The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

Connie Goodwin needs to spend her summer working on her dissertation But her mom calls her last minute asking for help to go through Connie's grandmother's house. While going through her grandmother's house, she comes across a key with the words Deliverance Dane written on a piece of paper attached to it. This launches Connie onto a quest for a book that will help her understand not only her family history but the Salem Witch Trials as well. She starts to have nightmares and begins to wonder if she is tied to that part of history more than she could ever imagine.

Katherine Howe has a great debut novel on her hands. Not only because of her love of history but the detail was really good. Yes some liberties were taken but not much at all. I was impressed how well the book flowed from the past to the present. The characters had depth and the bad guys were not always so easily figured out. The journey she had Connie take was one that took some time but never felt like it ended abruptly.

I really liked Connie from the beginning. She didn't follow the normalcy in life but she knew something was out there for her. It was just a matter of time to finding out what that could be and possibly could be used for her dissertation Her best friend Liz kept her grounded and asked her the tough questions even more so than her mentor Professor Chilton. Professor Chilton drove me bonkers. I understand wanting to push the limits and do your best. But there were times that I felt he was going a little too far. Behind the scenes was Connie's mom Grace. She knew the job ahead of her daughter wouldn't be an easy one. Yet she kept encouraging her to seek deeper. There were times that I found Grace a little out there but as the story unfolded things made a lot more sense.

This is one book that captivated my attention and I was so excited to get my hands on it! Katherine Howe weaves a story that just won't let you go from the beginning to the last page. The twists in the plot had me guessing to see what the book really was. The ending surprised me quite a bit and I was pleased with how it ended. I cannot wait to see what this author does next and hopefully it's something soon. Even if that means it's an entirely different subject.

Katherine Howe/New Author/ Salem Witch Trials/ Magic/ 371 pages/ Favorite of the year/ 5 out of 5

I was going to wait till tomorrow but I cannot! This book was sooo good! I just had to share. My friend Nancy on Bookfoolery and Babble read this one and I had to pick it up! Great story and I hope this author writes more!!

August Stats and Reads!

Books I read:
1.Lords of Corruption by Kyle Mills 07-31-08 through 08-03-09 B
2.The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas by John Boyne 08-03-09 through 08-04-09 A+ (another fav)
3.The Agency by Ally O'Brien-DNF
4.The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White 08-05-09 through 08-12-09 B
5.Stalked by Brian Freeman 08-13-09 through08-14-09 A
6.In the Dark by Brian Freeman 08-14-09 through08-16-09 A
7.In the Sanctuary of Outcasts by Neil White 08-16-09 through 8-20-09 A+
8.The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf 08-21-09 through 08-23-09 A
9.Nefertiti by Michelle Moran 08-23-09 through08-27-09 B

Stats:
Total Books I Read: 8
New Authors: 6
Fiction: 7
Non-Fiction:1
Chunkster: 1
Mystery:2
Romance: 0
From the Stacks: 2
Books for Review: 1
Books I Bought: 0
Total Pages Read: 2, 722 pages

I was hoping to have the current book I am reading done but was very tired last night after work. So will finish that one up today! :)

Nefertiti by Michelle Moran

A family destined to be in the record books in Egypt. But when the Pharaoh dies, Nefertiti must be married to the younger son of the two. Her family doesn't think it is a good idea but Nefertiti is determined to see that it works. But the one caught up in it all is her sister Mutnodjmet. Her life is taken away from her as she serves her sister. She'd do anything for Nefertiti but as time goes by, she wonders what kind of queen Nefertiti wants to become.

Ms. Moran has definitely done her research. Yeah a few things were changed but this is fiction after all. The story swept me up and it was written very well! Ms. Moran certainly knew how to place a scene before you and keep you turning pages. The characters evolve at a good pace. There is a lot of the history I wasn't sure about but I was able to follow the story line in spite of it.

