No. 121: The Fiery Cross

This one was good too, but I am getting a little sick of Jamie and Claire - actually it isn't Jamie and Claire so much as Brianna. I don't find her to be a very sympathetic character. I actually find her to be quite annoying. Poor Roger. I don't find him annoying at all.

I got a book for Christmas I am dying to read so hopefully I can power through the last two in this series and read it soon.

No. 120: Drums of Autumn

Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon

Ditto what I said on my last post. I think the books are getting better, but I am getting increasingly sick of reading essentially one super long book with the same characters spanning 20 - 30 years. I am ready for something new, but I cannot give up after all this. And I am not sure I will have a third reading of the series in my system anytime soon. So I really just need to keep going so I can read the new book and move on with my life.

Only 3 more to go I think. I hope I can make it!

No. 119: Voyager

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

It has been quite awhile since I read this book - I can really only remember the one I just finished. But clearly the series is compelling enough to make me read thousands and thousands and thousands of pages just so I can read a thousand or so pages of the new book.

No. 118: Dragonfly in Amber

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

This one might be better than the first one, less Jack Randall being evil and more Jamie and Claire love and also the "present day" which is really the late 60's and back and forth in time. Very nice.

No time to write - but I liked it very much!

No 117: Outlander

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

I started this book in the airport on the way home from Vegas and finished it the day after we landed back in Anchorage. If you didn't know that this book is approximately 1 million pages long it wouldn't seem like that big of a deal, but it is SO long and SO complex. This series takes me a lot longer to read than most other books. Not that I am complaining, but this is the second time I have read this series. That is a lot of Outlander. The only reason I am even reading it again is because another book came out in the series but when I tried to read it I couldn't even remember what had happened in the series because it is so involved. So I have to read about 5,000 - 6,000 pages just to catch up and read the new book.

This series is great, but it is definitely not for everyone. It is a little graphic in parts, and in even more parts it is not so much graphic as shocking, or horrifying, or disturbing. I hate Jack Randall and no matter how much she attempts to reform him in later books I can never forget what happened in this one. I literally cannot ever forget it - even though I have the worst memory in the world, there are somethings you cannot un-read, or un-see in your mind.

But other than some of that stuff (and there is kind of a lot of it) my love for this series has been renewed and I am now looking forward to reading the whole shebang. Even though I have no time to read because I am in the midst of the busiest month and a half of my life! I will make time to read - even if I go without sleep. You can sleep when you are dead, right?

No. 116: Indulgence in Death

Indulgence in Death by Suzanne Brockmann

I got this book to read on the airplane on the way to my glorious and much needed REAL vacation to Las Vegas. Tragically the flight down was so terribly turbulent that I couldn't read and concentrate on not barfing on everyone around me, so I put the kindle down and thought about not barfing the whole flight. I did manage to read it during the vacation though, one of the best parts about vacation is that they are full of free time!!!

There are maybe 30 something books in this series, and I have read every one. I keep reading them despite the fact that I haven't really cared for the last couple. This one was okay - but not great. I hate it when she gives away who the murderers are so early in the book, it is much better when it is a total surprise at the end. But apart from that it was okay. See how unenthused I am about it - it is okay. Take a note Nora Roberts, you have been consistenly just okay for the past year or so. Please step up your game, bring us back to the glory days of awesome books. Please. Thank you.

No. 115: Time Enough for Love

Time Enough for Love by Suzanne Brockmann

I saw this book at the bookstore and bought in book form because I was excited to have another Suzanne Brockmann to add to my shelf - turns out not only have I read this book before, but I actually own an older edition of it. So that kind of stinks - you think I would be able to remember a story about Navy SEALS (however tangentially) and time travel and assassins from the future. But alas, I did not. I also didn't remember the ending so it was a surprise and not a total loss afterall.

I have said many times that I don't like Suzanne's older non-SEAL books half as much as I do her worst SEAL book. Although I would be hard pressed to name her worst SEAL book since I am pretty sure I love them all. Anyway, my point is - this is a good book with an interesting plot, but not her best. Still worth a read, there are assassins from the future in it afterall, how bad can it be!

No. 114: Willow

Willow by Linda Lael Miller

This is another book that I read so long ago I cannot remember any details about it! Curse my miserable short term memory! I remember I liked it but didn't love it...does that help? I will have to re-read it so I can post an acutal review. Whenever I get a spare minute...

Nos 97 - 113 Stephanie Plum Series

It has been so long since I have posted here, and so long since I read this book that I think I will have to just list these books with a blanket statement that I LOVE them all and this is by far one of the best series I have ever read. And I read a lot of series!

Numbers 4 - 15
Visions of Sugar Plums
Plum Lovin'
Plum Lucky
Plum Spooky

If you have not read this series do it immediately!!!

Nos. 94 - 96: Stephanie Plum series 1 - 3

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
Two for the Dough
Three to Get Deadly

I started reading this series (again) after finding out via the internet that they are making a movie based on the first book - One For the Money I think it is called. I was so extremely excited until I learned that they had cast Katherine Heigel as Stephanie Plum. I can't imagine anyone less Stephanie-like than Katherine Heigel. I mean really. She seems like such a B, and is not funny, and is not goofy or any of the characteristics that Stephanie has in the books. Bad bad casting. Everyone else seems fine - most are relatively unknown, but  at least they look right for the parts. Hopefully they can act. I will be mad if they FINALLY make this series into a movie and then ruin it.

Anyway, I read the first three so far - and I like them, obviously I like them, but I really like the series more and more as it goes on. And the early books not as much. Things are not quite perfected yet - Lula is not as sassy, Ranger is not as sexy (and in one book he wore a black leather jacket with beaded fringe - no Ranger I know would ever wear such a terrible thing, even if it was the 90s) and the whole Stephanie-Ranger-Joe triangle is not as developed as I like. But all that withstanding, I still like the books alot. I think I will just keep plowing through the series until I finish or get distracted by something new. But right now I am enjoying it!

No. 93: Out of Control

Out of Control by Suzanne Brockmann

I have read this book so many times. It might be my favorite romance novel of all time. Seriously, the more I read it the more I LOVE IT!!! It has almost all of the elements required to be a perfect romance novel - an excellent hero (Kenny "Wildcard" Karmody) who I love and would marry if he were real, an excellent FMC (Savanah) who is funny and brave and imperfect and awesome, and danger and mystery and a secondary love story that is fantastic (Grady and Molly) and another love story/historical story that is the best one ever (hello double agents, a prince, WWII, and a secret basement prison!) and there is heartbreak (Sam and Alyssa) and explosions and shooting and torture and dramatic rescues and the best line ever delivered by a MMC to a FMC during their first meeting "You are so fucking pretty."

In sum, I love this book. Everyone should read it. Because it is awesome.

No. 92: Mockingjay

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

I read this book as fast as I possibly could. It was so good I couldn't wait to know what happened and, importantly, who Katniss ended up with. Because we all know she was going to end up with someone. It was obvious. And, happily it ended just the way I wanted it to. It is very satisfying when things turn out the way I want (although not fully the way I want because of TRAGEDY and war) and there is a semi happy ending even if it is only for some. But it was goooood.

No. 91: Catching Fire

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

I was a fool for not reading this book when it first came out last year. I have many excuses (lost it, got a kindle, an an idiot) but basically if I had known how good this book was back then, I would have bought another copy and read it 3 times by now. It is good. I do not want to spoil it for anyone, so let me just say:

Go to the store, buy the whole series, read it immediately. Thank you.

No. 90: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzane Collins

The first time I read this book I thought it was so crazy and amazing I couldn't stop thinking about it. I desperately wanted to know what happened after. What I didn't know was that is was the first in a series, I could have saved myself a lot of speculation if I would have known that back then.

Then the second book came out, and I ordered it and was super excited about it but never read it. I am not sure why but I suspect it is because shortly after I got the book (the actual book) I got my kindle and then subsequently lost the actual book. And I didn't want to buy it on the kindle because I just bought that book (wherever it was) and it would be crazy to buy it twice.

And then a week or two ago I heard that the third and final book in the series was about to be released and I got all excited again. So I decided to read the first two books in time to read the third on the day it was released. And I did.

And this book was just as crazy and amazing and awesome as it was the first time I read it. Even though I knew the ending (and couldn't forget it like I usually do because it is unforgettable) I couldn't put the book down and was forced to hand my children over to the loving care of their great-grandparents for several hours so I could finish it.

No. 89: Splendor

Splendor by Anna Godbersen

This is the last book in the Luxe series. I read it a few weeks ago and now I can't remember if I loved it or just liked it. That leads me to believe I just liked it. Because while I have no ability to remember the plots of books I read for more than a week, I can almost always remember if I loved a book or not.

I think my problem with this book is that things got a little crazy - there were murders and murder plots, and running away, and Cuba and heartbreak and one too many misunderstandings. All good things in moderation, but when they are all  in one book it gets to be too much. But the series as a whole was fantastic! I really really liked it and would recommend it to anyone who likes historical romancey but not romance books.

No. 88: What Happens in London

What Happens in London by Julia Quinn

I read this book because for some reason it was in my purse and I needed something to read at the doctors office. Lucky for me, I love Julia Quinn and this is one of her really good books.

It is about Olivia Bevelstoke who hears a rumor that her new neighbor might have killed her fiancee. She thinks that the logical response to this rumor is to spy on the neighbor from her bedroom window which conveniently looks into his office window. She sees many unusual and suspicious things but nothing that definitively indicates the man is a murderer.

