On Mystic Lake - Kristin Hannah

Annie Colwater thinks she has the perfect marriage, but on the day she and her husband, Blake, send their daughter to London for a study abroad program, Blake informs Annie that he no longer loves her. He's been having an affair with a younger woman and has fallen in love with her. He asks Annie for a divorce and walks out of her life. Annie is utterly devastated, and falls into a depression. She asks Blake to wait until their daughter comes home from London before making a final decision on the divorce. In the meantime, Annie heads home to Mystic, Washington to stay with her dad and try to pick up the pieces of her broken heart.

Back in Mystic, Annie learns that her best friend from high school has died, leaving her husband Nick, Annie's other best friend, and their six-year-old daughter Izzy behind. Annie pays Nick a visit, and Nick tells her that Kathy killed herself. He is tormented by Kathy's memory and has begun drinking and avoiding Izzy, basically leaving the town hairdresser to raise her. Izzy is feeling the effects of her mother's passing, as well. She's stopped speaking and thinks her fingers are disappearing, which lead to her being kicked out of school.

Annie decides to help Nick by taking over Izzy's care. Spending so much time with Izzy and Nick helps her rediscover who she was before Blake came into her life. She falls in love with Nick again, just as she had in high school. Nick has never stopped loving Annie, either. Just as life with Nick and Izzy falls into a perfect rhythm, Blake arrives in Mystic, begging Annie to forgive him and come back. Annie is still trying to decide what to do when she discovers she's pregnant with Blake's child. Feeling there's no other option, she leaves Izzy and Nick in Mystic and goes back to Blake, and all the while her heart is breaking again. She knows that she no longer loves Blake, but she feels an obligation to stand by him... especially now that she's having his child.

On Mystic Lake was my first Kristin Hannah book, and I don't think it will be my last. I like Ms. Hannah's writing style, and the story itself was just what I needed. I didn't love the book as much as I'd hoped, but I did love the characters, especially little Izzy. One character I had problems with, though, was Annie's dad, who kept pushing his own dreams onto her, not realizing -- or maybe not caring -- that Annie had dreams of her own. From reading summaries of the book, I knew beforehand that Annie would leave Nick once she discovered she was pregnant, and while a part of me wanted her to stay with Nick, another part (maybe the married one?) admired her decision to go back to Blake to forge a better life with him and their children. Still, I was pleased when she came to her senses and decided to do what made her, not others, happy.

3.75/5

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

The Forgotten Garden is the selection for my family book club this month, and while I can't say that I loved it, it was a pretty good read. Described as a "rich and satisfying mystery," The Forgotten Garden is the story of one woman's search to discover who she is and where she came from.

On Nell Andrews' 21st birthday, her father informs her that he's not really her father, that he found her in 1913, abandoned and alone on a dock in Maryborough, Australia. Nell's world as she's known it falls apart, and it isn't until decades later that she begins to explore her true origins. Her only clue is a small white suitcase containing clothes and a book of fairy tales written by Eliza Makepeace. Nell travels to the Cornish coast, where she discovers an abandoned cottage that once belonged to her family, the Mountrachets. This cottage with its hidden garden, and the secrets it guards, holds the key to Nell's true identity.

Like I said, The Forgotten Garden was a good read, but, for me, it wasn't unputdownable. Maybe it was because I had so many things to do and not enough time to read, but I had a hard time getting into the story at first. There just seemed to be so many characters and so many different time periods to keep track of. But once I had a good chunk of time to spend in this world, I found that I enjoyed it more. Some disturbing secrets were revealed, and I discovered that I didn't like the Mountrachet family, at all. In some ways, I think it was better for Nell to have been raised by Hugh and Lil Andrews than it would have been had she been raised with the Mountrachets. And that's all I'm going to say because to say more would undoubtedly give too much away.

3.5/5

Heat Wave by Richard Castle

A New York real estate tycoon plunges to his death on a Manhattan sidewalk. A trophy wife with a past survives a narrow escape from a brazen attack. Mobsters and moguls with no shortage of reasons to kill trot out their alibis. And then, in the suffocating grip of a record heat wave, comes another shocking murder and a sharp turn in a tense journey into the dirty little secrets of the wealthy. Secrets that prove to be fatal. Secrets that lay hidden in the dark until one NYPD detective shines a light.

Mystery sensation Richard Castle, blockbuster author of the wildly best-selling Derrick Storm novels, introduces his newest character, NYPD Homicide Detective Nikki Heat. Tough, sexy, professional, Nikki Heat carries a passion for justice as she leads one of New York City's top homicide squads. She's hit with an unexpected challenge when the commissioner assigns superstar magazine journalist Jameson Rook to ride along with her to research an article on New York's Finest. Pulitzer Prize-winning Rook is as much a handful as he is handsome. His wise-cracking and meddling aren't her only problems. As she works to unravel the secrets of the murdered real estate tycoon, she must also confront the spark between them. The one called heat.

Isn't that last line just awesome? It made me laugh the first time I read it. And Heat Wave did the same. It was a fun, light read. If you're a fan of the ABC show Castle, then you'll recognize the author's name, Richard Castle. Along with NYPD detective Kate Beckett, he's the main character of the show. It's no secret that Jameson Rook in the book is actually based on Richard Castle himself, just as Nikki Heat is based on Detective Beckett. Knowing that made this a really fun book to read. I kept picturing Castle and Beckett as Rook and Heat, and it was entertaining to read about the situations Castle chose to put Rook and Heat into. I enjoyed this book, but I think fans of the show will enjoy it more than those who may not have seen it.