Mutnodjmet is a wonderful character. I grew to really like her and wish she was real. She had her head grounded and she'd help her family in any way she could within reason. Her knowledge of herbs was phenomenal for that time. Nefertiti started out knowing what she was to become. Yet along the way, I felt she didn't care what others thought. At first, it wasn't a bad thing but over time, I felt she needed to be a little more open. Now mind you, I don't know what it is like to be a first wife. I've never had to really vie for my husband's attention. So this situation wasn't something I could relate to all that well.

A powerful debut by this author and I am curious to see where the next book in the series goes. I'm not sure when I'll be able to get to it but I plan on it eventually. This author explains herself in the back of the book with some of the things she changed. I understood why she did but before then I had no clue that she had really changed anything. I was pleased with her writing style and how the characters unfolded in the story. This is definitely a new author to me and one that I'll pick up with each new book.

Michelle Moran/New Author/ Egypt/ Historical Fiction/ 462 pages/ 3.5 out of 5

I plan on starting The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane sometime today but have a few things I need to get done around here first. :)I hope it lives up to all the hype I've heard about it.

The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

Calli has not spoken since she was four years old. Watching her mother lose her baby was enough but someone whispered words in her ear. Now her best friend Petra talks for her. But when both girls disappear, questions arise if something more sinister has happened in this small Iowa town. Now it's a race for time to find them and hope that they can catch whomever is behind it all.

Ms. Gudenkauf has a fantastic emotional roller coaster on her hands. Between the emotions and old ties between two of the characters and the desperation felt by the parents, you just cannot put the book down. Ms. Gudenkauf captured small town life so well. I was enthralled with not only the process that they had to follow to do a search but how it was broken. Emotions were running high and all the points of view presented in the book flowed so well.

Between Ben (Calli's brother), Antonia (Calli's mom), Sheriff Louis, Martin (Petra's dad), as well as Calli herself, you got a good glimpse into what was going on. There is a lot of drama going on in this small town. Calli gets swept up into it.

This is one book that captured my attention from the beginning. For being a debut, it was amazing! There were twists and turns that just kept me turning pages. The idea behind it all made me curious to see how it would play out. I was never quite sure who the suspect was from the beginning. Something didn't add up but I wasn't able to figure things out till the end. Definitely cannot wait to see what this author does next!

***

Okay so I am a little behind in posting. I just finished a book this morning so not sure when I'll post the review.

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

In the Dark by Brian Freeman

Jonathan Stride thought that he had battled all his demons. An old friend of Cindy, his now dead wife, Tish comes to town focused on solving the murder of Laura. It's a case that has been unsolved for over thirty years. There are secrets that just should not come to light. Someone is determined to keep it that way. But will Tish be able to?

Brian Freeman sure knows how to get you in this fourth novel. The series moves along at the right pace. The surprises in this plot are outstanding. He hooks you from the first page. The depth of his characters will only make you want to read more. This is an author who doles out the clues one at a time. He also weaves in some local history that amazed me.

Having this case resurface is difficult for Jonathan. Serena is by his side supporting him through it all. I could see how things weren't always easy for her. But she was in it for the long haul. I was glad to see Maggie back as well. She has grown a lot since the last book. The characters in the series are evolving and expanding so that you feel like you've been visiting with friends.

I can't wait for the next book in the series. It's well worth it. But this mystery is full of violence and secrets. Someone was murdered so that they would keep quiet. This is one book that won't be easy to read at night. All in all, I was pleased with the twist at the end of the book. I never saw it coming. Once again, Brian Freeman outdid himself!

Brian Freeman/Minnesota/ Mystery/ Murder/ 357 pages/ 4 out of 5

I am now working on a non-fiction a friend recommended. I am really liking it and hope to be done soon. :)

Stalked by Brian Freeman

Jonathan Stride is settled at home in Duluth, MN with his girlfriend Serena. The case Stride is working on will affect his personal life when he gets a call from his partner Maggie about her husband being shot. Serena also feels like she is being watched but by whom? Can they piece everything together to figure out what is really happening or will it be too much to handle?