I love the unusual courtship in this story, I love that some truly bizarre things happen (tabletop theatrics, unusual headgear and suspicious bodyguards to name a few) and I really love the interactions between Harry and Olivia, particularly at the beginning of the book.Very amusing.

No. 87: The Assassins Gallery

The Assassins Gallery by David L. Robbins

This book started out so good - about a secret multinational band of spies and saboteurs being trained in Scotland during WWII. That is awesome. If this book would have stayed there we would have really been in business. But it moved on to a suspected plot to assassinate FDR carried out by none other than a real assassin - a Persian woman trained in the ways of the assassins of yore. Which seems interesting, and I did appreciate the many ways she thought of to kill FDR, you have to admire her thinking outside the box and tenacity. But the book was too long, I got bored around the middle and just had to hurry up and finish so I could know the ending. Not a bad book at all, but definitely dragged on. And I didn't love the MMC, or his friend Dag. Or Judith or any character for that matter. It would have been nice to like any of the characters in the book. But it was definitely an interesting concept.

No. 86: The Lake House

The Lake House by James Patterson

I am not sure whether I have ever read anything by James Patterson before, but I am fairly certain I won't be doing it again in the near future. I know you might be shocked because he is a famous bestselling author, but I am telling you this book was weird and not great. And if his other books are any thing like it, they are also weird and not great.

The only reason I read this book in the first place is because I was at a lake house, and I didn't have anything to read, and I saw this book and thought it might be a sign. That I should read a book called The Lake House at a lake house and it was destined to be good. I didn't even read the back cover, which was my second mistake (the first being ever picking the book up to read)

First of all, it is about bird children. Children who are part bird. That is weird, I could handle that maybe, if the rest of the book about the bird children was so interesting that it made up for the weirdness. Unfortunately for me it was not. It was just weird. It completely lost me with the mysterious killers and clones and shucking, and tragic lack of investigation into the GIANT RASH OF UNEXPLAINED DISAPPEARANCES in Maryland!!! And the clones, and robot wives, and of course, the whole book is about bird children. I like weird books as much as the next person, with crazy science and mystery - I read Jurassic Park and all the other Micheal Crighton books and liked them. But I guess I am no fan of bird children.

Nos. 83 - 85: The Luxe Series

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen
Rumor
Envy

This is the first three books in this series, there is at least one more (and I hope even more after that) set in New York City in 1899 and 1900. It follows the stories of some of the leading families of the era, most particularly the Holland family and its two daughters Elizabeth and Diana. I have never read anything set in this time period and location, it was very interesting. And the stories are particularly engrossing, I read the first (which I got for FREE on my kindle) and then immediatly the second and third. I would have read the fourth one but I have been away from my internet connection (or a bookstore for that matter) for a few days and had to make do with whatever books I could find. More on those later.

Anyway, I absolutely don't want to spoil any of it because it is great. But I can tell you that the prologue to the first book is all about the very fancy funeral of Elizabeth Holland. And there is significant intrigue and plotting and even blackmail in the series and I cannot wait to find out what happens!!!

No. 82: Falling out of Fashion

Falling out of Fashion by Karen Yampolsky

This was an interesting book, but I will have to admit that I might not have been its target audience. I love fashion magazines, I read Seventeen and all those stupid prom magazines religiously when I was in high school. They were awesome. I never cared much for Sassy (which is obviously the model for one of the magazines in this book) because it didn't feature enough makeup tips or ideas of how to get boys to ask you out. And those are the things I cared about in high school.

But despite this, I thought this book was great - the story of how a commune living hippie child makes her way into a rich and fancy magazine editor in NYC and how her life changes. It was really interesting, the characters were deep enough and well described enough that I had a real vision of them. I was happy with the ending (although I imagine a lot of people were not) and although I have no concept of the magazine publishing world outside of The Devil Wears Prada and Ugly Betty, it seemed very realistic and believable.

Nos. 80 - 81: Carter House Girls books 1 & 2

Mixed Bags by Melody Carlson
Stealing Bradford

A friend of mine had these books recommended to her as a good gift for her teenaged niece. She asked if I have ever read them and I hadn't but, in some bizarre coincidence, the first two books in the series were free for my kindle. So I said I would read them and give her some feedback.

After a promising premise - 6 girls from different backgrounds living together in one house - it went down hill pretty quickly. There was a lot of stupid misunderstandings, characters flipping from bad to good without a lot of support or reason, a super useless parental figure, waayyyy too many lesbian comments for no apparent reason, a lot of useless "be yourself messages" that if well executed could have been useful to the books target audiences (christian teenage girls) but in this book were lame and overplayed, the one real "come to Jesus" moment which again could have been great was similarly lame and overplayed. All in all, I didn't care for either of these books. The author was trying too hard to mix edgy teenage drama and Christian lit and instead of coming out with something great came out with a mess full of lesbian jokes. Seriously, what is this author trying to tell her readers with all of the lesbian jokes. I am confused.

No. 79: Girl at Sea

Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson

Another book by this author, I was on a roll I guess. I liked this one better than The Keys to the Golden Firebird because it was less sad and depressing and more mysterious and interesting but not nearly as much as the Scarlett series. You don't figure out until the end what is really going on, but what is really going on was not quite as interesting as what I thought was going on - which was kind of a let down. I also thought the FMC was a little too into her roommate. I mean if you are going to go there, really go there. Know what I mean?

No. 78: The Key to the Golden Firebird

The Key to the Golden Firebird by Maureen Johnson

I liked the Scarlett Series so much I started looking for more books by this author. I can't say I liked this one as much as the others, but then again it had a much sadder subject matter. That being said, it was still good. This book is about three sisters and their mother, the year after the unexpected death of their father. The oldest sister is a drunk, the youngest sister is having crazy panic attacks and the middle sister is trying to keep the family together and get her drivers license. I missed the humor that the other books by this author have, but it was still a good story.

No. 77: Scarlett Fever

Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson

The second book in the Scarlett series, just as good as the first. Maybe more funny lines - the best of which I posted about here.

No. 76: Suite Scarlett

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

I have read this book before, and I liked it a lot. It held up for the second read, still funny and interesting and sad and happy in places. I still love the idea of living in a hotel your family owns, even if it is broke and falling apart. It just seems awesome!

My posts are going to be short I think, I got WAY behind and now I have like a dozen books to post about. Hopefully I can remember them all :)

No. 75: Infamous

Infamous by Suzanne Brockmann

A brand new Suzanne Brockmann book, and a paperback to boot! Very exciting! I bought the book in book form (rather than kindle) to add to my collection of every book Brockmann has ever written.

Even though this was not a Navy SEAL book (boo) there were SEALS briefly involved in the book, so that was nice. This was quite a different book than usual - although there was the usual action, and romance, and there was also the historical story that she used to include in some of her older Troubleshooters books. But this book is about a history professor working on a movie about a "heroic" US Marshall and how he vanquished a gang of notorious robbers and killers. The great-grandson of one of the notorious bad guys comes to the movie set to get the story straight - ably assisted in telling the true story by the ghost of his great-grandfather.

My favorite line of the book:

"I don't want you to love me."
"Then stop being so fucking amazing."

I love swearing in books! It reminds me of my favorite part of my favorite Suzanne Brockmann book, Out of Control, when Ken Karmody tells Savannah that she is "so fucking pretty" within 5 minutes of meeting her. Hysterical and awesome.

No. 74: Charlie St Cloud

Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood

I read this book solely because I am interested in seeing a movie starring Zac Efron with no shirt. Is that wrong? But I can't just go see a movie - a movie so intense looking I almost cried at the preview - without knowing a little more. So I got the book, and I read it, and I cried the entire time. And I decided that no amount of Zac Effron with no shirt could persuade me to see this movie in the theatre. I HATE crying at the movie theatre, and I am guaranteed to cry for the majority of this movie. Just as I cried for the majority of the book.

The book is the story of Charlie St. Cloud who can see the spirit of his dead little brother and who gives up his life to spend every night playing catch with a ghost. Sad. But there is romance! But the romance is sad. But there is happy parts too! But the happy parts are also sad. So there was much crying. I think I will just get the movie when it comes out on Netflix and save my ogling and crying for home, where it belongs.

No. 73: Milrose Munce and the Den of Professional Help

Milrose Munce and the Den of Professional Help by Douglas Anthony Cooper

I got this book FREE on my kindle a couple of months ago and have not gotten around to reading it until now. But I am glad I finally did, it was great! I think it is a kids/ya book, but it was clever and funny and well written. There were so many good lines, but unfortunately I read this book on my ipod rather than my kindle (my charger is lost and the battery is dead - very tragic) and I have not figured out the note taking feature on the ipad, so I don't have any to share. But take my word for it, funny.

Anyway, the book is about a boy who can see ghosts at his school. Because he is seen talking to people that are not there, and putting his arm around thin air, the school determines that he is in need of Professional Help. So the book is all about the Professional Help he receives. And yes, Professional Help is always capitalized. Definitely worth a read!

