In the Sanctuary of Outcasts by Neil White

Being a white collar criminal, Neil White gets sent to Carville, Louisiana to a Hansen's Disease colony. He has to serve time for one year. Yet when he enters, he is determined to just muddle through. But after meeting some of the patients there, things look completely different. He must find a way to get through his time served and he has an idea to write this book.

Mr. White truly looks at things and is very honest about a lot of the situations that happened. He shows that everything is not as it appears on the outside. The phobias we have in society are not always founded in truth. There is a lot more underneath the skin than what we may first think. He also shows how he got to the colony and what happened. But his main focus was his time spent on the inmate side of the colony.

I'm at a loss for words since this book was not only well written but opened up my eyes. I never knew that such a place existed in America. But they truly do try to make the patients comfortable and I was blown away with the care that they do have in the colony. If you are looking for something different to read, this is it. It not only makes you think but makes you grateful for what you do have in life.


Neil White/ New author/ Non-fiction/ Louisiana/336 pages/ 5 out of 5
I've got a lot on my mind so may not start anything new to read till tomorrow. Here is another review of this book. :) http://bookfoolery.blogspot.com/2009/06/in-sanctuary-of-outcasts-by-neil-white.html

Unspoken by Angela Hunt

Glee Granger had always loved animals especially gorillas. Her life revolved around Sema, who she had taken care of since Sema was just hours old. They are able to “talk” using sign language. Sema isn't Glee's since she technically belongs to the zoo. Now, they want Sema back and though reluctant Glee agrees. It's the only way to keep working with Sema. One event changes it all and Glee begins to question all that she knows.

Ms. Hunt captivates her readers with such great characters. This author has been one of my favorites for a long time. She expresses in words what may be difficult to understand any place else. The situations described in this book inspired by actual events just blew my mind. Ms. Hunt certainly did her research and expounded on it. It is fiction but starting sooner who knows what we can accomplish in the animal world. Ms. Hunt shows again why she is good not only thinking outside the box but putting feeling behind it as well.

Glee questioned, struggled, and truly wanted the best for Sema. I cheered as she worked through everything and was in awe of the turn around. Glee certainly had a long road ahead of her but Sema was optimistic through it all. The director of the zoo bugged me to no end. I understand that his job is not easy but when it comes to zoos, the animals matter the most. The other minor characters all played their part. I don't want to give anything away.

This is one book that will make you wonder and question. It is very emotional so keep tissues nearby. This is one author who has not let me down ever! I'm throughly impressed and hope there are many more books to come.

Angela Hunt/ Christian Fiction/ Animals/336 pages/ 5 out of 5

This is one book that I didn't mean to read in one day. Opps! lol I'll pick up something else tomorrow. Off to bed I go.

Fit to be Tied by Karen Kendall

Jen feels so happy now that she's engaged to Tom. But things seem to fall apart from there, her parents are getting a divorce, Tom seems to act caged in, and to top it all off his ex wife shows up at the wedding reception. Jen cannot take much more so she decides the marriage is off! But doubting her decision at her every turn certainly is not helping her feel good. But will she lose her mind as well as her husband?

Ms. Kendall knows how to keep the humor going. There were quite a few moments that I thought Jen was going to lose it but she kept calm. The family dynamics in this story would make any sane person question the reason for getting married. Yet Tom trying to be the voice of reason through it all just isn't enough for Jen.

Jen feels like her world is tipped upside down. Things can't get any worse in her mind. Her wedding day will certainly test her but she must keep up appearances. Tom has never told her about his ex wife and that is going to come back and bite him in the butt. Her parents refuse to be civil to each other. And the best man Chase is being a complete jerk. He loves his womanizing ways! At least the honey moon is looking up right?

This is one book that was up and down through out the book. There were times I was getting really frustrated that situations were more down than up. It was pretty depressing. But Jen had to work through her emotions and figure that no matter what you are responsible for your own future regardless of the actions your family members might take. I really came to love this book by the end. The characters were far from perfect but they had to figure out how to work things out. Definitely an author I want to read more by!

Karen Kendall/Family/ New Author/ Romance/ Weddings/336 pages/ 4 out of 5

This was a great book! I am off to read another chunkster!!

Red Hot Santa by Cherry Adair, Leanne Banks, Pamela Britton, and Kelsey Roberts

Snowball's Chance by Cherry Adair

Kendall Metcalf is decking the halls for a client. Little does she know that there is a serial killer on the loose. Someone comes to protect her and she cannot deny that she has feelings for him. Getting naughty with him just might be on her list.

Ms. Adair is a fantastic author and though rather suspenseful still has Christmas at the heart! Definitely a good story that I enjoyed immensely!

Santa Slave by Leanne Banks

Hilary is determined to find where her best friend went. She thought it was too good to be true and now she is taking the same path. She has to find her friend only problem is meeting a man who is sent to protect her. Can she find out what she is looking for or not?

Ms. Banks has a way with words that just envelopes you itno the story. The struggle between Hilary and Rick is something else. You keep hoping that Hilary will be successful but then you wonder if it will be possible. Great emotional story here!

Bad, Bad Santa by Pamela Britton

Dr. Kaitlyn Logan is finally finding a way to track a birds' migration patterns. But someone wants to use it for the wrong reasons. Now she must find out what is going on and Chance Owens is sent to protect her. But can he protect her heart?