3.25/5

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Nine-year-old Bruno is naïve, an explorer and dreamer. He doesn't understand why he has to leave his comfortable 5-story home in Berlin for a smaller 3-story house in Out-With. It all started when the Fury came to dinner. Now Bruno's dad has a sharp new uniform and soldiers everywhere are calling him "Commandant." And just what is with the fence in Bruno's yard? And are those people he sees behind the fence? People in striped pajamas? On one of his explorations he comes across a "dot that became a speck that became a blob that became a figure that became a boy." A boy Bruno's age, a boy wearing those striped pajamas. And, through that barbed wire fence, a friendship forms between Bruno and Shmuel, the boy in the striped pajamas.

This book is somewhat hard to review. I have mixed feelings about it. I realize that Bruno is naïve for his age, but you'd think that he'd be just a bit more knowledgeable about the events in his life considering his father was such a high-ranking official in the Nazi party. I read a book called Hitler Youth a couple of years ago, and learned that German children were taught to hate Jews and to follow Hitler's every command from a very early age, so I don't understand why Bruno couldn't even pronounce "Führer" correctly, let alone know absolutely nothing about the Jews. Even with those complaints, I found the story quite interesting. It was intriguing to read about the Holocaust from a nine-year-old's perspective. A very sheltered nine-year-old, but a nine-year-old all the same. And while this isn't a book with a happy ending, I feel the ending was perfect.

I look forward to my book club's discussion next week. There has been quite the spectrum of ratings from members of my book club on Goodreads, so it will be interesting to see why everyone gave the ratings they did. I also look forward to seeing the movie, hopefully sometime soon. Maybe even before book club so that I can compare the two.

3.5/5

Forest Born by Shannon Hale

Rin is sure that something is wrong with her...something really bad. Something that is keeping her from feeling at home in the Forest homestead where she's lived all her life. Something that is keeping her from trusting herself with anyone at all. When her brother Razo returns from the city for a visit, she accompanies him to the palace, hoping that she can find peace away from home. But war has come to Bayern again, and Rin is compelled to join the queen and her closest allies--magical girls Rin thinks of as the Fire Sisters--as they venture into the Forest toward Kel, the land where someone seems to want them all dead. Many beloved Bayern characters reappear in this story, but it is Rin's own journey of discovering how to balance the good and the bad in herself that drives this compelling adventure.

This is book 4 in the Bayern series by Shannon Hale. I read the previous three (The Goose Girl, Enna Burning, and River Secrets) quite some time ago, but I found, surprisingly enough, that I didn't need to remember too many details from the previous books to jump right back in and not be overwhelmingly lost. I enjoyed this continuation of the series, and was happy to reacquaint myself with Isi, Geric, Enna, Razo, Finn, Dasha and the others, but I discovered along the way that I would be happy enough if the series ended here, with Rin's story. I've enjoyed each book in the series, but I won't mind not reading another one. Shannon Hale is an incredible writer, and I look forward to seeing what she comes up with in the future.

3.5/5

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

 17-year-old Ronnie Miller is angry . . . with her father for leaving them years ago, and with her mother for forcing Ronnie to spend an entire summer with her dad in North Carolina. Since her parents' divorce, Ronnie hasn't spoken to or had any contact with her father (he sent her letters, but she never read them), and she has absolutely no desire to come face-to-face with him again. When Ronnie arrives in Wrightsville Beach, she sets forth her plan to avoid her dad at all costs. Her first night in town, she ends up meeting a girl her age named Blaze. Blaze hangs with a rough group, and her boyfriend Marcus is Bad News. He pursues Ronnie even though he and Blaze are an item, and his actions frighten Ronnie so much that she decides to stay away from the group. Blaze, jealous of Marcus' interest in Ronnie, wants retribution and frames Ronnie for shoplifting.

While trying to clear her name, Ronnie falls in love with Will Blakelee, the local rich boy. His mother doesn't approve of Ronnie; after all, she's different and will never be good enough for her son. But Will and Ronnie continue to see each other, and as their relationship grows, so does Ronnie's relationship with her father, Steve, a former concert pianist who now lives a quiet life on the beach, crafting a beautiful stained-glass window to replace the one that had been destroyed when the local church burned down. For the first time in a long time, Ronnie is truly happy and enjoying life, but secrets that Will and Steve are keeping from her threaten to destroy her perfect summer.

I don't know how he does it, but Nicholas Sparks' books always seem to affect me at some level, and The Last Song is no exception. It struck a chord deep inside me. Not only does the book explore the thrills of falling in love for the first time, but it also examines the connection between a father and a daughter. While I enjoyed reading about Ronnie's budding romance with Will, it was the relationship between Ronnie and Steve that really moved me. I knew very early on what was going to happen, so I was surprised at the intensity of my emotional reaction. While I always expect tear-jerkers from Nicholas Sparks, I felt such a connection to the characters in The Last Song that I had tears streaming down my face for the entire last quarter of the book. I will be thinking about this poignant, heartbreaking book for a long time, and I look forward to seeing the movie (currently in production and starring Miley Cyrus) when it comes out.

