When Wolves Collide

Rating: 5/5

Review: I had no doubt that I would love this book, and I wasn't dissapointed. Elena is still one of my all-time favorite characters. She is tough, cunning, beautiful, brave, and even has a great since of humor. Her mate, Clayton, isn't bad either. As usual, Armstrong keeps the action going from beginnging to end, and adds a few intense scenes just to keep her readers on the edge of their seats. All I can say is, please keep them coming.

Book Description: Being the only female werewolf has it's advantages, such as having her pick from the Otherworld's most desirable males. And Elena Michaels couldn't have picked a more dangerously sexy and undyingly loyal mate than Clayton Danvers. Now their bond will be put to the ultimate test as they follow a bloody trail of gruesome slayings into the Alaskan wilderness.

Close, But No Cigar

Rating: 3/5

Review: This certainly had the potential of being an excellent book, but it really fell short for me. There were some exciting moments, but they were spaced too far apart, which, combined with long historical descriptions, completely slowed the book down. It got so sluggish, in fact, that I had a hard time getting to the end. By the time I did actually get there, I didn't even care about the big secret any more. If you're really into the history of the Masons, then you will enjoy this book. If not, you may find it mildly entertaining and even a little tiresome.

Book Description: As the story opens, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned unexpectedly to deliver an evening lecture in the U.S. Capitol Building. Within minutes of his arrival, however, the night takes a bizarre turn. A disturbing object -- artfully encoded with five symbols -- is discovered in the Capitol Building. Langdon recognizes the object as an ancient invitation . . . one meant to usher its recipient into a long-lost world of esoteric wisdom.When Langdon's beloved mentor, Peter Solomon -- a prominent Mason and philanthropist -- is brutally kidnapped, Langdon realizes his only hope of saving Peter is to accept this mystical invitation and follow wherever it leads him. Langdon is instantly plunged into a clandestine world of Masonic secrets, hidden history, and never-before-seen locations -- all of which seem to be dragging him toward a single, inconceivable truth.

Romance, Adventure, and Intrigue.

Rating: 5/5

Review: This book takes off like a shot, and doesn't let go for one second. It's full of adventure, excitment, and a little bit of romance. Katsa is a wonderfully intriguing character, who is tough as nails, but extremely loyal and caring to those she loves. In fact, all of the characters in this book were a joy to read about. They were as diverse as the seven kingdoms of which the author describes. There are certain people, like Katsa, who are born with an amazing skill. Along with this skill comes strange colored eyes, for which the people with "graces" are known. Katsa finds out about her "grace" in a terrible way, and at a young age. Her uncle, King Randas, has used her to exert his power over the kingdom ever since. She develops a reputation that puts fear into people far and wide. It comes to the point, however, when she realizes that she doesn't have to bend to her her uncle's will any longer. That's when things start to get very exciting. From a chance encounter to a handsome prince, to a horrendous trek across treacherous mountains, this book is a fantastic gift that just keeps on giving.

Book Description:
Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight--she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug.When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po's friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace--or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

Stormy Weather

Rating: 5/5

Review: What a wild ride this was! I absolutely loved this book. Admittedly, it did take me a couple of chapters before I was completely hooked, but once I was...wow! I loved the main character, Joanna, who is a powerful weather warden. She can control storms, water, and wind. There are plenty of other intriguing characters to enjoy too, however, such as the mysterious David. There are some wonderfully intense moments, a couple of very sensual moments, and a twist at the end that completely blew me away. I cannot wait to devour the next book in the series!

Book Description: Joanne Baldwin is a Weather Warden. Usually, all it takes is a wave of her hand to tame the most violent weather. But now, she's trying to outrun another kind of storm: accusations of corruption and murder. So, she's resorting to the very human tactic of running for her life... Her only hope is Lewis, the most powerful warden known. Unfortunately, he's stolen not one but three bottles of Djinn-making him the most wanted man on earth. Still, she's racing hard to find him-before the bad weather closes in fast...

Side Effects Suck

Rating: 4.5/5

Review: Another fast-paced novel by McMann, but this one has a little more depth. There are actual paragraphs for one thing. For another, there's more intensity and a lot more character interaction. Janie is getting better at controlling her ability, but there are some nasty side effects that she has to look forward to according to her mentor's journal. She going to go completely blind, which has already started to happen. She's going to lose the use of her hands. She can never drive again, unless she doesn't care about killing innocent people. The only way she can avoid the blindness and crippled hands would be to isolate herself completely. To top things off, she's working on a case with Cabel and Captain that could push her completely over the edge. There's a sexual predator at the high school, and it's Janie's uncomfortable job of fishing him out. She's definitely way in over her head here, and I was actually getting increasingly worried for her. I like Janie, she has a good head on her shoulders, and she's very spunky, but she needs to learn what she can and can't handle. McMann has a great ability to keep her readers hooked and begging for more.

Book Description: Janie and Cabel have a dangerous new assignment. At their high school, rumors are rampant that teachers are using date-rape drugs on students. Called in to investigate, the pair tap into the nightmares of a troubled female classmate. Alarmed by what they discover, they decide to probe deeper, using Janie as bait. This extreme strategy endangers Janie, but as they soon discover, that's only the half of it….

Dream Trespasser

Rating: 4.5/5

Review: This is a super fast read. I don't recall seeing this style of writing before, either. The author has written out the story in very clipped sentences, and I don't think there is a single paragraph in the whole book. It works very well, though, and has certainly made me crave for more. Janie is a teenager who unwillingly gets sucked into other people's dreams. Most of the time, it's just someone's embarassing fears or fantasies, but sometimes they are very scary nightmares. This story seemed more like a very long introduction or prologue, so I am very curious what will take place in the next book. Will Janie get control of her dream power? Will she develop new powers? Will she and Cabel have a lasting relationship? How will she handle college? What kind crime will she help bring to justice next? I can assure you that I am very anxious to find out.

Book Description:

Not all dreams are sweet.
For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.
She can't tell anybody about what she does — they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.
Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant....

