Saturday, January 27, 2007

Thanksgiving by Janet Evanovich

I finished this book this morning but I had to work so now I am finally posting the review. :)

Megan Murphy was content in her life till she sees a bunny come up to her and start nibbling on her skirt. His owner soon follows and the owner yells at her for letting the bunny nibble on the skirt. This perplexes Megan but she decides to let it go until a day later when the bunny is hopping down the street again and this time finds out where the owner Patrick Hunter lives so she can return the bunny. Patrick is so surprised to see her but then a young woman bursts into his house and hands him a baby. It turns out that the baby named Timmy Coogan is left with Patrick and Megan for what seems forever. The mother Tilly leaving Timmy with Patrick since he is a pediatrician and feels she can trust him. They work together to take care of the little guy slowly falling in love with him. They work on plans for a traditional thanksgiving. But will the pretend life end or will Patrick finally get what he wants a wife and a family?

This is the third book that I have read by Janet Evanovich and they just seem to keep getting better. She just makes her characters come so alive and I just enjoy them so much. I feel a part of the lives of the characters in her stories. The setting for this story may not be all that unique but I found myself laughing at adjusting to a new baby. I had some of the some experiences myself with my son when he was a baby.

Megan was a wonderful woman. It never eluded to whether she was Irish or not but she sure had the red head temper. Oh she made me laugh. Patrick could be a dream for a lot of women. Smart, funny, and loves kids even though that is part of his career. The passion between them had me running for water at times but even Patrick could be a true gentleman and keep things at a slow pace when asked to do so. Megan had such a hard time learning to care for little Timmy. I could relate cause at first with my son I had a few mistakes made. I didn’t end up with quite so much food on me as she did in her hair. I could also relate to the fact that a couple of relationships I had before I met my husband to be left me wanting to take a break from men. I didn’t take it quite to the extremes she did but then her circumstances were a little different than my life.

I would rate this book a 5/5 because it really touched my heart. I enjoyed the journey that Patrick and Megan took together with Timmy. I also found the feelings between Megan and Patrick wonderful. I had a difficult time putting the book down and found it to be a quick because I didn’t want to put it down. I read this a little out of season but I loved the story. It is a great book to read and I am definitely planning on reading more by Janet Evanovich.

Well off to finish the review for Night Visions by Ariana Dupre. :)

Friday, January 26, 2007

Open Season by Archer Mayor

I enjoyed this book!

Joe Gunther is a Lieutenant on the Brattleboro Vermont Police Force. He gets a call about a shooting and it turns out there is a connection between the shooter and the victim. They both served on a case three years ago where a black man was convicted of killing a white woman. The problem is that the man does not remember committing the crime but he was sent to prison anyways. More inconsistencies pop up along the way as the members of the jury are attacked one by one, and Joe is wondering if he should open up a can of worms by looking into the case. No one at the station is too happy about it especially his superior Frank. But as a man known only as Ski Mask keeps committing the crimes, Joe realizes he had to do everything in his power to not only figure out what really happened in that case but to find out who Ski Mask is and to stop him.

This is my first book by Archer Mayor but certainly won’t be my last. I picked up this book because he is the author of the month for my yahoo-reading group. I love trying out new authors and this is the best way to do it in my humble opinion. I found his writing to be concise and clear. I love that! There were twists and turns that left me hanging. I thought the book was pretty accurate even though it was published in 1988. Yeah there are more high tech ways of finding out answers when it comes to DNA etc, but I thought that he did a really good job.

Joe Gunther would be a man I would want on my side. This guy does not do anything unless he feels the need. He is also someone you do not want to cross and get on his bad list. He is tough and pushes himself sometimes too far but in his defense they were trying to capture a killer and well there is no timeline of how to do that in real life even. Frank was my other favorite character cause he really seemed to know Joe not just cause they were co-workers but friends and fellow soldiers. Their camaraderie really impressed me. The other minor characters like Stan Katz were cool though at times really annoying. Wally Kunkle needed to really calm down and learn to take deep breaths. Yeah he was one of the people involved in the original case but he was just too uptight for me. I found all the characters to be real. I have even known people like that in real life.

I give this book a 4/5 because while it was a good story I didn’t find it unique. But I know this is the first in a series so I am excited to see where Joe Gunther goes as a character and how he develops. If you like crime thrillers, I highly recommend it. It is definitely a book to check out and read for yourself.

Now onto reading Thanksgiving by Janet Evanovich. Oh the other book I read The Spirit of Christmas. I hope to share the review with you soon. I will post a link to it. If I already stated this lol well I am sory. My mind is not all here today. Well off to a chad allen movie called What Matters Most. :)

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

First Impressions by Nora Roberts

This was a good one!

Shane Abbot is trying to start her life over after the loss of her grandma. She wants to open up a museum and Antique shop but not sure she will be able to accomplish it on her own in time. She seeks out the help of her new neighbor Vance Bannings who is just trying to get away from it all. She believes he is an out of work carpenter but there is much more to this man than she could ever imagine. They start a friendship and but Shane is determined to get Vance to fall in love with her. But will she get her wish?

Nora Roberts is a fantastic writer and I enjoy every book I read by her. She is able to really put feelings not just words into her stories. How she can write so many stories amazes me. She is a truly prolific writer in that she can make you feel like you are really there in the story. She can make you cry and the next minute make you laugh. There is real passion between her characters and you can tell it is just not an animal heat. Though that is part of some of the book as well but there is substance to the characters.

I really loved Shane in this story. She is such a sweet girl but do not get off on the wrong foot with her. Boy does she show her temper then. I also appreciated why Vance wanted to get away from everything in his life. He needed some space and he was trying to figure out who he really is as a person. Though I don’t think he figured in a beautiful girl next door who needed his help. I found the characters in this book very believable because money doesn’t mean much after awhile. You want something more to life than just that. Shane is a smart girl who wants to be loved since her past experience hasn’t been so great. She knows there is more to life and wants to enjoy every minute of it. I could relate to Shane because there is so much to see and do in life that the last thing you need to be worried about is money.

