New Rockford Public Library

Catch Me by, Lisa Gardner~~Review

2012-02-07T11:13:00.003-06:00

Catch Me by, Lisa Gardner
Synopsis:In "New York Times" bestselling author Lisa Gardner's latest D.D. Warren thriller, the relentless Boston investigator must solve a coldly calculated murder--before it happens.

"In four days, someone is going to kill me . . . "

Detective D. D. Warren is hard to surprise. But a lone woman outside D.D.'s latest crime scene shocks her with a remarkable proposition: Charlene Rosalind Carter Grant believes she will be murdered in four days. And she wants Boston's top detective to handle the death investigation.

"It will be up close and personal. No evidence of forced entry, no sign of struggle."
Charlie tells a chilling story: Each year at 8:00 p.m. on January 21st, a woman has died. The victims have been childhood best friends from a small town in New Hampshire; the motive remains unknown. Now only one friend, Charlie, remains to count down her final hours.

But as D.D. quickly learns, Charlie Grant doesn't plan on going down without a fight. By her own admission, the girl can outshoot, outfight, and outrun anyone in Boston. Which begs the question, is Charlie the next victim, or the perfect perpetrator? As D.D. tracks a vigilante gunman who is killing pedophiles in Boston, she must also delve into the murders of Charlie's friends, racing to find answers before the next gruesome January 21 anniversary. Is Charlie truly in danger, or is she hiding a secret that may turn out to be the biggest threat of all?

"In four days, someone is going to kill me. But the son of a bitch has gotta catch me first. "

My Review
Lisa Gardner has done it again; another edge of your seat, stay up all night, can’t put it down, book!

If you have followed my reviews you know I have had a problem in the past with D.D. and that I was hoping that having a baby would humanize her a bit, well Lisa Gardner has done just that I really liked D.D. in this book!

This story had its twists and turns and kept you guessing all the way to the reveal, D.D. has 2 cases going on at once the first one is someone is killing pedophiles which brings a sex crimes detective called O onto the team and her and D.D. butt heads. There is also Charlie Grant who comes to D.D. to solve her murder, her 2 best friends were killed a year apart on Jan.21st and as that date approaches Charlie is convinced she is next and she wants D.D. to find the killer, but can D.D. do that before or after?

We also get a bonus of characters from other books that I for one have missed it was a great gift for longtime fans of Lisa’s books.

As for D.D. we get to see how she is handling being a mother and a cop and how great Alex is for her! We also meet D.D.’s parents and get insight into her childhood that explains a lot about her personality. It also made me care more about D.D. than I have before but it is because of the entire series to really see how she has grown and changed with each book.

If you are a fan of Lisa Gardner this is a must read and if you’ve never read Lisa’s books before what are you waiting for these are some of the best mysteries out there!

I received and advance copy of this book from netgalley .

5 Stars

Sorry about the Mix-up in the Transcript!

2012-02-06T14:31:00.001-06:00

I guess I sent the wrong column to the Transcript and they didn't catch it either so here is what is supposed to be this weeks Library column!

Tax Forms are in we have 1040~1040EZ~1040A and also the ND State forms.
Also we have started our one-one-one classes in a variety of computer and internet topics. Classes are “on-demand”, meaning that anyone interested may call the library to schedule a lesson anytime during regular library hours. Lessons will be taught by City Library or New Rockford Area Betterment Corporation staff. Possible topics include:
• Basic Computer Skills
• Internet
• Email
• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)
• Facebook

Tuition will not be charged, but a donation of $10 per hour (one-hour minimum) is asked for the Library for the use of the computers. To schedule a lesson or for more information, contact Susie at the Library at 947-5540

New Books This Week are:
In Adult Fiction:
Private #1 Suspect by, James Patterson
The Weird Sisters by, Eleanor Brown
The Tiger’s Wife by, Tea Obreht
The Rose Garden by, Susanna Kearsley
Night & Day by, Robert B. Parker
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by, Jonathan Safran Foer
The Winter Palace by, Eva Stachniak
March by, Geraldine Brooks
I Still Dream About You by, Fannie Flagg
Lowcountry Summer by, Dorothea Benton Frank
A Gracious Plenty by, Sheri Reynolds
The Geographer’s Library by, Jon Fasman
A Great Deliverance by, Elizabeth George
Mortal Friends by, James Carroll
Walks the Fire by, Stephanie Grace Whitson
A Journey by Chance, After All These Years, Just To See You Smile, The Winding Road Home by, Sally John
Saving Grace by, Annie Jones

In Adult Non-Fiction:
House Calls and Hitching Posts by, Dorcas Sharp Hoover
Not Even my Name by, Thea halo
Faith of our Mothers Stories of Presedential Mothers by, Harold Gullan
Cortez the Great Adventurer and the Fate of the Aztec by, Richard Lee Marks

In Young Adult:
Divergent by, Veronica Roth
Geronimo a Novel by, Joseph Bruchac

Divergent by, Veronica Roth~Review

2012-01-20T14:18:00.002-06:00

Divergent by, Veronica Roth
Synopsis:In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.

My Review:
This was an interesting dystopian YA book, Chicago been split into factions, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). I have no idea if the entire country/world was split like this too or if it’s just Chicago , was Chicago the only place left with people, I don’t know these were just a few unanswered questions I had. When you are 17 you take an aptitude test to help you decide which faction you will choose most choose the one they grew up in but some don’t as is the case with Beatrice (AKA-Tris) but she is different she has an aptitude for more than one faction which is divergent and divergent is not a good thing to be. But there seems to be things wrong with this society and the factions seem to be starting to turn on each other and in some cases themselves.

A lot of people have compared this to the Hunger Games because it was the last big dystopian book but I thought it was kind of a cross between it and The Giver, because this is supposed to be a perfect society but of course in the light of day is not.

I liked the characters, Tris was strong yet so insecure but when pushed will kick some butt, the little romance you can see coming a mile away but I did like Four because his attitude was really for his own good and the good of others.

The ending felt a bit rushed, with everything leading up to it and then when the fight does come it all happens so fast. And what a cliffhanger, I look forward to the next book in this series.

With all the hype surrounding this book I am happy to say I really enjoyed this one and wasn’t disappointed I may not have loved it as much as some but I still give it a solid 4 stars.

Prophet's Prey: My Seven-Year Investigation into Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints by Sam Brower ~~Review

2012-01-19T12:49:00.002-06:00

Prophet's Prey: My Seven-Year Investigation into Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints by Sam Brower
Synopsis:From the private investigator who cracked open the case that led to the arrest of Warren Jeffs, the maniacal prophet of the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), comes the page-turning, horrifying story of how a rogue sect used sex, money, and power disguised under a favßade of religion to further criminal activities and a madman's vision.

Despite considerable press coverage and a lengthy trial, the full story has remained largely untold. Only one man can reveal the whole, astounding truth: Sam Brower, the private investigator who devoted years of his life to breaking open the secret practices of the FLDS and bringing Warren Jeffs and his inner circle to justice. In Prophet's Prey, Brower implicates Jeffs in his own words, bringing to light the contents of Jeffs's personal priesthood journal, discovered in a hidden underground vault, and revealing to readers the shocking inside world of FLDS members, whose trust he earned and who showed him the staggering truth of their lives.

Prophet's Prey offers the gripping, behind-the-scenes account of a bizarre world from the only man who knows the full story.

My Review:
I always knew Warren Jeffs was a bad guy, I’ve seen the news reports and read Carolyn Jessop’s book but I didn’t realize he ranked right up there with Jim Jones & David Koresh in getting people to believe everything he says and to do things no matter how bad. I think it’s a good thing he was investigated and put in the spotlight because with his personality it could have ended the way Jonestown and Waco did. I also knew that he was a pedophile marrying young girls but what I didn’t know was that he was also a pedophile abusing young boys.

This was a very eye opening book, I learned much more about the FLDS than I knew before. It did bog down a bit in the middle but I just reminded myself that this was a 7 year investigation and that Sam Brower was extremely thorough. It is sad to see how CPS dropped the ball on the majority of these children and sent them back to their abusers, which is what they are no matter how brainwashed willing these girls may have been. This FLDS sect is not a religion that should be left alone for their beliefs this one is a full out Cult with the maniacal mad man at the helm, sexual abuse, kidnapping and quite possibly murder and attempted murder.

Sam Brower’s account of his investigation is one everyone should read as it doesn’t gloss over anything , in this straight-forward account Sam reveals not only what the FLDS did to its own but how they threatened and stalked him. He also reveals who helped and who hurt the cases against this cult, which was also very interesting.

The investigation into this FLDS cult did put some awful men in jail and brought national attention to what was going on inside the “walls” of this cult but, I think the worst part is, through it all not much has changed in their little world, the men who went to jail are seen as martyrs and are still in power from their jail cells. I just hope as Sam does that one day the hierarchy will admit it was wrong and the abuse will stop but for now who knows what is still going on there.

4 Stars
I received this book from Librarything Early Reviewer program

The Weird Sisters by, Eleanor Brown~~Review

2012-01-13T11:29:00.003-06:00

The Weird Sisters by, Eleanor Brown
This is the story of 3 sisters raised by a Shakespeare scholar who talks in quotes from the bard a mother who stayed at home but seemed melancholy at times, the sisters were close and not close 3 very different personalities Rose is the caretaker, Cordy (Cordelia) the wild child and Bean (Bianca) who wanted to make her way in the big city with all its trappings. Their mother has been diagnosed with cancer which brings Cordy & Bean home but is it the only reason or are there secrets that would have brought them home anyway?

You could fill up a notebook with all the great quotes in this book. Here are a few:

Instead, we were going to wrap ourselves in cloaks woven from self-pity and victimhood, refusing to admit that we might be able to help each other if we’d only open up. Instead, we’d do what we always did, the only thing we’d ever been dependably stellar at: we’d read.

“What I mean is, I still feel like me. It’s not like I wake up and think, I am a responsible adult. I just look in the mirror and see myself. The same stupid person I’ve been looking at for years.”

She never managed to find herself in these books no matter how hard she tried, exhuming traits from between the pages and donning them for an hour, a day, a week. We think in some ways, we have all done this our whole lives, searching for the book that will give us the keys to ourselves, let us into a wholly formed personality as though it were a furnished room to let. As though we could walk in and look around and say to the gray-haired landlady behind us, "We'll take it."

"There are times in our lives when we have to realize our past is precisely what it is, and we cannot change it. But we can change the story we tell ourselves about it, and by doing that, we can change the future."

"We all have stories we tell ourselves. We tell ourselves we are too fat, too ugly, or too old, or too foolish. We tell ourselves these stories because they allow us to excuse our actions, and they allow us to pass off the responsibility for things we have done-maybe to something within our control, but anything other than the decisions we have made."

This a book for the reader and lover of books it also reaffirms that you can go home again. These sisters each with their own set of problems 2 who ran far from home and 1 who never wants to leave. The growing up the looking at your life and analyzing everything you’ve done and how it brings you to who you are now. This was a very enjoyable book and I fell in love with these sisters and their parents watching the sisters bond through their troubles and differences.

I highly recommend this book to readers and book lovers whether you are a Shakespeare fan or not I think you will enjoy this character driven book.

4 ½ Stars

Our Librarian's Favorite Books of 2011

2012-01-03T12:32:00.004-06:00

5 Stars
Sarah’s Key by, Tatiana de Rosnay
Snowflower and the Secret Fan by, Lisa See
Madame Tussaud by, Michelle Moran
Revolution by, Jennifer Donnelly
The Bird Sisters by, Rebecca Rasmussen
Rivermarked by, Patricia Briggs
The Peach Keeper by, Sarah Addison Allen
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by, Rebecca Skloot
The Kings Speech by, Mark Logue
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by, Ransom Riggs
I Shall Wear Midnight by, Terry Pratchett
Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man by, Fannie Flagg
The Eyre Affair by, Jasper Fforde
Love You More by, Lisa Gardner
Trespasser by, Paul Doiron
The True Meaning of Smekday by, Adam Rex
The Legacy by, Katherine Webb
Dracula by, Bram Stoker
We All Wore Stars: Memories of Anne Frank from Her Classmates by, Theo Coster
A Christmas Carol by, Charles Dickens

4 1/2 Star
The House on Riverton, The Forgotten Garden & The Distant Hours by, Kate Morton
Changeless,Heartless, by, Gail Carriger
Nobodies Album by, Carolyn Parkhurst
Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by, Helen Simonson
Left Neglected by, Lisa Genova
Seer of Sevenwaters by, Juliet Marillier
You Had Me At Woof by, Julie Klam narrated by, Karen White Audiobook only available
A Discovery of Witches by, Debrah Harkness
The Wake of the Lorelei Lee by, LA Meyer
Maisie Dobbs by, Jacqueline Winspear
Ashfall by, Mike Mullins
The Weird Sisters by, Eleanor Brown
Ingenue by, Jillian Larkin
The Winter Sea by, Susanna Kearsley

4 Stars
Sidewalk Thoughts by, Mickey Renner
My Bonny Light Horseman & Rapture of the Deep by, LA Meyer
Year of Wonders by, Geraldine Brooks
O Pioneers by, Willa Cather
Live to Tell by, Lisa Gardner
Room by, Emma Donaghue
Wicked Appetite by, Janet Evanovich Available in Hardcover & Audiobook narrated by, Lorelei King
The Art of Racing in the Rain by, Garth Stein
A Northern Light by, Jennifer Donnelly
The Reversal by, Michael Connelly
Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's by, John Elder Robison
Water for Elephants by, Sara Gruen
Blameless by, Gail Carriger
Skellig by, David Almond
Crunch Time by, Diana Mott Davidson
Dead Reckoning by, Charlaine Harris
Smokin’ Seventeen by, Janet Evanovich
Dragontime by, Anne & Todd McCaffrey
Forever by, Maggie Steifvater
The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club: True Tales from a Magnificent and Clumsy Life Available in paperback & Audiobook & I Love Everybody (and Other Atrocious Lies): True Tales of a Loudmouth Girl available in audiobook only by, Laurie Notaro narrated by, Hillary Huber*-
Variant by, Robinson Wells
The Night Circus by, Erin Morgenstern
The Woman in Black by, Susan Hill
Hide by, Lisa Gardner (Re-read)

3 ½ Stars
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by, Jacqueline Kelly
Still Life by, Louise Penny
Storm Front by, Jim Butcher
Bloody Valentine by, Melissa De La Cruz
The Demon Trapper Daughter by, Jana Oliver
The Sherlockian by, Graham Moore
Lost in a Good Book by, Jasper Fforde
Water Witch by,Deborah LeBlanc
Save Me by, Lisa Scottoline
Lethal Lineage by, Charlotte Hinger narrated by, Karen White Available in Audio only
The Lantern by,Deborah Lawrenson
Praise Jerusalem! by, Augusta Trobaugh
3 Stars
The Murderer’s Daughters by, Randy Susan Meyers
American Gods by, Neil Gaiman
I am Number Four by, Pittacus Lore
The Haunting of Hill House by, Shirley Jackson
Deck the Halls by, Mary & Carol Higgins Clark
Mary Bolelyn Mistress of Kings by, Alison Weir

2 ½ Stars
The Twentieth Wife by, Indu Sundaresan
City of Bones by, Cassandra Clare
The Winter Ghosts by, Kate Mosse
The Borrowers by, Rebecca Makkai narrated by, Emily Bauer Available in Audio Only
The Ballad of Tom Dooley by, Sharyn McCrumb
The Red Pyramid by, Rick Riordan

The Winter Sea by,Susanna Kearsley~~Review

2011-12-28T11:04:00.001-06:00

None of the descriptions I have found of this book do it justice they all make it sound like time travel and it's not so I'll just say see the pretty cover the book lives up to the cover!

The Winter Sea by,Susanna Kearsley
This was a nice mix of historical fiction and a modern day story set in Scotland, this was recommended to me because I love the Outlander Series. First off this doesn’t have time travel as I’ve seen some people say it has genetic memories which was a new device for me, but it worked well. It was interesting how modern day author Carrie is writing her novel and the characters in her head tell her how the story should go then she checks the historical records and they match perfect so there is this little bit of genetic memory, possible ghost story. I have heard from authors when they talk about their writing process that the characters decide where the story goes and not the writer and how they feel like their characters come to life, so this was kind of a take on this concept.

Both the present day and historical stories are blended well with the historical story set during the Jacobite rebellion of 1708 which was very well done and researched. There is romance in both stories that kind of mirror each other but both are kind of chaste and bittersweet neither is a big passionate affair just a nice addition to the story.

I enjoyed this story very much and would recommend it to fans of historical fiction. I will be reading more by this author!

4 ½ Stars

Variant (Variant #1) by Robison Wells ~~Review

2011-12-21T12:34:00.001-06:00

Variant (Variant #1) by Robison Wells
Description: Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.
He was wrong.
Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.
Where breaking the rules equals death.
But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible.

My Review:
I’ll just start by saying I Want More!

This was a unique story, foster kid Benson gets a scholarship for a private school, thinking things are finally looking up he is excited to be given this chance, but as soon as he gets to the school everything changes and things are not at all what they seem.

This story kept me on the edge of my seat it was intriguing and action packed however it ended too soon and left me wanting the 2nd book right now! The writing was good and kept me guessing right along with Benson. I don’t want to give anything away so I will say I highly recommend this new Young Adult series and I believe Robinson Wells is an author to watch out for!

This book was kind of a cross between Lord of the Flies and The Hunger Games but I don’t really feel it is dystopian because I think it is happening in our time and I got the impression that the world outside the school is normal to our present standards.

4 Stars

Ashfall by, Mike Mullins~~Review

2011-12-20T12:01:00.002-06:00

Ashfall by, Mike Mullins
Alex lives in Cedar Rapids Iowa his parents have left him home alone for the weekend but it’s not the weekend he is hoping it will be when something crashes into his house and burns it to the ground you’d think that would be the worst of it but it is only the beginning. A Supervolcano in Yellowstone has gone off and changed the world as we know it; Alex sets off to find his family in a trek of survival, starvation and terror. Along the way Alex’s will is tested he does find some nice people that help him along the way but he also runs into people who would do him harm. He ends up at the farmhouse of Darla and her mother but tragedy strikes there too so he and Darla set off cross country to find his family.

