Monday, December 31, 2012

Fatal indeed


Fatal Judgment (Guardians of Justice #1)Fatal Judgment by Irene Hannon

U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor has seen plenty of action during his years in law enforcement. But he'd rather go back to Iraq than face his next assignment: protection detail for federal judge Liz Michaels. His feelings toward Liz haven't warmed in the five years since she lost her husband--and Jake's best friend--to possible suicide. How can Jake be expected to care for the coldhearted workaholic who drove his friend to despair?
As the danger mounts and Jake gets to know Liz better, his feelings slowly start to change. When it becomes clear that an unknown enemy may want her dead, the stakes are raised. Because now both her life--and his heart--are in mortal danger.
Full of the suspense and romance Irene Hannon's fans have come to love, "Fatal Judgment "is a thrilling story that will keep readers turning the pages late into the night.




My rate & take


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The blurb above talks about being a page turner, and while the book never hit any truly dull parts there was more than a passing reference to God, talking to God, going to church, and praying. I have nothing against any of those things but it had more the feel of a Christian book and I think with it being a sizable portion of the books content it should have at least been mentioned in the blurb. However, I did not base my rating on the bait-and-switch plot but rather the lack of any surprises....you were presented the bad guy almost right away (to get his point of view) and nothing unexpected happened along the way. And even with negatives I still found the writing overall to be decent.


Friday, December 28, 2012

Keeping Warm


The Rancher and the Rock StarThe Rancher And The Rock Star by Lizbeth Selvig

To the world, Gray Covey is a rock superstar. But to his runaway son, he’s simply the father who never has any time for him. To prove that he’s more than his rock star lifestyle, for the next few weeks Gray must put aside his fame and become...a farmhand?

Abby Stadtler has built the perfect, quiet life for herself. Neat and orderly is the name of the game for her and her beloved farm. When Gray shows up on her doorstep, looking like he stepped straight off the front cover of a magazine, she is determined that he won’t upset her routine.

But what neither counts on is the love that springs up between them. Abby knows that life on a ranch in Minnesota can never compete with an exciting world tour. But for Gray, it’s time to decide what’s really important. With Abby’s help, will he be able to decide, once and for all, that love and family are the answer?




My rate & take


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For a cover this yummy I wasn't expecting a lot of real content....well, I was very wrong!
This was a wonderful read from beginning to end and the characters had depth and the story spun situations that felt real in the way the characters reacted within them with a few tiny exceptions, but nothing of real note. And yes, there was some steamy tenderness but nothing over the top. I found this a tasty holiday read to warm my very snowy and chilly surroundings.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Proper goodness

No Proper Lady (Englefield, #1)No Proper Lady by Isabel Cooper


When a half-naked woman suddenly appears on his country estate, Simon Grenville doesn't have time to be shocked. Demonic beasts are hot on his heels until the beautiful stranger unsheathes several knives strapped to her skin-tight trousers and kills them. As he stares at her fierce, heart-stopping face, Simon knows he's in a hell of a lot of trouble...

Joan is from a time where demons run rampant and humanity is fighting for its existence. To prevent this terrible future, she is sent back to Victorian England to kill the magician responsible for unleashing the dark forces. But Joan is a soldier more used to sparring than dancing. To get close to her target, she'll need Simon to teach her how to fit into polite society. Joan doesn't mind practicing proper flirtation on Simon, but she can't allow herself to be distracted by his gentle hands or devilish smile--the very future depends on it.




My rate & take

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I wasn't sure it could be done, blending paranormal beings in with a post-apocalyptic heroine from the future into 1880's England....but I was wrong, it was done and it was also very enjoyable. The key to making it all work was having a hero that was a practitioner of magic and understood there were larger and more unexplained forces within and without the world he inhabited. Overall this was a nice breezy read....something I can recommend for a fast holiday read, or a day on the beach.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Totally Smitten


Fallen Too Far (Fallen Too Far, #1)Fallen Too Far by Abbi Glines

To want what you’re not supposed to have…

She is only nineteen.
She is his new stepfather’s daughter.
She is still naïve and innocent due to spending the last three years taking care of her sick mother.