This book is considered a Holiday book but I think it could be read any time of the year especially when there is snow. It was a wonderful story. I give it a 4/5 because it is a touching story but there are so many of them out there it’s hard to see what is special about all of them. This one is special and it is very well written. I couldn’t put it down. It really touched my heart and I wish there could be more written about those two but I know that I won’t get everything that I want. I recommend this book to all the romantics out there because this one is really good and a quick read to boot!

I have finished another book yesterday called The Spirit of Christmas by Cindy K. Green. I reviewed it for a new group I am involved in. I really liked it and you can find it on http://www.bygracepublishing.com I have to go read another book called Night Visions by Ariana Dupre for the same group. But first a nap!

Monday, January 22, 2007

Blood on the River by Elisa Carbone

Here is my review:
Samuel Collier is a poor boy that gets sent to Virginia with Captain John Smith and others. His story is what Jamestown went through from 1607 through 1609. The hardships, the struggles, and even the peace are true to what really happened. The story is seen through the experiences of Samuel.

Elisa Carbone is an amazing writer not to have only done the research in order to write this book but to know that it needed to be done. There are so many books about this topic and this one I really felt came close to what actually happened. I was impressed with her writing style and her blunt honesty. There were a lot of instances where she had to change a few facts. But the main part of the story was all taken from journals not only written by John Smith but other settlers. Things can be skewed at times but I really believe she did the best possible work that she could with the information she had. I was thoroughly impressed with how well the book turned out and how it stayed true to fact. Yes, it is a fiction book because you have to write a story with and change few things to make it interesting. If it were a non-fiction book, it would be more precise with facts and figures. It might not be as enjoyable as this book was for me.

Samuel Collier was a real person and that is what I must not forget. The Virginia Company had one thing in mind to be rich to the point that they kept sending people over there without telling them the truth of how hard it was to live in that area. I knew that there were selfish people during that time but I couldn’t believe how far they took it and because of it how many people were lost. That was what upset me the most is the greed that was there and how they were willing to let anything happen just to fulfill it. It also saddened me because they weren’t willing to work with all the different tribes of Indians to make it a better community.

This is one rare book I give it a 5/5. Not only did I feel like I was there but I felt all the emotions Samuel felt from the beginning of the book to the last sentence. I wish more people would feel like doing the research because the books would be better written and as close to reality as you can get with there being numerous accounts. I am pleased with what Elisa Carbone did and I plan on writing her to tell her so. This book will be with me for a long time and I plan on owning it so that I can share it with my son so he can have a better sense of what happened.

Now onto reading something else. :) I hope to be able to tell you about it once I have finished it. :)

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Lisey's Story by Stephen King

I just finished this book this morning so here is my review:

Lisey Landon has to go through her husband’s papers in his writing room. But there are quite a few people who would love to own stuff that Scott Landon never published and more. Some people get down right mean about it. Scott had always told her about a place he would go to escape and she had even gone there a few times. But she never could imagine how much that place would help her in her life. She also has to help her sister Amanda who in turn eventually helps her out.

This is my first Stephen King novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes at times it got pretty creepy and pretty gory. But I found that Mr. King’s descriptions brought everything to life for me. I had always heard that he was an amazing writer and I saw that in the pages of this book. I really enjoyed the stuff that Lisey found that Scott had written so you could get the picture of what happened through his way of telling things. Now things got pretty vivid at times but I could see that coming and was able to get through the parts that were a little scary to me. One of the main reasons I picked this one up is because it dealt with a writer and the place he would go to do some of that writing. At times, I can even say that I dipped into a pool like the one talked about in the book.

The character that stood out to me was Lisey. She had so much work to do and was not sure she would be able to complete it. Once, she finally got some help that was needed the job was easier than she thought it would be. I think that is how it is in real life when we really buckle down to do something, it takes a lot less longer than we ever thought it would. I could really relate to what she went through because journeys are not always easy and you have to battle things along the way. I know I have had to do that on more than one occasion but then I never had someone wanting to kill me. Lisey was a strong woman and she finally came to realize that by the end of the book. I would not have been happier with any other way than that. There is more to that of course but I do not want to give too much of the story away.

This book was good not only for the fact that it was about a writer but it also dealt with personal journeys through the dark regions Lisey had to come to grips with in her life. It was not an easy task but she knew she had to finish it. The writing was phenomenal and completely believable when it came to the situation Scott dealt with in his childhood to all Lisey had to work through. I would give this a 5/5 because some people touch this topic but none so well as this author Stephen King. He can take you to the depths of despair and back without blinking an eye. Lisey’s story has changed my life and made me look into my own a little more deeply.

I can't believe I have read four chunksters. :) I am going to start Blood on the River by Elisa Carbone. :) It is about Jamestown in 1607. I heard about it through one of my yahoo groups and decided to give it a try. :)

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Sleeping with Fishes by Mary Janice Davidson

I loved this book so much I read it in half a day. lol Here is my review:

Fredricka Bimm is a mermaid but not your typical one. She is half human, half mermaid which makes life very interesting for her. She works for the New England Aquarium. The problem is that the fish aren’t eating and the toxin levels in the water are not normal. But then enters Thomas Pearson who is a good looking marine biologist who is trying to help the NEA figure out what is going on. Fred’s superior Dr. Barb has told her to cooperate with Thomas. And that is the least of her problems at the NEA with only one being Madison Fehr the newest intern. She is wondering if her life can get any worse when her parents need to tell her something and then she gets a weird phone call from her mom. Will Fred figure out what is the problem in the water? Yet that won’t be the end of her problems.

This is my first book by Mary Janice Davidson and it had me laughing out loud. The writing was spectacular and I loved all the side remarks that Fred made. That was what made me laugh the most. She has quite a way with words and I loved how she did such extensive research before writing. Some books don’t need a lot of that well this one did and it really showed. She also went as far to put the websites in the front of the book. I am a little biased since this author lives in Minnesota and will be doing a book signing near me. So this is also one of the first times I have ever read a book before the signing.