Vampirism in Small Town America

Rating: 5/5

Review: The small town of Jerusalem's Lot has an unwanted guest, they just don't know it. This was only King's second book, and it sure shows exactly why he is one of the greatest authors of all time. He puts you right there in the scene every time, and he is a master at causing chills to run down his readers' backs. The slow decent of this town into chaos drips with suspense and dreaded expectation. The lead character, Ben Mears, is a writer who has had serious tragedy in is life. He's also experienced something terrifying in his home town when he was a kid. The Marsten House, who could also be called a main character, is the source of this childhood terror and the new evil that has come to town. The real on the edge of your seat thrills don't really start until the last few chapters, but everything leading up to it is well worth the ride.

Book Description: 'Salem's Lot is a small New England town with white clapboard houses, tree-lined streets, and solid church steeples. That summer in 'salem's Lot was a summer of homecoming and return; spring burned out and the land lying dry, crackling underfoot. Late that summer, Ben Mears returned to 'salem's Lot hoping to cast out his own devils and found instead a new, unspeakable horror. A stranger had also come to the Lot, a stranger with a secret as old as evil, a secret that would wreak irreparable harm on those he touched and in turn on those they loved. All would be changed forever: Susan, whose love for Ben could not protect her; Father Callahan, the bad priest who put his eroded faith to one last test; and Mark, a young boy who sees his fantasy world become reality and ironically proves the best equipped to handle the relentless nightmare of 'Salem's Lot. This is a rare novel, almost hypnotic in its unyielding suspense, which builds to a climax of classic terror. You will not forget the town of 'salem's Lot nor any of the people who used to live there.

Glass Magic

Rating: 5/5

Review: Maria V. Snyder has created a wonderful new trilogy, and I can't wait to devour the next book. I loved the glass magic featured, as well as, the magic of the Storm Dancers. I enjoyed reading about Opal's growing powers and self-discovery. The little love triangle that has started between her, Kade, and Ulrick made for an interesting twist. I'm rooting for Kade, myself. Of course, the characters from the Study books are featured here, as well, and it was fun reading about Yelena from a different perspective. There was great action and suspense throughout the book, and the story moved along at a brisk pace.

Book Description:
As a glass maker and a magician-in-training, Opal Cowen understands trial by fire. Now it's time to test her mettle. Someone has sabotaged the Stormdancer clan's glass orbs, killing their most powerful magicians. The Stormdancers--particularly the mysterious and mercurial Kade--require Opal's unique talents to prevent it happening again. But when the mission goes awry, Opal must tap in to a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening. And the further she delves into the intrigue behind the glass and magic, the more distorted things appear. With lives hanging in the balance--including her own--Opal must control powers she hadn't known she possessed...powers that might lead to disaster beyond anything she's ever known.

Georgia Goodness

Rating: 4/5

Review: This was a great light read. It also made me want to fix up an old house in a place where traditons are strongly followed, and everbody knows everybody. Dempsey was a fun character that I could relate to, and I actually had a great-grandmother like Ella Kate. I didn't like how naive Dempsey was where her boss was concerned. I'd like to think that I would not have been quite as stupid in her situation, but she was influenced by her infatuation, so I can see how a person might not see what's really going on in that case. Love and infatuation does make us do stupid things, I suppose. I enjoyed the tidbits about house restoration, and how Dempsey was doing most of the work herself. The ending was good, but not very realistic. Still, I do like the idea of getting something you really need right when you need it.

Book Description: After her boss in a high-powered Washington public relations firm is caught in a political scandal, fledgling lobbyist Dempsey Jo Killebrew is left almost broke, unemployed, and homeless. Out of options, she reluctantly accepts her father's offer to help refurbish Birdsong, the old family place he recently inherited in Guthrie, Georgia. All it will take, he tells her, is a little paint and some TLC to turn the fading Victorian mansion into a real-estate cash cow.
But, oh, is Dempsey in for a surprise when she arrives in Guthrie. "Bird Droppings" would more aptly describe the moldering Pepto Bismol–pink dump with duct-taped windows and a driveway full of junk. There's also a murderously grumpy old lady, one of Dempsey's distant relations, who has claimed squatter's rights and isn't moving out. Ever.
Furthermore, everyone in Guthrie seems to know Dempsey's business, from a smooth-talking real-estate agent to a cute lawyer who owns the local newspaper. It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the pesky FBI agents who show up on Dempsey's doorstep, hoping to pry information about her ex-boss from her.
All Dempsey can do is roll up her sleeves and get to work. And before long, what started as a job of necessity somehow becomes a labor of love and, ultimately, a journey that takes her to a place she never expected—back home again.

Books and Barcelona

Rating: 4/5

Review: Well, this book seemed to take forever, but it was worth the effort. The descriptions throughout were so beautifully done, and I was completely transported into each scene. I'm not exactly sure what made the book so slow for me. Perhaps it was do to the translation from Spanish to English? Or maybe it was the thick paragraphs and lack of any strong action, although there was a great action scene towards the endof the book. I loved the Cemetary of Forgotten books, and found myself wishing that I could go there. I know that if there were such a place, and perhaps there are such places for all I know, I would be able to spend days within the aisles just taking in each every "orphan". The endless devotion of Daniel's father was quite touching, and was very clearly felt during a certain birthday moment. The mystery surrounding the author, Julian Carax, was very intriguing, and had a few twists and turns that kept the story alive. The romance between Daniel and Bea was wonderfully done, and reminded me of other great romances such as The Notebook. I also loved the beautiful analolgies that Zafon places here and there, like; "...the sky was melting into slow tears of light that seemed to lie on my breath before fading away." (page 448) So, overall, while a very slow read, it was also very rewarding and quite memorable.