But for twenty-four year old Rush Finlay, she is the only thing that has ever been off limits. His famous father’s guilt money, his mother’s desperation to win his love, and his charm are the three reasons he has never been told no.

Blaire Wynn left her small farmhouse in Alabama, after her mother passed away, to move in with her father and his new wife in their sprawling beach house along the Florida gulf coast. She isn’t prepared for the lifestyle change and she knows she’ll never fit into this world. Then there is her sexy stepbrother who her father leaves her with for the summer while he runs off to Paris with his wife. Rush is as spoiled as he is gorgeous. He is also getting under her skin. She knows he is anything but good for her and that he’ll never be faithful to anyone. He is jaded and has secrets Blaire knows she may never uncover but even knowing all of that…

Blaire just may have fallen too far.



My rate & take


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I am having trouble knowing where to begin, this book was so,

                                intense/hot/loving/hurtful/joyous/crushing

and it was also over way too quickly...I devoured it in one sitting and now my impatients have been rewarded with a nearly 3 month wait for the follow-up book. I'm not sure how much I can say about this book without giving away everything....I can say I can't stop thinking about the characters and what they are doing right now!! And speaking of right now, why haven't you read this book already? I need others to share the angst with me.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

The stars are out


My Mother Was NutsMy Mother was Nuts by Penny Marshall


Most people know Penny Marshall as the director of Big and A League of Their Own. What they don’t know is her trailblazing career was a happy accident. In this funny and intimate memoir, Penny takes us from the stage of The Jackie Gleason Show in 1955 to Hollywood’s star-studded sets, offering up some hilarious detours along the way.

My Mother Was Nuts is an intimate backstage pass to Penny’s personal life, her breakout role on The Odd Couple, her exploits with Cindy Williams and John Belushi, and her travels across Europe with Art Garfunkel on the back of a motorcycle. We see Penny get married. And divorced. And married again (the second time to Rob Reiner). We meet a young Carrie Fisher, whose close friendship with Penny has spanned decades. And we see Penny at work with Tom Hanks, Mark Wahlberg, Whoopi Goldberg, Robert De Niro, and Whitney Houston.

Throughout it all, from her childhood spent tap dancing in the Bronx, to her rise as the star of Laverne & Shirley, Penny lived by simple rules: “try hard, help your friends, don’t get too crazy, and have fun.” With humor and heart, My Mother Was Nuts reveals there’s no one else quite like Penny Marshall.



My rating & take


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I had no real idea what I was in for with this book but lucky for me this was a total joy from beginning to end. I am a fan of Ms. Marshall's acting work and I love the kinds of movies she directs but I was not prepared for the one-of-a-kind life she had led and the people that she calls friends, oh, and then there were her crazy parents thrown into the mix too. I treasure the honesty that she poured into this book and I love that she seems to have the ability in her life to see through the unnecessary details and get right to the heart of an issue, this must be one of the qualities that makes her such a successful director. I am so glad she took the chance and wrote this book!

 


Monday, December 10, 2012

Crime in Scotland


Cold Granite (Logan McRae, #1)Cold Granite by Staurt MacBride

The debut thriller from a bright new Scottish talent set to rival Ian Rankin. It's DS Logan McRae's first day back on the job after a year off on the sick, and it couldn't get much worse. Four-year-old David Reid's body is discovered in a ditch, strangled, mutilated and a long time dead. There's a killer stalking the Granite City and the local media are baying for blood. If that wasn't enough, Logan also has to contend with a new boss, DI Insch, who doesn't suffer fools gladly and thinks every one's a fool, and his own ex-girlfriend, the beautiful but chilly Isobel MacAlister, who also happens to be the chief pathologist. The only good news is WPC 'Ball Breaker' Watson, Logan's new guardian angel. The dead are piling up in the morgue almost as fast as the snow on the streets, and Logan knows time is running out. More children are going missing. More are going to die. If Logan isn't careful, he's going to end up joining them. Set in Aberdeen, where the rainy season lasts all year...