Now for the characters, since that is what the book mainly focuses on. I loved all of them from Thomas Pearson, Artur, Prince of the Black Sea, Jonas, to the main character Fred. Oh my word, I don’t remember laughing this hard before. If I have to pick a favorite it would be Fred, hands down. She was not your typical mermaid, which made me like her more, plus the fact that she was not stuck up. The thing that I found the most interesting was that she struggled to swim without her fins. It does make sense since she is a mermaid but she is half human too.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure and romance. It is full of stuff and twists that are going on in the book. From Jonas and how women think he is gay to Fred well being Fred. It is a fun, laugh out loud book, and I can’t wait to read more by this author. I give it a 5/5 cause there are so few good mermaid plot stories that I have read. It is definitely a rare book.

Now onto Lisey's Story by Steven King. I have wanted to read this one for awhile. This will also be my first Steven King novel as well. :)

Murder and Salutations by Elizabeth Bright

I finished this book up yesterday but wasn't feeling too good so I finally finished up my review today. Here it is:

Jennifer Shane is enjoying the banquet for the Chamber of Commerce of Rebel Forge, Virginia. She is expecting her sister Sara Lynn to be presented with Businessperson of the year, but is shocked when her name is called. To make the evening more complicated, some one has killed Eliza Glade the Chamber president. People are pointing fingers at Sara Lynn and Jennifer is determined to clear her name. Will the person be found out before anything else happens?


This is the third book in the series but by far my favorite. I loved the storyline and how all three siblings Bradford, Jennifer, and Sara Lynn really got along. They really looked out for each other. Elizabeth Bright is an amazing writer and everything written is believable. The story progresses at good pace and I looked forward to all of the card making tips. Though I am not sure who the author really is since they use a non de plume, that person does a really great job of putting feelings on paper as well as get you really involved wanting to find out what will happen next.

My favorite character was Jennifer. She was a stubborn woman but she knew when to stop. Now that wasn’t always easy for her to admit but she did see the way. Her family generally cared about her and she did her best to support them back. Lillian was a hoot as usual and she was able to find out some really good information thanks to being in a small town. I never saw so much jealousy in a small town but boy did it really affect Jennifer’s investigation. I could really relate to Jennifer not only with her love of making cards but I love a good mystery. Though I normally don’t figure things out quite so quickly and I wouldn’t put my life in danger. I am a pretty cautious person. But all in all, I loved watching the case unfold and was happy when the murderer was finally caught.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery. It has twists and turns that will keep you guessing. Plus Jennifer and her family had me laughing through most of the book. I am a stickler for reading books in order so you would want to start with An Invitation to Murder. I hope people enjoy this book as much as I have. I give it a 4/5 because I enjoyed it that much but the motive behind the murder was very believable.

Now onto Sleeping with the Fishs by Mary Janice Davidson. It will be a cozy possibly mystery type book. I love these types of books. :)

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

The Collectors by David Baldacci

Here is my review of the Collectors:

The deaths of the Speaker of the House Robert Bradley and the director of the Library of Congress’s rare book room Jonathan DeHaven don’t seem to be connected at first but Oliver Stone is determined to find out. With the help of the rest of the Camel Club, they discover someone is selling secrets to the highest bidder outside of the United States. Annabelle Conroy enters the picture and they really need her help because they are struggling to find out what is going on. Can they figure it out before someone else gets killed?

This is the second book that I have read by David Baldacci and with it being the second in the series I wasn’t sure I would enjoy it. But about half way into the book, it started to pick up and I started to enjoy it. His writing style was amazing though at times a bit gory. But then when you are dealing with mob bosses, it’s difficult to keep things completely clean. At first I didn’t find it easy to follow the story and how the two different storylines were connected, but then it all made sense at Jonathan’s funeral. David Baldacci is a good story weaver and I loved the ride he took me on. The best part was how it ended it. I hope there is more to come with this series because I never thought I would like the whole espionage and conspiracy idea.

No characters stuck out as my favorite since the first one came out last year. Once I got acquainted with them again I enjoyed each and every member of the Camel Club. They all had their quirks but I have to say that I liked Caleb Shaw the most. The idea of working at the Library of Congress with all the rare books would be a dream come true. Each member had their own place and it was fun watching them doing their specialties.

The book would only make sense if you read the first one in the series The Camel Club. I really liked the book but at times it seemed a little too slow. I give it a 3/5 because it should have moved a little faster. I will have to see how the next one plays out since it looked like there would be one.

This is my third chunkster though it was not on my list. LOL I didn't know when it would show up. It was 436 pages long.Now onto Murder and Salutations by Elizabeth Bright. I need something light. :)

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Drop Shot by Harlan Coben

I read this book in a day and enjoyed it immensely. Here's my review:

Myron and Win are back at it again in the second book in the series. This time things are more difficult, there are secrets being kept and lives that were destroyed. Myron’s newest client Duane Richwood seems to be part of it somehow and Myron is determined to figure it out. But at the same time, Frank Ache is determined to not let anything be figured out. With the mob involved, Myron and Win really wonder what is going on. Win has the connections to help Myron out but will it be enough. Will things get figured out before Duane loses it since he is acting strange?

Harlan Coben is one of my all time favorite authors. This man has knack for not only throwing in sarcastic comments but being able to write a character such as Win also known as Windsor Horne Lockwood III. Win has quite the taste for violence and his own version of meditation. Coben’s writing style is one I love because I am never able to figure things out until he reveals it all. Now I don’t know if I am just that slow or what. But once all is told, I can see the little hints in the story that I missed before. It also helps that I have met him in person mind you it has been almost three years but that has helped my impression of him and his writing.

The only characters that I really liked in the book are Myron and Win. Those two make me laugh and I enjoy all the things that they do and come up with. It was nice to see Jessica, Myron’s ex girlfriend, but I have no idea how long that is going to last. The mob characters are very stereo typical but if they were not in the book somewhere I would be sad. They make the book move along or sometimes stop Myron so he has to think of other ways to get around them. There is no one I really relate in this book but then I do like that from time to time.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery as long as you don’t mind a little blood and violence. Myron and Win will have you laughing your head off these two are quite the pair. They are complete opposites but make the best of friends. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series entitled Fade Away, but make sure you read Deal Breaker first. I give this book a 4/5. I really enjoyed it and it was a quick read for me.