The vivid descriptions of our world after the volcano the ash fall, the blocking out of the sun, the noise, the snow, and just trying to survive. This book doesn’t show our government in a very good light but honestly I could see it happening. Alex is a strong willed boy but Darla is strong and being a farm girl knows things about survival that city boy Alex never could. They make a great pair and I don’t think either one could have survived without the other. It was refreshing to have a male lead character yes there is a female but she is later in the book and compliments our male lead very well.

This book was scary in the way that this could really happen and since I live only a few states away from Yellowstone it hit home a bit. This book also made me curious enough about the Supervolcano that I looked things up and watched the BBC movie Supervolcano.

One of the best quotes from this book about the inhumanity these kids saw was...

“For the first time ever, I felt ashamed of my species. The volcano had taken our homes, our food, our automobiles, and our airplanes, but it hadn’t taken our humanity. No, we’d given that up on our own.”

I enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down and look forward to the next installment in this series. Though this is a series it did have a conclusion but with more story to come!

4 ½ Stars

Snowflower and the Secret Fan by, Lisa See~~Nov.Book Club Pick

2011-12-14T11:59:00.002-06:00

This was our book club's first pick and a great one it was! Everyone loved this heartbreakingly beautiful book; this book will stay with you long after you finish reading it. Highly recommended by all members of our library book club!

Susie's Review:This book is heartbreaking and beautiful all at the same time. I just want to go on and on about how much I loved this book. This book made me care so much about Lily & Snow Flower that the last part of the book broke my heart. Lisa See’s writing is so beautiful this story just flowed and was so hard to put down.

The foot binding part was so very hard to read about and the way women were treated was so appalling some of the things said that stood out:
The loss of a child is hard even if it is only a daughter.
Thank you Baba for raising a worthless daughter.
Better to have a dog than a daughter.

The relationship between these two women was so real, even with your best friend you will fight and make up and you may not be living the same type of life at the same time. The trials & tribulations these two women went through and the change of status was so fascinating to read helped along by the fluidity of the writing. As young girls Snow Flower seemed to have it all but thanks to Lily’s perfect little feet she found a prestigious match for a husband who I think through it all treated her with kindness for the most part in the day and age they lived in. Snow Flower was not so lucky and life was much harder on her.

I finished this book awhile ago for our book club and we will be discussing it tomorrow night so I waited so my thoughts wouldn’t influence what others thought of this book and they wouldn’t influence my review. I finished this about 2 weeks ago and am still thinking about it this book will stay with you and make you think and realize how far women have come!

I highly recommend this book to... well everyone!

5 Stars

We All Wore Stars: Memories of Anne Frank from Her Classmates~~Review

2011-12-08T13:08:00.001-06:00

We All Wore Stars: Memories of Anne Frank from Her Classmates by Theo Coster
Description:In 1941, Theo Coster was a student at the Amsterdam Jewish Lyceum, one in a class of 28 Jewish children that the Nazis had segregated from the rest of the Dutch population. Among Theo’s fellow students was a young Anne Frank, whose diary would later become one of the most important documents of the Holocaust. In this remarkable group portrait, Coster and five of his fellow classmates gather their personal stories and memories of Anne. The accounts collected here do not just help us to rediscover Anne Frank. They also stand on their own as remarkable stories of ingenuity and survival during the Holocaust--from Albert Gomes de Mesquita, who hid in ten different towns across Europe--to Hannah Goslar, who experienced the horrors of Bergen-Belsen but also made a miraculous reconnection with Anne days before her death.

My Review:
This was a very thought provoking book, we have all read her book or at least heard of Anne Frank but we’ve never heard about the kids from her class that survived. So many Jewish kids in the Netherlands went into hiding some were fortunate to be taken in with families that took good care of them some had freedom and some had to stay hidden.

This was a project that encompassed not only a book but a documentary too, (which I really want to see.) Theo Coster went looking for other classmates that also survived to see how they did it and to talk about Anne what they remembered of her, what was her personality really like and did as many boys have crushes on her as she wrote about in her now famous diary. Some of the survivors did end up in camps and some were in hiding with families risking their lives to help them, some hid in villages in the woods. A couple of the girls even saw Anne in Bergen-Belsen before her death.

These stories, as all stories of the Holocaust are so important to tell because the age of survivors is rising and their stories need to be remembered so these atrocities don’t happen again.

This book made me search out the documentary which I unfortunately could not find, but I did watch a different one about other hidden children of the Netherlands and the families that helped them are so amazing. But that is what a book like this should do is make you think, make you research and remember so nothing like this ever happens again. It also makes me want to go back and read Anne’s diary which I haven’t read in quite a few years.

I think this book should be a companion to The Diary of Anne Frank and any classroom that reads Anne’s diary should read this book along with it to hear from people that did survive to tell their tale.

I highly recommend this book.

5 Stars

I received this book from the Librarything Early Reviewers Program

Woman in Black by, Susan Hill~~Review

2011-10-26T12:07:00.003-05:00

My Review:

This was a good spooky ghost story not gory but psychologically suspenseful. Arthur Kripps is given the task of going through the papers of a woman he has never met her, but his firm is handling her affairs after her death. What Arthur finds in the town and house is something that will stay with him for the rest of his life.

This book was written very well with just the right amount of suspense and trepidation, as events happen to Arthur I found myself with butterflies in my stomach and was glad no one came up behind me while I was reading. I liked that the author made you feel the darkness, smell the marshes, and hear the sounds and that’s what’s great about this book it has great atmosphere and does a good job at pulling you in.

If you are a fan of Victorian ghost stories I highly recommend this book this will be a book I will recommend to anyone who likes ghost stories that are suspenseful without any blood & gore.

This was my first book by Susan Hill and after her descriptive writing in this book I will try others by her.

4 Stars

Don't forget this is the play at DPRCA call for info; 1 701.947.2174 or visit their website here

There is also a movie coming out starring Daniel Radcliffe see trailer and more info here

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs ~Review

2011-10-06T11:16:00.001-05:00

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

My Review:This combination of great story and spooky old pictures is a hit! I could not put this book down! This is the story of Jacob whose grandfather tells him ,what he thinks are tall tales, about a home he was evacuated to during WWII from Poland to Wales and the other peculiar children there. Interspersed in this book are great old photographs which enhance this story and serve to make you a believer too.

This quote from the book I think describes Jacob’s journey and this book well:
And that is how someone who is unusually susceptible to nightmares, night terrors, the Creeps, the Willies and Seeing Things That Aren’t Really There talks himself into making one last trip to the abandoned, almost-certainly-haunted house where a dozen or more children met their untimely end.

But what he finds is even more fascinating this is hard I don’t want to give anything away because I want you to have the pleasure of reading this magical book. This story will keep you on the edge of your seat as each secret is revealed I was riveted.

This was a great book I just want to gush about it and I am really hoping that we will get more of this story because I didn’t want it to end and would really love a second book. This was the perfect book to kick off my spooky reading month!

As you probably have figured out I highly recommend this book.

5 Stars

Cut By:Patricia McCormick

2011-10-02T22:09:00.006-05:00

Summary:

Callie was put into Sea Pines to work on her "issues". She is not at Sea Pines voluntarily. Callie refuses to talk to anyone. Its not like she cant talk. She used to talk all the time. Then she was forced to go to Sea Pines. She thinks therapy is torture. She thinks group therapy is worse. The other girls "issues" are terrible, stupid things they shouldn't do. She does not think she has "issues". But what if she does?

This story relates to real issues that real people have. Its really hard to find a story that relates to teens without making our problem seem so immature. Patricia McCormick has found a way to write about real teen problems in a way that make a person realize how real they are. This is a great story about real issues.

Rating:

4 stars

The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai Audiobook ~~Review

2011-09-28T11:15:00.002-05:00

The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai Audiobook narrated by, Emily Bauer

Synopsis from Goodreads:Lucy Hull, a young children's librarian in Hannibal, Missouri, finds herself both a kidnapper and kidnapped when her favorite patron, ten- year-old Ian Drake, runs away from home. The precocious Ian is addicted to reading, but needs Lucy's help to smuggle books past his overbearing mother, who has enrolled Ian in weekly antigay classes with celebrity Pastor Bob. Lucy stumbles into a moral dilemma when she finds Ian camped out in the library after hours with a knapsack of provisions and an escape plan. Desperate to save him from Pastor Bob and the Drakes, Lucy allows herself to be hijacked by Ian. The odd pair embarks on a crazy road trip from Missouri to Vermont, with ferrets, an inconvenient boyfriend, and upsetting family history thrown in their path. But is it just Ian who is running away? Who is the man who seems to be on their tail? And should Lucy be trying to save a boy from his own parents?

My Review:
This is a very odd unbelievable story as our children’s librarian tries to help out 10 year old Ian who may or may not be gay but his Christian parent’s think he may be so they send him to an anti-gay Minister/treatment and only want him to read God-filled stories. This author does have a good grasp on children’s literature with the quotes and characters from other books, however as a librarian not so much. When Ian runs away to the library and ends up in Lucy’s car they end up on a road trip and this where this story goes off the rails for me. Lucy talks about oh what I’m doing is wrong but she doesn’t take the boy home just because his parents don’t let him read the books he wants to read??I’m sorry as a librarian I am all for Intellectual freedom but I also believe that it is a parents right to decide what their child reads He Is 10 years old and who are you as a 20 something children’s librarian to decide what is good for him? I felt she was helping enough letting him read what he wanted while he was in the library and helping him smuggle out books but the whole road trip/kidnapping was just going too far.

Lucy and Ian are both a bit annoying and actually unsympathetic and I found it really hard to continue with this book but since I received this as an Early Review Copy I must finish, between the story, the characters and the Audiobook narrator this is really hard to keep going. Honestly I have tried 4 times to finish this one because I have to stop for awhile and get away from the grating voice and whiny narrator.

I listened to this on audio and I just want to clarify I listen to a lot of audiobooks in a month and I have heard some wonderful narrators unfortunately Emily Bauer isn’t one of them she sounded like a little kid while narrating Lucy then when she was doing the voice of Ian it was even worse and was extremely grating. If she was narrating as a child she may be ok but she is narrating the voice of an adult and sounds like a whiny preteen.

However her voice and the story grew on me… I wrote the above when I was half way through. The road trip as a whole had its cute parts but it was still really hard to understand why there wasn’t an amber alert and the parents weren’t on TV wringing their hands so I decided to kind of put it in my head it set in an earlier decade it was easier to suspend my thinking and just enjoy the story.

All in all this isn’t a bad book you just have to be willing to suspend your belief about the circumstances and just let the story tell itself.

Hovering between 2 ½ and 3 Stars
FYI My Rating System:
3 Stars- Good Book but some things didn't connect with me
2 1/2 Stars- just didn't connect to this book but was ok

Full Disclosure: I received this book from Librarything Early Reviewer Program

Bloodroot by, Amy Greene~~Review

2011-09-16T14:53:00.001-05:00

Bloodroot by, Amy Greene~~Named for a flower whose blood-red sap possesses the power both to heal and poison, Bloodroot is a stunning fiction debut about the legacies—of magic and madness, faith and secrets, passion and loss—that haunt one family across the generations, from the Great Depression to today.

My Review:

This was a very different story and kind of hard to review without giving the story away. It has a beautiful magical quality to it. The characters are all very flawed and the story jumps between time periods and narrators. It’s a family saga that spans 3 generations in the Appalachian Mountains.

The main focus is Myra Lamb whose parents died in a car accident when she is small and her grandma Byrdie then raises her, we hear the story of Myra’s parents and Myra’s life and the life of her children. Myra is a tomboy who loves the mountains and is always looking for her next adventure. She has a pretty good life until she meets and marries John Odom then things go downhill for her. The main part of the story is about her children Laura & John who do not have a very good life.

The story does keep you guessing about a few a things until the end and there are some storylines that didn’t seem to needed but then there are these coincidences you find out as the story progresses that lend to the magical realism of this book.

I did enjoy this book the whole feel of it is good although I must warn you it is not a happy story its sad and I wasn’t totally satisfied with the ending and kind of wished the characters had known what I knew about the coincidences. But all in all I would recommend this book if you like southern fiction with magical realism and family saga’s.

3 ½ stars

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay~~Review

2011-09-14T11:47:00.002-05:00

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay Description from goodreads:
Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is taken with her parents by the French police as they go door-to-door arresting Jewish families in the middle of the night. Desperate to protect her younger brother, Sarah locks him in a bedroom cupboard—their secret hiding place—and promises to come back for him as soon as they are released.

Sixty Years Later: Sarah's story intertwines with that of Julia Jarmond, an American journalist investigating the roundup. In her research, Julia stumbles onto a trail of secrets that link her to Sarah, and to questions about her own romantic future.

In Sarah's Key, Tatiana de Rosnay offers up a mesmerizing story in which a tragic past unfold, the present is torn apart, and the future is irrevocably altered.

My Review

What a great book I had heard good things about it and can’t keep it on the shelf at the library but I didn’t realize just how good of a story this was.

The two stories merge together so flawlessly and you come to care so much for both Sarah and Julia. Sarah’s story is set during the holocaust in Paris during the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup where the French police rounded up all the Jews including thousands of children and sent them off to their deaths, but Sarah’s story goes so far beyond just the holocaust it is so heartbreaking. Julia is in modern-day Paris and a journalist hired to do a story about the roundup but what she finds hits so much closer to home than she ever imagined.

I loved this book it was so hard to put it down because I just had to know what had happened to Sarah. It also, like all good historical fiction should do, made me research the facts of this horrible day in France’s history because I like Julia had never heard of it and to me that is what this book is about as she says To Never Forget. This glimpse into history is a fictionalized account of the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup but it made me aware of it and the lives lost in a section of the Holocaust I knew nothing about. Also that these atrocities were carried out by the French Police on the orders of the Nazi’s not the Nazi’s themselves just seems to make it all the more heartbreaking.

If you follow my reviews you will know I love books that have a modern and a historical story and this one was no exception Tatiana de Rosnay beautifully blended these stories together. Ok I will stop gushing now.

I highly recommend this book, I listened to it on audio and narrator Polly Stone does a great job at bringing these characters to life.

5 stars

The Distant Hours by, Kate Morton~~Review

2011-09-02T13:23:00.002-05:00

The Distant Hours by, Kate Morton

Kate Morton does it again with this great gothic feeling story of the 3 Blythe sisters and the ward they kept during the evacuation of the children from London during WWII, Meredith. The story we have in the present day is Meredith’s daughter Edie finds a letter to her mother from Juniper Blythe youngest of the spinster Blythe sisters and Edie finds out her mother was billeted with them at Milderhurst Castle during the war a fact her mother has never spoken a word about, especially considering Edie’s favorite book as a child "The Mudman" was written by the Blythes eccentric father. So Edie decided to travel to the castle and find out what she can about her mother’s time there and the reclusive author of her favorite childhood book. But what she finds out about the Blythe family goes so far beyond her mother and the ramifications of the secrets of the past and how they have affected the sisters.

This book had the great twists and turns and family secrets that Kate Morton has become known for I didn’t want to stop reading/listening to this one and was sad when I had to stop! I just want to gush like a fangirl about Kate Morton I can’t say enough about how much I enjoy all her books. I also can’t say enough about the audio versions Caroline Lee’s narration is so good and I highly recommend all Kate Morton’s books in audiobook format. They are a great read either way and I can’t wait for a new book by this author since I have now devoured everything she has written so far!

4 ½ Stars

The Library has this book in softcover and also The Forgotten Garden & The House on Riverton I highly recommend all books by this author!

Ingenue (The Flappers #2) by Jillian Larkin~~Review

2011-08-25T13:44:00.001-05:00

Ingenue (The Flappers) by Jillian Larkin

We start up this second book in the Flapper’s series in New York City, Gloria and Jerome hiding out from the mob, Lorraine working for the mob, Clara is back in the city that almost ruined her, can she stay away from her old life or is it too much of a temptation and Vera trying to find her brother and hopefully save his life and make up for what she had done in Chicago. Relationships go through some growing pains in this one! You’ll be surprised who ends up the happiest in the end.

This one was a lot of fun again with some major intrigue as the stories and people converged for the climax and what a climax it was! It isn’t really a cliffhanger but the end of one chapter and the next book will be a new one because parts of this story were wrapped up very well, yet with just enough mystery to keep fans reading to see what happens next.

I so enjoy the atmosphere in this series, the 20’s ,flappers, bootleggers, booze, gangsters and some famous people of the time play into this story! I love who Vera meets backstage at the Cotton Club and who engineers some of the bad things that happen! (No Spoilers)

I think this is a great YA historical fiction series that teens and adults alike will enjoy no fantasy involved just a look at life in a different time when women were just starting to come into their own, segregation is in effect except of course that it’s ok for the African Americans to entertain you but they must come in the back door and an interracial relationship will get you in trouble I think it gives a great look at a life we can only imagine and hope that we have moved far away from. I do love books that that show strong women and this one is full of them , women in 1920 leaving the notions and traditional roles their parents have laid out for them to make their way in the world on their own, scary as that is.

I look forward to the next installment of this series!

4 stars

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by, Helen Simonson ~~Review

2011-08-18T14:28:00.000-05:00

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by, Helen Simonson
Description:Major Ernest Pettigrew, retired, of Edgecombe St. Mary, England, is more than a little dismayed by the sloppy manners, narcissism, and materialism of modern society. The decline of gentility is evident everywhere, from tea bags, to designer sweaters, to racism masquerading as tolerance.
Mutual grief allies him with Mrs. Ali, a widowed local shopkeeper of Pakistani descent who has also resigned herself to dignified, if solitary, last years. The carefully suppressed passion between these two spawns twitters of disapproval in their provincial village, but Pettigrew hasn't time for such silliness: real estate developers are plotting to carpet the fields outside his back door with mansionettes and his sister-in-law plans to auction off a prized family firearm. Meanwhile, Mrs. Ali's late husband's Muslim family expects her to hand over her hard-won business to her sullen, fundamentalist nephew, a notion she finds repellant and chauvinistic.

