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  Book Review #5

  New Title

  

  Wow y'all are really reading. Time for a new post.

  Please format it as such:
  The name of the challenge
  Title of book, author
  Your rating (if you are giving one)
  Your review

  Bunnitaz started this discussion 3 years ago. ( reply | permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Book Around The States/Royal Romance Reading Challenge

  Remember When Judith McNaught

  5 stars

  Cole Harrison has worked himself up from a farm hand to a multimillionaire business man. He is adored by his Uncle Cal and females. But his one problem is that his Uncle wants him to get married with in 6 months, and produce an heir before Cal will sign over his shares to Cole.

  Diane Foster is a beautiful 30 something woman who started and runs her own family business after her fathers death to support her grandparents, sister, and mother. Image is everything in Diane's business, so it definatley doesn't look good when Diane's fiancee marries an 18 year old while on vacation.

  Cole and Diane are both at a party, which neither one of them wants to be at, and wind up seeing each other. Diane had a crush on Cole when she was 14, but Cole isn't the same person. And when he suggests a marriage for one year, that will benefit both of them, she thinks he's out of his mind. But more she drinks, and thinks about it she decides its good for both of them. And they fly to Vegas, get married, and let feelings get in the way of there perfect 'business arrangement.'

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Southern Lit Challenge/Book Around the States/999 Reading Challenge (Women Writers Finished)/Civil War Reading Challenge

  The Notorious Mrs. Winston Mary Mackey

  5 stars

  Claire is a young bride living with her husband Henry in her parents house. Henry has no interest in her romantically, and is only interested in photographing her in different settings and outfits. When Claire is introduced to Henry's nephew John, who is only 2 years older then Claire, there is an immediate attraction. With the Civil War starting, John joins the fight and Claire, to escape her abusive and loveless marriage, dresses as a male and joins the fight.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Once Upon A Time Challenge/Arthurian Challenge

  Damosel Stephanie Spinner

  4 stars

  Damosel is the Lady of the Lake, the one who made Arthur his Excaliber. We discover how a young Damosel becomes the Lady of the Lake, friend to Merlin, and protector of Arthur. It's a very fast read, and a very easy read.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  In Their Shoes/Book Around The States/A Ghostly Challenge

  Aaron's Crossing An Inspiring True Ghost Story Linda Alice Dewey

  5 stars

  Aaron Burke fell to his death in 1922, and attended his own funeral. He hung around the cemetary trying to figure out why he was still there and hand't crossed over yet. In life he had abandoned his two small children after the death of his beloved wife Susannah. He watched both of his children 'pass over' and talked with each of them, before they crossed over to the other side, leaving Aaron on Earth. In 1991, Aaron 'traveled' to where his wife Susannah was buried, which is now an abandoned cemetary. Linda Alice Dewey and friends were walking through the cemetary and felt his presence. It was the first time Aaron was able to make contact with the living. With Linda's help he was able to finally pass over.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Eco Challenge

  Every Drop for Sale Jeffrey Rothfeder

  4 stars

  We are in danger of losing our water supply. Rivers are drying up, and we are asking more of them then at any point before in history. Only .0008% of the water supply is fit for human consumption. Rothfeder explores the water crisis all around the world and talks with people on every side of the water debate.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Political History Challenge/In Their Shoes

  Hardball How Politics is Played Told By One Who Knows the Game Chris Matthews

  3 stars

  Chris Mathews, host of Hardball, takes his views in bookform. He has spent over 25 years in the political field from being the right hand man of Tip O'Neill to being the host of Hardball. This book shows the rivalry, and how the game is played. This is an updated version which goes further then his 1990 version, and shows how raw ambition by politicians are fiercer now then ever.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Political History Challenge/Eco Reading Challenge

  A Fierce Green Fire The American Environmental Movement Phillip Shabecoff

  4 stars

  Phillip Shabecoff takes you back into time, when the first settlers came the the New World and was taken aback by the beauty, and was determined to explore the natural riches of the nation. But along the way, as the vast forrests disapeared and our nation grew, so did our pollution. Noone thought this to be a problem, and politicians were slow to respond. By the mid nineteenth century, Thoreu, George Perkins Marsh and others warned of the impending dangers to out natural resources. At the turn of the 20th Century, Theodore Roosevelt took steps to lessen the pollution. But there is still alot to do.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Book Around The States

  Olive Kitteridge Elizabeth Strout

  2 stars

  Olive Kitteridge is a retired schoolteacher and deplores changes in her small town of Crosby Maine, and basically the world. Though she doesn't seem to notice the changes around her all that time. Her marriage is a blessing and a cruse, and her adult son hates her. Olive finds herself as her town changes around her. I heard alot of hype about this book but unfornatley, it jumped to much for me.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Sci Fi Reading Challenge

  FlashForward Robert J. Sawyer

  4 stars

  During an scientific experiment, everyone on earth blacked out for 2 minutes and 30 seconds and saw there future twenty years and one month in the future, except for Theo Procopides, who learns from other peoples visions, that he is murdered the day before. His scientific partner Lloyd Simicoe's fiancee loses her daughter when a car hits her at school during the blackout. Lloyd and Theo both have to deal with guilt over the deaths of thousands throughout the world, while Theo races to find his murderer and prevent his own death.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Erin S 

  New Title

  

  A-Z Challenge

  The Myth of You and Me by Leah Stewart
  3.5 stars

  Cameron and Sonia met when they were fourteen and immediately became best friends. The friendship lasted until the end of college when the friendship was destroyed and all contact between the two girls ended. As Cameron nears thirty, she has no ties to anyone except for her aging boss, Oliver. Cameron receives a letter from Sonia out of the blue but refuses to answer despite her boss's urging. When Oliver dies, he leaves one final task for Cameron. To track down and deliver a package to Sonia.