Now onto The Collectors by David Baldacci. It's a chunkster but not on my list since I didn't know when my hold on it would come through. I love libraries!

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

This is the first classic book I have read for that challenge even though I never formally signed up for it. LOL Oh, well. Here is my review:

Emma Rouault is a woman who is used to getting what she wants. She has a full life with her papa until he gets sick. She sends for a doctor and Charles Bovary comes to help. Mr. Rouault is cured and Emma sees Charles in a whole new light. Charles and Emma get married after Charles’ mourning period for his first wife is over. But the honeymoon feeling Emma has quickly passes and she begins to wonder what she has done. Her final triumph turns into a disaster, in her mind, when she gives birth to a daughter. She seeks outside attention from three different men but none of them ever work out and she is left wanting more. Being in debt is the final thing that tears her apart from her husband. She wonders if things will ever get better and if Charles will ever be successful.


This is my first book by Gustave Flaubert. I have been told this book is a classic and I can see how. It has themes from that time dealing with lovers and merchants. Things were done differently. I enjoyed his writing style because very few words were used. He didn’t do elaborate descriptions though at times, they are needed. That was not the case in this book. He got his point across with his opinion of women who cheat on their husbands. What reason would there be for Emma dying suddenly but that Flaubert’s opinion was that they should not be alive. But yet at the same time he had no problem with Charles being so dependant on his mother. I didn’t understand why Charles had to keep writing to his mother where he should really be talking to his wife Emma. I was upset with how Emma kept going to her lovers and asking for help. But in her mind, there wasn’t anything else she could do because she was so desperate.


I did not care for any characters in the book except for Berthe. She was the daughter of Charles and Emma. This little girl didn’t understand what was going on and so suffered for it. Plus the practice of sending her off as a baby to a wet nurse in another house really upset me. I know some women wanted to have a wet nurse but I didn’t understand why Berthe could not have at least lived in the same house as they did. Emma’s visits to Berthe were not enough and I really felt how Emma disliked the fact that Berthe had been a girl and not a boy. I also understand and can relate how women even today are some what held back in life. Yes we can vote but some things take awhile to change and could take awhile longer. That is just part of life and I am able to accept it. I felt sorrow for Berthe because she never really got to know her mother before she died. That was hard enough without the rest of the ending of the book. She seemed resilient from the little that was told about her in the book.
Madame Bovary was an interesting read. Certainly not one I would want to again because after awhile it was just depressing with how Emma had to figure out a way to pay the debts without Charles finding out. It became too complicated. I would not even recommend this book because it was just simply awful to read. There were times when the storyline focused on other characters I felt a little too much and not really focusing on Madame Bovary when I thought it should since the book was named after her. I would give this a 2/5 because I really did not care for it.

Now I am reading Drop Shot by Harlan Coben. It is the second book in his Myron Bolitar series. :)

Thursday, January 11, 2007

H.R.H by Danielle Steel

I just finished up H.R.H. by Danielle Steel last night but was too tired to write up my review. I liked this one as much as the last one I read by her. Here's my review:

Christianna is born to royalty but that is not what she wants to do. She is able to go to college in Berkley, California but when she gets back home after four years she isn’t happy. There is a hostage situation in Russia and convinces her dad to let her go help out the Red Cross. It changes her life and she has a desire to want to do more. Her father Josef puts his food down but Christianna is able to get him to agree to one last trip. So she heads off to East Africa to help out the Red Cross again with an Aids facility they have set up in Senafe. Helping people again, helps her realize this is the life she wants to do. But for her, that’s not possible. The most distracting thing to her ends up being Parker Williams. But Christianna knows once she is done in East Africa it is back to the way of life her father wants for her. Can she convince Parker of that and if not what is she going to do?

This is the second Danielle Steel novel that I have ever read. Okay, so I am a little bit behind but I am enjoying all that I am reading. The writing is as good as I remember it if not better. There is so much emotion there that I had to keep turning the pages. The story line was believable to me because more royalty are becoming less self-centered and wanting to do more things to help out. It all started with Princess Diana that I remember, if anyone royal had done anything before then I didn’t know about it. The way that the people talked in the novel as well was everyday type talk. That is the one thing that I have noticed Danielle Steel is really good at with keeping things true to life.

My favorite character was Christianna. I could relate to her the most because before I got married almost 4 years ago, I had to take one last trip to Belfast, Northern Ireland. I knew it was going to be awhile before I got over there and that has been the case. I haven’t made it back there yet. Christianna, on the other hand, wanted to be able to do something with her life and explored what it was like to not have the daily pressures of royal life. She was so good at what she was doing; I hated to see her go back home. I admired all the doctors, nurses, and midwives that stopped in Senafe. What they do not only in the story but also in real life makes them heroes. There are not many people out there who are willing to go to these areas. I applaud everyone who goes where help is needed even for a short amount of time. In my opinion, everything adds up in the end.

I love romance that is just who I am but this book had more than romance. It had people doing the best they could to help out others. I enjoyed it all and I appreciate that Danielle Steel wrote it. I am sure there are more stories that involve Doctors Without Borders but this is the first one I have come across. I give it a 4/5 because it was a really good book and I enjoyed the whole story line as well as the ending.

Now onto Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert. :)My first classic in awhile.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

I finished this one and enjoyed it more than I thought I would. :)

David is a young boy who loses his mother and has to face a new life with his father, his stepmother Rose, and his half brother Georgie. England is dealing with war in 1939 and David escapes into the garden only to find a secret passage into another world with a voice coming out of it that sounds like his mother. He does not know what he is in for and has to learn to fight his fears with the help of a Woodsman. The wolves are sick of the king and want to take over but The Crooked Man stands in their way. Will David ever find his way out of this world and go back home?

John Connolly is a wonderful writer. The descriptions in this book were wonderful and I really was able to see this fantasy world that David found. Every word written had its purpose and though scary at times I kept on reading to find out what happened. The part of the books talking to David fascinated me the most because there are times when I wish they would do that for me so I could enjoy the stories more. I found the story to be believable since most kids want to leave their lives and find a new world. There are not new worlds to find except for in your mind as you read books but that doesn’t stop kids from imagining them. The language used in the story was believable, nothing was magical but the whole idea of someone calling to be saved is something that I followed quite well.