It's a testament to Simonson that in this delightful novel, Pettigrew
must navigate the tragic, the absurd, and the transcendentally joyful aspects of a familiar life turned upside down by an unfamiliar and unexpected late-life love affair. That two people from opposing and mutually distrusting worlds are able to bridge every gap with unerring respect and decorum serves as a quiet suggestion that larger conflicts might be avoided or resolved in much the same way. Finally, a way forward that Major Pettigrew would approve.

My Review:

This was a delightful story, the Major is such a charming gentleman trying to come to terms with getting older and ending some of the “proper” things he is used to. I really enjoyed the blossoming relationship with Mrs. Ali who is a Pakistani shop keeper although she was born and raised in England the people of the town don’t see her that way as the major soon finds out.

This was almost like a coming of age story but in an older very British man. This was such an interesting love story and for the Major to “see” his peers and friends in a whole new light and in turn seeing himself too. The Major’s son Roger had me mad a few times he’s a pompous git.

I just found this a great story it is all about the characters there’s no murder, no fantasy, just a wonderful group of characters beautifully written.

I think if you liked The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society give this one a try!

4 ½ Stars

The Art of Racing in the Rain by, Garth Stein~~Review

2011-08-05T11:06:00.002-05:00

The Art of Racing in the Rain by, Garth Stein
Description:
Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals.

A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life...as only a dog could tell it

My Review:

This is an interesting book because it is narrated by the dog, Enzo. This book is bittersweet a dogs perspective on life in his family. A mix of sadness and humor as is real life. Parts of this book angered me the grandparents really made me mad! Enzo has seen enough on TV to think that if he is smart enough he will be reincarnated as a man.

When he gets left alone with the demon zebra stuffed animal that he must destroy is too funny. When they washed his stuffed animal I could just picture my old dog when I washed his toys. Also when Enzo got old it made me sad for my old dog who had a lot of the same problems when he got old and to hear it from the dog point of view was definitely something different and made me sad.

This book was so believable even if it was narrated by the dog it was a great look into the mind of a dog and as I have always believed that they understand everything. The racing jargon/talk may be a bit much for some but I enjoyed it. But it’s not really a story of a dog but about a family and the crisis’ they go through and how Enzo is there to help them through!

Bark Twice!

Warning sad ending have tissues ready! Not a spoiler you will know it’s going to happen!
I listened to this on audio narrated by, Christopher Evan Welch who did a really good job! Would listen to him again.
4 Stars

The Call of the Wild and White Fang by Jack London

2011-08-01T18:38:00.000-05:00

Let’s call this one a double feature, but first, a little backstory (but just a little). The Call of the Wild was published in 1903 and tells the tale of a dog named Buck and his journey to becoming a wild beast. Published three years later, White Fang focuses on a wild wolf pup who finds a domestic home, quite the mirror image. While The Call was published first, I’ve always thought of it as a sort of “sequel” to White Fang, and I don’t think those who have also read both would call that too much of a stretch. Anyway, both novels are extremely accessible considering the ever-growing gap between then and now. The writing is such that it isn’t dressed up and dragged down by unnecessary flourishes or “padding” for the sake of page length. In fact, The Call of the Wild clocks in at just over one hundred pages with White Fang at roughly three hundred. London achieves a straightforward yet eloquent style that keeps the story at an even pace and readers ever eager to turn the next page. I could go on praising these two classics, but it all comes down to this. The Call of the Wild and White Fang are both highly enjoyable and refreshing. They warrant, at the very least, a look from those who are unfamiliar with the two titles and a revisit for those who are.

The Legacy by, Katherine Webb~~Review

2011-07-31T23:39:00.002-05:00

The Legacy by, Katherine Webb coming in September 2011

Synopsis from Goodreads:
In 1903, New York heiress Caroline marries a cattle rancher and moves with him to rural Oklahoma, where she finds herself wholly out of her depth. Unable to adjust to the isolation of the vast prairies, Caroline grows increasingly frightened and unhappy. Driven to the edge of reason she commits a terrible crime from which she flees, all the way to London, to start a new life as the wife of English aristocrat Henry Calcott. She moves to Storton Manor in Wiltshire, but soon finds that the repercussions of her actions have crossed the Atlantic with her, and will not be so easily forgotten. In the bitter winter of 2008, following the death of their grandmother, Erica Calcott and her sister Beth return to Storton Manor, where they spent the summer holidays as children. As she begins to sort through her grandmother's belongings, Erica is inundated with memories of her childhood, and of Dinny, a local boy whom she idolised. She also remembers her spiteful cousin, Henry, whose disappearance from the manor tore the family apart. Convinced that she should remember what happened to Henry, Erica sets out to uncover the truth. She is reunited with Dinny, and finds herself as drawn to him in adulthood as she was as a child. Haunted by emotions and suspicions, Erica delves deeply into her memories, revisiting the people and places that shaped her childhood, and bringing to light a truth more shocking than she had ever imagined.

My Review:
This is a beautifully weaved multi-generational story of family secrets and the people those secrets created. Katherine Webb weaves these stories together so artfully each story told at the perfect pace, with a slow crescendo of curiosity to a very late night of I can’t put this book down!

The way she shows the path that was chosen, the choices made and the secrets they kept and how it affected everyone in their lives. This is also a story of sisters and mothers and daughters and how each generation affects the next.

I cared about all the characters and even had some sympathy for the cruel grandmothers. Our two sisters Beth & Erica were beautifully written, the sadness and the taut tension were palpable. And the childhood friendship that meant so much but was over so long ago the childhood feelings bubble up but so much time has passed is it really still the same. Caroline’s time in America was so well written her unhappiness leaked off the page in waves.

I really loved this book such beautiful writing and I highly recommend it!

If you are a fan of Kate Morton I would give Katherine Webb a try. I look forward to reading anything else this author writes, definitely an author to keep your eye on.

Full Disclosure- I received this book from LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program

5 Stars

Save Me by, Lisa Scottoline~~Review

2011-07-08T11:14:00.003-05:00

Save Me by, Lisa Scottoline~~
Goodreads description:
Rose McKenna volunteers as a lunch mom in her daughter Melly’s school in order to keep an eye on Amanda, a mean girl who’s been bullying her daughter. Her fears come true when the bullying begins, sending Melly to the bathroom in tears. Just as Rose is about to follow after her daughter, a massive explosion goes off in the kitchen, sending the room into chaos. Rose finds herself faced with the horrifying decision of whether or not to run to the bathroom to rescue her daughter or usher Amanda to safety. She believes she has accomplished both, only to discover that Amanda, for an unknown reason, ran back into the school once out of Rose's sight. In an instance, Rose goes from hero to villain as the small community blames Amanda’s injuries on her. In the days that follow, Rose's life starts to fall to pieces, Amanda’s mother decides to sue, her marriage is put to the test, and worse, when her daughter returns to school, the bullying only intensifies. Rose must take matters into her own hands and get down to the truth of what really happened that fateful day in order to save herself, her marriage and her family.

My Review:This books starts out as one thing and morphs into something completely different. Lisa Scottoline wrote a unique book it is a story about tragedy, families, bullying, murder and the consequences of the choices you make, but they won’t happen the way you think you do. The twists and turns in this book will keep you guessing just when you think the story is going one way it flips around and becomes something else.

This was different than Lisa Scottoline’s other books but good none the less, it still kept me riveted and it was hard to put down. There was the legal part of this book and it was interesting to learn about the laws on what you’re really signing up for when you volunteer at your child’s school and what your liability could be if something should happen. The reporter Tanya Robertson was so Nancy Grace her witch hunt for Rose was just so far over the top but also so very true to life with the state of our media at present.

I did enjoy this book it was different and compelling.

I received this book from Librarything Early Reviewer Program

3 ½ Stars

Library Brunch July 3rd

2011-06-30T15:02:00.001-05:00

Smokin' Seventeen by, Janet Evanovich~~Review

2011-06-29T13:26:00.002-05:00

Smokin' Seventeen by, Janet Evanovich
Synopsis from GoodReads:
Where there's smoke there's fire, and no one knows this better than New Jersey bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum. The bail bonds office has burned to the ground, and bodies are turning up in the empty construction lot. To make matters worse, Stephanie is working out of a motor home she shares with a dancing bear, and Joe Morelli's old world grandmother has declared a vendetta against her. And just when Stephanie decides it might be time to choose between the two men in her life, Morelli and Ranger, a third man from Stephanie's past moves back to Trenton...

Break out a cold drink and slap on some sunscreen, this summer is sure to be a scorcher with Smokin' Seventeen.

My Review:
Oh Janet thank-you so much for the the laughs I was laughing so hard for the granny panty scene I had tears running down my face! I love these books they always cheer me up with the humor and fun writing. Stephanie’s been cursed a couple of times by Morelli’s Grandma one isn’t so bad but it does seem to add more confusion to who Stephanie will choose and when it is removed it kind of backfires too!. Lula again brings me some hearty belly laughs “Did you just call me fat” thems fightin’ words for Lula and there always seems to be something fun coming when these words are uttered.

We have a new man in the mix and he cooks which I think would be a plus for Stephanie but he may not be as wonderful as her mother thinks he is. I do hope she eventually chooses Morelli.

There is a serial killer in the Berg and he/she seems to be targeting Stephanie by dropping dead bodies all over with notes to Stephanie attached to them. This may be the creepiest and scariest bad guy ever in one of these books.
What a crazy cliffhanger!! Oh Janet that was just plain mean! Warning the ending is very abrupt and a major cliffhanger!

As usual Lorelei King does a wonderful job on the narration of this audiobook!

4 Stars would have been 5 if not for the ending!

The Art Thief by Noah Charney

2011-06-06T18:53:00.000-05:00

Rarely do I come across a book that I simply cannot finish for the reason that I can derive no enjoyment out of the novel. Such is the case of The Art Thief. The title is what caught my eye initially. After all, white-collar crime, intrigue, and the fascinating cat-and-mouse game that follows always provide some excellent thrills. The Art Thief, however, fails to deliver in all of the aforementioned aspects. The writing is awkward, the perspective jumps at seemingly arbitrary points, and the plot already appears quite convoluted. Any one of these flaws on its own may be forgivable if, at the very least, the characters were well thought out and compelling. Unfortunately, this is not so. There was no way to “connect” with these characters since they were bland, forgettable, and uninteresting. Perhaps one redeeming character may have been Gabriel Coffin (a sort of Sherlock Holmes of art theft from the introduction), yet it wasn’t enough to maintain interest in the novel as a whole. The story plodded along with long tangents explaining the quirks of the art industry, the auctions, etc. but never found its stride. That fact is painfully disappointing considering how much potential it had when taking into account its subject material. Bottom line, books are meant to be enjoyed whether it be from a thrilling plot, a fastidious character study, or some other form of exhilaration that comes with the appreciation of the art of the written word. Life is too short for it to be spent on dismal literature. 1 star.

Ranger"s Apprentice Book One~ John Flanagan

2011-06-06T17:56:00.007-05:00

Summary:
In this book a ward of the fief Redmont has been living at the Castle Redmont since he was born. His mother and father died in at time and he he was left on the castle steps. Fifteen ears later he and four other in his age group are ready to choose their jobs for life. The others are all approved by their Guild Masters but Will is not. Just when he thinks he is doomed to a life of farm work the Ranger of the fief decides to take him on as his new apprentice. Will has always thought Ranger ways were strange at best and knows little about what his future will hold. Just when hes getting settled into the routine of his new life Morgarath, the same man who warred with the Kingdom 15 years ago decides to start another war. What is Will in for now and would have been better off as a farmer? Find out in Ranger's Apprentice.

Rating:
This book was a good read. The story was simple but made you want to read more. About fifteen pages into the book I wanted to know what was going to happen to Will. I thought is was a great easy reader!
4 Stars ****

Announcing The Libri Grant Books

2011-06-01T11:12:00.003-05:00

The New Rockford Public Library is proud to announce that it has received the Libri Grant books for children. The Libri Foundation was established in 1989 for the sole purpose of helping rural libraries acquire new, quality, hardcover children's books they could not otherwise afford to buy. Since October 1990, the Foundation has donated almost $5 million worth of new children's books to more than 3,000 libraries in all 50 states.

The Foundation works with the library's Friends of the Library or other local organizations because we believe in community involvement and want to encourage and reward local support of libraries. The Friends, or other local sponsors, can contribute from $50 to $350 which the Foundation matches on a 2-to-1 ratio. Thus, a library can receive up to $1,050 worth of new, quality, hardcover children's books through the Foundation's BOOKS FOR CHILDREN program.

Thanks to our wonderful Friends of the Library, we have received 66 new books through this grant plus we were awarded an extra 16 Math & Science books .We ordered mostly non-fiction, as this was the area with the most need.

We will be having an open house to introduce these books to the community, from May 31-June 3rd.Everyone is welcome to join us. If you are home schooling your children you will find these books very useful.

Also on June 3rd we will be having the Summer Reading Kick-Off from 1-3 all kids K-12are welcome to come and sign up our theme this summer is One World Many Stories. If your kids can’t make it on the 3rd they can sign-up anytime.

Here is a list of the great books we received:

Non-Fiction:
Cool Stuff Exploded by, Cliff Woodford

Exploratopia by, Pat Murphy

Extreme Scientists: Exploring Nature's Mysteries From Perilous Places by Donna M Jackson

Forensic Science by Ron Fridell

Recycling by Charlotte Wilcox

Spy Technology by Ron Fridell

Outbreak: Science Seeks Safeguards for Global Health by Charles Piddock
Using Coal, Oil, and Gas by Sharon Katz Cooper

Robots: From Everyday to Out of This World by Yes Mag.

Computer Animation by Hal Marcovitz

Virtual Apprentice. Computer Game Designer by Don Rauf; Monique Vescia

Rocks! Rocks! Rocks! By Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

Our farm: Four Seasons with Five Kids on one Family's Farm by Michael J Rosen

14 Cows for America by, Carmen Agra Deedy

Nubs: The True story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle by, Major Brian Dennis
Years of Dust by, Albert Marrin

The Dust Bowl Through the Lens by, Martin Sandler

Black Elk’s Vision a Lakota Story by, S.D. Nelson

Counting Coup: Becoming a Crow Chief on the Reservation and Beyond by Joseph Medicine Crow; Herman J Viola

Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom by, Chris Van Wyk

The Ride the Legend of Betsy Dowdy by, Kitty Griffin

Lafayette and the American Revolution by, Russell Freedman

Listen to the Wind the Story of Dr.Greg and Three Cups of Tea by, Greg Mortenson

Bylines a Photo Biography of Nellie Bly by, Sue Macy

Rachel Carson: A Twentieth-Century Life by Ellen Levine

My Last Skirt: The Story of Jennie Hodgers, Union Soldier By, Lynda Durrant

A Savage Thunder Antietam and the Bloody Road to Freedom by, Jim Murphy

Mr. Lincoln's High-Tech War : How the North used the telegraph, railroads, surveillance balloons, ironclads, high-powered weapons, and more to win the Civil War by Thomas B Allen; Roger MacBride Allen

The War to End All Wars, World War I by, Russell Freedman

Truce: The Day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting by Jim Murphy

Ellis Island Coming to the Land of Liberty by, Raymond Bial

Who Was First? Discovering the Americas by, Russell Freedman

M.L.K.: journey of a King by Tonya Bolden

Marching for Freedom Walk Together Children, and Don’t Grow Weary by, Elizabeth Partridge

Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russell Freedman

Moonshot The Flight of Apollo 11 by, Brian Floco

Mission Control, This is Apollo: The Story of the First Voyages to the Moon by, Andrew Chaikin & Alan Bean

The Many Rides of Paul Revere by James Giblin

John, Paul, George & Ben by Lane Smith

Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland by Sally M Walker
John Brown: His Fight for Freedom by John Hendrix

Eleanor, Quiet No More: The Life of Eleanor Roosevelt by, Doreen Rappaport & Gary Kelley

No Easy Way: The Story of Ted Williams and the Last .400 season by Fred Bowen; Chuck Pyle

She Touched the World: Laura Bridgman, Deaf-Blind Pioneer by Sally Hobart Alexander; Robert Joseph Alexander

The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sís

One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of World War II by Lita Judge

Boys of steel: The Creators of Superman by Marc Tyler Nobleman

Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane by Carole Boston Weatherford
Once Upon a Time: Traditional Latin American Tales = Había una vez: cuentos tradicionales latinoamericanos by Rueben Martínez

The Girl Who Helped Thunder and other Native American Folktales by James Bruchac

Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story From Africa by Jeanette Winter

One Grain of Rice: a Mathematical Folktale. by Demi

Fiction:

How I Learned Geography by, Uri Shulevitz

The Extraordinary Mark Twain (according to Susy) by Barbara Kerley; Ed Fotheringham

Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I don't) by Barbara Bottner

Buffalo Music by, Tracey Fern

Jazz Baby by, Lisa Wheeler

Miss Bridie chose a shovel by, Leslie Connor

Madam President by Lane Smith

A remainder of one by Elinor J Pinczes

The doorbell rang by Pat Hutchins

Fred stays with me! by Nancy Coffelt

Yellow star by Jennifer Rozines Roy

The Boy Who Dared A Novel Based on the True Story of a Hitler Youth by, Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nicholls

Worth by A LaFaye

The Grimm legacy by Polly Shulman

The London Eye mystery by Siobhan Dowd

Lawn Boy by, Gary Paulsen

Notes from the Dog by, Gary Paulsen

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

Bird Lake Moon by Kevin Henkes

The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester

The Leanin' Dog by K A Nuzum

The Puzzling World of Winston Breen by Eric Berlin

New Books & Library Happenings

2011-05-06T13:51:00.002-05:00

Would you be interested in joining a bookclub at the library? What day & time would be best for you? What kind of books would you be interested in reading? Please call Susie at the library if you would be interested and to answer these questions.

