the Book of Genesis that tell of her father, Jacob, and his twelve sons. Told in Dinah's voice, Anita Diamant imagines the traditions and turmoils of ancient womanhood--the world of the red tent. It begins with the story of the mothers--Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah--the four wives of Jacob. They love Dinah and give her gifts that sustain her through childhood, a calling to midwifery, and a new home in a foreign land. Dinah's story reaches out from a remarkable period of early history and creates an intimate connection with the past.

Early 2007

The following are some books I read early last year, with my ratings after each one.
1. Eat, Pray, Love By Elizabeth Gilbert (4/5)
-This was a fun and interesting book.
2. The Time Traveler's Wife By Audrey Niffenegger (4/5)
-This one was very different, and quite intriguing.
3. Angels Fall By Nora Roberts (4/5)
4. Blue Smoke By Nora Roberts (4/5)
-Please, do not bother with the movie version of this book, it isn't even close.
5. Bitten By Kelley Armstrong (5/5)
-Easily one of my favorite books of all time. I highly highly reccomend it to all paranormal lovers. It is a very different and wonderful take on werewolves.
6. Marley and Me By John Grogan (5/5)
-A bittersweet book that is well worth the tears.
7. Creepers By David Morrell (4/5)
-A good chiller.
8. White Lies By Jayne Ann Krentz (4/5)
9. The Quiet Game By Greg Iles (4/5)
10. Proof Positive By Philip Margolin(3/5)

Lagging Behind

Hello to any potential Blog Readers out there. I am going to try to catch up on my reading journal here. I almost reached my goal of 50 books last year, but I was just shy of 2, darn it. I will set the same goal for this year, however, and see how I do.