Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Hunting Eve/Iris Johansen/385 pgs.

This is the 2nd installment in the latest "Eve Duncan" trilogy. The lst book was about Eve being kidnapped by Jim Doane, and gave background information on him, and his dead son, Kevin. The book ended with Eve having escaped from Doane. This 2nd book picks up where the 1st left off--Doane is trying to recapture Eve so that she can finish the reconstruction of Kevin's skull. Of course, there are additional story lines throughout the book: Eve's lover, Joe, an ex-Seal, is going all out to find her, as is her adopted daughter, Jane. There is also Margaret, who can communicate with animals, and Kendra Michaels, who has astute powers of observation. New to the mix is Lee Zander, a hired killer, and the person Doane wants to kill--Zander killed Doane's son, Kevin. So, there is action, suspense, romance--a good summer read. The last in the trilogy, Silencing Eve, is due to come out Oct. 1st.

Blood Money / James Grippando / 342 pages

Attorney Jack Swyteck ends up with a case not of his choosing.  Plot elements in this mystery are yanked right from the headlines, readers get a dose of how twisted the media can be and Jack and his fiancé Andie struggle with their at-odds careers and lives.  The accused murderess who is on trial for drowning her 3 year old daughter is not at all likeable.  In the end, the true murderer is found, a seamier side of civilization is exposed, and principles rule the day.  Grippando is a master storyteller.

No Way to Kill a Lady / Nancy Martin / 310 pages

A nice little cozy mystery in the Blackbird Sisters series.  The Bucks County blue blood but destitute sisters are happy to discover that they have inherited the estate of a rich great Aunt alas when they arrive, the estate is in shambles, most of Great-Aunt Madeleine's prized possessions have disappeared, and the manner of her death is called into question when they find a body in the elevator.  Throw in Nora's boyfriend Michael who is the son of a Mafia don, Libby's obsession with sensuality, and the impending birth of Emma's baby and you've got a fun book that will leave you craving more of the Blackbird sister escapades.

Mrs. Queen Takes the Train / William Kuhn / 374 pages

Kuhn, biographer and historian, tries his hand at fiction and gives us a quaint little story of what the life of the elderly Queen Elizabeth might be like both in relation to her family, the government, and the populace of England.  Imagine a life of always doing everything you're told and never really understanding life outside palace walls.  In this story, the Queen is in a bit of a funk and decides what might make her happy is to see the decommissioned yacht Britannia where she had so many happy experiences so she manages to escape her handlers and take the train to Scotland.  All in all a little peek inside the life and thoughts of the royal family. 

Twice Upon a Marigold / Jean Ferris / 297 pages

In the 2nd book of Ferris' Marigold books, the happily ever after couple of King Christian and Queen Marigold are learning that marriage is not always happily ever after.  Queen Olympia last seen falling over the castle wall into the river, resurfaces in all her evil, selfish glory.  King Swithbert must recognize his downfalls as a ruler.  The troll Ed is as funny as ever with his plethora of mixed up metaphors.  This is a great little book with some good messages liberally dosed with humor, likeable characters and engaging story elements.  Recommend grades 5 & up.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Round Robin / Jennifer Chiaverini 134 p.

The Elm Creek quilters are featured in this sequel to the Quilter's Apprentice.  Sarah McClure's struggling this summer.  She is almost estranged from her mother for her many criticisms; her husband is giving her concerns; just as the quilters are readying to teach over the summer.  Each makes a piece to add to the Round Robin quilt and tells her personal story.  Makes one wish one was part of a quilter's guild.

Patient / Michael Palmer 152 p.

Dr. Jessie Copeland performs cutting edge experimental brain surgery using a robot, ARTIE.  ARTIE still has some sticky points when Jessie's boss, a big self-promoter, uses ARTIE on an Olympic star with good results.  And shortly thereafter, comes another case-- a new patient with a particularly dicey surgical needs with very high demands for treatment; accompanied by his beautiful wife and several adult children.  Alex Bishop, CIA field operative, is finally getting close to master terrorist, Claude Malloche.  The ultra secret tip:  Malloche has a brain tumor; and he is shopping for the best results.  The one top surgeon is murdered in his office.  The other is at the hospital where Alex takes a custodial job. The patient is a fast-paced thriller that keeps the surprises coming.

Handyman / Linda Nichols 104 p.

Dr. Jason Golding is on top with a burgeoning practice and many self-help books in print when he is suddenly brought to a dead stop by health issues just as he is about to implement a new office design.  Jake Cooper is doing the remodel when in walks Maggie Ivey for the 21-Day Overhaul, sit and starts to cry with gut-wrenching sobs.  Jake didn't know what to do so he just waited for her to finish.  And when she did she went to explain all.  And Jake couldn't bring himself to stop her.  He didn't want her to cry again.  And he wanted to see her again and didn't know how to explain that he wasn't the good doctor.  A romance for sure.

Lion's Game / Nelson Demille 185 p.

An airliner comes into Kennedy without the pilot answering calls; he is dead as is all the passengers.  John Corey, as a part of the anti-Terrorist Task Force, investigates.  The "Lion", an Arab terrorist, is executing men all across the country and still stop at nothing in his vendetta against American bombings in Libya in this action-packed suspense story.

Dealing with Dragons / Patricia C. Wrede 212 p. 1st in series ; fairy tale

Princess Cimorene takes the non-traditional princess path.  She wants to do things.  She is bored so she takes Latin lessons, wizard lessons, and when talk turns to marriage, she runs away to work for the dragon Kazul.   There she uses her many skills and uncovers a plot by the wizards to steal the dragon's kingdom.

The Cuckoo's Calling/Robert Galbraith/455 pgs



I had to check this one out after hearing that it was really written by JK Rowling.  I had tried to read her other adult title "The Casual Vacancy" and sad to say I could barely make it through the first couple of chapters.  This one is much better - though not Harry Potter good.  It is the story of a private detective, Cormoran Strike, who is barely holding on. Then he is hired by the brother of a famous model, who is supposed to have committed suicide, and he wants him to prove that she was murdered.  Strike ends up mixing with the rich and famous - nothing like his current life.  It does seem to leave it open to maybe become a series.  If so, I may give it another try.

Artemis Fowl / Eoin Colfer 277 p. First in series ; Fairy tale

Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit is kidnapped by  12-yr old criminal, Artemis Fowl.  Artemis has a master plan of intricate detail that promises to provide him with tons of fairy gold.  He has every base covered.  Success is all but there even with several sidesteps when the fairies muster all their, magic, technology and a particularly resourceful troll.  Opens with a Sherlock Holmes-like deductive thinking piece.  Fun.

Frank Lloyd Wright / Ada Louise Huxtable 251 p.

Frank Lloyd Wright is a world figure in architect.  Ada Louise Huxtable looks behind the wonderful architecture of Falling Water, and others, to look at what went on in his personal life.   And he had a very tumultuous and troubled life over his long career.  Interesting to meet the person behind the blueprints.