No. 72: Dreaming of You

Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas

Since the other Lisa Kleypas books I have read lately were so good, I thought I would try some of her older historical novels. This one...I don't know how I feel about it yet. The beginning was kind of irritating, the middle was good, and the end, oh the end. It could have gone so well and then there was an incident. An incident that is to me, so ewww, that I can't get over it and now I don't like the book anymore. I got so worked up about this book I have a feeling this is going to be a very long post :)

But let me begin at the beginning. The FMC is Sara, an author who researches her books by going into the undesirable areas of London to interview prostitutes and gamblers. On on research trip she comes across a man being attacked in an alley. She attempts to scare off the attackers by firing her gun, but ends up shooting one of the bad guys. The other ones run away and she is left with an injured man with nice clothes and an atrocious cockney accent. This is the irritating part, obviously to convey to the reader that the character has an accent she has to kind of spell it out. I hate that - I can use my imagination. Just say he has a cockney accent. I watch tv, I know what that sounds like. You don't have to say "It's close enow to 'ere." I get distracted by the accent and I don't pay attention to the words. So anyway, irritating beginning, but it gets better.

It turns out that the guy she rescued is Derek Craven - owner of the famous gaming hall Cravens. Rival of Jenners which makes several appearances in the other books I just read so that was nice. Anyway, he grew up in the streets - stealing and cleaning chimneys (when he was little obviously) blackmailing and worst of all - prostitution! As in, his club was bought with money he got for having sex with women. Wow.

So, Sara wants to hang around the club to do research for her book - Derek says no but since he is wounded she does it anyway. Oh, I forgot, a spiteful crazy ex-lover hired thugs to cut Dereks face after he left her. Again, wow.

So she is always hanging around and Derek realizes that he is in LUST with her, but that he is no good for her because of his bad past (prostitution and crime, etc) and so he tries to get her to go back home and leave him alone. But Sara is stupid, I mean in love, and so she decides to attend a masked ball at the club to trick Derek into kissing her. So she does, and she does, and they kiss and he realizes its her and they kiss some more, and then he gets all noble and sends her off.

She eventually ends up back home in her tiny village and becomes engaged to her weakling mama's boy boyfriend. But his controlling and creepy mother causes too much tension and they break off the engagement. That very day Sara receives an invitation to a house party from a woman she met in London, a close friend of Derek's. And she goes, and he is there! And he keeps his distance but it doesn't work and they end up engaged. And then married.

And assorted other stuff happens, including the return of the psycho face slashing ex-lover of Dereks, a kidnapping and arson. And then, at the very end, the epilogue. I usually love a good epilogue, I like to see that everyone is living happily ever after. But what I do not want to see/read/think about, is what happened in this epilogue. Specifically an unpalatable incident involving a nursing mother and marital relations. I will leave the details to your imagination. But ewwww. And I say that as a woman who nursed her babies for nearly 2 years each. Ewwwwwww.

No. 71: Sizzle

Sizzle by Julie Garwood

I have written about my undying love and affection for Julie Garwood many times. She is excellent, particularly her historical stuff, but she writes a pretty good crime mystery/thriller too. This is one of those, featuring an FBI agent with a Scottish accent (which I approve of) and a film student. I randomly selected this book after I finished my MARATHON Lisa Kleypas session and I was in desperate need of something to read so I could avoid doing dishes. Because I hate dishes.

Anyway, Sam, the foxy Scottish FBI agent, is recruited to be a bodyguard for Lyra (which is a dumb name because I kept thinking Laura) after her apartment is broken into by kidnappers. So they have to spend every minute together so she can be safe. And inevitably they fall in love because (did I mention) he is a foxy Scottish FBI agent which as everyone knows is an irresistible combination. And she is a young beautiful film student with great legs.

This book has some great secondary characters including a delusional, incompetent, stupid hit man, a grandmother who steals holy water, money grubbing parents and a roommate who will likely become the FMC in her own book. So it was good, but it was no historical Scottish love story.

Nos. 66 - 70: The Hathway Series

The Hathaway Series by Lisa Kleypas
Mine Till Midnight
Seduce Me at Sunrise
Tempt Me at Twilight
Married by Morning
Love in the Afternoon (recently blogged here)

Oh I love love love this series. It really is very excellent. So excellent that I read it and the Wallflower series in about 4 days - yes, that is 10 books in 4 days. I am crazy, and very very tired. But the books are so goooood!

In order of love:

1. Seduce Me at Sunrise - Win and Merripen (which is a dumb name, I much prefer his secret name which is Kev. And since this is my blog and he is not a real person, I am going to refer to him as Kev from now on) Anyway, Win and KEV have known each other for ever, since KEV was rescued by the Hathaway family after he was injured and left for dead by his tribe. That is right, he is a Gypsy! Anyway, KEV has loved Win forever but she became very ill with scarlet fever and almost died, but he saved her with a gypsy remedy/medicine that is also a deadly poison. And (this is the best part) he loved her so much that if the medicine didn't work and she died, he was going to take the poison and die too!!! How very emo/Twilight/Romeo and Juliet of him. I love it! Anyway, she didn't die and eventually went off to France to a clinic to recover. And came back healthy but Kev thought because of his past (as a child barenuckle gypsy fighter - I like to think of him as Brad Pitt in Snatch, but a child) he wasn't worthy of her. But she loves him too and it ends up not mattering about his past or her scarlett fever residual potential weakness because of LOVE!

2. Mine Till Midnight - Amelia and Cam Rohan (which is a good name, MUCH better than Merripen) Anyway, she is the eldest Hawthorn sister and has decided never to marry because she previously had her heart broken by a faithless architect. Cam is the manager of a gambling club (owned by Evie and St. Vincent - see how it all comes together!) Cam is also a Gypsy - which makes him mysterious and slightly disreputable. He wears an earring! Anyway, Cam is awesome so Amelia falls in love with him after he saves her from a million bees and a ghost, and the faithless architect.

3. Tempt Me at Twilight - Poppy and Harry Rutledge. Poppy is the second Hathaway sister and Harry is the owner of the Rutledge Hotel, where the Hathaway family lives while in London. So Poppy is minding her own business, chasing a ferret who stole her love letter, when she stumbles into a secret passageway and meets the mysterious Harry Rutledge. Harry instantly decides he MUST have Poppy as his wife and sets out to systematically ensure that she is required to marry him or face ruin. He is very diabolical. So she reluctantly marries him and they eventually fall in love. I think the first chapter alone is what makes me like this book more than the MMC - although there is something kind of compelling about his passionate pursuit of Poppy.

4. Love in the Afternoon - I just blogged about this out of order. But it is gooooood!

5. Married by Morning - Leo Hathaway and Catherine Marks. Marks is the Hathaway sisters' companion/governess and has always had a hate/hate relationship with the brother Leo. They are generally quite nasty to each other and fight nonstop. But then, Leo (which is not a great name) sees Marks with her hair its regular color - blonde - and realizes that she is beautiful and finds himself unwillingly attracted to her. Now I recognize that blonde hair is fantastic, but I can't imagine a change in hair color is enough to make a person you despise suddenly attractive. That is why this is at the bottom of the list. I still quite like it though because Marks has an excellent tragic and mysterious past, and a familial connection to another character in this series. And Leo ends up being a good hero. But his name is Leo...so...

Anyway, I guess since there are only five Hathaway siblings that is the end of the series. Which is really too bad. But I suppose I can always re-read them!

Nos. 61 - 65: Wallflower Series

The Wallflower Series by Lisa Kleypas
Secrets of a Summer Night
It Happened One Autumn
Devil in Winter
Scandal in Spring
A Wallflower Christmas

I read this series in a row, and in the correct order (for the first time) because I discovered that there were two new books in another series by this same author. You might be wondering, why would that make you need to read this series Holly? Well, it is because the series are interconnected. And I love this series. A lot. So I don't need much of an excuse to read them over again. I love them all, with varying degrees of intensity. In order of love - from most loved to least:

1. Secrets of a Summer Night - Annabelle and Simon. She is a beautiful but poor lady whose mother has entered into a distasteful relationship with a fat disgusting peer to pay the bills. Simon Hunt (which I think is an excellent name by the way) is a rich industrialist and not a member of British aristocracy. And there is an explosion at a railroad factory (or something, a foundry perhaps?) and they fall in love - unrelated I think to the explosion.

2. Devil in Winter - Evie and Sebastian, Viscount St. Vincent (another excellent name). She is the daughter of a gaming hall operator with consumption and is being held captive by her evil family that wants her money. He is a very very bad man who kidnapped Evies friend and tried to force her into marriage because he needs money. She proposes a marriage of convenience because she wants to take care of her father before he dies and Sebastian wants money. So they run off and get married. I liked this book because of the myriad olde timey illnesses including the pox (the kind that makes you crazy and die) and consumption (which also makes you die but does not make you crazy), and our introduction to Cam Rohan - who happens to be one of my favorite characters EVER! There are also several attempted kidnapping and murder attempts. Very exciting

3.It Happened one Autumn - Lillian and Marcus, Lord Westcliff. She is the daughter of upstart super rich American jerks. He is a fancy Earl with a crazy mother who hates Americans and loves being crazy. I like this one because of insight in to St. Vincents character (featured in the next book in the series) and the love potion, and the crazy surprise making out. And that they hate each other and then love each other. It is all very satisfying when it ends up that way.

4. Scandal in Spring - Daisy and Matthew Swift. She is the younger sister of Lillian, he is an employee of Daisy's father. Daisy's father, Mr. Bowman, has decreed that if Daisy does not find a husband in 2 months she has to marry Matthew. Daisy remembers Matthew as being skinny and annoying. Turns out he is awesome and super hot. And he has a mysterious secret past. So obviously they fall in love. And his past is revealed!