New books this week are :
In Adult Fiction:
44 Charles Street by, Danielle Steel
Crunch Time by, Diana Mott Davidson
The Bird sisters by, Rebecca Rassmusen
I’ll Walk Alone by, Mary Higgins Clark
Chasing fire by, Nora Roberts
Toys by, James Patterson
Miles to go by, Richard Evans
The Sixth Man by, David Baldacci
Save Me by, Lisa Scottoline
Bel Air dead by, Stuart Woods
The House on Riverton by, Kate Morton
The Land of Painted Caves by, Jane Auel
Something Borrowed by, Emily Griffin
Praise Jerusalem by, Augusta Trobaugh
The Heart of Texas by, Debbie Macomber
Home Free, Déjà vu & Cross Roads by, Fern Michaels

In Audiobook:
A Raisin in the Sun by, Lorraine Hansberry
Jitters a Quirky Little Audiobook by, Adele Park

In Non-Fiction:
The Best Advise I Ever Got by, Katie Couric
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
Vesle Hans:Little Hans Comes to America by, Leona Hanson Weenas
A Paper Life by, Tatum O’Neil

In Adult fantasy:
Immortal with a Kiss by, Jaqueline LaPore

In Young adult:
Wolves Boys and Other Things That Might Kill me by, Kristen Chandler
What I Saw and How I Lied by, Judy Blundell
Cut by, Patricia McCormick
Black Cat by, Holly Black

In Juvenile Fiction:
Mockingbird by, Kathryn Erskine
Tracker by, Gary Paulsen

The Bird Sisters by, Rebecca Rasmussen~~Review

2011-04-28T11:10:00.002-05:00

The Bird Sisters by, Rebecca Rasmussen
Read This Book!!Enough Said!
Oh ok I’ll add more

You will love these sisters, so close yet so different Twiss has a smart mouth and always seems to speak her mind and Milly is demure and shy and always puts everyone’s needs above her own no matter the cost to herself. Then there is their parents the mother who dreams of Paris and wanting more than her lot in life has given her, and the father who is a golf pro until “the accident” and can’t play golf anymore and moves to the barn. Then there is cousin Bett who comes for the summer, the summer that changes everything.

We first meet the elderly spinster bird sisters Twiss is still a curmudgeon and Milly is still sweet however, once you meet the teen sisters you know something drastic happened that caused these girls to become the elderly never married Bird Sister. Of course Twiss has vowed to be the world’s most interesting spinster and looks on it with a kind of affection (as Milly puts it). But teen Milly has hope of a marriage and children.

I can’t say anymore on the story without spoiling it. What I can say is this is a beautifully written book there is no skimming here you will want to read every word, savor it, chew on it and thoroughly enjoy it. You will fall in love with Twiss and Milly smile with them and cry for them. This book has risen to the top of the best reads of the year and it will take a powerful book to knock it off of its perch. Like I said at the beginning Read This Book!

Rebecca Rasmussen is a new author to watch out for her writing is so beautiful I look forward to much more from her!

5 Stars

National Library Week Celebration

2011-04-10T20:05:00.000-05:00

Come help us celebrate National Library Week Open House Coffee & Cookies from 2-6 Monday April 11th and a Silent Auction all week ending bid Friday April 15th at 6 pm

The Forgotten Garden by, Kate Morton~~Review

2011-04-08T13:57:00.003-05:00

The Forgotten Garden by, Kate Morton- Description-A foundling, an old book of dark fairy tales, a secret garden, an aristocratic family, a love denied, and a mystery. The Forgotten Garden is a captivating, atmospheric and compulsively readable story of the past, secrets, family and memory from the international best-selling author Kate Morton.

Cassandra is lost, alone and grieving. Her much loved grandmother, Nell, has just died and Cassandra, her life already shaken by a tragic accident ten years ago, feels like she has lost everything dear to her. But an unexpected and mysterious bequest from Nell turns Cassandra's life upside down and ends up challenging everything she thought she knew about herself and her family.

Inheriting a book of dark and intriguing fairytales written by Eliza Makepeace - the Victorian authoress who disappeared mysteriously in the early twentieth century - Cassandra takes her courage in both hands to follow in the footsteps of Nell on a quest to find out the truth about their history, their family and their past; little knowing that in the process, she will also discover a new life for herself.

My Review:
This book has a magical realism feel to it, it may be because of the fairytales being told throughout but I really enjoyed this beautiful story. It is a hard book to classify so I’m not going to pigeon hole it anywhere. I enjoyed the 3 different generations of women in this story and how their stories intertwined. This book is about family secrets and of how that affects generations. It spans from England to Australia in the early 1900 to the 2000’s. With each generation of women finding something about the past while at the same time finding something about themselves in the process.

I did enjoy this book very much however towards the end though you just want to scream at Cassandra and say hello I figured it out why can’t you! This book can be very sad at times and some may find the jumping around in time not to their liking. But I like books that show different time periods so I enjoyed that part. The prologue has a definite magical realism feel. I will definitely be reading more by this author!

The fairytales are a great and I wish there was an actual book of these fairytales!

I listened to this on audio narrated by Caroline Lee who does a fantastic job with all the accents from English, Australian & American.

4 stars

I Am Number Four By: Pittacus Lore

2011-04-04T18:20:00.005-05:00

John Smith used to be Daniel Jones and he used to be someone else. Although John Has changed his name several times in his life he has always had one label to stick to. He is Number Four, and he is a Loric being. When his planet was attacked he and 8 other Loric children were launched to earth along with an adult Loric caretaker. John was sent with Henri. As long as they have lived on Earth John has been moving around at the smallest hint of trouble. When another scar appears on his leg to say that number three is dead they move immediatly.In a new town John meets a girl, and makes a friend, and gets a dog. This is something he never considered before because he was always moving. Now he has attachments and no desire to leave any of it behind even if the Mogadorian army is on to him again. So when he falls in love he is not going to leave for just anything. As time passes and he settles he reveals that he is an alien to Sarah and Sam. They all take it well. Then after Henri is kidnapped and John just barley rescues him he realizes how much danger they are actually in. Before there is much time to talk John into moving the Mogadorians attack. During the battle Henri is hurt, John's dog turns into a Loric animal, and number six sows up just in time to help save all their butts. This includes Sarah, Mark, and Sam who somehow manage to get into the middle of this battle. Find out if they survive and what happens afterward in I Am Number Four.

This book was wonderful. It made me think about the possibility of there being another world out there not so very different from ours. It also made me never want to stop reading. I felt like I was pulled in and feeling all the same things as john. Disappointment at having to move again, anger at Mark for being a total jerk, the heat of flames as they licked my skin while I was honing my legacies. I really do wonder about life out there.

4 Stars ****

The Peach Keeper by, Sarah Addison Allen~~Review

2011-03-21T18:08:00.002-05:00

The Peach Keeper by, Sarah Addison Allen

Another great book by, Sarah Addison Allen. This is the story of 2 generations of women grandmothers and granddaughters, friendship, secrets and ghosts. The 4 main characters Paxton, Willa, Sebastian and Colin are all trying to find where they belong and who they are. In highschool they were the princess, the joker, the freak and the stick man all of them are trying to live down these reputations and come into their own.

Paxton is in the process of restoring the house The Blue Ridge Madam which was originally owned by Willa’s family before they lost their fortune and the house in the 30’s. Willa’s grandmother grew up in the house but never talked about it to Willa. But strange things have been happening ever since the project has started that will bring Paxton and Willa together in a way neither sees coming.

I loved this book Sarah Addison Allen is the queen of magical realism she writes it so beautifully and it is so believable. The characters in this book make you want to cheer for them and be friends with them. We also get an unexpected although brief visit from some old friends who are there to cater a party. This is a must read for lovers of southern fiction, magically realism and strong friendship stories. This is going on my favorites list and with all other books by this author will be one I will read again!

I received this book from Librarything Early Reviewers Program

5 Stars

2011 Books to Movies

2011-03-17T15:57:00.002-05:00

There are some good ones coming up some I'm almost afraid of because I am scared I will be disappointed. I am most looking forward to The Help and of course the last Harry Potter.

Which ones are you looking forward to?

I am Number Four by, Pittacus Lore
The Lincoln Lawyer by, Michael Connelly
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Beastly by Alex Flinn
One for the Money Janet Evanovich
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 by, JK Rowling
The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas
Breaking Dawn, Part I by Stephenie Meyer
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Sherlock Holmes by, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Winnie the Pooh by, AA Milne
Mr Poppers Penguins Richard Atwater
Wuthering Heights by,Emily Bronte
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair by, CS Lewis
Arabian Nights
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy John le Carre
Diary of a wimpy kid Roderick Rules by Jeff Kinney
We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
One Day by David Nicholls
The Rum Diary by, Hunter S. Thompson
War Horse by,Michael Morpurgo
Midway to Heaven by, Dean Hughes

Climbing the Stair By: Padma Venkatraman

2011-03-14T17:16:00.004-05:00

Summary:

This is a great novel.

This is the story of a young girl named Vidya. She has one true dream. She wants to go to college. This, she thinks, is almost impossible. Then the worst thing that could possibly happen does. Her father is killed. This means moving to a new house where her Periappa is in charge. He is a mean old man who is really into tradition.

When she arrives the house is even more awful than she expected. Her aunt hates her, periappa thinks she is an idot, and she is no longer allowed to read. This is the worst of all. The only good thing is Raman. He is a boy living in the house and she hardly ever sees him, that is until she starts to sneek up the stairs to land of men to read in the library. They slowly fall in love. The problem is that her brother wants to go away to the war and she wants to go to college. Eventually every thing piles up and spills out in the most interesting and wondeful thing that could happen. Vidya finally realizes what she must do. See what she decides in Climbing the Stairs.

My thoughts:

This book is an amazing tale of the life of a young girl. Padma Vewnkatraman is a wonderful writer and has captured every feelin this young girls has with an amazing ease. I love this book.

Rating:

5 stars *****

Madame Tussaud:A Novel of the French Revolution by, Michelle Moran

2011-03-11T08:24:00.001-06:00

Madame Tussaud:A Novel of the French Revolution by, Michelle Moran

Another hit for Michelle Moran! I am learning so much about the French Revolution that I never knew. And about Madame Tussaud, I have been to Madame Tussauds in London and to learn this background about her and how extremely talented she was, it’s all just so very interesting. How the King & Queen were so oblivious to what was really going on in their country, or at least the king was.

How awful this revolution was, they said the King was a tyrant but how it turned these revolutionaries into way worse than the King ever was. The horrors that Marie had to see and sculpt she was an amazing and strong woman. When she is asked to make these death masks it’s all quite gruesome.

I was amazed how her and her Uncle Curtius straddled the two sides of the revolution for as long as they did and how they changed the displays sometimes daily how fast she was able to sculpt these amazing works of art.

I’ll be honest I was never that interested in the French Revolution until this book now I am googling everyone mentioned! To me that is what makes a good historical fiction book is if you want to learn more about the events and people and this one definitely did that!

This was a fascinating look into the life of a woman I think most people have heard of but never really knew about. This is a great read and as usual I look forward to more from Michelle Moran!

5 Stars

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

2011-03-07T18:42:00.001-06:00

Ah, the dreaded threequel. So many story arcs to tie up. So many questions to be answered. So much to live up to depending on the success of the previous installments. Rejoice Hunger Games fans because Mockingjay does not disappoint as the third and final novel in the Hunger Games trilogy. Mockingjay picks up not too far after Catching Fire with Katniss Everdeen, protagonist and unwilling, unknowing participant in the rebellion, finding refuge in District 9, headquarters of those fighting against the Capitol. The love triangle established throughout the series is maintained, and adds surprising twists and turns throughout. More detail really can’t be dispensed for fear of spoilers which would be criminal in such a surprising turn of events. Most enjoyable is Katniss herself. Her doubts, uncertainties, and mental instability never truly dissipate because this isn’t a conventional story of a hero conquering “the bad guys.” It’s a fascinating read that evokes chills, gasps, perhaps tears, and the occasional laugh. Also, it’s nearly impossible to put down once begun. Mockingjay manages to build off the tension the series has been accumulating over the past installments rather than having an anticlimactic feel that many sequels suffer from. Simply put, Mockingjay ended a wonderful series with finesse and competence, and is not to be overlooked. 4 ½ stars.

Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man by, Fannie Flagg~~Review

2011-02-24T11:58:00.003-06:00

Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man by, Fannie Flagg
This is not a new book but one I just finished and loved! A detailed and hilarious look at life in the South during the fifties:
Daisy Fay Harper is now one of my favorite characters! She is spunky and independent and surrounded by a great cast of characters. This book spans Daisy Fay’s life from 1952-1959 at the beginning of the book she is 11 years old. Daisy Fay’s daddy is a drunk but she stands by him through thick and thin, he isn’t a mean drunk so that’s ok LOL.

It is so fun to read about her discovering life especially since this book is set in the 50’s.One of my favorite scenes is when they are living in Shell Beach and Daisy likes to sneak in and watch the entertainment at the local Blue Gardenia Lounge like the one-legged tap dancer and Ray Layne the young singer but the one she is so looking forward to is a real dancer from New Orleans named Tawny the Tasseled lady and her reaction to that was “She isn’t even a real dancer!” “All she does is spin them tassels one way then the other and shake around” I laughed so hard picturing this!

Not only is Daisy a great character but everyone else in this book is too from her bingo addicted grandma, to her daddy’s best friend Jimmy Snow who is a crop duster but seems to crash his plane a lot! Oh my I could just go on and on about this book this is the 3rd book by Fannie Flagg I’ve read and I think it is now my mission to read everything she has ever written.

If you like southern fiction and great characters who will make you laugh out loud you must read this book!

5 Stars

The Sherlockian by, Graham Moore~~Review

2011-02-18T12:44:00.004-06:00

The Sherlockian by, Graham Moore
Description fron Goodreads:In December 1893, Sherlock Holmes-adoring Londoners eagerly opened their Strand magazines, anticipating the detective's next adventure, only to find the unthinkable: his creator, Arthur Conan Doyle, had killed their hero off. London spiraled into mourning -- crowds sported black armbands in grief -- and railed against Conan Doyle as his assassin.
Then in 1901, just as abruptly as Conan Doyle had "murdered" Holmes in "The Final Problem," he resurrected him. Though the writer kept detailed diaries of his days and work, Conan Doyle never explained this sudden change of heart. After his death, one of his journals from the interim period was discovered to be missing, and in the decades since, has never been found.

Or has it?

When literary researcher Harold White is inducted into the preeminent Sherlock Holmes enthusiast society, The Baker Street Irregulars, he never imagines he's about to be thrust onto the hunt for the holy grail of Holmes-ophiles: the missing diary. But when the world's leading Doylean scholar is found murdered in his hotel room, it is Harold - using wisdom and methods gleaned from countless detective stories - who takes up the search, both for the diary and for the killer.

MY REVIEW:
I am a fan of Sherlock Holmes but will admit to not knowing much about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, so I don’t know if a word of the historical side of this book is in any way accurate. But it was sure a good story! The author notes were interesting to learn a little more on what was and wasn’t real.

In the historical side of this novel we see Arthur Conan Doyle wanting to forget Sherlock Holmes ever existed but the reading public is up in arms, after there is an attempt on his life he sets out with friend Bram Stoker to figure out who is behind it. I loved the line when Bram Stoker said “You want me to be your Watson?’ because now of course we know who Bram is but at the time Dracula was not a classic and as Arthur couldn’t even remember the name of the country Bram’s little book was set it as a fan of literature I enjoyed these parts very much. Arthur wasn’t a nice person in this book especially on his views of women and I don’t know enough about the real man to judge but he is pretty snobby in this book.

As for the Sherlockians they are an elite group of Sherlock aficionados, scholars and such when one of their own is found dead their newest member Alex decides he is Holmes enough to solve this case.
Alex was a bit bumbling but was a good character along with Sarah a reporter there is almost a romance plus a pretty good whodunit and treasure hunt all rolled into one.

I enjoyed this book and think any fan Doyle’s work will enjoy this as well.

3 1/2 Stars

The Nobodies Album by, Carolyn Parkhurst~~Review

2011-02-16T11:06:00.003-06:00

The Nobodies Album by, Carolyn Parkhurst

This book was so well written and very hard to put down. Author Octavia Frost has had a successful career but has been estranged from her son Milo, a famous rock star; they have grown steadily apart since the death of her husband and daughter when Milo was 9. But tragedy is about to bring them back together again when Octavia hears a news report that her son has been arrested for the murder of his girlfriend.

There are excerpts from Octavia’s books which all sound like books I would like to read! This was a story about family, failures, forgiveness and redemption. Through the words from the books Octavia has written you get glimpses into the life shared by her and Milo after the death of half of their family. Now Octavia and Milo need to work together to prove his innocence and repair their broken relationship.

This was a very powerful book that flowed through the beautiful writing; it’s so much more than a mystery but the mystery was a good one. This was my first book by Carolyn Parkhurst but for sure won’t be my last.

4 ½ Stars

Revolution by, Jennifer Donnelly~~Review

2011-02-11T14:01:00.003-06:00

Revolution by, Jennifer Donnelly
Description from Goodreads:
BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

MY REVIEW:
This was a great book it was really hard to stop reading. This is the story of two 17 year-old girls Andi in the present day and Alex in the 1700’s. Andi is trying to get over her brother’s death and not coping well at all, when her father takes her to Paris she finds the diary of Alexandrine who lived during the French revolution. Even though these girls are centuries apart Andi sees some similarities and kind of becomes obsessed with Alex’s story. (But then again so did I)

I loved Alex’s story it was edge of seat reading. However there were times when I didn’t understand Andi like why didn’t show her dad the diary or mention it to anyone. But I must say I really loved this book. It is totally deserving of the awards and accolades. I think this is one of the best YA historical fiction I’ve read , I know that Jennifer Donnelly’s book A Northern Light is very popular and I will be reading that one very soon I think she is a great writer!

I think saying this is just a young adult book is doing it a disservice; I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

I just want to gush on and on about this book but I will just say READ IT!!