Summer of Fear / Lois Duncan 217 p. Vintage bk

The summer promises to be fun.  Rachel Bryant's cousin, Julia, is coming to stay.  Julia enchants everyone she meets.  Rachel gradually finds the summer going wrong.  She finds Julia disturbing.  The thriller culminates with a scene out of a action film with Rachel racing to save her mother's life.

How I Got This Way / Patrick F. McManus 222 p.

Humorist Patrick McManus presents a collection of his life experiences in the out-of-doors told to maximize the hilarity of the situation.

Summons / John Grisham 341 p.

Judge Atlee summons his two sons home to Clanton Mississippi where he has been a judge for over 40 years.  Ray, professor of law, arrives at the appointed time, too late to have a conversation with his father because the Judge has just passed away.  Forrest never shows up.  Forrest has a long history of abusing drugs and alcohol.  While Ray waits for Forrest, he discovers a big secret, a secret that will destroy the Judge's standing in the community.  Ray searches for someone who might also know the secret.

Monday, July 29, 2013

Sweet Salt Air/Barbara Delinsky/404 pages

Charlotte and Nicole were once best friends, spending summers together on acoastal island off of Maine. But many years, and many secrets, have kept the women apart.  This books tells how the two friends deal with the secrets as they're revealed and whether they can remain close.

Lexicon/Max Barry/390 pgs.

This is the first book I have read by this author, and it's a doozy! It's hard to say much without giving something away, so this is going to be concise. Candidates are enrolled in a school outside of Arlington, VA, and are taught the art of persuasion--how to use words as weapons, and how to manipulate people's minds, in order to achieve their goals. These "persuaders" are known as "poets," and as such, are given literary names. The book centers around runaway Emily Ruff, and an "innocent" man, Wil Parke. That's all I'm going to say! Just read the book--it will give you a different perspective on social media, advertising, etc. Thanks, Rat Queen, for bringing this book to my attention!

12th of Never/James Patterson/397 pages

Lindsay has just had her baby in a very dramatic setting and is back to work to support her family now that Joe's position has been eliminated due to budget cuts. Claire has been put on desk duty and half-pay since a high profile body disappeared on her watch. Cindy is single-mindedly trying to be the best reporter ever in order to keep her job in an ever shrinking profession. Yuki is in the midst of a double homicide trial that seems to be going well until it starts falling apart. Throw in a couple of other cases and a possible life-threatening illness of Lindsay's baby, and it's just another day at the office for the Women's Murder Club.

Leave it to James Patterson to write a book that has almost 400 pages but can be read in about six hours. There's a lot going on, and he has set up the next novel. Good thing we don't have to wait very long for it.

Beautiful Day/Elin Hilderbrand/404 pages

Jenna is planning her wedding with the help of her mother. That's not too unusual, but her mother passed away seven years before from ovarian cancer. While her mother was dying, she wrote out in a notebook what she envisioned for her youngest daughter's wedding day. She doesn't want Jenna to follow it blindly; she wanted to leave her ideas so as to be part of the day. But Jenna wants to do everything exactly as it's set forth in the notebook, and Margot, her older sister, is determined to make it happen. If only their father, still hopelessly in love with his dead wife but remarried, their siblings, the wedding party, the groom's family and Margot herself wouldn't have so many issues and drama.

Another book about weddings. It must be the season. There are some similar storylines between this and The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan, but not enough to discourage anyone from reading both. My only real complaint is the cover art is so off from how the wedding setting, the dress and mostly the flowers are described. Otherwise, this is a nice summer read.

The Engagments/J. Courtney Sullivan/383 pages

In 1947, Frances Gerety was a young, ambitious advertising copywriter. She was working late one night on the DeBeers account trying to come up with a "signature line", a line that would appear on every print ad. Before falling asleep, she wrote "A Diamond is Forever." And thus, one of the most well-known advertising lines ever was born. Her job was to convince post-World War II American that a diamond engagement ring was an absolute necessary. Consider that a job well done!

But, she's just the beginning of the story. We follow four other couples and their families set in different times along with Frances while Sullivan explores what is love and what is marriage. Sullivan does a great job of blending the real-life story with the characters in her novel. A very satisfying book.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Come Home/Lisa Scottoline/384 pages

Scottoline ratchets up the suspense with the riveting story of a mother who sacrifices her future for a child from her past. -- Goodreads

Not! This story read like a "bad" script from a "bad" soap opera. A suburban mom that is divorced, getting ready to marry the man she loves has to solve the mystery of her murdered ex-husband. The ex-stepdaughter shows up drunk and distraught in the middle of the night claiming that her dad has been murdered. The new man in her life is reluctant to accept the ex-stepdaughters, and the main character is not ready to give up on her ex-family.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

O Pioneers! / Willa Cather / 206 pages

Another book from the late 1800's!  This time set in Nebraska with the Swedish pioneers and some Bohemians. The story is about Alexandra who runs the farm after her father's death with the help of her two brothers.  It is through her foresight that the farm is quite successful.  Her brothers are able to marry and have their own farms.  Alexandra, however, seems destined for spinsterhood.  The attitudes in the book toward women shouldn't amaze me, but they still did.  That her brothers couldn't see how she could ever marry because the farm (that she basically earned and enlarged) should come to them rather than she share it with anyone else. Aughhh!
This book also has love, tragedy, and is really good.

Ramona / Helen Hunt Jackson / 424 pages

This best seller from 1884 was quite good.  Reading this gives you a realization of the beliefs and attitudes of people at the time out in California where major transitions were happening.
Mexico had lost the west coast and the people living with land grants from Spain and Mexico were losing their lands.  Far more, however, this book deals with the plight of the west coast Indians who also lost their lands to Americans who came west and could file on any land they wanted to homestead. All they needed to do was file at the land office and pay the fee and the land was theirs.  The Indians didn't understand how land that had always been theirs could be taken away.  They were driven out, losing not only their homes, but their herds, horses, crops, and all livelihood.  The attitude toward the Indians was as toward a irritation - stamp it out. 
   Another main force in the book is the legacy of the Franciscan priests who originally started the missions and worked with the Indians.  Ramona is quite religious in the book.  Against this background is set a romance between Ramona who is half Indian and Alessandro, an Indian.  Yikes!  One would rather see one's sister dead rather than marry an Indian.  It is a sad story of great love and yet, I had to keep reading even though I know it is doomed.  Really excellent book.

George Brown, Class Clown / Nancy Krulik / 122 pages

I liked the book because it was fun and I wanted to see what would happen to George next.  I didn't like that there wasn't really an ending or a resolution as to how he magically came to super burping.  It was a cheat ending and doesn't seem to be continued in the next book.  It was full of stereotype characters, but there were a lot of pictures for those who need to read a 100 page book, but really need it to be 50 pages.
Okay, but there has to be better books out there.

Dead and Gone/Charlaine Harris/pages 389 pages

The vamps have been out for years, and now the weres and shifters have decided to follow the lead of the undead and reveal their existence to the ordinary world. Sookie Stackhouse already knows about them, of course - her brother turns into a panther at the full moon, she's friend to the local were pack, and Sam, her boss at Merlotte's bar, is a shapeshifter.

