Exclusively Books

"The Next Always" by Nora Roberts

2011-11-14T19:47:00.001+10:30

The historic hotel in Boonsboro has endured war and peace, changing hands, even rumoured hauntings. Now it's getting a major facelift from the Montgomery brothers and their eccentric mother. Beckett is the architect of the family, and his social life consists mostly of talking shop over pizza and beer. But there's another project he's got his eye on: the girl he's been waiting to kiss since he was fifteen.

After losing her husband and returning to her hometown, Clare Brewster soon settles into her life as the mother of three young sons while running the town's bookstore. But Clare is drawn across the street by Beckett's transformation of the old inn, wanting to take a closer look ... at the building and the man behind it. These stolen moments are the beginning of something new - and open the door to the extraordinary adventure of what comes next ...

I have become a real fan of Nora Roberts novels and I was excited to see her latest release ... this series is set around three brothers and their restoration of a local Inn. Beckett is the youngest brother and he has been in love with Clare since high school. He has his chance with romancing her when she moves back to the town after being widowed. While a lot of the novel talks about the restoration of the Inn I was quite intrigued with that side of it and felt it fitted with the story quite well. I loved the play between the three brothers and being a mum of three boys myself loved to see that they did care and love each other. Each of the three brothers have strong personalities and each bring their own unique skills into the restoration of the Inn. Beckett seems to be the more sensitive of the three boys and has a wonderful fatherly appeal to him as he relates to Clare's boys.

The three women that are the main characters in this story are all strong in their own right, but each longs for a partner that they can share everything with. Clare is a widow who has three young boys that she looks after, a book store that she owns and runs, and a guy that just won't leave her alone to contend with. Having had to deal with all that by herself for such a long time, she struggles to let Beckett help with some of the load. I love the way that they both learn to give and take and to trust each other.

There is also a side story with the Inn beginning haunted and at first seemed a little weird but I did start to enjoy the play of the ghost in the story. I actually hope we get to learn a bit more about who the ghost is in the next two novels.

Overall I would give this book a 4 star rating, i really enjoyed it.

Warning there is some bad language in this novel which to me was not necessary but it doesn't detract from the story.

It's a light read for those rainy days....

2011-10-30T21:54:00.001+10:30

Well it has been a while since I posted on here but hopefully that will change. I have a load of books that I have read and a bookcase of new books just waiting to be read :) .....

"The Help" Kathryn Stockett

2011-08-02T18:25:00.001+09:30

Book club read for August.

Enter a vanished world: Jackson, Mississippi, 1962.

Where black maids raise white children, but aren't trusted not to steal the silver ...

There's Aibileen, raising her seventeeth white child and nursing the hurt caused by her own son's tragic death; Minny, whose cooking is nearly as sassy as her tongue; and white Miss Skeeter, home from college, who wants to know why her beloved maid has disappeared.

Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny. No one would believe they'd be friends; fewer still would tolerate it. But as each woman finds the courage to cross boundaries, they come to depend and rely upon one another. Each is in a search of a truth. And together they have an extraordinary story to tell ...

Pegasus Robin McKinley

2011-07-11T16:00:00.003+09:30

Because she was a princess,

she had a pegasus....

Princess Sylviianel has always known that on her twelfth birthday

she too would be bound to her own pegasus.

All members of the royal family have been thus bound since the Alliance

was made almost a thousand years ago; the binding system

was created to strengthen the Alliance, because humans and pegasi can only

communicate formally, through specially trained Speaker magicians.

Sylvi is accustomed to seeing pegasi every day at the palace, but she still finds the idea

of her binding very daunting. The official phrase is that your pegasus is your

"Excellent Friend."

But how can you be friends with someone you can't talk too?

But everything is different for Sylvi and Ebon from the moment they meet at her binding -

when they discover they can talk to each other.

They form so close a bond that it becomes a threat to the status quo -

and possibly to the future safety of their two nations.

For some of the magicians believe there is a reason humans and pegasi should not

fully understand each other....

Discussion Questions for Perfume by Patrick Suskind

2011-05-11T20:10:00.002+09:30

1. Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is born in a food market that had been erected above the Cimetiere des Innocents, the "most putrid spot in the whole kingdom" [p. 4]. He barely escapes death at his birth; his mother would have let him die among the fish guts as she had her four other children. But Grenouille miraculously survives. How would you relate the circumstances of his birth to the life he grows up to live?

2. When the wet nurse refuses to keep Grenouille because he has no smell and therefore must be a "child of the devil" [p. 11], Father Terrier takes him in. But he is exasperated. He has tried to combat "the superstitious notions of the simple folk: witches and fortune-telling cards, the wearing of amulets, the evil eye, exorcisms, hocus-pocus at full moon, and all the other acts they performed" [p. 14]. In what ways can Perfume be read as a critique of the eighteenth century's conception of itself as the Age of Reason? Where else in the novel do you find rationality being overcome by baser human instincts?

3. Throughout the novel, Grenouille is likened to a tick. Why do you think Süskind chose this analogy? In what ways does Grenouille behave like a tick? What does this analogy reveal about his character that a more straightforward description would not?

4. Grenouille is born with a supernaturally developed sense of smell. He can smell the approach of a thunderstorm when there's not a cloud in the sky and wonders why there is only one word for smoke when "from minute to minute, second to second, the amalgam of hundreds of odors mixed iridescently into ever new and changing unities as the smoke rose fromthe fire" [p. 25]. He can store and synthesize thousands of odors within himself and re-create them at will. How do you interpret this extraordinary ability? Do you think such a sensitivity to odor is physically possible? Do you feel Süskind wants us to read his novel as a kind of fable or allegory? Why do you think Süskind chose to build his novel around the sense of smell instead of one of the other senses? What challenges does the author face when writing about the sense of smell?

5. What motivates Grenouille to commit his first murder? What does he discover about himself and his destiny after he has killed the red-haired girl?

6. Do the descriptions of life in eighteenth-century France—the crowded quarters, the unsanitary conditions, the treatment of orphans, the punishment of criminals, etc.—surprise you? How are these conditions related to the ideals of enlightenment, reason, and progress that figure so prominently in eighteenth-century thinking?

7. How does Süskind treat religion in the novel?

8. The perfumer Baldini initially regards Grenouille with contempt. He explains, "Whatever the art or whatever the craft—and make a note of this before you go!—talent means next to nothing, while experience, acquired in humility and with hard work, means everything" [p. 74]. And yet Grenouille is able to concoct the most glorious perfumes effortlessly and with no previous experience or training. What do you think the novel as a whole conveys about the relationship between genius and convention, creativity and destruction, chaos and order?

9. The narrator remarks, "Odors have a power of persuasion stronger than that of words, appearances, emotions, or will. The persuasive power of an odor cannot be fended off, it enters into us like breath into our lungs, it fills us up, imbues us totally. There is no remedy for it" [p. 82]. Do you think this is true? Why would an odor have such power? In what ways does Grenouille use this power to his advantage?

10. Some reviewers have claimed that the Süskind's writing in Perfume is "verbose and theatrical, " while others have described it as "sensuous and supple." Clearly, the writing is more extravagantly imaginative than the pared down minimalism of much recent American fiction. How do you respond to Süskind's prose? How do you respond to the critical reactions outlined above?

11. Grenouille is introduced as "one of the most gifted and abominable personages in an era that knew no lack of gifted and abominable personages" [p. 3]. Does Süskind manage to make him a sympathetic character, in spite of his murders and obsessions? Or do you find him wholly repellent? How might you explain Grenouille's actions? To what extent do his experiences shape his behavior? Do you think he is inherently evil?

12. When Grenouille emerges from his self-imposed seven-year exile, he is brought to the attention of the marquis de La Taillade-Espinasse, whose theory that "life could develop only at a certain distance from the earth, since the earth itself constantly emits a corrupting gas, a so-called fluidum letale, which lames vital energies and sooner or later totally extinguishes them" [pp. 139 - 140] seems to explain Grenouille's sad condition. This theory also contends that all living creatures therefore "endeavor to distance themselves from the earth by growing" upwards and away from the earth [p. 140]. What attitudes and beliefs is Süskind satirizing through the character of Taillade-Espinasse?

13. Grenouille becomes, toward the end of the novel, a kind of olfactory vampire, killing young women to rob them of their scents. "What he coveted was the odor of certain human beings: that is, those rare humans who inspire love. These were his victims" [p. 188]. Why does he need the scents of these people?

14. In the novel's climatic scene, just as Grenouille is about to be executed, he uses the perfume he's created to turn the townspeople's hatred for him into love and to inspire an orgy which collapses class distinctions and pairs "grandfather with virgin, odd-jobber with lawyer's spouse, apprentice with nun, Jesuit with Freemason's wife—all topsy-turvy, just as opportunity presented" [p. 239]. Grenouille is revered and regards himself as godlike in this triumph. Does he enjoy this moment, or is it a hollow victory? What is the novel suggesting about the nature of human love? About order and disorder?

15. After Grenouille leaves the town of Grasse, where he has caused so much death and suffering, his case is officially closed and we're told, "The town had forgotten it in any event, forgotten it so totally that travelers who passed through in the days that followed and casually inquired about Grasse's infamous murderer of young maidens found not a single sane person who could give them any information" [p. 247]. Why do the townspeople react this way? Why isn't it possible for them to integrate what has happened into their daily consciousness?

16. How do you interpret the novel's ending, as Grenouille returns to the Cimetiere des Innocents and allows himself to be murdered and eaten by the criminals who loiter there? What ironies are suggested by the narrator's assertion that Grenouille's killers had just done something, for the first time, "out of love" [p. 255]?

17. Perfume is set in eighteenth-century France and tells an extravagant story of a man possessed with a magical sense of smell and a bizarrely destructive obsession. Do its historical setting and fantastic elements make it harder or easier to identify with? What contemporary issues and anxieties does the story illuminate?

"Perfume" by Patrick Suskind

2011-05-09T08:51:00.003+09:30

Book club read for May

In eighteeth-century France there lived a man who was one of the most

gifted and abominable personages in an era that

knew no lack of gifted and abominable personages.

His name was Jean-Baptise Grenouille, and if his name has been forgotten

today, it is certainly not because Grenouille fell short

of those more famoius blackguards when it came to arrogance,

misanthropy, immorality, or, more succinctly, wickedness,

but because his gifts and his sole ambition were restricted to a domain

that leaves no traces in history:

to the fleeting realm of scent...

"Juliet" by Anne Fortier

2011-03-22T08:00:00.003+10:30

Book Club Read for March

Of all the great Love stories ever told,

hers is perhaps the most famous.

To me, she is the key to my family's fate.

To you, she is Juliet.

When a young woman inherits the key to a safety deposit box in Siena,

she is told it will lead to an old family treasure.

This mysterious legacy leads her on a dangerous journey into the past -

and to the true story of her ancestor, Giulietta, whose love for a

young man named Romeo turned medieval Siena upside down.

In Siena, the past and the present collide as she crosses paths

with the descendants of the families involved in the blood feud that inspired

Shakespeare's famous tragedy. It soon becomes clear that the

notorious curse "A plague on both your houses" is still at work -

and she is the next target. Only someone like Romeo,

it seems, could save her from a dreaded fate, but his story

ended long ago. Or did it?

Discussion Questions for My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira

2011-03-03T16:51:00.002+10:30

Warning contains spoilers ...

1. The end of My Name Is Mary Sutter is both satisfying and surprising. What was your response to the conclusion of each character's story?

2. Women's rights have greatly expanded since Mary's time, but do you believe that women are still limited by prejudice as to what they can or should do professionally? Do you believe men and women should have different roles or responsibilities within society?

3. Beyond Mary, which character did you find the most interesting? Why? Which character did you find the least interesting?

4. Blevens explains that he cannot accept Mary as an apprentice because of the Civil War. Do you believe he would have taken her on had the war not begun? Why?

5. As a woman and midwife, Mary has a particular kind of medical knowledge; Blevens and Stipp have another. What are the values and limitations of each? How does Mary eventually blend the two?

6. Describe Mary and Jenny's relationship. What type of tensions exist? Consider the relationship from both women's perspectives.

7. "From labor to death, she thought, despite every moment at the breast, every reprimand, every tender tousle of hair, every fever fought, every night spent worrying, it came to this: you couldn't protect your children from anything, not even from each other" (page 43). Do you believe Amelia is right? What experiences from your own life make you feel this way?

8. How is Dr. Blevens affected by his experiences during the Civil War?

9. From Jake to Thomas to William Stipp, there is a wide range of male characters in the novel. What type of masculinity does each demonstrate?

10. Have you ever struggled with the same kind of professional or personal obstacles that Mary does? How did you handle it? What did you learn from the experience?

11. The book followed many characters and one of these characters was Abraham Lincoln. Do you think that it was necessary to have Lincoln’s viewpoint be part of the story?

"Bleeding Violet" by Dia Reeves [4]

2011-01-24T09:14:00.003+10:30

Love ...

can be a dangerous thing.

Hanna simply wants to be loved. With a head plagued by hallucinations, a medicine cabinet full of pills, and a closet stuffed with frilly violet dresses, Hanna's tired of being the outcast, the weird girl, the freak. So she runs away to Portero, Texas, in search of a new home.

But Portero is a stranger town than Hanna expects. As she tries to make a place for herself, she discovers dark secrets that would terrify any normal soul. Good thing for Hanna, she's far from normal. As this crazy girl meets an even crazier town, only two things are certain: Anything can happen and no one is safe.

This is one strange book and I'm still not sure if I like it or not?

A word of warning first: and I've taken these words from another blogger because she has put it better than I can....

"Beware that this is not a wholesome story! It is dark, gory, sensual and violent. Not for the squeamish; it deals with mental illness, teenage sex, violence and even a suicide attempt." This is definitely a young adult read.

This was a debut novel for this author and she did really well, the story is very odd and unique and it has substance that keeps you very intrigued even if your not sure that you like it or not. I did find it a little confusing at the start but it seems to even it self out and make sense as you go along. The characters are a very interesting bunch and they all hold their own as part of the story but for me I just couldn't relate to any of them, but that didn't detract anything from the novel. The author writes with amazing detail and has a fantastic imagination to be able to see all the weird things that make up this unique novel.

" How do you know I'm a transient?"

I asked the oldest girl, who didn't know me from Eve.

She took me in at a glance and went back to pouring cups of juice.

"Bright, stupid clothes. No visible scars.

But especially your eyes. You can always tell by the eyes. Yours ain't

never seen anything real."

This is one novel that all you lovers of Fantasy will just eat up with relish... monsters, mayhem, violence, romance, and all the other stuff that makes up a good fantasy novel. While I'm still undecided as to whether I enjoyed the novel i will rate it as 4 stars because it is well written, just not quite my cup of tea. Gorgeous cover and that's why I picked it up in the first place.

I rate this book 4 stars.

"Once a Witch" by Carolyn MacCullough [3 1/2]

2011-01-20T20:25:00.003+10:30

Tasmin Green comes from a long line of witches, and on the day she was born, her grandmother proclaimed she would be one of the most Talented among them.
But Tamsin's magic never showed up.
now, seventeen years later, she spends most of her time at boarding school in Manhattan, where she can at least pretend to be normal. But during the summers, she's forced to return home and work at her family's bookstore/magic shop.
One night a handsome young professor from New York University arrives in the shop and mistakes Tamsin for her extremely Talented older sister. For once, it's Tamsin who's being looked at with awe and admiration, and before she can stop herself, she agrees to find a family heirloom for him that was lost more than a century ago. But the search - and the stranger - prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the past sins of her family, and unleash a power so strong and so vengeful that it could destroy them all.