My rating & take


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I was so excited to read my first Scottish crime novel! I loved getting any Scottish detail I could. I swear I felt cold and miserable right along side the characters when they were forced to spend any time out in the perpetual bad weather.
For a debut novel this was a very solid story and can well imagine the rest of the series is equally so if you judge by the fans of the author.
This has the feel of an old school hard boiled crime novel and I found that very enjoyable for a change of reading pace.


Thursday, December 6, 2012

Caught in the holiday push


Have no fear I will be back with an actual review soon! For now I have fallen victim (albeit very willingly since I love Christmas!) to the swirl of holiday doings and the extra time involved in them, so my reading pace has slowed a bit.

In the meantime if you will be shopping for books lovers or just want to lavish yourself, check here and here to get some great ideas. 

             
                                         Happy Reading !!

 
                                           Liz Scott

Monday, November 26, 2012

Reading Nation


I happened upon this information while happily surfing book news....

                           It's   Book Week Scotland

While I live in the U.S. I harbor a secret (and probably totally unrealistic) crush on all things Scotland. This love began...of course...from books, every since I have been a kilt loving, bag pipe listening, Scottish festival go-er. Even going as far as tracing my 'people' back to Scotland (as I was told our family once hailed from there) but only got as far as the potato famine in Ireland....still pretty stoked I got that close to Celtic roots.

The universe must have known about this week before I did and conspired to make me a part of it because the book I am currently reading is by a Scottish writer. Review to follow of course, but so far so good! 

I love when any country has special events to celebrate reading on a national level. If you are interested in what Scotland has cooked up, hop on over and see for yourself.


Happy reading indeed.

                                                   

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Old school




The Thin ManThe Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett

Nick and Nora Charles are Hammett's most enchanting creations, a rich, glamorous couple who solve homicides in between wisecracks and martinis. At once knowing and unabashedly romantic, The Thin Man is a murder mystery that doubles as a sophisticated comedy of manners.






My rating and take


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I love Nick and Nora Charles! This is the first time we have met in print, my previous encounters with them have been courtesy of the TCM channel, where a few of the movies will be aired once again on December 18th. I did enjoy the witty banter between the characters, and as usual for me with mysteries, I had no idea who-dun-it.
I found it interesting that the bio about the author stated he had worked for the Pinkerton Detective agency, he must have had no end of interesting contacts to write about from that job.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Food for thought

                             
                                    Happy Thanksgiving!


Before the turkey coma hits take a gander at my selection of recommended books (in no particular order) that are either about food or have food in the title. Bon Appetit!





Like Water for ChocolateLike Water for Chocolate














The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie SocietyThe Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society












The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry: Love, Laughter, and Tears at the World's Most Famous Cooking School in ParisThe Sharper Your Knife the Less You Cry














Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and IndonesiaEat Pray Love














The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce, #1)The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie










Sunday, November 18, 2012

No further


                              Blood Smoke and Mirrors by Robyn Bachar



Blood, Smoke and Mirrors
 
Even a bad witch deserves a second chance.


Wrongly accused of using her magic to harm, the closest Catherine Baker comes to helping others is serving their coffee. Life as an outcast is nothing new, thanks to her father’s reputation, but the injustice stings. Especially since the man she loved turned her in.


Now the man has the gall to show up and suggest she become the next Titania? She’d rather wipe that charming grin off his face with a pot of hot java to the groin.

Alexander Duquesne has never faltered in his duties as a guardian -- until now. The lingering guilt over Cat’s exile and the recent death of his best friend have shaken his dedication. With the murder of the old Titania, the faerie realm teeters on the brink of chaos. His new orders: keep Cat alive at all costs.

Hunted by a powerful stranger intent on drawing her into an evil web, Cat reluctantly accepts Lex’s protection and the resurrected desire that comes along with it. Lex faces the fight of his life to keep her safe...and win her back. If they both survive.


Warning: This book contains one tough and snarky witch, one gorgeous guardian, explicit blood drinking, magician sex, gratuitous violence against vampires and troublemaking Shakespearean faeries.