The great revelation goes well at first - then the horribly mutilated body of a were-panther is found in the parking lot of Merlotte's, and Sookie agrees to use her telepathic talent to track down the murderer. But there is a far greater danger than this killer threatening Bon Temps: a race of unhuman beings, older, more powerful, and far more secretive than the vampires or the werewolves, is preparing for war. And Sookie is an all-too-human pawn in their ages-old battle


Dead and Gone is the 9th book in the Sookie Stackhouse series.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Piper Reed, Navy Brat / Kimberly Holt / 146 pages / First Book in a Series

My nephew is in the Navy and we've just returned from Pensacola, so this book held special appeal for me.  Piper Reed is only a Navy brat in that her family moves every two years.  This time they leave San Diego for Pensacola.  Her younger sister Sam, a prodigy, calls it Pepsi Cola, and her older sister has a typically teenage attitude.  Piper hate leaving her Gypsy Club.  Unlike her older sister, however, she loves being part of a Navy family, hopes to one day be a Blue Angel pilot, and is spunky, fearless, and ready for new adventure and friendships.

Artemis Fowl / Eoin Colfer / 396 pages / First Book in a Series/ Irist Challenge

Young (twelve year old) Artemis Fowl is a millionaire and a genius.  His father is missing and his mother sometimes loses connection with reality.  Artemis decided to kidnap a fairy and demand a ransom of fairy gold.  Although his plot is well-planned and flawlessly implemented with the help of Butler and Julia, Captian Holly Short of the LEPrecon unit and her cohorts are more than he anticipates.  This first book in the Artemis Fowl series is a  rousing adventure story studded with Mr. Colfer's subtle humor, wit, creativity, and unique approach to Irish culture and legend.

Thornspell / Helen Lowe / 309 pages / Fairy Tale Retelling Challenge

The Fairy Tale Challenge led me to this book.  The cover art is fantastic and the story itself begs to be made into a blockbuster movie with special effects.  "Prince Sigismund has grown up hearing fantastical stories about enchantments and faie spells, basilisks and dragons, knights errant and heroic quests.  He'd love for them to be true.  He's been sheltered in a country castle for most of his life and longs for adventure..."  "His favorite dream is of the day when his father [the king] would come riding back from the endless rebellions and outright wars in the Southern provinces.  Then...they would go adventuring together."  Balisan comes to tutor the young prince, but he is much more than he seems.  Sigismund acquires Quickthorn, a sword reportedly made by Parsifal and is a twin to Excalibur.  This retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story had "good faie and evil, a faithless friend and other who are true, an enchanted prince and a magic sword, and a dragon that took human shape and walked amonst men...and...they live happily ever after."

"Kisses are important, you know, magical and powerful."

Water Street / Patricia Relly Giff / 164 pages / Irish/Scottish Challenge

Bird Mallon lives in 1875 Brooklyn on Water Street where she can see the great towers of the Brooklyn Bridge being built.  She wants to be healer like her mom, Nory, but fears she doesn't have what it takes.  Her brother, Hughie, was a worker on the bridge until illness forced his resignation.  Now he fights with a street gang for money.  The Mallons long to buy a farm and move Hughie away from the gang's influence.  Bird and her family welcome Thomas Neary when he and his Pop move into the upstairs apartment.  Pop spends most nights in a bar and Thomas spends most evenings with the Mallons.  Bird and Tom become best friends and much more.  Great background information on the Irish Potato Famine, and the plight of the Irish immigrants and their determination to save and succeed, make Water Street a welcome addition to an elementary school collection.

"For most of my life I've been hungry but I thought if I could read I wouldn't mind it so much."
10 "Our Fathers" + 10 "Hail Marys" = cure for shingles

Chocolate Kisses / Judith Arnold / 187 pages / Irish/Scottish Challenge

Ned Wyatt was "the scion of the richest family in town, the brother of the most powerful b----  in town..."  He was singlehandedly responsible for ruining Claudia Mulcahey's day, career, and perhaps life.  She had been hired to cater Glennwood, Connecticut's First Annual Valentine's Day Cotillion, masterminded by Melanie Wyatt Steele.  When Ned rides his bike out of the gates of Wyatt Hall, Claudia has to take evasive action and all her cakes, etc. for the party are ruined.  Since Ned is at least partially at fault, he insists upon helping recreate the food.  Don't read this one if you haven't had your chocolate fix!

The Grave Gourmet / Alexander Campion / 268 pages / First Book in a Series

Capucine Culinary Series #1
Capucine Le Tellier requested the Brigade Criminelle when she graduated from the police academy.  Unfortunately, she was dumped into the fiscal squad simply because her father was an investment banker.  Commissaire Principal Tallon wants to keep her there despite her frequent requests for transfer.  When the President-Director General of Renault is found dead in the refrigerator of Jean-Basile LaBrousse, head chef of a fancy restuarant - Diapason, Capucine is detailed to work the investigation.  Perhaps being married to Alexandre, restaurant critic for The Monde, and the fact that he knows more about the restaurant business than anyone, qualifies her for this temporary assignment.  Capucine uncovers a plot of industrial, international espionage relating to fuel efficiency in internal combustion engines.  Set in France, The Grave Gourmet is spices with French, sprinkled with police policies and procedures, and is an epicurean's delight.

Penguin Problems / Lauren Myracle / 117 pages / First Book in a Series

The Life of Ty #1
Ty is a precocious seven year old with two older sisters and a new baby sister, teensy Baby Maggie.  Unfortunately, Baby Maggie takes up a great deal of Mom's time and leaves her tired and worn out.  Ty feels left out and deals with his situation in creative, humorous ways.  He is a good boy and really had the baby penguin's best interest at heart when he kidnapped him from the acquarium on a class field trip.  This is a delightful look at life seen through the eyes and (mis)adventures of seven year old Ty, stressing family valules, the boundless energy and creative imagination of the young, and a determination to do the right thing in a big way.

Classmate Murders / Bob Moats / 372 pages / First Book in a Series

Jim Richards is an umemployed, deer-drinking, sixty year old man living with his parents.  He has spent the last twenty-two months working as a security guard at a Cadillac dealership, but lost this job.  When he checks his e-mail, he sees he has a message from Dee Wittenfield.  The message says "James, please help!"  He knew a girl in elementary school by that name.  In fact, he had a serious crush on her.  He has read every Alex Cross and every Eve Dallas book so he feels qualified to investigate with he best - and only - friend, Biker buck.  Someone has started murdering the cheerleaders from high school.  Is it the P.E. teacher the girls had caused to lose his job because of a rumor they started?  This was a fun read, but I admit I trouble with the premise of sixty year old behaving like teenagers.