Brian Freeman is a genius! The twists and turns in this book had me wanting to keep reading even though I had things to do. I had to force myself to put the book down. It had creepy thrilling moments and the dark undertones that ran through out the book were balanced right. The story never seemed over the top and the sub plots all ran smoothly with the main plot line.

Jonathan is stepping into a new area with Serena. He is trusting her implicitly as well as finding how they fit together. Serena's past is coming back to haunt her. Yet she always makes sure to let Jonathan in on what is going on for the most part. They even had a way of discussing things together that they had to keep secret because of the cases they were working on till things were solved. Maggie was always there for the two of them. Even though she lost her husband, she wanted to find out who was behind it and why. She is a very determined woman.

Brian Freeman definitely will hold your attention. If you like Harlan Coben, this author writes in a similar style. I cannot wait to read the next one in the series to see where things keep going. Some loose ends from another book were tied up at the end of this one. I never would have seen it coming. This is one author that I read every time!

Brian Freeman/Mystery/360 pages/ Minnesota/ 4 out of 5

Off to the next one in the series and then some non-fiction.

The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White

Wart, or Arthur, is training to be a squire under the eyes of Sir Ector's watch. Sir Ector's son Kay will become a knight. When in the forest going after a lost hawk, Wart meets Merlyn. Merlyn becomes the new tutor for Wart and Kay. The adventures range from fun to mind boggling. Wart has much to learn and Merlyn is there to help him. There are also things of that time period, jousting and such that must be found time to learn as well. Will Wart be able to take his place at the new king?

Mr. White created a world that took some time to get used to. Having not read a children's classic in awhile, I had to get used to the vernacular all over again. Once I was able to follow it, the stories unfolded and I couldn't get enough. Mr. White truly knows how to get you to step into another world with ease. He takes all different kinds of characters and historical people to make this story work. I was truly pleased.

The Young Wart, Arthur, was shy at first. He knew what his station in life would always be due to the fact that he didn't know who his parents were. Sir Ector was kind enough to take him under his wing. Yet there were certain things Wart knew he'd never do. Or so he thought. Merlyn was a fantastic character! I loved seeing a new take on Merlyn. The other characters of King Pelinore, Sir Ector, Madam Mim and others brought the cast to a completion. The range of their personalities were fun to watch unfold.

The adventures were so much more fun than the Disney movie. I was truly impressed with how much was followed yet the things that were left out were my favorites. The beginning dragged for me but by the end, I was sad to see it end. This was a fun romp in period fiction and I am curious to see what else was written by this author. I wouldn't read this to anyone under the age of 10 only since there is some coarse language used. There were times I was surprised I didn't burst out into song with all the bits of songs that were part of the story!


T.H.White/288 pages/Children's Fiction/New Author/4 out of 5

Off to a mystery, need a change of pace!

The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas by John Boyne

Bruno comes home one day from school to find his family's maid Maria packing up his belongings. Confused as ever, he goes to seek out his mother for answers. It all comes back to his Father's job for the Fury. The new house is not like the one in Berlin at all. Bruno has no friends to play with and his parents get a tutor so he can continue his schooling. His older sister Gretel can be very annoying. He's not sure he'll make it at the new house until he explores and meets this little boy Schmuel who wears stripped pajamas and lives on the other side of the fence.

Mr. Boyne did a fabulous job with the story line. You really get to see the world at that time through a naive child's eyes. The beliefs that were held at that time show through this book. The black and white way of life is again shown very well. I'm not sure how the writer was able to write this book but it was well done.

I'm not really sure what more to say since I don't want to give away the plot. After finishing it up, I couldn't pick up another book. It's an emotional roller coaster and I am so glad I finally read it. It's definitely a favorite of the year so far since it expounded on so much that I knew. To see the inter workings of the Nazi from a child's perspective was something that I haven't come across before. Bruno is a little boy who will stay with me for a long time.