5. A Wallflower Christmas - Hannah and Rafe Bowman. She is the poor relation/companion to the woman that Mr. Bowman has decided will make a perfect wife for his son Rafe. Rafe is brother to Daisy and Lillian and (obviously) son of Mr. Bowman. He wants to become more involved in the family business and so is willing to marry some random girl his father picks out UNTIL he meets Hannah and they fall in love. She reads to children and has messy, yet very shiny hair. And other excellent qualities I am sure.

This series is good, but the next one is EVEN BETTER!!! Hooray!!!

No. 60: Love in the Afternoon

Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas

This book was also due to a birthday present. Maybe getting old isn't such a bad thing. I tried out the ibook readeer this time on my iPad. It worked fine, it was kind of fun - for awhile - to do the page flipping rather than just pushing a button to change pages. It is not as easy to read as the kindle, the screen is lit and makes me kind of squinty after awhile. So It won't replace the kindle, but you can never have too many ways to read books!

Anyway, this book was excellent. The hero was tragically damaged by the time he spent as a soldier and suffers from PTSD, although of course they did not have that diagnosis back then. Anyway, it was good, in the series I have been reading which is always nice. And there was a pet hedgehog.

No. 59: Sizzling Sixteen

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

Every year around my birthday Janet Evanovich releases the new Stephanie Plum book. It is like she wants to give me a birthday present. And thanks to a veery thoughtful birthday present from my brother and his fiancée I got to buy it!

And of course I liked it, I always love these books. It was funny and there was some suspense and a little romance...although it might have used a bit more. I need more Ranger in my life. And more Morelli too. Of course.

No. 58: One Enchanted Evening

One Enchanted Evening by Lynn Kurland

Look at this, two books in two days! Maybe I am back! Or maybe I am so sick of painting that I will look for any alternative activity to keep me occupied. And there is a sad lack of good tv on in the summers. Whatever the reason, I am reading again and happy about it.

I have read literally every book by this author, I love her books. They have a lot going for them - time travel, scotsman, action, humor,an interconnected series with recurring characters, relatable FMCs, hot MMCs...throw in a navy SEAL or two and she could reach perfection!

This is the story of Pippa, a fashion designer who is thrown back in time with her deranged sister Cinderella (yes that is her real name, their parents are serious hippies) and she meets Montogmery di Piaget, who has long been one of my favorite of the diPiaget brothers. Although, as I was reading I remembered that I love all of the brothers, and brothers in law. So now I have to find the rest of the books and reread them. I don't know if there is necessarily an order, so I imagine I will read therm in the order of who I like the best.

No. 57: Ten Things I Love About You

Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn

I bought this book a momth or so ago, as soon as I heard that it been released. But I hadn't read it until yesterday! I have not been reading much lately, things have been pretty busy around here. A combination of actual work, remodeling work and a new iPad have been distracting me. But yesterday the girls and I played out in the front yard and it was the perfect day to lay on a blanket and read a book. So I did.

I love Julia Quinn! Her books are always so funny, but with plenty of drama and action and serious parts too. The hero is always a little tortued, but not too much. In this one Sebastian was a sniper during the war and now he can't sleep. So during his usual sleeping hours instead of sleeping he occupies himself by writing. And it is excellent.

A very excellent book all around, my only complaint is that there isn't enough backstory about the dispute between Sebastian and his Uncle. But I guess some people are just jerks.

No. 56: Fragile Eternity

Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr

I think this is the third In the series. I am obviously not that into it anymore sine it took me a couple of weeks to finish. It was fine, but I am over the whole fairy thing now. I am sure I will eventually read the rest of the series but I need to move on.

No. 55: Ink Exchange

Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr

I had to buy this book (shocker!) and tragically I didn't like it half as much as the first free one in the series. It was a little to weird and dark for my tastes. And while I like tattoos as much as the next person, it didn't really connect for me that the FMC was going to "reclaim" her body and her life by getting a tattoo - especially a creepy looking one. Why not save up for her own apartment, or a psychiatrist. Both things she needs a lot more than a tattoo in my opinion.

And I know this isn't a romance novel, but where was the resolution on the whole love interest thing? 

Anyway, I am obviously reading the whole series now. Spending freeze be damned. Although, to be honest I have not been reading much lately. Too busy tearing my house apart, trying to rebuild it and living with no oven or dishwasher. And painting. Oh the painting.

No. 54: Wicked Lovely

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

I actually got this book a few months ago in one of my get every free book on amazon kicks. It was recommended to me by a high school student in one of the classes I subbed for. It is the first in a series.

Turns out it was pretty good. Kind of like another series (that shall remain nameless) that I despised, but only good instead of terrible. Imagine that!

It is about fairies and that kind of nonsense, which I am not typically fond of, but this managed to be not too explicit or graphic or yucky. Perhaps because it is a young adult book. Who knows. I do know that I never read any books like this when I was a young adult. I don't think they had any :)

No. 53: Loving A Lost Lord

 Loving A Lost Lord by Mary Jo Putney

This is perhaps the best FREE book I have ever downloaded. I just got it because the spending freeze is back (boo) and I was getting desperate for something to read (aside from the literally hundreds and hundreds of actual books filling up my house) and it was a regency era romance novel. So I got it. And it was good! I read it straight through in one afternoon, completely ignoring my family and I didn't even make dinner.

It had oh so many good things that I enjoy - a very likable FMC, a slightly mysterious MMC, amnesia, a bad guy, fake deaths, real deaths (or are they fake), mystery, an explosion, secret spiritual/religious goings on, a threatening visit to the bad guys house, and an exciting group of close knit friends that would make up an excellent series if the author was so inclined. I will definitely have to see if she was. After the spending freeze of course.

I don't think I have ever read anything by this author before, but I am glad I got this book. I hope the rest of her books are as good as this one.

*Edited to add - it is a series! Called the Lost Lords! A brand new series with a brand new book released this very week! I am so excited, but I hate the stupid spending freeze. I will have to plead my case. Clearly books are as important as food and electricity. Right???

No. 52: Lawless

 Lawless by Nora Roberts

I have no idea whether I have read this book before or not. But what I do know is that I liked it! A lot! It is the first of two reprinted novels in one book. But I am counting them as two separate books. Because I can.

This is a historical western (something I like!) and it had an excellent MMC who was loveable even though he thought he was bad for her. But she loved him anyways, because he wasn't bad. This book has so many things I liked - gunslingers, kidnapping, a puppy, a girl fight, a vindictive madam (who really deserved more than a butt kicking) and a lovable drunk. I wished it was longer, or a part of a series. I love older Nora Roberts books - it is why I continue to read her books even if they are not doing it for me anymore. I have hope!

No. 51: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

I am trying a new thing - you can see the link to Amazon in this post. I thought it might be helpful to have a link to get more info about the books I review. Who knows if I will keep it up, but I thought it would be worth a shot.

I read this book today on my lunch break at work. It was really quick and surprisingly good, and surprisingly funny! My favorite passages:

When Alice grew very tall at the bottom of the rabbit hole:
'Come, there's no use crying like that!' said Alice to herself, rather sharply; 'I advise you to leave off this minute!' She generally gave herself very good advice, (although she very seldom followed it), and sometimes she scolded herself so severely as to bring tears into her eyes; and once she remembered trying to box her own ears for having cheated herself in a game of croquet she was playing against herself.

When Alice grew very tall inside the White Rabbit's house:

'Oh my poor little feet, I wonder who will put on your shoes and stickings for you now, dears? I'm sure I shan't be able! I shall be a great deal too far off to trouble myself about you: you must manage the best way you can; -- but I must be kind to them, thought Alice, or perhaps they won't walk the way I want to go! Let me see: I'll give them a new pair of boots every Christmas.' And she went on planning to herself how she would manage it. 'They must go by the carrier,' she thought; 'and how funny it'll seem, sending presents to one's own feet! And how odd the directions will look! ALICE'S RIGHT FOOT, ESQ. HEARTHRUG, NEAR THE FENDER, (WITH ALICE'S LOVE.)



This was another FREE book! I love it when a free book turns out to be a good book as well. I guess there is a reason this book is a classic. I think I will read it to the girls when they get a little older. I can see Ella getting a kick out of it - she has a very vivid imagination, just like Alice.

No. 50: Hot Stuff

Hot Stuff by Janet Evanovich and Leanne Banks

I was about 5 seconds away from buying this book for my kindle - because I thought it was new, when I started to remember the plot. I checked my bookshelf (the dedicated Janet Evanovich shelf of course) and sure enough I already had it. Tricky Amazon, making me think a book was new when really it is a re-re-release.

Anyway, this was a good book. It had mystery, hijinks, Pugg, a hot ex-cop (and you know how I feel about cops - both current and ex) a large dog, and a famous drag queen. All good things. I love Janet Evanovich books when they are funny and wacky and slightly mysterious. She is the best at that.

Also, I got to mention to Aaron how useful it was that I never get rid of any books. Because I already had the book I didn't have to buy it! Handy! My ridiculously huge book collection is starting to pay off.

No. 49: Full House

Full House by Janet Evanovich

I was sick of all the lame free books I have been reading lately so I decided to purchase a book (with money) and I wanted it to be something good. Unfortunately there were no new books out by my 100 favorite authors so I had to go with something I had read before. I had not read this book (or any of the series) in years so I thought it seemed like a good choice.

It was pretty good, but I didn't like it near as much as I like the Stephanie Plum series or her other non-series books. I don't feel compelled to read the rest of the series, which is weird for me. Also the book talked about spiders and I read it right before bed and it freaked me out. Raul really is a bad guy - there is no worse torture than putting spiders in someones house. That is evil and disgusting.

I am going to read more Evanovich now, but probably not the rest of the series. I only vaguely recall there is a talking car and a local newspaper in the rest of it. Something to add to the list, but I am not going to spend money on it now.

No. 48: Baby Bonanza

Baby Bonanza by Maureen Child

There is a genre of romance novel with baby in the title - when I was looking through Amazon the other day I found about 20. In all of them 1 of 2 things happens. (1) One of the main characters wants to have a baby or (2) The FMC gets knocked up and she has to figure out how to make the father deal with it.

This book is the second scenario. The FMC has a week long fling with her boss on a cruise ship, but he didn't know he was her boss, and then when he found out she worked for him he broke up with her and fired her. Then she found out she was pregnant with twins and wants to tell him but he is ignoring her and not responding to her emails or messages. So she goes back on the cruise ship (which the MMC owns) to confront him. But then she realizes that she still has feelings for him. And he does for her. And he finds out about the babies. And I don't want to ruin the book for you, but it turns out he isn't the huge womanizing jerk everyone thought he was! He just needed the love of a good woman and twin babies to make him a nice guy.

I got this book because it was FREE but it was also lame and I hate the baby books. I don't know why I ever get them. I never learn my lesson.

No. 47: The Clayborne Brides

The Clayborne Brides by Julie Garwood

I finally found this book! I have been looking around town for it, and I couldn't get it on the Kindle. I read the first book in this series a while ago, and I guess there is one more to go. I may have to bite the bullet and order it from Amazon.

Anyway, this is 3 books in one, but since I don't know if they are available separately or not, I can't decide how to count them...so I guess I will just go ahead and count them all as one.

The first is One Pink Rose, it is the story of Travis Clayborne, who meets Emily when he is supposed to be escorting her to her fiancee's house. But obviously they fall in love and she marries Travis and not the creepy fiancee/fiancee's brother.

The second is One White Rose, about Douglas who meets Isabel when he comes to buy her horse and instead ends up delivering her baby and living with her for 10 weeks while protecting her from a creepy bad guy who is pretending to be her fiancee. But she falls in love with Douglas instead and they live happily every after.

The third is One Red Rose, about Adam. He meets Genevieve when he finds her sleeping in his bed. Then she runs away and he chases her and there is hymn singing in a saloon, a mysterious bedroll and a shootout. An excellent and kind of funny shootout to be specific. I think Garwood needs to write a book for Daniel Ryan, I am interested in his story.

So that leaves one Clayborne brother left - my favorite, Cole. I will have to figure out what his book is called and get it ASAP. I actually had almost all of Julie Garwood's books when I lived in Iowa but Aaron made me sell them before we moved to Alaska. Something about wanting to be able to fit in our car for the drive up. What a weirdo, books are clearly more important than physical comfort :)

No. 46: Hero at Large

Hero at Large by Janet Evanovich

Oh how I love Janet Evanovich! This is one of her old books - her first ever published book I think - and unlike many author's early works, they are all fantastic. This one is no different. It was very funny, I LOVED the MMC and I thought the Aunt was pretty funny. The FMC was very likable, I especially liked how she kept sending the MMC to the emergency room :) But I did get annoyed when she used her past failed relationship as an excuse - when presented with a super hot, funny, nice guy that obviously really likes you, how many women are going to be like, "but I had a bad experience before!" None is the answer you are looking for. But that didn't bother me too much, you have to get your conflict from somewhere right?

No. 45: Conspiracy in Kiev

Conspiracy in Kiev by Noel Hynd

I got this book for FREE. It took me a few days to get through it though. I don't know if it was long, or just difficult to get into or what. Maybe a combination, because I did have a hard time getting into the story. I could tell - right at the beginning - what the author was setting us up for. It was obvious (to me at least) that something was going to happen to the fiancee. I could also tell that the bad guy Fedrov was not necessarily what he seemed. I also found the FMC to be a little irritating - especially the beginning of part 2. I don't know why I don't have more sympathy, obviously she was very very sad and depressed, but I thought her behavior was not at all in keeping with the character in the rest of the book, so it was annoying.

I actually didn't really get into the whole first part of the book. I thought it should have ended there and part 2 should have been a sequel. Part 2 was much better and more interesting. Although, I felt like we were getting into too much drama and tragedy just for the sake of drama and tragedy and not really to further the plot.

I have another book by this author that I will read at some point - I don't know if it is a totally different book or if it is a series though. I hit the free book jackpot recently so I have a lot to read before I get to it.

No. 44: Until Forever

Until Forever by Johanna Lindsey

This was another bookshelf find. Although this time I was tricked into thinking that it was a book I had not read before. You would think that I would remember time travel, a viking, a cursed sword and William the Bastard. But I didn't remember it until I was a couple of chapters in. But since my memory is so tragically bad, even though I eventually recalled the book, I didn't remember the plot or the ending so it wasn't too bad.

I liked this book, I thought the way the author approached time travel was interesting, and the way she showed how changes in the past impacted the future was unique for a romance novel. Most of the time they just mess around in the past and don't care about the future. I actually prefer it that way, but I thought that this was an interesting alternative.

I also liked the ending. And I like the name Thornton 1 million times more than Thorn. But that is not saying much. I have come to discover how much the name of the MMC impacts my feelings about him. I never thought it really mattered before. Kind of weird, but interesting to note.

No. 43: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

I needed a book to read at work today, and this was FREE from Amazon and I had never read it before so I decided to give it a try. It was fairly short and very very easy to read. It was similar to the movie but there were a lot more differences than I would have expected. I have seen the movie countless times so whenever the book differed (or I guess technically whenever the movie differed from the book) it threw me off. Some of the classic parts of the movie were not included in the book - Glinda didn't show up until the end (and her dress was white not pink) the ruby slippers were not ruby but silver, she didn't wake up at home in bed and say "you were there, and you were there!" Not a single tree threw a single apple. There were many more encounters with different types of people/animals/creatures in the book. And most shockingly perhaps, there were no representatives of the lollipop guild to be found!!! I was also surprised to see how little description there was in the book, it was much less vivid than I would have expected. Whomever transformed this book into the movie is a genius. I did save one favorite line:

"it is worth a lot of bother to be able to think properly"

No. 42: The Secret Diary of Miss Miranda Cheever

The Secret Diary of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn

I grabbed this book of my bookshelf when I was organizing my shelves (which I find very satisfying) because I thought that it was one of my favorites. But it is not really. I liked it, but I didn't love it as much as I thought. The heroine was funny and interesting - although she got a little weird at the end. But the hero was too "damaged by a tragic past and now is afraid of love" for my tastes. Don't get me wrong, I love a damaged hero as much as the next person. Maybe more. But this was too much.

Edited to add: I looked back at my post from the first time I read this book and I said almost the exact same thing. At least I am consistent!

No 41: The Cinderella Deal

The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Cruise

I don't know what it is with this author. Sometimes I love her books and sometimes I am kind of ambivalent. For this one I am ambivalent leaning towards "eh, it was okay, I kind of liked it." I don't really know how I feel. The FMC was quirky - and at first it was annoying, but she kind of grew on me by the end. Same with the MMC. Annoying at first, then increasingly okay until the end when I actually liked him. The secondary characters were either overly quirky (ex: Chickie) or unmemorable (ex: the best friend) or annoying (the Dad and step-family) I was interested in her paintings - the Lizzie Borden one sounded kind of awesome.

All in all it was fine. With some good parts and some irritating parts. But not bad for reading during lunch :)

No. 40: Fantasy in Death

Fantasy in Death by JD Robb

This is the 30th or thereabouts book in the In Death series and I think the series is feeling its age. I couldn't really get into this book. I like a good serial killer in this series, not a future technology mystery. There was hardly any Rorke to speak of - which is a real tragedy. And not enough Peabody, also a tragedy because she is funny and I don't really care for Eve that much. After all these years she is getting on my nerves :)

Obviously I will continue to read this series as long as new books are printed, but I think Nora needs to up her game to make the series more interesting. Although I honestly don't know what she is going to do for a murder, I think this one was pushing it. I will be interested to see what she comes up with next.

Also, I did buy this book too. Oops again.

No. 39: 13 Little Blue Envelopes

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

This is by the same author as the Scarlett Series (which I loved) but I didn't love this one quite as much. My primary concern was that the main character was 17 and yet her parents let her go off to Europe, unescorted, with no idea of where she would be staying or what she would be doing. Have these parents never seen Taken? Are they insane? Maybe I am crazy, but I would never let my girls go to Europe alone before they graduate high school. Never.

But, that aside, I still didn't love it as much as other books by this author. I liked it, it was funny and interesting and it made me want to go to Europe. But I didn't love it. I thought the last envelope was a total let down, I thought the Aunt was a flake, I thought the love interest was weird, and I cannot believe the FMC's parents let her run off like that!!!

Obviously I cannot get over it. I am going to read more books by this author. Even if I have to buy them. You may notice I did not mention the book spending freeze. I accidentally purchased this book. Oops.

No. 38: Shadow Music

Shadow Music by Julie Garwood

When I came home from work this afternoon everyone was taking a nap! I had to take advantage of a quiet house by curling up with a good book. It was very nice to read in peace. It would have been better if I could have read in bed, but there were people in it sleeping. Jerks.