My rating & take


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This book had much of the right ingredients to make a great book but somehow still fell flat. I found myself not caring enough about the characters to rouse my ire at the fact that they were not well developed at all. This is book one in the Bad Witch series and maybe things get better as the writer and series progress but I can't stick around to find out. There are too many undiscovered gems out in the world to be stuck with a 'meh' book.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

A little late but...


I didn't intend to do a post for Veterans Day but having given it some thought I think it is the right thing to do. So I hope this is a 'better late than never' kind of a thing.

Since it is all about the books here at BBBL I have two recommendations that while very different in content, share battlefields of a sort and are both written by veterans.


                                                A Farewell to Arms


A Farewell to ArmsIn 1918 Ernest Hemingway went to war, to the 'war to end all wars'. He volunteered for ambulance service in Italy, was wounded and twice decorated. Out of his experiences came A Farewell to Arms. Hemingway's description of war is unforgettable. He recreates the fear, the comradeship, the courage of his young American volunteer and the men and women he meets in Italy with total conviction. But A Farewell to Arms is not only a novel of war. In it Hemingway has also created a love story of immense drama and uncompromising passion.




                                                       Finding Fish


Finding Fish: A MemoirBaby Boy Fisher was raised in institutions from the moment of his birth in prison to a single mother. He ultimately came to live with a foster family, where he endured near-constant verbal and physical abuse. In his mid-teens he escaped and enlisted in the navy, where he became a man of the world, raised by the family he created for himself. "Finding Fish" shows how, out of this unlikely mix of deprivation and hope, an artist was born -- first as the child who painted the feelings his words dared not speak, then as a poet and storyteller who would eventually become one of Hollywood's most sought-after screenwriters. A tumultuous and ultimately gratifying tale of self-discovery written in Fisher's gritty yet melodic literary voice, "Finding Fish" is an unforgettable reading experience.




While I can't say either is lite reading, I can say both were rewarding reads.


I just want to send out my humble thanks to all who have, and who are now serving in the military, as well as their families who give up much to support the endeavor.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Magic at an end


                                          Magic for a Price by Devon Monk
 
 
Magic For A Price (Allie Beckstrom, #9)Allison Beckstrom’s talent for tracking spells has put her up against some of the darkest elements in the world of magic, but she’s never faced anything like this.

Magic itself has been poisoned, and Allie’s undead father may have left the only cure in the hands of a madman. Hunted by the Authority–the secret council that enforces magic’s laws–wanted by the police, and unable to use magic, she’s got to find the cure before the sickness spreads beyond any power to stop it.

But when a Death magic user seeks to destroy the only antidote, Allie and her fellow renegades must stand and fight to defend the innocent and save all magic…
 
 
 
My rating & take
 
 
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This book represents the ninth and final book in the Allie Beckstrom series. I am sad to see it go as I have enjoyed every book along the way. I do feel satisfied in the ending but can't escape the feeling that I wanted more from it. The first 40 pages or so didn't feel like it had the author's touch and was repetitious in a way I do not recall plaguing the other works. After that it did fall into a better flow. For some reason I was expecting a bigger splash somewhere in this story, whether it was going to be a bigger conclusion to the action, or a big 'yeah we beat the bad guys forever' love scene between the two main characters, I can't say. But I do have my suspicions on my preference! While my socks didn't get knocked off, I am also not weeping in despair....so it's all good.
   


Thursday, November 8, 2012

Great vid


I know next to nothing about Samhain Publishing, but I plan to change that thanks to a great video they made about the ease of downloading books to your e-reader directly from their site. You should give a watch too, even if you don't own an e-reader. It was made in honor of the seventh anniversary of the publishing house. I like the way they celebrate!!



                                           

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

A wee bit chilly


                                       ICED by Karen Marie Moning


Iced (Dani O'Malley, #1)The year is 1 AWC—After the Wall Crash. The Fae are free and hunting us. It’s a war zone out there, and no two days are alike. I’m Dani O’Malley, the chaos-filled streets of Dublin are my home, and there’s no place I’d rather be.