4/5

Updated Literary Crushes

Back in October 2007, I made a list of my Top 10 Literary Crushes. I don't know why, but for some reason I was thinking about this list earlier today, and I thought it would be fun to 'update' it.

So, here are the "Ten Literary Characters I Would Totally Make Out With If I Were Single and They Were Real But I'm Not, Single I Mean; I Am Real -- But I'm Also Happily Married and Want To Stay That Way, So Maybe We Should Forget This..."

1. Edward Cullen, the Twilight saga
2. Peeta Mellark, The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins (Have I already mentioned that I adore him? I have?)
3. Prince Po, Graceling by Kristin Cashore (just thinking about his gold and silver eyes makes me melt!)
4. Max Pesaro, The Gardella Vampire Chronicles by Colleen Gleason
5. Miach of Neroche, The Nine Kingdoms series by Lynn Kurland
6. Fitzwilliam Darcy, Pride and Prejudice
7. Rhys de Piaget and Robin de Piaget (or any de Piaget male for that matter!), Lynn Kurland books
8. Gilbert Blythe, Anne of Green Gables
9. Joshua Steed, The Work and the Glory series by Gerald N. Lund
10. Luke Brandon, Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella

My list from 2007:
1. Edward Cullen, the Twilight saga
2. Fitzwilliam Darcy, Pride and Prejudice
3. Gilbert Blythe, Anne of Green Gables
4. Joshua Steed, The Work and the Glory series by Gerald Lund
5. Max Pesaro, The Gardella Vampire Chronicles by Colleen Gleason
6. Rhett Butler, Gone With the Wind
7. Sebastian Vioget, The Gardella Vampire Chronicles
8. The Scarlet Pimpernel
9. Jamie Fraser, Outlander series
10. TBA

I think it's funny that I couldn't even come up with 10 when I first made this list. And I was surprised at how far down Mr. Darcy ended up this time around! I feel somewhat guilty that he's only #6! No surprise that Edward is #1 again, though. I think he'll stay there forever...

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

If you loved The Hunger Games, you will love Catching Fire! I don't want to say too much about it and end up spoiling something for those who haven't read it, but I will say that Suzanne Collins took this book in a direction I hadn't anticipated . . . and I couldn't have asked for a more compelling story. I laughed, I cried, I gasped in disbelief. I loved every amazing moment. And, of course, there is the love triangle. If you haven't already chosen sides -- Peeta or Gale -- be prepared to do so. We all know I'm rooting for PEETA. I adore him!

Once again, my only complaint is that it ended too soon! And now I have to wait until next year for the conclusion. I hope it passes quickly.

5/5

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.

With these words, the reader is ushered into an isolated gray stone mansion on the windswept Cornish coast, as the second Mrs. Maxim de Winter recalls the chilling events that transpired as she began her new life as the young bride of a husband she barely knew. For in every corner of every room were phantoms of a time dead but not forgotten—a past devotedly preserved by the sinister housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers: a suite immaculate and untouched, clothing laid out and ready to be worn, but not by any of the great house's current occupants. With an eerie presentiment of evil tightening her heart, the second Mrs. de Winter walked in the shadow of her mysterious predecessor, determined to uncover the darkest secrets and shattering truths about Maxim's first wife—the late and hauntingly beautiful Rebecca.

When I began this book, I was immediately pulled into the world of Maxim and Mrs. de Winter. (I found it interesting that we are never told Mrs. de Winter's name, and only two references are ever made to it: first, when she receives a note from Maxim and says "my name was on the envelope, and spelt correctly, an unusual thing," and secondly when she meets up with Maxim and he says "You have a very lovely and unusual name." I really wanted to know what her name was; though it wouldn't have added anything to the story, it would definitely have satisfied my curiosity!)

Throughout the last 150 or so pages -- and after I had finished -- I wondered to myself why Rebecca wasn't on the list of the 100 Greatest Novels that I had found. It has been called "the unsurpassed modern masterpiece of romantic suspense," and while I myself am no judge as to whether or not that's true, I can say that I think it's an incredible novel, one that I had a hard time putting down.

4.75/5

Stargazer by Claudia Gray

Stargazer, the sequel to Evernight, begins shortly after Evernight ended, with Bianca Olivier back at gothic Evernight Academy and her boyfriend Lucas Ross carrying out his responsibilities as a member of Black Cross, an organization that could be harmful to Bianca and those she loves. Wraiths are haunting Evernight, and Bianca is determined to discover why . . . as well as the motivation behind Ms. Bethany admitting certain students to the school. With all of this on her plate, Bianca must also find ways to secretly meet with Lucas. Her parents strongly disapprove of Lucas and think he and Bianca have broken things off, so Bianca and her hot friend Balthazar come up with a ploy to ensure that she and Lucas can have their rendezvous.

I was really excited to read this book because I'd heard it was better than Evernight, but I found that I actually liked Evernight just a bit more than this one. Maybe it was the plot twists in Evernight that made me like that book so much --I totally didn't see them coming -- but there was something about Evernight that grabbed me and pulled me in immediately, and I just didn't feel that with Stargazer. I enjoyed that Balthazar was a more prominent character (he's really grown on me, and I even found myself at times wanting Bianca to be with him over Lucas . . . but then I'd change my mind again), and I was happy to see that Raquel and Vic had returned to the school, but other things didn't really interest me. I didn't care for the storyline about the new vampire who is running around with the 'wrong crowd,' although her identity and exploits play a big role in this book and most likely will in the third book. Still, I can't say that I didn't like the book, because I did. The action really picked up by the end, and I was left wanting to find out what happened to everyone. I definitely want to read the next book when it comes out.

3.5/5

Percy Jackson & the Olympians

I think I first heard about this series sometime last year from other book bloggers, but when Stephenie Meyer wrote a short blurb -- something like "you must read this series!" -- on her website, I knew I had to read the books. And I'm so glad I did!

At the beginning of the series, Perseus "Percy" Jackson is twelve years old, and has just discovered that he's a "half-blood" . . . half mortal, half Greek god. He is taken to Camp Half-Blood, and meets others like himself. Along with his best friend Grover, a satyr (half teenage boy, half goat), and his new friend Annabeth from camp, Percy goes on some crazy adventures, called "quests" in the book. Percy ages one year in each book, similar to Harry in the Harry Potter books. In fact, there are many similarites between the two series, but they are both very enjoyable in their own ways. [For summaries of the whole series, you can check the Percy Jackson & the Olympians Wikipedia site or any number of sites, but beware because you'll probably spoil some things for yourself, as I inadvertently just did! Shoot! Hopefully I'll forget what I just read before I get book 5 in my hands!]

I have to say that for me personally, the series started out a bit slow in book 1, The Lightning Thief, but has gotten better with each consecutive book. I'm actually glad I waited so long to read them because I was able to read the first four books in the series back-to-back. Book 5, The Last Olympian, is the final book in the series and came out in May. I've got a long wait until I get the book in my hands (I'm 124th in line at the library), but I am super excited to read it and see how everything ends!

Give this series a read sometime!

Ratings:

The Lightning Thief: 3.5/5

The Sea of Monsters: 4/5

The Titan's Curse: 4.5/5

The Battle of the Labyrinth: 5/5

Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia Ahern

Thanks for the Memories opens with Irishwoman Joyce Conway laying on the floor after a fall, bleeding uncontrollably and quickly losing consciousness, knowing without a doubt that she has just miscarried the baby she's wanted for so long. Joyce's dad finds her (her husband is away, and doesn't seem too intent on rushing back to be at Joyce's side) and takes her to the hospital, where Joyce awakens with new memories and talents. Joyce discovers that she can speak Latin, as well as discuss art and architecture. Oh, and she's no longer a vegetarian, but craves red meat. And her memories are clearly not her own.

Justin Hitchcock, an American who recently moved to London to be closer to his ex-wife and daughter, is a visiting professor of art and architecture at Trinity College in Dublin. While in Dublin on one of his lecture visits, he is persuaded to donate blood, something he's never done before, but which he does because he imagines saving someone's life -- and having that person be forever indebted to him. Shortly after his donation, Justin begins running into the same dark-haired woman nearly everywhere he goes. Joyce is that woman; she received Justin's blood . . . and as a result, his memories and abilities. With each meeting, Joyce and Justin can't deny the strange bond they feel for each other, even though they are veritable strangers.

Cecelia Ahern also wrote P.S. I Love You, which I read a couple of years ago. I didn't like P.S. I Love You all that much, so I was somewhat leery of reading another of her books. But when I saw this book (the cover caught my eye) at the library last Saturday, I picked it up and decided to give Ms. Ahern another try. I'm so glad I did. While some parts of the book were a bit slow -- and need I mention that the plot was pretty implausible? -- I enjoyed it. I needed to know what was going to happen to Joyce and Justin. And I loved Joyce's dad, who played a big role in the book. Overall, a good read.

4/5

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

At her great-aunt Sadie's funeral, Lara Lington comes face-to-face with her great-aunt's ghost, in the form of a 1920s flapper. Sadie asks Lara to help her find a necklace that has mysteriously disappeared, explaining that she can't rest without it. Lara, who wasn't at all close to her 105-year-old great-aunt before she passed away, has more pressing matters on her mind, none of which involve tracking down Sadie's necklace. Her business partner has run off, her company is going under, and her boyfriend has just dumped her. She wants nothing to do with the search for Sadie's necklace. Unfortunately, Lara is the only person who can see or hear Sadie, and therefore, the only person who can help her.

Lara and Sadie, who has come back as a feisty 23-year-old, at first seem to have absolutely nothing in common. Sadie is self-absorbed, demanding, and determined to have as much fun as she can. She decides to pursue handsome American Ed Harrison, even though she is unable to touch or speak to him. Using her special influence, Sadie convinces Ed to go on a date with Lara. Lara is uncomfortable with the set-up, as she's still hung up on her ex-boyfriend Josh, but she wants to please Sadie because she feels guilty that her family never spent any time getting to know Sadie when she was alive.

As Lara hunts down Sadie's necklace, she makes some shocking discoveries about her family, her friends, and herself.

I love Sophie Kinsella's books. This one didn't live up to my expectations, though. I didn't like Sadie; I didn't like the way she acted or the way she manipulated Lara. She was out of control, loud, rude, and very possessive of Ed, telling Lara that Ed was "hers" and to keep her hands off even though she herself couldn't touch him -- and he had no clue about her 'existence.' Lara, on the other hand, was as amusing and likable as all the other Kinsella heroines. And Ed was dreamy. It's just a shame that the story as a whole wasn't as amusing as Kinsella's others have been. I sooo wanted to love it.

3/5

Evernight - Claudia Gray

Bianca's parents are hired to teach at Evernight Academy, a Gothic boarding school, effectively forcing Bianca to enroll there as a student. Immediately upon arriving, she realizes that Evernight is not where she wants to be. She misses her old school and the friends she made there. So she decides to run away, to show her parents that she'd rather be anywhere than at Evernight. Her escape is thwarted by Lucas, a fellow student at Evernight. Bianca feels an instant attraction to Lucas, a connection that she's never felt before. But after that first encounter, Lucas acts distant, aloof, and Bianca doesn't quite understand his behavior.

More than anything, Bianca wants Lucas. He's a rule breaker, someone who doesn't fit in with the rich, snobby Evernight crowd. He's a lot like Bianca, in fact, and she craves his attention. Lucas warns Bianca to be careful; Evernight can be a dangerous place. But Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas.

Soon, Bianca and Lucas can no longer fight the temptation to be together. But there are secrets being kept. Secrets that could threaten everything they know.

Going in, I thought this book would be somewhat Twilight-esque. And it was, to a certain degree. Boy and girl from opposite walks of life falling in love, like Romeo and Juliet. Even some of the descriptions (e.g., Lucas' bronze hair and sculpted body, just like Twilight's Edward) seemed a bit too similar. But there were more differences than similarities. I was actually relieved that the books weren't too much alike; Twilight is my favorite book, and while I don't mind reading books with comparable storylines, I don't want to be reading anything that's too similar to Twilight.

There were a couple of twists in Evernight that kept me on the edge of my seat. I obviously hadn't known what to expect going in, and the twists were amazing and very unexpected. I thought I had everything figured out. Boy, was I wrong! I couldn't have been more wrong.

I truly enjoyed Evernight. For the most part I didn't want to put it down, but there were a few sections of the book that were difficult to get through because I was either annoyed with some character, or bored. The good parts of the book far outweighed the bad, though. I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on the second book in the series, Stargazer . . . if my local library ever gets a copy!

4/5

Lonesome Dove - Larry McMurtry

Wow! What can I say about this massive (945 pages) book? I loved it. It took me some time to get into the story, and to keep all the characters -- of which there are many -- straight, but once I was able to sit and read for longer stretches of time, I found myself completely sucked into the world of Lonesome Dove, and that of Gus, Call, Pea Eye, and the rest of the gang.

In a nutshell, the book is about ex-Texas Rangers out to start a new life in Montana. The journey north is an extremely difficult one, and terrible things happen along the way.

Someone on Goodreads said that Lonesome Dove is "a rare novel that, after 940 pages, seems to have just begun." I couldn't agree more. I was frustrated that the story ended where it did; I felt like there was more of the story waiting to come out. I may have to pick up the sequel, Streets of Laredo.

I have the TV minseries of Lonesome Dove on hold at the library (how is it that I haven't seen it before?), and am looking forward to seeing Gus and the gang brought to life on the small screen.

4.5/5

Year of Wonders - Geraldine Brooks

In Year of Wonders, Geraldine Brooks describes the far-reaching effects of bubonic plague on a small English village in the year 1666. Anna Frith, an 18-year-old widow, is the narrator of this sad tale. Needing to earn extra funds to provide for her young sons after the death of her husband, Anna takes in a boarder, a tailor who unknowingly carries the plague in the bolts of cloth he works with. On his deathbed, the tailor warns Anna to burn everything he brought with him, now perceiving the cloth to be the culprit of his illness. Anna, though, allows the villagers to take the items the tailor had worked on, feeling she has no right to withhold them from those who had already paid for his labors. This decision would play a part in deaths of two-thirds of the villagers.

The local vicar urges the villagers to quarantine themselves, lest the plague spread to other towns in the area. The confinement and constant death leads to madness among the villagers, who take matters into their own hands, accusing some of witchcraft and exploiting and murdering others. Anna, the minister, and his wife, must overcome their own fears to help those suffering around them, even though Anna herself loses those closest to her.

The horrors depicted in Year of Wonders held my attention. I found myself appreciative that I haven't had to witness such suffering and affliction. And I thought a lot about not only how terrible the plague must have been, but how difficult everyday life itself must have already been, without adding the plague to the mix. The story is a compelling one, and Anna lends a courageous voice to it. In brushing aside her own grief, she helped others who had nowhere to turn and no one to turn to. And the year of plague became a year of wonders for her, as she grew in strength and knowledge.

3.5/5

Princess of the Sword - Lynn Kurland

 As the mercenary daughter of Gair, the black mage of Ceangail, Morgan is the only one who can stop the terrible sorcery her father unleashed. To do so, she must race against time and find the spell that will allow her to close the well of evil he opened. But that quest will lead her to places she never dreamed existed and into a darkness she would give anything to avoid.

The fate of the kingdom of Neroche is intertwined with the closing of Gair's well. Miach, the archmage of Neroche, is determined to help Morgan find what she needs, not only because the safety of the Nine Kingdoms hangs in the balance but also because he will do anything to protect her. Together they must search out the mysteries of Ceangail, and the dangers of Morgan's own bloodline.

A wonderful conclusion to the Nine Kingdoms series, Princess of the Sword continues the tale of Morgan of Melksham and her beloved Miach, youngest prince and archmage of Neroche. The first two books set up the the big fight of good versus evil (in the form of Lothar, the black mage of Wychweald) that occurred in this final volume, but I found myself a bit disappointed when the fight turned out to not be so big after all. I felt there was so much buildup for something that was over a short while after it began. Once Lothar was defeated, I thought that would be the end of the book, but it wasn't . . . which was actually a nice surprise, as I got a look into what the life of Morgan and Miach was like once the threat of evil was gone.

It was nice, as a reader, to "see" Morgan 's transformation from sword-yielding shieldmaiden to Princess Mhorghain of Torr Dorainn, while not losing herself in the process; to see the bravery of Miach and Morgan as they joined together to defeat Lothar and his evil cohorts; to be witness to their growing love and affection for each other. Morgan and Miach are two characters who won't easily escape my memory.

Lynn Kurland has become one of my favorite new authors, and her Nine Kingdoms series is fantastic. Highly recommended.

4.75/5

As Shadows Fade - Colleen Gleason

While Sebastian Vioget appears to be both the perfect warrior and lover to ensure the Gardella Legacy, Victoria cannot forget Max Pesaro – the former slayer still haunted by the vampire queen Lilith's obsession with him.

But it is Lilith's obsession that may save all of humanity. Demons, enemies of both mortals and the undead, have found their way to earth. To defeat them, vampires and slayers must fight side by side. But Lilith wants Max in return for her cooperation – a small price for the world, but too high a price for Victoria.

This concluding book in the series was bloody fantastic, as Max might say. Victoria's choice (between Max and Sebastian) was made in book 4, so it was fun to read how she went about getting her man in this installment. The demons were more powerful and dangerous than ever before, and the passion in this book -- both between Victoria and her chosen, as well as the passion displayed by the Venators in the fights against the demons and Lilith -- was breathtaking.

I loved this book. There were a couple of things that bothered me, but not enough to really affect my rating. I will say that something completely shocking happens to one of the characters, but I won't go into any detail. You'll have to read it to find out!

Like I said in the previous post, As Shadows Fade is a fabulous ending to the Gardella Vampire Chronicles, and I definitely recommend it. I read the entire book in one day, and that's saying something. I couldn't put it down. I will give fair warning that there are some sex scenes in these books, so if those in any way make you uncomfortable, I'd recommend skipping this series.

5/5

As Shadows Fade

I won't post a review because Beth hasn't read it yet, but I will say that it was FABULOUS!! I loved it, and I'm actually sad that the series is over and done with.

5/5

I'll write a real review some other time, after Beth's read the book. At least I hope I'll be able to, since our internet hasn't been working!

The Mage's Daughter - Lynn Kurland

 Book 2 in the Nine Kingdoms series continues the adventure of Morgan the mercenary, as she fights for her life, her future, and the one man who can save her.

Neroche is under assault by a mysterious magic that has stripped its king of his powers and unleashed nightmarish creatures as weapons in a war of evil. Morgan of Melksham is fighting against that menace as well as for her life. Struggling to regain her strength after a near-fatal attack, Morgan realizes that she must decide between two fates: that of being a simple shieldmaiden or accepting her heritage as an elven princess. If only she could forget that she was the daughter of the perilous black mage of Ceangail.

Duty bound to aid his king, Miach of Neroche is torn between what his responsibilities demand and what his heart desires. He is willing to risk his life to rescue Morgan from the darkness that haunts her, but he must do so at the peril of his realm. Forced to choose between love and the burden of his mantle, Miach sets out on his most deadly quest ever.

Beautifully written and delightful to read, The Mage's Daughter is as good as, if not better than, the first book. The storytelling and character development are superb. Miach and Morgan's love for each other continues to grow beyond definition -- they are so romantic -- and the two of them together are quite a force. Seriously, I have no words to adequately describe my love of this series. It's difficult trying to get something written down. Just read the series. You'll hopefully love these characters as much as I do.

My friend still has book 3, but I can't wait to get it back so I can delve back into the world of Miach and Morgan as they finally face the darkness that awaits them. Every difficulty they've faced, every detail of Morgan's past that's been revealed, all the heartache and anguish they've endured . . . it all leads to this final showdown. Together they can do anything, even defeat the black mage Lothar. Or at least I hope they can...

5/5

Star of the Morning (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 1) - Lynn Kurland

Darkness covers the north, since the black mage has begun his assault on the kingdom of Neroche. Legend has it that only the two magical swords held by Neroche's king can defeat the mage. Now the fate of the Nine Kingdoms rests in the hands of a woman destined to wield one of those blades...

The Mercenary

Morgan is a practical woman with no use for magic. Yet she feels compelled to offer her sword to the sorcerer king of Neroche. Her fateful decision will lead her to a magical destiny...and a man whose love will change her life forever.