John Boyne/New Author/ Holocaust/Adult Fiction/215 pages/ 5 out of 5

I was impressed with the bland cover because then you didn't have any preconceived notions about the book. I am curious to read his other works as well as to see the movie.

Lords of Corruption by Kyle Mills

Josh Hagarty gets a chance at a job in Africa helping a charity. He's not sure it's a good idea but it sounds like it pays well and they're willing to help send his sister to college. Once he arrives, he finds out the true reason for the last guy's death and things aren't as they appear. Yet he wonders if there is anything he can do. The organization threatens the life of his sister and the only help comes from a woman who works in Africa as well as a journalist. Josh isn't sure who he can trust. All he knows is that he has to try or he won't survive.

Mr. Mills has a fantastic thriller on his hands. He kept things moving at a good pace and didn't get too gory. Things that happened in the book weren't always pleasant but it was never in detail which helped me get through it. The bad guys in this book were truly horrible. They had ulterior motives and things were presented so that it could be followed. I was never confused with what was happening.

I felt awful for Josh. All he wanted to do was provide for his sister and give her the life he never had. Yet at every corner, there were obstacles in his way. He had to figure out what was more important and deal with some very moral issues. No one is perfect but Josh did try his best to stick with what he believed. Annika was a wonderful woman who had spent many years in Africa in a small village. She was a huge help knowing the language and got them out of some tricky situations. Yet it was never sure if their lives were safe.

To think that there are corrupt charities out there breaks my heart, yet I know not everyone has the right reasons when starting one. This book presented a very real picture and kept my heart pumping. There were times I wanted to put the book down but I kept picking it back up to find out what would happen next. Mr. Mills knows how to keep you glued to the book to the very end. The coarse language got annoying after all but I know authors must stay true to how the characters talk. I am definitely thinking about reading more of his works.


Kyle Mills/New Author/Charities/Thriller/ 320 pages/ 4 out of 5

Well off to start The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas and then hopefully onto something a little on the lighter side of things.

July Stats and Reads

I was hoping to finish one more but that didn't happen. Sooo, here is my list of books and stats.

Reads:
1.Thursday Next by Jasper Fforde 07-01-09 through07-04-09 A
2.Dating Games by Leigh Michaels 07-05-09 through 07-06-09 A+
3.One False Move by Harlan Coben 07-06-09 through 07-07-09 A
4.The Note by Angela Hunt 07-08-09 through 07-09-09 A+ (fav this year)
5.The Fairy Rebel by Lynne Reid Banks 07-10-09 through 7-12-09 A+
6.The Great Influenza by John M. Barry 07-12-09 through 07-25-09 B
7.Austenland by Shannon Hale 07-25-09 through 07-28-09 A+ (Another fav)
8.Waiting to surface by Emily Listfield-DNF

Stats:
Total Books I Read: 7
New Authors: 4
Fiction:6
Non-fiction: 1
Chunkster: 1
Mystery:2
Romance: 1
From the Stacks: 5
Books for Review: 1
Books I Bought: 0
Total Pages Read: 2, 173 pages

I rarely have a DNF or Do Not Finish but this one was just way too depressing and just didn't grab my attention. Other things to get done today. Just wanted to make a quick post!

Austenland by Shannon Hale

Jane Hayes has an obsession with Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice among other Austen works. She is also thoroughly in love with Mr. Darcy. No man has ever measured up to that in the past 13 boyfriends. Her great-aunt Carolyn comes to visit with her mother. Once great-aunt Carolyn dies, Jane inherits a trip to England to a place called Pembrook Park. It is the world of Jane Austen brought to life. Jane is enthralled from the beginning. This could be the one thing that helps her understand her obsession and maybe conquer it once and for all.