Dani “Mega” O’Malley plays by her own set of rules—and in a world overrun by Dark Fae, her biggest rule is: Do what it takes to survive. Possessing rare talents and the all-powerful Sword of Light, Dani is more than equipped for the task. In fact, she’s one of the rare humans who can defend themselves against the Unseelie. But now, amid the pandemonium, her greatest gifts have turned into serious liabilities.



My rating and take


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This is book 1 of a spin off series from the highly entertaining Fever series. Since the ferver series ended I had been very much looking forward to more from this author. I would not say I was disappointed in this offering, but rather that I felt it was not up to Ms. Moning's usual standard. I felt the editing could have been tighter to control the unnecessary babbling of the main character, who is a 14 years old girl. I just did not think we needed reminding of her age through the whole book. That being my biggest detractor from the story I will say I did appreciate all the characters I have come to know and care about from the fever series coming into their own in this new series...and yes I will be buying the next book when it becomes available. No leaving friends, er, favored book characters, behind for me.

Monday, November 5, 2012

How is it for you?


In reading an interview with author Sandra Cisneros she said something that was fascinating to me,

"I think all books are medicine, and and they are meant for a person who has an ailment of a certain kind. That's why certain books don't speak to us, because we're not ill with that ailment."


Have you ever given much thought to what you read and why?




                                           Liz Scott

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Did you know?

This is new information to me....beginning on November 1st it is NaNoWriMo or for those of us who need it spelled out (myself included) November is National Novel Writing Month. Below is direct from their site, which you can link to here for more details.


"National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing on November 1. The goal is to write a 50,000 word, (approximately 175 page) novel by 11:59:59, November 30.

Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved.

Because of the limited writing window, the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output. It’s all about quantity, not quality. This approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly."


So, have you ever thought about writing a book? I would wager that a healthy number of readers have thought, at least once in their lives, hey, I can do this too! Maybe this is your time! Take a chance, who knows, you may be the next author to make it big.


                                           Liz Scott

Monday, October 29, 2012

Splendid read


Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
 

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour BookstoreThe Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon out of his life as a San Francisco Web-design drone—and serendipity, sheer curiosity, and the ability to climb a ladder like a monkey has landed him a new gig working the night shift at Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. But after just a few days on the job, Clay begins to realize that this store is even more curious than the name suggests. There are only a few customers, but they come in repeatedly and never seem to actually buy anything, instead “checking out” impossibly obscure volumes from strange corners of the store, all according to some elaborate, long-standing arrangement with the gnomic Mr. Penumbra. The store must be a front for something larger, Clay concludes, and soon he’s embarked on a complex analysis of the customers’ behavior and roped his friends into helping to figure out just what’s going on. But once they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, it turns out the secrets extend far outside the walls of the bookstore.


My rating & take


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What a delight this book was to read! I will admit that some parts were a bit slow but it more than made up for it in originality. What book lover among us doesn't love a bookstore, or a mystery about books and their readers? I say curl up to this book and forget about the weather outside.

Friday, October 26, 2012

I did it again

                                     
                                Betrayed by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast


Betrayed (House of Night, #2)Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night. She's come to terms with the vast powers the vampyre goddess, Nyx, has given her, and is getting a handle on being the new Leader of the Dark Daughters. Best of all, Zoey finally feels like she belongs--like she really fits in. She actually has a boyfriend…or two. Then the unthinkable happens: Human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey's old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night, and Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world.


My rating

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My take


After reading book one in the series I could not stop my curiosity and needed to read a little more of the story, and with the exception of some plot repetition and the silly words the main character uses, I did enjoy the read. When it ended I liked imagining the possibilities and direction the series seemed to be taking, but from what I have gathered from many others, the promise does not deliver in future books...so I am going to save my money and time and part ways. I have a juicy TBR list that I am itching to get at, so no sense in going for the mediocre read.


Monday, October 22, 2012

Mixed Book

                             
                                      Marked by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast


Marked (House of Night, #1)The House of Night series is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampyres have always existed. In this first book in the series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the Change, she will train to become an adult vampire -- that is, if she makes it through the Change. Not all of those who are chosen do. It's tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny--with a little help from her new vampyre friends.
                                    

