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. :)

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. :)

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. :)

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!

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. :)

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.

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. :)

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!

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. :)

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. :)

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.

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.

Slay Ride by Chris Grabenstein and December Reads

I thought I would do a combined post of what I read this month as well as my reivew of Slay Ride by Chris Grabenstein. Here is my review:

Christopher Miller has a pleasant life working at a desk at the F.B.I. even though he would rather be on the field. He has a wonderful wife and a daughter he adores when he gets mixed up in a crazy game that he isn’t sure how it is going to come out. Scott Wilkerson is about to live out his worst nightmare. He is on the way to the airport headed out of town for an important meeting and his limo driver is awful. So he calls to complain about him and the driver loses his job. Little does Scott know that his driver Nikolai is not someone you want to mess with at all. Nikolai is so pissed not only at Scott for getting fired but at Christopher Miller that he takes things too far. But will everyone survive and how far will Nikolai take things?

This is the first book I have read by Chris Grabenstein. It was certainly not what I was expecting but I enjoyed it. I have never read any Christmas thrillers but this is one I would highly recommend. A friend of mine had read it and it peaked my interest. The writing is well done. Reading books about the FBI is one of my favorite things to do and this story really was amazing.

Deciding between Christopher Miller and Scott Wilkerson is not possible. Not only were they strong men, but also I like them both as main characters because one was the one who would save while the other one needed saving. They both had roles to play and I felt bad for Scott because of what he had to go through. I personally have never been in that type of situation so just reading the words on the page I could only imagine the agony. I felt awful for Melissa who is Scott’s wife never knowing what was going to happen next. It takes a lot of team effort to make something work and to pull it off. I was impressed with even the minor characters because they also had roles to play.

I hope to read more by Chris Grabenstein. I enjoyed how he put the characters together and weaved one thrill ride of a story. It was a wonderful Christmas book, but not really one who can’t stand some swearing. I give it a 5/5 cause I enjoyed something different for once and maybe I will find more out there like it.

Here are the books I read in December:
1.The Meaning of Night: A Confession by Michael Cox B
2. The Emperor’s Children by Claire Messund C
3. Christmas on Jane Street by Billy Romp A+
4. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield A+
5. She’s Got Issues by Stephanie Lessing B
6. Miss Understanding by Stephanie Lessing A
7.Controversy Creates Cash by Eric Bischoff with Jeremy Roberts B
8. Christmas on Conrad Street by Marcia Evanick A+
9.Little Children by Tom Perotta C
10.Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich A+
11. Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich A
12.The Secret Heiress by Judith Gould B
13. The Little Matchmakers by Debbie Macomber, Barbara Bretton, and Muriel Jenson A+
14. Tough Choices by Carly Fiorina A
15.Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen A+
16.Miracle on 49th Street by Mike Lupica A+
17.The Dragon’s Eye by Dugald Steer A+
18. Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andres A+
19.Slay Ride by Chris Grabenstein A

Tomorrow I will post my books for the year. :)

Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews

I just finished this book, then I emailed the author and then wrote my review. So here it is!

Weezie Foley is doing her best to celebrate the holidays but her boyfriend Daniel is quite the grumpy Gus about the whole thing. Weezie hopes this is the year he pops the question but nothing seems to be happening since Daniel is so busy with his restaurant. Bebe to the rescue! Weezie’s best friend Bebe helps her out with decorating for the annual Christmas contest between the stores. Weezie’s original design flops and then she is inspired but is it enough to get her the winning ribbon? And will her family behave around the surprise that she has for Daniel? Or is it all going to come crashing around her feet?

I felt like I was coming home with these characters since this is the third book in the series but well worth it. I had planned to finish it in one day but decided to space things out a bit. It wasn’t easy either because I completely fell in love with the book. But you must read Savannah Blues then Savannah Breeze then this one; it won’t make any sense any other way. The writing is fabulous and I would love to go to Antique Sales like Weezie does but for now I’ll stick to the stores. This story will have you laughing and crying. It is a wonderful story.

Of course I loved all the main characters like Weezie, Bebe, Harry and Daniel, but I loved the new additions of Mickey and Cookie. They are Weezie’s gay neighbors and they cracked me up constantly. The other part that cracked me up was the family dinner that Weezie held. Poor dear didn’t know if she was coming or going. I think all things considered that Weezie handled everything well with all the surprises that came along her way.