The King

Adhémar of Neroche's connection to the magic of the land is fading. Helpless to defend his country against the black mage's forces, his only hope is to travel in disguise, searching for the one who was foretold to bring victory.

The Mage
Miach, the archmage of Neroche, is Adhémar's youngest brother -- and duty bound to aid his king. Though they find what they seek, Miach will lose his heart in a way he never could have foreseen.

In this land of dragons and mages, warrior maids and magical swords, nothing is as it seems. And Morgan will find that the magic in her blood brings her troubles she cannot face with a sword --and a love more powerful than she has ever imagined.

I LOVED this book! It was so much fun to read, and such an interesting story. I haven't read much in the fantasy genre, so this was a new and refreshing experience for me. Miach and Morgan are incredible characters, and their journey together, along with Adhémar and Morgan's gang of friends, was exciting. I loved their playfulness towards each other, and the fact that Morgan lightened up when Miach was around. The blossoming romance between them was sweet (and clean), and I look forward to reading more about their adventures together in the next two books in the series (the second is in transit to the library, but the third I'll have to buy, since the library doesn't have a copy. I don't mind, though, since I'll end up buying them all eventually anyway.)

5/5

Graceling - Kristin Cashore

Lady Katsa is a Graceling, a person born with an extreme skill, called a Grace. Gracelings are easy to detect in the land of the seven kingdoms, for they have eyes of two different colors. Katsa, with her one blue eye and one green eye, is well-known throughout the kingdoms. Her Grace is killing, and her uncle Randa, King of the Middluns, exploits her Grace by forcing her to do his dirty work, killing people who displease him.

By the time she's 18, Katsa has founded a secret council whose members work to rid the kingdoms of corruption. It is during one of her Council missions that Katsa meets Po, Prince of Lienid, whose kidnapped grandfather Katsa has just rescued. Po, too, is Graced, and his gold and silver eyes mesmerize Katsa.

Katsa and Po join together to unravel the mystery surrounding the kidnapping of Po's grandfather. As they travel together, it is Po who makes Katsa question the path her life is on, Po who makes her heart race, Po who truly understands her. Their journey leads them to the Monsean kingdom, where Po's aunt is queen. It is in Monsea that Po and Katsa find themselves in the middle of a dangerous conspiracy, one that threatens their very lives.

I really, really liked this book; it was a captivating read. There were a couple of things that bothered me, but I still highly recommend Graceling! Read it. You'll fall in love with Katsa and Po, and find yourself sighing with pleasure as they fall in love with each other. Po not only took Katsa's breath away, but mine as well, and I have to give kudos to Kristin Cashore's writing skills. She not only wrote a beautiful love story intertwined in a story about killing and survival, but she has written two very strong characters, who will stay with me for a very long time. It's hard to believe that Graceling is her first novel! I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

4.5/5

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

There were thirteen "Districts" in the nation of Panem, once called North America, but District 13 led a rebellion against the all-powerful Capitol and was destroyed as a result. To keep the other 12 districts in line, the Capitol devised the Hunger Games, an annual televised fight to the death. Two tributes from each district, one boy and one girl aged 12 to 18, are chosen to compete in the Hunger Games. Of the 24 tributes thrown together, there can only be one winner; the tributes must do whatever they can to be the last person standing.

When 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen's younger sister Prim's name is chosen as the female tribute for District 12, Katniss steps in and volunteers herself to take Prim's place. Prim asks Katniss to survive; Katniss tells Prim that she'll try her best to get back to Prim and their mother.

The male tribute chosen from District 12 is Peeta Mellark, the baker's son who had once showed compassion for a starving Katniss by sneaking her two loaves of bread from the bakery.

Katniss and Peeta join the other tributes in the Capitol, where they are prepped for the big fight. They are given a team of stylists, whose job it is to make the tributes look as attractive as possible in the hopes of obtaining sponsors who will donate gifts of food and medicine during the Games. These gifts could mean the difference between life and death.

It is during their time in the Capitol that Katniss and Peeta's mentor, Haymitch -- a former District 12 winner of the Hunger Games -- encourages Katniss and Peeta to act like they are in love with each other, hoping to attract fans and support. Peeta is only too happy to comply with Haymitch's idea, and does a great job of acting the part of a young man in love. But Katniss finds the task difficult. When she, Peeta, and the other tributes are left to fend for themselves in a Capitol-controlled environment, anything can happen. Should Katniss and Peeta keep up their lovers' charade for the people watching the Games at home, and try to help each other stay alive? Or should they split up, knowing that one or both of them may be killed?

I loved this book! It was compelling, exciting, and a wonderfully captivating read. I couldn't put it down. My only disappointment came at the end, when the story ended without a resolution and I discovered that The Hunger Games is only the first book in a planned trilogy. I'm not disappointed that I'll have to read the remaining two books to continue the story -- in fact, I am very much looking forward to reading more about these characters (I ended up with quite a crush on Peeta!), and resuming the story where it left off (with quite a cliffhanger) -- but I'm disappointed that I have to wait until the next book comes out in September!

Read this book. You won't regret it.

5/5

My Top 5 books of 2008

I thought I'd list my favorite books of 2008, so here they are:

1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
2. Katherine by Anya Seton
3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
4. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
5. The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure by William Goldman

All 5 of these books scored a perfect 5/5 from me this year, and all are REALLY good!