Book Description:
Barcelona, 1945-just after the war, a great world city lies in shadow, nursing its wounds, and a boy named Daniel awakes on his eleventh birthday to find that he can no longer remember his mother's face. To console his only child, Daniel's widowed father, an antiquarian book dealer, initiates him into the secret of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a library tended by Barcelona's guild of rare-book dealers as a repository for books forgotten by the world, waiting for someone who will care about them again. Daniel's father coaxes him to choose a volume from the spiraling labyrinth of shelves, one that, it is said, will have a special meaning for him. And Daniel so loves the novel he selects, The Shadow of the Wind by one Julian Carax, that he sets out to find the rest of Carax's work. To his shock, he discovers that someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book this author has written. In fact, he may have the last one in existence. Before Daniel knows it his seemingly innocent quest has opened a door into one of Barcelona's darkest secrets, an epic story of murder, magic, madness and doomed love. And before long he realizes that if he doesn't find out the truth about Julian Carax, he and those closest to him will suffer horribly.

Fantastic!

Rating: 5/5

Review: This is one of the best trilogies I have ever come across! There's plenty of action, and on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense. Collins definitely knows how to keep a reader hooked well into the night, and this is absolutely a book you will be happy to lose sleep over. Of course, there is the cliffhanger ending, so be prepared for that.

Book Description: Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Not a Laughing Matter

Rating: 4/5

Review: I didn't like this one quite as much as the first in the series. I like Anita Blake, as well as her sarcasm, but I am tired of the word "naw". It was not used quite as much in this book, but still used once too many. I like the underlying tension between Anita and Jean Claude, but I'm not sure if I actually want them to get together or not. There were a couple of gruesome scenes in this book that were very tough to read. Anytime the death of children is involved, it makes me quite squeamish. I'll definitely continue with the series, but I'm hoping that there won't be any more little corpses. Eeesh.

Book Description: The novels of New York Times bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton take readers into the dangerous life of Anita Blake, animator and vampire hunter—a woman as good at raising the dead as she is at slaying the undead. Now, a creature from beyond the grave is tearing a swath of murder through St. Louis. And Anita will learn that there are some secrets better left buried—and some people better off dead...

Forgot One!

Ok, I just realized that I never posted this book, which was the first book in the series. It was very good, and made me want to read more. It was a little rough as far as the subject matter was concerned, though. Children were being murdered in horrible ways. It did not go into an over amount of detail, but enough that makes a person cringe. Again, the main character is so interesting, and such a joy to read about, that it overshadows the bad things.

Rating: 4.5/5

Book Description:

In medieval Cambridge, England, four children have been murdered. The crimes are immediately blamed on the town's Jewish community, taken as evidence that Jews sacrifice Christian children in blasphemous ceremonies. To save them from the rioting mob, the king places the Cambridge Jews under his protection and hides them in a castle fortress. King Henry I is no friend of the Jews-or anyone, really-but he is invested in their fate. Without the taxes received from Jewish merchants, his treasuries would go bankrupt. Hoping scientific investigation will exonerate the Jews, Henry calls on his cousin the King of Sicily-whose subjects include the best medical experts in Europe-and asks for his finest "master of the art of death," an early version of the medical examiner. The Italian doctor chosen for the task is a young prodigy from the University of Salerno. But her name is Adelia-the king has been sent a mistress of the art of death.

Adelia and her companions-Simon, a Jew, and Mansur, a Moor-travel to England to unravel the mystery of the Cambridge murders, which turn out to be the work of a serial killer, most likely one who has been on Crusade with the king. In a backward and superstitious country like England, Adelia must conceal her true identity as a doctor in order to avoid accusations of witchcraft. Along the way, she is assisted by Sir Rowley Picot, one of the king's tax collectors, a man with a personal stake in the investigation. Rowley may be a needed friend, or the fiend for whom they are searching. As Adelia's investigation takes her into Cambridge's shadowy river paths and behind the closed doors of its churches and nunneries, the hunt intensifies and the killer prepares to strike again...

The Best Historic Murder Mystery Series

Rating: 5/5

Review: I absolutely love this series! The historic details are intriguing, the characters are wonderfully varied, and the mystery is completely consuming. I adore the main character, Adelia, who is strong, intelligent, interesting, and still quite feminine. I like the hint of romance between her and Picot Rolwing, who is now a Bishop and has sworn not to touch her, even though he desperately wants to. I have to say, though, that Ms. Franklin certainly does not shy away from disturbing circumstances in her novels. I am referring to cruelty to animals, and harsh death scenes. Despite that, however, her books so far have been way to good to let that keep me from reading on. I am definitely looking forward to consuming the next book in the series.

Book Description:
Rosamund Clifford, the mistress of King Henry II, has died an agonizing death by poison-and the king's estranged queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, is the prime suspect. Henry suspects that Rosamund's murder is probably the first move in Eleanor's long-simmering plot to overthrow him. If Eleanor is guilty, the result could be civil war. The king must once again summon Adelia Aguilar, mistress of the art of death, to uncover the truth.

Adelia is not happy to be called out of retirement. She has been living contentedly in the countryside, caring for her infant daughter, Allie. But Henry's summons cannot be ignored, and Adelia must again join forces with the king's trusted fixer, Rowley Picot, the Bishop of St. Albans, who is also her baby's father. Adelia and Rowley travel to the murdered courtesan's home, in a tower within a walled labyrinth-a strange and sinister place from the outside, but far more so on the inside, where a bizarre and gruesome discovery awaits them. But Adelia's investigation is cut short by the appearance of Rosamund's rival: Queen Eleanor.

Adelia, Rowley, and the other members of her small party are taken captive by Eleanor's henchmen and held in the nunnery of Godstow, where Eleanor is holed up for the winter with her band of mercenaries, awaiting the right moment to launch their rebellion. Isolated and trapped inside the nunnery by the snow and cold, Adelia and Rowley watch as dead bodies begin piling up.Adelia knows that there may be more than one killer at work, and she must unveil their true identities before England is once again plunged into civil war . . .