This was a delightful Christmas story but I have one more to go. I really enjoyed Mary Kay Andrews writing and bringing back my favorite characters. I hope to read the other books that she has written in the New Year. I recommend this book and the entire series because they are good light hearted books that will leave you with a smile on your face. I give this particular book a 5/5 cause I enjoyed being back in Savannah with all the antics of the characters. It was truly a wonderful book!

Now onto my last Christmas book Slay Ride by Chris Grabenstein. :)

Dragonolgy Chroncles Vol. 1: The Dragon's Eye by Dugald A. Steer

Daniel and Beatrice Cook have come to stay with their parents’ friend Dr. Ernest Drake for the summer while more study is taking place in India. Dr. Drake’s focus is on dragons as well as he is a part of the Secret and Ancient Society of Dragons. Daniel and Beatrice have a lot to learn if they want to become part of that society. They also will have experience with dragons more than they ever imagined. But their summer falls apart when Ignatius Crook wants to not only get them from Dr. Drake but he wants to find The Dragon’s Eye jewel so that he can control all the dragons worldwide. Will Daniel and Beatrice be able to help Dr. Drake and keep Ignatius from the jewel or are they going to be hurt along the way?

I have heard of the Dragonology book and then hearing about this fiction book peaked my curiosity to read it. Dugald A. Steer has an amazing writing style that also incorporates riddles and journal entries to get his point across. I found this book so enjoyable because of all the different writing mediums he used. I felt like I was really there learning with Daniel and Beatrice.

Daniel and Beatrice are lucky kids to be found themselves immersed in ideas that are not held today. The book is set in the 1880’s but the challenges they faced I found even more fascinating. They were pretty well rounded characters and they changed a lot in the book. I am curious to see where Steer takes the characters in another book. I am thinking since it is referred to as Volume One that more will be coming. I have to say I enjoyed Dr. Drake as well. He was a little bit more eccentric but he was doing what he thought best to keep the dragons safe.

If you are a fantasy lover, I would recommend this book. It is full of adventure and thrills. I really loved how he put all the story together and I can’t wait for the next book to come along. I give it a 5/5 cause this book kept me on the edge of my seat. It was a fantastic book!

Now I am going to start reading Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews. She is the author of the month of a yahoo group that I am in. I just picked it up today from the library. Who knows I might make a second post tonight. lol

Miracle on 49th Street by Mike Lupica

Molly Parker is an unusual twelve-year old. When her mom Jen died, she was told who her real father is. That guy was Josh Cameron the MVP of the Boston Celtics. Molly decides to confront Josh but all does not go well. He doesn’t believer her. Molly wants Josh to not only believe her but also to not take a DNA test. That is an odd request and Josh is willing to go along with that. The one final thing that is in her way is Josh’s agent Bobby Fishman. He doesn’t want her around. Even when Molly gets to know Josh Cameron she has to decide if she really wants him for a father. Can Molly see the real Josh and will he want her for a daughter?

Mike Lupica is a good author. I enjoyed this book immensely and had to put it down numerous times so I could get other things done. It’s a wonderful Christmas book with a lot of heart and sports. That part didn’t even bother me at all like I thought it might. I am not a big sports person but this book left me on the edge of my seat. There were emotions and questions on every page.

Being in a situation like Molly is not one I would want to be in. I think she did really well and she was smart with the actions she took. She also wasn’t too smart but that is where the emotions came into play. Josh was so in shock about the whole thing, he wasn’t sure what to do at first. I don’t blame him to have something like sprung on him would have been hard to deal with being a celebrity. I understood that he wanted to make sure she was telling the truth but you would have thought that after reading one of Jen’s letters that it would have brought him around. I guess some people take longer than others. The other person I really likes was Molly’s best friend Sam. He knew a lot about sports but would never play them. He also knew when to joke about stuff to get Molly to smile. That is what good friends do and I could tell that about the two of them. It made me smile too.

I really want people of all ages to read this book even though it is found in the Teen Fiction section of bookstores and libraries. I recommend this one very highly and it is a very good Christmas book to read. I give it a 6/5 cause I enjoyed it that much! I am even thinking about reading the other two books by Mike Lupica in the future.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Jacob Jankowski has seen it all. He even worked for the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. He found himself on the train by accident. He stayed because he had nowhere else to go. Jacob met and fell in love with the start of the show Marlena but she was married. So he had to struggle with not only his feelings for her but his place in the show. Those months of his life were unchangeable and left their mark. But now as a man of 93, he kept recalling the memories and had to battle the feelings he had now.