5 Stars

5 Stars

New Books This Week

2011-02-04T13:07:00.005-06:00

New Books this week:
In Adult Fiction:

Forever and Always by, Sonni Lagodinski – North Dakota Author
Left Neglected by, Lisa Genova- new from the Author of Still Alice
Room by, Emma Donoghue
The Nobodies Album by, Carolyn Parkhurst
Indulgence in Death by, JD Robb
Of bees and Mist by, Erik Setiawan
Lighthousekeeping by, Jeanette Winterson
Secrets of Harmony Grove by, Melinda Starns Clark
Kelly’s Chance by, Wanda Brunstetter
The Art of Racing in the Rain by, Garth Stein
Ghost at Work by, Carolyn Hart
Silent in the Grave-Silent in the Sanctuary & Silent in the Moor by, Deanna Raybourn
Full Dark No Stars by, Stephen King
Ethan Frome & Summer by, Edith Wharton
The Nosy Neighbor by, Fern Michaels
Sins of The Flesh by, Fern Michaels
9 Ranier Drive by, Debbie Macomber
Julia’s Hope by, Leisha Kelly
The Winding Ways Quilt by, Jennifer Chiaverini
Time is a River by, Mary Alice Monroe
The Unsung Heroes by, Suzanne Brockman
Pirate Latitudes by, Michael Crichton
The Mist by, Carla Neggers
Smash cut by, Sandra Brown

In Westerns:
Lawless Prairie by, Charles G. West
Vigilante Justice by, Will Camp
Wilderness Mountain Madness by, David Thompson
Lonestar and The Sierra Sabotage by, Wesley Ellis
Sundance Bring me His Scalp by, John Benteen
The Crime of Coy Bell by, Sam Brown

In Adult Non-Fiction:
The Cloister Walk by, Kathleen Norris
Bridges Across North Dakota by, the State Historical Society
Treasures of Islam by, Bernard O’Kane

In Audio:
Wicked Appetite & Sizzling Sixteen by, Janet Evanovich
Vanishing Act by, Fern Michaels
Exclusive by, Sandra Brown
The Teahouse Fire by, Ellis Avery

In Young Adult:
Bloody valentine by, Melissa de la Cruz
I Shall Wear Midnight Tiffany Aching #4 by, Terry Pratchett
Seer of Sevenwaters by, Juliet Marillier
The Demon Trapper’s Daughter by, Jana Oliver
Beautiful Darkness by, Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Evermore by, Alyson Noel
Beauty & Rose’s Daughter by, Robin McKinley
The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney by, Suzanne Harper
Legacy & Spellbound by, Nancy Holder

In Juvenile Fiction:
The Beast From The East by, RL Stine
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup by, Sharon Creech
Beagle in a Backpack by, Ben Baglio
How To be a Girly Girl in Just 10 Days by, Lisa Papademetriou

In Childrens Fiction:
Miss Spider’s Tea Party by, David Kirk
My Little Book About Peter Rabbit by, Beatrix Potter
Shine Sun by, Carole Green
Snow White by, Walt Disney
The Puppy Book by, Jan Pfloog
Be Yourself Disney Princess by,Walt Disney
A Day With Ruth Rabbit at the Beach by, Diane Mathes
The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy by, Jane Thayer

The Replacement By: Brenna Yovanoff

2011-01-27T17:07:00.006-06:00

This book is....disturbingly good. It makes me want to curl up in a ball and stay in bed, but at the same time it makes me want to discover a world of creatures living below our city. Brenna Yovanoff is a brilliant writer. This story sucked me in from the very beginning.

Mackie Doyle is a strange boy. He's not the kind of person that you would imagine a hero to be. He is allergic to metal and is very sick, but when a friend's sister turned up "dead" he kicked into action. First he discovers and underground world, then he joins a band, then he sacrifices himself to save a child. I wanted so bad to be part of this book and Brenna, the brilliant author, made me feel like I was.

5 stars! *****

Room by,Emma Donoghue~~Review

2011-01-21T20:56:00.002-06:00

We Now Have this book in Hardcover
Room by, Emma Donoghue
Description:To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.

Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, ROOM is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another

My Review:
This is a hard book to review, it’s hard because I can’t say I enjoyed it because it is a very disturbing book but I did like it, I hope that makes sense. This book is narrated by a 5 year old boy whose mother was kidnapped and had a child by her captor they live in Room as Jack calls it. He thinks the world is only Room and everything else is TV. It was a fascinating and unique look at kidnap victims.
It is hard to put down (or in my case stop listening) because you must know what happens to Jack and his Ma.
There were parts that I just found it a little farfetched **no spoilers** and also parts I thought I couldn’t see the character doing that. Jack‘s narration gives us an insight into the mind of a 5 year old completely and I thought it was very well written. I think I may not have liked it as much as some but I didn’t hate it as much as others it is a very unique book and because of that I’ve rated it a bit higher.

I listened to this on audio and the narration was great!

4 STARS

The Eyre Affair by, Jasper Fforde~~Review

2011-01-06T11:21:00.002-06:00

The Eyre Affair by, Jasper Fforde

Synopsis:
In Jasper Fforde's Great Britain, circa 1985, time travel is routine, cloning is a reality (dodos are the resurrected pet of choice), and literature is taken very, very seriously. England is a virtual police state where an aunt can get lost (literally) in a Wordsworth poem and forging Byronic verse is a punishable offense. All this is business as usual for Thursday Next, renowned Special Operative in literary detection.

My Review:
I loved this book!! It is humorous and fun! If you are a fan of Jane Eyre or a fan of literature in general you need to read this book! I also think fans of Douglas Adams would like it too.

Thursday Next is a Spec Ops LiteraTec in a world similar to our own but oh so different. The Crimean War is still going on there is still a Czar of Russia. People travel in time, they are the SpecOps contingent of the Chrono Guard. Thursday’s father was in the Chrono Guard and is now on the run through time from them. Thursday is after a master criminal named Hades who is stealing original manuscripts of classic books, but what he is dong with them I will let you read it to find out. This had a bit of a steampunk feel to it because of the airships and the unique inventions. I loved the names of people in this book Jack Schitt and Braxton Hicks.

I can’t say enough of how much I loved this book I think it is a must read for everyone who loves to read! Now I must go out and buy this entire series!

5 Stars

Arthur & George by Julian Barnes

2011-01-03T18:31:00.000-06:00

Arthur & George, the tenth novel by Julian Barnes is a historical fiction that chronicles the lives of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and George Edalji. The former was, of course, the one and only creator of the greatest literary detective in the world, and the latter being the subject of a legal case in the early twentieth century. The book is beautifully and meticulously written with exacting, remarkable detail and two distinct tones for the different characters. The pace can feel plodding at points, but never to an extreme degree. Added enjoyment can be had for those who are familiar with the case and the people portrayed in the storyline. The characters are written in a way that it feels more like a living autobiography than the musings of an author what with the apparent realism infused into the work. In all honesty, a fictional chronicling of a legal case from the 1900s won’t appeal to everyone despite the names involved, one in particular. However, it’s engaging, smartly written, and surprisingly difficult to put down once a few chapters in. 4 stars ****

A Ring of Endless Light By: Madeline L'Engle

2011-01-03T15:43:00.003-06:00

In this book girl named Vicky Austin and her family move to her grandfather's house to spend the summer with him. She is excited and scared to do this because er grandfather is dieing of leukaemia. At the begging of the summer a family friend dies and Vicky takes this as an omen of sorts. She is shaken out of her own little world where nothing bad happens into reality. As she faces fact that this death probably won't be the last of he summer she also struggles with boys. One who is charming and dashing but has a bit too much of a taste for danger, one who is recovering from his father's death, and one who is working with her on his summer science project. The boys all seem to need her ,including her grandfather, in one way or another, and as the summer goes on she begins to feel that her only relief is with the dolphins that she and Adam ( the boy with the science project) are working with. She feels pulled in so many directions and finally has a break down of sorts after a young girl in the hospital dies in her arms while she is waiting for a friend.

This book is amazingly deep and wonderfully written to bring the characters to life. I felt as if i was with Vicky through the entire ordeal, good and bad. Madeline did a fabulous job.

4 Stars

New Books This Week

2010-12-17T17:44:00.002-06:00

The Library will be closed Friday December 24th & Friday December 31st. Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!

New Books This week are:
In Adult Fiction:
Cross Fire by, James Patterson
Hell’s Corner by, David Baldacci
The Confession by, John Grisham
Port Mortuary by, Patricia Cornwell
Happy Ever After by, Nora Roberts
The Sherlockian by, Graham Moore
Sins of Omission by, Fern Michaels
The Eyre Affair by, Jasper Fforde

In Audio:
Norah by, Debbie MacComber
Hard Ball by, Sara Paretsky

In Young Adult:
The Red Pyramid by, Rick Riordan
Beautiful Darkness by, Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Gothic! By, Neil Gaiman & Various Authors
Twelfth Grade Kills by, Heather Brewer

In Juvenile Fiction:
The Fire Within-Ice Fire & Fire Star by, Chris D’Lacey

The Kitchen House by, Kathleen Grissom~~Review

2010-12-13T16:58:00.000-06:00

The Kitchen House by, Kathleen Grissom

This was a very good well written story it is sad but there was a lot of sadness for slaves.
It is set in the late 1700’s & early 1800’s. Seven-Year-Old Lavinia is an Irish immigrant whose parents died on the trip over so Lavinia is taken by the Captain as an indentured servant to pay-off the trip. She is dropped off at the kitchen house with the slaves. Mama Mae takes her in and raises her as her own and Lavinia grows up being well loved by the family in the Kitchen House. This book is told in alternating chapters by, Lavinia & young slave girl Belle, the master's illegitimate daughter, Lavinia becomes deeply bonded to her adopted family, though she is set apart from them by her white skin.Eventually, Lavinia is accepted into the world of the big house, where the master is absent and the mistress battles opium addiction. Lavinia finds herself perilously straddling two very different worlds. When she is forced to make a choice, loyalties are brought into question, dangerous truths are laid bare, and lives are put at risk.

The characters in this book are so well written you care about all of them. Except Rankin but you hate him because he is written as so revolting! This book was just so wonderful, it shows that family isn’t blood and that blood doesn’t make you family. This book was at times so heartbreaking and may make you cry! Everyone in this book goes through their share of hardships and it isn’t a happy book but there is just something about the story that is beautiful. I just don’t know how to express it but to say I loved this book!

I listened to this on audio narrated by, Orlagh Cassidy & Bahni Turpin it was wonderfully done both narrators bringing these characters to life.

5 Stars

Heat Wave by Richard Castle

2010-12-06T15:58:00.002-06:00

Heat Wave by Richard Castle

The entertainment industry is split into various divisions, and they like very much to overlap. Books are adapted to film, film to television, perhaps to videogames and everything in between plus any sort of plausible combination is allowable. Most creative parties are aware and take advantage of this fact. Such is the case of Heat Wave. For those unfamiliar with the book’s background, Castle is an hourly procedural of sorts starring Nathan Fillion as Richard Castle, an author of murder mystery novels, who assists in homicide cases with Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic), the inspiration behind his newest novels. There’s a fantastic character dynamic between the two, one of give and take banter and a strong “will they or won’t they.” Heat Wave takes this aspect of the show and translates it perfectly to the written page. The mystery is solid enough, not enough to make me gasp when the murderer is revealed, but in all honesty, that’s not the reason to pick up Heat Wave. The simple truth is that from the dedication before the novel begins to the main character’s name (Jameson Rook), this book is written for Castle fans. There are a lot of nods to the series which is fitting since Castle is using his “research” at the NYPD to write this particular book. The most enjoyable experiences with Heat Wave are had when the reader maintains a mindset of Castle actually writing it, being the man behind the curtains, instead of some unnamed ghost writer. Snickering with the thought of Beckett’s reaction to a particular risqué chapter is only one instance. Bottom line, Heat Wave has the potential of appealing to a wide audience, yet its main focus is the fans, those who can match every character with their slightly different counterpart and catch all of the fan service aimed their way. It’s excellent for those reasons, 5 stars. *****

The Beast of Noor

2010-12-06T15:57:00.002-06:00

The Beast of Noor Janet Lee Carey

The Beast of Noor reads like a fairy tale which seems only fitting since the overall plot is centered on an old legend in the world of Noor. The legend of, you guessed it, the Beast of Noor. Without going into too much detail, suffice it to say that it involves a curse on a certain family for the actions of an ancestor, actions which resulted in a monstrous dog, known as the Shriker, who now haunts the woods. Leave it to the protagonist, Miles Sheen, to make it his mission to destroy this demon, stop the ruthless killings, and redeem his family’s name in the process. The story is predictable enough once the reader finds out exactly how the Shriker came to be since there really is one sort of ending possible in books intended for the younger demographic. Despite this, it’s a charming book with a mild horror streak and notable character development even if it’s pretty straightforward development. The characters are interesting and likable enough…most of the time. There’s some whininess and somewhat irritating character choices, but it’s almost to be expected with these prepubescent heroes. The beginning seemed bogged down in exposition, but once it got that over with, clipped along at a steady pace. Carey creates a world of fairies and spells that, in all fairness, we have seen before. After all, it’s quite difficult to lay claim in originality in the world of fantasy what with the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and J.K. Rowling wandering about. Regardless, it’s a recommended alternative to the usual. It’s also for those who are looking for a darker novel, yet pretty light on the horror in comparison to the more visceral books in this genre. Bottom line, it’s solid, nicely done, and, at the very least, worth a look. 4 stars. ****

Black Horses For The King By: Anne McCaffrey

2010-11-29T16:27:00.002-06:00

In this book Galwyn Varianus is working for his uncle on a ship. He hates this more than anything in the world. The lack of horses seems to be his biggest problem. When he runs into Lord Artos he is awe struck. He wants to help this man in any way possible. After running away from his uncle he travels with Lord Artos to a fair where he finds out that Artos is planning to take the largest horses he can find and use them in the war against the Saxons.

The only problem with the beautiful black horses is that their hooves are not used to the wet ground and easily develop problems. A man named Canydthinks he’s got the answer. Shoes for the horses. No one but Galwyn believes in this idea. Together they struggle to develop the shoes in time for the war. If they succeed they could be the reason the British win the war.

Four ****

Wow! What a great book.

If Wishes Were Horses By Anne McCaffery

2010-11-29T16:14:00.010-06:00

Tirza, Tracell, and Lady TalarrieEircelly are devastated when their father must go off to war. They are left to take care of a village of people who could be attacked at any time. Only Lady Talarrie's calm head and intelligence saves them.

Tirza and her twin Tracell want nothing more than to turn 16. They just can’t wait to grow up. When the war starts tirza realizes that while her present is still secure her brother's has galloped off to battle. She tries to ensure her brother's present will still be a great one but, he wants only one thing. A horse. As their birthday draws nearer she watches the chances of tracell getting a horse dwindle. With the help of her birthday present she thinks she can ensure his.

Find out if she succeeds in Anne McCaffery's If Wishes Were Horses.

Four ****

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-24T09:42:00.002-06:00

Hope Everyone Has A Safe & Happy Thanksgiving!

The Library will be closed Thusday & Friday!

Vixen by, Jillian Larkin~~Review

2010-11-19T09:13:00.001-06:00

Vixen The Flappers Series by, Jillian Larkin- Release Date Dec. 14,2010

I loved this book! It is so unique being set in the 20’s. This is the story of three friends. Gloria society girl engaged to Sebastian Grey a most eligible bachelor, Lorraine the neglected little rich girl wanting to be loved by a boy who doesn’t see her as anything but a friend, and Marcus the handsome playboy living his life to the fullest. Then there is Clara Gloria’s cousin who has come to Chicago in disgrace to “help with Gloria’s wedding” but there is more to Clara than meets the eye.

The excitement of rebelling against society and going to an underground speakeasy. For Gloria it is to try to live a little before she marries the boring Bastian. For Lorraine she just wants to get out from under Gloria’s shadow and be the center of attention. At the speakeasy Gloria meets Jerome part of the jazz band she finds she is attracted to him but there is a huge problem as Jerome is a man of color and this is the 1920’s.

This book has it all friendship, betrayal, secrets, forbidden love, and gangsters. From the uptown society of Chicago to the seedy underground I loved every minute of this book. Jillian Larkin takes you back to the 20’s and puts you right there the feel the music the clothes. She brings this period piece to life. I liked that the love story was sweet and not the usual fare. There is a lot of drinking as it is set during prohibition and they go to a speakeasy and a lot of smoking which in the 20’s was something everyone did. One just needs to remember that this is historical fiction and the author has re-created the atmosphere very well.

This is a great debut and a great beginning to a fun series. The ending is a cliffhanger that left me salivating for the next installment. Bravo Miss Larkin you have me completely hooked!

I received this book from Barnes & Noble First Look Program thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

4 ½ Stars

Keeper of the Keys by, Janny Wurts-Audiobook~~Review

2010-11-17T16:15:00.005-06:00

Keeper of the Keys by, Janny Wurts-Audiobook~~Review

In this one we see Jaric still trying to not become his Father Ivain the Firelord, to run from his responsibilities yet deep down knows he must face them sooner or later. IMHO This book explores the question does the power make a man mad or is the man mad to begin with? Just because the Firelord Ivain, Jerics father, was mad/crazy with power does that mean that Jaric will be too?

Taen is going through some troubles of her own plus still trying to save Anskiere and Jeric. There are some nasty demons that are playing with Jeric & Taen making them/Me wonder just what to believe is it real or dream.

I know that’s a bad description but as usual there is a lot going on. Action packed all the way through it’s definitely the middle book because it was pure action from beginning to end.

I look forward to the next book to see how this story ends up. Will Jeric embrace his Firelord heritage? What will be the consequences to him and those around him if he does? Will Taen survive? Is there a way to save her brother from the demons who enslave him? Do all of Taen's dreams come true or do they change from people's choices? So yes alot of questions to answers in the next book.

I enjoyed the Epilogue's last line Taen reminded me of Scarlett O’Hara-Tomorrow could only come after today.

As with the last book the narration by David Thorpe was fantastic! His demons were so scary the voices gave me chills.

5 Stars

Wolf Hall by, Hilary Mantel ~~Review

2010-11-12T13:42:00.000-06:00

Wolf Hall by, Hilary Mantel
This is a hard review to write because there is so much going on in this book. It is the story of Thomas Cromwell from the time he is a teen. He was instrumental in securing Henry VIII’s divorce from Catherine so he could marry Anne Boleyn. He was a very ambitious man and I felt he went whichever way the wind blew to further himself.

Things about this book that left me wondering, the title for one, Wolf Hall only comes into it in the last 10 or so pages and that this is where the book ends not with the life of Thomas Cromwell but with the life of Sir Thomas Moore.

There seems to be so much more story to tell, it showed his rise to power but not his downfall there is only 5 more years of Thomas Cromwell’s life and I just feel like the story wasn’t finished yet. I think if you’re going to tell his story from a teen and up it should go to his death, especially when his fall from grace is only 5 years from the end of this book.

I did enjoy this book although it is rather confusing because so many people had the same names. I also think if you have no prior Tudor knowledge this book may not be for you. You need to know some of the players and history for this book to make sense. If you are a huge fan of the Tudors and would like some background into one of the minor players (With the Royals being the major ones) then this is for you. It was very well written but not a book I would read twice.

I did end up listening to this book on audio because I had a hard time getting into the print version. The Narrator Simon Slater was excellent and his mastery with all the different voices helped keep all the characters straight. If I were rating just the audio quality it would be a 4 - 41/2.Will be seeking out what else Simon Slater has narrated.

3 ½ Stars
Full Disclosure I won this book from LibraryThing Early Reviewers program

The Hob's Bargain Patricia Briggs

2010-11-01T15:59:00.002-05:00

Aren is a magical person. This in it's self is a death sentance. Then the night after she marries her family is killed along with her husband. She hides in the basment cellar from the robbers and the lands magic is somehow magically relased. She now realizes that the bandits aren't leaving and even more fear inspireing forces are on thier way.

She goes into the mountains and meets the Hob. He agrees to helkp Aren save the valley and village on one condition. Marrage. She agrees and he also starts to help her develop her magic. In the end with the help of the Hob she saves the village.

Four stars ****

The Wolving Time by Patrick Jennings

2010-10-31T23:40:00.002-05:00

It’s quite a feat to find a decent werewolf book out there. Even more so is finding one that isn’t filled to the brim with content not fit for those who don’t enjoy passionate romance and all in which that entails. Thankfully, The Wolving Time provides an alternative to the bloody, steamy messes that often fill out the section of fantasy that happen to be of the lupine variety. This particular novel is set in medieval France when burnings were the popular way to root out what was deemed to be “evil.” Laszlo is a simple son of a shepherd, content to wile away his days tending to his flock. However, he awaits the day when he can join his parents as werewolves. This sort of werewolf is unlike your typical, man-eating, silver-bullet-vulnerable beast. Shape shifter would seem a more appropriate term since they are able to transform into wolves at will. The plot, at its most basic, doesn’t seek to surprise its readers with suspenseful twists and turns. Rather, it relies on its simple, yet eloquent, writing style and engaging characters. It’s a short book and, therefore, a quick read. Younger readers will enjoy it immensely, and older readers can as well. It’s intriguing enough to hold interest until the very end. The themes of prejudice and unjust persecution are apparent throughout the novel. It’s a solid effort despite its lack of complexity and earns 3 ½ stars.

One Crazy Summer by, Rita Williams-Garcia Audiobook Review

2010-10-29T13:14:00.003-05:00

One Crazy Summer by, Rita Williams-Garcia Audiobook Review~~

Delphine and her sisters are being shipped off to spend the summer with the mother who left them when they were small to go off and become a poet. The girls arrive in Oakland in the late 60’s(1968?)to find their mother is a poet for the Black Panthers and still has really no interest in being their mother.

Wow what unfeeling mom Cecil is. Her daughter Delphine is so much more a grown-up than she is and a much better mom to the younger kids than Cecil is. Also such an interesting history lesson into a turbulent time in the US told through the eyes of an 11 year-old-girl. The girls end up being immersed into the Black Panther movement which kind of scares Delphine as she has seen and heard about arrests and murders of people just because they have an affiliation with the group. Of course as the summer goes on the relationship changes but maybe not as you would expect.

There are a few things I wonder about if Cecil didn’t want the girls there why did their father & Big Ma send them? And when certain things happen*No Spoilers* why wasn’t their father notified and the girls sent home? Why was it up to Delphine?
I think this is a must read! Do you hear me Newberry people?? This deserves every award it has won and will win.

On the Audio-The narration by Sisa Aisha Johnson is really great! She Is Delphine through & through! Her narration is totally believable and I see why this narrator has won an audiofile earphone award.

I won this book and would like to Thank Recorded Books for a great audio.

4 ½ stars

New Books & Library Happenings

2010-10-25T19:47:00.002-05:00

Computer Class coming up Microsoft Access Nov. 16 & 18 6:30-8:30 $40.00 per person call Susie 947-5540.

New Books This Week:
In Adult Fiction:
Don’t Blink by, James Patterson
Legacy by, Danielle Steel
Play dead by, Harlan Coben
In From The Cold by, David R. Bliss –North Dakota Author
Bookmarked for Death by, Lorna Barrett
Homicide in Hardcover by, Kate Carlisle
Murder Runs in the Family by, Anne George
Hannah’s List by, Debbie Macomber
Say You’re One of Them by, Uwem Akpan
Pomegranate Soup by, Marsh Mehran
The Expedition by, Karl Iagnemma
Jamaica Inn by, Daphne DuMaurier
Ella in Bloom by, Shelby Hearon
A Stitch in Time by, Betty Hechtman
Foreign Body by, Robin Cook
You Can’t Drink All day If You Don’t Start in the Morning by, Celia Rivenbark
Shadow Play, Believers a Novella and Stories, Saul & Patsy & The Soul Thief by, Charles Baxter

In Adult Non-Fiction:
Sidewalk Thoughts by, Mickey Renner ND Author/Librarian in Dickinson
Falling Through The Earth: A memoir by, Danielle Trussoni
Face to Face by, Audrey Kishline & Sheryl Maloy
Into the Blue a Father’s Flight and a Daughter’s Return by, Susan Edsall
Warrior the Legend of Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen by, Peter Hathaway Capstick
So, Stick a Geranium in Your Hat and be Happy by, Barbara Johnson
The Idiot Girls Action-Adventure Club True Tales From a Magnificent and Clumsy Life by, Laurie Notaro
Uncle John’s Legendary Lost Bathroom Reader
Burning Down The House Essays on Fiction by, Charles Baxter
Mother Knows Best the Natural Way to Train Your Dogs by, Carol Lea Benjamin

In Audio:
The Men Who Stare at Goats by, Jon Ronson
Sam’s letter’s to Jennifer by, James Patterson
The Brass Verdict by, Michael Connelly
One Crazy Summer by, Rita Williams-Garcia

In Adult Fantasy:
The Master of Whitethorn by, Janny Wurts
Daughter of the Empire & Servant of the Empire by, Raymond E. Feist & Janny Wurts
Sword-Dancer by, Jennifer Roberson
The Summer Tree by, Guy Gavriel Kay
St. Lucy’s Home For Girls Raised by Wolves by, Karen Russell

In Young Adult:
The Hunter’s Moon- the Summer King & The Light-Bearer’s Daughter by, O.R. Melling
The Blue Djinn of Babylon Children of the Lamp #2 by, PB Kerr
The Fallen –Leviathan-Aerie & Reckoning by, Thomas E. Sniegoski
Eighth Grade Bites-Ninth Grade Slays-Tenth Grade Bleeds-Eleventh Grade Burns by, Heather Brewer

In Juvenile Fiction:
A Soldiers Secret: The Story of Deborah Sampson by, Sheila Solomon Klass

In Juvenile Non-Fiction:
Cartoon Animator by, Don Rauf
Ancient Egypt Back to Basics by, Ann Mcrae

In Children’s Picture Books:Snoring Beauty by, Bruce Hale

Salting Roses: A Novel by Lorelle Marinello~~Review

2010-10-17T08:00:00.001-05:00

Salting Roses: A Novel by Lorelle Marinello~~Release Date December 2010

I so enjoyed this book I read it in a day. This is the story of Gracie Calloway who was found on a doorstep in Alabama and raised with love by the people she was left with who thought she was their niece. They didn't have much money and Gracie was treated pretty badly as a child by other children whose families looked down on her. (No Spoilers it’s on the back of the book) Gracie is now 25 and happy with her life and family when she finds out she was kidnapped and is the heiress to a fortune.

This book is about making choices and what it really means to be family. I loved all the characters in this book with Artie being my favorite. There is a little romance, which I thought was a cute love story. But it is mostly about discovering who you are versus who you were meant to be. How would you deal with these life-changing events if you were in Gracie’s shoes?

Gracie is a strong stubborn woman set in her ways taking care of everyone around her but not thinking much about herself. I liked that she was a tomboy and played baseball, she has flaws and low self esteem and you will cheer for her to find her true self.

I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy southern fiction and great characters.

Thank you so much Library Thing Early Reviewers for the chance to read this book!

4 1/2 Stars

Stormwarden by, Janny Wurts~~Review

2010-10-14T13:38:00.003-05:00

Stormwarden by, Janny Wurts Book 1 of The Cycle of Fire Series
Description from Goodreads: Written in the records at Vaere is the tale of the binding of the Mharg-demons by Anskiere, wizard of wind and wave. Anskiere was aided in this task by Ivain, master of fire and earth, for the skills of a single sorcerer were not enough against so formidable a foe.
It is further recorded that at the moment of greatest peril, Ivain betrayed his companion out of jealousy. Nonetheless the demons were defeated, the wards sealed, and Anskiere survived to swear a powerful oath against his betrayer. So potent was the magic in the words spoken by Anskiere that sailors who have visited the site claim the winds there repeat them to this day:
'Your offence against me is pardoned but not forgotten. This geas I lay upon you; should I call, you, Ivain, shall answer, and complete a deed of my choice, even to the end of your days. And should you die, my will shall pass to your eldest son, and to his son's sons after him, until the debt is paid...'

My Review:
This is a great epic fantasy! The two older sorcerers The Stormwarden, Anskiere & the Firewarden, Ivain had a major falling out and there was a geas placed on Ivain’s son and son’s of his son’s so now it comes to pass that Anskiere has called upon this geas .Which is where the children Jaric & Taen come in.

What makes this an Epic fantasy is there are children who know not what they can do or where they come from, there is a quest and there are demons and sorcery. There is adventure and kidnapping and betrayal this book just has it all!

Janny Wurts has done a great job at world building it is so well written and just takes you along for the ride. I thoroughly enjoyed this book I know my description above does not do it justice but with everything going on it is hard to describe. This was my first book by Janny Wurts and I plan on finding everything she’s written!

If you like epic fantasy this is a must read!

I listened to this on audio and the narration by, David Thorpe is Fantastic! His voices and accents are first rate he has become one of my favorite narrators just from this one book. He has great range and cannot wait to hear him read the rest of this series and anything else I can find narrated by him.

5 Stars

The Looking Glass Wars (Audio) by, Frank Beddor~~Review

2010-09-28T14:50:00.002-05:00

The Looking Glass Wars #1 by, Frank Beddor Narrated by, Gerard Doyle

This was a fun twist on the Alice in Wonderland story Frank Beddor brings us characters that come to life in an enchanting way. This is a bit darker than the version you are used to but it’s written so well that it was hard to put down.

The characters and the weaponry are pretty fascinating the hatter had the best weapons and then there’s General Dopple and General Ganger which in the audio version was done with an echo so you heard both voices at once which was a neat effect you wouldn’t get from reading the book. Redd is the baddest of baddies with the Cheshire cat not the smiling helper but a hitman extraordinaire.

And then there is Alyss which as she told Rev. Dodgson AKA Lewis Carroll is the correct way to spell her name. When she ends up in the real world of course no one believes her stories of Wonderland or that she is a Princess she think the Rev. does but when she sees the mockery of her life he writes she won’t speak to him again.

There is war and romance and spies and a great story that will grab you and not let you go.

Loved the bonus song on the audiobook. The narrator Gerard Doyle did a Fantastic Job; I will be looking for other books narrated by him!

4 Stars

The Wake of Forgivenss by, Bruce Machart~~Review

2010-09-25T09:00:00.002-05:00

Description: On a moonless Texas night in 1895, an ambitious young landowner suffers the loss of “the only woman he’s ever been fond of” when his wife dies during childbirth with the couple’s fourth boy, Karel. From an early age Karel proves so talented on horseback that his father enlists him to ride in acreage-staked horse races against his neighbors. But Karel is forever haunted by thoughts of the mother he never knew, by the bloodshot blame in his father’s eyes, and permanently marked by the yoke he and his brothers are forced to wear to plow the family fields. Confident only in the saddle, Karel is certain that the horse “wants the whip the same way he wants his pop’s strap . . . the closest he ever gets to his father’s touch.” In the winter of 1910, Karel rides in the ultimate high-stakes race against a powerful Spanish patriarch and his alluring daughters. Hanging in the balance are his father’s fortune, his brother’s futures, and his own fate. Fourteen years later, with the stake of the race still driven hard between him and his brothers, Karel is finally forced to dress the wounds of his past and to salvage the tattered fabric of his family.

My Review:

Beautifully and lyrically written but very dark. I had trouble getting into this book at first because it was dark and depressing but the writing was so beautiful that I kept reading and I’m glad I did. In the beginning I didn’t think I’d feel compassion or empathy for anyone in this book but that changed as the book progressed.

Vaclav Skala and his boys are alone since the death of his wife when she gave birth to Karel. People say Vaclav was a good man when he was with his wife but we don’t see that man we see a cruel man without feeling who uses his sons as horses to plow his fields.

The story skips around in time from 1895-1924 at first this was a bit jarring but after awhile you come to understand the flow the author was trying to convey.

I don’t want to give too much of this story away because this is a book you need to “feel” as it unfolds. It is a story of family, abuse, loneliness and lastly forgiveness. It is beautiful and haunting, dark and lyrical and worth reading. This may not have been a book I would have picked up but thanks to B&N First Look I read it and am glad I did. I would say to those who may think this isn’t their cup of tea to go ahead and give it a try the prose will grab you and the characters will stay with you even if you don’t like them.

4 Stars
Thank-You B&N First Look for the opportunity to read this book

Little Madhouse on the Prairie by, Marion Elizabeth Witte~~Review

2010-09-16T08:01:00.002-05:00

Little Madhouse on the Prairie: A True-Life Story of Overcoming Abuse and Healing the Spirit
by Marion Elizabeth Witte
This is the story of Marion the child who grew up in a farmhouse in North Dakota; it was far from a happy home. It is also about Marion the grown-up dealing with the after-affects of being abused. What sets this book apart from other books about abuse is it doesn’t detail all the abuse she suffered, yes she tells us about some of it, but it is more about her journey to recovery.

This book touched me in so many ways one, because it is set in my home state of North Dakota the farmhouse she describes is so much like the one my grandparents had although luckily for me our farmhouse was full of love.

The journey to self-awareness Marion goes on is powerful and heart wrenching, the pain she suffered at the hands of her mother, brother and alcoholic emotionally absent father follow her through everything she does even when she doesn’t realize it. As we go on this journey with her, to psychotherapy, hypnotherapy and even a shaman to help her deal with the demons left inside by years of physical and emotional abuse. We finally meet the amazing woman Marion becomes, because of what she has gone through. We see a woman who has come to self-realization, healing and forgiveness and came out of it a better person.

If you were touched by the books Child Called It or The Glass Castle this is a must read.

5 Stars

Full Disclosure- I won this book through Goodreads Giveaway

Mockingjay by, Suzanne Collins~~Review

2010-09-08T08:23:00.002-05:00

Mockingjay by, Suzanne Collins

Wow what a powerful book! It is sad and moving filled with action and sorrow. Katniss has come a long way since the first Hunger Games when she steps up to take her sisters place and goes into the games herself. After she wins the games things go from bad to worse when in Catching Fire she is seen by the Capital as a rebel and the rebel’s have decided she is going to be their poster girl. In Mockingjay Peeta has been kidnapped by the Capital and Katniss and Gale are with the rebel troops in the long forgotten District 13. She agrees to be the rebels Mockingjay but with many conditions including that all the past tributes including Peeta ,who the Capital is using to get to Katniss ,are given immunity.

This book is raw with emotion and beautifully written. The changes that Katniss, Peeta & Gale have gone through are so powerful that you feel so much for them all. This book made me cry and made me think, could this actually happen one day? In our world of reality tv could a show like the Hunger Games happen? This was a great series that will stick with you long after you have finished reading it.

