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

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)

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 ****

Prada & Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard (41/2)

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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 ...

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

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..

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson (41/2)

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 ****

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

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.

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

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)

"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. . . .

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]

"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.

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

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

"To Defy a King" by Elizabeth Chadwick [4 1/2]

The privileged daughter of one of the most powerful men in England, Mahelt Marshal's life changes dramatically when her father is suspected of treachery by King John. Her brothers become hostages and Mahelt is married to Hugh Bigod, heir to the earldom of Norfolk. Adapting to her new life is hard, but Mahelt comes to love Hugh deeply; however, defying her father-in-law brings disgrace and heartbreak.

When King John sets out to subdue the Bigods, Mahelt faces a heartbreaking battle, fearing neither she, nor her marriage, is likely to survive the outcome ...

First a warning ... this is not a quick read, with just over 500 pages it is one of those novels for when you have plenty of time to read.

This is an amazingly detailed story based on history from England, set in a time when power and greed mean survival of the fittest. King John is one of the most ruthless rulers of his time and the noble barons as well as the ordinary people have had enough, but to depose a King is not a small feat. William Marshal is an extraordinary man who uses his wit and intelligence to bring this tyrant King to his downfall. This story is about his eldest daughter Mahelt and her struggle to find her place in this world, she is sent to the Bigod household as an engaged child of 13 and there learns the ways of what a wife is supposed to do.

This is a stand alone novel on it's own but Chadwick has also written previous novels about William Marshal and also Roger Bigod so those of you who have read some of her other novels will be able to recognized some of the people mentioned in this one. The author's note at the end of the book is worth reading as it gives you factual detail of events mentioned through the novel.
This book is amazing in it's detail, and the characters just leap off the page, the background information entices you into this medieval way of life and before you realize it you think your living it. Totally enjoyed reading this novel.

I rate this book 4 1/2 stars.

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris (41/2)

Sookie Stackhouse has finally settled into a relationship with the Viking vampire Eric, and her errant brother Jason seems to have his life in order, too. But all the other people in Sookie’s life – Eric himself, her former lover Bill, her friend and boss Sam – are having family problems. Eric’s maker shows up with Eric’s ‘brother’ in tow, the ailing Bill can only be healed by a blood sibling, and Sam’s brother’s marriage is about to take place... or will it? The furor raised by the coming out of the two-natured has yet to settle; some people are just not ready to sit down to dinner with a man who turns into a dog. And Sookie herself is still recovering from her last ordeal. She’s definitely improving, physically and mentally, but she’s always going to have some dark moments now. The werewolves tell her that there have been strange and ominous passers-by in the Stackhouse woods; now Sookie is about to come face-to-face with one of her more distant relatives...

I purchased this book because: I love the Sookie Stackhouse series so of course I would get the latest one :)


Opening lines: 'I feel bad that I'm leaving you like this,' Amelia said. Her eyes were puffy and red. They'd been that way, off and on, ever since Tray Dawson's funeral.

It is only when you start to read a book that you realize that you really love this series ... I have to admit I miss my adventures with Sookie and the rest of the supernatural beings ....

Things got abit hairy in the last book with the Fay War and so many of the most loved characters either being killed or wounded really badly ...

So it is with a happy heart that I am reading about a few of my favourite characters again ... Eric the hunky vampire, Sam the shapeshaper, Alcide the gorgeous werewolve, Bill the brooding vampire, Pam the fashion kick ass vampire, Claude the devilish handsome Faerie, Jason the brother who you love even though he is misguided ... and of course Sookie who always seems to be in the thick of it ....

Sookie is trying to get back to normal but what is normal in Sookie's world ... lol .... Eric's world is turned upside down when an unexpected visitor makes an appearance ... And to top that off the FBI are now sniffing around ... With more dead bodies turning up .....

You gotta love this series ... Abit sad that now that I have to wait for the next installment .... If your a fan of the series True Blood ... Then this series is a must ......

Favourite quotes: 'There' said Sam. I had to strain to hear him. Someone had put Jace Everett's 'Bad Things' on, and just about everyone in the bar was singing along. Pg 25 Gotta love the plug for the song in the book ... :) And love the song :)


"Thanks for the warning. I'll go to the house now. You're my favourite Breather." Pg 193 Just love Pam .... She has a wicked sense of humor ...

I love, love, love this series ....

I rate this book 41/2 ****

And if you want to read the 1st Chapter of this novel for free click here ....


Well here is Jace singing 'Bad Things' enjoy :)





Books in the Sookie Stackhouse Series:
1) Dead Until Dark
2) Living Dead in Dallas
3) Club Dead
4) Dead to the World
5) Dead as a Doornail
6) Definitely Dead
7) All together Dead
8) From Dead to Worse
9) Dead and Gone
A Touch of Dead ( Collection of short Stories about Sookie)
10) Dead in the Family
11) Dead Letters ( Released 26th May 2011)

"Rebel" by RJ Anderson [4 1/2]

Linden's caged glowed with fiery heat, burning her fingers when she tried to cling to the bars. She fluttered helplessly in midair, wing muscles aching with the effort, knowing that she couldn't hover much longer before her strength gave out - and that the moment it did, she would die...

A Magical second novel to the first, "Knife" and I think this was even better. Faerie novels seem to be all the rage at the moment and the couple of series that I've picked up have been really great.