Ms. Hale really knows her stuff. Her research shows and I completely felt swept up in the Regency world. Her characters had flaws but it made it even more real. The journey she took them on was interesting with the whole concept of play acting. It was difficult to distinguish at times what was real and what was just acting. I really did like seeing the world brought to life by one character's eyes. It made it more vivid and the challenges were interesting.

Jane sees a gift and takes it. She has to figure out how to just play along. Getting rid of her fantasy is the idea behind it all or at least toning it down. Knowing she'll never truly meet her ideal man, she takes the trip for what it is. A way to glimpse into the world she has always dreamed about. She looks over her past 13 relationships and sees what was wrong with all of them. Dreaming about Mr. Darcy is not a bad thing but it's hindering her real world relationships.

Can she find a way to enjoy her dream but go back to the real world? Jane certainly has her hands full with the way things are playing out in her play acting world. Ms. Hale did an amazing job with this story. It was also very sweet due to being set during the Regency period and the strict rules that they had to follow. I loved every minute of it! I will definitely check out the other works by this author that are geared more towards the Young Adult crowd.

Shannon Hale/ New Author/ 208 pages/Adult Fiction/ Regency World/5 out of 5

It took me longer than I wanted to put this one together. It was a great book though. Now I am reading another new author for me but not sure I'll finish it by the end of the month. We'll see.

The Great Influenza by John M. Barry

Requesting this book back when I was still a member of Paperback swap, I wasn't sure what exactly to expect. Along the way, not only did I learn about our health care system, the background of the medical community all over the world, but also how we responded poorly at first to the flu epidemic of 1918. Mr. Barry only expected to show about the people behind trying to solve what caused it. It became so much more and you got so much background that it truly helped give you a great look into how things were formed.

Mr. Barry took his time and kept things interesting. I never lost interest or seemed like it was boring. There were a few multiple lines of things he had to describe but nothing overwhelming. I was impressed with his knowledge. He was able to find so much when there wasn't a lot of reporting done. People's lives were at stake and that was the main focus. They worked diligently night and day to find the cause of the illness so that they could produce a vaccination to curtail the deaths.

This was a book that fascinated me from the beginning. I would definitely love to read more by this author. He has a way of captivating your attention from the very first page till the end. He makes history come alive in the pages but never condemns anyone for their actions. He just presents the whole picture of what happened and leaves it up to you to decide. A book to check out if you love History and want to get a good picture of a huge event that changed lives forever.


John M. Barry/New author/ History/ Chunkster/ 546 pages/4 out of 5

Off to some lighter reading with Debbie Macomber.

Bowing My Head in Rememberance

I just saw the article that Frank McCourt has died. A man who changed my outlook on reading and non-fiction is gone. Here is the link to the article from the NY Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/books/20mccourt.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1

A sad day

Frank McCourt, one of my all time favorite authors, is sick. His brother has come out and said they don't expect him to survive. If you'd like to read the full article, here is the link:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090716/ap_on_en_ot/us_frank_mccourt

This is one author who I have loved to read since I picked up Angela's Ashes and knowing how impressed he was with the film made it even better! This will be a sad day if he does end up dying. I guess all I can do is watch and pray.

The Fairy Rebel by Lynne Reid Banks

Jan loves being an actress but a tragic accident leaves her with a limp foot and the desire to hide herself. Meeting the doctor Charlie just turns her life up side down. Years later, after having no children, Jan is desperate. Sitting in her garden one day, she sees a fairy. A grown up seeing a fairy is unusual but then Tiki decides to help Jan with having a child. The baby girl is beautiful but underneath it all is a Fairy Queen who is not happy at all. They have a battle ahead of them that even they don't know how to handle.

Ms. Banks creativity shines through on this one. The fairies are real and there are good ones and bad ones which only makes it more true to life. The idea of being granted a fairy baby is so different. The story may be a little short but the detailed descriptions really pull this story. I was so pleased with how well it was written and the ending as well.