  This was a good book about friendship and how fragile friendship can be. I thought the story itself wasn't anything that great, but I enjoy the way that Stewart writes. There were several passages that were just beautiful to read. I was a bit disappointed with the ended. The book is a journey where not a whole lot actually happens. Everything is meant to build up to the end, and I felt that there just should have been more. It fell a little flat for me.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  999 Reading Challenge/Rip IV Challenge/Ghostly Reading Challenge

  Haunting Rachel Kay Hooper
  5 stars

  Rachel Grant just lost her parents in a plane crash, and ten years earlier she had lost her fiancee Tom Sheridan in one. When Tom had disapeared ages ago, Rachel had woke up to see his ghost at the end of her bed. Now ten years later, returning home to Virginia to settle her parents vast estate, she is seeing Tom again. When her brakes are cut, and she winds up at the hospital, she swears Tom is there with her. But the next day, the 'ghost' appears to her in human flesh and lets her know his name is Adam Delafield and that he owed her father 3 million dollars from a business loan. Rachel is taken aback and shaken, but even more so when her life is placed in danger again, and Adam saves her for the 2nd time. Rachel has to trust Adam and bury Tom from her memory, even though he is watching.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Once Upon a Time III

  Nobody's Princess Esther Friesner

  3 stars

  This is a retelling of Helen of Sparta. She is the future Queen but she wants to fight like her brothers and disquises herself as a boy to learn how to fight from her brothers' teachers. She can't depend on her looks or the Gods to get what she wants, it's only determination. Determination that she has plenty of. It isn't long before she can outfight her brothers on the battle fields.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  End of The World Challenge/Book Around The States/Eco Reading Challenge

  One Second After William R Forstchen
  5 stars

  When an EMP hits the electrical grids of the United States and takes out all the electrical and generators, and cars, the world is cut off from each other. The sick, elderly, and those dependant on medicine are the first to die. Wars breaks out between towns, martial law is declared. One small town in South Carolina bands together, electing officials, while John a former Col. in the United States Army deals with a diabetic daughter, another daughter who is pregnant and has one of the only working vehicles in town.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Book Around the States/Political Challenge

  The Kennedy Legacy Jack Bobby and Ted and a Family Dream Fulfilled Vincent Bzdek

  5 stars

  It started with 4 brothers, the eldest Joe Jr the hope of his father to become the first Catholic President. Joe Jr died during WWII and the torch was passed to John, who did become President but when he was assinated, it went to Bobby, who was assinated while campaigning. Teddy, the youngest of 9, the 4th son who was not pushed as hard as his siblings, became father figure to his neices and nephews and carried the torch of the family, including a long run in congress.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  In Their Shoes/Political Challenge/Themed Reading Challenge (Finished 14Sep09)

  Bobby and Jackie A Love Story C David Heymann

  3 stars

  C David Heymann has written countless books about the Kennedy's and they are usually outstanding but this one was mostly speculation and hearsay. I don't know if I believe Jackie and Bobby were lovers after the death of JFK. And if they were, why did it take 40 years for people to come out and say they saw this or heard one of them say this or that.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  RIPIV Challenge/Book Around the States/Ghostly Challenge/999 Challenge

  The Birthing House Christopher Ransom

  4 stars

  When Conrad Harrison saw the old Victorian house, he knew he had to have it. He bought it without consulting his wife, and he paid in cash. The purchase of the house does not set well with his wife, who he is near breaking up with and she leaves for 6 weeks on a training seminar soon after they move in. The house gets to Conrad, and he swears he starts seeing ghosts and hearing things. And when the former owners of the house returns a photo album that belongs with the house, and Conrad sees a very old picture of what could be his wife's twin, he knows something isn't right. And he has a feeling that his wife, and pregnant teenage neighbor are both possessed by the house.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Book Around the States

  The Bean Trees Barbara Kingsolver

  3 stars

  Taylor Greer picked up from her rural Kentucky home with just a barley functional car, and no money. She decided whereever she broke down or the car just stopped, that would be home. On her way to her new life, she stopped at a bar where an older woman just handed over a blanket that had a toddler in it. Taylor wasn't sure what she was going to do with the child, but once she pulled over at a hotel and saw that the child, a girl, had been abused, she knew they would never part.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Political History Challenge/In Thier Shoes

  Ted Kennedy The Dream That Never Died Edward Klein

  5 stars

  The youngest of nine children, Edward Moore Kennedy wasn't pushed as much as his older siblings, and much wasn't expected of him. But with the deaths of his three older brothers, one during WWII, and two by assination bullets, Ted Kennedy found himself the head of the Political family. Ted Kennedy lived a long life, and saw many of his dreams fullfilled. His life long fight for health care reform and a bill is still being fought over.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Erin S 

  New Title

  

  1st in Series Challenge

  Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
  5 stars

  "Intense is the word for Ender's Game. Aliens have attacked Earth twice and almost destroyed the human species. To make sure humans win the next encounter, the world government has taken to breeding military geniuses -- and then training them in the arts of war... The early training, not surprisingly, takes the form of 'games'... Ender Wiggin is a genius among geniuses; he wins all the games... He is smart enough to know that time is running out. But is he smart enough to save the planet?" (Amazon.com Review)

  I do not read a lot of sci-fi books, but that did not hinder my enjoyment of this book. My heart ached for the mind games that these children, especially Ender, had to endure. Although, I very often forgot that these were children involved due to their gifted intellect. I almost wish I had read this when I was younger, as I think I would have better identified with what there was of a school child mentality.

  This seemingly simple YA, sci-fi book gave me a lot to think about from politics and war to the power of writing and how easily people can be swayed to justification for violence and deceit. What really made the book great was the character of Ender and his growth throughout the book.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Relique Challenge/Ghostly Challenge

  Ghost Interrupted Sonia Singh

  3 stars

  Scott Wilder, Anjaili Kuma and Coulter Marshall are from three very different backgrounds that are brought together because of there unique talents. Scott is a founder of a firm that deals with paranormal. Anjali is a very reluctant psychic that can communicate with the dead but can't cheat at Poker. and Coulter is a telekinetic cowboy from Tennessee. THey come together to fight the paranormal in San Fransico.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Medical Mystery Challenge/Sci Fi Challenge

  The Adoration of Jenna Fox Mary E Pearson

  5 stars

  Seventeen year old Jenna Fox has been in a coma for a year, and she can't remember the first 16 years of her life. Her grandmother, Lily, barley speaks to her, her mother won't allow her to go anywhere and has a fit when Jenna wants to go to school or gets interested in a boy. When she cuts her hand, she discovers not blood but a blue substance. Her father a scientist admits that Jenna is 95% Biogel and basically illegial. Only 10% of her brain was able to be saved, and a 'backup' box is stored in a closet. Jenna has to decide if she wants to live like this or would it be better for her to have died.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Eco Reading Challenge

  The Future of Ice Gretel Ehrlich

  2 stars

  There isn't much to say about this book, it was a jumble of thoughts. It had so much potential....time to move on.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  Serial Readers Challenge