This is a really enchanting story for young teens... time travel, sibling rivalry, witchcraft, romance and that all important first kiss. It's the classic story of good verses evil. It's a very easy read and one that will definitely appeal to the younger teen. The character of Tamsin is feisty and strong but she struggles with who she is...she is a very likable character. Gabriel is the main male role and he has been Tamsin's best friend when they were younger but he moved away and they never stayed in touch, but sparks fly when they meet again for the first time. Tamsin's not sure how to react to him and that makes it even more interesting. The plot is a little predictable but it keeps you interested. This is really a novel for the young teens. The sequel is to be released in August 2011 and entitle "Always a Witch"

As Irish would say "A good wee read"

I rate this book 3 1/2 stars.

The Passage by Justin Cronin (5)

2011-01-09T08:41:00.000+10:30

First, the unthinkable: a security breach at a secret U.S. government facility unleashes the monstrous product of a chilling military experiment. Then, the unspeakable: a night of chaos and carnage gives way to sunrise on a nation, and ultimately a world, forever altered. All that remains for the stunned survivors is the long fight ahead and a future ruled by fear—of darkness, of death, of a fate far worse.

As civilization swiftly crumbles into a primal landscape of predators and prey, two people flee in search of sanctuary. FBI agent Brad Wolgast is a good man haunted by what he’s done in the line of duty. Six-year-old orphan Amy Harper Bellafonte is a refugee from the doomed scientific project that has triggered apocalypse. He is determined to protect her from the horror set loose by her captors. But for Amy, escaping the bloody fallout is only the beginning of a much longer odyssey—spanning miles and decades—towards the time and place where she must finish what should never have begun.

I purchased this book because: I had heard alot about it so wanted to see if was any good

The opening Lines: Before she became the Girl from Nowhere - the One Who Walked In, the First and Last and Only, who lived a thousand years - she was just a little girl in Iowa, named Amy, Amy Harper Bellafonte.

Pages in Novel: A Massive 766

I am lovin the cover to this book ... And am so pleased that Ridley Scott has already picked this novel up to do a movie version because it will be awesome. The only frustrating thing I can say about this book is that the way that it ends. After reading over 700 pages for it to suddenly end the way it does to discovering that we have to wait until 1212 for the next installment is just mean ...

Someone described this book as Dracula meets The Road and I would have to agree ... Although these Vampires are not the nice good looking smart Vampires that we are used to but the ugly fast rip out your throat in 1 second kind .... Which I loved ...

This is a monster of a book with over 750 pages and it is small writing as well ... It is divided into three different sections and periods of time and is very cleverly done ... You get a real sense of the characters and you cannot help but go on the journey with them ... This is definitely an adult book as there are graphic scenes of violence and adult content ... But I loved it ....

The beginning of the novel is set around our time period and introduces the main characters of Amy, Lacey, Carter and Wolgast. And how each comes from different worlds but how there lives will be intertwined together for years to come. When a secret government experiment goes wrong and 12 dangerous, changed killers are released into the world the effect on the world will never be the same ...

The second part of the novel jumps forward 100 years in the future ... Where we see just how the world has changed ... And we are introduced to a group of survivors and their world ... There is not really alot to look forward to just keeping alive and surviving ... The power is running out and the Virals are coming ...

Can a 6 year old girl manage to save the world ..... You are just going to have to read the book and find out ...

Some of my favourite quotes are:

He said he had a plan, but the only plan that she could see seemed to be him sitting in the house doing nothing for Amy or even cleaning up the breakfast dishes, while she worked all day. Pg 6

I feel as if I've entered a new era of my life. What strange place our lives can carry us to. Pg 24

She believed that this was how the world felt to most people, even those closest to her, her parents and sisters and friends at school; they lived their whole lives in a prison of drab silence, a world without a voice. Pg 55

OBE. Overcome by events. That was what was happening now. The world-the human race-had been overcome by events. Pg 233

It's morning; you're alive. pg 310

"Those batteries are like a woman, Michael," he liked to say. "You've got to learn to listen." Pg 314

"I don't believe that," Arlo said. "And I can't believe you do either. If that's all there is, what's the point of anything." Pg 335

"We've all got our jobs to do, right?," She took his hand again and squeezed it, as if to seal a bargain between them. "Mine apparently is to do as I'm told and not be difficult. So for now, that's what I'm going to do." Pg 375

The harder he tried to be a husband, the less she felt like a wife to him, until - and this was the bad part, the part that didn't seem fair to her - she'd found herself actually disliking him. pg 437

Someone once told me that part of you lives on so long as somebody remembers you. Pg 670

I am sooooo excited for the next part to this but frustrated that I will have to wait at least another year for it ....... grrrrrrrrrrrrr ........

So if you like your vamps, end of the world, fast paced action novel this one is for you :)

I rate this book 5*****

An interview with the author where he answers some questions about the book .....

Books in the Series
1) The Passage
2) The Twelve ( coming out some point 1212 )

Discussion Questions for Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

2011-01-07T08:22:00.002+10:30

1. How did you like the book? Is it in keeping with your feelings with the MI series?

2. Who are your favorite or least favorite new characters?

3. What were some surprises for you in this book?

4. What questions do you still have and where do you think this series is going?

5. What do you think Will is going to ask Magnus in the Epilogue?

6. What is the Pandemonium Club? The Shadowhunters think the Club has more power than it actually does. Why do they have that impression? What has been done to manipulate the Club's image?

7. Tessa gradually uncovers information about herself and her powers, but she still knows very little about why she was "created." Why is it important to her and to the Shadowhunters to find out? How does Tessa's view of herself change over the course of the story?

8. Chapter 3 begins with a Robert Browning quote, "Love, hope, fear, faith—these make humanity; These are its sign and note and character." Do you agree? What other characteristics do you think are the hallmarks of humanity?

9. Tessa, Jessamine, and Charlotte all have very different ideas about the appropriate roles for women. How much of each woman's attitude do you think comes from the beliefs of the day, and how much from her own experiences?

10. Why are books so important to Tessa? What do they add to her life? Do the Shadowhunters have things in their life that serve this same purpose?

11. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is mentioned several times throughout the story, most noticeably when Will and Tessa are about to enter de Quincey's party. Why do you think the author chose this particular book? What themes are common to both?

12. How does Jem deal with his addiction and its effect on his health and his life? Has it changed his personality? Why does he ask the others to stop searching for a cure; why do they agree? Is his reaction to addiction normal?

13. Will's philosophy can be summed up by a quote by Horace, "Pulvis et umbra sumus," which means "We are dust and shadows." Why do you think this resonates with him so deeply? Do his actions bear witness to this belief?

14. What caused de Quincey to betray the Nephilim? Were the Nephilim surprised by this betrayal? Should they have been?

15. Clockwork Angel is set in the middle of the Industrial Revolution. Why are the clockwork people so frightening to Tessa and the Shadowhunters? How does the Magister's clockwork army affect the power balance in his fight against the Shadowhunters?

16. What does Tessa want from her relationship with Will? Why does Will force distance between them?

Thanks to Simon and Schuster for some of the discussion Questions

The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logster (5)

2010-12-30T09:46:00.003+10:30

When Will and Bet were four, tragic circumstances brought them to the same house, to be raised by a wealthy gentleman as brother and sister. Now sixteen, they’ve both enjoyed a privileged upbringing thus far. But not all is well in their household. Because she’s a girl, Bet’s world is contained within the walls of their grand home, her education limited to the rudiments of reading, writing, arithmetic, and sewing. Will’s world is much larger. He is allowed—forced, in his case—to go to school. Neither is happy.

So Bet comes up with a plan and persuades Will to give it a try: They’ll switch places. She’ll go to school as Will. Will can live as he chooses. But once Bet gets to school, she soon realizes living as a boy is going to be much more difficult than she imagined.

I purchased this book because: The cover is lovely ....... I am just a sucker for a pretty cover

Opening lines: Everything I needed to wear beneath my clothes was already in place. I selected a shirt the color of unspoiled snow, eased my arms into the sleeves, slowly did up the buttons from narrow waist to chest and finally to neck.

Pages in Novel: 186

Isn't the cover to his novel lovely ... And it is hardback as well ... This is a lovely wee book to read and you will finish this in one sitting if you are a quick reader ... I am a sucker for stories about girls dressing up like boys Yentel and Shakespeare in Love to name a couple ... So I just loved this novel ...

When Bet and Will hatch their plan to let Bet pretend to be Will at an all boys school it sounds so simple ... But it turns out to be anything but ... Bet has to quickly adept to the world of men in order to survive .... There are some really cute parts in this novel that will have you laughing out loud .... And you do tend to forget that we as male and female are really quite different ... From the way we walk, talk and think .... Can Bet really get away with being a man?

Favourite quotes I liked:

And why give up and declare a thing impossible before even trying? Pg 11

Paul Garderner liked to say that there were no accidents in life, that everything happened out of choice or through design, that everything for a reason. But from where I sat, so much of life did seem accidental, haphazard. How else to explain why one person lived while another died? Pg 17

All I see, Will, is a boy who is unwilling to do what it takes to get what he wants out of life. pg 26

We were all willing to do whatever we had to in order to keep him happy. Pg 116

My only complaint about this book is that nearing the end of the novel I felt it was wrapped up to fast .... But in saying that I am giving it 5 stars because I really did enjoy it ... It is light hearted, funny and whisked me away to another world for a few hours of enjoyment :)

I rate this book 5 *****

me, the missing and the dead by Jenny Valentine (41/2)

2010-12-30T09:12:00.003+10:30

Fifteen-year-old Lucas Swain hasn’t seen his father for five years. One day, his dad just vanished. And the strange thing is, except for Lucas, nobody seems to care.

Then things really take a turn for the bizaree when Lucas discovers someone who might be able to help find his father. Her name is Violet, and she's reaching out to Lucas. But it would all be so much easier if Violet wasn't a pile of ashes in an urn.

I purchased this book because: Saw it on another blog site and was curious

Opening lines: The minicab office was up a cobbled alley with little flat houses on either side. That's where I first met Violet Park, what was left of her.

Pages in Novel: 201

This is a short wee book but one that I really loved .... I can see how it was shortlisted to be a finalist in the William C Morris Debut award ... I felt it was abit jumpy at the start of the novel but then the storyline picked up and it flowed lovely after that ....

The story is about a young boy Lucas who finds an urn of a woman and is strangely draw en towards finding out about her. This curiosity leads Lucas on a journey to discover not only who Violet is but also alot about himself.

There are some really funny parts in this book but still manages to keep the serious side to some of the issues that are touched upon ... It is quite an honest book in its story-telling which I found really refreshing ...

I loved the banter between Lucas and his grandparents especially with his grandmother .... Very funny and touching at the same time .... And for a wee novel of just 201 pages there is alot hidden between its pages ...

Some of my favourite quotes are:

But doesn't getting up that early just mean there are more hours to fill with being old? Pg 12

If you think about it, a person being dead isn't any barrier to finding out what they are like. Half the people we learn about in school have been dead for ages. Pg 28

I've said it before - it's the not knowing that drives you mad. It's the imagining things that you wish you couldn't think up all by yourself. pg 64

Thug - I said he should tell her that we learned about thugs in history, and they were actually this amazing caste of assassins in India a hundred or so years ago. They strangled people with a long scarf with a rupee sewn into each end. It was their destiny to be a thug. They had no choice and they accepted it as their role in the order of things. Pg 70

For every decision I make there's the other thing, the alternative route, and I find myself hankering after it as soon as it's gone. Pg 79

It occurs to me that all most people do when they grow up is fix on something impossible and then hunger after it. Pg 115

This is a great wee book and I really liked it ... It is written beautifully and you cannot help but love the main character of Lucas and get invested into his world .... I would definitely go out and purchase another book by this author ...

I rate this book 4 1/2 ****

The Forbidden Sea by Sheila A Nielson (41/2)

2010-12-30T08:39:00.000+10:30

When Adrianne comes face-to-face with the mermaid of Windwaithe Island, she is convinced that the mermaid means her harm. After all, the island is steeped in stories of mermaids' curses and the ill-luck that they bring. But Adrianne is fierce-willed and courageous and is determined to protect her family and the islanders from danger. Yet when the islanders find out about Adrianne's encounters with the mermaid, her family is scorned. They believe that once active, the mermaid cannot be quieted until an islander sacrifices herself to the sea. But is the legend true? And will their fear make them force Adrienne to test it? This is a haunting story of love, surrender and strength

I purchased this book because: Alot of hype around the book and wanted to see if it lived up to the reputation ...

Opening Lines: Pelting rain battered against me, stinging my skin and eyes, almost driving me backwards, Forcing myself to continue, I felt my way down the slick rock face one foot at a time. I clung to the cliff face a moment, crying into the dark squall raging around me.

Well I have been reading lately about fairies, vampires, werewolves and shapeshifters so why not try Mermaids ....... This is a really nice book and actually deals with alot of grown up issues ... Bullying and feeling alone is a major one ...... I read this book in nearly one sitting .. I just gobbled it up ... My only complaint with the book was that it ended .......

I don't want to go into details because it would totally spoil the book but there are sooooo many different avenues and characters in the book that I would love the storyline to continue ....

I love the main character of Adrianne she is feisty, firely and vulnerable all rolled into one .... And it seems that no matter what she does it is never enough to satisfy those around her .... So when the legend of the Mermaid suddenly threatens the Island everyone turns to Adrianne ...

I loved the storyline of Lady Lauretta Durran and how it inter weaved throughout the whole novel ... There is nothing like a good mystery ......

Some of my favourite quotes are:

Don't let the few harsh things of life blot out your happiness in everything else, Adrianne. pg 40

If you let fear control what you do, you'll never get anything done. Pg 42

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely read more from the author ...

I rate this book 4 1/2 ****

Meg Cabot Site

2010-12-27T14:27:00.003+10:30

If you are a big fan of Meg Cabot then you have got to check out her site ......... There are loads of goodies and information on the site ...... Plus it is just fun ...

http://www.megcabot.com/insatiable/

Looking for something to read in 2011

2010-12-24T03:31:00.002+10:30

With the New Year just around the corner we thought you might like to know some of the books we'll be reading throughout 2011.

So what do you think?

Are we going to read something that you've read before or can't wait to read?

We'd love to hear your thoughts on our selection for 2011.

From us all here at Exclusively Books we'd like to thank you for visiting our site and wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

"Insatiable" by Meg Cabot [5]

2010-12-23T11:19:00.002+10:30

Sick of hearing about vampires? So is Meena Harper.

But her bosses are making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn't believe in them.

Not that Meena isn't familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you're going to die. [Not that you're going to believe her. No one ever does.]

But not even Meena's precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets - then makes the mistake of falling in love with - Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side. It's a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire hunters, would prefer to see him dead for.

The problem is, Lucien's already dead. Maybe that's why he's the first guy Meena's ever met whom she could see herself having a future with. See, while meena's always been able to see everyone else's future, she's never been able to look into her own.

And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare. Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future...

If she ever has one.

OK, so after reading the Twilight and Evernight series ... I promised myself that I wouldn't pick up another vampire novel again ... Well so much for that promise ... So for all those lovers of vampire novels you will want to sink your teeth into this one.

Meg Cabot is a brilliant writer and I love her novels and she has really outdone herself with this one. It's funny, exciting, romantic and mocks the whole vampire genre which I love, but at the same time it keeps you glued to the pages to find out what happens next. The characters are all brilliant in there own special way and I couldn't decide who I like best as they each have something special about just them. The plot is well thought out and very funny as it takes the Mickey out of all those vampire novels and movies and I loved how she has made mention of a few of them.