Books read in 2008

DECEMBER
111. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
110. The Goose Girl - Shannon Hale (reread)
109. Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer (reread)
108. A Thousand Spendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
107. Shopaholic and Baby - Sophie Kinsella
106. Shopaholic and Sister - Sophie Kinsella
105. Shopaholic Ties the Knot - Sophie Kinsella
104. Shopaholic Takes Manhattan - Sophie Kinsella
103. Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer (reread)
NOVEMBER
102. Confessions of a Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella
101. Rapunzel's Revenge - Shannon, Dean, and Nathan Hale
100. Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog - John Grogan
99. Until We Reach Home - Lynn Austin
98. New Moon - Stephenie Meyer (reread)
97. Twilight - Stephenie Meyer (reread)
96. Twilight: The Complete Illustrated Movie Companion - Mark Cotta Vaz
95. Bridget Jones' Diary - Helen Fielding
94. The Undomestic Goddess - Sophie Kinsella
93. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
92. The Lace Reader - Brunonia Barry
OCTOBER
91. Candle in the Darkness, Refiner's Fire #1 - Lynn Austin
90. The Heretic's Daughter - Kathleen Kent
89. Grace - Richard Paul Evans
88. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
87. The Longing: The Courtship of Nellie Fisher, Book 3 - Beverly Lewis
86. The Lucky One - Nicholas Sparks
85. Beloved Emma: The Illustrated Life Story of Emma Smith - Lori E. Woodland
84. I Am a Mother - Jane Clayson Johnson
SEPTEMBER
83. Emma: Woman of Faith - Anita Stansfield
82. Sovay - Celia Rees
81. Suite Scarlett - Maureen Johnson
80. The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure - William Goldman
79. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
78. Almost Heaven - Judith McNaught (reread)
77. sweet love - Sarah Strohmeyer
76. The Adoration of Jenna Fox - Mary E. Pearson
75. Rachel and Leah: Women of Genesis - Orson Scott Card
74. The Moroni Code - Jack Lyon
AUGUST
73. I Hated Heaven - Kenny Kemp
72. In Search of Heaven (Barrington Family Saga, Vol.1) - Anita Stansfield
71. Tess of the d'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
70. When Twilight Burns - Colleen Gleason
69. The Bleeding Dusk - Colleen Gleason (reread)
68. Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer
67. Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer (reread)
JULY
66. New Moon - Stephenie Meyer (reread)
65. Twilight - Stephenie Meyer (reread)
64. Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer (reread)
63. New Moon - Stephenie Meyer (reread)
62. Twilight - Stephenie Meyer (reread)
61. Spindle's End - Robin McKinley
60. Can You Keep a Secret? - Sophie Kinsella
59. And Only to Deceive - Tasha Alexander
58. Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict - Laurie Viera Rigler
JUNE
57. Katherine - Anya Seton
56. Uglies - Scott Westerfeld
55. The Forbidden: The Courtship of Nellie Fisher, Book 2 - Beverly Lewis
54. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith
53. Remember Me? - Sophie Kinsella
52. Sundays at Tiffany's - James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet
51. Something Wonderful - Judith McNaught (reread)
50. Once and Always - Judith McNaught (reread)
49. The Invention of Hugo Cabret - Brian Selznik
48. Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) - Jerome K. Jerome
47. These Old Shades - Georgette Heyer
46. Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs - Elissa Wall
MAY
45. Love the One You're With - Emily Giffin
44. The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
43. Wuthering Heights - Emily Brontë
42. Whitney, My Love - Judith McNaught (reread)
41. Reread
40. The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen - Syrie James
39. The Host - Stephenie Meyer
38. The Queen's Fool - Philippa Gregory
APRIL
37. The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
36. The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
35. Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life - Alison Weir
34. Beyond Tuesday Morning - Karen Kingsbury
33. Helen of Troy - Margaret George
32. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie - Muriel Spark
MARCH
31. At First Sight - Nicholas Sparks
30. The Last Battle - C.S. Lewis
29. The Silver Chair - C.S. Lewis
28. One Tuesday Morning - Karen Kingsbury
27. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - C.S. Lewis
26. Prince Caspian - C.S. Lewis
25. The Horse and His Boy - C.S. Lewis
24. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis
23. The Magician's Nephew - C.S. Lewis
22. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
21. Change of Heart - Jodi Picoult
20. Prom Nights From Hell - Meg Cabot, Kim Harrison, Michele Jaffe, Stephenie Meyer, Lauren Myracle
19. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - Robert Louis Stevenson
FEBRUARY
15.-18.
14. I Love You, Ronnie: The Letters of Ronald Reagan to Nancy Reagan - Nancy Reagan
13. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
12. The Bleeding Dusk - Colleen Gleason
11. Rises The Night - Colleen Gleason (reread)
10. The Appeal - John Grisham
9. Flying Home - Rachel Ann Nunes
JANUARY
8. Meet Your Match - Stephanie Fowers
7. The Widow of the South - Robert Hicks
6. All Moms Go To Heaven - Dean Hughes
5. Shadow Dance - Julie Garwood
4. A Woman's Place - Lynn Austin
3. Enthusiasm - Polly Shulman
2. Atonement - Ian McEwan
1. Shadow Music - Julie Garwood