  Mort - Terry Pratchett

  4 stars

  In this Discworld novel, Death decides to obtain an apprentice. Mort's father decides that it is time for him to leave the nest and get an apprenticeship, but no one seems to want Mort, until Death shows up. As Death's apprentice Mort learns quickly and soon is trusted to do some tasks on his own. That is when he makes one decision that has consequences that threaten the future history of the Disc. Can Mort fix his mistake? I enjoyed this Discworld novel. Both Death and Mort are interesting characters. The book makes one think about consequences of spur of the moment decisions. The only criticism I have is that the ending seemed a little abrupt. I look forward to reading more novels about Pratchett's Death.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  RIP IV

  If Looks Could Kill Heather Graham

  4 stars

  Madison Adair was 12 years old when her mother, the famous Lanie Adair was murdered. Madison 'saw' the murder in her dreams and knew her terror. Now that she is grown, the dreams have returned, and the murders have started again, all red heads like her and her mother. Madison ex stepbrother Kyle, a FBI agent, comes down to the Keys to investigate the murders, and finds that feelings for Madison goes beyond keeping her safe and brotherly.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Royal Romance Challenge

  Envy Sandra Brown

  5 stars

  Maris Matherly Reed is a New York publisher who seems to have the perfect marriage and home life. Her father is elderly and letting Maris and her husband Noah take over most of the day to day operations. When Maris is cleaning off her shelf in her office, she finds a start of a manuscript, and gets interested in tracking down the author. It also gives her the excuse to get away from her cheating husband, and think about her marriage. Little does she know that the author of the manuscript is an old roommate of her husbands and is plotting revenge on a 14 year old accident.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Erin S 

  New Title

  

  A-Z Challenge

  Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
  4 stars

  Krakauer's account of his attempt to summit Mt. Everest in 1996 and the disaster that befell his team and several others.

  Half the time I was completely engrossed in the hardships and horrors that these climbers faced, and the other half of the time I just kept thinking that they shouldn't have been up there in the first place. I don't mean to sound so insensitive, but I just have a very different mentality than what those who could undertake such a challenge. I do not understand the allure of subjecting myself to such harsh conditions. I have no climbing experience, and I was often somewhat confused by what exactly was happening on the mountain. However, I was never bored and it was really intriguing to learn more about Mt. Everest and what summiting the mountain entails. I think Krakauer did a good job recounting the tragedy, and I do think he tried to give an honest account of what occurred.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Thriller/Suspense Challenge (Finished Oct 109)/ Bang Bang Challenge/Medical Mystery Challenge

  One Drop of Blood Thomas Holland

  4 stars

  Kel McKelvey is the head of the Army's Central Identification Labatory, he helps identify MIA's from the different wars. Kel is nearly burnt out until an FBI agent contacts him about a rare DNA sample that identifies both Jimmy Carl Trimble, a honored Vietnam KIA and a John Doe in a 40 year old unsolved racial killing. The two team up and go to the small town to try to figure out what exactly is going on, but is met with trouble and opposition everywhere they go.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  In Their Shoes

  The Time of My Life Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi

  5 hanky stars

  Patrick Swayze details his life in this amazing heartfelt book. He starts out by saying that when he got his diagnosis his only thought was 'I'm a dead man.' He tells about how he was made fun of growing up in Texas as a dancer, even while he was playing football and destroyed his knee in the process. He tells of meeting his wife Lisa when she was 15, and how she definatley did not like him at first. He's very open about every aspect of his life, and it's a heartwrenching book.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Faith 

  New Title

  

  Booktivity Halloween challenge (Horseman) / Grammer Rules Challenge

  The 5th Horseman By James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
  Rating: 3/5 Stars

  Healthy People are dying at an alarming rate at a San Francisco hospital. These people are about to be released when they suddenly die before they are released. At the same time the hospital is being sued for malpractice. When something happens to a loved one of the Women's murder club it's time for Lindsey to step up the investigation.

  This fifth installment of the Women's murder club isn't as good as the first four but it is still very well done. There are several plot threads in this one, I assume to throw the reader off but it started out a little confusing to me. All in all I wasn't disappointed in the book, just was hoping for the same level as the last book in the series. I will definitely read on as I know what Patterson is capable of and I am excited to see where the women's murder club will go from here.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Book of the Month/Relique Challenge/Ghostly Challenge

  Practical Magic Alice Hoffman

  3 stars

  Gillian and Sara Owens grew up in there aunts house, the other kids staying away from them and whispering behind there backs about them being witches. Gillian couldn't wait to grow up and get out of the house. Sara got married and had two daughters, but when her husband dies she goes in a year of denial. Then she picks up her daughters and moves so they can have a normal life. But each of her daughters know that they are somewhat different and when Gillian shows up with a dead man in her car asking for her sisters help, all hell breaks lose.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Political History Challenge

  The New Pearl Harbor: Disturbing Questions about the Bush Administration and 9/11 David Ray Griffin

  4 stars

  The author takes a look at all the evidence from 9/11 and if it was possible that it was an inside job. There are disturbing questions that Griffin tries to answer, but I'm not sure if I buy all of it. For me this book was a good conspiracy theory (I'm one of those people LOL) but nothing new was added that convinces me that anyone had a hand in it from the government.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Rip IV Challenge

  Secrets Jude Deveraux

  5 stars

  Cassandra Madden has fell in love with Jefferson Aames when she was 12 and he was 19. When she grew up, she managed to become the nanny to his 5 year old daughter. When Cassandra meets Jefferson's older neighbor, Athena, Cassandra finds herself wondering if the whole neighborhood is hiding a big old secret. Cassandra leaves Jefferson's employment, thinking he was going to marry someone else, and when they meet again 6 months later, Cassandra finds out Jefferson's secret.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Erin S 

  New Title

  

  First in Series Challenge

  Gifts by Ursula K. Le Guin
  3 stars

  Orrec lives in the Uplands where the people are poor but possess very powerful gifts. Some of the gifts are useful, such as summoning animails, while others are terrifying, such as the power to twist another's limbs. Many of the gifts are deadly, and the various clans live in fear of one another. Orrec's father is the brantor, or head of his clan, and Orrec is expected to develop his power and become brantor one day. However, Orrec is unable to control his gift, so he bindfolds his eyes to no longer have use of his gift.