Sara Gruen is an incredible writer. She writes characters that are so engaging. I couldn’t put the book down. I had to find out what would happen between Jacob and Marlena. The story was so inviting because I had always wondered what it would be like to be part of a circus. She didn’t dash any dreams but gently gave a wake up call to make me realize it’s not all fun and games. It is serious hard work and life can change in a moment.

I admired Jacob the most. He really did all he could to make his job work. Giving up as much as he did was incredible but there wasn’t all that much to give up in his mind. He really focused and stepped up to all the challenges. I also liked Marlena but I loved Rosie. Rosie was a sweet elephant who just needed love to get things right. Once that happened, she was able to do what was asked of her. I didn’t care how the animals were treated sometimes in the book but at that time they thought they knew best.

The book was enjoyable. It was also a quick read for me. I got pulled into the book so much that I didn’t want it to end. I can see why this book got such rave reviews because the writing, the storyline, and the characters are so good that you have to keep turning the pages. I highly recommend this book to not only people who like history but adventure and a little romance on the side.

I give this book a 6/5. I hope to read more but Sara Gruen soon.


Next up is Miracle on 49th Street by Mike Lupica. But off to go do laundry. :)

Tough Choices: A Memoir by Carly Fiorina and New Years Resolutions for Reading!

I enjoyed this book and here is my review:
Carly Fiorina is an amazing woman. From starting out as a receptionist at Marcus & Millichap to eventually becoming the CEO of HP, she led quite a life. Now mind you, she did what she thought was best for every company she worked for and she always asked questions. She sought out problems and did her best to fix them in order to keep things going. She saw a lot of big names and she turned down a lot of opportunities but she is loyal to whom she works for. Her family is also a priority yet her work never stood in the way. She was able to balance them both, which is another thing that amazed me. Carly stood up for what she thought was right and never backed down from questions that were asked of her. When it was all said and done, as frustrating to be fired from HP, she took it in stride and waited a whole year before even writing this book.

This book was written well and I was able to understand a lot of business titles and keywords that I have never heard before. A lot of the things she made sure were working are things that even need to work in every job out there. There needs to be a team and that team needs to work together. It is not always an easy process but Carly never let that get to her. Even when people questioned her because of her background, she stood firm and did the research.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading about business and the workings of them. This was not a book I would typically read but I wanted to hear more about her situation and learn something from it. To have all that power and still be that humble is nice to see in this day and age. I give this book a 4/5 while it is not something I would normally read this is a book that a lot of people might enjoy.


I thought I would keep this to one post so here are my resolutions:
1. 170 books. I was supposed to read 160 but I read more than that. I am hoping the chunksters will help slow me down. :)
2. Keep going through my TBR pile.
3. Classics Challenge
4. Chunkster Challenge
5. Continue book list and blog

So there you go! It took me so long to finish the book because of the holidays. :) But now I hope to start tonight Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.

A Carol Christmas by Muriel Jensen

Carol is a dorm mother at St. Christopher’s Orphanage. She looks after 5 kids, 3 girls and 2 boys who haven’t been placed with a foster home yet. This Christmas is the worst because the orphanage is being shut down and so the kids will have to move somewhere else. When Mother Margaret’s brother Mike comes to stay, the kids connect with him almost immediately. Mike takes a shining to Carol and wonders why she is even there. These 5 kids need a miracle but can it happen and what will it be?

This is the first story that I have read by Muriel Jensen and it won’t be my last. It was a story that melted your heart and you had to keep a box of tissues nearby. She is a wonderful writer and I really felt a part of the story. I loved this one the most because there was so much more to overcome between Carol’s past and what to do with those sweet children. It was a perfect Christmas story to read.

My favorite character was Carol. She was sweet but had a rough exterior due to an unfortunate accident that had happened the year before. It was hard for me to read about what she had been through but I really wanted her to be able to persevere. I also liked Mike as well because he really needed a wake up call. The kids were terrific and it is hard to think about kids that are like them in the same type of situation. Of all the kids I really liked Frank. He was the oldest and he really wanted to have a family. I don’t think he really cared how it came to be but he wanted to have it.

This book was the perfect ending to the anthology and my favorite story of the three. I give this anthology a 6/5 and this particular story a 5/5.


I plan to read more of these authors in the new year. But now onto Tough Choices by Carly Fiorina. She is the former CEO of HP. I am curious to what she has to say.