Jan may be a spoiled woman in the beginning but her heart shines through for her daughter Bindi. I loved the conversations with the fairy Tiki. Her husband Charlie doesn't believe her at first. Even I would have my doubts about what was said in this story. He never said she was wrong but that he couldn't believe her. I hated to see the story end.

This is one story that I have had for way too long. I'll treasure it forever and may even read it again. It's so beautiful. The battle between good and evil make it an even greater story. It pulls you in and I had to slow myself down so that I wouldn't read too fast. It grips you from the beginning and doesn't let you go till the very end. Having read this author before, I definitely want to see what else she has written.

Lynne Reid Banks/ New Author/ Children's Book/128 pages/ Fairies/ 5 out of 5

I read Maura's Angel by this author sent in Belfast, Northern Ireland so might have to re-read it since it's been years. The cover I'm posting is my favorite. They changed it and it doesn't have the same affect I think.

The Note by Angela Hunt

Peyton MacGruder works hard for writing her column for the Tampa Times and is single. Yet when she learns her column “The Heart Healer” is ranked last in a reader poll, she is only given two weeks to turn it around. Then the unthinkable happens. PanWorld Flight 848 crashes and bursts into flames. Peyton is given a note in a plastic bag that is washed up onto the shore. This just might be what she is looking for and since there is not a lot of indicators she must search to find the intended for the note. She's determined to give the note to the intended owner. But as the story gains national attention, there is a lot more that Peyton will have to battle besides her emotions.

Ms. Hunt has always been a favorite author of mine. I've had this book for quite some time and was so glad to read another one of her stories. The emotion, the passion, and how she backs everything up with biblical things just blows me away every time. Ms. Hunt gets to the heart of the matter and doesn't let go till your own emotions are pulled to the surface. The characters are not perfect and you just hope to see things get better and that there is some resolution.

Peyton keeps her heart close and rarely reaches out to other people. This note handed to her changes her view of things and she begins to question the decisions she has made for her own life. The voice of reason often comes from her former boss Kingston Bernard. He is there when she truly needs a friend and offers her help with interviewing the possibilities she has for the intended of the note.

This story full of emotions truly showed how reconciliation is important since you never know when something may happen to take away that chance. Ms. Hunt gives you great insight to each characters' view of Peyton that she comes in contact with or works with. I truly appreciated that and never felt that it pulled away from the story itself. It only added a greater depth and insight that I found very helpful. This book may have just become my favorite of the year. Definitely a book to have tissues near by.

Angela Hunt/ Tragedy/ Christian Fiction/ 320 pages/ 5 out of 5

The book was much better than the movie since it was easier to follow in some aspects. It's not a horrible movie but the changes they made to it, I really didn't care for. They pushed some things for dramatic effect or genders that I found unnecessary. All in all, both are well done but pick up the book first if you are able. Sometime this weekend, I plan on picking up a young adult book that I've had for quite some time!

One False Move by Harlan Coben

Myron is not the kind of guy who babysits, yet when he gets a call to keep an eye on the pro basketball player Brenda Slaughter, he cannot say no. The case is puzzling and he has known her for a long time. Brenda's mother disappeared twenty years ago, and is now getting calls to try to contact her. She is at a loss since she recently filed a restraining order on her father. The people popping out of the wood work wanting to keep things quiet range from a high society member to a mob boss trying to start a new women's basketball league. Things could get interesting and Myron is struggling in his own life.

Harlan Coben never disappoints me. The characters always come back and bring more depth to the story. As usual, the humor was there and I loved it! Win certainly knows how to move mountains. The man has a reputation and well earned at that. The series moves along nicely at a good pace and I am looking forward to reading the next one.