While this book is quite light-hearted it is not a book for young teens, I would recommend 17 and over at least. This would be a great summer/winter read and you will enjoy it. Hopefully there will be sequel next year sometime.

I rate this book 5 stars.

Sleepless by Thomas Fahy (4)

2010-12-18T17:58:00.003+10:30

SOMEONE ELSE WILL DIE SOON she tells herself.

SOMEONE ELSE WILL DIE AND I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE.

A few days after the first time you walk in your sleep, you kill someone. That's how the end begins.

Emma Montgomery has been having gruesome nightmares. Even worse, when she wakes up, she isn't where she was when she fell asleep. And she's not the only one. One by one the students of Saint Opportuna High start having nightmares, and sleepwalking. And the next morning one of their classmates turns up dead.

Something is making them kill in their sleep. Emma and her friends need to band together, to keep themselves awake until they can figure out what's behind the murders--before anyone else dies.

Thomas Fahy, author of The Unspoken, which Pubishers Weekly called, "a page-turner that just might keep readers up at night," again brings readers a nail-bitingly horrifying novel.

I purchased this novel because: Loved the cover .... Very creepy :)

Opening Lines: Emma doesn't really notice the cold night air or the damp grass beneath her feet. Only the howling sound in her ears. That same sound dragged her out of bed a while ago. It made her walk downstairs and go outside to the shed where her dad keeps the old splintery shovel. That sound is the reason she has to keep digging - to find out what it wants ...

Lovin the cover ... Very 'I know what you did last summer' and 'final destination' .... If you do not like a good horror book this book is not for you .... I have to admit I did read it in bed at night but I did leave the light on ........ lol ...

There is abit of swearing in the book a few words and it is definitely not a novel for young teens as some of the scenes are pretty graphic ... This novel will keep you guessing until the end of the book which is great :) .... And would be a pretty good film if someone picked it up ...

There are two major characters in this book Emma the female lead who is scared to fall asleep as strange things happen when you are asleep .... And Jake the male lead ...... Between the two of them can they figure out what is happening in time to save their friends and themselves ...

Some of my favourite quotes are:

She used to say that lists can remind you that the world isn't such a big place after all, that small things matter. Pg 23

Emma has been thinking about that wand - wishing that there were enough magic in the world to undo painful things. Pg 44

We can be so unaware of the messages behind what we're really seeing. Pg 139

Well if you want to get your blood pumping and your heart rate racing a little bit then read this wee book ... Just make sure you keep the lights on ...... You have been warned :)

I rate this book 4 ****

Prada & Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard (41/2)

2010-12-18T12:23:00.001+10:30

To impress the popular girls on a high school trip to London, klutzy Callie buys real Prada heels. But trying them on, she trips…conks her head…and wakes up in the year 1815!

There Callie meets Emily, who takes her in, mistaking her for a long-lost friend. As she spends time with Emily’s family, Callie warms to them—particularly to Emily’s cousin Alex, a hottie and a duke, if a tad arrogant.

But can Callie save Emily from a dire engagement, and win Alex’s heart, before her time in the past is up?

More Cabot than Ibbotson, Prada and Prejudice is a high-concept romantic comedy about finding friendship and love in the past in order to have happiness in the present.

I purchased this book because: Saw the cover and wanted a funny light read

Opening lines: It is a truth, universally acknowledged, that a teen girl on a class trip to England should be having the time of her life.

This is a cute wee book to read ........ Light hearted and funny ..... If you love your Period romances and Pride and Prejudice then this book is for you .....

Callie the main character finds herself back in time and is thrown into a world of balls, dresses and where the men rule the world ........ And where would a novel be without its dashing Duke ....... Callie is definitely a girl from our time that has to adjust very quickly to ways of 1815 ...

This is a quick read and one that I really liked ... If you are a fan of Lost in Austen or Austenland then you will gobble up this book ...

Favourite Quotes from the novel are:

"Everyone has a place in society. It would do you good to observe yours" Pg 106

I force myself to turn away from the woman and look at the guy standing next to her. And when I do, I lose my breath entirely. The Duke. Pg 35

I really enjoyed this wee novel ... So if your looking for something nice and light with a few laughs along the way go out and get a copy :)

I rate this book 4 1/2

I am not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells (5)

2010-12-11T11:30:00.003+10:30

John Wayne Cleaver is dangerous, and he knows it.

He’s spent his life doing his best not to live up to his potential.

He’s obsessed with serial killers, but really doesn’t want to become one. So for his own sake, and the safety of those around him, he lives by rigid rules he’s written for himself, practicing normal life as if it were a private religion that could save him from damnation.

Dead bodies are normal to John. He likes them, actually. They don’t demand or expect the empathy he’s unable to offer. Perhaps that’s what gives him the objectivity to recognize that there’s something different about the body the police have just found behind the Wash-n-Dry Laundromat---and to appreciate what that difference means.

Now, for the first time, John has to confront a danger outside himself, a threat he can’t control, a menace to everything and everyone he would love, if only he could.

Dan Wells’s debut novel is the first volume of a trilogy that will keep you awake and then haunt your dreams.

I purchased this book because: Saw it on a book blog site and just had to get it

Opening lines: Mrs Anderson was dead.

I could not put this book down ........ It was brilliant in a really weird and sick pageturning way ... Reading it ..... Did make me think of the Character of "Dexter" expect that it is a younger version when he is just finding out what he is .....

The Character of John is brilliant ... And very detailed ...... He has a very unique way that he looks at the world and sometimes you cannot help but laugh out loud with what he thinks ... I cannot tell you how much I really liked this book ..... Obviously it is about the character of John who thinks he is destined to be a serial Killer because he displays the 3 charactrists of a serial killer plus a number of other clues along the way .... When a series of murders happens in his small town how will he be able to keep himself away .... And will his curiousity get the better of him .........

I have so many favourite quotes in this book that it is hard to choose which ones I like ... But here are a few ...

"The project I did last year was on Jeffrey Dahmer," I said. " He was a cannibal who kept severed heads in his freezer." "I remember now," said Max, his eyes darkening. " Your posters gave me nightmares." "Nightmares are nothing." I said. "Those posters gave me a therapist." Pg 27

There was a new monster in town, it seemed - would its presence awaken the one I kept hidden? Pg 30

"I'm a good person." I said, "because I know what good people are supposed to act like, and I copy them." Pg 37

Sure, we have dead bodies in the basement, but we also have a chapel, so it all balances out. Right? pg 38

Could I stop myself? Once I tore that wall down, could I rebuilt it? Pg 133

This book is probably not for everyone ... But if you love thrillers and a book with a little bit of bite to it and do not mind some blood and guts along the way ......... Then you will love this book ......... The sense of humour in the book is brilliant .... The way it is written is very clever and I cannot wait to read the next book .... And you will fall in love with John Wayne Cleaver !!!

I rate this book 5 Stars .........

"Happy Ever After" by Nora Roberts [5]

2010-12-08T19:33:00.004+10:30

Childhood friends Mackensie, Parker, Laurel and Emmaline

have formed a very successful wedding-planning

business together. while helping thousands

of happy couples to organize the biggest day of their lives,

three of the four women have all found love

themselves - but workaholic Parker

remains resolutely single.

Her business is her life and she devotes all her energies to it.

But as she is forced to re-evaluate her friendships,

Parker finds that someone is about to divert her focus...

This is the fourth book in the Bride Quartet series and the one that I have been dying to read. I have absolutely loved the previous three books and each of the other girls and their men have been wonderful to read about, but for me it was Parker's story that I have been waiting to read about.

Nora Roberts has finished this series off beautifully and it's such a shame to see it end, but it was done well. I loved watching the romance between the efficient and dedicated Parker and bad boy come hero Malcolm. They suit each other to a tee... Malcolm comes across as this bad boy but he has morals that match Parker's own. Parker is looking for love...just like the love her parents shared for each other. There is just something about Mal that makes him fascinating and infuriating at the same time and the chemistry sparks between them. There are so many wonderful moments between both of them...they make you laugh and sigh all in the same breath. The moments between the girls are wonderful and it's terrific to see that they all care for each others happiness as well as their own.

You'll just love this series...drama and romance mingled with breath-taking scenery as they put together the most wonderful wedding days as well as other parties, you'll be lost in your imagination. The book is easy to read and you'll laugh and cry and just get lost in the characters and just like me you'll become addicated to this wonderful series.

Books in order...
1. Vision in White
2. Bed of Roses
3. Savour the Moment
4. Happy Ever After

Give this series a try and I promise you'll love them.

I rate this book 5 stars.

"Jane" by April Lindner [5]

2010-11-19T20:10:00.002+10:30

Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a nanny job at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, a world-famous rock star on the brink of a huge come-back. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance.

But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is soon tested by an agonizing revelation from his past. Torn between her feelings for Nico and his fateful secret, Jane must decide: Does being true to herself mean giving up on true love?

I couldn't put it down...

Jane Eyre is my favourite love story of all time and when Irish told me that a modern version is being written, well I just had to give it a try. You will not be disappointed...

This book has been so cleverly written into a modern day version of the wonderful classic story of Jane Eyre. You will be swept up into it right until the amazing, and truly satisfying end. Jane has all the mystery, romance and laughter that the original has and will enchant you all over again.

Jane is a young girl who has had a very sad and unhappy childhood, while away at college her parents are killed and Jane is forced to find work. Applying for a nanny position she is sent to Thornfield Park to look after young Maddy, there she meets her brooding and handsome employer Nico Rathburn. He is a famous rock star who has an interesting past, and slowly Jane falls in love with him. There are dark secrets in Nico's life that will keep these two apart, but will love triumph in the end...that is the decision that Jane will have to make for herself. You will totally fall in love with these two characters they are remarkable.

This novel stays true to all the poignant parts from the original and has been cleverly brought into the modern times...so well written and very easy to read...you won't be able to put it down until your finished. I just can't rave enough about this book...if you don't read anything else for the year, please read this one, you will just love it. This would be a awesome Christmas present for the person who loves romance and a great introduction to the younger generation of a truly marvellous classic love story.

I definitely rate this book 5 stars.

"Bright Young Things" by Anna Godbersen [5]

2010-11-10T12:31:00.003+10:30

The Year is 1929.

New York is ruled by the Bright Young Things:

Flappers and Socialites seeking

Thrills and chasing dreams

in the anything-goes era of

the Roaring Twenties.

Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey escaped their small Midwestern town for New York's glittering metropolis. All Letty wants is to see her name in lights, but she quickly discovers Manhattan is filled with pretty girls who will do anything to be a star...

Cordelia is searching for the father she's never known, a man as infamous for his wild parties as he is for his shadowy schemes. Overnight, she enters a world more thrilling and glamorous than she ever could have imagined - and more dangerous. It's a life anyone would kill for ... and someone will.

The only person Cordelia can trust is Astrid Donal, a flapper who seems to have it all: money, looks, and the love of Cordelia's brother, Charlie. But Astrid's perfect veneer hides a score of family secrets.

Across the vast lawns of Long Island, in the illicit speakeasies of Manhattan, and on the blindingly lit stages of Broadway, the three girls' fortunes will rise and fall - together and apart.

For all those fans of the divinely written 'Luxe' series comes the brand new novels from Anna Godbersen, this time set in the late 1920's in the last summer of the jazz age.

I absolutely loved this first book from the new series, it was a lot more fast paced than the Luxe books and the girls in this one are more independent and more feisty. The boys at the moment are just the dressing for the girls and it's nice to see that role reversed. The detail from the era is just breath taking you really feel like your in the 1920's surrounded by all the glitz and glamour of the flapper period. It has mystery, romance, betrayal, humour, jealousy and all the things that you come to expect from the Luxe series...but I think even better.

'It is easy to forget now, how effervescent and free

we all felt that summer. Everything fades: the shimmer

of gold over White Cove; the laughter in the night air;

the lavender early morning light on the faces of skyscrapers,

which has suddenly become so heroically tall.

Every dawn seemed to promise fresh miracles,

among other joys that are in short supply these days.

And so I will try to tell you, while I still remember,

how it was then, before everything changed -

that final season of an era that roared'.

So just a little taste of what is to come and what to expect in this new and exciting series from Anna Godbersen. A must read for the year and a definite stocking gift for Christmas, your girls will just fall in love with this series.

I rate this book 5 stars.

"Bad Girls Don't Die" by Katie Alender [4 1/2]

2010-11-10T11:59:00.003+10:30

Alexis thought she led a typically dysfunctional high school existence: dysfunctional like her parents' marriage; her doll-crazy, thirteen-year-old sister, Kasey; and even her own antisocial, anti-cheerleader attitude.

When a family argument results in tearful sisterly bonding, Alexis realizes that her life is creeping from dysfunctional to dangerous. Kasey is acting stranger than ever: her blue eyes go green; she uses odd, old-fashioned language - and she even loses track of chunks of time, claiming to know nothing about her weird behaviour. Their old house is changing, too. Doors open and close by themselves, water boils on the unlit stove, and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough for the girls to see their breath.

Alexis wants to believe it's all in her head, until these seemingly harmless occurrences become life-threatening - to her, to her family, and to her budding relationship with the student council vice president. Alexis knows she's the only person who can stop Kasey; but what if that green-eyed girl isn't even Kasey anymore?

This is a cool new series by a first time author Katie Alender. It is the first of three novels with the second coming out in June 2011 entitle 'From Bad to Cursed' and the third is due out in 2012.

Great teen read and introduction to ghost type novels, nothing gory or real scary in this book, probably just a little creepy... Really well written and very easy to read, the story flows well although just a little slow to begin with. The characters are very believable and you do become involved in what is happening to them.

"I stood perfectly still, looking up at the house and the

dark sky beyond it.

A band of mist drifted away from the moon,

making way for the next set of clouds -

what I hoped would be the picturesque backdrop

I'd been waiting for".

This has a really interesting cover to it and if your like me you just had to have the hardback version. This series is worth trying and the girls will love reading it...perhaps not at night for them though! Great introduction the the wonderful world of spooks and specters.

I rate this book 4 1/2 stars.

"The Shack" by WM. Paul Young

2010-11-01T09:12:00.003+10:30

Book club read for November

Mackenzie Allen Phillip's youngest daughter, Missy,

has been abducted during a family vacation

and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered

is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness.

Four years later, in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack

receives a suspicious note, apparently from God,

inviting him back to that shack for a weekend.

Against his better judgement, he arrives at the shack

on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest

nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's

world forever.

In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly

irrelevant, The Shack wrestles with the timeless question:

Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?

The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform

you as much as they did him. You'll want everyone you know

to read this book!

"I am Number Four" by Pittacus Lore [4 1/2]

2010-10-28T08:56:00.002+10:30

John Smith is not your average teenager.

He regularly moves from small town to small town. he changes his name and identity. He does not put down roots. He cannot tell anyone who or what he really is. If he stops moving, those who hunt him find and kill him.

But you can't run forever.

So when he stops in Paradise, Ohio, John decides to try and settle down. To fit in. And for the first time he makes some real friends. People he cares about - and who care about him. Never in John's short life has there been space for friendship, or even love.

But it's just a matter of time before John's secret is revealed.

He was once one of nine. Three of them have been killed.

John is Number Four. He knows that he is next ...

What a terrific series this will turn out to be, I was quite surprised with it. In all there will be six books and the first is in the process of being made into a movie with the release date possibly Feb 2011.