David was my favorite because I could really relate to him. People don’t like disruptions in life but some we can’t control and so we need to learn to adjust. David found it very difficult to adjust to the new changes in his life and so found his own way of escape. The idea of half wolf/half human creature seemed like it could be a possibility since we are trying to do so many different kinds of thing in the scientific world. Having said that, I am not saying it will happen but there are other animals that have been able to breed like a donkey and a horse. The other character that stuck out to me was the king of the fantasy world. Once his true identity is revealed, he really looks like the evil man we read about in the beginning of the book. But I don’t want to spoil it for some one else.

I really enjoyed this book for the fantasy realm that was introduced. The ending pleased me and I hope to read more by John Connolly. The other thing that made me enjoy the book was that on the back cover was a list of people who had reviewed it and one of them was Harlan Coben. He is one of my all time favorite authors and so for him to like it meant a lot. At the same time, I didn’t care for another book that he said was good so I was a little skeptical. After reading, I agreed with his comments, which were “Darkly brilliant, spellbinding and disturbing.” It was all of those three and gory as well. I would give this book a 4/5. It was a very good book but not sure there are many people who would want to read it.

Now onto H.R.H. by Danielle Steel. I liked the last one I read by her called The House so we'll see how it goes. :)

Sunday, January 07, 2007

An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers

This is not only the second book in the trilogy but my second Chunkster finished for the challenge. Here is my review:

Hadassah is gone thrown to the lions by the order of Julia Valerian. This one single event changes the lives of all involved. Julia delves deeper into a world that she is unsure of but doesn’t want to lose her freedom with her common law marriage to Primus. Marcus Valerian is so distraught that he not only leaves Ephesus but also goes on a journey to find the God of Hadassah. Phoebe watches her husband die and her children walk away from her. Yet she holds onto her new faith and hopes that things will change for the good. Alexander is a physician who finds a woman fiercely attacked by two lions and is able to save her. But will she be able to help him with his practice? Does Marcus go on his journey for nothing and never return? Has Phoebe hoped in vain and will Julia finally come to her senses?

This is the second book in the Mark of the Lion Trilogy and I finally understand the reason for the title but I won’t give anything away. The writing really encourages me and I enjoy the journey that is taken by all. Francine Rivers has a way with words that overwhelms me in this book. I was captured and taken a hold of till the very last sentence. I am not much of a saga person but this book is a good saga and I can’t wait to find out what happens in the final book.

Of all the characters, Julia not only reveals her true colors she embraces them a little too much. Phoebe is taken through a lot of hard trials but she always seems to be steadfast in what she feels. Her love for Marcus and Julia was the picture of a true Mother’s love and something I want to be able to do with my son and future children God willing. Marcus is hit the hardest by the events in the book but he starts to see things differently and I love watching him transform. The other character I enjoy the most is Phoebe’s servant Iulius who takes over the position of head servant. He has a strong head on his shoulders and really seems to care for Phoebe.

This book had me going up and down more so than the first one. It really changed my way of thinking and I hope to act on some of what I gleaned from the story. The story line and the events mentioned in the book true and maybe not so true really impressed me because it all weaved together so well. I don’t want this trilogy to end but I am sure that I am not the first to feel this way. I also plan on reading more by Francine Rivers in the future.

I won't read any more tonight but tomorrow I plan on starting The Book of Lost Things by John Connoly. Good night all!

Saturday, January 06, 2007

The Oxford Murders by Guillermo Martinez

Here is my review for the book. It was a goodie and one that should be read.

An Argentine student visits Oxford to study more in the mathematical field. He has a wonderful landlady Mrs. Engleton who helped in World War 2. One day, after spending time at the Mathematical Institute, he comes back to pay rent to find Mrs. Engleton. He is there with his mentor Arthur Seldom who has only arrived at Mrs. Engleton’s place because of a note he received in his pigeonhole. But it is just the beginning of a series of symbols and murders and it appears that the murderer is basing all of it on Math Theory. The student and Mr. Seldom get thrust into this mystery and trying to figure out what will happen next before it occurs.

This is the only book I know of that is written by Mr. Martinez and I found it fascinating. It reminded me a little of the TV show “NUMBERS”, and the whole process that the student and Mr. Seldom had to do was interesting. Mr. Martinez has a wonderful way with words and I was able to feel a part of the book as the events unfolded. Everything was explained well enough so that if you don’t know much about math, you won’t be lost on the process as it is revealed. That was what impressed me the most about his writing is that I never felt he was trying to be haughty. He was getting his point across in a way that was easy to understand. The twists at the end surprised me but that is normal for me. I don’t normally figure things out until all is unveiled at the end. Yet I really enjoyed how it ended it was different than what I have read before.

I wish the Argentine student had been given a name but it wasn’t the first novel that I had come across that was written like this. I really liked Arthur Seldom cause he was likable and really knew what he was talking about as well. He was really personable but yet he had secrets to hide. The other minor characters were interesting too from Mrs. Engleton to Lorna, the student’s love interest. They all had their little quirks that made me like them all.

If you are a mystery buff, you’ll not only love it but want to find out the answer to Who did it?. Now if you are someone who likes math on top of that, this book is perfect for you. I hope there are more written by Guillermo Martinez that are mysteries because this one was an excellent book. It would be fun to see what else this man could write about as well. It was a thrill ride and I had a good time.

I give it a 4/5 cause I didn’t always care for the math but it was a very well written book and I did enjoy it!


Now onto An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers the second book in the Mark of the Lion Triology. I can't wait to see what happens next. :)

Friday, January 05, 2007

John's Story: The Last Eyewitness by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

This review was harder to write then reviews I wrote in the past for books I didn't care for.

The Apostle John is the main character and everything is seen through his eyes. He has to face trials and tribulations. He is even sent to the Island of Patmos where he receives his vision for the book of Revelations. He has Ignatius and Polycarp to help him with his church though Ignatius won’t be around for a long time. John retells the story of his time with Jesus to battle the agnostic Cerinthus. But John is really sick and unsure whether he will finish before he dies.

Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins are good writers but this is one of the first that I have read where I really enjoyed the writing. I really felt like I was there experiencing everything in the book.
I really enjoyed reading more about the basis of my Christian faith and I enjoyed a lot of the ways that they had John speak. It is hard to really say in words how much it impacted me. But I think it helped me to see clearly some of what the Early Christians had to deal with. There isn’t a whole lot I can say about it because it is something you really need to read for yourself. It impacted me a lot and I am not sure if I want there to be more in this series cause I am not sure where they could go with it. I give this a 5/5.

I think it helped with having just finished A Voice in The Wind before this that made it easier to follow. My next book is The Oxford Murders by Guillermo Martinez. I was given this book to review so I hope I like it. :)

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers

This was my first chunkster and I hope to get one more in this week. We'll have to see how it all plays out. :) Here is my review:

Reading about history is not always easy. But the characters in this book were amazing! The story follows the journey of Hadassah, who is in Jerusalem for the Passover with her family. The city becomes under attack by the Romans, and so after losing her family, Hadassah is sold into slavery. She ends up in Rome bought by Enoch, the head of the servants to the Valerian family. She has to keep the secret of being a Christian but tells the daughter Julia stories. Hadassah becomes Julia’s personal maid and looks after her. While Marcus does his best with his sister Julia and the family business. Their father Decimus tries to maintain some control over his family but finds it near to impossible. Phoebe, his wife, is gentle but has a hard time dealing with her children’s’ attitude not only to their family but life. Will Hadassah ever be free or will she end up speaking the truth and have to face the consequences?

Francine Rivers is an amazing writer. This is my first book by her and I really enjoyed it. Even though, at times, it got a little gorier than I would’ve liked. Yet Francine stayed true to the time period and I appreciated that most of all. More than once, I struggled to put the book down. I found it uplifting and an encouragement to me. As well as a reminder of what not to become because things that come up are to some extent happening today.

Hadassah is an incredible woman because of her humble nature and her passion in being a Christian. No other character seemed to jump out at e except for Marcus. He has to deal with feelings that are new to him. It is an obstacle in his way that he needs to overcome. I also enjoyed reading about Ephesus and the Apostle John. We may not know much but I enjoyed the author’s take on him.
This book is a brilliant work. I enjoyed it not only because it is Christian fiction but the historical side of it too. It is not an easy time to write about but I learned so much. I didn’t agree with all of the practices done but things were a lot different back then. I give it a 6/5. I can’t wait to read An Echo in the Darkness to see what happens next in the lives of the characters.

I started the first book in the Jesus Chronicles by Time LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins called John's Story: The Last Eyewitness. I am not feeling too good so not sure how far I will get into this book. Off to rest.

Monday, January 01, 2007

Books for 2006

Here are the list of books for 2006:

1.Swiss Family Robinson by J. D. Wyss 01-01-06 through 1-10-06 B
2.Christ the lord out of Egypt by Ann Rice 1-10-06 through 1-12-06 A
3.The Other Side of Me by Sidney Sheldon 1-12-06 through 1-13-06 A+
4.Inspirational Romance Reader #4 by Yvonne Lehman, Jane Orcutt,Nina Combs Pykare, and Catherine Runyon 1-13-06 through 1-15-06 A
5.A Time to Give by Kathryn Shay 1-15-06 through 1-16-06 A+
6.The Constant Princess by Phillipa Gregory 1-17-06 through 1-19-06A+
7.Knockin' Boots by Tracy Price-Thompson 1-19-06 through 1-20-06 B
8.The last anniversary by Liane Moriarty 1-20-06 through 1-23-06 A+
9.Our Lives are the Rivers by Jaime Manrique 1-23-06 though 1-25-06A+
10.The Quiet Game by Greg Iles 1-25-06 through 1-26-06 A+
11.Turning Angel by Greg Iles 1-26-06 through 1-28-06 A+
12.Mad River Road by Joy Fielding 1-28-06 through 1-30-06 B
13.The Sunroom by Beverly Lewis 1-30-06 A+
14.Taming of the Two by Elizabeth Harbison 1-30-06 through 1-31-06 A+
15.Summer Crossing by Truman Capote 1-31-06 C
16.Pick Your Poison by Leann Sweeney 1-31-06 A+
17.The Tea House on Mulberry Street by Sharon Owens 2-01-06 A+
18.Alone by Lisa Gardner 2-02-06 through 2-03-06 A+
19.Tiger Prince by Sandra Brown 2-03-06 A+
20.Standoff by Sandra Brown 2-03-06 through 2-04-06 A+
21.How to be lost by Amanda Eyre Ward 2-05-06 through 2-06-06 A+
22.Kiss Them Goodbye by Stella Cameron 2-07-06 through 2-09-06 A+
23.A Grave Mistake by Stella Cameron 2-09-06 through 2-11-06 A+
24.The Christmas Shoes by Donna Vanliere 2-11-06 through 2-12-06 A+
25.Cover her face by P.D. James 2-12-06 through 2-15-06 A
26.Tomb of the Golden Bird by Elizabeth Peters 2-15-06 through 2-19-06 A
27.At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks 2-19-06 A+
28.A Wedding To Die For by Leann Sweeney 2-20-06 A+
29.Dead Giveaway by Leann Sweeney 2-20-06 through 2-12-06 A+
30.Trace Evidence by Elizabeth Becka 2-21-06 through 2-22-06 A+
31. The Madonnas of Lennigrad by Debra Dean 2-23-06 through2-26-06 B
32.The Ballroom on Magnolia Street by Sharon Owens 2-26-06 through 2-27-06 A+
33.The same sweet girls by Cassandra King 2-27-06 through 03-02-06 A
34.The Berlin Conspiracy by Tom Gabbay 03-02-06 through 03-04-06 A+
35.Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts 03-05-06 A+
36.If You Could See Me Now by Cecilia Ahern 3-05-06 through 3-06-06A+
37.Carved in Bone: A Body Farm Novel by Jefferson Bass 3-06-06through 3-08-06 A+
38.Sleep toward Heaven by Amanda Eyre Ward 3-08-06 through 3-10-06 A+
39.The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury 3-10-06 through 3-14-06 A+
40.Aquamarine by Alice Hoffman 3-14-06 A
41.The Friendship Test by Elizabeth Noble 3-14-06 through 3-15-06 A+
42. Diary of a Domestic Goddess by Elizabeth Harbinson 3-16-06 A+
43.The Remedy by Michelle Lovric 3-16-05 through 3-22-06 C
44.Adverbs by Daniel Handler 3-22-06 through 3-24-06 B
45.A Mind to Murder by P.D. James 3-24-06 through 3-26-05 A+
46.Blue Water by A. Manette Ansay 3-27-06 through 3-28-06 A
47.Girls of A Tender Age by Mary-Ann Tirone Smith 3-28-06 through 3-30-06 B
48.Love, Rosie by Cecilia Ahern 3-30-06 through 3-31-06 A+
49.The Little Lady Agency by Hester Browne 3-31-06 A+
50.Anyone but You by Jennifer Cruise 04-01-06 A+
51.Sex, Lies, and Online Dating by Rachel Gibson 04-01-06 A+
52.Alligators, Old Mink, and New Money by Alison and Melissa Houtte04-02-06 through 04-03-06 A+
53.Dragonflies and Dinosaurs by Kate Austin 4-03-06 through 4-06-06 B
54.But Enough About Me by Jancee Dunn 4-06-06 through 4-07-06 A+
55.Anybody Out There? By Marian Keyes 4-08-06 through 4-09-06 A+
56.The Good Fight by Peter Beinart 4-10-06 though 4-16-06 B
57.Body of Evidence by Stella Cameron 4-17-06 A+
58.The Givency Code by Julie Kenner 4-17-06 through 4-18-06 A+
59.The Hope Diamond by Richard Kurin 4-18-06 through 4-29-06 B
60.The Kind of Blood by Hugh Declan 4-29-06 through 4-30-06 A
61. Tavern on Maple Street by Sharon Owen 5-01-06 through5-07-06 A+
62.Slipping Into Darkness by Peter Blauner 5-07-06 through 5-08-06 A+
63.Utterly Monkey by Nick Laird 5-08-06 through 5-11-06 A+
64.Two Little Girls In Blue by Mary Higgins Clark 5-11-06 through 5-13-05 A+
65.Ruby by Francesca Lia Block and Carmen Stanton 5-13-06 A+
66.The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult 5-13-06 through 5-14-06 A+
67.Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult 5-15-06 through 5-17-06 A+
68.The House by Danielle Steele 5-17-06 through 5-19-06 A+
69.Chocolate Dipped Death by Sammi Carter 5-19-06 through 5-20-06 A+
70.Rescue by Nicholas Sparks 5-20-06 through 5-22-06 A+
71.The Widow's War by Sally Gunning 5-22-06 through 5-26-06 B
72.A Million Nightingales by Susan Straight 5-26-06 through 5-30-06 A
73.At the Scent of Water by Lisa Nichols 5-30-06 through 5-31-06 A
74.Silver Bells by Luanne Rice 5-31-06 A+
75.Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Cruise 5-31-06 through 6-01-06 A
76.Lita: A Less Traveled R.O.A.D- The Reality of Amy Dumas by AmyDumas with Michael Krugman – 6-01-06 through 6-02-06 A+
77.At Long Last, Love by Judy Bagshaw 6-02-06 A
78.The Mark of the Guardian by Regina Paul 6-03-06 A+
79. London Transports by Maeve Binchy 06-04-06 through 06-06-06 C
80.All Things Sacred by Beverly R. Jones 06-06-06 through 06-09-06 A+
81.Angels and Demons by Dan Brown 6-09-06 through 6-11-06 A+
82.Circle of Three by Patricia Gaffney 6-11-06 through 6-13-06 A
83.Last Lessons of Summer by Margaret Maron 6-13-06 through 6-14-06A+
84.The Final Victim by Wendy Corsi Staub 6-14-06 through 6-15-06 A+
85.Full of Grace by Dorthea Benton Frank 6-15-06 through 6-17-06 A+
86.Don't Look Down by Jennifer Cruise and Bob Mayer 6-17-06 A+
87.Cage of Stars by Jacquelyn Mitchard 6-18-06 through 6-20-06 A
88.Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah 6-20-06 through 6-21-06 A+
89.Pale Blue Eye by Louis Bayard 6-21-06 through 6-25-0-6 B
90. The Moffats (Y.A.) by Eleanor Estes 6-25-06 A
91.Campo Savage by Ann Caryl 6-25-06 through 6-26-06 A+
92. A Breath Floats By by Thayne Hudson 6-26-06 through 6-29-06 A
93.Cradle and All by James Patterson 07-01-06 C
94.The Spy Who Loved Me by Julie Kenner 07-01-06 through 07-02-06 A+
95.What's Real by Daaimah S. Poole 07-02-06 through 07-04-06 B
96.Deadly Greetings by Elizabeth Bright 07-04-06 through 07-05-06 A+
97.Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews 07-06-06 through 07-08-06 A+
98.Catering to Nobody by Diane Mott Davidson 07-08-06 through 07-09-06 A+