5 Stars

Teaser Tuesday~~Soulless by, Gail Carriger

2010-09-07T11:38:00.004-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

She whacked the vampire right on top of the head with it as he tried to extract himself from his newly intimate relations with the tea trolley.The buckshot gave the brass parasol just enough heft to make a delisiously satisying thunk.
"Manners!" instructed Miss Tarabotti.

~~~Page 3 Soulless by, Gail Carriger

New Books This Week & Upcoming Happenings

2010-09-01T14:47:00.002-05:00

If you are interested in taking an Intro to Computers class give me a call at 947-5540 once we have enough people we'll set the date and time for the class at the participant’s convenience. Also if you are interested in learning about Ancestry Library Edition let me know and we will look into having a class on this.

New Books this Week:
In Adult Fiction:
The Postcard Killers by, James Patterson & Liza Marklund
Private by, James Patterson & Maxine Pietro
Olive Kitteridge by, Elizabeth Strout
Deadly Deals The Sisterhood #16 by, Fern Michaels
Heat Lightning by, John Sandford
Medusa by, Clive Cussler
The Wednesday Sisters by, Meg Waite Clayton
The Elegance of a Hedgehog by, Muriel Barbery
The Plague of Doves by, Louise Erdrich
Murder is Binding by, Lorna Barrett
Misfortune by, Wesley Stace
The Arcanum by, Thomas Wheeler
Adam by, Ted Dekker
Lethal Genes by, Linda Grant
Gravestone by, P.M. Carlson
Heat Wave by, Richard Castle
The Ever-Running Man by, Marcia Muller
The Dogs of Babel by, Carolyn Parkhurst

In Adult Non-Fiction:
Where Men Win Glory by, Jon Krakauer
1776 by, David McCullough
Notes from a Small Island by, Bill Bryson
A New Earth Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by, Eckhart Tolle

In Audio:
Freedom by, Jonathan Franzen
Bones by, Jonathan Kellerman
Critical Condition by, Stephen White
A New Earth Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by, Eckhart Tolle

In Adult Fantasy:
Changeless #2 in the Parasol Protectorate by, Gail Carriger
The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul by, Douglas Adams

In Young Adult:
Mockingjay- the final book of the Hunger Games Trilogy by, Suzanne Collins
Linger #2 in The Wolves of Mercy Falls by, Maggie Stiefvater
The wake of the Lorelei lee Bloody jack #8 by, LA Meyer
Ice by, Sarah Beth Durst
Kit’s Wilderness by, David Almond
Just One Wish by, Janette Rallison

In Juvenile Fiction:
Sebastian Darke Prince of Fools by, Philip Caveney

Teaser Tuesday~~Mockingjay by, Suzanne Collins

2010-08-31T11:41:00.004-05:00

Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer and General Retrospective

2010-08-24T17:28:00.005-05:00

Let’s get this out of the way right now. Artemis Fowl has remained a favorite series of mine for quite some time. As such, I’m always eager for another installment. Before diving into the review, I’d like to touch on a sentiment that will better explain my opinion.

There comes a point in any long-running series, whether it be television, cinema, or literary, when it arrives at a crossroads. No matter which direction it chooses, it’s markedly changed and sometimes quite noticeably so. In enough cases, this is not equivalent to “jumping the shark” which is defined as doing something drastic, and oft times out of character, to spark interest once more with fanbases. Some series handle it quite well, heading in a fresh and inspired direction. Others cling desperately to what made it first popular by trying to outdo itself to the point of being a parody of its former self. Deciding between the former and the latter can quickly turn into a heated discussion.

It’s my humble opinion that the Artemis Fowl series hit that crossroads around the fifth book. That’s when Artemis went “good,” when he acquired a love interest, missed three years of his life without aging, and received the news of now having twin brothers. As a quick note, if any of that spoiled the reader then it’s their own fault. This is a review of the seventh book (and a retrospective of Artemis Fowl in general) and all of that was established before the seventh novel.

Anyway, back to The Atlantis Complex. It opens with Artemis in dire straits, mentally. He’s developed Atlantis Complex, the book’s namesake if you weren’t paying attention. This particular disorder causes the victim to develop obsessive compulsive disorder, paranoia, multiple personalities, and other such pesky symptoms that muck up one’s rational thinking process. This alone was a curious enough hook to draw me in. However, I didn’t find the rest of the novel nearly as compelling. Fowl is a fascinating character because even if he is the protagonist, he’s also played the part of the villain. While the protagonist generally wins by the end of the book, the villain faces defeat. Artemis is both. That element was gone once Artemis turned into a 100% force for good, abandoning his shadier enterprises. I certainly enjoyed Complex but would be remiss if I didn’t mention that the book doesn’t completely focus on its title character, a missed opportunity, and ends half-heartedly. The villain is sympathetic, the Butlers get a few chapters all to themselves, as does a few other supporting characters. A highlight is a section where Fowl is trapped in his own mind, forced to observe his alternate personality and completely helpless to prevent it. The plot is another “save the world” scheme with the Atlantis Complex being taken advantage of from time to time.

I wish I could be more enthused concerning Colfer’s latest effort, but, in all honesty, I can’t. Perhaps it was too radically different from what I was expecting for me to enjoy it properly. I was hoping for a more focused take on Fowl dealing with his mental disease since his intelligence is so integral to the series; it’s almost a separate character. Maybe it was the unsatisfying ending that seemed to only bridge to an inevitable eighth book or the short page length and long waiting period. Whatever the reason, my personal feelings aside, I can still heartily recommend it for readers looking for something with clever writing, excitement, and entertainment. In any case, Atlantis Complex is buoyed by its intriguing plot device that was, unfortunately, not taken full advantage of. Although, I can definitely see that as a focus in the next one, even if it seems less appropriate considering the title of the disease is the title of this particular book. It’s excellent, but doesn’t quite live up to its predecessors. 4 stars

Review by Alisa Heskin

Stop Dressing Your Six-Year-Old Like a Skank And Other Words of Delicate Southern Wisdom by, Celia Rivenbark~~Review

2010-08-22T09:43:00.003-05:00

Stop Dressing Your Six-Year-Old Like a Skank And Other Words of Delicate Southern Wisdom by, Celia Rivenbark

I love love love this woman’s books her humor is so good! She just tells it like it is in the chapter for the title of this book she writes about when her daughter grows up from 4-6x to size 7-16

"There must be some mistake," I said. "These are, well, slutty-looking. I'm talking clothes for a little girl in first grade."

"Thats all we got."

"But these look like things a hooker would wear!"

She smiled sadly. "You have no idea how many times I hear that every day."

I enjoy the way she sees life and agree with her on most of what she writes, I wish I could put it as well as she does! She tackles everything from celebrity moms to the anti-carb movement to bin laden. No subject is safe and Celia Rivenbark will tell it like it is no matter who get offended and I love that about her, like she say I write a humor column not a news story.

If you enjoy humor (i.e. Dave Barry) or the wit and wisdom of your southern outspoken aunt this book is for you al her books are hilarious I highly recommend them when you are looking for a laugh and some light-hearted reading
4 ½ Stars

Teaser Tuesday~~ Just One Wish by, Janette Rallison

2010-08-17T11:45:00.003-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Just One Wish by, Janette Rallison Page 21-"I'll tell you some other time. Right now I want to explain the rules of wishing because you can't wish for more wishes or for the impossible stuff like superpowers.And don't even think about wishing to fly, because my genie is one of those difficult genies, and he might turn you into a bird or something."

Finder by, Emma BullTAB Review

2010-08-11T12:00:00.001-05:00

Finder by, Emma Bull

I have read many books in the past eighteen years of my life. Some of them have been amazing, and some… well let us just say that some deserve to be buried and forgotten. But Finder by, Emma Bull has probably been the most intriguing. The story is set in Bordertown, a place somewhere between the human world and faery where all running from a past or a bleak future seem to wind up. Our main character is Orient. Now Orient isn’t just a regular young man, no Orient has the ability to “find” things. Just ask him where something is and it’s like his brain turns into a dowsing rod pulling him closer and closer to the missing object.

One day while he and his elf partner in crime Tick-Tick are sitting in a restaurant when Sunny Rico, a no-nonsense cop, comes to ask for Orient’s help. It seems that there is a deadly drug promising to turn the taker into faeries trickling its way into the veins of Bordertown. Sunny wants to use orient’s strange ability to track it down. A harrowing tale ensues, filled with tragedy, loss and the breaking down of racial barriers to come to the conclusion that you can only be yourself. You can’t be perfect, and even the things that seem like they are. Fail under closer scrutiny.

I really enjoyed reading this book. What struck me most was the fact that there was this drug being peddled to eliminate the human race, well the ones in Bordertown anyway, trying to make them “perfect” like the faeries. Imperfections have this funny way of most often not be imperfections at all, but traits, habits, and abilities that make us all beautiful and unique individuals.

At a more technical point of view, the book was fairly easy to read, kind of dragged a little bit towards the end and sometimes there was a lot of inner reflection on orient’s part that can get a little confusing to read, but it was understandable because he was supposed to be feeling all this turmoil. Over all Finder was a very satisfying read, so I give it 4 out of 5 Stars.

Sara Schuster

Teaser Tuesday~~Stop Dressing Your Six-Year-Old Like a Skank by, Celia Rivenbark

2010-08-10T11:54:00.004-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Stop Dressing Your Six-Year-Old Like a Skank And Other Words of Delicate Southern Wisdom by, Celia Rivenbark
Page27-
"There must be some mistake," I said. "These are, well, slutty-looking. I'm talking clothes for a little girl in first grade."

"Thats all we got."

"But these look like things a hooker would wear!"

She smiled sadly."You have no idea how many times I hear that every day."

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by, Lola Shoneyin ~~Review

2010-08-09T17:05:00.002-05:00

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by, Lola Shoneyin
Summary-The story of a polygamous husband and his four very different wives. For Baba Segi, his collection of wives and gaggle of children are a symbol of prosperity, success, and a validation of his manhood. All is well in this patriarchal home until Baba arrives with wife number four: a quiet, college-educated, young woman named Bolanle. Jealous and resentful of this interloper who is stealing their husband’s attention, Baba Segi’s three wives begin to plan her downfall. How dare she offer to teach them to read, they whisper. They vow to teach her a lesson instead. What they don’t know is that Bolanle hides a terrible secret: a secret that unwittingly exposes the deception and lies upon Baba Segi’s household rests.

My Review:
This books setting was new to me I don’t think I’ve read any fiction from Africa. This is the story of Baba Segi and his 4 wives and their children. His newest wife Bolanle has not been welcomed with open arms by is other wives. In fact they make life downright miserable for her.

There were times in this story where I was a bit confused as to who was talking. It changed POV very often and wasn’t always clear who the new narrator was.
Other than that I liked this book it was a good story even though I figured out ‘the secret’ before the people in the book did. It was quite the comeuppance for these wives after all the hurt they had caused Bolanle and others.

When I requested this book I thought it was historical fiction but it is set in modern times I don’t know enough about the setting to know if plural wives are common place or even if they are legal. But this was a very interesting story of the lives of this family.

I would recommend this book it is a good story even though I didn’t like a lot of the people in it as they are all extremely flawed by their past. I however did like the story and would read others by this author.

3 ½ Stars (This book would have been 4 stars if it was less confusing by the changing POV)

Full Disclosure: I received this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program

Betrayed By: P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

2010-08-09T12:49:00.004-05:00

First I've gotta say that this is probably one of the greatest books I've read all summer.

Summary: So After getting Aphrodite kicked out of the Dark Daughters Zoey is put in charge of them. She starts her leadership by making huge changes to the Daughter's ways. Then while still in a world wind of excitement from their success one of her best friends dies. As if that wasn't enough for a young fledgling to handle an evil being has started to kidnap football players from her old school. So when he ex-almost-boyfriend Heath goes missing she and her friends have to fight evil which is coming from the most unexpected source of all.

Review: Wow! The authors of this book have really made an amazing story. I never even wanted to put it down. It really kept me guessing.

4 1/2 stars

Dragongirl by, Todd McCaffrey~~Review

2010-08-06T13:01:00.001-05:00

Dragongirl by, Todd McCaffrey

This book continues the story of Fiona, T’Mar, Lorana & Kindan and their fight to save the dragons. I couldn’t put it down the first 200 pages flew by then it slowed a bit. This is a sad book the Weyrs don’t have enough dragons to fly thread so there are a lot of injuries and deaths in this book , one that almost made me cry (No Spoilers).

There is a lot of drama and action Fiona is one amazing weyrwoman she fights to keep the moral up when some just think everything is lost. Which this book seems to say at times. I hope this story arc is not the end of the Pern series. The blurb at the end says that Anne will be writing the next book with Todd to join him in the final drama of his tale of Pern. I sure hope that it’s just this storyline and not all of Pern that is ending!

I really enjoyed this book it was like going back to see old friends you have missed. These characters are well written fully fleshed out. I just did not like the cliffhanger ending but if that is the worst thing I can say about it then I would say I loved it!

4 ½ Stars

Library Used Book Sale

2010-08-04T11:34:00.000-05:00

Blue Bloods:Keys to the Repository by, Melissa De Le Cruz~Review

2010-07-28T08:32:00.002-05:00

Keys to the Repository by, Melissa De La Cruz

This is a great companion to the Blue Bloods Series! I loved the backstory on all the characters and cannot wait for Wolf Pact and Misguided Angels.

It was really interesting to get the little snippets of stories from a different point of view and the between the books insight.

The thing I like about this series is the premise, it is fresh and innovative and a great take on history. And this book gave us (fans of the Blue Bloods Series) even more to chew on while we wait for the next book and the new spin-off series with Bliss.

I liked the humor some of the records have like in Kingsley’s records where he puts in how gorgeous he is and Renfield believes the records are tampered with then an aside by Kingsley to say yes indeed he did tamper with them.

I do however wish the map on pages 162 & 163 would have been a one-page map as it is hard to read with the crease in the middle of it.

All in all this is a great companion to the series even if only to refresh your memory of what has happened in the previous books.

4 Stars

Teaser Tuesday

2010-07-27T11:18:00.005-05:00

Since I've been on vacation and missed a few weeks I have three teasers today!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Sizzling Sixteen by, Janet Evanovich-Page 19-“Holy Bejeezus,” Lula said, eyes bugged out, looking at the building.”This is scaring the crap out of me. This is like where Dracula would live if he didn’t have money and was a crackhead. I bet it’s filled with rabid bats and killer snakes and hairy spiders as big as dinner plates.”

Keys to the Repository by, Melissa De La Cruz Page 26- Schuyler's birth was a flagrant violation of the Code on her mother's part, and the conclave has not yet come to a formal decision on her fate.

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by, Lola Shoneyin- Page5-"Baba Segi, I think you should drag her to a medicine man if she doesn't follow you.You are the husband and she is a mere wife, and a fourth one at that!

The Quickening by, Michelle Hoover

2010-07-03T09:14:00.002-05:00

The Quickening by, Michelle Hoover 7/2/2010
Description-A debut novel of an epic feud, marked by violence and retribution, between two neighboring farm matriarchs during the Great Depression.

Enidina Current and Mary Morrow live on neighboring farms in the flat, hard country of the upper Midwest during the early 1900's. This hard-scrabble life comes easy to some, like Eddie, who has never wanted more than the land she works and the animals she raises on it with her husband Frank. But for the deeply religious Mary, farming is an awkward living and at odds with her more cosmopolitan inclinations. Still, Mary creates a clean and orderly home life for her stormy husband Jack and her sons, while she adapts to the isolation of a rural town through the inspiration of a local preacher. She is the first to befriend Eddie in a relationship that will prove rugged. Despite having little in common, Eddie and Mary need one another for survival and companionship more than they let on. But as the Great Depression threatens, the delicate balance of their reliance on one another tips, pitting neighbor against neighbor, exposing the secrets they hide from one another, and triggering a series of disquieting events that threaten to unravel not only their friendship but their families as well

My Review-
This not a happy book it is dark and thought provoking. It is beautifully written and almost has a gothic feel to it. It is set somewhere in the Midwest (I am from North Dakota so in my mind that is where this took place) and spans from 1913-1950 and tells the story of Enidina & Mary neighbors on the plains yet different in every way. I don’t think these women were ever friends. Enidina is a hardworking farmer‘s wife who grew up with brothers on her family farm so is no stranger to hard work. Mary is a soft woman who really does not know who she is and I didn’t like her very much. I liked Enidina she had a good character and she was a good person. The story goes through their lives from children, to the great depression to all the major things that happen in the span of a life.

I liked this book, though it is a dark study into the human character. There were times when it had the same feel as The Reliable Wife which is a book that really stays with you after you’re done and this book is definitely one of those books. I liked the two different viewpoints because it really showed you how different these women are, which I don’t think it would have been as good with only one persons point of view.
Highly Recommend!
4 Stars
Full Disclosure I recieved this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program

Teaser Tuesday~~The Quickening by, Michelle Hoover

2010-06-29T11:10:00.003-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Quickening by, Michelle Hoover This is a long teaser but I wanted to give a better feel than just one line.
Page 8-I had no sisters to speak of. Had only my mother now and three brothers, gone off to have families of their own. Though I'd tried for friendship, their wives never cared much for the youngest sister who worked with the men in the barn. But women had never liked the look of me. Saw something fierce in my size and roughness. Mary seemed no different. That grimace of hers, it was just the start.

Audio Book Week Wrap-Up Recommendations

2010-06-25T11:18:00.003-05:00

Jen over at Devourer of Books has done such a wonderful job putting this week together its been fun!
Today she's asking for recommendations which I have kind of done all week but will add a few to the ones I've already mentioned.

Right now I am enjoying the audio's of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy- the first one was read by, Stephen Fry and from there they are read by, Martin Freeman who played Arthur Dent in the movie they are still good but I did enjoy Stephen Fry's narration better.

I also enjoyed-The Help & The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society which are multi-voiced and really drew you in.

If you like Mysteries I enjoy Diana Mott Davidson's Goldy Bear Series Read by, Barbara Rosenblat
Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch read by, Len Cariou
Lisa Scottoline's Rosato & Associates Read by, Kate Burton
Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware series read by, John Rubenstein

One of the funniest I have listened to and was read very well by the author was Belle Weather Mostly Sunny with a Scattered Chance of Hissy Fits by, Celia Rivenbark

The Hunger Games & Catching Fire by, Suzanne Collins Read by, Carolyn McCormick were very good

Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie read by, Jayne Entwistle was another good one

And of Course the Graveyard Book read by, Neil Gaiman & Anansi Boys read by, Lenny Henry

As I have said before my all-time favorite is The Outlander Series read by, Davina Porter