  I liked the world that was created and the gifts were interesting, but the story never really pulled me in. This was an enjoyable read, but I felt that there was something lacking. I just don't know what it was. I haven't decided yet whether I want to read the next book in the series.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  October Book Of the Month/Fall winter Mystery Challenge

  Witch Way To Murder Shirley Damsgaard

  5 stars

  Ophelia Jensen wants to be just an ordinary librarian from a small town. But Ophelia comes from a long line of witches who are blessed, or in Ophelia's view "cursed' with psychic powers. Abby, her lovable grandmother, has no problems with a practicing witch with her own powers. And she keeps telling Ophelia she can't hide from her powers. When a stranger named Rick Davis comes to town, Ophelia's powers tell her something is not right, especially when her and Rick find a dead body in Abby's woods.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Relique Challenge/Sci Fi Challenge

  The Year of Disappearances Susan Hubbard

  4 stars

  Ari Montero is not a normal 14 year old girl, she is a half human and half vampire. And people around her either die or disappear. When she gets accepted into a private college, she thinks she is safe, but kids start using drugs that turn them into zombies and sterile. And when her father gets ill, Ari knows it's up to her to stop what is happening.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Royal Reading Challenge

  Open Season Linda Howard

  5 stars

  Daisy Minor wakes up on her 34th birthday wanting to change everything about herself, her hair, her clothing, and her living arrangements. She wants to find a husband and have babies. Since she is the librarian, noone gives her a 2nd look. She gets her hair dyed blond, gets new clothing and rents a new house. She catches the attention of the local police chief and a local rapist. When she sees the murder of the rapist, the police chief takes it on his own to guard her.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  October Book of the Month/RipIV challenge

  Charmed to Death Shirley Damsgaard

  5 stars

  Ophelia Jensen is just starting to embrace her gift of being a psychic and a witch. Her grandmother keeps warning of more danger, something that Ophelia just does not want to hear. Five years after the death of her best friend Brian, another friend is found murdered in the same exact way. And her dreams tell her that she is the one that she is after.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  Science Fiction Reading Challenge

  Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? - Philip K. Dick

  4 1/2 stars (rounded down to 4 on my shelf)

  Rick Deckard is a bounty hunter that hunts androids that have come to Earth illegally. It is often a difficult job because androids resemble humans very convincingly. However, androids do not feel empathy like people, so tests have been developed using a subject's empathic responses (or lack thereof) to verify its lack of humanity. I thought the book was interesting and it spurred a lot of deep thoughts about the nature of being human. The main character struggles with the morality of "retiring" androids and the reader is forced to face similar questions about reality and perception. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys reading science fiction or dystopian literature.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Bang Bang Challenge

  Code Talker Joseph Bruchac

  4 stars

  Code Talker is a historical novel about the Navajo Marines in War World II. Told by 70 year old Ned Begay, a Navajo Indian, to his grandchildren, comes the story of how he and other Navajo's were recruited in the Marines for there language and how the Navajo language was used as a Marine code so the Japanese couldn't figure out what they were saying.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Fall/Winter Mystery Challenge/Holiday Spirit Challenge/Book Thieve Challenge/Book Around The States

  The Christmas Thief Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark

  2 stars

  Regan Reiley is back to solve another Christmas mystery. Along with her fiancee and her mother and her husband, she finds herself smack dab in the middle of a mystery involving a cut down Christmas tree meant for Rockefeller Center, a jewel thief who just happened to have hid the diamonds in that particular tree 12 years before, and a friend who the thief had swindled money from.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Erin S 

  New Title

  

  A-Z Challenge

  Velocity by Dean Koontz
  2 stars

  Bill Wile is a bartender that leads a quiet, somewhat solitary life. After leaving work one evening, he finds a note under the windshield of his car that says, "If you don’t take this note to the police and get them involved, I will kill a lovely blond schoolteacher. If you do take this note to the police, I will instead kill an elderly woman active in charity work. You have four hours to decide". The author of the note makes Bill a part of his very twisted game.

  I thought this was a great premise for a suspenseful book, but I was disappointed. This was certainly not one of Koontz's best. The characters were too shallow, and I thought the reveal of the killer was just silly. I never felt connected to the story enough to care about the ordeal that the main character was being put through.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Her Stories Memoir Challenge

  I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti Giulia Melucci

  3 stars

  Filled with recipes, this book made me hungry. Giulia Melucci goes through lots of boyfriends, wooing them with food and keeping them way past there expiration date. She knows it, but always hopes this one is the one. Besides the recipes not a great book, I wanted to slap the author and shout dump him!

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  RipIV Challenge

  The Killer's Wife Bill Floyd

  5 stars

  Nina Mosley had what seemed like a normal marriage, until she discovered her husband was a serial killer. She called the police, and testified at his trial. She then took her young son Hayden across the country to North Carolina, changed her name to Leigh Wren and living a normal life. That is until one of her husband's victims' father finds her and confronts her. He then proceeds to go on television and give her real identity and make claims that she had something to do with the crimes. And when her son is taken hostage, his teacher killed in the same way her ex husband's victims were, she has to relive the crimes all over again.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Book Around the States

  American Massacre The Tragedy at Mountain Meadows September 1857 Sally Denton

  5 stars

  In September 1857, a wagon train consisting of 150-160 men, women, and children were passing through Utah, which was mainly controlled by the Mormans. Members of the Morman church waved white flags after 4 days of firing on the train. They proceeded to seperate the travelors in three wagons. Men in one, women and teenagers in another, and the third children under the age of eight. The third wagon train, filled with children watched as there parents, siblings, aunts and uncles were killed. Bringham Young immediatley started blaming the Indians. But the surviving children would later testify that after the killings the "Indians" washed there faces and turned into white men.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Book of The Month/Ghostly Challenge

  Ghost Ships True Stories of Nautical Nightmares, Hauntings and Disasters Richard Winer

  4 stars

  Ships have disapeared never to be seen again, or found floating without a sign of the crew or passengers. There have been ships that have had disasters even before leaving port. This book gives details of ships and crews that have disapeared or cases of hauntings.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  RipIV Challenge/Medical Mystery Challenge

  Trace Evidence Elizabeth Becka

  5 stars

  When the Mayor's daughter is found with a chain around her neck, the 2nd victim to be found like this it is up to Evelyn James to find anything that connects the victims. Evelyn happens to be the ex girlfriend of the Mayor and he is putting pressure on her to tell him what she discovers. When the prime suspect, an orderly at a hospital, the same hospital Evelyn's 16 year old daughter just had her appendix out, is killed, Evelyn is suspended because her co workers think she gave information to the mayor.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Faith 