99.Dying for Chocolate by Diane Mott Davidson 07-10-06 through 7-11-06 A+
100.The Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot 07-15-06 through 07-16-06 A+
101. The Perfect Husband by Lisa Gardner 07-17-06 through 07-18-2006A+
102.The Third Victim by Lisa Gardner 07-18-06 through 07-19-06 A+
103.The Cereal Murders by Diane Mott Davidson 07-19-06 A+
104.Life Expectancy by Dean Koontz 07-20-06 through 07-21-06 A+
105.The Amethyst Heart by Penelope J. Stokes 07-22-06 through 07-23-06 A+
106.Vanished by Karen Robards 07-23-06 A+
107.Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews 07-24-06 through 07-25-06 A+
108.Velocity by Dean Koontz 07-26-06 through 07-28-06 A+
109.The Husband by Dean Koontz 07-29-06 through 7-30-06 A+
110.Cover of Night by Linda Howard 07-31-06 A+
111.Can you keep a secret? By Sophie Kinsella 08-01-06 A+
112.Alentjo Blue by Monica Ali 8-01-06 through 8-04-06 C
113.Copycat by Erica Spindler 8-05-06 through 8-06-06 A+
114.The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry 8-06-06 through 8-11-06 A+
115.Brethren by Robyn Young 8-11-06 through 8-17-06 B
116.The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards 8-17-06 through 8-18-06 A
117.The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseni 8-18-06 through 8-19-06 A+(Best book this year)118.Rosamund by Beatrice Small 8-20-06 A+
119.The Last Suppers by Diane Mott Davidson 8-20-06 through 8-21-06-11-06 A+
120.The Owl and Moon Café by Jo-Ann Mapson 8-21-06 through 8-24-06 A+
121.Gone with the Windsors by Laurie Graham 8-24-06 through 8-26-06C+
122.The Book Thief by Markus Zusack 8-27-06 through 09-01-06 A+
123.Triptych by Karin Slaughter 09-01-06 through 9-02-06 A
124.Married to a Stranger by Patricia MacDonald 9-02-06 through 9-03-06 B
125.The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig 9-03-06 through 9-04-06 A+
126.Killer Pancake by Diane Mott Davidson 9-05-06 through 9-07-06 A+
127.Morrigan's Cross by Nora Roberts 9-07-06 through 09-09-06 A+
128.The Expected One by Elizabeth McGowan 9-09-06 through 9-10-06 A+
129.The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters by Gordon Dahlquist 9-10-06through 9-18-06 C-130.Beach Road by James Patterson 9-18-06 through 9-19-06 B
131.Baby Proof by Emily Giffin 9-19-06 through 09-20-06 A+
132.Haunted by Heather Graham 9-20-06 through 9-21-06 A+
133.The Main Corpse by Diane Mott Davidson 9-21-06 through 9-22-06A+
134.Endymion Spring by Matthew Skelton 9-22-06 through 9-24-06 A+
135.Candles Burning by Tabitha King and Michael McDowell 9-24-06through 9-26-06 B
136.Too Far Gone by John Ramsey Miller 9-26-06 through 9-29-06 A
137.Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston 9-29-06 through 9-30-06 B
138.Lights Out Tonight by Mary Jane Clark 9-30-06 through 10-01-06 A
139.Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult 10-02-06 A+
140.In The Dark of the Night by John Saul 10-02-06 through 10-04-06 A
141.The Ivy Chronicles by Karen Quinn 10-04-06 through 10-05-06 A+
142.The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfeld 10-05-06 through10-10-06 B
143.Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 10-10-06 through 10-14-06 A+
144.Darcy's Story by Janet Aylmer 10-14-06 through 10-16-06 A+
145.Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA by Ellen Meister 10-17-06 A+
146.Angels Fall by Nora Roberts 10-17-06 through 10-18-06 A+
147.Dance of the Gods by Nora Roberts 10-18-06 through 10-20-06 A+
148. Ghost Walk by Heather Graham 10-21-06 A+
149.The Grilling Season by Diane Mott Davidson 10-21-06 through 10-23-06 A+
150.Killer Dreams by Iris Johansen 10-23-06 through 10-24-06 A+
151.Black Mountain Breakdown by Lee Smith 10-24-06 through 10-27-06 A
152.The Keep by Jennifer Egan 10-27-06 through 10-28-06 A
153.Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen 10-28-06 through 11-01-06 A
154.Stripped by Brian Freeman 11-01-06 through 11-04-06 A+
155.The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig 11-04-06 through11-06-06 A+
156.Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben 11-06-06 through 11-09-06 A+
157.Anonymous Lawyer by Jeffrey Blachman 11-09-06 B
158.Fool Me Once by Fern Michaels 11-09-06 through 11-10-06 A+
159.Valley of Silence by Nora Roberts11-10-06 through 11-11-06 A+
160.Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See 11-11-06 through 11-15-06 A+
161.Suspect by Michael Robotham 11-15-06 through 11-16-06 B
162.I'm In No Mood For Love by Rachel Gibson 11-16-06 A+
163.Times of the Thunderbolt Kid By Bill Bryson 11-16-06 through 11-19-06 C
164.Kiss of Darkness by Heather Graham 11-19-06 A+
165.The Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner 11-19-06 B
166.Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer 11-19-06 through 11-24-06 A+
167.Ricochet by Sandra Brown 11-24-06 through 11-27-06 A+
168.Ghost of a Chance by Yasmine Galenon 11-27-06 through 11-29-06 A+
169.The Meaning of Night: A Confession by Michael Cox 11-29-06through 12-03-06
B170.The Emperor's Children by Claire Messund 12-03-06 through 12-07-06 C
171.Christmas on Jane Street by Billy Romp 12-07-06 A+
172The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield 12-07-06 through 12-09-06 A+
173.She's Got Issues by Stephanie Lessing 12-09-06 through 12-10-06 B
174.Miss Understanding by Stephanie Lessing 12-10-06 through 12-11-06 A
175.Controversy Creates Cash by Eric Bischoff with Jeremy Roberts 12-11-06 through 12-14-06 B
176.Christmas on Conrad Street by Marcia Evanick 12-14-06 A+
177.Little Children by Tom Perotta 12-14-06 through 12-16-06 C
178.Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich 12-17-06 A+
179.Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich 12-17-06 A
180.The Secret Heiress by Judith Gould 12-18-06 through 12-19-06 B
181.The Little Matchmakers by Debbie Macomber, Barbara Bretton, andMuriel Jenson 12-20-06 through 12-21-06 A+
182.Tough Choices by Carly Fiorina 12-21-06 through 12-26-06 A
183.Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen 12-26-06 through 12-27-06 A+
184.Miracle on 49th Street by Mike Lupica 12-28-06 through 12-29-06A+
185.The Dragon's Eye by Dugald Steer 12-29-06 through 12-30-06 A+
186.Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andres 12-30-06 through 12-31-06 A+
187.Slay Ride by Chris Grabenstein 12-31-06

I just strated my first chunkster A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers.