St. Charles City - County Library District is ready to Conquer the MO Book Challenge!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
The Kitchen Daughter/Jael McHenry/272 pages
The Scorch Trials/ james Dashner/ 361 pages
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Black Rose/Nora Roberts/370 pgs
This is the second title of the "In the Garden" trilogy and is Roz 's story. Roz is the owner of "In the Garden" and is the Harper who lives in Harper House. She has been a widow and divorced and is not looking for love. But that changes when she hires Dr. Mitchell Carnegie to try to find out who the Harper Bride ghost is. While they are trying to decide where their relationship is going, the ghost is starting to make things difficult for them.
Divergent / Veronica Roth / 487 pages
"Ordinay acts of bravery, ... the courage that drives one person to stand up for another."
"Valuing knowledge above all else results in lust for power and that leads men into dark and empty places."
Delirium / Lauren Oliver / 307 pages
This book was a bit slow in the middle, but hard-to-put-down near the end. Is there a sequel on the horizon?
The Dervish House / Ian McDonald / 359 pages
RUSA 2011
Life's a Beach / Claire Cook / 203 pages
Great beach read, features a shark, an eccentric, but lovable family, and several laughs.
Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead/Sara Gran/273 pgs.
Al Capone Shines My Shoes / Gennifer Choldenko / 272 pages
"Have you ever done the wrong thing for the right reasons?"
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
A Thousand Rooms of Dream and Fear/ Atiq Rahimi/ 155 pages
If Wishes Were Horses / Robert Barclay / 386 pages
Monday, June 27, 2011
Blue Dahlia/Nora Roberts/367 pgs
Nowhere Near Respectable/Mary Jo Putney/390pgs.
Smokin' Seventeen/Janet Evanovich/308 pgs
I love the Stephanie Plum series and this one did not disappoint. This time Stephanie has someone who is trying to kill her and is leaving her presents - dead bodies. Meanwhile she is trying to bring in a senior citizen who thinks he is a vampire, she is trying to locate a missing bear and she needs to make a decision on which guy she really wants - Ranger or Joe (Go Joe!!!) As always it is a very quick read and very funny - I can't believe some of the things she gets herself into. I can't wait for the next one - due in November - "Explosive Eighteen".
Saturday, June 25, 2011
The Perilous Road / William O. Steele / 191 pages
"Hate was like a big knife, cutting folks apart."
"War is the worse thing there is. It makes both side do things they shouldn't."
Newbery Award Honor Book
Jane Adams Children's Book Award
Stupid History: Tales of Stupidity, Strangeness, and... / Leland Gregory / 368 pages
Winter Danger / William O. Steele / 131 pages
Lewis Carroll Shelf Award Winner
Tracking the Man-Beasts/ Joe Nickell/ 229 pages
Who is Joe Nickell? He is the ultimate spoilsport. He is, I believe, the founder of the Skeptical Society and makes his living debunking anything and everything. He wouldn't believe in aliens if he were abducted by them. He would just say he was in a trance-induced state.
This book is ok if you want some background history on werewolves or zombies, but other than that, check stuff out yourself. As Mulder & Scully would say, "The truth is out there."
A Heart for Home/ Lauraine Snelling/ 356 pages
Faith/Jennifer Haigh/319 pages
Friday, June 24, 2011
Before I Fall / Lauren Oliver / 279 pages
"Guys are like pets. Feed 'em,pet 'em,and put them to bed."
"If you cross a line and nothing happens, the line loses meaning."
"There's no continuity in people at all. Something ruptures when you hit 12,or 13, or whatever the age is when you're no longer a kid, but a "young adult," and after that you're a totally different person. Maybe even a less happy person. Maybe even a worse one"
Thursday, June 23, 2011
The Jane Austen Handbook / Margaret Sullivan / 224 Pages
Heaven is for Real/Todd Burpo/163 pgs.
A Tale Dark and Grimm / Adam Gidwitz / 256 pages
The Weird Sisters / Eleanor Brown / 318 Pages
The Help/Kathryn Stockett/451p.