My Rating                                              
                                                
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My take
 
This book is a Young Adult offering but I could not help to wonder how many teenagers think in a similar babbling nonsensical way as the main female character does in many parts of this book (having been one, and knowing a few, my guess is, none). Thankfully the reader gets breaks from the inane internal dialog, and as the book progresses there is less and less. What did keep me reading was of course the story.  It's an interesting mix of teens trying to make the best of a life they were not prepared for, being marked as a vampire (through a unknown genetic trigger) having to leave home, family, and friends, to attend school that will educated and care for them through the process. And like any school, there is no end to the drama created. Overall I did find this book satisfying, and the goddess/Native American spiritualism added another interesting element into the mix.
 
 

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Reading Candy


Reflected in You (Crossfire, #2) Reflected in You by Sylvia Day


My rating

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My summary

This is book two in the Crossfire series and follows the often rocky relationship between Eva and Gideon as they navigate the present through the ghosts of their pasts. (For those that don't know, this is a steamy series not unlike Fifty Shades of Grey.)

My take

This was pure reading candy for me, every page as quickly turned as the last and I would have happily read it in one sitting had time allowed. I will say there were certain themes in the book that were repeated more times than I liked, but in the end when the big reveal was made the repetition made some sense, it seemed as if it was a distracting from what was coming. I very much look forward to the publication of book three which is already entitled Entwined with You.


Saturday, October 13, 2012

Whaaat?


So I'm reading this book and am all excited because it's book three and I'm going to find out all the answers and see how everyone ends up....and I'm really turning the pages and getting closer and closer to the end (but oddly no closer to a resolution) and that's when it happened. I turned a page and suddenly it wasn't story anymore it was the author's after blurb. I quickly turned the pages back and forth, did I miss pages, is my digital book defective? Nope and nope were the answers, so I quickly scanned the authors comments only to see a sentence that says something about 5 books. Five books? Five Books! How and where I got the idea that this was a trilogy...when it's actually a series, I will never know. But it went a long way to explaining why the author was bringing none of the story to a close, and I am glad it turned out not to be a rush ending....but now I have to wait not once more but twice more for the books to come out so I can finally know how the story will end. Sigh.....I'm not the kind of girl that does waiting all the well.  I want what I want when I want it! O.k. now that I have revealed a less perfect side of myself let's get on with the review!



The Spirit Well (Bright Empires, #3)The Spirit Well by Stephen R. Lawhead


My rating
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My summary

This is book three in the Bright Empire series (now that I have figured that out) and continues the travel jumps of a whole host of people (via the ley lines all over our planet) some of which are using their knowledge for good and some for evil.

My take

I love this series and the folks in it. The plot is especially gripping in part due to the fact that they are often removed from each other by not just the distance of miles but by being in different eras within time. I first learned about the existence of ley lines several years ago and have been fascinated ever since, so this story captured and kept my attention. For those who want to learn more about ley lines, click here. Interestingly this book present the idea that nothing that happens in our lives is coincidence or accidental, each happening was designed to provide us with some specific experience or knowledge. I really like books that both entertain and make you think.


Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Blogger at large

I didn't mean to be gone so long, my goal from the inception of this blog has been to post two entries a week....and last week that just didn't quite work out, but I am back with some book news.

The nominees for The 2012 National Book Awards were announced this morning and are as follows;

Fiction

Junot Díaz, This Is How You Lose Her 
Dave Eggers, A Hologram for the King
Louise Erdrich, The Round House
Ben Fountain, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
Kevin Powers, The Yellow Birds

Nonfiction

Anne Applebaum, Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe, 1945-1956
Katherine Boo, Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity
Robert A. Caro, The Passage of Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Volume 4
Domingo Martinez, The Boy Kings of Texas
Anthony Shadid, House of Stone: A Memoir of Home, Family, and a Lost Middle East

Poetry

David Ferry, Bewilderment: New Poems and Translations
Cynthia Huntington, Heavenly Bodies
Tim Seibles, Fast Animal
Alan Shapiro, Night of the Republic
Susan Wheeler, Meme

Young Peoples Literature

William Alexander, Goblin Secrets
Carrie Arcos, Out of Reach
Patricia McCormick, Never Fall Down
Eliot Schrefer, Endangered
Steve Sheinkin, Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon


While I haven't read any of these titles, I am looking forward to hearing more about them. If you would like further information click here.