So the basic story is that a group of Aliens have fled from their home planet and landed on earth, yes they look like us and blend in to a degree, they have special abilities when they become of age. Yes it was a small group of children and their minders and the children are special.

This book is about 15 year old John Smith and he is Number Four in a group of Nine. All John wants is the chance to settle down for a little while and make friends, be a normal teenager. He has this for just a little while until those that are hunting him find him and then the running starts all over again.

Reading some of the other reviews the one thing that I did notice was how people pointed out how the science in the book just doesn't add up, well this maybe true but you need to realize it is just a story and it doesn't necessarily have to make sense. It was fast paced, intriguing enough to keep you reading on and you feel for young John who is just a kid and wants a normal life without the running. I actually enjoyed reading this book and it's a great one for those of us with boys in the home, lots of action and things blowing up to keep them interested. Cool story. Next installment is entitle "We are Six" out spring 2011. Looking forward to seeing what they do with a movie version of this as well.

I rate this book 4 1/2 stars.

"Nearly Departed" by Rook Hastings [4]

2010-10-12T16:45:00.002+10:30

"Ive seen a ghost," said Emily.

"Well, not seen one exactly. Heard one.

At least, I think I have..."

Woodsville is not like other towns. night falls a little earlier there, the shadows are darker and denser, and everyone knows it's a place where strange things happen. Even if they won't admit it.

Bethan would prefer to be anywhere but here. Jay has his theories, but isn't ready to share. Hashim sees more than he'll say, while Kelly's demons are all too flesh and blood. but Emily's freak-out brings them out of denial and face to face with the supernatural. Anywhere else, Friday night would be date night. But not in Weirdsville...

This was a real cool novel to read ... no vampires, werewolves, faeries ... but about ghosts and ghost hunting. This is the first in the YA range where I've come across this genre and thoroughly enjoyed it too.

It really takes you back to your school days and what it was like as a 15 year old, the boys feel all the boy things and the girls are just girls and what they get up too. The four main characters are all so likable and you really start to enjoy them the more you find out about them. I loved the way the author has them all meet through a project and they find out that they have a lot in common with each other and become friends, when normally they wouldn't be. The plot was spellbinding and leaves you guessing right up until the last minute as to what happens. This novel reminds me of a few T.V series with little twists about it.

"As he waited in the old history block, Jay watched the footage from the camcorder

on his laptop for about the hundredth time since he'd first transferred it on Saturday afternoon.

All weekend he'd studied and studied it, resisting the urge to call the others in

until he'd tried every possible way to explain what was on there.

he still couldn't believe what he was seeing, and if he couldn't even believe his eyes

then what were the others going to think?"

pg 160.

"They heard a thin, high-pitched squeak from behind,

like fingers being scraped across a blackboard. As one, they slowly turned towards the sound.

In the thick condensation that filmed the bedroom window,

a finger-thick line was being drawn by an unseen hand.

Silently, they stood transfixed as they watched the message finally form:

help Her."

pg 214.

Four accidental friends have a destiny that awaits them and the beginning of a new friendship that will try and test the bounds of what it means to be true friends. It's eerie and spooky and you'll just love it. The next installment is entitle "Immortal Remains" and it's out now. This is a must read for both boys and girls and they will totally enjoy it.

I read this book 4 stars.

Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay (41/2)

2010-10-08T09:36:00.003+10:30

Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours.
Paris, May 2002: On Vel’ d’Hiv’s 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv', to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life.

Well Kristie you have done it again ... Picked another crackin book .... I read this book in 2 days and it took me that long because I started it at 4 in the morning and then read it nearly completely through ....

The chapters are easy and small and have you totally hooked from the moment you open the first page ... You cannot help but continue reading to see what is going to happen next ...

As with all books which involve the holocaust you do find yourself being sicken and disturbed by the subject matter and this book is know exception ... My heart ached reading about the conditions of the families involved but most especially when it involves children ...

I had never heard of the events which inspired this novel mainly 'the Vel' d'Hiv' roundup in Paris ... But after reading about it, it did make me want to research more about it ...

While reading this novel you will experience a wave of emotion ... Sadness, anger, intolerance and the worse one turning a blind eye on what is happening around you ....

The main character of Sarah will draw you in almost immediately .... And you go on a journey with her with a great hope that everything will be ok because you just cannot imagine the alternative ...

Favourite quotes ..."The woman who stared back at me was at that dreaded age between forty-five and fifty,that no-man's land of sag, oncoming wrinkle, and stealthy approach of menopause. " Pg 6

"On the way down, confronted once again with the unpleasant refection in the elevator mirror, it suddenly occurred to me that I had put up with Bertrand's jabs for too long, and always with a good natured shrug. And today, for some obscure reason, for the first time, I felt I had had enough." pg 21

"She hated the voices being lowered when she entered the room. If they had told her, if the had told her everything they knew, wouldn't that have made today easier?" p 40

"It was the last time she ever saw them. No one came back. No one at all." Pg 44

"I love him, I really love him. I love the way he is. She had whistled, impressed, but unconvinced. Well, lucky him then. But for God's sake, when he goes too far, tell him. Just tell him." Pg 52

"When those children arrived in Auschwitz, there was no 'selection' for them. No lining up with the men and the women. No checking to see who was strong, who was sick, who could work, who could not. They were sent directly to the gas chamber." Pg 116

"I thought, feeling helpless, useless - I wanted to shout, to scream out to her, to them, that I knew, that I remembered, and that I could not forget." Pg 181

"Sorry for not knowing. Sorry for being forty-five years old and not knowing." Pg 192

Loved, Loved, Loved this book ...... It is heartbreaking with a glimmer of hope in it ... And hopefully a very powerful message that we as a people do not forget but remember so that we never do it again .........

I rate this book 4 1/2 ****

If you wish to see more information on this subject please click this link ...

Discussion Questions for Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay

2010-10-06T12:57:00.002+10:30

1. What did you know about France’s role in World War II—and the Vél d’Hiv round-up in particular—before reading Sarah’s Key? How did this book teach you about, or change your impression of, this important chapter in French history?

2. Sarah’s Key is composed of two interweaving story lines: Sarah’s, in the past, and Julia’s quest in the present day. Discuss the structure and prose-style of each narrative. Did you enjoy the alternating stories and time-frames? What are the strengths or drawbacks of this format?

3. Per above: Which “voice” did you prefer: Sarah’s or Julia’s? Why? Is one more or less authentic than the other? If you could meet either of the two characters, which one would you choose?

4. How does the apartment on la rue de Saintonge unite the past and present action—and all the characters—in Sarah’s Key? In what ways is the apartment a character all its own in?
5. What are the major themes of Sarah’s Key?

6. de Rosnay’s novel is built around several “key” secrets which Julia will unearth. Discuss the element of mystery in these pages. What types of narrative devices did the author use to keep the keep the reader guessing?

7. Were you surprised by what you learned about Sarah’s history? Take a moment to discuss your individual expectations in reading Sarah’s Key. You may wish to ask the group for a show of hands. Who was satisfied by the end of the book? Who still wants to know—or read—more?

8. How do you imagine what happens after the end of the novel? What do you think Julia’s life will be like now that she knows the truth about Sarah? What truths do you think she’ll learn about her self?

9. Among modern Jews, there is a familiar mantra about the Holocaust; they are taught, from a very young age, that they must “remember and never forget” (as the inscription on the Rafle du Vél d’Hiv) Discuss the events of Sarah’s Key in this context. Who are the characters doing the remembering? Who are the ones who choose to forget?

10. What does it take for a novelist to bring a “real” historical event to life? To what extent do you think de Rosnay took artistic liberties with this work?

11. Why do modern readers enjoy novels about the past? How and when can a powerful piece of fiction be a history lesson in itself ?

12. We are taught, as young readers, that every story has a “moral”. Is there a moral to Sarah’s Key? What can we learn about our world—and our selves—from Sarah’s story?

Winner of Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay

2010-10-06T12:49:00.002+10:30

The winner is:

Nam68

Well done ..... Send us your postal address via our email and we will post the book out to you !!

Winner of Meridian by Amber Kizer

2010-10-06T12:20:00.004+10:30

The winner is

Donna

Well done !!!!! .... send us your postal address via our email and we will post it out to you !!!

"13 to Life" by Shannon Delany [5]

2010-10-05T11:01:00.003+10:30

Everything about Jessie Gillmansen's life changed when her mother died. Now even her hometown of Junction is changing. Mysterious dark things are happening. All Jessie wants is to avoid more change. But while showing a hot new guy around Junction High, she's about to discover a whole new type of change. Pietr Rusakova is more than good looks and a fascinating accent - he's a guy with a dangerous secret. And his very existence is sure to bring big trouble to Jessie's small town. It seems change is the one thing Jessie can't avoid.

Wow, wow, wow. I loved the cover to this book as soon as I saw it and then reading the review thought yep that sounds interesting. Well that's an understatement ... this book was fantastic, I just could not put it down and that hasn't happened for a little while now. First I must warn you the next installment isn't until Feb 2011 so you might be tearing out your hair while waiting ... I know that I will be!

So Jessica or Jessie to her friends has had a pretty rough last year, her mother was killed right in front of her in a car crash and her best friend was in a coma for a week. Now she has been asked to show the new guy around the school and while he might be handsome he is also arrogant and dangerous. But as Jessie gets to know Pietr better she realizes that they have things in common but that he is also hiding a dark secret. Torn between showing her loyalty to her best friend and fighting her attraction toward Pietr, she secretly starts to become involved in his life, and this will change everything.

This novel is so well written that you totally get engrossed and before you realize you've finished it. I loved the way the author has a real sweet relationship starting to develop between the two main characters and how the friendship between girls is important and shouldn't come between boys. Sacrifice is a strong theme throughout this novel and it's interesting to see how the characters deal with it. It's fast paced, full of suspense and action, add a little touch of danger and romance and you have the perfect teen read. I can't wait to read the next installment to find out what happens. This would be a great christmas stocking filler for your girls.

Totally Enjoy.

I rate this book 5 stars.

Sarah's Key

2010-10-05T10:47:00.003+10:30

Book Club read for October

Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten-year-old girl, is taken with her parents by the French police as they go door-to-door arresting Jewish families in the middle of the night.

desperate to protect her younger brother, sarah locks him in a bedroom cupboard -

their secret hiding place - and promises to come back for him

as soon as they are released.

Sixty years later: Sarah's story intertwines with that of Julia Jarmond, an American

journalist investigating the roundup. In her research, Julia stumbles onto a trail of secrets that link her to Sarah, and to questions about her own romantic future.

"Betrayal" by Gillian Shields [4]

2010-09-26T15:36:00.003+09:30

When Evie Johnson started at Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies, her life change in ways she couldn't have envisioned: the discovery of her link with Lady Agnes, her special bond with Helen and Sarah, and their sisterhood in the astonishing secrets of the Mystic Way. Above all, Evie's love for Sebastian has turned her world upside down.

Now Evie returns to Wyldcliffe for another term and more danger. Surrounded by enemies, she lives every day in fear that Sebastian will fall into the darkness of servitude to the Unconquered Lords. The Wyldcliffe coven is plotting to destroy Evie and use Sebastian to secure their own immortality. Evie and her sisters must master the power of the Talisman before it is too late. But could it be Sebastian himself who will ultimately betray Evie?

This is the stunning sequel to "Immortal", the story of Evie Johnson who is sent to a private boarding school in the north of England, where she finds she is related to the school's patroness, Lady Agnes. She also discovers that along with her two best friends that they have been given the gifts of the Mystic Way. Evie falls in love with Sebastian Fairfax, but the problem with that is he is dead. Not dead in the true sense but immortal, but in peril of losing his life to the dark side. In this sequel Evie has to find the strength and courage to master her abilities of the Mystic Way if she is going to be able to help Sebastian. Through friendship and love the girls conquer the dark sisters and release Sebastian from his peril.

Filled with romance, mystery, and suspense this companion to Immortal has everything to finish the story off. It is fast paced and beautifully written and has a wonderful conclusion to the story. It is a modern take on the classic Gothic novel and a must read for all teenage girls. First love and eternal friendships are the theme for this series and it is lovely to see the support the girls give to each other through the trials they go through. I also loved the way the past was threaded into the current present. A great series for 14 -15 year olds to read.

I rate this book 4 stars.

"The Mammoth Book of Regency Romance [4]

2010-09-22T08:20:00.002+09:30

23 wickedly witty, racily romantic,
and sublimely sensual short stories.

A Rake by any other name is still a rake,

no matter how handsome ... or sexy.

A Duke, on the other hand, an Earl, or a Marquis -

now there's a suitable man to capture a girl's affections. A man and a marriage, that's on the cards, but what to do about all those dashing scoundrels?

Caught between family, intolerable longing, and impossibly tight corsets, the young ladies of the Regency era navigate the fashionable waters of High Society in the name of love and desire. Keeping one eye on their reputations and the other on their fragile hearts, they cavort with devilish rogues who attempt to charm them out of their gowns and into impropriety - will any of them escape with their innocence intact?

For all those lovers of Regency Romance out there this is the book for you. 23 short stories with all the glitz and glamour of the Regency era. I've rated the book overall 4 stars but that doesn't mean that there were good and bad stories within. This is as usual a light read and what I would call a fluff read because it's not to be taken seriously. All the stories were easy to read and I must admit some I wish could of gone on longer so that you knew more about the characters e.t.c but that's not what short stories are about, they give you enough to just tease and tantalize you into wanting more. A fun book you won't put down until you've finished.

"Ice" by Sarah Beth Durst [5]

2010-09-15T09:18:00.002+09:30

When Cassie was a little girl,

her grandmother told her a fairy tale about her mother,

who made a deal with the Polar Bear King and was swept away to the ends of the earth. Now that Cassie is older, she knows the story was a nice way of saying her mother had died. Cassie lives with her father at an Arctic research station, is determined to become a scientist, and has no time for make -believe.

Then, on her eighteenth birthday, Cassie comes face-to-face with a polar bear who speaks to her. He tells her that her mother is alive, imprisoned at the ends of the earth. And he can bring her back - if Cassie will agree to be his bride.

That is the beginning of Cassie's own real-life fairy tale, one that sends her on an unbelievable journey across the brutal Arctic, through the Canadian boreal forest, and on the back of the North Wind to the land east of the sun and west of the moon. Before it is over, the world she knows will be swept away, and everything she holds dear will be taken from her - until she discovers the true meaning of love and family in the magically realm of Ice.

This is such a beautiful book and I'm not just talking about the cover ... it is based on a fairy tale from Norway, which I haven't heard of but is really lovely.

So basically Cassie has grown up with her grandmother telling her this fairy tale and in a round about way the death of her mother. As she becomes older she doesn't believe in this fairy tale any more until she actually meets a bear who talks and her world explodes around her. She makes a deal with the Polar Bear King to rescue her mother and then she will wed him. Through spending time with him she starts to fall in love with him, but all doesn't go smoothly and Cassie has to use all her survival skills to rescue the love of her life.

This lovely fairy tale reminds me a little of 'Beauty and the Beast' but with a few slight twist. A beautifully written story about friendship and love and the lengths you would go to rescue those you love. It is a fast moving story and one you can read in just one sitting, flows beautifully and easy to read, Cassie and the Polar Bear King are the main characters and you fall in love with both of them. I loved this novel and hope the author might write a second to continue the story of Cassie and her Polar Bear King. A lovely book for the 13-14 year old range or even us adults. Pick it up for a light read and fall in love with the magic of Ice.

I rate this book 5 stars.