Happy Ever After/Nora Roberts/355 pgs
This is the final title in the "Bride's Quartet". This time it is Parker Brown's turn to fall in love. She is the wedding planner of Vows and has no time for romance. But that changes when she meets Malcolm Kavanaugh, a mechanic who was once a stuntman in Hollywood. He loves finding out how things work and has decided he wants to know what makes Parker tick. It was an enjoyable end to the series and I will kind of miss not knowing what happens to them all.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
The Winds of Khalakova / Bradley P. Beaulieu / 492 pages
Plague, a Gone novel / Michael Grant / 492 pages
YA
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty/ G. Neri/ 95 pages
Perfect Chemistry/ Simone Elkeles/ 357 pages
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks/ Rebecca Skloot/ 369 pp
I listened to the audio version and was captivated by the narrator. Although it is a nonfiction book, it reads like fiction. Anyone who enjoys family drama, science or history will find parts of this story to love.
Lessons Learned/Nora Roberts/381 pgs
This is the second title in the "Table for Two" series. It is the story of Carlo Franconi, a chef and Juliet Trent, the publicist who is organizing his US book tour. They are attached to each other but Juliet is a woman who does not believe in love or romance and just wants to own her own firm one day - her life is all scheduled out and a man is not part of it right now. Carlo is a womanizer who is shocked by his feelings for Juliet. The end is predictable but the story was still enjoyable.
Good Things/Mia King/319 pages
The Iron Duke/ Meljean Brook / 378p
This book, set in a world where Europe is a vast forest of zombies and most of the richest British citizens fled England to the safety of the United States, was a great mix of steampunk, mystery, romance and horror. I am definitely checking out the author's other titles and hoping that she will write more about the fascinating characters in future books.
This was an honorable mention title for the Fantasy category of the RUSA Reading List.
Monday, June 20, 2011
If You Ask Me/Betty White/258 pgs
This was a great book. It is full of her memories plus some of her perspectives of many different things - especially on her love of animals. It is a very quick read - there are also plenty of pictures - some from her personal collection. She tells about the crush she has on Robert Redford and meeting Koko the gorilla plus about her feeling on her current popularity. I highly recommend this book.
Gone with a handsomer man/Michael Lee West/342 pgs
After coming home and finding her fiance playing naked badminton with 2 other women int he backyard, Teeny Templeton is arrested for assault - she threw peaches at them. Her fiance then puts out a restraining order against her and when he ends up dead a few days later, she is the main suspect. She ends up with her first love as her attorney and together they have to figure out who is setting her up. It was a very predictable story line - I had pretty much figured out who did it from the start - but it was still an enjoyable and quick read .
Buried Prey (Large Print)/John Sandford/529 pgs
I have always enjoyed the Prey series by John Sandford and this one did not disappoint. The bodies of 2 missing girls are found when a home is being demolished and it reopens the first homicide case that Lucas Davenport had worked on. The police had thought they had their man but Lucas had his doubts about that but couldn't say much - he was just a patrolman who was on loan to Homicide. He vows that this time he will find the real killer. The story was a fast read - you want to keep going to find out what is going to happen next - and contains all the usual characters.
Summer Desserts/Nora Roberts/383 pgs
This title is an audio book that is part of the "Table for Two". It is the story of Summer Lyndon, who is a well known chef - especially for her desserts. She has vowed to never fall in love - due to her many times married parents, but this is before she meets her new boss, Blake Cocharan, the CEO of Cocharan Hotels. He has hired Summer to redo his restaurant in the Philadelphia hotel. It was an enjoyable read.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Love You More/Lisa Gardner/356 pgs.
Across the Universe/Beth Revis/398 pgs.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Abby Carnelia's One and Only Magic Power / David Pogue / 277 pages
"Is there something waiting to be discovered inside every kid on earth?"
Friday, June 17, 2011
Storm Runners / Roland Smith / 143 pages
"You can't separate your fate from those you're with."
"Paranoia is just another word for heightened awareness."
Disappearing Act / Sid Fleischman / 133 pages
Where She Went / Gayle Forman / 264 pages
Told from Adam's point of view, Where She Went is written in "the spare, powerful prose that defined If I Stay. Adam has become a rock star but is alienated from his band because the press has centered on him as writer, guitarist, and lead singer. His relationship with Bryn is lacking as he still feels Mia's loss. Adam has begun to smoking and taking anti-anxiety drugs to deal with his new situation. His life is forever changed after attending Mia's concert at Carnegie Hall. This book "explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance. I enjoyed this book much more than it predecessor.
YA
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Captain Nobody / Dean Pitchford / 195 pgs.
This Mark Twain Nominee is a really imaginative book. I didn't think I would like it because it was a "guy" book, but it was quite interesting. Newt is a 10 year old boy who's brother is in a coma from a football injury. With the help of his two politically correct friends (a Black boy and a hispanic girl), he dresses like his alter-ego, Captain Nobody. He performs four acts of heroism, each more improbable than the last, but the story is so engaging that the improbability of it is easy to overlook.
More disturbing is the fact that his parents really have no time for their children as they are so wrapped up in their careers. I hope it is not really that bad in America. His name; Captain Nobody really describes who Newt felt like. Luckily, the book has a really happy ending.
I think kids will like the book.
Buried Prey / John Sandford / 390 pages
Manning Up: How the Rise of Women Has Turned Men into Boys/Kay S. Hymowitz/187 pages
Hymonwitz spends a lot of time talking about girls and women in a book about boys and men, but she does a good job of explaining why she thinks the "child-man" is becoming the norm.
An interesting, if sometimes dry, read. Some funny passages as well. Be careful or you might find yourself thinking "oh, that's what's wrong with that kid...."
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
A Boy and His Bot / Daniel W. Wilson / 180 pages
Under Heaven, a Novel / Guy Gavriel Kay / 573 pages
RUSA 2011
Don't Die, My Love / Lurlene McDaniel 250 p.
The Social Animal/David Brooks/424 pgs
Something Borrowed/Emily Giffin/322 pgs
Emily, who has always been the "Good Girl", has a little too much to drink on the evening before her 30th birthday. She ends up in bed with her best friend, Rachel's fiance. She is determined to make sure it doesn't happen again, but finds out that life doesn't always happen the way you want it to. She find herself in love with Dex and is not sure how to handle it. The story is enjoyable and I will now have to see the movie of the same title.
Moonwalking with Einstein/Joshua Foer/271 pgs
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
10th Anniversary/James Patterson/395 pgs
The Women's Murder Club is one of my favorites and this one does not disappoint. Lindsay and Joe are finally getting married but they are barely back from the honeymoon when work interferes. Lindsay is put in charge of the investigation of a missing baby and she is also looking into another case that in which Yuki maybe trying the wrong person. Some of the previous titles have been a little more graphic than some may like but this one is not. It was a very quick read - I am almost sorry I finished so quickly and now have to wait for the next one - especially after the surprise ending - well kind of surprise you pretty much know what is going to happen in the last couple of chapters.
Love you more / Lisa Gardner / 356 p.
If you can suspend belief and just go with the plot that Tessa is able to break out of jail, due to careful preplanning; then you will enjoy the second half of the book which is full of chases, shooting, explosions, etc.
Before I Go to Sleep / S.J. Watson / 360 Pages
Every morning when Christine wakes up, she can't remember who she is, where she is, or sometimes even how old she is. She has a rare type of memory loss. She can remember what she has done years ago, but nothing from the last few days, weeks, months, and years. She can make new memories of that day, but once she goes to sleep she forgets everything she has learned. A doctor is writing a paper and wants to try to help her. He tells her to keep a journal of the day's events. Each morning, he calls her and tells her where it is so she can read it. Slowly, she begins to remember some things on her own, and the writing seems to be helping. But then some things aren't adding up. Her memories don't match what her husband says has been going on, and soon she gets suspicious. But how can someone who can't even remember who they are when they get out of bed be sure of anything they remember?
I really liked the story line of this book. It was very engrossing and kept my attention. There is a LOT of very foul language, though, which is very disappointing to me. If the story had been less interesting I probably would have stopped reading it because of that.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Devil's Food Cake Murder/Joanne Fluke/322 pages
A visitor from the past comes back to town to rekindle old friendships and help out a newlywed couple. But is he who he says he is? Grandma Knudson isn't so sure. When the visitor is found murdered, by Hannah (who else?), there are more questions than answers.
The murder doesn't occur until about halfway through the book. I was beginning to wonder if it was ever going to happen, but overall, it is a pretty decent mystery. Best of all, Fluke includes lots of recipes, as usual. My family (and coworkers) will be my guinea pigs!
The Dead Path / Stephen M. Irwin / 374 pages
This debut novel is spine-tingling with excellent suspense, descriptive passages and challenging vocabulary. unfortunately, some bad language is included. Well worth the read!!
"Ghosts are...spirits of people who are killed, or take their own lives, before their time."
RUSA 2011
Heaven Is For Real/Todd Burpo/163 pgs
Everywhere That Mary Went/Lisa Scottoline/359 pgs
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Chasing Fire/Nora Roberts/472 pgs.
10th Anniversary / James Patterson & Maxine Paetro / 395 pages
Cold Wind / C. J. Box / 388 pages
Great read! Surprise ending!
Three Willows / Ann Brashares / 318 pages
YA
A Matter of Class / Mary Balogh / 191 pages
Romance
RUSA 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Touching Stars/ Emilie Richards/ 521 p
Less of a romance and more of a family drama, this book is about forgiveness, acceptance and second chances. Great for readers who enjoy gentle romance and women's fiction.
Silent Mercy/ Linda Fairstein/ 387 p
This is the first book I've read in this series. I enjoyed the historical info. The main characters were like Sherlock Holmes in the way they connected the dots to figure out who and why. Sometimes I felt like the author had an agenda. The characters who held opposing views were protrayed as malicious and evil. There was no gray areas explored which would have added depth. But for the most part I enjoyed this book and will read the earlier books in the series.
Friday, June 10, 2011
A Bone to Pick / Charlaine Harris / 262 Pages
I found this book to be very easy to read, but also kind of slow in the action area. But I'm used to reading books with a bit more excitement in them. It seemed to end quickly, like there should have been more before the ending to help you along to solve the case. Although the ending wasn't a surprise, I didn't think that what happened was going to happen the way it did. But on the whole, it was a good mystery and enjoyable.
Savor the Moment/Nora Roberts/339 pgs
My New American Life / Francine Prose / 306 pages
Lula is an Albanian immigrant who came to the states on a tourist visa to "visit her aunt in Detroit" She settles in New Jersey, works in a bar, and fears deportation until she lands a job as nanny to 17 year old, Zeke Stanley. Mr. Stanley is good friends with an attorney who gets Lula a work card. Zeke's Mom abandoned the family on Christmas Eve. She is mentally ill and roaming. Her Christmas Eve return bodes ill for Lula and her Albanian boyfriend, Alvo. This book is a bit racy, has bad language and questionable morals, but references to modern and Albanian lifestyles and cultures make it worth the read.
The Nearest Exit / Olen Steinhauer / 404 pages
RUSA 2011
Night Star / Alyson Noel / 302 pages
YA
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Case Histories / Kate Atkinson / 310 pages
The Maze Runner/ James Dashner/ 375 pg.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Dirty Secret/ Jessie Sholl/ 318 pgs.
Stolen Innocence/ Elissa Wall/ 428 pg.
This is the true story of Elissa Wall, a member of the FLDS (Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints). Her story could have been one of the books that The Chosen One was based on. She doesn't hold back as she goes into the details of life in FLDS. Women are expected to "Keep Sweet" which means to never express how they really feel about being basically second class citizens who never are to question male authority. Unfortunately, Elissa had a mind of her own. she was forced to marry a cousin when she was 14 and she definitely did not "grow to love him as her priest head". The FLDS also had strange additions to biology like if a wife was removed from her husband and given to another man, her children's genetic makeup magically changed to match that of the "new" father. hmm. Very interesting. Anyway, it is a satisfying book as it ends in the trial of Warren Jeffs, the "prophet" of the FLDS. Remember the news in Texas in 2008 when the FBI broke up that cult? This is the same group. Quite interesting.
I don't know what I would do had I been born into that group. I am so thankful I wasn't.
What the Night Knows/Dean Koontz/442 pgs
Bed of Roses/Nora Roberts/358 pgs
This title is the second book in the Brides Quartet - the story of Emma and Jack.
Emma is the florist of Vows, the wedding planning company and Jack is an architect and family friend. They discover that they have feeling for each other after sharing a kiss. Emma discovers that she loves Jack but Jack is afraid of the commitment. Of course everything works out and now 2 of the 4 friends are engaged. Book three is the story of Laurel and Del. Can't wait to finish it. All are very predictable but are good, fast reads.
Water for Elephants/Sara Gruen/335 pgs
The Pioneer Woman/Ree Drummond/341 pgs
The title of this book said it all - "The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels - a love story". Ree has spent many years in California and is needing a change. She moves home to Oklahoma while planning a move to Chicago - but instead she ends up meeting her own cowboy - her "Marlboro Man". The story is about their dating and the first year of their marriage and was a very good read.
The Maze Runner/James Dashner/375 pgs
Between a Rock and a Hot Place/Tracey Jackson/287 pgs
Miracles Happen: the Brooke Ellison story/Brooke and Jean Ellison/261 pgs
Odd Hours/Dean Koontz/352 pgs
Until Tuesday/Luis Carlos Montalvan/252 pgs
The full title of this book is "Until Tuesday: a wounded warrior and the golden retriever who saved him". I did enjoy the story though it wasn't what I expected it to be. It is does tell the story about how Luis and Tuesday get together but the majority of the book does take place before that time. It tells about his time in the service and about what happens after he returns home. It also tells about Tuesday and the training that the service dogs go through.
Night Road/Kristin Hannah/385 pages
Kristin Hannah's books are always emotional and tear jerking. They are a good summer read.
Homeless Bird/ Gloria Whelan/ 186 pages
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Pardonable Lies / Jacqueline Winspear / 340 pages
Dark Flame / Alyson Noel / 320 pages
The Last Little Blue Envelope / Maureen Johnson / 282 pages
"That's how you win at life. You have to imagine your way through. Never say something can't be done. There's always a solution, even if it's weird."
"Returning was a weird thing. You can never visit the same place twice. Each time it's a different story. By the very act of coming back, you wipe out what came before."
Eona / Alison Goodman / 637 pages
Great adventure story. Even though it is somewhat lengthy, it is a captivating read.
"Too many doubts grow in the cracks of silence and separation."
"Pragmatism is like water against the rock of principle. If not channeled, it will eventually wear its own path through the spirit."
Solomon's Oak / Jo-Ann Mapson / 374 pages
"Books are always worth the splurge."
"If you want to know the meaning of something, you need more than reference books. You need imagination and you have to be willing to experiment and take risks."
RUSA 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer / John Grisham / 263 Pages
I found this book to be entertaining enough to keep my attention, and I think it's great how aspects of the law and how trials are conducted are explained so that children can understand it.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Escape/Carolyn Jessop/426 pgs.
Crunch Time/Diane Mott Davidson/446 pages
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Eon / Alison Goodman / 531 pages
Twelve year old Eon has been training for years in the study of dragon magic, based on East Asian astrology. He has disadvantages. He is crippled and he is a sixteen year old girl. Her master rescued her from the salt mines and groomed her in her masquerade to become a dragon eye apprentice. Ido has altered the trials to favor his candidate. The Mirror Dragon, gone for 500 years, appears and claims Eona as her dragon eye. This book has, of course, powerful and incredibly believable dragons, suspense, and excellent thought-provoking themes
Best Books YA 2010
Friday, June 3, 2011
The House / Kim Dallmeier / 290 pages
real live boyfriends* / E. Lockhart / 224p.
Real Live Boyfriends!
Definition:
A real live boyfriend does not contribute to your angst.
You do not wonder if he will call.
You do not wonder whether he will kiss you.
And he does not look at his phone while you are talking, to see if anyone has texted him.
Of course calls. He's your boyfriend!
And of course he listens. He's your real live boyfriend!
The opening, quoted above, starts with Ruby's standard list making. Ruby is finally in love and excited to have a Real Live Boyfriend! But, of course, the happy does not last and Ruby's other standard, self-questioning neurotic behavior, comes out when her boyfriend, Noel, visits New York to stay with his brother and stops acting like a real live boyfriend.
Just like the first three in this series, Ruby is self-involved and self-loathing all at the same time but continues to be amazingly witty and likeable throughout. I love this character. I love this book series. And I, especially, love this author. Give to those who want a lighter version of a Sarah Dessen book. Or to fans of Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle, and John Green.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Making Waves / Lorna Seilstad / 280 pages
Great Christian romance!