Tomorrow will bring the announcement of the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Some notable past recipients;

Sir Winston Churchill/Samuel Beckett/John Steinbeck/Ernest Hemingway/Sinclair Lewis/William Faulkner/Toni Morrison/George Bernard Shaw/William Butler Yeats/Saul Bellow/Pablo Neruda/Rudyard Kipling....just to name a few.

As for me...

I spent much of my reading time last week re-reading a portion of The Bone House by Stephen R. Lawhead. I had planned on re-reading the entire book but my impatients to start book three (the ending of the trilogy) got the better of me. And now I'm taking my time savoring book three and the wild ride it is taking me on. The characters are at such different ends I have no idea how the author will tie them together. But of course I will report on this as soon as I have the answer.

Until then, I wish you all, Happy Reading!!


Monday, October 1, 2012

It's Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week runs 9/30/12 to 10/6/12 and since this blog is all about the book it sure had to get a mention.

This is the 30th anniversary of Banned Books Week. It seems with each passing year the awareness and celebration gets a little bigger, now if only it would end the banning of books altogether.

As an avid reader I am not in favor of banning any book. I view controversial books as an opportunity for open ended discussions, not outright banishment.

If you would like some ideas on how to celebrate the week...or see how others plan to, just click here.


What Banned Books have you read?


Here are just a few that I have read;


   The Hunger Games    To Kill a Mockingbird     Harry Potter    1984

               The Color Purple           As I Lay Dying        A Farewll to Arms

   Their Eyes were Watching God                 The Great Gatsby                      




Sunday, September 30, 2012

Them Rules


Rules of Civility The Rules of Civility by Amor Towles


My rating

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 My summary

Set in 1930's New York city and focused on the life of Katherine Kontent, her friends and the decisions she makes that forge her future.

My take

I love reading about an independent woman who is just as comfortable in her own company as well as the company of friends (and oh! She is a reader!)...and add in witty banter and it's all the better. Katherine is level headed in the extreme and is able to read between the lines at what people are really saying and meaning (a talent I am a little jealous of) and direct her actions accordingly. Even though this is a work of fiction the writing was still evocative enough to make me feel like I really was a part of 1930's Manhattan.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Little book that packs a big punch


The Perks of Being a Wallflower The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky



My rating

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My summary

The form of this book was a series of letters written to "Dear Friend" and signed "Love Always, Charlie." Through these letters we get a good look at what Charlie is thinking, feeling, and what his family, friends, and school are like.

My take

This was a very short book but I would not call it a quick read...it's a book that is dense with so much life. The sometimes chaotic thoughts of Charlie reminded me of The Catcher in the Rye, which I haven't read in 20+ years. I was surprised that after all this time I still remember how that book made me feel. 
I later read that CITR was one of a few books that inspired the author.
From the reviews I have seen there seems to be very little middle ground, mostly it's a love it or hate it kind of thing. You already know what side I favor, but I will be honest and say at times this book took me further into dark places than I was comfortable going. However, I stay in reading comfort zones so often that I do need to force myself to venture out, and I am very glad I did in this case. The ending of the book was hopeful, and to use something from the book, it made me feel infinite.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Retro Read


All Creatures Great and Small
 

All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot


My rating

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 My summary

This book is about the veterinary experiences of the author just out of college and beginning to assist at a country practice.
 
My take

The stories in this book take place in the 1930's but the writing never feels dated, it's just as charming and fresh as if it were written about a more recent era. The odd ball characters and their strange behavior and ideas are very entertaining as are the missteps of a vet that finds himself in so many new situations, new to an area, new to assisting in a practice, and new to using his academic knowledge in the very real world of country farm life. I was happy to have come across this lovely read.