"Devil's Kiss" by Sarwat Chadda [4]

2010-09-14T10:10:00.003+09:30

As the youngest and only female member

of the Knights Templar, Bilqis SanGreal grew up knowing she wasn't normal. Instead of hanging out at the mall or going on dates, she spends her time training as a warrior in her order's ancient battle against the unholy.

Billi's cloistered life is blasted apart when her childhood friend, Kay, returns from Jerusalem, gorgeous and with a dangerous chip on his shoulder. He's ready to slide back into Billi's life, but she's met someone new: amber-eyed Mike, who seems to understand her like no one else and effortlessly stakes a claim on her heart.

But the Templars are called to battle before Billi can enjoy the thrilling new twist to her life. One of the order's ancient enemies has resurfaced, searching for a treasure that the Templars have guarded for almost a thousand years - King Solomon's cursed mirror, a source of unimaginable power. To save the lives of millions, Billi will have to put her heart aside and make sacrifices greater than she could have imagined.

First a warning ... this novel has religious context in it that has been misconstrued and for those that are not able to read it as just a story you might not want to read at all.

I actually really enjoyed reading this novel in spite of the liberty the author has taken with the religious side of the story. So it's about a young 15 year old girl who has grown up in the Order of the Knights Templar, and they fight the evil unholy, which is what they have been doing for thousands of years. But Billi only being 15 wants a normal life, she is sick of fighting and training and just wants to be like all the other girls her age. Her best friend left for Jerusalem and she hasn't heard from him in a year, her Father doesn't love or care for her like normal Father's and the Knights of the Order don't want her there either. Billi meets Mike and he gets her in every way possible that the others don't and she wants to leave. Things come to a head when an old enemy arrives and everything is thrown into confusion and Billi has to make some life altering decisions.

This novel was actually really well written, it is fast paced so that you don't lose interest in the story, the characters are all very interesting and you get to like them, and there are enough twists in it that keep you reading. It is a dark type of story and deals with the evil side of life, so it's not a novel for young people. The author has twisted the concept of some of the Christian beliefs as well as others but you need to bare in mind that this is just a book and it's not to be taken seriously ... there might be those of you out there that would be offended by this but I think if your strong in your faith it really isn't a problem ... just don't read it if that is the case. I think people get offended over the silliest things, everyone has a right to an opinion, and again it is just a story written in a book. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next installment ... 'Dark Goddess'.

I rate this book 4 stars.

"Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins [5]

2010-09-11T11:47:00.002+09:30

I stare down at my shoes, watching as a fine layer of ash

settles on the worn leather. This is where the bed I shared with my sister, Prim, stood. Over there was the kitchen table. The bricks

of the chimney, which collapsed in a charred heap, provide

a point of reference for the rest of the house. How else could

I orient myself in this sea of grey?

"If we burn you burn with us"

Katniss Everdeen's final battle has begun ...

This is the final installment in the Hunger Games Triolgy, and definitely

a stunning and terrifying conclusion.

After coming back from her second hunger game Katniss Everdeen is a totally shattered and shell shocked young woman and while the fight with the Capitol is still waging on she doesn't have the strength or willpower to help in any form. This is a side to Katniss that we really haven't seen before as she is usually strong and determined and seeks revenge for those that have died by the Capitol's hands. So it takes a little getting use to this young and vulnerable girl who is trying to piece together her life and that of Peeta being taken hostage.

Katniss is soon put into a position where she has to make the choice of doing something to help with the war, but who does she trust, and how can Peeta ever be rescued. This third book is quite dark and it deals with a lot of terrifying and thought provoking scenes in which torture is invoked. How far would you be willing to go to ensure your outcome to the war, that is the question that Katniss and her friends have to deal with. A fantastic conclusion to the Hunger Games Trilogy.

A warning ... this series is not for young children or perhaps even young teens until they can understand the complex issues in these books. It is something that you might which to discuss with your older children as it is definitely thought provoking. So well written, it leaves you thinking about it days after reading it. It will be very interesting to see how the movie version will be done.

I rate this book 5 stars.

"White Cat" by Holly Black [3 1/2]

2010-09-09T06:43:00.002+09:30

CASSEL is CURSED

Cursed by the memory of the fourteen year old girl he murdered.

Life at school is a constant trial. Life at home even worse. No-one

at home is ever going to forget that Cassel is a killer. No-one at

home is ever going to forget that he isn't a magic worker. And now

he is being haunted by a white cat ...

Cassel's family are magic workers. Ever since magic was

prohibited in 1929 magic workers have been driven underground

and into crime. And while people still need their touch, their luck,

their curses, their magical killings, their transformations, times

have been hard. His grand-dad is a black-fingered death-dealer,

his mother is in prison and his brothers detest him as the only one

of their family who can't do magic.

But there is a secret at the center of Cassel's family and he's about to inherit it. It's terrifying and that's the truth.

Finally finished this novel, it has taken me two weeks and I thought I was about to give up on it. Not a good Omen is it.

So the first chapter is totally enthralling and you think wow this book is going to be fantastic, you won't be able to put it down until your done .... sorry but it gets worse before it gets better. I know this is Holly Blacks new series and I get that you need to put in all the background information into the story, but gosh it was just so boring to read, it went on and on and I wanted to throw the book out. Finally close to a 100 pages left and that's where the story and action picked up and then I couldn't put it down.

So the character of Cassel is kind of annoying, to me he seemed like he's whinging all the time and at school he's a little bit of a loser. You do start to understand him a little better as you persist with the story and you actually come to like him. Lila the girl that he killed is an interesting character, she has something to prove and is a gusty girl. The brothers are ... well there is just something about them that just makes you not want to like them at all. The author has done a good job getting all her characters personalities right and this makes the story interesting especially when she rights the next ones.

It is well written, there is some bad language in it and some slight adult concepts so I wouldn't give it to young teenagers or under. Holly Black's style of writing does seem to be a little on the dark side so I wouldn't give this book to younger kids to read. A little slow to start with but it does get better. Look forward to seeing where the story goes.

I rate this book 3 1/2 stars.

"Ballad" by Maggie Stiefvater [3 1/2]

2010-09-08T11:31:00.002+09:30

James Morgan has an almost unearthly gift for music. And it has attracted Nuala, a soul-snatching faerie muse who fosters and then feeds on the creative energies of exceptional humans until they die. James has plenty of reasons to fear the faeries, but as he and Nuala collaborate on an achingly beautiful musical composition, James finds his feelings towards Nuala deepening. But the rest of the faeries are not as harmless. As Halloween - the day of the dead - draws near, James will have to battle the Faerie Queen and the horned king of the Dead to save Nuala's life and his soul.

I have so been looking forward to reading this next novel in the Lament series ... well I was just a little disappointed. It took me what seemed forever to get into the story. The first part of the book deals with James and his coming to music school and how Nuala and James meet up. There is a lot of background information that is also setting up the story for you, but it just seemed to take forever to get into the juicy bits. The last 100 pages or so is where all the action picked up and it only took me an hour to finish the book from there. James is an interesting character who has this devil may care sort of attitude and is totally typical of the sarcastic youth of today ... he is quite likable. Nuala is part faerie part human and is a little tortured in her life and for some reason or another has chosen not to make a deal with James but can't seem to leave him alone either. The two of them together make an unusual couple but it does seem to work and you want them to find happiness together. Dee has really only a minor role in this story but it is all about her in the end and how James and Nuala can save themselves and Dee from the Faerie Queen.

I did finally enjoy reading Ballad but for me it wasn't as good as the first book, where you just couldn't put it down until you'd read it all. I do look forward to seeing where the story goes, and there would be some interesting characters to write about. One thing that I do love is the covers of this series, they are unusual but quite pretty too.

I rate this book 3 1/2 stars.

Teaser Tuesday

2010-09-07T08:59:00.003+09:30

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers

I tell him I'm okay,

and there's nothing he can do

because I just buried my boyfriend

and of course I'm really not

that

okay.

Page 54 of I heart you, You haunt me by Lisa Schroeder

Discussion Questions for The Independence of Miss Mary Bennett by Colleen McCullough

2010-09-05T09:13:00.000+09:30

1. Did you get off to a slow start or were you straight in?

2. What was unique about the setting of the book and how did it enhance or take away from the story?

3. Do the characters seem real and believable? Can you relate to their predicaments? To what extent do they remind you of yourself or someone you know?

4. How did your feelings change as you read through the book?

5. How do the ongoing lives of Jane‚ Lydia and Kitty compare to the lives you imagined for them? And how do you think Jane Austen might have felt about these newly created futures?

6. How do you feel about the state of Lizzie and Fitz?s marriage? Is the marriage that Colleen McCullough paints a realistic one?

7. Ned Skinner has a great sense of loyalty to Fitz‚ but also a darker side. After Ned?s actions‚ can there be redemption for him?

8. In what ways do Caroline Bingley?s words affect Charlie and his relationship with his father? How is Fitz and Charlie?s relationship repaired in the book?

9. How realistic is Mary?s quest at the beginning at the book compared to the task she undertakes at the end of the book?

10.. In what ways do the women of this novel exert their independence and to what extent is that independence respected by the men around them?

11. Did certain parts of the book make you uncomfortable? If so, why did you feel that way? Did this lead to a new understanding or awareness of some aspect of your life you might not have thought about before?

12. Did you feel that the book fulfilled your expectations? Were you disappointed?
13. How did the book compare to other books by the author (or other books in the same genre)?

14. How realistic was the characterization? Would you want to meet any of the characters? Did you like them? Hate them?

15. Were there any bits you would have written differently?

16. Did you like the cover/look of the book? Would you have chosen
to read it, and why (or why not)?
17. As this is a sequel do you think it would be hard to write a sequel to such a well known book?
18. How should the book have ended?

The Lacemakers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri

2010-09-05T08:51:00.002+09:30

"You can always start again," Kate Robinson's mother once told her, "all it takes is a new thread." Overwhelmed by heartbreak and loss, the struggling twenty-six-year-old fashion designer follows her mother's advice and flees to her ancestral homeland of Ireland, hoping to break free of old patterns and reinvent herself.

She arrives on the west coast, in the seaside hamlet of Glenmara. In this charming, fading Gaelic village, Kate quickly develops a bond with members of the local lace-making society: Bernie, alone and yearning for a new purpose since the death of her beloved husband, John; Aileen, plagued by doubt, helplessly watching her teenage daughter grow distant; Moira, caught in a cycle of abuse and denial, stubbornly refusing help from those closest to her; Oona, in remission from breast cancer, secretly harboring misgivings about her marriage; Colleen, the leader of the group, worried about her fisherman husband, missing at sea. And outside this newfound circle is local artist Sullivan Deane, an enigmatic man trying to overcome a tragedy of his own.

Under Glenmara's spell, Kate finds the inspiration that has eluded her, and soon she and the lace makers are creating a line of exquisite lingerie. In their skilled hands, flowers, Celtic dragons, nymphs, fish, saints, kings, and queens come to life, rendered with painterly skill. The circle also offers them something more—the strength to face their long-denied desires and fears. But not everyone welcomes Kate, and a series of unexpected events threatens to unravel everything the women have worked so hard for. . . .

Review by Shaz :)

I really enjoyed this book, It was a easy quick read and I really got into this book.If anything I would love to see more of a relationship between Kate and Sullivan.Simple things like he winks at her, he touches her hand,he pulls her into the brush for a kiss all the flirty exchanges of a new relationship..I love the muffin top new name as a fallen souffle I couldn't stop laughing....just looking at each girl in our reading group..

Sam - creative
Native-rock a good foundation
Kristie- trooper amazing woman and has alot of love for people.
Irish-a person you chill with..no stress..
Legs-listener.
Tamika(meeks) fun..party girl
Shazza(Sharon) compassionate.

Each girl has a wonderful place in the group which we can help each other just like the lacemakers..We are the Fantastic, amazing Book club..

I rate this book

The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet by Colleen McCullough

2010-09-04T18:50:00.004+09:30

Everyone knows the story of Elizabeth and Jane Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. But what about their sister Mary? At the conclusion of Jane Austen's classic novel, Mary, bookish, awkward, and by all accounts, unmarriageable, is sentenced to a dull, provincial existence in the backwaters of Britain. Now, master storyteller Colleen McCullough rescues Mary from her dreary fate with The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet, a page-turning sequel set twenty years after Austen's novel closes. The story begins as the neglected Bennet sister is released from the stultifying duty of caring for her insufferable mother. Though many would call a woman of Mary's age a spinster, she has blossomed into a beauty to rival that of her famed sisters. Her violet eyes and perfect figure bewitch the eligible men in the neighborhood, but though her family urges her to marry, romance and frippery hold no attraction. Instead, she is determined to set off on an adventure of her own. Fired with zeal by the newspaper letters of the mysterious Argus, she resolves to publish a book about the plight of England's poor. Plunging from one predicament into another, Mary finds herself stumbling closer to long-buried secrets, unanticipated dangers, and unlooked-for romance.

Meanwhile, the other dearly loved characters of Pride and Prejudice fret about the missing Mary while they contend with difficulties of their own. Darcy's political ambitions consume his ardor, and he bothers with Elizabeth only when the impropriety of her family seems to threaten his career. Lydia, wild and charming as ever, drinks and philanders her way into dire straits; Kitty, a young widow of means, occupies herself with gossip and shopping; and Jane, naïve and trusting as ever, spends her days ministering to her crop of boys and her adoring, if not entirely faithful, husband. Yet, with the shadowy and mysterious figure of DarcyÕs right-hand man, Ned Skinner, lurking at every corner, it is clear that all is not what it seems at idyllic Pemberley. As the many threads of McCulloughÕs masterful plot come together, shocking truths are revealed, love, both old and new, is tested, and all learn the value of true independence in a novel for every woman who has wanted to leave her mark on the world.

The reason I chose this book was because of one of my all time favourite books, Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen. I was curious to see what happened to Miss Mary Bennet.

I was rather taken back when I was reading this book to find that the novel I have enjoyed for many years was torn apart. The romantic story of Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy did not continue,, but rather the opposite.

Lizzie was unhappy in her marriage, Darcy is ambitious and controlling, Mr. Darcy's father was evil, Jane is weak and cries a lot, the list goes on......... even Charles Bingley got a bit of a rap. At least Mary went from an unassuming ugly duckling into a strong willed beautiful swan.
I had difficulty reading this book, to continue I had to divorce the two books from each other.
So I had to pretend the Bennet sisters and Mr. Darcy of Pride & Prejudice were not the characters referred to in this book, It did help that Mr. Darcy was often called Fitz.

I feel the author Colleen McCullough used the traits of each character in the novel Pride & Prejudice and showed them in a different light to write her book.

This book does have witty conversation, drama, comical moments, mystery, and murder. I might have enjoyed reading this book, if it didn't try and destroy the book I love. But then again I may not have picked it up if it wasn't for the title The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet.

At least it all ended on a good note.

I am sorry to say there is language, which I am sure Jane Austen would not be impressed with. There are a few pages with rather bad language, Please beware of pages 149/150. there is a word we don't hear often or if at all. I was rather surprised, I didn't expect any bad language.

I am not objective enough at the moment to rate this book, maybe after we discuss it at book club, I may see it in a different light.

I have been having a quick read of my old faithful Pride & Prejudice.
Now to clear my head, I think I will get myself a carton of chocolate milk and some snack food, and put on the BBC movie of Pride & Prejudice and lose myself in the romantic story for a short while and spend some time with some old friends Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy and of course (Colin Firth).

Free Book Give-Away - Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay

2010-09-04T12:41:00.004+09:30

Well this is the book that is our next read ........ And we thought we would give it away to some lucky reader so you can read along with us ............

Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel' d'Hiv roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours.

Paris, May 2002: On Vel' d'Hiv's 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv, to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life.

Tatiana de Rosnay offers us a brilliantly subtle, compelling portrait of France under occupation and reveals the taboos and silence that surround this painful episode

The Rules are simple .....

#1 - Anyone can enter but you need to be a follower of our Book Blog so join up

#2 Leave a comment below .......

#3 The comment needs to be about which book you have loved that has been set in a different country .....

#4 Make sure you make the comment before the deadline of 25th September 2010

Good Luck Everyone :) ..........

Closing Date 25th September 2010

That time of year again ..

2010-09-04T11:13:00.027+09:30

Can you believe that it is September aready ...... CRAZY .........

Well it is that time of year again that we are thinking about our choices for Bookclub next year ... So here is what we have picked so you can read along with us ..........

Leg's Picks

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?
Samantha Kingston has it all—looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12th should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it’s her last. The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. In fact, she re-lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she had ever imagined.

My Name is Mary Sutton by Robin Oliveira

In this stunning historical novel, Mary Sutter is a brilliant, headstrong midwife from Albany, New York, who dreams of becoming a surgeon. Determined to overcome the prejudices against women in medicine—and eager to run away from her recent heartbreak—Mary leaves home and travels to Washington, D.C. to help tend the legions of Civil War wounded. Under the guidance of William Stipp and James Blevens—two surgeons who fall unwittingly in love with Mary’s courage, will, and stubbornness in the face of suffering—and resisting her mother’s pleas to return home to help with the birth of her twin sister’s baby, Mary pursues her medical career in the desperately overwhelmed hospitals of the capital.
Like Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain and Robert Hicks’s The Widow of the South, My Name Is Mary Sutter powerfully evokes the atmosphere of the period. Rich with historical detail (including marvelous depictions of Lincoln, Dorothea Dix, General McClelland, and John Hay among others), and full of the tragedies and challenges of wartime, My Name Is Mary Sutter is an exceptional novel. And, in Mary herself, Robin Oliveira has created a truly unforgettable heroine whose unwavering determination and vulnerability will resonate with readers everywhere.

Irish's Picks

The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman

A true story as powerful as Schindler's List in which the keepers of the Warsaw Zoo saved hundreds of people from Nazi hands.
When Germany invaded Poland, Stuka bombers devastated Warsaw and the city's zoo along with it. With most of their animals dead, zookeepers Jan and Antonina Zabinski began smuggling Jews into empty cages. Another dozen "guests" hid inside the Zabinskis' villa, emerging after dark for dinner, socializing, and, during rare moments of calm, piano concerts. Jan, active in the Polish resistance, kept ammunition buried in the elephant enclosure and stashed explosives in the animal hospital. Meanwhile, Antonina kept her unusual household afloat, caring for both its human and its animal inhabitants otters, a badger, hyena pups, lynxes.
With her exuberant prose and exquisite sensitivity to the natural world, Diane Ackerman engages us viscerally in the lives of the zoo animals, their keepers, and their hidden visitors. She shows us how Antonina refused to give in to the penetrating fear of discovery, keeping alive an atmosphere of play and innocence even as Europe crumbled around her.

Perfume (The story of a murderer ) by Patrick Suskind

In the slums of eighteenth-century France, the infant Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is born with one sublime gift-an absolute sense of smell. As a boy, he lives to decipher the odors of Paris, and apprentices himself to a prominent perfumer who teaches him the ancient art of mixing precious oils and herbs. But Grenouille's genius is such that he is not satisfied to stop there, and he becomes obsessed with capturing the smells of objects such as brass doorknobs and frest-cut wood. Then one day he catches a hint of a scent that will drive him on an ever-more-terrifying quest to create the "ultimate perfume"-the scent of a beautiful young virgin. Told with dazzling narrative brillance, Perfume is a hauntingly powerful tale of murder and sensual depravity.

Kristie's Pick

Room by Emma Donoghue

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It's where he was born, where he and his Ma eat and play and learn. At night, Ma puts him safely to sleep in the wardrobe, in case Old Nick comes.
Room is home to Jack, but to Ma it's the prison where she's been held for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for her son. But Jack's curiosity is building alongside Ma's desperation -- and she knows Room cannot contain either indefinitely. ...
Told in the inventive, funny, and poignant voice of Jack, Room is a powerful story of a mother and son whose love lets them survive the impossible.

Native's Picks

Raquel: Beyond the Cleavage by Raquel Welch

Part autobiography, part personal philosophy, and full of practical advice for women of all ages, Raquel: Beyond the Cleavage is a book that skimps neither on entertainment nor on good plain advice.
She didn't hatch out of a an eagle's nest, circa One Million Years B.C., clad in a skimpy fur bikini. She didn't aspire to fame as a sex symbol. Yet, for many years after making her Hollywood entrance as every man's fantasy, Raquel Welch was best known for her beauty and sex appeal. A private person, she allowed people to draw their own conclusions from her public image. Now, Raquel Welch is ready to speak her mind. And, with the luxury of hindsight and the benefit of experience, she has plenty to share about the art of being a woman--even men will find it enlightening to read about what makes her tick.
In Beyond the Cleavage, Raquel Welch talks, woman to woman, about her views on all that comes with being a member of the female sex--love, sex, style, health, body image, career, family, forgiveness, aging, and coming of age. Looking back on her life, she lets women in on her childhood, dominated by a volatile father; her first love, marriage, and divorce; her early struggles as a single working mother in Hollywood; her battles for roles and respect as an actress; and her daring decision never to lie about her age. Looking forward, she offers women a compass to guide them at every crossroad of life, from menopause through the empty nest years, to dating younger men and beyond. Along with bringing baby boomers into her confidence--she offers essential tips for staying motivated and positive past fifty, as well as divulging her secrets for fabulous hair and makeup--she even talks to today's younger generation of women about the importance of carrying themselves with dignity and self-respect.
With warmth, humor, conviction, and honesty, Raquel reveals her approach to preventative aging, her life-changing commitment to yoga, her recipe for eating right, her skincare regimen, her flair for fashion, and much more. Deeply personal (Welch wrote every word herself--no ghostwriter), Beyond the Cleavage is Raquel Welch's gift to every woman who longs to look and feel her best, and be at peace with herself.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

In picturesque nineteenth-century New England, tomboyish Jo, beautiful Meg, fragile Beth, and romantic Amy come of age while their father is off to war.

Shaz's Picks

Sam's Picks

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.
When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.
Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Pegasus by Robin McKinley

A gorgeously written fantasy about the friendship between a princess and her Pegasus.
Because of a thousand-year-old alliance between humans and pagasi, Princess Sylviianel is ceremonially bound to Ebon, her own Pegasus, on her twelfth birthday. The two species coexist peacefully, despite the language barriers separating them. Humans and pegasi both rely on specially-trained Speaker magicians as the only means of real communication.
But its different for Sylvi and Ebon. They can understand each other. They quickly grow close-so close that their bond becomes a threat to the status quo-and possibly to the future safety of their two nations.
New York Times bestselling Robin McKinley weaves an unforgettable tale of unbreakable friendship, mythical creatures and courtly drama destined to become a classic.

Interview with Heather Barbieri

2010-09-04T10:38:00.005+09:30

Well as a book club we just finished The Lacemakers of Glenmarra and we where truely excited when Heather agreed to an interview with us .... Because we just loved the novel :) ......

1) Being from Ireland myself I really loved the book and could relate to the characters .... Before this novel had you had any experience with lace-making or sewing?
Oh, one of you is from Ireland? Whereabouts? I don’t have experience with lace-making, but I was an avid seamstress (I was going to write “sewer”—ha!) when I was younger. (I won the McCall’s Learn to Sew for Fun sewing/modeling national competition when I was 14; little did they know I’m only 5’2”!) When I was in college, I especially liked to rework vintage pieces and fabrics.

2) Did you have an idea of a defining role for each of the women in the novel when you where writing the story?
For some of them, yes (especially Bernie, Aileen & Kate). Others showed up as I went along.

3) There was a little bit of romance in the novel but the story stayed with the lives of the woman .... Was that on purpose? As one of our girls really wanted more romance scenes with Kate and Sullivan ... lol ...
Yes, it’s really a novel about women’s friendships. The romance was secondary. So many novels put the romance front and center, I thought it would be fun to change things up and give the women center stage.

4) When did you decide to become an author?
I’ve always been interested in writing and acting and was a journalist before turning to fiction. (I flirted w/ the idea of going to law school as an undergrad, but my dad, who’s a judge, plunked one of his voluminous legal opinions down in front of me and asked if that was really the kind of writing I wanted to do. He thought it would be a waste of my creativity, though he said I’d be good at it if a legal career was truly what I wanted. I’m eternally grateful to him for helping me look into my own heart and consider what I really wanted. Most parents would probably have encouraged going with the more traditional, higher-salaried, profession.)

5) Have you ever been involved in a group before ( eg. Bookclub, Craft etc ) where women have got together?
Yes, I’ve been in a book club. Currently, I’m in a gardening group that meets to swap plants, garden, and attend gardening shows—and, of course share meals, laughs and conversation in the process. I’m also in a hiking group—there’s nothing like getting out and adventuring (and mis-adventuring!) with a group of friends.

6) What inspires you to write?
Oh, anything can strike me, really. A newspaper article. A conversation. I try to be a sponge and take everything in, then let it percolate and see what emerges. Once it comes time to getting the words down on the page and setting a writing schedule, the true work—and fun—begin.

7) What's your favourite part of 'The Lacemakers of Glenmara'?
I like the whole thing (ha!--I would say that, wouldn’t I?), but the section where Denny is defending Oona and the other where Bernie is thinking about the loss of her husband are particular favorites.

8) Do you have a favouirte author?
I’m an avid reader and have many favorite books. Recently, I’ve enjoyed Arlington Park by Rachel Cusk and Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon. I’m also a big fan of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell, The Woman in White, and pretty much anything by William Trevor and Edna O’Brien.

9) If you were writing a book about yourself what would the title be?
Oh, heavens, I don’t know. Her Children Are Driving Her Crazy. (Kidding! Well, most of the time.) Little Woman. (Remember, I said I’m short?) . . . .

10) What are your current projects and can you share anything with us? I’m batting around ideas for a third book with my editor and am chomping at the bit to get writing. Autumn always spurs me into a flurry of activity.

Thanks Heather and looking forward to reading your future works .... The Exclusively Girls xx

Dear John by Nicolas Sparks (4)

2010-09-04T01:09:00.004+09:30

"Dear John", the letter read. And with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives changed forever.

When Savannah Lynn Curtis comes into his life, John Tyree knows he is ready to turn over a new leaf. An angry rebel, he had enlisted in the army after high school, not knowing what else to do. Then, during a furlough, he meets Savannah, the girl of his dreams. The attraction is mutual and quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah vowing to wait for John while he finishes his tour of duty. John must choose between love and country. Now, when he finally returns to North Carolina, John will discover how love can transform us in ways we never could have imagined.

John joins the army to change his life. When he was on leave he meets beautiful

Savannah.

While spending allot of time with Savannah they become very close, he soon tell her that he loves her.

But John has to go back to the army. During the time he is away they write to each other.

Until one day John receives a "DEAR JOHN".

I truly love the book but I really loved the movie too.

I rate this book 4 ****

Beloved Emma by Lori E Woodland and Illustrated by Liz Lemon Swindle (41/2)

2010-09-03T19:43:00.006+09:30

Revered as “an elect lady” and denounced as a “damned liar,” Emma Hale Smith had a life full of contradictions — trials and triumphs, sorrows and strength, fears and faith. Raised in a well-respected family, she gave up everything to marry a poor, uneducated farm boy. Her unwavering support of the Prophet Joseph through intense persecution and suffering is legendary, and although she lived in relative comfort and security in her later years, Emma’s life continued to be laced with tragedy and heartache.

This well-documented narrative provides a personal glimpse into the life of a woman who remains one of the most mysterious and misunderstood women in Church history today. With beautiful full-color illustrations by renowned artist Liz Lemon Swindle, the story is told using many first-person accounts. Readers will gain valuable insights into the remarkable life and character of Emma Hale Smith.

This is a Beautiful book about a pioneer woman who lived in the 1800s. She was an elect women who live through trails, and happy times.She had so much faith in her god, and a great love for her Husband.

Emma endured so much in her life she Endure the miscarriages and death of her children.

Emma had alot of love for People, she would open her door to so many people. She also moved many times thoughtout her life with her family to find peace and safety.
Emma and her family life was in Danger so many times. She also had a good family that helped her..

The thing I have learnt from this book is to be compassionate and endure to the end..

The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet by Colleen McCullough

2010-09-01T18:58:00.004+09:30

Book Club read for September

Everyone knows the story of Elizabeth and Jane Bennett in

Pride and Prejudice. But what about their sister, Mary?

So far on in time, each of Mary's sisters is settled in her own way.

Then events transpire that free Mary from her family obligations and

dangle the allurement of independence before her hungry gaze.

Fired with zeal by the newspaper letters of the mystery man Argus,

she resolves to publish a book about the plight of England's poor.

Plunging from one predicament into another, Mary embarks upon a mission

of investigation that eventually leads her into mortal danger and reveals

the surprising identity of Argus.

Lacemakers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri (4)

2010-08-28T01:43:00.004+09:30

The book was an enjoyable read, The Lacemakers were a group of women who gathered together to do something they enjoyed, but also formed a bond of friendship. The book reminded me of our own little bookclub group, not only do we gather together to do something we enjoy,(reading) we have grown into a group of firm friends.

I give it a rating of 4****

Book Give Away - Meridian by Amber Kizer

2010-08-27T11:42:00.003+09:30

My name is Meridian Sozu. I am a Fenestra. I have always shared my world with the dead and the dying. But I really didn't understand what that meant until I turned sixteen and glimpsed my own mortality... Sixteen-year-old Meridian has always been surrounded by death. As a child, insects, mice, and salamanders burrowed into her bedclothes to die. As she grew, the animals got bigger, and soon they were finding her at school to die in her presence. Meridian became an outcast, labeled by her classmates as Reaper, Gravedigger, and Witch. Each death she witnesses weakens her body, and loneliness weakens her spirit. On her sixteenth birthday, she witnesses a deadly car crash. Though she’s untouched, Meridian's body explodes with the victims’ pain. Before she can fully recover, Meridian is told that she's a danger to her family and rushed to her great-aunt's house in Revelation, Colorado. It's there that she learns the secret her mother has been hiding her entire life: that she is a Fenestra, the half-angel, half-human link between the living and the dead. It's crucial that she learn how to transition human souls to the afterlife and preserve the balance between good and evil on earth. But Meridian and her sworn protector and love, Tens, face great danger from the Aternocti, a band of dark forces who capture vulnerable souls on the brink of death and cause chaos. Dark, lovely, and lushly romantic, MERIDIAN introduces a powerful heroine who will entrance readers.

This lovely book is up for grabs ......

The Rules are simple .....

#1 - Anyone can enter but you need to be a follower of our Book Blog so join up

#2 Leave a comment below .......

#3 The comment needs to be what YA author is your favourite at the moment

#4 Make sure you make the comment before the deadline of 15th September 2010

Good Luck Everyone :) ..........

Closing Date 15th September 2010

Winner for Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink

2010-08-27T10:04:00.003+09:30

The Winner is ....

Chantele

Well done woman .... send us an email with your postal address and we will post it out to you !!!

"I was Jane Austen's Best Friend" by Cora Harrison [3 1/2]

2010-08-26T17:45:00.003+09:30

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single

girl in possession of a journal must write

all her secrets in it.

Meet Jenny Cooper: shy, pretty cousin of clever,

sparky Jane Austen

[who has lots of handsome brothers and a vivid imagination.]

These are Jenny's secrets:

* She has never gone to a ball.

* She hates her school.

* She longs to wear a new gown and flirt with a handsome

naval officer.

* She wishes real life could be more like a novel.

This is a really cute little novel that is written in the style of a diary, and all 13 -14 year old girls will just love this book. Inside you'll find all sorts of drawings and little notes. The hardback cover is just pretty and this is the UK version but I have also seen the US version that will come out eventually and I must admit that one is just beautiful.

So the basic story is that Jenny and Jane are at boarding school and get extremely sick and are brought home ... from then on it's about life under the Austen household and Jenny's desire to be married like all girls at her tender age of 16.

While it is such a sweet book and the characters are all likable and the humour is ... well funny, I did find the book for me a little boring and I kept losing interest in reading it. It is well written and light hearted and I loved the way truth and fiction were woven into making this story, but I definitely think it is one for the younger teens. Actually if you have any girls in the family think about this book as a stocking filler for Christmas because they will get a thrill out of reading it.

I rate this book 3 1/2 stars.

In the Post ... The Space between the Trees by Katie Williams

2010-08-24T09:59:00.004+09:30

This just arrived today and I just have to share it with you because it is GORGEOUS ......

This picture really doesn't do the book justice .... It is hard backed and the trees on the front are cut out in lattice work .... Again it is GORGEOUS ........

Here's what the books about:

This story was supposed to be about Evie how she hasn't made a friend in years, how she tends to stretch the truth (especially about her so-called relationship with college drop-out Jonah Luks), and how she finally comes into her own once she learns to just be herself but it isn't. Because when her classmate Elizabeth "Zabet" McCabe's murdered body is found in the woods, everything changes and Evie's life is never the same again.

I am excited to read this novel by Katie Williams as it is her first novel.

Teaser Tuesday

2010-08-24T09:33:00.002+09:30

It certainly was agreeable to fare sumptuously on fresh blood, drive in a fine carriage, wear her best frock every night, and do nothing but enjoy herself. It suited her exactly, and soon she began to imitate the manners and conversation of those about her, use French phrases, show off her fangs, decorate her dresses with blood splatters and play parlour games upon vampirists.

Pg 83 of Little Vampire Women by Lousia May Alcott and Lynn Messina

"Ravishing in Red" by Madeline Hunter [4]

2010-08-23T19:07:00.004+09:30

The Domino requests that Mr. Kelmsley meet him

at the Two Swords in Brighton two nights

hence to discuss a matter of mutual benefit.

Hoping to clear her dead father's name, Audrianna Kelmsleigh decides to respond to the advertisement placed by the mysterious "Domino." Armed with her cousin's gun, she takes a room at the Two Swords Coaching Inn. But the handsome man of commanding sensuality who shows up is not the Domino at all, but Lord Sebastian Summerhays - one of her father's persecutors - who has been lured by the same advertisement. When Audrianna's gun accidentally fires, the situation suddenly becomes mortifying public ...

There is only one way out of the scandal that erupts, and so these two passionate and headstrong adversaries find themselves joined in a marriage of necessity. Expecting a practical alliance, Audrianna quickly discovers she is helpless to resist Sebastian's seductive persuasions as he teaches her the meaning of erotic desire. But she remains determined to exonerate her father, even if it means risking her life, her marriage - and her heart ...

This is the first in a series of Regency romance ... the second novel in this series is called "Provocative in Pearls." The covers are just gorgeous ...
I actually wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this book, as it did take a little while to get into ... but after the initial few pages it became quite interesting. So the story basically is ... Audrianna is trying to defend her father who commits suicide because he is unable to live with the consequence's of decisions made through his work, she believes he is innocent and tries to prove it.
While reading through the paper she comes across the advertisement by the Domino and believes he will be able to shed some light on her father's plight. Meanwhile Lord Sebastian has been heading up the investigation into her father's situation and believes there is more to it than meets the eye. Through the accidental meeting and what comes of it these two people have to get married. Yes sparks fly between them, but Sebastian is the enemy as he was out to destroy Audrianna's father. As they both get too know each other, they start to realize that they have the same purpose in mind and work together ... kind of!

This will be an interesting series as it seems to be the stories about each of the women who live in the 'Rarest Blooms' a house owned by Daphne, Audrianna's cousin. Each of these four women are strong minded and want a life of their own without being depended on men. They have a good friendship with each other and care about each other. The men in the story are typical for this kind of novel, dashing, brooding, carefree, selfish ... rakes who all need to find that one special woman in their lives that will make a difference to it.

It was a good light read with nothing too heavy about the storyline ... there is a little mild erotica in it but nothing too bad. Looking forward to the next installments to read about the rest of the women.

I rate this book 4 stars.

Grrrrr Covers .....

2010-08-23T16:57:00.006+09:30

Don't you just love going down to the Post Box and turning the key to find that you have some little white parcels sitting in there waiting for you to open .... Well I got a load of new books today and I sat on my bed and very slowly opened the parcels up ... One by One ...

And one by one I saw gorgeous lovely covers until this one showed it's ugly head ....

Now don't get me wrong ... I don't think it is hideous but I just didn't remember ordering this book ... So I jumped online to scan my recent purchases and low and behold this is the cover that I should have got and ordered ..... GRRRRRRRRRRRR

Please tell me I am not the only one that really looks at the covers and orders accordingly .... The only problem I am now faced with is that if I really like this novel I am going to have to re-purchase the book in the cover that I wanted and ordered in the first place ..... Again with the GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR ...

Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh (3)

2010-08-23T14:58:00.007+09:30

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she's the best—but she doesn't know if she's good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful Archan ...more

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she's the best—but she doesn't know if she's good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael, a being so lethal that no mortal wants his attention, only one thing is clear—failure is not an option...even if the task is impossible.

Because this time, it's not a wayward vamp she has to track. It's an archangel gone bad.

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other…and pull her to the razor's edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn't destroy her, succumbing to Raphael's seductive touch just may. For when archangels play, mortals break…

I purchased this book because: I was recommended this series by a fellow book-lover because she knew I loved Vampire Novels ... :)

Opening lines: When Elena told people she was a vampire hunter, their first reaction was an inevitable gasp, followed by, 'You go around sticking those sharp stakes in their evil putrid hearts?'

Well don't you just love the cover to this :) ... I am glad that I purchased the UK cover cos the other ones are not really nice at all .... Well enough of me being a book snob :) ... Good to read an author who is on this side of the world ... Well New Zealand .... Nalini Singh was born in Fiji but lives in New Zealand ...

This is another series that involves Vampires and Angels .... Where Angels and Vampires are seen by humans and live among us ... And it is definitely an adult Read ... There is some violence in the novels but there is quite abit of sexual scenes ... So if you don't like that in your novel this series is not for you ....

The main character of Elena I love .... She is a Vampire Hunter and works for the 'Guild'. When she gets a job from her best friend Sara ( Director of the Guild ) she starts to worry ... Her new employer is none other than Hunky Immortal Archangel 'Raphael'. Elena is not too worried about getting the job done but whether she will be able to survive her new employer ...

There is something very special about Elena which the archangel 'Raphael' senses .... And it will be interesting to learn more about her past as the series develops ....

This is a different twist on the whole vampire genre .... In this series the 'Angels' are the ones that create Vampires .... And when one of them goes walk-about it is up to the 'Guild' to bring them safely back to their masters ... But this new job that Elena has been offered is a little bit different ... She is not asked to hunt a Vampire but an 'Angel' and a very old Angel to boot ...

Some of my favourite quotes: 'What, you got a big hunt coming on? .... No. But I do have a high chance of meeting a horrible death, within the next few hours. Might as well do something good and up my shot at getting into heaven.' pg 12

I did enjoy the novel and the story line is really interesting but it has adult themes running throughout the book .... I probably would have rated it more but for the sex scenes ...

I rate this book 3 ***

Other books in the series in order:
Guild Hunter Series
#1 Angels Blood
#2 Archangel's Kiss
#3 Archangel's Consort ( Released March 14th 2011)

And just to show you the difference in the covers here they are ....

This is the Japanese Cover ....

The German Cover .... Which to be honest isn't that bad ... I quite like it ...

The American cover which I just hate ....

Definitely think I got the better cover of all .... Go the UK !!!

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson (41/2)

2010-08-23T13:53:00.009+09:30

During the summer of 1793, Mattie Cook lives above the family coffee shop with her widowed mother and grandfather. Mattie spends her days avoiding chores and making plans to turn the family business into the finest Philadelphia has ever seen. But then the fever breaks out.

Disease sweeps the streets, destroying everything in its path and turning Mattie's world upside down. At her feverish mother's insistence, Mattie flees the city with her grandfather. But she soon discovers that the sickness is everywhere, and Mattie must learn quickly how to survive in a city turned frantic with disease.

I purchased this book because: It has been on my radar for some time now and finally getting around to reading it :) ...

Opening Lines: I woke to the sound of a mosquito whining in my left ear and my mother screeching in my right. 'Rouse yourself this instant!' Mother snapped open the shutters and heat poured into our bedchamber. The room above our coffeehouse was not large.

Well this is my first read of Laurie Halse Anderson and it will certainly not be my last .... I loved this little book and was quite impressed by how much research the author had done to make this book come alive ....

The book is set in Philadelphia in 1793 when a disease known as 'Yellow Fever' strikes the city and brings it to it's knees. And how through one girls eyes she tries to survive when everyone around her is getting infected ...

I loved the main character of Mattie ... She is a very strong willed girl who is determined not to let this disease change her or her dreams of the future ... But even though she is a strong character she still has a very vulnerable side ... The author Laurie gives us just enough information to let us know the extent of this disease without going overboard .... But you still get the sense of how devastating this disease actually was for the people who stayed in Philadelphia .... I think what makes this book work is that Laurie did alot of research into the breakout of 'Yellow Fever' in 1793 and you really do get caught up in the story and just how far medical science has come on .. Thankfully for us ....

Some of my favourite quotes: ' A Low voice and soft address are the common indications of a well-bred woman.' pg 24

'Mother looked at the old man. He just wanted a quiet afternoon, that much was clear. I saw him wink at her. I didn't know which one made me angrier, but somehow they had both won.' Pg 42

'Those filthy refugees and creatures who live in the crowded hovels by the river, they're always sick with something. But it is a gross injustice that my gala should suffer because the lower class fall ill.' Pg 51

'You're turning into a regular scold, Mattie Cook. You sound like your mother, ordering menfolk around.' Pg 79

'The grave diggers had dug trenches as deeply as they could, then planted layer after layer of fever victims. Some of the dead were decently sewn into their winding sheets, but most were buried in the clothes they died in. ' A field plowed by the devil,' I murrured. 'They're not even using coffins' Pg 120

'I could read, write, and figure numbers faster than most. I was not afraid of hard work. I would set my own course.' Pg 216

This book goes to show that disease and illness doesn't care about social graces or class and as always the rich do have better means to run away from the disease where as the poorer classes are left to cope and mourn for their losses ...

This is a short wee book with big writing so you could get through it quite quickly ... I will definitely be tempted to read more of her works ... This book is suitable of anybody over the age of 12 ...

I rate this book 4 1/2 ****

Teaser Tuesday

2010-08-18T12:32:00.002+09:30

I saw a figure stand under the tree. I tried to call Grandfather's name, but could make no sound. The wind carried a roaring sound. Why was I carrying these rocks? I stumbled. Where was Mother? Where was Eliza? The balloon. I'll be up in a minute, Mother. Just let me sleep.

Pg 95 of .... Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

"If I Stay" by Gayle Forman [4 1/2]

2010-08-16T16:00:00.004+09:30

Life can change in an instant.

A cold February morning ...

a snowy road ...

and suddenly all of Mia's choices are gone.

Except one.

As alone as she'll ever be, Mia must

make the most difficult choice of all.

Living's all about

making choices.

Dying's no different ...

From the moment you start reading this thought provoking story you realize just how precious life is and the importance of the choices we make throughout it. It is a simple but powerful story ... love, friendships, heartache and tragedy and all this makes for a heartwarming and memorable reading experience.

What choice would you make if you knew your family wasn't with you anymore ... this is the choice Mia has to make after a terrible accident takes her family from her. While lying unconscious in hospital Mia relives all the wonderful experiences that have come in her life at the young age of 17. Her love of music, her friendship with her best friend, her first boyfriend and first love and most precious of all her family. But with such a tragic loss is there even something worth staying for?

'Stay.' With that one word, Adam's voice catches, but he
swallows the emotion and pushes forward. 'There's no word
for what happened to you. There's no good side of it. But
there is something to live for. And I'm not talking about me.
It's just ... I don't know. Maybe I'm talking shit. I know I'm
in shock. I know I haven't digested what happened to your
parents, to Teddy ...' When he says Teddy, his voice cracks
and an avalanche of tears tumbles down his face. And I
think: I love you.

Sometimes painful, other times funny but always touching this is a novel that you just have to read ... impossible to put down. There is also talk of making this novel into a movie, and what a powerful movie that would be.
[ there is bad language in this book as well as adult concepts]

I rate this book 4 1/2 stars.

"The Storyteller's Daughter" by Cameron Dokey [5]

2010-08-16T09:46:00.005+09:30

After a bitter betrayal, a king vows never to be deceived again.

But the king's plan to protect himself will endanger all of the realm's

young women, unless one of them volunteers to surrender

her life to marry the king.

To everyone's relief and horror, Shahrazad, the daughter

of a legendary storyteller, steps forward. On her wedding night,

Shahrazad begins to weave a tale for the king.

Fascinated, the king lets her live night after night. Just

when Shahrazad dares to believe that she has found a way to keep

her life - and has discovered an unexpected love -

a treacherous plot disrupts her plan. Now Shahrazad must hope that

love is strong enough to save her.

We have all at same stage in our lives either read or saw a movie about the 'Arabian Nights', well this lovely little book is told from the storyteller's daughter and is so fascinating and captivating that before you know it you've finished to book. Shahrazad is such a wonderful character that you truly believe in her gift of storytelling and you just pray that all will work out for her in the end. The stories inside the story are wonderful and magical ... this is a little book that you can read over and over again and not grow tired of it.
So here is a little snippet ...

A story is alive, as you and I are.
It is rounded by muscle and sinew. Rushed with blood.
Layered with skin, both rough and smooth. At it's core lies soft
marrow of hard, white bone. A story beats with the heart of
every person who has ever strained ears to listen. On the
breath of the storyteller, it soars. Until its images and deeds
become so real you can see them in the air, shimmering like
oases on the horizon line.

Everyone at sometime in their lives needs to read this lovely novel and just immerse yourself into the telling of the story. Read it to your children and it will be something they will never forget ... one of the all time classics ...

ONCE UPON A TIME ... is just timeless !

I rate this book 5 stars.

Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink (41/2)

2010-08-15T17:29:00.004+09:30

The ultimate battle between sisters is nearing, and its outcome could have catastrophic consequences. As sixteen year-old Lia Milthorpe searches for a way to end the prophecy, her twin sister Alice hones the skills she'll need to defeat Lia. Alice will stop at nothing to reclaim her sister's role in the prophecy, and that's not the only thing she wants: There's also Lia's boyfriend James.

Lia and Alice always knew the Prophecy would turn those closest to them against them. But they didn't know what betrayal could lead them to do. In the end, only one sister will be left standing.