Deeply Odd / Dean Koontz / 335 pages

"Maybe you're not a believer, but if you're honest, You'll have to agree that something is wrong with this place, senseless violence, corrupting envy, greed, blind hatred, and willful ignorance seem to be proof that earth has gone haywire, but so is the absurdity that we see everywhere.  The people of a broken world, off the rails and wobbling trackless on their journeys to oblivion or meaning, are frequently foolish, sometimes in entertaining ways.  When amusing, their foolishness - and mine - can be a lamp that brightens my spirit in spite of all threats and suffering. I suspected that by the time this was done, Mrs. Fischer would leave me glowing."  So says twenty-two year old Odd Thomas when Ms. Edie Fischer picks him up off the side of the road in her stretch limo and enlists him as her chauffeur.  He is in pursuit of a rhinestone cowboy driving an evil big rig.  Thomas has foiled a massacre at a grocery store and is determined to prevent the trucker from setting fire to innocents.  Odd Thomas and his predilection for seeing ghosts - including Alfred Hitchcock, is once again a most captivating vehicle for illuminating the battle between good and evil, and elucidating what it means to be good.

"This world isn't run by miracles.  This world is run by free will."
"You have to do what you have to do, always, and without complaint."
"Fearlessness is for the insane and arrogant."
"It isn't true that curiosity killed the cat.  Cats are done in by coyotes or Peterbilts."

The Woman Upstairs/Claire Messud/253 pgs.

What an amazing novel--thank you Kathy K. for the recommendation! The story centers around, and is told in the first person by, Nora Eldridge. At the beginning of the novel, Nora is in her late thirties, single, and an elementary school teacher in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her initial dream was to be an artist, but instead settled for teaching, which later turned her into a "woman upstairs"--the reliable friend, the "good" daughter, the helpful neighbor, etc. Then, the Shahid family enters her life: first, Reza, who becomes her student; second, Sirena, who is on her way to becoming an acclaimed artist; and finally, Skandar, a Lebanese professor, who has come to Boston because of a fellowship at Harvard. Nora becomes more and more sucked into the Shahids' lives, resulting in a fascinating, compelling read. The book grabs you right from the start, and continues that way until the end. This would make a great book discussion book!

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Heiress Bride / Catherine Coulter / 303 pages / Scottish/Irish Challenge

Sinjun learns that the Scottish laird, Colin Kinross, needs to wed an heiress or he will lose his estates and people who depend on him will suffer.  She determines to become his heiress bride.  Lady Joan Elaine Winthrop Sherbrooke (Sinjun) is a spitfire and eagerly weds a man she hardly knows.  Her wedding night is a disaster (and perhaps too graphically described).  Colin's father and older brother have squandered the family fortune and Colin is accused of murdering his first wife.  Sinjun must deal with her overbearing husband, two step-children, and evil aunt, and a murderous brother-in-law.  She and her sisters succeed in capturing McPherson, the hearts of their husbands, and the interest and empathy of the reader.

Frogged / Vivian Vande Velde / 198 pages / Fairy Tale Retelling Challenge

Through magical mischance Princess Imogene has been frogged.  When she meets a talking frog claiming to be a prince, she kisses him to release him from his spell.  It works!  However, Harry is not a prince but a bully who had been preying on a local witch.  Imogene is turned into a frog, finds no help from the witch who cast the spell, and is taken prisoner by a group of traveling actors.  Although Imogene was supposed to read The Art of Being a Princess before her upcoming thirteenth birthday, and she is not particularly good nor beautiful, her sense of fairness and integrity prevent her from accepting Prince Malcolm's offer to kiss him.  The resolution is creative and unexpected, and...they all lived happily ever after.

Never Coming Back / Hans Koppel / 393 pages

I couldn't put this book down!  I was simply riveted by it from start to finish... and was extraordinarily grateful that the author assuaged  curiosity by providing backstory at the end.  Ylva Zetterberg is kidnapped on her way home from work.  She is held captive and abused for eighteen months in a house across the street from her own home.  Her husband is suspected in her disappearance.  The horrific tragedy which has befallen Ylva is revenge for something that happened years ago among school mates.

The Case of the Beagle Burglar / Nancy Krulik / 91 pages / First Book in a Series

Jack Gets a Clue
This is the Third series starter that I have read by Nancy Krulik and I think it's the best.  (The other two are Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo and George Brown, Class Clown.)  We have magic again in this series, but it is not caused by a wish on a shooting star.  It is caused by an acorn lobbed by squirrels from a magic tree.  When Jack is hit on the head, he develops the ability to understand and talk to animals.  He has his problems - how to conceal the new found talent so others don't think he's crazy; what to do for the science fair; what to do about the bully, Trevor the Terrible; how to handle the affections of Elizabeth Morrison, the smartest girl in third grade; and how to solve the mystery of the missing robot plans.  Jack is a huge baseball fan who wears specific team shirts to bring him specific luck.  This book is awesome in so many ways, especially appealing to early mystery fans, as several key sleuthing terms are defined.

The Story of Beautiful Girl/Rachel Simon/346 pages

When two people show up on her doorstep in the middle of the night, Martha, a retired schoolteacher and widow, lets them in and helps them even though she lives alone. The young woman doesn't speak and soon it becomes clear that the somewhat older African American man is deaf. What also becomes apparent is that the young woman has just given birth. When the authorities start banging on Martha's door just a little later, Homan, the man, slips out the back while they take Lynnie back to the School for Incurable and Feebleminded. Apparently unaware that there is a baby, the authorities take Lynnie and continue to search for Homan. The two words Lynnie whispers to Martha before she's taken away is "hide her."

Thus starts the journey of three people and an infant. Martha takes the baby and leaves her house to keep anyone from questioning her about the sudden appearance of a baby to a widow who never raised a child of her own. Homan tries to find a way to elude the authorities wherever he is and still find a way back to Lynnie, the one he calls "Beautiful Girl" in his own sign language dialect. Lynnie tries to survive and not tell anyone of her baby because she fears for her baby's future.

This was my book club's selection for July. Overall, we all enjoyed it and loved the ending. It does start a bit slow, but picks up quickly.

Ghosthunters and the Incredibly Revolting Ghost! Cornelia Funke / 135 pages / First Book in a Series

Ghosthunting is a messy business and only for the strong-hearted.  Tom discovers a ghost in his family's downstairs storage room.  He learns that the ghost, Hugo, is and ASG - Average Spooky Ghost.  He has taken up residence here because his is afraid of an even worse ghost, an IRG - Incredibly Revolting Ghost.  Tom's grandmother suggests he enlist her best friend who just happens to be a world famous ghosthunter in his efforts to banish the ghosts.  In stark contrast to her other bestselling novels, Dragon Rider, The Thief Lord, Inkheart, and Inkspell, Ms. Funke takes the reader on a wild ride.  How do you get rid of a ghost who is determined to stay, is immune to most methods of ghost removal, and who throws his head at you?

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Courage Has No Color: the true story of the Triple Nickles / Tanya Lee Stone / 119 pages

It's official....I am converted to be a lover of narrative non-fiction!  Tanya Lee Stone nails it with this book about the first black paratroopers.  She uses first person accounts, photos, and extensive research to not only tell the story of the Triple Nickles but to also use their story to help explain integration of the armed forces during World War II.  She makes this time period come alive.  You feel the pride, resentment, anger, and determination of these soldiers as they bore the insults and racism of the military as they became an elite unit of paratroopers.  Thank you Tanya Lee Stone for sharing this little known story of our history.  Highly recommended for all ages.