Better Than Buffy

Rating: 5/5

Review: Anita Blake is a vampire slayer who has been compared to Buffy, and most agree that she's way cooler. She also happens to be a necromancer. This book grabs from the beginning, and is a wonderful thrill ride into the dark world of the paranormal. Vampires are legal, have rights, and can be taken to trial. People who raise the dead can be hired to fix family squabbles over a lost will. It's wild and creepy, action-packed and gritty, and just plain fun to read. I am looking forward to reading more of this series.

Book Description: Anita Blake may be small and young, but vampires call her the Executioner. Anita is a necromancer and vampire hunter in a time when vampires are protected by law--as long as they don't get too nasty. Now someone's killing innocent vampires and Anita agrees--with a bit of vampiric arm-twisting--to help figure out who and why.
Trust is a luxury Anita can't afford when her allies aren't human. The city's most powerful vampire, Nikolaos, is 1,000 years old and looks like a 10-year-old girl. The second most powerful vampire, Jean-Claude, is interested in more than just Anita's professional talents, but the feisty necromancer isn't playing along--yet. This popular series has a wild energy and humor, and some very appealing characters--both dead and alive.

The Strength and Bravery of Women with Cause

Rating: 4/5

Review: This was an interesting look at the women who have stood out the most in history. The infamous and those who have lead the way for human rights. There are some great tales in here, and some nitty gritty backgrounds on some pretty cool females.

Book Description: Barbara Holland's account of history's outstanding, and largely forgotten, females. The women revealed within these pages were driven by passion--for religion, humanity, adventure, politics, and knowledge--that couldn't be curtailed by convention. They were witty, defiant, and, more often than not, beautiful. Shamefully, most of us are unfamiliar with their accomplishments. Holland brings such faces as Joan of Arc, Daisy Bates, Stagecoach Mary, and Mary "Mother" Jones into the same light as Napoleon, Lawrence of Arabia, Billy the Kid, and Frederick Engels.

Lula Sees a Murder

Rating: 3.5/5

Review: Well, there were several laugh-out-loud moments, as usual, but can we please stop with the stupid cars getting burned or blown up already? The love triangle is starting to get tiresome too. I do have to admit that the enticing encounters with Ranger are a bit fun to read, though. Lula witnessing a murder was a great concept, and Stephanie is still one of my favorite characters. I'm hoping she actually manages to stay with Morelli in the next book, and not have any ridiculous fights over a jar of nasty peanut butter.

Book Description: Stephanie Plum chases killers, burglars and romance-well, not romance this time-through the flames that threaten every square inch of Trenton. It's not as if there weren't enough work for the bounty hunters of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds, dedicated professionals charged with bringing in Failures to Appear like serial flasher Junior Turley, who's known to every housewife in his neighborhood, and retired pharmacist Myron Kaplan, who robbed his dentist at gunpoint when his new choppers began to ache. They really don't need the two unrelated cases that pop up like mushrooms. Stephanie's pal Lula arrives at work one evening to report that she just saw a man getting beheaded outside the Sunshine Hotel, and smoldering Ranger, the bounty hunter who's long lusted after Stephanie, reveals that clients using his security systems are getting robbed left and right. Stephanie would turn to her main squeeze, Det. Joe Morelli, if an argument about peanut butter hadn't sent them skittering to opposite corners. Looks like she and Lula will be on their own as they go after the $1 million reward offered by Fire in the Hole Red Hot Barbecue Sauce for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the parties Lula watched decapitate celebrity chef Stanley Chipotle. To get in the mood, Lula naturally takes up barbecuing.

A Murder Solving Book Collector

Rating: 3.5/5

Review: This one started out a little slow, but soon got interesting enough to encourage further reading. I like Cliff Janeway, with his wonderful book addiction, and tough guy appeal. It's an unusual combination that really drew me into his story. There was a great mystery to be solved, and I liked that I had no idea who the killer was until the end. There was a weird section in the book, where Janeway opens a book store, which didn't seem to fit with the rest of the story. It was fun reading about it, but I was thrown off a little bit from the murder mystery. Once the investigation picked back up again, though, I was hooked. The ending was a bit abrupt, however. While there didn't seem to be any lose ends aside from his relationship with Rita, I felt a little let down for some reason. I do plan on reading more in the series, though.

Book Description: Denver homicide detective Cliff Janeway may not always play by the book, but he is an avid collector of rare and first editions. After a local bookscout is killed on his turf, Janeway would like nothing better than to rearrange the suspect's spine. But the suspect, local lowlife Jackie Newton, is a master at eluding the law, and Janeway's wrathful brand of off-duty justice costs him his badge.
Turning to his lifelong passion, Janeway opens a small bookshop — all the while searching for evidence to put Newton away. But when prized volumes in a highly sought-after collection begin to appear, so do dead bodies. Now, Janeway's life is about to start a precarious new chapter as he attempts to find out who's dealing death along with vintage Chandlers and Twains.

Blood and Gore and Sophistication

Rating: 4/5

Review: I was surprised to find myself quite enjoying this book. It was certainly unusual, and at times a little gross. Of course, that's hard to avoid when dealing with zombies. I laughed out loud, however, on more than one occasion. It was such a hoot reading about these classic characters dealing with nasty "unmentionables" in as sophisticated a manner as possible.

Book Description: "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains." So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton-and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she's soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers-and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield as Elizabeth wages war against hordes of flesh-eating undead. Can she vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you'd actually want to read.

What's a Pharm party???

Rating: 5/5

Review: This was an excellent book that delves deep into the issues that parents face every day. Is it ok to spy on your teenager? Would you be able to see signs that your child was about to commit suicide? What the heck is a Pharm party? I had never heard of Pharm parties, but I can see how they'd be real. A bunch of kids steal prescription drugs from their parents and get together and take them to get high. Creepy, when you consider there are some pretty heavy duty drugs out there that are perfectly legal when prescribed. There's also a murder mystery going on, and a determined female detective who knows that the first victim is not what she seems to be. There are intense moments and heartbreaking moments. There are triumphant moments too, of course. This was just a great, fast-paced read, that really makes you sit on the edge of your seat.