I purchased this book because: The second installment of the Prophecy of Sisters Series

Opening Lines: Sitting at the desk in my chamber, I do not need to read the words of the prophecy to recall them. They are embedded in my mind as clearly as the mark that brands my wrist.

This book is so much better than the first book and it will have you reading until you finish it in the wee hours of the morning :) .........

The relationship between Lia and Alice is brilliant with Lia battling to do the right thing and Alice her sister just not caring except to stop Lia at all costs not to find the missing pages of the prophecy ....

The book is mostly about Lia and her faithful companions Sonia, Luisa and Edmund travelling to reach Lia's aunt in order to obtain the missing pages of the prophecy .... The horse rides will have you at the edge of your seat as you read .... Not only are they trying to escape the souls but also Hell Hounds are on their trail ........

But you know what else makes this book yummy to read .... Enter Dimitri ..... Oh yes ladies he is delicious ... Move over James for here is a man who is ready to fight for his lady ....

Lia has some really important and hard decisions to make in this book ... Will she be able to let her head overrule her heart ....

Some of my favourite quotes: 'There are those who might say all trees look alike, that it is impossible to tell one wood from another, but this is the landscape of my childhood and I know it for what it is.' pg 4

'Alice and I are destined to meet as enemies. Now it is just the keys, the prophecy, and me.' pg 27

' He is right, of course. If the measure of reality is based only on things in which the rest of the world believes, there is no Samael, no Lost Souls, no prophecy. Yet we know them to be real. It only makes sense to them, to accept the reality in which we find ourselves, however far that reality may be from everyone else's' pg 79

'Worse than anger, worse than ambivalence, I see the pleasure she takes in holding the power to harm another.' Pg 89

'What moves through the forest is no simple animal. I hear howling screams and know immediately that a wolf or a dog would be a blessing compared to what follows us. It is not the growl of an animal but something much, much more terrifying.' pg 105

' I could not stop myself from intervening. From the first moment I saw you, I felt ..... something.' pg 123 AHHHHH

' I need less sleep than you might imagine. Besides, lately when I sleep, I only dream of you anyway.' pg 143

' I shake my head, wondering if a gag for her condescending mouth would be too much to ask' pg 187

'When I meet his gaze, a slow smile spreads from his eyes to his mouth and he raises his eyebrows as if he know exactly what I am thinking.' pg 199

'The Prophecy has taught me well that some things must be done however much we wish to avoid them.' pg 218

Well I am abit sad that this book is finished .... It has been a really great read .... Fast pacing all the way to the end .... And now we have to wait for the next installment .... GRRRRRR

I rate this book 41/2 ****

Books in the Series in order
Prophecy of the Sisters
#1 Prophecy of the Sisters
#2 Guardian of the Gate
#3 (Released 2011)

Ok You know that you want to read this book ........ And we happen to be giving a copy of it away this month .... So click the picture of the book on your right and enter .......

The Lacemakers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri (41/2)

2010-08-15T16:12:00.006+09:30

I purchased this book because: My Book Club choice for this month of August

Opening Lines: What you will need: A sewing machine, your mother's, yes, the sky-blue Singer, its hum a lullaby from infancy, you in a Moses basket at her feet, grabbing at bright threads.

Well I finished this book off in one sitting ... I really loved it ... Was it because I loved the sense of humour in the book or just that it was set in Ireland and got abit homesick when reading about the rolling green hills and the slanty rain which you can only get in Ireland. :) .... or for the fact that as a child my own grandmother and mother would sit me on their knee and teach me to sew .

I made so many post-it notes in my copy of the book especially at the beginning it was getting ridiculous .... I could so picture Kate walking along ( My mom would be proud I didn't use the word DOWN ... lol ) the country lanes .... I could picture the cliffs and the beautiful sea .... I could sympathise with the fishing community especially a wee country town as I came from one just like it .... How everyone knew everyone else and had a special bond that you can only get from a small village .... People are so invested in each others lifes and it just feels like home ....

The friendships between all the lace making woman is lovely and you do get caught up in their world ... It is lovely to see that link of friendship and love as no age boundaries ... Everyone no matter how small as a part to play and something to give ... Denny and Niall where really funny characters and I did find myself chuckling when their banter was in full flow ...

I really loved this wee book .... The story line was nice .... The characters where lovely and I could identify with them ... There was a wee bit of romance with the dashing Sullivan .... And some really funny parts that did have me laughing out loud .... Alot ...

Favourite Quotes: 'Pincushion, apple-shapped, with a felt stem, to keep pins from getting lost. pg 1 ( love this because my grandmother had one just like it ..)

'She couldn't stop thinkin about him, imagined making arguments far more winning than was capable of in real life.' Pg 6

'Each step she took left a mark, some visible, some not; marks that said, I was here, I exist. That was one of the reasons people went away, wasn't it, to forget, to reinvent themselves?' Pg 7

'To Ireland. Land of her ancestors, land of the green, of rainbows and magic and pots of gold.' pg 11

'You're too young to give in to disappointment. The joy will come again, and when it does, it will be all the better because of what you've suffered. Love is life, you know.' pg 17

'They were like family, Aileen said, without the excess baggage.' pg 26

'Don't believe everything you hear about the Irish,' Denny said. 'We're full of contradictions' pg 41

'I see you've already met the Glenmara welcoming committee .... The COOFs ... What does that stand for? .... A couple of old farts,' pg 42

''Last time she'd tried rock-climbing at the Vertical Club in Seattle with Ella. How come you look like a dominatrix in that harness, and I just look like an idiot? She's asked, laughing so hard she'd turned upside down and had to be lowered to the ground on a cable.' Pg 57

'I was just thinking how funny life is. Seems like the more you want something, the more it eludes you. Then when you least expect it, there it is.' Pg 146

'He said she was his figurehead, that he could always see her when he rounded the bend and entered the bay. No different from that first day long ago, her brown hair gleaming in the sun, gone silver now. Her face lined, but as beautiful to him as ever. His constant, she was.' Pg 168 AHHHHHH

'That even though we lose the ones we've loved, they aren't gone from us forever, that they are with us, still, but in a different way.' Pg 235

This is a lovely wee read about friendships, loss and finding each other .....

I rate this book 4 1/2 ****

"Guardian of the Gate" by Michelle Zink [4 1/2]

2010-08-13T10:00:00.002+09:30

"While Altus holds the answer to the final pieces

of the prophecy's puzzle, there are those who will not want us to reach it's safe haven.

The Souls will not let us pass unchallenged.

And neither will my sister."

Sixteen year old Lia Milthorpe must journey to the uncharted isle of Altus to search for the missing pages of the Book of Chaos - the pages that could tell her how to end the prophecy that turned generations of sisters against each other.

But her twin sister Alice will stop at nothing to reclaim Lia's role as the Gate. And that's not the only thing she wants: there's also Lia's true love.

I have been looking forward to this next installment from this series, and it's been very good. So we left off with Lia and her friend Sonia travelling to London to find the next pieces of the prophecy and also the last two keys. Meanwhile back in New York her sister Alice is growing stronger by the day and she doesn't care for the rules of magic and steps outside the boundaries.

Aunt Abigail is the Lady of Altus and she is dying so she sends for Lia to give her the clues for the rest of the manuscript to find the missing pieces of the prophecy. Of course Lia is helped by the hunky Dimitri and a new passion arises between these two, but what about James who she left behind in New York and still has feeling for?

This has been a good second novel, it's fast paced and gets straight into the story without to much catch up. All of this novel is about Lia getting to Altus and then her next journey to find more information about the prophecy. I'm starting to really enjoy the character of Lia, she is becoming a strong young woman who is dealing with the lost of all her family including her sister Alice to the "DARK SIDE". She has to deal with betrayal in this novel and that is a difficult thing for her to forgive. The introduction of Dimitri is great and I must admit I like my tall, dark and handsome men, who seem a little mysterious as well. Dimitri has an instance connection with Lia and it is the same with Lia to a degree, but she hasn't forgotten James ... she just doesn't have time to deal with the relationship side as yet.

So here is a little piece to wet your appetite ...

"Are you not afraid, out here in the dark?" The deep voice comes to me from the shadows.

I straighten, unable to make out the face or form of the man to whom the voice belongs.

"No. Are you?"

He chuckles, and it is like warm wine spreading its fingers through my body.

"Not at all. In fact, sometimes I think I should be more afraid of the light."

I pull myself back to the present, opening my palms to the darkness around us. "If that is true, then why don't you show yourself? There is no light here."

"So there isn't."

He steps into the dim glow of the half moon, his dark hair gleaming even with so little illumination.

With just over 300 pages it is an afternoon read ... without interruptions of course. So now we'll all be hanging out for the next installment ... please come soon!

I rate this book 4 1/2 stars.

Fingers crossed for Unwind

2010-08-12T09:44:00.004+09:30

Well you all know how much I loved the book Unwind by Neal Shusterman ... And I have just heard that it could be made into a movie .... Yeah !!! ......... Neal pitched the idea to Universal back in the middle of July .... So fingers and toes crossed for him because it would be a fantastic movie .... And also there is going to be a sequel to Unwind .... Yes folks it is called Unwholly and due to come out sometime in 2012 ....

Neal is also handing his script of Everlost into Universal this week ... Which is going to be my next series that I will be reading ........ Oh happy days of Reading :) ...........

And if your a huge fan like I am you can talk to Neal on his Facebook Page and keep up to date with all the news !!

"Dreaming Anastasia" by Joy Preble [4 1/2]

2010-08-12T07:44:00.005+09:30

Anastasia Romanov,

the daughter of the last Tsar of Russia,

is believed to be dead by the world, but she is alive,

and when she sleeps, she dreams ...

Anne Michaelson

doesn't know much about Russian history; she is

more worried about getting into a good college.

But then the dreams start ...

In her dreams Anne is somewhere else. She is someone else.

The dreams seem as real as her waking life, and they terrify her.

Then a stranger offers to explain them - a boy who by

all appearances is her age. He claims he has been waiting for someone who can help save Anastasia. And through him, Anne sees: you don't need to be imprisoned to be trapped.

Irish said to me you'll just love this cover Legs ... well she was right, it is just beautiful and looking closely you'll see an image of Ethan with his stunning blue eyes. The second book is just as beautiful ... yes there is a next installment called "HAUNTED" coming early 2011.
So the cover drew me first followed closely by the write up from the back cover ... it sounded very intriguing. I love the idea of taking a story about Anastasia Romanov and the Russian history and blending it with a story of now. But did it live up to this idea?

So the main three characters of this novel are Anastasia, Anne and Ethan with a supporting role from Tess, Anne's best friend. Each of these characters were strong in their own individual ways and complemented the story. The author has given each character a chapter so you don't get confused with what's going on and it's good to read from the male point of view. Anastasia has written letters to her family and through this you get the background information you need to know about the magic in the novel and what happens to her. The blending of past and present was really well done and you do get a sense of Anastasia's history. Our handsome male hero is swoon worthy and our heroine is coming up to scratch with her destiny and her new abilities.

But ... I did feel like the author rushed the ending of the novel just a little. I was hoping for Anne to do something more with her powers and perhaps more to develop between Ethan and Anne, sadly not to be ... at least at this stage. I don't know if the next book continues off from where this one left of, or if it's another character altogether?

This is a book that you'll really enjoy and it reads really well, you won't want to put it down until your finished. There are a couple of swear words in it so I'd probably not recommend to under 15's. It's a novel about LOVE. MAGIC, and the POWER of DREAMS.

I rate this book 4 1/2 stars

Guardian Give-A-Way ..... Win a Free Copy ... Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink ...

2010-08-10T11:09:00.004+09:30

With the Guardian of the Gate just being released the second installment of the Prophecy of the Sisters.... We have a FREE Copy to give away

The Rules are simple .....

#1 - Anyone can enter but you need to be a follower of our Book Blog so join up

#2 Leave a comment below .......................

#3 The comment needs to be what Series you are reading at the moment that you are loving and WHY!!!

#4 Make sure you make the comment before the deadline of 25th August 2010

Good Luck Everyone :) ..........

Deadline closes 25th August 2010

Teaser Tuesday

2010-08-10T10:46:00.002+09:30

I do not want to turn at the sound of my name, but my eyes are drawn inexorably to his. His voice is a command. I cannot ignore, through it is as gentle as the mist that hangs in the woods as night descends.

Pg 116 of Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (5)

2010-08-10T09:20:00.006+09:30

Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two.

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.

But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?

I purchased this book because: I wanted to read about Werewolves instead of Vamps

Opening Lines: Bronwyn Alessia St. Vincent Clare! .. Four names, five words, one pissed-off werewolf. The math this particular equation never came out in my favor.

OH MY GOODNESS .... If twilight was for Vampires .... Then Raised by Wolves is for Werewolves ....

I could not put this book down ..... I Loved every minute of it and now have to wait until next year to read the second part :( .... Darn ......

You will find you will get pulled into Bryn world ..... You will feel the power struggle between Bryn being human and being raised in a very Alpha Male Society ... Loved the character of Callum the Alpha Leader of the Pack and his relationship with Bryn
( And wouldn't mind a spin-off book about him .... Hint Hint to Jennifer !!! ) ... I loved the character of Ali who is one feisty lady and not willing to give up her belief's even if it means risking everything to do it .....

I loved the Chemistry between Chase and Bryn ... When you are reading it you can feel the connection and the energy that the two of them have .... Can Bryn who is forever pushing the boundaries play by the rules of the pack .... Or will she push to far and have to suffer the consequences ....

I loved everything about this book ... It is written really well and if you are anything like me you will not be able to put this book down ... I loved all the characters and felt a connection to each of them ... It has been a wee while that I have come across a new series that all I wanted to do was read and block the whole outside out ....

Some of my favourite quotes ... And there where alot!!!! .... 'Come out, Come out, wherever you are, little one. No sense hiding from the Big Bad Wolf. I'll always find you in the end ... ' pg 5

'If werewolves had been into using 'property of' stickers, I would have been mummified in them' pg 8'She was a typical Ark Valley girl, A little too quiet, a little too sweet, with metaphorical claws lurking just under the surface.' pg 32'Darn tootin', 'If you poke enough angry bears with sticks, someday you're going to get burned, sweetheart.' pg 38

'As I began cutting through the restraints, the sound of inhuman screams echoing in my mind, I tried not to think about the fact that my vow to abstain from stupidity had lasted for all of forty-five seconds.' pg 54

'There are bad people in the world: murderers and psychopaths and telemarketers who won't take no for an answer.' pg 65

'Just you wait, I told her silently. It's all fun and games until they ground you until you're thirty.' pg 67

'I was fast, I was light, and I wasn't afraid of playing dirty.' Pg 116

'They say not to bring a knife to a gunfight.' pg 120

'He wasn't Attila the freaking Werewolf Hun.' pg 125

'Straw met camel's back. Breaking commenced.' pg 131

'I needed a plan. I needed to be strong. So I just kept running, because come hell or high water, a girl couldn't afford to be weak or human at a time like this.' pg 225

'Either way we were outclassed, outnumbered, overwhelmed, and screwed. In that order.' pg 346

Well Werewolves seem to be the new red this summer with so many new werewolves books emerging onto the market .... But I have to say that this book is my Fav so far and the rest of them books out there have alot to live up to ....

Do yourself a favour and rush out and buy this book .... But make sure you have at least 3 to 4 hours of not being disturbed because you are going to need it ....

I rate this book 5 *****

Books in Order of Series
Raised by Wolves
#1 Raised by Wolves
#2 Trial By Fire (Released summer 2011)