Despite the sleeping jerks, I thought this was a good book. It was Julie Garwood's return to the Scottish highlands that I love so much. Although this was similar to a lot of her earlier books, it wasn't quite as good. I am not sure why though, it had a lot of the characteristics I enjoy - a likable FMC, a hunky Scottish laird (although his name is Colm which I am not sure how to pronounce so it was a little irritating) there were bad guys and treasure and many kidnapping attempts. And revenge, obviously. One thing I found a touch aggravating was that apparently the FMC is SO beautiful that two creepy older barons went to extremely great lengths (I am talking murder and plotting and lying to the king lengths) to have her. I cannot visualize a woman that gorgeous. But maybe she exists. Like a half-English Helen of Troy. Who knows.

Anyway, the book was good. I love Julie Garwood. She needs to write more books faster. Thank you.

No. 37: It's In His Kiss

It's In His Kiss by Julia Quinn

Oh how I love the Bridgerton series!!! Whenever I need a guaranteed good book to read (because Amazon has failed me with its lousy free books selection and the stupid spending freeze is still on) I can turn to this series and know that it will be great! I needed a book because last night I went and took a bath in my parent's giant bathtub. My own bathtub is stupid and tiny - and there is almost nothing I love more than reading a book in the tub. As an added bonus, there is no potential for interruption by children because my children were home in bed!!!

I basically read the entire book in the bath and it was lovely. I can't save favorite lines in a real book as easily as I can on my sweet sweet Kindle, but I did manage to mark one:

"The two of you together are a menace" Penelope remarked.

"My aim in life," Lady Danbury announced, "is to be a menace to as great a number of people as possible, so I shall take that as the highest of compliments."

Lady Danbury is an excellent character and she is a recurring one to varying degrees throughout the whole series. Although this book is her best!

I have read this book many times and loved it every time. And written about it here. Julia Quinn is one of my favorite authors, she strikes just the right balance between witty and funny and serious and emotional. And the characters are all likable, especially the MMCs who are all fabulously good looking and romantic despite themselves :)

No. 36: Sushi for One?

Sushi for One? by Camy Tang

Yet another FREE book (the spending freeze lives on) and yet another "inspirational" or religious book. I have to admit I am not feeling the religious piece of these recent books. It seems very forced, like the author has to remind themselves "Oh wait! This is a religious romance - better throw something church-y in." And I have not found any of it inspirational. It is 95% complaining about church and 5% talking about the positive effects religion has had on the characters life. Very aggravating.

I found this book to be particularly irritating. Significantly with respect to the religion part, but I also did not like the FMC AT ALL. In fact, I wasn't overly fond of any of the characters, although the MMC Aiden wasn't overly terrible. The FMC though, she was extremely clumsy and accident prone for someone who is considered an athlete, she is whiny, cranky, constantly hurt or sick or about to throw up. She needed non-stop attention and care and then claimed to be independent and strong.

And she was kind of dumb. Yep, I said it. Not bright. I think she should have gotten therapy after her rape (8 years ago) I think she should have stood up to her crazy-evil-controlling Grandmother by telling her the truth and demanding that she stop putting her in uncomfortable situations with men. I think she should have stopped using her religion as a both a crutch and a shield. If she liked Aiden she should have tried to share her faith with him instead of deciding that she could never be with him because he wasn't a Christian. And then later when he decided to investigate his own faith he suddenly became acceptable.

So, clearly I found this book irritating :) I do not think I will read the rest of the series. And I think I am going to take a break from the religious themed romance/chick lit novels for awhile. At least until I can find one that does not make me crazily annoyed. I am sure there have to be some good ones out there. I know I have read them in the past. I will have to do some research.

No. 35: Lord Carew's Bride

Lord Carew's Bride by Mary Balogh

This is the second reprinted book. It follows Dark Angel by a couple of years and features Samantha, the cousin of the FMC in Dark Angel. I have to say I didn't like this one as much. In a lot of the more traditional regencies one of the main characters has some kind of disability. In this one, it is the MMC - Hartley Wade who has a permanent disability following a horse riding fall as a child. It is not the disability itself that bothers me - it can be done very well (think Syndham Butler!) but in this book the MMC is not described as physically attractive to the FMC at all. Although I believe she admires his eyes. Otherwise she finds him kind of plain and ordinary looking. I am not ashamed to admit that I want my MMCs to be handsome. It makes the story more believable - even if they are only handsome to the FMC. She never once admits to finding him attractive, aside from his nice eyes. The other part I didn't care for was the fight. I think he should have just shot him in a duel and gotten it over with. But it wasn't that big of a deal. It is worth a read, but I preferred Dark Angel and I much prefer her newer books.

No. 34: Dark Angel

Dark Angel by Mary Balogh

This is another older book reprinted into a two books in one series. I will confess that I bought this book too. Bad Holly. But I love Mary Balogh too. She is hard to resist.

Although, I was a little nervous because her older, more traditional regencies are not my favorite. I mean sometimes I kind of hate them. So I was nervous, but as it turned out, both of these were good!

In this book, the FMC is a pawn in a feud between two men - her fiancee of 5 years and a recently returned from exile rake who hates her fiancee. There is scandal (a couple of scandals actually) and fighting and a hasty marriage (I won't say to whom) and more fighting. I didn't really like Samantha, the FMC's cousin and I thought that part of the plot was annoying. But I suppose it did add more drama. If that is the sort of thing you like :)

No. 33: A Man to Die For

A Man to Die For by Suzanne Brockmann

This is the other reprinted book in - Nowhere to Run. I didn't like this one quite as much as the first, but for no real reason. I actually really liked this one too (despite the even more jarring outdated clothing references) and I loved how they first meet - when he sticks her into a trunk. But my favorite part was when I realized that Felipe Salazar is Jim/Diego's partner from the first book! A series!!!

This book had more action than the first, more sneaking around and murders and shooting and a scary killer whale incident (which I think I would rather be shot than get in a tank with a killer whale, but that is just me. Death by shooting is preferable to death by being literally SCARED TO DEATH!!!)

Anyway, this one was good too, I am glad I broke my spending freeze to get it. I love Suzanne Brockmann.

No. 32: Not Without Risk

Not Without Risk by Suzanne Brockmann

After much deliberation I have decided on a rule regarding multiple books republished into a single book. And here it is: if the books can be purchased separately (because they are independent novels) I will count them separately. If they are only available in a collection (for example a collection of novellas) I will count them as one book. So there you go!

This is one of two books republished in a single book entitled - Not Without Risk. Because Suzanne Brockmann is probably my favorite author, I decided to break my book spending ban and I bought it. In book form no less! I have all of her books and I like to see them lined up on my book shelf. In series order, because I am a little OCD that way :)

I liked this book. Her reissued books can be really hit or miss, but this was a winner. The FMC discovers that her boyfriend is running a drug smuggling operation. She immediately runs to the police as soon as she discovers this (which is brave and a little bit crazy) and they plan to put an officer undercover in her house, posing as her brother. Seems like a good plan. But then, the officer they are going to put undercover is none other than the man that broke her heard x number of years ago. So it is DRAMATIC! And they still love each other - but she is super pissed because he totally broke her heart. But he did it because of TRAGEDY and a misguided sense of unworthiness and guilt. And there is kidnapping and boats and shooting. All very exciting. The only downside were the references to clothing from decades past. Which is really only kind of funny and not actually a downside.

No. 31: Operation Sheba: Super Agent Series

Operation Sheba: Super Agent Series by Misty Evans

Another FREE book this one about the CIA and including the SEALs and FBI - a promising start I think! However, I didn't love the book as much as I wanted to. I think it was too long. Which is a complaint I have had lately and a surprising one because usually I complain that books are too short. But I thought this book should have wrapped things up a little sooner. The author kept throwing in unnecessary twists and scenes that made things kind of start to drag.

But I did like that the FMC was a field agent in the CIA and knew how to kick butt and shoot bad guys and blow things up. I liked the MMC - Conrad, and I liked Mike. I didn't like the resolution to that little love triangle (I think the note is a cop out!) but I thought the characters themselves were interesting. I also liked the death-faking part. Although I didn't love the FMC's reaction to it. I didn't hate it mind you, but I didn't love it.

I guess that is a good description for my feelings about this book. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. I wanted to love it, but I just couldn't get there. But it is definitely worth a read if you like spy books. Which I do.

No. 30: Daring Chloe

Daring Chloe by Laura Jensen Walker

This was another FREE book from Amazon. I am back on a free book kick because I used up the last of my gift cards (and money) buying the entire Percy Jackson series over 3 days. I have to say I was kind of disappointed by this book. The plot had promise, but the characters were irritating and the writing seemed very inconsistent. Apparently this is some kind of Christan chick-lit, but I didn't get much from the Christan point of view besides a few references to church (mostly avoiding church and complaining about it) a couple of bible verses and praying.

I had two main problems with the book. First was the characters. The author spent very little time describing the main characters (ex: Chloe, Tess and Becca) so that I could not get a clear picture of them in my mind. The primary description of Chloe, and the only one I can remember from the whole book is that Chloe has brown hair and glasses like Tina Fey. Becca likes birkenstocks and Tess is not as old as she seems. I like a more vivid picture of the primary characters than that. There was more description of some of the other characters - the women in the book club and Chloe's family - but not much. I kept getting the book club ladies mixed up in my mind and so I couldn't get that into their stories.

My second problem was the extreme variances in description. While there was a lot to be desired as far as character descriptions go, there were several paragraphs describing Chloe's apartment, several chapters describing Paris and the other destinations the book club's adventures took them and approximately 1 million references (both short and long) to the books the club read. Now, I won't lie, the Paris parts book made me want to see Paris desperately. But they didn't make me like the book any better. I though the book was too long and to broken up.