Myron has a lot on his mind. His relationship with his girl friend just isn't going where he would like at times but doesn't really want to push. Meanwhile Esperanza wants more out of her job than what she currently has. Myron struggles not only with all of it and how to handle it. Win doesn't help him make decisions just shows things to him in a different light. That is why I think they are such good friends is that they can flush things out and discuss without offending one another.

I am curious to see where this goes next and happy I have a few more books left before his latest comes out in paperback. This is one series that I have really grown to love and an author who always has a twist that I don't see coming at the end. Definitely an all time favorite author and I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next!


Harlan Coben/ Myron Bolitar Series/ Mystery/400 pages/Sports/4 out of 5

I am off reading a Christian Fiction book that has been on my shelves for awhile now. Definitely need a break in reading styles.

Dating Games by Leigh Michaels

Rachel Todd is sick of friends wanting to set her up. She would rather stay single. “Crash” McKenna is his family's only client and they want to see him just as happy as they are. Yet if they work together, maybe it will finally get the line of dates off their backs. “Crash” knows their plan isn't all that simple so why is he going along with it?

Ms. Michaels is a fantastic writer. She has this family series that keeps you in stitches. The story moves along at a great pace and the twist at the end is one that I never saw coming. Though I rarely do see them coming in all honesty. She keeps you hoping for the best for the characters even if they are denying it themselves.

Rachel keeps all men at a distance. She knows her career could go somewhere and relationships just aren't her thing. She is a sweetheart but knows something is missing. The thing is the secrets in her past keep her locked away. “Crash” is sick of being fixed up by his family. He longs for his own family but knows that it will come along at the right time. The whole situation he finds himself in isn't how he'd have it happen but he's not about to turn away a gift.

Even though this is the last in the series, I loved it so much! I honestly didn't even know it was part of a series so it had no effect on the book itself. It can certainly be read alone and I'd love to get my hands on the rest of the series eventually. Ms. Michaels writes with such emotion that I had to go back and read the ending a second time cause tears were streaming down my face. The majority of the book was light and had me in stitches. It was nice to know that even older, authors still like to write clean simple romances. So much can be experienced in a simple kiss. I will definitely seek more of this author's work out! I think I found a new favorite author.


Leigh Michaels/New Author/Romance/187 pages/ Family/ Matchmaking/ 5 out of 5

Now off to something different, a Harlan Coben book. :)

Thursday Next: First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde

Thursday will have quite a situation on her hands. Changes must be made or outlanders will no longer read. In the last fourteen years, readership has dropped. Having to hide her what she does, certainly doesn't make things easier than taking up a laying carpet job as a front. Her sixteen year old son would rather sleep than take up his destiny as leader of the Chronoguard. And having to train a new cadet in the book world is only the beginning. She has to face down her worst enemy, herself.

Mr. Fforde has done it again! It has taken me a long time to pick up this book and boy am I glad I have now! There is so much literature stuff involved in this book that it just makes me very happy. The depth of characters and seeing how the world has changed for Thursday has been enjoyable. There were a few times I wasn't sure how Mr. Fforde would wrap things up but old nemeses coming into play shook up this reader's world. The twists and turns in this plot had me flipping pages over and over again. This is one author who certainly knows how to write good fiction!

Thursday has grown up and has more children with Landon. Landon is still trying to write the great novel and not having a whole lot of luck. Thursday does her best to help him but it still seems to fall short. Not to mention that Thursday is battling the book world issues and trying to make her life better at the same time. Her son Friday just wants to play in a band and forget about the chronoguard even though her father was involved in that. Things cannot seem to get any more messy for Thursday.

I won't give away any of my favorite parts but I thank authors who have allowed Mr. Fforde to pop their characters in. It was seriously too much fun for this reader! I cannot wait for the next Thursday Next book and am curious to read the book he has coming out in December. Hopefully this time, it won't take nearly as long to get to it.

Jasper Fforde/ Thursday Next Series/ 384 pages/Literary/ 4 out of 5

Keep an eye open for a fun post in the next couple of days!