Ms Britton puts you on a fast paced thrill ride that is down right sexy. It's pace will keep your heart racing to find out what will happen next. These characters are up and down but they might just find their place ... in each other's arms.


Killer Christmas by Kelsey Roberts

Someone wants Meghan Beckham dead. Now the sole owner of the prestigious store by the same name, someone wants her dead. Her brother dead not that long ago, and she ruled it an accident. But it seems after a few more suspicious deaths, something just does not add up. In comes Jack Palmer, and he's about to turn everything upside down.

Ms. Roberts writes a romance that centers around two people kind of thrown together. The characters get into your heart and pull at your heart strings. Definitely a story that won't soon leave my mind.

All four stories center around an operatives agency and I loved how well they tied together. Even some repeat characters were a blast! All four authors did a wonderful job and I definitely want to read more by each one of them.

Cherry Adair/Leanne Banks/ Pamela Britton/Kelsey Roberts/ Romantic Suspense/ Christmas Romance/336 pages/ 5 out of 5

Off to go get some sleep. Merry Christmas every one!!

The Letter by Richard Paul Evans

In the conclusion to this series, MaryAnne is tired of feeling all alone. Since the death of their daughter Andrea, David has a difficult time dealing with it all. Now with the upcoming wedding of her brother, MaryAnne decides to go visit to take a break from it all. A letter found on Andrea's grave will take them all on a journey they won't soon forget.

Mr. Evans definitely knows how to grab of your emotions. This book did it for me more than the others. Having to figure out how to deal with the emotions of the time as well as what was going on in the lives of the main characters. As well as knowing the issues of the time period of the main story and making it all believable without being too crude.

MaryAnne is a woman who is so heart broken but knows she needs to move on with her life. David buries himself in work and never takes time for what really matters until its too late. These two have a lot to go through and realize how their love can get them through anything. It may take some time.


This book moved me and I loved seeing the full love story of this couple and how much it affected the lives of the man and his wife Kerri. I appreciated the whole thing and the understandings of the time were phenomenal. Definitely a new author that has completely won me over. A Christmas reading with emotion and heart.

Richard Paul Evans/ Christmas Story/ 336 pages/ 5 out of 5

Off to go get some writing done and then hopefully watch a movie tonight. :)

An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear

Maisie is asked by James Compton to look into some things down in a village in Kent. There have been mysterious fires that keep happening and the villagers say that it is all being clumsy. The villagers are prejudiced against the outsiders who come to pick hops as well as the secret that they all cling to about a Zeppelin raid that killed a family. She must use her finely tuned skills to figure out what is going on and get to the bottom of it all.

Ms. Winspear does her best work yet. There were some events in the book I was not happy to read but they were not unexpected. The depth and the richness of the details were so wonderful! I liked that we got to see into more of Maisie’s background with her family. That was so cool! This is one author who truly knows how to delve into the emotions of her characters and make you truly feel along with them.

Maisie is dealing with stuff from the past book as well as trying to figure out what is truly going on in the village in Kent. The villagers are tight lipped and all agree on the same story. Maisie knows something is not right but it will take her awhile to figure it all out. I loved having Billy Beale’s family around again. He works so well with Maisie and his wife Doreen understands what he does. Maisie’s father Frank is such a gentle spirit. He did so much for her and I love seeing their relationship.

This is one series that I hope more come out in because it keeps getting better but not sure what she would write about next due to the events in this book which I cannot share. This was a read that I enjoyed a lot and I hope to see more by this author even if it is not in this series.

Jacqueline Winspear/ Mystery/ Historical/ 336 pages/ 5 out of 5

I just got a bunch of review books but am hoping to sneak in some favorites still. lol

Birds Of A Feather by Jacqueline Winspear

Maisie is having her hands full with the cases coming in rapidly. Though one case grabs her attention. A well to do gentleman Joseph Waite needs her help to find his daughter Charlotte. She has run away again and he wants to have her back as soon as possible. While searching her room, Maisie comes across an address book that had a prayer in it. Maisie has ideas on where to look at but needs to stay focused. On top of it all, three women are dead and there could be a connection to Charlotte. So Maisie needs to figure out what that is before something awful happens to Charlotte.

Ms. Winspear knows how to write emotion. There is so much emotion in the book that it was overwhelming at times. Yet through it all, it was an emotional time after the war. I can understand that. That is what made it so compelling. All the characters had their place and the reminiscing really brought the book full circle so that you kept things solid in your mind.

Maisie had a lot to deal with in this book. I truly felt for her. She did seek out some help but she did seem more helpful to others than she did herself. It takes time and I hope she can realize it better. I also liked how Maurice was back in this book helping her realize how to see things and be able to solve the crime. Maisie did her best work when she shut up and let the room speak for it self. She also tried to visualize things and that was great.

This book was a lot more emotional than the last but that is how the case presented to Maisie. I am so glad I have the other two books on my shelf cause I am curious to see how quite a few things play out in the next one. This is a series so far that really lives up to being a mystery. There is more than just solving a crime there is the motivation behind it. That is what Maisie always tries to figure out so that she can help. I really liked it. I didn’t like it as much as the previous one but it was still a book that I really did like.


Jacqueline Winspear/ 336 pages/ Mystery/ 4 out of 5