  New Title

  

  Fall/Winter Mystery Reading Challenge - Paranormal Mystery (Vampires)

  Violets are Blue by James Patterson
  4/5 Stars

  We all know Vampires aren't real, right? So then why are people all around the United States being killed and found with bite marks and being drained of their blood?<br/><br/>That's where detective Alex Cross comes in: In Book #7 of the Cross series, Alex delves into the underground world of the Vampire to find the truth around these killings. Cross finds a whole underworld of people living their lives as Vampires, even partaking in the drinking of blood. Meanwhile, the Mastermind is back and is harrassing Cross with phone calls and threats, and then he starts to follow through on his threats. Alex Cross has to deal with many professional and person issues in this book which could probably have been broken out into two books. The Vampire Murders and the Mastermind plots are both individually enjoyable. Together they seem to try to take your mind of who the Mastermind could be, even though it's pretty obviously early on with the not so subtle hints given by Patterson.

  All in all, I loved being back in the world of Alex Cross - I read Roses are Read early this year after being away from the series for some time and I was a little disappointed by the ending. Having read many Patterson novels over the years, including ones he's written with other authors, I have to say there is nothing like a PURE James Patterson novel. I am convinced that when he writes with other authors its mostly the other authors work and he put very little input in, and coming back to the old days when it was just him writing I am even more convinced. Patterson knows how to write a story that creates suspense and excitement that you can't wait to read on until the last page is read. Although I knew early who the Mastermind was, I did not know who did the Vampire killings and I was thoroughly entertained throughout the story. I really like when the Mastermind is reveiled they relive some of the old cases where the Mastermind was intertwined in that we didn't necessarily know about originally... I thought this aspect was pretty cool. I feel bad for the women he loves as they have all been attacked and/or killed because of their affiliation with Cross.. he's certainly not lucky with the ladies.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Ghostly Challenge/Horror/Paranormal challenge

  When the Ghost Screams Leslie Rule

  5 stars

  Leslie Rule, daughter of Anne Rule, takes a look at victims of horrible crimes. She goes to many haunted hotels and sights, including Gettysburg and talks with people who have had experience with Ghosts.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F (edited)

  New Title

  

  Herstories Challenge/21 Cultures Reading Challenge

  Steve and Me Terri Irwin

  5 stars

  Terri Irwin chronicles her life with Steve Irwin, the Crocidile Hunter. She recounts there first meeting and the many adventures they shared together, including him teaching her how to catch crocidiles. She also recounts how good of a father he was, and how he loved his children and how his death devestated them. An amazing book.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Erin S 

  New Title

  

  A-Z Challenge

  Z for Zachariah by Robert C. O'Brien
  3 stars

  Sixteen-year-old Ann lives completely alone in a remote valley that somehow escaped the effects of a nuclear war. She has learned to survive all on her own and has seen no evidence of other survivors. Then one day she sees a man making his way to her valley. Ann is excited at the thought of not being truly alone but also frightened by not knowing what the man wants and if he can be trusted.

  The book is in the form of diary entries written by Ann. It makes sense given the situation of the book, but, while I generally like the format, I didn't think it worked very well. I have always found the idea of nuclear war to be terrifying, and I really felt Ann's isolation and struggle to survive at the beginning of the book. As the book progressed, I did not feel as connected to Ann's plight as I should have been for such a psychological story. The author's wife and daughter finished the book after his death, so that may be where the disconnect came from. I liked the book, but I probably would have felt stronger about it had I read it as a teenager. Ann is a strong character for young girls to read about.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  October Book of the Month/Back to History/666/paranormal Challenge

  A Trial of Witches A Seventeenth century Witchcraft Prosecution Gilbert Geis

  3 stars

  Alot of information in the book is repeating of other books I've read, but it wasn't just about Salem. There was alot of information about other witch trials and information about the accusers. It also goes on to tell what happened to the people and family lines. Not the best book I've read, but definatley an interesting read.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F (edited)

  New Title

  

  Eco Reading Challenge/Book Around the States Reading Challenge/21 Cultures Reading Challenge/Herstories Memoir Challenge/Political Reading Challenge

  The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw One Woman's Fight to Save the World's Most Beautiful Bird Bruce Barcott

  5 stars

  Looking at Sharon Matola, you would not think of her as a fighter for a poor zoo in Belize where she is considered 'the white zoo woman.' Sharon got bored with her life as a housewife in Iowa, and hopped a train and worked as a tiger trainer for a circus. Then she discovered her true calling, caring for injured animals. She started out taking care of them in her back yard, and then got a call from a zoo keeper in Belize. When she went there, she never imagined she would be fighting the government from building a dam that would wipe out the habit of the Macaw.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Royal Romance Challenge (Finished 26Oct)/Romance Reading Challenge

  Night Whispers Judith McNaught

  4 stars

  Sloan Reynolds is a small town Florida cop. She is quite happy with her nice quiet life, until her rich father who abandoned her and her mother contacts her. She absoultley refuses, until she is contacted by an FBI agent who wants to investigate Carter Reynolds, Sloan's father. Sloan doesn't expect to feel anything for anybody but she falls in love with her sister, and next door neighbor Noah Maitland. But can it work out when they find out she's a cop?

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Herstories Memoir Challenge/China Challenge

  Forever Lily An Unexpected Mother's Journey to Adoption in China Beth Nonte Russell

  5 stars

  Beth Russell accompanied a friend Alex to China to adopt a baby. When the baby is delivered to there hotel, Beth finds herself spending more time caring for the little girl then Alex. She also is having dreams of a 'past life' When Alex decides she does not want the baby, Beth knows she must take the baby.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Ghostly Challenge/Rip IV Challenge/Paranormal Challenge/Romance Reading Challenge

  The Dead Room Heather Graham

  4 stars

  Leslie had left New York after a tragic accident that had taken her fiancee's Matt's life. But it also gave her the ability to see ghosts, which is very helpful in her archeological lifestyle. When she is offered a chance for a dig near the Hasting's House, where Matt had died, she readily agreed. And agreed to stay in the house. Matt was the one ghost who she wasn't able to contact, and when his cousin Joe comes around Leslie thinks she's seeing double. But Joe finds out that women are missing, and thinks Matt's death could be tied in on it.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Medical Mystery Challenge