Perks of Being a Wallflower/Chbosky/213 pages

This is one of those books that is never on the library shelf. If you are lucky enough to find a copy, it is ragged and probably falling apart: the sign of a good book! Even though is was written in the late nineties, it has remained a favorite among teens for many years. Last year when the movie was released with Emma Watson, of Harry Potter fame, the book was in high demand again. "Perks of Being a Wallflower"  does have its critics, and because of the content it is probably more appropriate for high school readers. The main character, Charlie, is a freshman and is trying to find his place among his peers, he is trying to "participate" in life.  Charlie is very sensitive and  dealing with psychological issues, which are revealed throughout the story in letter writing narrative. This book has been compared to "Catcher in the Rye" which was a coming-of-age story for many of us that grew up in the 1960s. The content is mature, dealing with alcohol and drug use, sex and abortion. This would be a great book discussion book.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love / Chris Roberson & Shawn McManus / 144 pgs. / Fairy Tales Retold Challenge

Cinderella is more than just the rich, blonde, fashionista princess you know from the fairy tales.  In this series "Cindy" is an international spy, who goes on missions for Fableland to protect the Human world and Fables from total destruction. 

In this volume, Cinderella teams up with Aladdin to discover who has been selling magical fairy tale items out on the black market.  They are afraid that if a human gets their hands on an item like Aladdin's magic lamp, it could cause a great shift in the balance of world power and cause much  chaos. 

Even though this series is a spin-off of the very popular "Fables" series, readers will be able to follow along without having knowledge of any of the backstory and side characters. 

Recommended for Mature Teens and adults. 

House of Mystery: Room & Boredom (vol. 1) / Matthew Sturges / 128 pgs. / 1st in a Series Challenge!

The House of Mystery, is an old mysterious bar/hotel that is located in another dream-world-esque dimension.  Humans can stumble into the place accidently, but once inside they are trapped for possibly eternity.  The bar is filled with many strange characters, and they all have stories to tell.  In fact the bar's only currency is storytelling so you can eat and drink as much as you like, as long as you can keep inventing stories.  Since this is a horror comic, some of the stories are gruesome; accompanied by graphic visceral details, while other stories, though morbid are quite funny.

For mature readers, and those who don't gross out easily. 

Swindle/Gordon Korman/252 pages

Gordan Korman delivers another humorous children's Chapter Book.   Griffin Bing, and his best friend Ben, find a rare Babe Ruth baseball card.  They take it to an art collector S. Wendell Palomino, who scams the kids.  Later when Griffin and his friend find out the card is worth a million dollars, and not the $120 that S. Wendell gave them, they hatch a plan with their friends to get it back.  Griffin is "The Man With the Plan", but the heist doesn't go according to plan and hilarity ensues.
Swindle

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

A Girl Called Bob and a Horse Called Yoki / Barbara Campbell / 167 pages / St. Louis Challenge

"Barbara Campbell's first novel is set in St. Louis during World War II and introduces a spunky heroine whose warmth, vitality, and mischief will make her enormously popular with young readers."  Barbara Ann Weathers, Bob, is anxious for her father to return from the war.  She desperately needs his advice.  She is eight years old and she has to make up her mind about being baptized this Easter.  "Getting baptized just means you know right from wrong and you are ready to do the right things...try anyway.  A lot of people baptized shouldn't be."  Bob tries to do what's right, but sometimes it turns out wrong.  She is determined to save the milkhorse, Yoki, from the glue factory and has a most unexpected accomplice.  This is a great read-aloud!

"There is something worse than bad manners and that's a hard heart."

An Eye for an Eye / Irene Hannon / 303 pages / St. Louis Challenge

Book 2 in Heroes of Quantico series
FBI Hostage Recovery Team member Mark Sanders is out for a jog when he encounters Emily Larson.  They have not seen each other since they were seventeen in Kentucky where they had been quite taken with each other.  Someone shoots at them and Emily is hit.  Mark has recently accidentally shot and killed a teenager in a tense standoff during a robbery.  Was the sniper aiming for Mark in revenge, or was his target Emily, who as a psychologist deals with battered women?  Could one of their significant others have targeted her?  This is "a fast-paced tale of romance, suspense, and intrugue" as well as a heart-warming protrayal of the importance of Faith.

Murder in a Mayonnaise Jar / Molly McKittrick / 211 pages / St. Louis Challenge

"Could it be that civilization was drowning in the babble of a thousand talking heads from which not one clear word could be heard by anybody?"  St. Louis anchorman for Kyyy-TV, William Hecklepeck, is concerned.  "This is the age of technology... Information is being thrown at you from all directions...  it is critically important to play a role in separating the matter from the chatter."  He once thought his role as reporter/anchorman was vitally important.  Now he isn't so sure.  His porsche wards off panic attacks, and his friendship with Gus Bussard promises an exciting voyage on the Mississippi from St. Louis to New Orleans on a vintage paddle wheeler with himself as pilot just like Mark Twain.  He is much too busy to become seriously involved in coaching young Jennifer Burgess on her series on glue-sniffing in St. Louis.  Two young boys have died.  Did the glue-sniffing kill them or did someone murder them?  Eventually Heck is drawn into the investigation and is instrumental in its resolution.  Despite the tiny font, this is an intruging read set in St. Louis.

An ermine is a weasel in winter white.

"...a sawyer was a tree trunk stuck into the riverbed waiting to pierce the unwary hull..."

The Betrayers / Janes Patrick Hunt / 230 pages / St. Louis Challenge

James Patrick Hunt is a lawyer who graduated from St. Louis University. He has written four novels that showcase police detective George Hastings.  This is the first one.  Having read the fourth one first, I must admit I liked it much better than this one.  I just never felt drawn into the story.  Silent Places, on the other hand, was riveting and I felt part of the action.  Two St. Louis County officers are machine-gunned and left for dead.  Lieutenant George Hastings leads the investigation into the murders.  He is drawn into the world of meth dealers, drug traffickers, organized crime, and dirty FBI agents.

Shiver / Karen Robards / 503 pages / St. Louis Challenge

I found this book's premise a bit difficult to believe.  Samantha Jones is a 23-year-old gun-toting tow truck driver who collects repossessed cars in East St. Louis.  She is a frugal single mother, taking EMT classes so that she can provide for her four-year-old son, Tyler.  When she hooks up a BMW to tow, she discovers a man in the trunk.  Sam ends up in the trunk as well, as drug runners are determined to deliver Marco to their boss.  Marco is really Special Agent Daniel Panterro, posing as Marco while the real Marco is in protective custody giving evidence against the drug cartel.  Danny is rough and bossy; Sam is clever, self-sufficient, and quick-witted; Tyler is one precocious four-year-old.  This happily-ever-after page-turner is a quick, rather harrowing read.

The Silent Places / James Patrick Hunt / 322 pages / St. Louis Challenge

James Patrick Hunt has written three previous George Hastings novels and I'm going to go back and read all three of them.  Set in St. Louis, they feature homicide detective George Hastings, a man of integrity and honesty.  In Silent Places, he is given responsible for protecting Senator Alan Preston from an assassination attempt.  The senator wants local protection in lieu of FBI protection because he wants to keep the matter under wraps.  He is contemplating a run for U.S. president and his past with threatened assassin John Reese could be political suicide.  This is a nale-biter, a cliff-hanger, and a keep-you-up-late-at-night read.

Levi Dust, a Tale from the Kerry patch / Steven J. Givens / 56 pages / St. Louis Challenge

Steven J. Givens is a graduate of UMSL and teaches writing there.  He has written this series set in nineteenth century America featuring the adventures of ten-year-old Irish twins, William and Annie O'Shaughnessy.  In Levi Dust, the twins are new to St. Louis and live in an Irish section of town called The Kerry Patch.  They set out on an adventure to see the shops along Fourth Street, including the candy shop.  They also want to see Spaulding & Rodgers Floating Circus Palace on the riverfront.  After several misadventures and getting lost, they are rescued by Levi Dust, the eccentric bell ringer.  "Alot of this story is true," and the author provides excellent background information preceding the story.

The Glorious Adventures of the Sunshine Queen / Geraldine McCaughrean / 325 pages / St. Louis Challenge

The key word in the title is adventure!  When diptheria strikes  and a runaway silo destroys her home, Cissy and Kookie are sent to their former school teacher, Miss Loucien, until the epidemic plays out.  Miss Loucien has joined an acting company, The Bright Light Theater Company, whose summer home is a shipwrecked paddle steamer on the flooded Missouri River.  A mysterious river rat resurrects the boat and a wild, rambunctious, unpredicatble journey down river serves up grand performances, aggrieved gamblers, irate lawmen, a pirate named Sugar Cain, perilous races, and Queen Victoria.  The action is non-stop, the characters imaginative and well-drawn, and the story transports the reader to the past, which may, or may  not, have been simpler.

Suspect / Kristin Wolden Nitz / 199 pages / St. Louis Challenge

Seventeen year old Jen is resigned to spending the summer helping out at her grandmother's Bed & breakfast, the Schoenhaus, in the vineyards of eastern Missouri.  Her professor father has an out-of-town meeting and doesn't want her to stay home alone.  He also worries about his mom and is afraid she is losing touch with reality.  Jen's mother disappeared fourteen years ago and Kay, her grandmother, is convinced that she was murdered; that she would not have abandoned her son and granddaughter.  How do you explain the cards, letters, and gifts that have been sent to Jen supposedly by Ellen over the years?  If she was indeed murdered, who sent them?  Kay hosts a yearly murder/mustery dinner and this year's has been written to flush out the murderer.  This YA book has great suspense, romance, St. Louis locations and foibles, and a satisfying plot resolution.

Adaline Falling Star / mary jPope Osborne / 170 pages / St. Louis Challenge

While researching her book American Tall Tales, Mary Pope Osborne read that the legendary scout Kit Carson had married an Arapaho woman and together they had a daughter whom he named Adaline and she called Falling Star.  When her mother died, Andaline was sent to live with relatives in St. Louis while her father accompanied The Pathfinder,  John C. Fremont, on his trek across the Rockies.  This is a fictionalized version of Adaline's life in St. Louis, her harzardous attempt to join her father, and her fortuitous relationship with a mongrel dog.  This heart-wrenching, heart-warming book contains background information on the Arapaho and Pawnee Indian tribes, Indian/White relations, one young girl's faith in her father and her determination to be with him, the connections we have to those who have gone before, and the unexpected, serendipitous connections we make with others, both human and canine.

"'Freedom is the best thing to hoard in your bag of possibles."

Monday, July 15, 2013

Once Upon a Marigold / Jean Ferris / 266 pages

Even though this is classified as YA and recognized as a Best YA Book of 2003, Once Upon a Marigold could easily be enjoyed by upper elementary age readers.  It has all the elements that make a book satisfying including tongue-in-cheek humor, fairy tale elements, good vs evil, and a sweet romance.  I am looking forward to reading the 2nd book in the series:  Twice Upon a Marigold and thankful a third book will be out soon.  Recommend for grades 5 & up.

12th of Never / James Patterson & Maxine Paetro / 394 pages

This is one of the Women's Murder Club books.  Honestly, there were so many story elements, it was hard to keep track of what was going on.  Each of the four main characters had a major crisis in her life not to mention a few murders, a clairvoyant, and scummy serial murderer.  I found it very difficult to care very much about anything.  Every single page became more and more outlandish.

Tales from the Hood / Michael Buckley / 274 pages

In this 6th book of the Sister Grimm series, the Fairytale Detectives are trying to find Goldilocks whose kiss may awaken Sabrina's and Daphne's father and mother and rescue their good friend and protector Mr. Canis from being executed for the past crime of murder.  Readers will enjoy hearing what really happened in the story of Little Red Riding Hood, reading about a defense team headed by Robin Hood and Little John, and finding out what happens when Sabrina finds the weapon that can keep Mr. Canis from becoming the Big Bad Wolf!  I listened to this book narrated by L. J. Ganser.  He makes the books incredibly fun.  Highly recommend for grades 4 and up. 

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library / Chris Grabenstein / 289 pages

This book is great and I recommend it for all library staff, kids who like puzzles, and everyone who wants to read a fun book.  Luigi Lemoncello is a creator of games.  He grew up in the small town of Alexandriaville, Ohio and loved the library.  It's been 12 years since the library was torn down when the city fathers decided because of the Internet a library was no longer needed.  Mr. Lemoncello builds the town a new library under top secret conditions and hosts a lock-in for 12 year olds the night before the library opens.  Take Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and mash it up with The Westing Game or The Wright 3 and you get Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library.  It's the type of book kids will re-read to get all of the clues AND try to find another puzzle hidden in the book.  Awesomeness with whipped cream on top.  Recommend for upper elementary and middle school.

If I Should Die {plus a bonus novella "Love is Murder"}/Allison Brennan/499 pgs.

This is the third entry in the Lucy Kincaid series. Lucy, who is applying to be an F.B.I. agent, and her Private Eye boyfriend, Sean Rogan, are on their way to the Adirondack Mountains for a mini-vacation. They have also decided to help two of Sean's friends who are trying to open a new resort in the area. Someone has been sabotaging their efforts. Arson happens, Lucy finds a dead body in an abandoned mine shaft, and trouble keeps escalating! This is a suspenseful read, leading to a satisfying conclusion. The novella at the end is truly a "bonus," and gives the reader a better feel for Lucy's character. It's a good series.

The Silver Star/Jeannette Walls/269 pgs.