Book Description:
Tia and Mike Baye never imagined they'd become the type of overprotective parents who spy on their kids. But their sixteen-year-old son Adam has been unusually distant lately, and after the suicide of his classmate Spencer Hill—the latest in a string of issues at school—they can't help but worry. They install a sophisticated spy program on Adam's computer, and within days are jolted by a message from an unknown correspondent addressed to their son: "Just stay quiet and all safe."Meanwhile, browsing through an online memorial for Spencer put together by his classmates, Betsy Hill is struck by a photo that appears to have been taken on the night of her son's death . . . and he wasn't alone. She thinks it is Adam Baye standing just outside the camera's range; but when Adam goes missing, it soon becomes clear that something deep and sinister has infected their community. For Tia and Mike Baye, the question they must answer is this: When it comes to your kids, is it possible to know too much?

Reluctant Necromancer

Rating: 5/5

Review: I love paranormal suspense, and this book certainly delivers. There are ghosts, werewolves, sorcerers, witches, half-demons, and a necromancer. This is the second in a great new trilogy by Kelley Armstrong (one of my favorite authors). Chloe is the necromancer who narrates the story, and she has some major issues in dealing with her unwanted powers of raising the dead. She has a few accidents, that are wonderfully creepy. Luckily, this book didn't leave me hanging quite as bad as the first, but I am still waiting anxiously for the third book to come out. Unfortunately, that's not going to be until May 2010. Ah well, There will be plenty of good stuff to read in the mean time.

Book Description: If you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl—someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I'm as far away from normal as it gets. A living science experiment—not only can I see ghosts, but I was genetically altered by a sinister organization called the Edison Group. What does that mean? For starters, I'm a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control; I raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever.
Now I'm running for my life with three of my supernatural friends—a charming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch—and we have to find someone who can help us before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying.

Paranormal Puberty

Rating: 5/5

Review: This book was so good, that I ended up buying the second in the trilogy just because I didn't want to wait for it to come in at the library. You've got interesting characters, an exciting plot line, great dialogue, and a wonderful new paranormal trilogy by a fabulous author. What more could you possibly want? In the midst of all that, you also have normal teenage hormones and issues. Love it!

Book Description: After years of frequent moves following her mother’s death, Chloe Saunders’s life is finally settling down. She is attending art school, pursuing her dreams of becoming a director, making friends, meeting boys. Her biggest concern is that she’s not developing as fast as her friends are. But when puberty does hit, it brings more than hormone surges. Chloe starts seeing ghosts–everywhere, demanding her attention. After she suffers a breakdown, her devoted aunt Lauren gets her into a highly recommended group home. At first, Lyle House seems a pretty okay place, except for Chloe’s small problem of fearing she might be facing a lifetime of mental illness. But as she gradually gets to know the other kids at the home–charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a “thing” for fire–Chloe begins to realize that there is something that binds them all together, and it isn’t your usual “problem kid” behaviour. And together they discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home either…

Tragic, But Good

Rating: 4/5

Review: This was such a sad tale, but well worth the read. It didn't bring tears to my eyes, but I did feel a little melancholy over certain events. By the end, I was desperately wanting something really good to happen for these poor girls. It did indeed have a happy ending, so do hang in there if you decide to read the book.

Book Description:Alice Hoffman’s previous novel, The Third Angel, was hailed as "an unforgettable portrait of the depth of true love" (USA Today), "stunning" (Jodi Picoult), and "spellbinding" (Miami Herald). Her new novel, The Story Sisters, charts the lives of three sisters–Elv, Claire, and Meg. Each has a fate she must meet alone: one on a country road, one in the streets of Paris, and one in the corridors of her own imagination. Inhabiting their world are a charismatic man who cannot tell the truth, a neighbor who is not who he appears to be, a clumsy boy in Paris who falls in love and stays there, a detective who finds his heart’s desire, and a demon who will not let go.What does a mother do when one of her children goes astray? How does she save one daughter without sacrificing the others? How deep can love go, and how far can it take you? These are the questions this luminous novel asks. At once a coming-of-age tale, a family saga, and a love story of erotic longing, The Story Sisters sifts through the miraculous and the mundane as the girls become women and their choices haunt them, change them and, finally, redeem them.

Catching up

Well, I've fallen behind again. It happens every once in a while, and I do apologize for my delay. I have been reading, though. I just haven't been posting. Busy summer and all that. Let's see, what I have I read since the last post? I read:

It was an interesting book, and quite depressing at times, but very good. I was completely drawn into this tale of a woman falling into madness.

and:

This was a heartwarming book about a young woman who is forced to do something she never thought she wanted to do...be a mom.

I also had a couple of rereads, such as, The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks and Posion Study by Maria V. Snyder. I read the sequel to the former novel, which was called The Dark River. It wasn't nearly as exciting as the first in the trilogy, but it was interesting enough to keep me reading. I am hoping that the next book by Mr. Twelve Hawks will be better. Ok, so that should have me all caught up now. I am currently reading a sorrowful book by Alice Hoffman. I may need something uplifting after that. Haha!

A Witchy Bride

Rating: 5/5

Review: This was the best in the series so far. Garnet and Sebastion are engaged, and the wedding is in two weeks. What happens? Teresa(Sebastion's ex) comes back with a vengence, that's what, and Garnet's hippy parents are there to witness the whole thing. There were some great laugh-out-loud moments, intense moments, and yes, even passionate ones too. A wonderfully fun and exciting book that I must add to my wish list. Garnet Lacey is just so much fun getting to know, and I can't wait for more great books by Tate Hallaway.

Book Description:
Witch, Garnet Lacey, is ready to walk down the aisle with the super sexy vampire Sebastian. Besides the fact that he has no pulse, things couldn't be more perfect. Until plans for the wedding start falling apart, and Sebastian's zombie-slash-vampire-slash witch ex-lover decides that both of them should be six feet under. It's just a matter of time before Garnet—who's already sharing her body with a short-tempered goddess—morphs into Bridezilla.

A Fallen Diva

Rating: 5/5

Review: This was quite a romp! Funny, uplifting, and even inspiring. Jen Lancaster was a spending diva, but her world was turned upside when she got layed off from her extremely high paying job. It was quite amazing reading how she went from preppy socialite to struggling to pay her bills and labeling herself as white trash. The footnotes added more halarity, which was something I had never seen done before. What a hoot!

Book Description:
Jen Lancaster was living the sweet life-until real life kicked her to the curb. She had the perfect man, the perfect job-hell, she had the perfect life-and there was no reason to think it wouldn't last. Or maybe there was, but Jen Lancaster was too busy being manicured, pedicured, highlighted, and generally adored to notice. This is the smart-mouthed, soul-searching story of a woman trying to figure out what happens next when she's gone from six figures to unemployment checks and she stops to reconsider some of the less-than-rosy attitudes and values she thought she'd never have to answer for when times were good. Filled with caustic wit and unusual insight, it's a rollicking read as speedy and unpredictable as the trajectory of a burst balloon.

Murder on Stage

Rating: 4/5

Review: This has to be one of my favorite series of all time. Each book does well on it's own, but as a series they astound. I loved that in this one we get to see more of the personal side of Peabody. I love how she and Eve interact with each other, as well. There were quite a few funny moments, and I actually laughed out loud at least twice. Eve Dallas is such an awesome character, with her sassy wit, strong sense of justice, and fierce determination.

Book Description:
Opening night at New York's New Globe Theater turns from stage scene to crime scene when the leading man is stabbed to death center stage. Now Eve Dallas has a high profile, celebrity homicide on her hands. Not only is she lead detective, she's also a witness - and when the press discovers that her husband owns the theater, there's more media spotlight than either can handle. The only way out is to move fast. Question everyone and everything . . . and in the meantime, try to tell the difference between the truth - and really good acting.

More of the Good ole West.

Rating: 4/5

Review: This was more simple goodness from a great western series. The two main characters are such a hoot to read about. I hope there will be more to follow.

Book Description: When we last saw Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch, they had just put things to right in the rough-and-tumble Old West town of Resolution. It's now a year later, and Virgil has only one thing on his mind: Allie French, the woman who stole his heart from their days in Appaloosa. Even though Allie ran off with another man, Virgil is determined to find her, his deputy and partner Everett Hitch at his side. Making their way across New Mexico and Texas, the pair finally discover Allie in a small-town brothel. Her spirit crushed, Allie joins Everett and Virgil as they head north to start over in Brimstone. But things are not the same between Virgil and Allie; too much has happened, and Virgil can't face what Allie did to survive the year they were apart. Vowing to change, Allie thinks she has found redemption through the local church and its sanctimonious leader, Brother Percival. Given their reputations as guns for hire, Everett and Virgil are able to secure positions as the town's deputies. But Brother Percival stirs up trouble at the local saloons, and as the violence escalates into murder, the two struggle to keep the peace.

Sci-Fi for the Masses

Rating: 5/5

Review: This was an amazing leap into science fiction for me, which is not my usual genre. If it's not yours either, then you should check this book out. Meyers is so very good at mixing real human relationships with fictional ones. In this case, instead of vampires and werewolves, we are dealing with parasites that take over human bodies. They are non-violent and serene creatures, but there are some humans they haven't gotten to yet, and they're not going down without a fight. There's also the parasite that hasn't quite taking over her body completely, and through the memories and feelings of her human host, she begins to realize just how wrong her species are for taking over this world. I was engrossed from the beginning, and this is definitely a book I'll be thinking about and reflecting on for some time. There's lessons to be learned here, but the journey that Melanie/Wanderer take is what makes this story such a pleasure to delve into.

Book Description: The author of the Twilight series of # 1 bestsellers delivers her brilliant first novel for adults: a gripping story of love and betrayal in a future with the fate of humanity at stake. Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed.Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of the man Melanie loves-Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer yearns for a man she's never met. As outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off to search for the man they both love.Featuring what may be the first love triangle involving only two bodies, THE HOST is a riveting and unforgettable novel that will bring a vast new readership to one of the most compelling writers of our time.

Magical Discovery and Vampires

Rating: 5/5

Review: I wasn't sure about this one at first. It had such thick paragraphs (even in the dialogue), which made it a little difficult to get into. I soon forgot about all of that, however, and was completely taken with the story. It was very interesting, exciting, and magical. I also ended up with a fierce craving for Cinnamon rolls. Ha! I am really really hoping that there will be a sequel.

Book Description: Sunshine's mundane existence as the head baker at Charlie's Coffeehouse takes an unexpected turn when she drives to her grandmother's secluded summer camp. While she is taking in the scenic view of the starlit sky reflecting off the lake's calm surface, she is attacked by a gang of vampires and brought to an abandoned mansion on the far side of the lake. They strip her of her shoes, dress her in a blood-red gown, and shackle her to a wall. In the semi-darkness of the moonlit room, she realizes that a vampire is shackled next to her. After some tense moments, the two begin to talk and quickly conclude that if they don't help each other escape, they're both as good as dead…

Louisa Mae Alcott and the Civil War

Rating: 4/5

Review: This book gives a wonderful inside view of the personal life of Louisa Mae Alcott. Of course, a little of it here and there is merely based on speculation, but there are enough facts to make it interesting. I never realized, for instance, that Miss Alcott was Josephine March. Well, in reality, she was a much sadder version, but she wanted to be like the Jo she wrote about, I believe that. The narrator of the book is a ficticious cousin/friend of Alcott's and the famous author's life is told through her eyes. There were several famous historical figures featured in the novel, which gave it added depth. O'Brien did an excellent job of blending historical facts with her own imaginings of the time period.

Book Description:
From childhood, Susan Gray and her cousin Louisa May Alcott have shared a safe, insular world of outdoor adventures and grand amateur theater — a world that begins to evaporate with the outbreak of the Civil War. Frustrated with sewing uniforms and wrapping bandages, the two women journey to Washington, D.C.'s Union Hospital to volunteer as nurses. Nothing has prepared them for the horrors of this grueling experience. There they meet the remarkable Clara Barton — the legendary Angel of the Battlefield — and she becomes their idol and mentor. Soon one wounded soldier begins to captivate and puzzle them all — a man who claims to be a blacksmith, but whose appearance and sharp intelligence suggest he might not be who he says he is.
Through the Civil War and its chaotic aftermath to the apex of Louisa's fame as the author of Little Women and Lincoln's appointment of Clara to the job of finding and naming the war's missing and dead, this novel is ultimately the story of friendship between women — women who broke the mold society set for them, while still reckoning with betrayal, love, and forgiveness.

Witchy Woman

Rating: 4/5

Review: The Garnet Lacey books just keep getting better every time. This one was still a little Corny sometimes, but very entertaining. I love the settings in the book, and the interaction between all of the characters. You've got humour, suspense, romance, mystery, and even a little action. I can't wait for more.

Book Description: It's been one heck of a week for Garnet Lacey. The Vatican witch hunters finally think she's dead, the FBI has closed their file on her, she's co-founding a new coven-and the gorgeous vampire she loves has just asked her to marry him. How lucky can one girl get?Then, her fiancé goes missing and Garnet's worried sick. Has he been kidnapped? Or could he have run off with that blonde from the coven? Now Garnet will have to seek the help of her future stepson-the same brat who turned her over to the witch hunters for a brand-new Jaguar. But there's more bad news: the Goddess Lilith, who camps out in her body, has been making embarrassing appearances. And on top of that, some killer's on her tail...

To the Death!

Rating: 5/5

Review: This was such an amazing book, I can barely contain myself. Haha! Of course, it was a bit disturbing too. It is about kids getting thrown into an enormous arena to fight to the death, after all. Collins writes in such a way, however, that you just can't help but get caught up in the story. Katniss Everdeen is the narrator, and one of the "players" in the Hunger Games. She's sixteen, brave as can be, and one of the best characters I've ever come across. The things this girl, and the other "players" have to go through kept me turning the pages well into the night. I absolutely devoured this book, and I can't wait for the next one in the trilogy.

Book Description: Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When Kat's sister is chosen by lottery, Kat steps up to go in her place.

Bad Politics and Murder in a Small Southern Town

Rating: 4/5

Review: This was basically a sequel to Iles's The Quiet Game, featuring Penn Cage. He's a great character, with natural flaws. The small town of Natchez, MS is the backdrop, and I wonder if it truly has the racial and political wars that Iles portrays. Parts of this book were very raw with their details, but as a whole, it was completely enthralling. It also deals with some very real, and scary issues that teenagers face today. It makes me nervous just thinking about my son attending high school years from now. There were a couple of interesting twists towards the end, which I like, and the climax was well done. I really hope that there will be more Penn Cage novels.

And Then Came the End

Rating: 4/5

Review: This was a great ending to the trilogy, although I did feel that there were a couple of loose ends. I am wondering if maybe the author is planning a spinoff. We'll have to see. I liked many aspects of the story, such as; the tree nests, the giant who saves the day, Mo's determination to let go of the Bluejay, and Meggie's blossoming romance with Doria. I don't want to give too much away, so I'll stop there.

Book Description:
The Adderhead--his immortality bound in a book by Meggie's father, Mo--has ordered his henchmen to plunder the villages. The peasants' only defense is a band of outlaws led by the Bluejay--Mo's fictitious double, whose identity he has reluctantly adopted. But the Book of Immortality is unraveling, and the Adderhead again fears the White Women of Death. To bring the renegade Bluejay back to repair the book, the Adderhead kidnaps all the children in the kingdom, dooming them to slavery in his silver mines unless Mo surrends. First Dustfinger, now Mo: Can anyone save this cursed story?

Hitwoman on a Mission

Rating: 5/5

Review: This book kicked butt! I absolutely love the main character, Nadia, who happens to be a hired assassin. This is the second book in an excellent series by Kelley Armstrong. This woman can write! You've got suspense, intrigue, interesting characters, fast-paced storyline, great locale, and plenty of action. I just can't say enough good things about this book and it's author.

Book Description: Nadia Stafford isn’t your typical nature lodge owner. An ex-cop with a legal code all her own, she’s known only as “Dee” to her current employer: a New York crime family that pays her handsomely to bump off traitors. But when Nadia discovers that a troubled teenage employee and her baby have vanished in the Canadian woods, the memory of a past loss comes back with a vengeance and her old instincts go into overdrive.With her enigmatic mentor, Jack, covering her back, Nadia unearths sinister clues that point to an increasingly darker and deadlier mystery. Now, with her obsession over the case deepening, the only way Nadia can right the wrongs of the present is to face her own painful ghosts—and either bury them for good, or die trying. Because in her book everyone deserves a chance. And everyone deserves justice.

The Usual

Rating: 4/5

Review: It was pretty much the same people doing the same things they've been doing. Nothing fresh here. There were a couple of great laugh-out-loud moments, though. I don't know why the author feels that it is so neccasary to blow up a car in just about every book, however. It's not funny any more. That's my only complaint.

Book Description: Personal vendettas, hidden treasure, and a monkey named Carl will send bounty hunter Stephanie Plum on her most explosive adventure yet.

Mistaken Identity Leads to Adventure

Rating: 5/5

Review: Companions of the Night by Vivian Van De Velde was an excellent and very fast read. I loved the twists and turns, and hated to see it all end. I want a sequel!

Book Description: When sixteen-year-old Kerry Nowicki helps a young man escape from a group of men who claim he is a vampire, she finds herself faced with some bizarre and dangerous choices.

Lagging Behind Again

Here are the books I've read, and haven't had the opportunity to post about:

Resolution by Robert B. Parker- This was the sequel to Appaloosa, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I may have to start reading more westerns. I love the camaraderie between the two lead characters, and the great John Wayne/old west feel to the book.

The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry- This was a wonderful book, and a very interesting subject (reading the future in lace). I was a little disappointed in a certain twist to the story, though. I don't know, it just kind of threw me a bit, and I didn't like that. Haha! I loved the locale, however, and I am very interested in reading the sequel when it comes out.

Probable Future by Alice Hoffman- I loved the locale, the characters, the unique "gifts" that each woman had, the family history, and oh just about everything. Haha! It was well written, fast-paced, and completely enthralling.

The Old West

Rating: 4/5

Review: This was my first western book that wasn't considered a romance. I liked it a lot, and I am already starting it's sequel, Resolution. I saw the movie version first, and I enjoyed it. I liked having a visual of the characters already in my mind. Of course, I love Viggo Mortenson, and he was an excellent Everett Hitch. If you like John Wayne movies, then you should like this book. It's a classic western theme, and though a bit harsh at times, it was a great story. It seemed quite true to it's genre, and history. It was also a very easy and fast read.

Book Description: In one of Parker's finest, two gunmen arrive in the lawless town of Appaloosa where the actions of a renegade rancher have already taken their toll.

Not Just a Cat

Rating: 4.5/5

Review: This was a wonderful, heartwarming story about a cat and the woman who saved his life. I had never heard of this famous cat, but I am so glad that I have learned about him now. Had I known of him before, though, I would have found a way to go and see him in person. I love that he was such a people person and that he really lifted the spirits of those who needed it the most. It is funny, bittersweet, interesting, and just plain good.

Book Description: How much of an impact can an animal have? How many lives can one cat touch? How is it possible for an abandoned kitten to transform a small library, save a classic American town, and eventually become famous around the world? You can't even begin to answer those questions until you hear the charming story of Dewey Readmore Books, the beloved library cat of Spencer, Iowa.Dewey's story starts in the worst possible way. Only a few weeks old, on the coldest night of the year, he was stuffed into the returned book slot at the Spencer Public Library. He was found the next morning by library director, Vicki Myron, a single mother who had survived the loss of her family farm, a breast cancer scare, and an alcoholic husband. Dewey won her heart, and the hearts of the staff, by pulling himself up and hobbling on frostbitten feet to nudge each of them in a gesture of thanks and love. For the next nineteen years, he never stopped charming the people of Spencer with his enthusiasm, warmth, humility, (for a cat) and, above all, his sixth sense about who needed him most.As his fame grew from town to town, then state to state, and finally, amazingly, worldwide, Dewey became more than just a friend; he became a source of pride for an extraordinary Heartland farming town pulling its way slowly back from the greatest crisis in its long history.

Time travel to the Black Plague

Rating: 4/5

Review: This was an amazing book that takes the reader into the time of the Black Plague. The characters were well developed and one truly cares what happens to them, especially the young historian, Kivrin. There is sadness, humor, intrigue, and even a bit of adventure to the story, and it's no wonder the author has won awards. I like the concept of time travel being an everyday thing, and used by historians to get facts straight.

Book Description: For Kivrin, preparing an on-site study of one of the deadliest eras in humanity's history was as simple as receiving inoculations against the diseases of the fourteenth century and inventing an alibi for a woman traveling alone. For her instructors in the twenty-first century, it meant painstaking calculations and careful monitoring of the rendezvous location where Kivrin would be received.But a crisis strangely linking past and future strands Kivrin in a bygone age as her fellows try desperately to rescue her. In a time of superstition and fear, Kivrin -- barely of age herself -- finds she has become an unlikely angel of hope during one of history's darkest hours.Five years in the writing by one of science fiction's most honored authors, Doomsday Book is a storytelling triumph. Connie Willis draws upon her understanding of the universalities of human nature to explore the ageless issues of evil, suffering and the indomitable will of the human spirit.

Ghosts, Unusal Happenings, and Interesting People

Rating: 5/5

Review: This is one of those novels that completely consumes you, until you finally reach the end with a big gasp of breath. It's beautiful and tragic, heartwarming and intriguing. It's full of ghosts, history, characters you really care about, and a mystery that will completely hold you enthralled. It's also a book that will make you value your mortality and hold on to life. It will make you want to talk to the ones you love and hold them just a little bit tighter, because you just never know what's around the next corner. Someone is always worse of then yourself.

Book Description: An intricate tale of love, haunting memories, and renewal, Second Glance begins in current-day Vermont, where an old man puts a piece of land up for sale and unintentionally raises protest from the local Abenaki Indian tribe, who insist it's a burial ground. When odd, supernatural events plague the town of Comtosook, a ghost hunter is hired by the developer to help convince the residents that there's nothing spiritual about the property.
Enter Ross Wakeman, a suicidal drifter who has put himself in mortal danger time and again. He's driven his car off a bridge into a lake. He's been mugged in New York City and struck by lightning in a calm country field. Yet despite his best efforts, life clings to him and pulls him ever deeper into the empty existence he cannot bear since his fianc - e's death in a car crash eight years ago. Ross now lives only for the moment he might once again encounter the woman he loves. But in Comtosook, the only discovery Ross can lay claim to is that of Lia Beaumont, a skittish, mysterious woman who, like Ross, is on a search for something beyond the boundary separating life and death. Thus begins Jodi Picoult's enthralling and ultimately astonishing story of love, fate, and a crime of passion.

Well, I guess I have a little catching up to do! Here's what I've been reading:



Rating: 5/5

Review: This was an excellent resource, and I highly reccomend it for anyone wanting to "go green".

Rating: 5/5

Review: This was a wonderful book about hope and faith in the absolute worst of times. I am so glad that I read it, and I highly reccomend this book to anyone and everyone.

Rating: 4/5

Review: Creepy and disturbing, but very good. I could barely put it down.

Rating: 4/5

Review: This was a very interesting take on the Salem Witch Trials, and I was intrigued by the fact that the author is an actual descendent of one of the women that was sentenced. The details were extraordinary, and I was completely enthralled by the middle of the book. I was right there in that time period, witnessing the idiocy and cruelty of those people. It was quite an experience.