Again this series will have a third novel out in Jan 2011 called 'Arrow' and hopefully that will finish it off beautifully.
Linden is a young faerie of 15 years and she has been fostered by 'Knife' or Peri as she is called now. It has been about 14 years since Knife chose to become human and marry Paul and they both do everything in their power to protect the faeries that live in the Oak in the back garden. Linden has been their foster daughter and she has been living in both human and faerie world alike.Things change when their queen dies and Linden is sent on a mission of mercy to save her people.
Timothy is Paul's cousin and he comes to stay with them after getting into trouble at school. Tension in the household is not good and Timothy decides to run away and that's where he meets Linden.

Between the two of them they get into a lot of trouble, but in the end they both save the faeries in the Oak tree...but for how long is the question. Both Linden and Timothy learn the lessons of friendship and trust and how to believe in themselves.

A really great faerie series this turning out to be, because while it's a good story the author has woven into it a few wonderful life lessons on friendship and the importance of believing in yourself. Wonderful novels for young teenage girls. Easy to read, flows beautifully and nothing to worry about in the writing, so suitable for teens.

I rate this book 4 1/2 stars.

"Have a Little Faith' by Mitch Albom [4 1/2]

In the beginning, there was a question.

'Will you do my eulogy?'

As is often the case with faith, I thought

I was being asked a favor.

Actually I was being given one...

Have a Little faith begins with an unusual request: an 82 year old rabbi from Mitch's old

hometown asks him to deliver his eulogy. Feeling unworthy, Mitch insists on understanding the man better, which throws him back into a world of faith he'd left years ago.

Meanwhile, closer to his current home, Mitch becomes involved with a Detroit pastor -

a reformed drug dealer and convict - who preaches to the poor and homeless in a

decaying church with a hole in it's roof.

When I read the back cover and the inside cover...well let's just say I put off reading this book until the last week before book club.

It has turned out to be a very touching and moving true story of one man's journey in life, his losing faith and finding it again, and the divine spark that is inside all of us.

I thought this book was going to be about religion, but it is so much more than that....

While there are many different faiths in this world it all comes down to the same thing,

we all want to be heard and we all want to be loved and appreciated and forgiven.

It's about believing in something that is bigger than yourself.

You will be deeply touched and uplifted by this extraordinary book.

A must read for everyone...

I rate this book 41/2 ****

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl (41/2)

There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Finally back to the land of the book reviews ......... Hopefully you guys missed me .... lol ....

Anyway back to the book ...... The cover is what drew me to read this novel .... It is really pretty ... And I promise you that you will not be disappointed with this read .... It does what it says on the cover .... You will be intrigued ....

It is told from the point of view of Ethan who is a country boy who has lived in Gatlin all his life and it is pretty much boring ...... Until he starts to have vivid dreams about a girl he has never met before ......That is until he turns up to school one day and she sits beside him ....

It may take a a few chapters to get into the story line as there is alot of information but it is just setting up the rest of the novel and once you start you will not be able to put it down :)

This book is such an easy read and it flows beautifully ( excuse the pun ) If you love your fantasy then you are going to lap this book up ....... It has a little bit of everything including magic ... I love the way the authors have incorporated their southern roots into the story line .... It so works ....

You will love the relationship with Lena and Ethan ... You will love the other characters as well from Ethan's voodoo Grandmother to Lena's strange magically family ........

As a first novel I am really impressed and eagerly awaiting on the second one ...... This is a great book for a teen ... The characters are great ... The story line will keep you on your toes ... And it has a great ending :) ........ Full marks girls :)

I rate this book 41/2 stars ....

The Christmas Clock by Kat Martin [4 1/2]

Teddy Winters was eight years old that christmas, too young to understand all the undercurrents swirling around him in the tiny Michigan town of Dreyerville.

He wasn't able to value that christmas for the miracle it truly was.

Teddy only knew he wanted to buy the beautiful Victorian clock in the window of Tremont's Antiques as a gift for his grandmother, Lottie Sparks, a woman desperate to find him a home before her rapidly progressing Alzheimer's left him an orphan.

Teddy didn't know that in trying to buy the clock he would meet Sylvia Winters and Joe Dixon, a couple, once in love, desperate to overcome the past. He didn't know he would form a friendship with his neighbors, Floyd and Doris Culver, two people struggling to revive their long-dead marriage.

He didn't know that these people would fill his Christmas with magic and hope; that the love of his friends would change his world, and that he would forever change theirs.

Christmas is my favourite time of the year and while here in Australia it is usual hot I love to read stories set in the northern hemisphere where there is plenty of snow...

This is a beautiful story about forgiveness, love, hope, joy and the miracles that can happen in this wonderful time of year.

Teddy is a young boy who lives with his grandmother and wants to do some special for Christmas for her. He finds a beautiful clock in one of the local shops and works hard all summer to save the money.

Lottie Sparks has looked after her grandson since his mother died, but it is getting harder each day as her Alzheimer's is getting worse...she is worried what will happen to Teddy when she isn't able to look after him anymore.

Then there is Joe Dixon and Sylvia Winters who once were engaged to be married but never happened... the spark between them is still there but can old wounds be healed.

This is a very quick read with only 145 pg, but a beautiful story that will leave you believing in the miracles of Christmas.

A wonderful gift to give this Christmas.