Cell by Stephen King

Clay Riddell just left a wonderful business venture from a graphic arts company. He cannot wait to get back to his hotel to call his ex-wife and son. In the heart of Boston, all hell is unleashed with simple cell phone calls. Clay doesn't understand what is going on but people are turning into mindless creatures. All Clay wants to do is to get home to check on his family. That may not be as easy as he thinks.

Mr. King is quite talented at writing books that really make you freak out. The best thing in my mind is that it sticks with you. He also does not use a lot of words. The way that man can write just blows me away. His imagination is deep with what he is able to create in every single story. His characters have depth and emotions that have a wide range. There is a lot of gore but it may not run through out the entire book. That is the part that pleased me the most in this book. To have a good horror novel, you need some gore but not too over the top. There was a few moments but all in all, it wasn't as bad as some others I have read.

Clay Riddell had one mission. He needed to get back to his family to see if they had come out of this event unscathed. He had feelings that they might not have but no matter what he needed to see it for himself. He didn't want to rely on his emotions since so many other things were going wrong. He found a friend in Tom McCourt who he saved from one of the mindless creatures. Tom didn't want to leave all that he had. Yet he knew when he found a friend. There were a lot of big decisions made in this book at every turn. It was definitely a survival of the fittest as well as those who didn't use their cell phones.

As much as this book intrigued me, the ending was way too abrupt. It upset me that I had made it all the way through the book to have a lot of things hanging in the balance. The gore did get a little too much for me since this is not a genre I typically read. But the premise intrigued me so much that I had to read it to find out how it would envelop over time. Mr. King truly had a good novel for the most part no matter what other people may say. It just frustrated me with how it ended. I was hoping for so much more and had a major letdown. I know not everything can end well but the build up to the end seemed like there would be so much more to it than what I was left with after all. I will definitely pick up more of his work in the future but it may be awhile before that will happen.

Stephen King/ Horror/ Fright Fest 2010/480 pages/ 3 out of 5

Though I didn't finish in time for week one which stinks. I am hoping better for this next week. As long as I finish all four books before the month is up, I am happy. :) Off to the next book!

Change Of Heart by Jodi Picoult

Shay Bourne is convicted of killing a cop and his stepdaughter. Once brought to jail on Death Row, or what passes for it, since there hasn't been anyone sentenced to die execution style in a long time. The priest called to be spiritual counsel tries to understand what Shay wants. As well as a new lawyer, Maggie just wants to make sure she does what her client wants. But what he wants is to give his heart to the sister of the victim he killed. It's going to be a long up hill battle for all and it will add depend on June Nealon if she'll accept the heart on her daughter's behalf.

Ms. Picoult knows how to pick them. She takes a topic and truly makes you think. I wished at times to have Shay's perspective but then this book probably wouldn't have been so powerful. The different view points got a lot across and I was so enthralled with this book. It tested the limits of even my beliefs but I realized that is what she wanted to do. She wants to make you think about where you are and have you come to your own conclusion. She never says what is right or wrong and that's why I come back to this author time and again.

Maggie had to deal with the faith she had and a client who really didn't want help. He had things figured out just wanted to go through with them. Father Michael say things that even he wasn't sure were happening. Lucius, the cell mate next to Shay, was shocked by all that he saw. June doing her best to deal with the deaths of her loved ones wasn't sure she could accept the one thing that could keep her life going.

This is one book that will keep you turning pages from every point of view. It does test boundaries but like every other book I have read by her truly makes you think. This is definitely going on my list of favorites for just how open she is with all sides of the issue. I can say I am not for the death penalty but I can see in which instances it might be the only way. Ms. Picoult really does her work and it shows on each and every page.

Jodi Picoult/ Chunkster/ 480 pages/ Adult Fiction/Death Penalty/ Faith/ 5 out of 5

Glad Tidings by Debbie Macomber

There's Something About Christmas

Emma Collins hates Christmas being a reporter for a local paper isn't all that bad sometimes. Yet when she is given the assignment to write about three local women finalists in a fruit cake contest, she is furious. It only gets worse when she has to fly in a small plane and well she hates flying as much as she hates Christmas. The pilot is a smart alec but has a scruffy dog that just might worm its way into her heart among other people.

It was fun to watch Emma realize what these women went through and how they came about creating their fruit cake recipes. She had a long way to go but things just might be better than she expects.


Here Comes Trouble!

Maryanne and Nolan are happily married with two kids. But their girls want to know how they met. Nolan thought that Maryanne was a spoiled débutante who got whatever she wanted while in reality she was a spitfire who wouldn't take no for an answer. She worked hard to prove herself but after Nolan wrote a column about their dinner together, well she feels she has more to prove. If only she can keep it a secret from her parents.

Maryanne is a very determined woman who isn't looking for hand outs. She wants to show that her last name isn't who she is. She's more than that. But will Nolan see that?

These two stories of stubborn people warmed my heart. They had to figure out how to work together or they'd be miserable. Both stories were sweet and I loved every minute of them. This is one author who doesn't disappoint. While I may not love every book, there's a big chance I will.


Debbie Macomber/ Christmas Romance/ Love/ 480 pages/ 5 out of 5

Okay, so I will get to my year in review tomorrow! I had to change days to go out with a friend. :)

The Confessor by Daniel Silva

Gabriel is responsible for cleaning up an important painting. Yet when he finds that an old friend of his is killed. He feels he must solve the murder. There are a lot of twists and turns to get through and a lot of shocking things that Gabriel must prove in order to find out the truth. Problem is, that there is someone that wants this all kept quiet and will do anything needed.

Mr. Silva does good work in this book. Not to mention all the research he had to have done to make it accurate. I appreciate all his work. It made the book come across real knowing that he had done his work.

Gabriel is always meeting someone but it never works out. He has gotten to the point where his art restoring is his passion even more so. Yet when Shamron calls, he at least answers to find out what is going on. Friendships mean the most to Gabriel and that is one quality I find endearing. He won’t rest till he has some answers and will do whatever it takes to get them.


This book really impressed me. I liked the depth and the mystery that Gabriel had to solve. He was putting a lot on the line in this book and it was more than just his life. Mr. Silva has truly impressed me.


Daniel Silva/ Thriller/ 480 pages/ Spy/ Chunkster/ 4 out of 5

I enjoyed this book and am now working on reading The House At Riverton by Kate Morton.