If you've never tried audiobooks give them a try pick from the lists of favorites in this and everyone else's meme's

Audio Book Week Day #3

2010-06-23T11:36:00.002-05:00

Jen over at Devourer of Books made a quick and easy post for the middle of the week, just a short meme.

Audiobook are you currently reading/you read most recently: I just finished “Just Take My heart” now listening to “In The Company of the Courtesan”

Impressions?: Just Take My heart was good well and read and In the Company of the Courtesan has taken some time for me to get into the narration is good and the story is finally picking up.

How long you’ve been listening to audiobooks: I’d guess 3 years

First audiobook you ever listened to: Wow hmm my guess would be something by, Jonathan Kellerman read by, John Rubenstein

Favorite audiobook title: That’s a hard one too my favorites have been
The Outlander Series read by, Davina Porter-
The Help was a great multi-voiced production-
The Shadow of the Wind read by, Jonathan Davis-
And of course The Stephanie Plum Series read by, Lorelei King-
Anything by Jonathan Kellerman read by,John Rubenstein

Favorite narrator: My favorite has to be Davina Porter she really brings the Outlander series to life and even when I read the actual books I hear her voice!

How do you choose what to listen to versus read? Depends on my mood and what I can get my hands on, but I always try to be listening to one genre and reading another so I don’t confuse myself

The Cold Light of Mourning by, Elizabeth J. Duncan~~Review

2010-06-23T11:19:00.001-05:00

The Cold Light of Mourning by, Elizabeth J. Duncan

This was a good cozy mystery and a great start to what will hopefully be a series. I liked that Penny & Victoria, our amateur detectives, are not the town busybodies and into everyone’s business they are just everyday ladies that happen to figure things out.

The set-up for this is a bride disappears the day of her wedding has she runaway or has something happened to her. Penny & Victoria seem to be able to figure a few things out and tell the police who are happy to have the help since murders rarely happen in this quaint little Welsh town. Penny is also dealing with the recent death of her best friend and I enjoyed the budding friendship between her and Victoria and this first death really humanized Penny for me.

The cast of characters are well thought out and the actual town busybody Mrs. Lloyd is always a step behind. There is a bit of romance towards the end but it is a nice mature courting going on which I enjoyed.

Overall I enjoyed this book I think it’s a good first novel and look forward to reading more by this author!
4 Stars

Audiobook Week Discussion #2

2010-06-22T15:23:00.000-05:00

How to Write an Audiobook Review – Audiobook Week Discussion #2

I like how Jen at Devourer of Books stated it so check out her site.

As for me I guess I usually just review the book itself the majority of the time not even mentioning that I listened to it on audio. The times I do mention it is usually if the narration was very good or very bad.
As stated over at Devourer of Books and in the comments made on the page a person really should put a little something at the end to talk about the narrator and/or production value. I will have to do that more often. I listen to so many audio books but yet there are only a handful of narrators I know by name. I think it would be worth my time to add more about the audio side of the book in my reviews. Even if it’s just to help me keep track of which narrators I liked and which I didn’t.

Audio Book Week

2010-06-21T13:06:00.001-05:00

It’s Audio Book Week
Today’s Topic is Why Audio Books?

I love audio books I listen to them all the time when I’m in the shower, doing dishes, driving, cleaning etc. My favorite audio books are the Outlander Series by, Diana Gabaldon read by, Davina Porter. I enjoy all genre’s of audio as I do in paper book reading my favorite genre’s to listen to on audio are Historical Fiction and anything that is humorous. I like listening to historical fiction because if they are set in other countries you get the accents and pronunciations that you may miss when reading them.

There are people out there that say audiobooks don’t count as “reading” which I personally think is ridicules because the content is exactly the same I am just absorbing it in a different way.

My Favorite Audio are:

In Historical Fiction-
The Shadow of the Wind by, Carlos Ruiz Zafron Narrated by, Jonathan Davis
The Help by, Kathryn Stocket Narrated by Multiple Voices

In Humorous/Chicklit/Fiction:
The Stephanie Plum Series by, Janet Evanovich Narrated by, Lorelei King
The Bad Behavior of Belle Cantrell by, Loraine Despres Narrated by, Zoe Thomas

In Mystery:

Anything by, Michael Connelly Narrated by, Len Cariou
Anything by, Jonathan Kellerman Narrated by, John Rubenstein

I really enjoy when books are in a series that it be the same narrator for all of them.

Tomorrow we will be discussing How to Write an Audiobook Review.

And thanks to Devourer of Books for the great ideas- Check out her website for some great audio giveaways

Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

2010-06-18T14:38:00.002-05:00

This book is a decent mystery novel. The beginning is really slow and takes forever to build up to the "meat" of the plot. I believe I was over half done before I truly understood what was going on. Once the book started to get interesting, it was quite good. Because it was a slow read i give it 3 out of 5 stars.

Teaser Tuesday~~Just Take My Heart by, Mary Higgins Clark

2010-06-15T16:49:00.005-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"I see in her statement that Mrs.Mills talked about Natalie's roomate,Jamie Evans, being murdered in Central Park fifteen years before Natalie died.You asked her if she thought there could be any connection to this?"

~~Just Take My Heart by, Mary Higgins Clark Page 27

The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by, Alan Bradley ~~Review

2010-06-05T08:22:00.003-05:00

The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by, Alan Bradley

Synopsis
From Dagger Award–winning and internationally bestselling author Alan Bradley comes this utterly beguiling mystery starring one of fiction’s most remarkable sleuths: Flavia de Luce, a dangerously brilliant eleven-year-old with a passion for chemistry and a genius for solving murders. This time, Flavia finds herself untangling two deaths—separated by time but linked by the unlikeliest of threads.

Flavia thinks that her days of crime-solving in the bucolic English hamlet of Bishop’s Lacy are over—and then Rupert Porson has an unfortunate rendezvous with electricity. The beloved puppeteer has had his own strings sizzled, but who’d do such a thing and why? For Flavia, the questions are intriguing enough to make her put aside her chemistry experiments and schemes of vengeance against her insufferable big sisters. Astride Gladys, her trusty bicycle, Flavia sets out from the de Luces’ crumbling family mansion in search of Bishop’s Lacey’s deadliest secrets.

Does the madwoman who lives in Gibbet Wood know more than she’s letting on? What of the vicar’s odd ministrations to the catatonic woman in the dovecote? Then there’s a German pilot obsessed with the Brontë sisters, a reproachful spinster aunt, and even a box of poisoned chocolates. Most troubling of all is Porson’s assistant, the charming but erratic Nialla. All clues point toward a suspicious death years earlier and a case the local constables can’t solve—without Flavia’s help. But in getting so close to who’s secretly pulling the strings of this dance of death, has our precocious heroine finally gotten in way over her head?

My Review:
Flavia reminds me of an amalgamation of Pippi Longstockings and the best of all teen detectives! I wish these books had been out when I was in high school because Flavia makes chemistry interesting!

Flavia is Precocious, humorous and a Genius a somewhat scary genius at times but one none the less. I saw an interview on Library Thing with Alan Bradley where he was asked how he imagines Flavia as an adult and he said either the world’s greatest Chemist or the World’s Greatest Criminal Poisoner and I have to agree with him there!

Flavia is believable because people tell her things without even realizing they have done so because she is a child they let their guard down.

This was a great story, it kept me guessing and I didn’t figure it out till Flavia did so that’s a great mystery!

I can’t wait for the next installment in this series!
4 ½ Stars

Beautiful Malice by, Rebecca James~~Review

2010-05-26T08:51:00.002-05:00

Beautiful Malice by, Rebecca James
Release Date:7/13/2010
Description:So. Were you glad, deep down? Were you glad to be rid of her? Your perfect sister? Were you secretly glad when she was killed?

Following a terrible tragedy that leaves her once-perfect family shattered, Katherine Patterson moves to a new city, starts at a new school, and looks forward to a new life of quiet anonymity.

But when Katherine meets the gregarious and beautiful Alice Parrie her resolution to live a solitary life becomes difficult. Katherine is unable resist the flattering attention that Alice pays her and is so charmed by Alice’s contagious enthusiasm that the two girls soon become firm friends. Alice’s joie de vivre is transformative; it helps Katherine forget her painful past and slowly, tentatively, Katherine allows herself to start enjoying life again.

But being friends with Alice is complicated – and as Katherine gets to know her better she discovers that although Alice can be charming and generous she can also be selfish and egocentric. Sometimes, even, Alice is cruel.

And when Katherine starts to wonder if Alice is really the kind of person she wants as a friend, she discovers something else about Alice - she doesn’t like being cast off.

My Review:
I couldn’t put this book down! I had to keep reading this story grabs you from the first line and doesn’t let you go!
The Characters are great and the writing truly makes you feel their pain and happiness. I did figure Alice out early on but it didn’t stop me from being enthralled in this book and its characters. Alice will keep you guessing you know from the beginning that something awful is going to happen with her and that adds to the tension of the book. Our protagonist is Katherine and she is dealing with the death of her sister and is trying to figure out how to live with the grief and guilt of the whole situation. She is a character full of raw emotion and I felt for her the whole way through. The supporting cast is also great you feel for Robbie and yell at him to run away run away. But I’ve seen people in situations like this who stay with people who treat them bad and keep going back for more so for me it was very true to life.

I enjoyed the ending and was glad it worked out that way after everything these characters had been through.
This is a great psychological thriller I would recommend to Young Adults and Adults alike!

4 ½ Stars

Full Disclosure- I received this book through Librarything Early Reviewers Program-Thank-You!

Teaser Tuesday~~Beautiful Malice by, Rebecca James

2010-05-25T12:13:00.004-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

ARC Page Number may change-Page 20-
She is dead.
Why we should need to wallow in reality, relive it again and again, poke and prod and examine it until our eyes are bleeding, our hearts crushed with horror and inconceivable sadness of it, is beyond me.

This is an Early Reviewer Book from Librarything Release Date 8/31/2010-As of right now I'm having a hard time putting it down!

Queen Victoria Demon Hunter by, A.E. Moorat~~Review

2010-05-22T20:04:00.002-05:00

Queen Victoria Demon Hunter by, A.E. Moorat
Description:There were many staff at Kensington Palace, fulfilling many roles; a man who was employed to catch rats, another whose job it was to sweep the chimneys. That there was someone expected to hunt Demons did not shock the new Queen; that it was to be her was something of a surprise.

London, 1838. Queen Victoria is crowned; she receives the orb, the scepter, and an arsenal of blood-stained weaponry. Because if Britain is about to become the greatest power of the age, there's the small matter of the demons to take care of first... But rather than dreaming of demon hunting, it is Prince Albert who occupies her thoughts. Can she dedicate her life to saving her country when her heart belongs elsewhere?

With lashings of glistening entrails, decapitations, and foul demons, this masterly new portrait will give a fresh understanding of a remarkable woman, a legendary monarch, and quite possibly the best Demon Hunter the world has ever seen...

A. E. Moorat weaves a seamlessly lurid tapestry of royal biography, gothic horror and fist-gnawing comedy as he lifts the veil on what really took place on the dark and cobbled streets of 19th-century England.

My Review:This was a fun book if a bit gory at times.It is very camp and humorous.
Set in the time of Queen Victoria and there are demons and zombies running around .
Queen Victoria is a pretty tough demon hunter, she can swing an ax with the best of them. I also liked the fact that the head of her Protektors is a woman and the best on her team is also a woman.This Queen Victoria is no girly girl she doesn't take crap from anyone and has a mind of her own!
The Supporting characters are great Quimby & Perkins will make you laugh.
The last 100 pages were filled with action and the ending makes you wonder if there will be another one,although the story is wrapped up well.
All in all a fun romp.
3 1/2 Stars

Full Disclosure:I recieved this from Goodreads Giveway Thank-you!

TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY ~~ Review

2010-05-15T23:34:00.003-05:00

"Hello, boys and girls. Hannah Baker here. Live and in stereo...No return engagements. No encore. And this time absolutely no requests...I hope you're ready, because I'm about to tell you the story of my life. More specifically, why my life ended. And if you're listening to one of these tapes, you're one of the reasons why...I'm not saying which tape brings you into the story. But fear not, if you received this lovely little box, your name will pop up...I promise."

That's how Side A of Cassete #1 begins. Of what, you ask? Of the audiotapes that a girl named Hannah Baker left behind after her suicide. Two weeks later, those tapes ended up on Clay Jensen's porch, a boy who happened to have a crush on Hannah before she swallowed a handful of pills.
There are 7 tapes in all, 13 sides, each side describing one of the reasons why Hannah ended her life; and one map, with red stars on places that were relevant to those reasons. Using the tapes and the map, in one night Clay Jensen journeys through his town and becomes a witness to Hannah's pain and learns the truth about himself and twelve other people who are now connected forever by the tapes.

Some of the things discussed in this book aren't really for kids 13 or under, or might just be above their heads. Besides that, this book still gets 5/5 for being amazing.

review by katie gisi *****

Dead in the Family by, Charlaine Harris~~Review

2010-05-15T09:09:00.001-05:00

Dead in the Family by, Charlaine Harris

I enjoyed this addition to the Sookie Stackhouse series. I liked that Sookie was dealing with the events from the last book and it wasn’t swept under the rug. I was glad to see her and Jason getting closer again and acting more like brother and sister and to see Jason “growing up”.

Its kind of funny even though I have watched the True Blood Series I still see the people I’ve always seen in my head and not the characters from the show because “my Sookie” is different, which isn’t a bad thing it just kind of struck me while reading this.

I liked the growing relationship with Eric and how it is feeling more real and not just because of the blood bond or fairy attraction.

The whole storyline with Bill seemed a little rushed almost like an afterthought. It was like oh ya I suppose I need to write Bill in somehow. I hope there will be more to that story in the next book.

There was a lot less action in this one than in previous books but after what Sookie went through in the last book it was a good thing it was more character driven than action driven.

All in all another good book in this series.

3 ½ Stars

Teaser Tuesday~~Dead in the Family by, Charlaine Harris

2010-05-11T11:28:00.004-05:00

Allon Book 1 by, Shawn Lamb~~Review

2010-05-10T09:59:00.003-05:00

Book Description: The land of Allon was a paradise until the fall of the Guardians paved the way for the rise of the Dark Way. Evil King Marcellus now controls the land as his forefathers did, with an iron fist and the help of the evil spirit, Dagar. But an ancient prophecy speaks of a time to come when the Guardians will return and Allon will be restored--lead by its rightful heir. All the while, the exiled teenage Promised Prince, Ellis, must prove himself worthy to be king through a series of supernatural trials that test his character, wisdom, courage, and his heart.
The first in the Allon series, this magical tale of adventure, destiny, and faith will test your strength and awaken your spirit of adventure.

My Review:
This was a good young adult fantasy but I would probably market it, as YA/Christian/Fantasy.There is a definite Christian feel to this book, which I don't normally enjoy although I did enjoy this book. I did however find it had way to many characters and it was hard to keep track of them all.

It is an epic battle of good and evil to save the “country” of Allon. The rightful King of Allon Ellis and the Daughter of Allon are to rule under the protection of Jo’Rel (God) with the help of the Guardians they are to battle the sitting King Marcellus who is using the Dark Ways of Dagar (The Devil) to stay on the throne. They talk a lot about a Great Battle in the past and I wish there would have been a prologue telling us a little more about that battle and who was who in it. Maybe then all the characters wouldn’t have been so confusing it felt like the author introduced a new character every page and you weren’t sure which ones you needed to remember for later. This may have been a 4 star book other than the fact of too many characters and it needs to be marketed as Christian fiction. I did like this book well enough to read the next book in this series.

I would recommend this book to Young Adults, Fantasy Lovers, and Christian Fiction Readers.
3 1/2 Stars

Full Disclosure: I received this book from the author

New Rockford Public Library

Catch Me by, Lisa Gardner~~Review

Sorry about the Mix-up in the Transcript!

Divergent by, Veronica Roth~Review

Prophet's Prey: My Seven-Year Investigation into Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints by Sam Brower ~~Review

The Weird Sisters by, Eleanor Brown~~Review

Our Librarian's Favorite Books of 2011

The Winter Sea by,Susanna Kearsley~~Review

Variant (Variant #1) by Robison Wells ~~Review

Ashfall by, Mike Mullins~~Review

Snowflower and the Secret Fan by, Lisa See~~Nov.Book Club Pick

We All Wore Stars: Memories of Anne Frank from Her Classmates~~Review

Woman in Black by, Susan Hill~~Review

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs ~Review

Cut By:Patricia McCormick

The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai Audiobook ~~Review

Bloodroot by, Amy Greene~~Review

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay~~Review

The Distant Hours by, Kate Morton~~Review

Ingenue (The Flappers #2) by Jillian Larkin~~Review

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by, Helen Simonson ~~Review

The Art of Racing in the Rain by, Garth Stein~~Review

The Call of the Wild and White Fang by Jack London

The Legacy by, Katherine Webb~~Review

Save Me by, Lisa Scottoline~~Review

Library Brunch July 3rd

Smokin' Seventeen by, Janet Evanovich~~Review

The Art Thief by Noah Charney

Ranger"s Apprentice Book One~ John Flanagan

Announcing The Libri Grant Books

New Books & Library Happenings

The Bird Sisters by, Rebecca Rasmussen~~Review

National Library Week Celebration

The Forgotten Garden by, Kate Morton~~Review

I Am Number Four By: Pittacus Lore

The Peach Keeper by, Sarah Addison Allen~~Review

2011 Books to Movies

Climbing the Stair By: Padma Venkatraman

Madame Tussaud:A Novel of the French Revolution by, Michelle Moran

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man by, Fannie Flagg~~Review

The Sherlockian by, Graham Moore~~Review

The Nobodies Album by, Carolyn Parkhurst~~Review

Revolution by, Jennifer Donnelly~~Review

New Books This Week

The Replacement By: Brenna Yovanoff

Room by,Emma Donoghue~~Review

The Eyre Affair by, Jasper Fforde~~Review

Arthur & George by Julian Barnes

A Ring of Endless Light By: Madeline L'Engle

New Books This Week

The Kitchen House by, Kathleen Grissom~~Review

Heat Wave by Richard Castle

The Beast of Noor

Black Horses For The King By: Anne McCaffrey

If Wishes Were Horses By Anne McCaffery

Happy Thanksgiving!

Vixen by, Jillian Larkin~~Review

Keeper of the Keys by, Janny Wurts-Audiobook~~Review

Wolf Hall by, Hilary Mantel ~~Review

The Hob's Bargain Patricia Briggs

The Wolving Time by Patrick Jennings

One Crazy Summer by, Rita Williams-Garcia Audiobook Review

New Books & Library Happenings

Salting Roses: A Novel by Lorelle Marinello~~Review

Stormwarden by, Janny Wurts~~Review

The Looking Glass Wars (Audio) by, Frank Beddor~~Review

The Wake of Forgivenss by, Bruce Machart~~Review

Little Madhouse on the Prairie by, Marion Elizabeth Witte~~Review

Mockingjay by, Suzanne Collins~~Review

Teaser Tuesday~~Soulless by, Gail Carriger

New Books This Week & Upcoming Happenings

Teaser Tuesday~~Mockingjay by, Suzanne Collins

Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer and General Retrospective

Stop Dressing Your Six-Year-Old Like a Skank And Other Words of Delicate Southern Wisdom by, Celia Rivenbark~~Review

Teaser Tuesday~~ Just One Wish by, Janette Rallison

Finder by, Emma Bull~~TAB Review~~

Teaser Tuesday~~Stop Dressing Your Six-Year-Old Like a Skank by, Celia Rivenbark

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by, Lola Shoneyin ~~Review

Betrayed By: P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Finder by, Emma BullTAB Review