  Resistance Daniel Kalla

  3 stars

  This is only getting 3 stars because it picked up in the middle. The first half of the book was slow, introducing the characters and the pathagan and jumping cities. When a new pathagan shows up among drug dealers, and winds up in 4 cities, and killing people that were in the hospital with the drug dealers. And only one untried antibiotic seems to be working

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Book Thief Reading Challenge

  The Honey Thief Elizabeth Graver

  5 stars

  Eva's father died when she was six, her mother told her it was a heart attack, but the truth is that he overdosed on lithium. When Eva is eleven, her mother decides that they need to move out of New York City to a small town, and start over. Miriam doesn't want to admit that Eva is showing signs of her father's mental illness, stealing things can't lead to that can it? It isn't long until Eva is stealing honey jars from a neighbor, but then becomes fascinated, or obsessed if you want to call it that, about the bees.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Erin S 

  New Title

  

  A-Z Challenge

  Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
  4 stars

  In the year 1666, the plague reaches a remote village whose inhabitants choose to quarantine themselves within the village so as not to further spread the disease. The story of the village is told through a housemaid, Anna Firth, who becomes a healer and heroine.

  I was completely drawn in to the plight of these villagers and kept picturing myself in such terrible situations. It was terrifying. The story is full of interesting characters put in impossible situations. Not only was the threat and effect of the plague engrossing, but I really liked reading about how the villagers dealt with one another and the various ways they chose to deal with the situation. This was a solid 5 star book up until about the last chapter and the epilogue. I really did not like the ending, and it felt like a completely different book. It was disappointing.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Erin S 

  New Title

  

  A-Z Challenge / First in Series Challenge

  The Quiet Game by Greg Iles
  3 stars

  Penn Cage, former lawyer and current writer, is trying to help himself and his young daughter recover from the death of his wife. He moves back to his childhood home in Natchez, Mississippi where he becomes involved in trying to solve the thirty-year-old murder of a black Korean War veteran who was about to be promoted to a job previously only held by white men. Cage uncovers a conspiracy reaching all the way to the FBI.

  For a "thriller," I didn't really find this book all that thrilling. There were some great parts, but there was also a lot of parts that dragged and didn't add much to the story. I will say that Iles accurately and unflinchingly portrayed a lot of the issues of racism that still exist today between the white and black populations in small, Southern towns. At least it is accurate based on my own knowledge from my time spent in a small, Southern town where racism can still be found between both populations. It was a good book, but I would have rather had a shorter book that omitted some of the other problems besides the murder investigation being thrown at the protagonist.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Medical Mystery Challenge

  The Cure David Shobin

  4 stars

  A new diet pill is gaining popularity, claiming it helps women lose weight and makes them feel better, the viagra for women. Steve McClaren is a young doctor who is Ecolab's prime chief spokeman and a doctor who runs a practice where he perscribes the drugs. He soon discovers that many of his patients are developing heavy bleeding, and cancer. He is determined to find out why, and the closer to get to why, the closer someone gets to killing him.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Monthly Mixer Mele Challenge/Back To History Challenge/Eco Challenge

  The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight Thom Hartmann
  5 stars

  Thom Hartmann looks at how we can save the future, and how we've almost used up all the 'ancient sunlight'. He says that the only solution to be able to make our resources last is to re learn the lessons our ancient ancestors knew, but we've forgotten. We are getting close to using all the oil, and our population keeps exploding, while wildlife keeps disapearing. Just a must read.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Back To History Challenge/Monthly Mixer Mele Challenge/China Challenge/Bang Bang Challenge

  Disappearing Moon Cafe Sky Lee

  3 stars

  The story of the Wong family is told through 4 generations. It's a bit slow and confusing at the beginning due to jumping around about 80 or so years, but it picks up mid way. The great great grandmother of a very promiment family is tired on waiting for her daughter in law of five years to bear her a grand child, and hires a waitress to bear a child by her son. When it takes six months for the waitress to become pregnant, and the wife becomes pregnant at the same time, the waitress is left out in the cold. But neither child may be the offspring of the son. And ofcourse the son and the daughter grow up and fall in love.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Monthly Mixer Mele Challenge/Romance Reading Challenge

  Fifteen minutes of Shame Lisa Daily

  5 stars

  Darby Vaughn, America's favorite dating expert, finds out on the today show that her husband of three years is back with his ex wife and filing for divorce. Her husband Will, is also her publicist, and this ruins her credability. Calling on her best friends from college, 'the dream girls', she relies on them for support while thinking of a way to get her step children back since she's been the primary care taker for three years and save her career. If she breaks her own rule of zero tolerance on cheaters, and takes Will back, her career will be over. How she handles it is a laugh a minute.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Monthly Mixer Mele Challenge

  Moneyball Michael Lewis

  3 stars

  Moneyball takes a look at at the business of baseball, and how it's all about the big salaries and filling a lineup. Billy Beane was Okland's A general manager, dealing with a low budget but big dreams. Beane is looking for a way to make his team the best and give him the edge of the teams with big budgets.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Monthly Mixer Mele/Book Around the States/666 Paranormal Challenge

  Stalking Susan Julie Kramer

  4 stars

  There's someone stalking and killing women named Susan on Nov 19 every year. Riley Spartz is a newswoman whose ratings are sagging, and she's mourning her husband's death. When a cop friend gives her a tip, she thinks this is her way to be back on top and keep her job. Her boss at the tv station doesn't believe that it's such a good story, but let's her run with it while assigning her an undercover job to catch a crooked vet. When she gets to close on both cases, her life is in danger, but who is after her? The vet or the killer? Or could they be the same?

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  21 Cultures Challenge/Monthly Mixer Mele/Back To History Challenge/Bang Bang Challenge

  The Alchemist Paulo Coelho

  5 stars

  Santiago, a young Sheep Hearder has dreams of visiting the great Pyramids in Egypt and meets a mysterious old woman and a man who claims to be King that encourage him to pursue his dreams. Santiago sells his sheep and makes a trip to Africa, where he is promptly robbed, and has to take a job helping a small merchant. When he makes enough money to return home, he meets an Englishman on a caravan and that distracts him from returning home. I won't give anymore hints, but this book is amazing and it's a quick read.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Monthly Mixer Mele/Christmas Spirit Challenge/Romance Reading Challenge

  Tidings of Great Joy Sandra Brown

  4 stars

  Rita Lavender and Mayor Elect Taylor Mackensie meet on Christmas Eve, and leave a holiday party together, winding up at her place and in bed. He sneaks out the next morning, and 8 weeks later she goes to his office and announces she's pregnant. Taylor immediatley accuses her of being some kind of plant to ruin his political future. She leaves immediatley but he goes to her place later to apologize. Both agree to get married immediatley for the sake of the baby, and his political career. I've read alot of Sandra Brown and this isn't a thriller like most, but it was a good book.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Erin S 

  New Title

  

  First in Series Challenge

  Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
  4 stars

  Luke has spent his entire life in hiding. He is an illegal third child forbidden by the Population Police, and therefore, must be kept secret and confined to his home. One day, Luke sees a girl's face in the window of a house where two other children already live. He must decide what risks he is willing to take to change his fate of living life in fear and seclusion.