I am sure that I will not read the remainder of this series unless it is free too. And even then, I don't know if I have it in me.

No. 25 - 29: Percy Jackson and The Olympians Series

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
The Sea of Monsters
The Titan's Curse
The Battle of the Labyrinth
The Last Olympian

I read this series in about three days. It was good and the books seem kind of short and they were very quick reads. Because I read them so fast (and it was a couple of weeks ago) they all run together so I am going to do one review for the whole series.

Despite the many many similarities to Harry Potter, I thought the series was unique enough to be an interesting series and I didn't spend the whole time thinking "this is just like Harry Potter!" I only thought that when I was describing the series to someone else.

The main character is Percy Jackson, a kind of troubled kid who has been kicked out of every school he has been to and has a hard time learning because of ADHD and dyslexia. But, as it turns out, he is not an ordinary troubled kid, he is in fact the son of Poseidon! He discovers this when he makes his way to Camp Half Blood - a summer camp for other children of gods. Apparently the gods are very busy having half-mortal children all the time. The camp teaches them to fight monsters and try to stay alive.

The series follows Percy and his friends though several adventures and years at camp culminating in a final battle in Manhattan when the Titans (imprisoned by Zeus and the gods for thousands of years) have escaped and are seeking their revenge. I won't spoil it for you though :)

No. 24: Scarlett Fever

Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson

This is the second in the Scarlett series - this one I actually had to buy so you know I must like it :) I don't have a lot to say about this book except for that it was really funny and I am looking forward to the next in the series.

This book had a lot of good lines - a few of my favorites:

"He was spraying the delicate orchid on the coffee table with water, pumping the bottle hard, as if the orchid had said something offensive about his mom."

"Your brother has an audition tomorrow for Crime and Punishment! He is reading for the part of a young pervert! He'll enjoy that!"

"'I am making a new start,' she said to the computer. 'If I try to look at the video I need you to explode.' The computer made no promises."

"I'm not always going to be like 'this,' Scarlett said. 'I've been useful to you, right?"

"I'm probably going to stick with the plant." "Nature's toothbrush' Scarlett said. 'Or something like that."

No. 23: Suite Scarlett

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

This was a FREE book I got several weeks ago and then never got to because I was reading Little Women FOREVER. But I finished Little Women this morning and then read two more books tonight. That is just how I am - wildly inconsistent.

This book was great!!! It is a young adult book, about a girl named Scarlett who lives with her family in a falling apart hotel in Manhattan. The family owns the hotel and even though that seems awesome it is not and they are poor and have to do a lot of work. Which does not sound funny, but this book was actually very funny. It is a series - there are two out now and hopefully more to come!

No. 22: Little Women

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

I have been reading this book for almost the whole month. I liked it, but it was long and not an easy read by any stretch of the imagination. But thanks to a fairly self sufficient student government class I am subbing for, I was able to finish.

I don't think I have ever read this book before, although I seemed to know what happened. Maybe because I saw the movie a million years ago. I have been reading it for so long that I can't really remember what I wanted to post about. I thought it a bit heavy on the moralizing and made me feel kind of crappy about my own failings. But the plot was interesting and I enjoyed it. A very sad part came during a class I was subbing for today and I almost cried, but didn't want to embarrass myself in front of high schoolers so I held back :)

My favorite lines:

"dear me, let us be elegant or die."

"Don't laugh, but your nose is such a comfort to me."

No. 21: Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

One of the coolest things about kindle is that they have tons of free books available - mostly classics. I thought I would take advantage of this and read one of my all time favorite books. Pride and Prejudice is so good - there are so many excellent lines!!! I used (for the first time) the highlighter feature of the Kindle - you can highlight passages and then it keeps track of them and later you can access a list of all the highlighted sections.

For your reading pleasure - here are some of my favorite quotes:

"I give you leave to like him. You have liked many a stupider person."

"I could easily forgive HIS pride, if he had not mortified MINE."

"it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life."

"And now nothing remains but for me to assure you in the most animated language of the violence of my affection."

"Without thinking highly of either men or matrimony, marriage had always been her object"

"Stupid men are the only ones worth knowing after all."

"In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."

All excellent quotes - takes me back to high school when I had a notebook where I collected my favorite quotes from books and movies. I think I am going to employ the highlighter feature more often so I can put good and especially bad passages in the blog.

No. 20: Dear John

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

I read this book because I thought I might want to see the movie, but it looks sad and so I wanted to see just how sad it would be before I committed to going to the movie. And no matter how good looking Channing Tatum is in the movie premires (and it is a lot) I don't think I will be seeing this movie because it is in fact too sad.

And I really should have known because Nicholas Sparks seems to be unable to write a book without tragedy, heartache and loss. I don't like sad movies - and I don't really like sad books. I guess I can lay the blame at Channing Tatum's feet for this one :)

This story is about John - an army sergeant, who meets Savannah - a college student, while home on leave. They fall in love but he has to go right back to Germany to finish his tour. Then, right as he is about to be discharged, September 11th happens and he re-ups. And it goes on from there, I don't want to spoil it anymore than I already have.

No. 18: Shopaholic Ties the Knot

Shopaholic Ties the Knot by Sophie Kinsella

After my last semi-ranting post about this series I noticed that I had not posted about this book yet. This is the third in the series, out of five.

In this book, Luke proposes to Becky (although I cannot figure out why he would) and she freaks out and has two weddings planned, and cannot tell anyone the truth about either and cannot read contracts that she signs and spends ridiculous amounts of money and fights with Luke. You know, the usual. But it all works out just fine, don't worry!

No. 17: Shopaholic and Sister

Shopaholic and Sister by Sophie Kinsella

My earlier enthusiasm for the Kinsella Quest is waning. I am sick of Becky Bloomwood and her non-stop lying and craziness. It was amusing at first, but she is completely unable to tell the truth until she is forced to - I think that is less an amusing personality quirk and more a personality disorder. But whatever.

In this book, Becky discovers that she has a long lost sister. Turns out that the sister is the complete opposite of Becky in every way. They obviously do not get along well and their clashing makes up the majority of the story. Although there is quite a bit about Becky's constant lies to her husband and her overall bumbling nature - but of course it all turns out for the best. Even though she doesn't deserve it.

Thankfully there is only one more book in this series and then my quest is complete. Shopaholic and Baby - I can only imagine the ridiculous amounts of unnecesary baby crap she will purchase, then hide purchasing and then later confess and beg for forgiveness. Or maybe not - who knows.

No. 17: Over the Edge

Over the Edge by Suzanne Brockmann

I am reading these books completely out of order, but after reading Breaking Point, where Max and Gina finally get their happy ending I just had to read this one. This is the book where they met. Although it is not a good meeting, the plane Gina is on is hijacked by tourists and it does not go well for her there. But the main storyline in this book is Stan and Teri. And I like it, even though it is not my favorite romance. In this book I almost (almost) like the secondary story lines better because I know they turn out in the end. Max and Gina - happily ever after, Sam and Alyssa - happily ever after. Even though both couples have a difficult time in this book, maybe I just like to see people suffer?

No. 16: The Elusive Bride

The Elusive Bride by Stephanie Laurens

This is the second in the Black Cobra Quartet. I enjoyed it, but not as much as the first. I thought it stretched out a little long, too much action - more specifically, too much of the same action. It got very repetitive. But I thought the heroine was interesting and I enjoyed her diary entries, I thought it was a good way to get in some internal dialogue. I am still excited to read the rest of the series though - I wish they would be published sooner.

No. 15: Breaking Point

Breaking Point by Suzanne Brockmann

After the last book I read, I was in a Suzanne Brockmann kind of mood, and I wanted more Grady Morant/Dave Jones and Molly so I found this book. And then, once I started I remembered how much I love this book! Max and Gina!!! Finally they get their happy ending, although it was such a long time coming. And Jules being awesome and a hero! I love Jules. I am going to go ahead and read more from this series. Perhaps Sam and Alyssa, or Jules and Robin? At least I have every book Brockmann has written so I have lots of choices :)

No. 14: Out of Control

Out of Control by Suzanne Brockmann

I felt like I needed to read a guaranteed awesome book. One I could count on to be wonderful. So I turned to one of my ALL TIME favorite books EVER - Out of Control. This excellent book by an excellent author is the story of Kenny "Wildcard" Karmody and Suzannah Von Hopf. And I love it. It has almost everything that I love - Navy SEALS, not one, not two, but THREE excellent romances with happy endings, spies, secret pasts, appropriate and awesome swearing, trials and tribulations, wacky hijinks, returning characters, a lovable MMC, a relate-able and non annoying FMC, daring rescues - the whole shebang. If she could have somehow thrown in time travel and Scotland it would literally be the most perfect book in the history of the world. But, it is pretty close anyway.

I will never forget the first time I read this book - way back in 2002 when it first came out. I got it in the mail but it came right as I was headed out for an afternoon of classes (this was when I was a good student so I actually went to my classes) and so I brought it along in case I had some time to kill. Lucky me one of my classes was canceled so I had an hour break between sociology and geology. I decided to take my new book to the library to read it between classes. Well, I found a seat and started reading, and I kept reading, and laughing out loud and embarrassing myself, and I never did make it to geology. I actually read the entire book sitting in the library. And then, I went home and read it again. And I think I have read it probably 10 or more times since then. Love this book!!!

No. 13: All-Americal Girl

All-American Girl by Meg Cabot

I got this book at the thrift store a few months ago and then promptly forgot it existed. Until I found it on my bookshelf this afternoon. My bookshelf is full of books I didn't know I had!