Having read Jeannette Walls' The Glass Castle, and Half Broke Horses, I wasn't sure what to expect. I liked it, but not as much as her other two books. The Silver Star is a novel about two sisters (really half-sisters) Jean "Bean" Holladay,  and Liz; Liz has looked out for Bean all of her life. The year is 1970, and Charlotte, Bean and Liz's mom, takes off to "find herself," leaving 12 year-old Bean, and 15 year-old Liz to fend for themselves. The girls decide to travel from California to visit their Uncle Tinsley (Charlotte's brother) in Virginia; of course, he has had no contact with the girls for years, so it is a total surprise. The novel delves into the girls' lives and adjustment to living with their uncle and attending a new school. They learn about their family history, and encounter trouble in the form of Jerry Maddox, foreman of the town's mill. I just feel that much that is covered in this novel has been covered before in Walls' previous works. I liked the book, I just don't feel that there was much new that was offered.

Friday, July 12, 2013

Steve Jobs: the Man Who Thought Different/Karen Blumenthal/275 pages

You think you know who Steve Jobs is?  What the public saw barely scratched the surface of this enigmatic man.  While most inventors and other great cultural revolutionaries are often quite quirky, Jobs was at the extreme reaches.  He would throw tantrums and harshly berate his employees in front of others, then later be the definition of charm, making working for him extremely difficult.  As one employee said, He didn't invent computers, cell phones or portable music/audio devices, but he knew how to package them and make the world not only want one, but make them think they couldn't live without one. He single-handily changed the world and there is hardly anyone who hasn't been touched by one of his "inventions".
Blumenthal writes a teen biography that is easily read.  Steve Jobs: the Man Who Thought Different is listed on several recommended reading list.
Top Ten Science and Health Books for Youth 2012 (Booklist)
Top Ten Biographies for Youth 1012 (Booklist)
ALA Notable Children's Books, 2013
 

                  Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different

Meet Me at Emotional Baggage Claim/Lisa Scottoline/365 pages

Lisa Scottoline is known for her Mystery books.  She also writes a column called ChickWit  for the Philadelphia Inquirer with her daughter, Francesca Serritella.  The essays have been complied into a book that will have you laughing out loud and nodding in understanding.  Both write about their experiences as mother/daughter and friends.  Both share experiences that we can all relate.  While sometimes tough to go through, these two ladies show us the humor in all situations.  I recommend this to fans of Erma Bombeck and Dave Barry.
Meet Me at Emotional Baggage Claim

From Dead to Worse/Charlaine Harris/359 pages

From Dead to Worse is the 8th title in the Sookie Stackhouse series.  This time around Sookie is just back from the summit where a terrorist bomb took out a good chuck of the Louisiana vampires.  There are internal wars in the Vamps community and the local werewolf pack.  Sookie seems to be caught in the middle of both, but comes out unscathed and even a little on top after the dust settles. 

Harris gives us another well-written novel, but the plot seems a little tame compared to the previous books.  While the plot of the changes in both communities were built up for suspense, the answers seemed a little anti-climatic.  When finished, I felt this was more of a bridge book between #7 and #9 in the series and more of a set up for another big arc in the storyline than a suspenseful title in and of itself.
From Dead to Worse (Sookie Stackhouse, #8)

Adam of the Road / Elizabeth Janet Gray 317 p. Vintage

Roger the Minstrel is separated from his son, Adam, when trying to recover Adam's dog.  Eleven year-old Adam, tramps to fairs and market towns trying to be reunited with his father.  This early road trip shows some of the customs and social life of 13th century England.

Newbery winner

Book of Lost Things / John Connolly 342 p. Fiary Tale

12 year-old David turns to books for comfort after his mother dies.  When his father remarries, David is angry at Rose and his half-brother.  With the bombings of WWII, they move to Rose's house.  There the books talk to David.  When he slips through the hole in the sunken garden, he enters a make believe world that is melded with his imagination.  Talking wolves, trolls, harpies, Snow White are encountered as he makes his quest to see the king for the king's Book of Lost Things is thought to help him return home.  Connolly has incorporated many traditional fairy tales with twists into this story of coming-of-age and maturity.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Brides of Prairie Gold / Maggie Osborne / 372 pages

Twelve women leave from Chastity, Missouri (2 pts)  for the Oregon Trail in the 1850's.
Each is either a widow or a spinster and are to marry  a man in Oregon who is paying for them to come.  This was an extremely arduous journey and not all the women will make it all the way.  The main character is Perrin, a widow with a past.  She also has an enemy on the wagon train, the daughter of the man with whom she had an affair.  Wow,  Augusta is quite an over-the-top villain.  She is haughty, prejudiced, hateful, vindictive, and anything else that is a descriptor for mean.  This makes for an interesting story.  Then, there are trail romances that develop.  This book is quite tame in that it has virtually no steamy descriptions of any kind.  It is also apparent that this author did research wagon train experiences.  Pretty good.

And the Mountains Echoed / Khaled Hosseini / 404 pages

*clap, clap, clap* Bravo.  Khaled Hosseini does it again.  His new book, And the Mountains Echoed, was such an enthralling and beautifully written novel.  This is nothing like The Kite Runner or A Thousand Splendid Suns except that it is originates in Afghanistan.  Instead, it covers the span of sixty or so years, travels from the United States to France to Afghanistan, and captures the lives of many different families who are actually all connected somehow, one way or another.  The beginning of the novel starts with a fairy tale set in a small village about an evil creature that comes to the village every year and takes one child away from one family.  When it takes the child of one of the families, the father is so distraught he goes after the creature to fight him (or die trying) for his son.  When he goes to the creature’s home, he discovers something he was not expecting.  Pay attention to this fairy tale because the meaning is resonant throughout the book.  Hosseini shows the importance of mercy, family, and, most importantly, identity -- you won’t be able to put this book down or feel some sort of connection with it.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Grave Sight / Charlaine Harris 263 p. First in series

A teenage girl is missing from a small Ozark town--there is the suspicion of murder.  Harper Connelly, a young woman with a special gift, she is clairvoyant; that is, the dead reveal their location and the last moments of their life.  Accompanied by Tolliver, her stepbrother, her manager and bodyguard to Sarne, Ark., she quickly find missing girl.  She and Tolliver only wish to cash the check and leave quickly but Tolliver finds himself in jail on trumped up charges.  They stay to clear their name despite persecution from locals.  The body count rises and Harper must find the killer.  A fast-paced suspense with it's edgy characters will have readers looking for the next in the series.  St. Louis is mentioned as their home base; not enough to warrant to say it is set in St. Louis.

Precious Jewel / Mary Balogh 316 p.

Mary Balogh continues to add depth to her sensuous romances by having characters with big challenges.  In A Precious Jewel, Sir Gerald Stapleton frequents Mrs. Blythe's "finishing school" for sexual pleasure without any entanglements.  There he finds Priscilla Wentworth to be a good match.  Her life is filled with misfortune; and his with family experiences that leave him distrustful of marriage.  Yet, he establishes her as his mistress.  He gradually is drawn ever closer to her despite internal thoughts of weaning himself away from her.

Simply Love / Mary Balogh 560 p.