  This is a YA, dystopian novel in the same vein as The Giver. It is short and clearly written for younger readers, so there is some lack of story and character development. However, I was quickly pulled into the story and enjoyed learning about Luke's world along with him. I don't want to give too much away, as there isn't all that much that happens in the story. I will certainly be reading the rest of the series.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Romance Reading Challenge/Monthly Mixer Mele Challenge/ Royality Rules Reading Challenge/Back to History Challenge

  The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoninette Carolly Erickson

  5 stars

  Though a work of fiction, Erickson brings Marie Antoninette brillantly alive again. What was Marie Antoinette thinking when she was sent to marry a young Louis, a man who was destined to be King even if he didn't want it. Marie Antoinette's story is told through several diary entries of her life. It was an emazing book and a fast read.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Monthly Mele Challenge/Medical Mystery Challenge

  The Baby Farm Karen Harper

  5 stars

  Emma Weston grew up in the Applachian mountains and she returned home after training to become a midwife to help with the births. Soemone is targeting her patients, making them disappear or there babies die under weird circumstances. When her best friend disapears, she is determined to uncover the truth while depending on the local doctor, who may or not be involved.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Monthly Mele Challenge/China Challenge/ Book Thief Challenge/Back To History Challenge

  The Map Thief Heather Terrell

  2 stars

  Not sure where the thrill was in this thriller, but I didn't find it. And I'm glad it was a fast read. Going in between China 1421, and the present day, a map is made and lost and Mara Coyne must find the map for her new client. If she can find the map, then she has to decide if it belongs to the Chinese or her client.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Book Around The States Reading Challenge/Monthly Mixer Mele/Holiday Spirit Challenge/Romance Reading Challenge

  The Last Noel Heather Graham

  5 stars

  Skylar O'Brian just wants a normal Christmas with her family, without the bickering, which she doesn't think is to much to ask. When strangers show up at the door, in the middle of a snow storm, on Christmas Eve, Skylar and her husband David fear something isn't right. Two of the three men have guns, and take the family hostage, not knowing that the O'Brian's daughter is upstairs hiding. The third man, Craig, knows Kat O'Brian and dated her in school, and keeps trying to distract his buddies from discovering her. The family knows that if they don't find a way out of this, it will be there last Christmas.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Bang Bang Challenge/Back To History Challenge

  K.I.A. Thomas Holland

  4 stars

  The Vietnam war is not over for the families of those who were declared a deserter or M.I.A. For the family of Jimmy Tenkiller, who had first been declared as a deserter then a K.I.A., when a body is discovered in Vietnam, they hope to put closer to almost 40 years of pain. But things are not always clear cut, especially when high ranking Vietnamese officials from the war wind up being found with there throat cut. Dr. Kel McKelvey has to figure out what is going on, and whose body they discovered in Vietnam and if Jimmy TenKiller is alive after all these years.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Bunnitaz 

  New Title

  

  Eleven On Top
  Janet Evanovich
  4 stars
  Book Around the States

  Stephanie Plum decides to quit bounty hunting. Of course everything goes wrong from there. She is stalked. She can't quite leave the bounty hunting business because Lola keeps asking for help. Stephanie first gets a job at a button factory but gets fired on her first day for being late. She works at a dry cleaners where crazy Mama Macaroni takes her car and ends up getting blown up. She then works at the chicken fast food place that gets burned down. And finally she ends up working for hunky Ranger while leaving with Morelli because the stalkers hits him and breaks his legs. Very entertaining story.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Back to History Challenge/Her Stories Memoir Challenge

  Divided Lives The Untold Stories of Jewish christian Women in Nazi Germany Cynthia Crane

  5 stars

  They were called Mischling's, children of one Jewish parent and one German parent. If the German parent was the father, the children were better treated, and considered German. This book looks at the lives of several women where were mischling's during the war, and how this has effected them through out there lives.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Eco Reading Challeng/Political History Challenge/Monthly Mele Challenge

  The End of Poverty Economic Possibilities For Our Time Jeffrey D Sachs

  4 stars

  Jeffrey Sachs, once listed as the World's 100 most influential people, has worked with global leaders and institutions on various challenges facing the world today, such as disease, post communist transition, extreme poverty, and massive inflation. He explains how to arrive at an in depth diagnosis of a country's economic challenges and it's options.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Monthly Mele Challenge

  Stolen In The Night Patricia Macdonald

  5 stars

  Twenty years ago Tess Degraff saw her sister Phoebe taken from there tent while camping, and with her testamony the man she saw take her was put to death. Now, she is returning back to the place where here families lives changed forever, to hear DNA results that will prove that Lazerous Abbott was rightly or falsley put to death. When the results prove that Tess was wrong, the new Sherriff, Lazerous's cousin, is out to get Tess one way or another. But the killer is still out there and ready to kill again.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Monthly Mele Challenge

  Clutter's Last Stand Don Aslett

  3 stars

  A very entertaining look how to declutter your life. Hints on how to organize, and get rid of things that you have never used or can't find when you need it. It gives hints that seem pretty simple, like don't take everything with you when you move, get rid of the junk.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Erin S 

  New Title

  

  What's in a Name Challenge

  Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
  3.5 stars (Round down to 3)

  This has been reviewed so many times that I'm going to skip the summary. This was a fun, entertaining book to read, but I think I expected more from all the hype. I thought there was a good blend of traditional and new vampire mythology, and I really loved the character of Sookie. However, I never quite got fully pulled into the story or invested in the plot. I will probably read more in the series, but it won't be my top priority.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Monthly Mele Challenge/Holiday Spirit Challenge