The FMC is Samantha, she is a sophomore and an artist and a semi-rebel. One day, while skipping art class, she prevents the assassination of the President of the United States. She also realizes that the cute boy in her art class is the President's son. Very exciting!

This is technically a young adult book - the author also wrote the Princess Diaries series - so it was a very quick read (about an hour and a half) even though it is about 400 pages long. It was very funny and cute and I am sure I will read more books by this author.

No. 12: Leaving Whiskey Bend

Leaving Whiskey Bend by Dorothy Garlock

I found this book when I was cleaning out my book shelves. I don't know where it came from, or when I got it, but I am always happy to find a new book to read.

It is a historical western, set in Colorado. The story starts when Hallie (the FMC) and her friend Pearl set out to rescue their friend Mary from her crazy and abusive step brother Chester. The women make their escape and find their way to the ranch of Eli Morgan.

There are really like 4 or 5 plots going on in one book - I think it may have been a little too much for one story, and not a particularly long one at that. There is the mystery of who killed Eli's brother, the Fawn being obsessed with Eli issue, the Seth McCarty hating Eli problem, the Chester after Hallie, Pearl and Mary thing, the romance between Hallie and Eli, the potential romance between Hank and Pearl, the fact that Eli's older brother thinks he is Abraham Lincoln, Eli's mother's injury, Eli and his Mother's extreme dislike of each other, the fact that Abe thinks Mary is really his wife Mary, the fact that Mary is in a coma (or something like a coma) - seriously, a lot going on for one book. At one point in the book, there are so many dramatic climaxes that every character is involved in one and so they cannot really help each other.

But all in all it wasn't bad - just not great. I am sure I have read other books by this author, but it must have been a long time ago - before I started this blog. I don't think I am ready to add Garlock to my list of must read authors, but I would certainly read more of her books if I happened to find them on my bookshelf :)

No. 11: Band of Brothers

Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose

Aaron got the blue ray of this movie for Christmas and we watched it all over a couple of days because it was so good. I thought the book might have even more awesomeness, more back story and more details. And in some respects it did. But in many ways it was less than the movie. The author wasn't apparantly into a lot of descriptions. It was almost like a guy telling you about a research project he did. Not like an author telling a story about amazing people and events. So, in this very very rare case, I actually prefer the movie (or miniseries I guess) to the book.

I did like that the last chapter provided a lot more information about what happened to Easy Company after the war. But they did tell some of that in the movie too. So, my advice is, watch the movie.

No. 10: Shopaholic Takes Manhattan

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella

The quest continues. I actually liked this book more than the first in the series, I especially liked the ending and how she actually attempted to solve her financial problems rather than just lucking out and not changing anything. Although how much she actually changed is anyone's guess. I am still not in love with Luke - first of all his name is Luke which makes me think about Luke Perry, and second of all, he is a work-a-holic who doesn't make time for her. But I did like him more in this book than the last. There are three more books in this series so presumably by the end I will be really into him :)

No. 9: Crazy for You

Crazy for You by Jennifer Cruise

This book was not at all what I was expecting. When I read the back cover it sounded funny and full of wacky hijinks. But in reality it was kind of strange and creepy and a little bit disturbing. And, I couldn't really get a picture of the characters in my head - except for the coach, and all I got from him was big. But the FMC, everyone kept using the word "round" to describe her, but she wasn't fat so that was confusing. And I didn't get why she liked the dog so much, and her reactions were not normal, they were kind of irrational and crazy. AND the friend, Darla, that whole thing made me crazy.

It is really hit and miss with this author for me, some I have loved but this one did not do it for me at all.

No. 8: Confessions of a Shopaholic

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

I was disappointed to find I didn't like this book as much as the others by Kinsella that I have read lately. It was almost too much, too embarassing for the main character - Becky, too realistic about debt and shopping anyways (not that I know anything about that!) And I didn't love the MMC as much as I did in the other books. But there are at least 3 more books in this series, so I imagine I will read them too, and hopefully I will like them more.

I don't know if I can bear to watch the movie of this book, I don't like movies where embarrassing things happen - it makes me very uncomfortable and I can't watch. Weird? Maybe.

No. 7: For the Roses

For the Roses by Julie Garwood

I got this book at a used bookstore yesterday. I couldn't resist it, this might just be my favorite Julie Garwood book of all time - especially in conjunction with the rest of the series. The Claybourne family is so awesome! I heard from a friend that she named her son after one of the characters in this book - after I made her read it in college! And she picked a good one too - Cole, which is one of my favorite names!

This book is the first in the series, about Mary Rose - the only female Claybourne and the youngest in the family. She meets Harrison MacDonald when he comes to town looking for a woman who was kidnapped as a baby. As an aside, didn't I just read another book like this? Anyway, they obviously fall in love, and it is wonderful. I am going to search my bookshelves to see if I have the rest of the series, and if not, back to the bookstore!!!

No 6: The Undomestic Goddess

The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

I loved this book! I loved that the FMC was an attorney who had a messy desk and decided she would rather be happy than be a lawyer. I loved the MMC and his mother. I thought the Geigers were funny and probably what a lot of people would be like if they became rich.

My favorite parts were when she was trying to cook and failing miserably. Also the laundry and ironing. Basically I liked the whole thing. My Sophie Kinsella quest is going splendidly. I got another one to read tonight - Confessions of a Shopaholic, which I have already read but remember liking very much. Yeah!!!

No. 5: The Templar Legacy

The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry

This is one of the first books I ever got on my kindle - because it was FREE - but I have not gotten around to reading it until now. It came recommended to me by both my Dad and Sister-in-law so I thought I should give it a chance.

I have to say that I am not really that into the whole Templar/crazy religious thing anymore. It is always just a little too much for me. And I thought this book was trying a little too hard to be mysterious and tricky. But, that being said, it was pretty good once I got into it. I liked the MMC, Cotton Malone - even though I think the name Cotton is stupid. I also heard that there is another book featuring this character where he looks into the death of his father (who died when his submarine sank) that may involve Nazis. Sounds intriguing, so I might have to check that out.

No. 4: A Matter of Class

A Matter of Class by Mary Balogh

I love Mary Balogh and I love her new books (her old ones, not so much) This was a good one, a twist on the usual forced into marriage plot. The FMC, from a wealthy titled family, was "ruined" by scandal when she attempted to run off with a coachman. The MMC, from a wealthy but untitled family is in trouble because of his wasteral lifestyle and extravagant ways. The FMC's father, who made his money in coal mining (and we all know how much regcency era nobels hated coal miners) and desperately wanted an entre into society, he thinks he might have a chance now that the neighboring Earl's daughter is disgraced. So he forces his son to propose or he will cut him off.

My only problem with this book is that it is ridicululously short - I finished it in an hour and a half. And it was $9.99 which makes it more expensive than going to the movies for a shorter period of time of entertainment. I would like to make a rule that all books must be at least 350 pages, if not more. I do love a long good book :)

No. 3: Remember Me?

Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella

The Great Sophie Kinsella Quest continues! I ordered this book at 10:30 last night and had finished it by 1:00 - it was a really fast read. I like it, maybe not as much as the others I had read, but it was a very interesting story. The FMC - Alexis - wakes up in a hospital bed after a car accident with amnesia, she cannot remember the last three years of her life. Which means she does not remember the cosmetic dentistry, her marriage, her promotion or her affair. I really liked Jon, and actually Eric too, not because I liked him but because he was a very vivid character - I could just picture his face when he asked her to pick up her mess! Anyway, I am moving forward with the quest, luckily there are lots more books to read!

No. 3: The Crossroads Cafe

The Crossroads Cafe by Deborah Smith

Another FREE book - I am really on a roll with these free books, I love Amazon and I love my Kindle! And I really liked this book - if you have a Kindle, you should get it. Even if it is not free. The FMC - Catheryn - is a super famous and beautiful movie star - the most beautiful woman in the world. But, on her way home from the launch of her new cosmetics line she is in a car accident and is badly burned on both her face and body. AND the accident and her catching on fire was all videotaped by a malicious paparazzi who did nothing to help her. So the story goes through her recovery and her journey to the small town in Appalachia where her grandmother lived.

The MMC is Thomas, an architect who is living in the small town following the death of his wife and son on 9/11. It is terribly sad and he is pretty much on the verge of killing himself from grief and guilt.

I don't want to give too much away, but it is a good book - if a teeny tiny bit drama filled. Everyone had something tragic in their past, the death of a child or loved one. But not over the line of excessive - just very close. I actually cried 3 or 4 different times while reading it. Which is a good recommendation, I was emotionally invested enough to care what happened to the characters. It doesn't happen as often as you would think.

No. 2: Murder Takes the Cake

Murder Takes the Cake by Gayle Trent

This book was FREE!!! I do love a free book. And unlike many of the free books I have read, it wasn't completely terrible. In fact it was just fine. If you have not read any of the Joanna Fluke series (ie: Blueberry Muffin Murder) you would probably really like it. Unfortunately for me I have read 9 books in that series and got baking/murder/mystery-ed out. I think the genre is "cozy mysteries" where the main characters engage in some kind of domestic activities like knitting or baking. Here, the FMC is a cake baker and decorator. This book is very similar to that series, down to the sister working in real estate and the troubled relationship with her mother. The author's styles are very different though, I much prefer the FMC in this book, not as annoying! And surprisingly she was older than the typical FMC, in her 40's I believe, which is unusual but interesting. So definitely worth a read.