  On Strike For Christmas Sheila Roberts

  5 stars

  The women of a small knit town are members of the Stich and Bitch, a Knitting club, are tired of there husbands doing absolutley nothing to help with getting ready for Christmas so they decide to strike. The women mean to do absoultley nothing and leave everything to there husbands so they are appreciated. It doesn't take long for the men to stop sabataging plans, and trying to get the women to take over. But they are determined to prova point to the husbands. It's a wonderful book that's funny and heartwarming.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Monthly Mele Challenge/Eco Reading Challenge

  Our Stolen Future Are We Threatening Our Fertility, Intelligence and Survival? Theo Colborn

  5 stars

  This is a terrifying book that looks at all the chemicals that is found in our water and oceans. It shoes the decrease in population of certain animals, including the Florida Panther (which is dear to my heart) It also looks at the decrease in fertility in humans and the decrease in birth rates.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  Relique Challenge
  1% Well-Read Challenge
  Themed Reading Challenge

  Dracula - Bram Stoker

  4 stars

  This is the classic story of the hunt for Count Dracula, the evil vampire who wants to expand his hunting grounds to densely populated London. Told in diary entries, newspaper articles, and letters; the story is from the point of view of a group of people who have vowed to stop Dracula from creating new undead and kill him before he could destroy their dear friend. I really enjoyed reading this classic. Although the style of the novel leaves much of Dracula himself a mystery, Stoker does a good job of building suspense. The ending was a little bit of a let down after the slow and steady build up, but I appreciated the feeling of terror and the atmosphere of doom that the author was able to maintain despite having very little on screen violence or gore.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Monthly Mele Challenge

  Always Looking Up The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist Michael J. Fox

  5 stars

  Michael J. Fox follows up "Lucky Man" with this amazing book about how he decided to give up acting and how he wasn't sure what to do afterwards, but how he decided to start his foundation. He also gives us an insight into his marriage to Tracy and how she has been amazing helping him with Parkinsons. And he also gives us a look at his 4 children, and what an amazing man and how much strength he has.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Back To History Challenge/666 paranormal Challenge

  Fall: The Rape and Murder of Innocence in a Small Town Ron Franscell

  5 stars

  Ron Franscell grew up in Casper Wyoming, and was friends to Amy Burridge and her sister Becky Thomson and knew the story that haunted Casper for over 30 years and he wanted to tell it. On Sep 24th 1973, 11 year old Amy Burridge and her 18 year old half sister Becky Thomson took Becky's vehicle to a convience store to get some things for there mother. When the came out of the store, and started to back up, Becky noticed she had a flat tire, which made her mad because she had just had it fixed a couple weeks earlier. They were approached by two men, Ron Kennedy and Jerry Jenkins offered to help the girls. Becky told her sister to run across the street to call there mother and tell them two young nice men offered to help them. That was the last time there mother ever talked to Amy again. Kennedy and Jenkins forced the girls into there truck, and took 11 year old Amy and pushed her off a bridge. They raped and beat Becky and threw her off the same bridge but she knew she had to somehow survive so there story could be told.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Fall/Winter Mystery Challenge/Monthly Mele Challenge

  The Cat Who Talked Turkey Lilian Jackson Braun

  4 stars

  This was my first The Cat Who Talked book, and I enjoyed it. James Qwilleran or "Qwill" has two amazing Simese cats, who seem to know when someone is dead or being murdered. And one of the murdered men shows up on Qwill's property, Qwill knows KoKo is up to something. Especially when KoKo keeps insisting her human read a book to him that Qwill can't stand.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Erin S 

  New Title

  

  What's in a Name Challenge

  The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
  2 stars

  Suzie Salmon is 14 when she is murdered. From Heaven, she watches as her family, friends and classmates learn to move on after her disappearance, and she watches as the man who murdered her evades the police.

  I really thought I would like this book, but I was pretty disappointed. This was such a sad story, but I felt no emotional connection. I wasn't very interested by the depiction of Heaven, and I was overall just bored by the book. The main problem for me was the author's writing style. It seemed liked she was trying to hard, especially with the descriptive passages (if that makes any sense). It wasn't really a bad book, it just wasn't for me.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Monthly Mele Challenge/1010Reading Challenge

  God Bless You Dr. Kevorkian Kurt Vonnegut

  4 stars

  Kurt Vonnegut takes near death experiences administered by Dr. Kevorkian, to interview people inside the pearly gates. It's a very short book, and a bit interesting in that Vonnegut says there's no hell, and he interviews Hitler and the man who shot Martin Luther King. Definatley more on the humorous then serious side.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  1010 Reading Challenge

  Star Trek The Next Generation Maximum Warp Book One of Two Dave Galanter

  3 stars

  There are dead spaces showing up all over space, stopping all ships in it's path, which in turn takes out life supports. It's killing millions, and unless it's stopped it will take out the Federation. It's even expanding into the Delta quad, effecting Voyager. It's up to Captain Picard, Spock and Romulans to find out and stop what is happening.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Monthly Mele Challenge/1010Reading Challenge/Romance Reading Challenge

  Missing Mark Julie Kramer

  4 stars

  Riley Spartz gets intrigued when she sees an add for Wedding Dress For Sale Never worn in a newspaper and her reporter instincts go wild. She knows there's a story behind it, and she wants to find out what it is. The problem is that the person who made the groom disapear sets there sights on Riley.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Monthly Mele Challenge/Back To History Challenge/Book Thief Challenge

  City of Thieves David Benioff

  3 stars

  A writer visits his retired grandparents in Florida for them to tell him his story for an article in a paper. His grandfather doesn't want to tell him at first, but he relunctlantly agrees. Lev Beniov was 17 and he was caught stealing in Russia in WWII. He is arrested and is thrown into jail where he meets Kolya, a deserter from his unit. Both think they are going to be executed, until they are given a mission to find and steal a dozen eggs for a Colnol's daughter. They both think it is an impossible mission, but know they have no choice but to try and find a dozen eggs in a war torn country.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Tenia F 

  New Title

  

  Monthly Mele/Royalty Rules/1010 Reading Challenge

  The Perfect Royal Mistress Diane Haeger

  5 stars

  Nell Gwynne sells oranges in front of the London's King Theatre, and meets King Charles after the plague and great fire that devestated England. She is unaware that he is the King. It isn't long until her quick wit gets her noticed and she is an actress, the toast of London. It also doesn't take her long to get noticed by the King, who is known to keep many mistresses, but is intrigued by the way Nell doesn't throw herself at him. This is a fictional novel based on real events and very breathtaking.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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