Mary Balogh continues the series set around Miss Martin's School for Girls by telling the story of Miss Anne Jewell, a teacher, and her young 9-year old son.  Anne and David join the entire Bedwyn family at the Duke of Bewcastle's Wales home where Sydnam Butler has reinvented his life as the Steward after experiencing horrific war injuries from his service in the Penisular Wars.   Balogh interweaves her romances with characters that have such scars both physical and mental that neither feel love is in the cards for them.  They do come to be friends and admit to each other their deep loneliness.  Even after they marry, it is difficult for them to open up to each other and to become whole again.  Balogh continues her style of tackles the difficult topics here rape, maimed and badly disfigured veteran, class differences, and unwed mother in this sensuous romance.

Duchess / Jude Deveraux 680 p.

American Claire Willoughby must wed an "acceptable" man to keep her grandfather's millions.  Harry Montgomery, Duke of MacArran, was the man.  When the engagement is announced, the Willoughby family goes to Scotland to meet the Montgomery's.  There resides a domineering mother, eccentric relatives, and Trevelyan, a mysterious man who lives secretly in the most ancient part of the castle.  Claire is drawn into Trevelyan's world.  Mother rules the castle even to the timing of meals which Claire tends to miss as she goes walking.  Claire remains loyal to Harry to the point to going on shoots with him where she must stay absolutely silent.  She finds herself with Trevelyan more and more in this romance set in 1880's in Scotland.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Red Velvet Cupcake Murder / Joanne Fluke / 323 pages

Another cozy mystery from Joanne Fluke in which Hannah still hasn't decided between her two beaus, Norman and Mike, and solves another mystery while almost getting killed herself.  Why do I read these....hmmm...small town in Minnesota, good friends, and the recipes of course.  They are pretty formulaic but still lots of fun for those who like butter, cream and chocolate.

The Shoemaker's Wife/Adriana Trigiani/475 pgs.

I'm normally not a fan of "family sagas," but when a co-worker recommended this book, I thought I would give it a try--I'm so glad that I did. This is basically the story of two families from the same area in Italy: the Lazzaris and the Ravanellis--mainly Ciro Lazzari and Enza Ravanelli. Their paths cross, first in Italy, and later, in the United States. Due to family problems, Ciro and his brother, Eduardo, are left by their mother at a convent to ultimately be raised by the sisters. Enza , the eldest of six children, takes on much of the responsibility in helping both of her parents sustain a large family. The time is pre-World War I, and the economy is not at its best. Ciro is banished from the convent because of something he witnesses, and finds refuge in the United States. Enza and her father travel to the United States in order to make money to send back to the remaining family. In each case, both Ciro and Enza plan on returning to their native Italy. But then  life happens, and the author takes the reader on a beautiful journey of Ciro and Enza's trials and tribulations. It is a well written, wonderful story!

Dad is Fat/Jim Gaffigan/274 pgs.

I really enjoy Jim Gaffigan's stand-up comedy routine, so I was interested in reading his book. I have to admit, it had me laughing out loud at times. His portrayal of parenthood--particularly fatherhood--is so funny!  I highly recommend it to parents everywhere--especially the "newbie" parents!

Monday, July 8, 2013

July Challenge! - Meet me in St. Louis!!

"Meet me in St. Louis, Louis,
Meet me at the fair,
Don't tell me the lights are shining
any place but there,...." 


Yes, you will get "2" points for every book that you read that is set in Missouri.  The closer you get to St. Louis the more points you will get.  So if you read "Gone Girl" you will get "2" points for it being set in Carthage, Missouri; if you read Tom Sawyer - you will get "4" points for Hannibal, MO; but if you read "Shiver" by Karen Robards, you will get "6" points because it is in East St. Louis. 

*BTW, what is a "Tootsie Wootsie"??

The Last Thing I Remember/Andrew Klavan/346 pages

Charlie West has just woke up in someone else's nightmare. He's bruised and bloody and a strange voice from outside the door has just ordered his murder. The action is non-stop in this story and the author literally leaves you hanging on the edge of your seat at the end of very chapter. The main character, Charlie is a 17 year old boy with very strong faith and morals. This book would be great for a reluctant reader or a younger reader looking for an adventure story. Very clean, but not really preachy. No sex or bad language, very little violence or gore. One reviewer said it reads like a teenage version of the television show "24". I'd say that's a pretty good comparison!

Book 1 of Homelander Series.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

THE RETURNED / Jason Mott / 346 Pages

I read an Advance Reader Copy (ARC); publication set for September 2013.

All over the world, the dead are coming back! They are not zombies or ghosts or even part of some secret government experiment. Amazingly, they are living breathing, talking people who have come back exactly as they were before they died. They are 'The Returned.'

Harold and Lucille Hargrave, a devoted elderly couple lost their only child more than 50 years ago. God-loving Lucille believes it is the end of days and thinks 'the Returned' are devils sent here to tempt or kill everyone. Harold, who lost his faith with the death of 8-year old Jacob all those years ago, feels 'the Returned' are just people and should be treated the same as everyone else.

Suddenly there is a knock on the door and a man from the International Bureau for the Returned is standing on their front porch accompanied by a very familiar looking 8-year old boy ... 

Mott's literary debut provides the reader with a number interesting topics for consideration (or discussion): the meaning of life, being human and/or humane, community reaction, and people's capacity for love. 

A (possible) '6 DEGREES OF READING' connection: Mitch Albom's novel The First Phone Call From Heaven (publication date: 11/12/2013) about a small Lake Michigan town suddenly placed in the world spotlight due to it's citizen's receiving calls from the afterlife.

[6 Degrees of Reading is similar to the game '6 degrees of Kevin Bacon' but with books. Select an aspect of the current title which is shared in another title and describe the connection using a single sentence.  Source : http://www.readersadvisoronline.com/ranews/mar2007/cords.html]

Sleepover Sleuths / Carolyn Keene / 87 pages / First Book in a Series

Nancy Drew and Clue Crew #1
This is Nancy for Drew for second and third grade readers, especially those with American Girl dolls.  They will be able to relate to the girls' pride in ownership and competitive jealousy relating to Deirdre's acquisition of multiple dolls, including a rare Hollywood Heather.  The doll disappears at her birthday party and Nancy, George, and Bess take on and solve the case.

The Last Summer of the Camperdowns / Elizabeth Kelly / 383 pages

"The Last Summer of the Camperdowns is one of the most delightful beach books evah!"  Elin Hilderbrand.  Although it is set at the beach homes of the wealthy, it not a light-hearted, romance-filled romp.  Filled with secrets - some dating back to World War II, violence, problematic interpersonal relationships, and scary characters, it is an intense read, characterized by impressive vocabulary, witticisms, and 1972 current events.  I would not consider this to be one of the most delightful beach book ever!!

The Doll / Taylor Stevens / 335 pages

"Like the randomness of life's chaos, [Munroe's] decision to let [Lumani] live was a coin toss.  Just as she currently fought to get out from under the weight of her decision to allow Kate Breeden, a corrupt attorney in jail in the U.S. for murder and instigator of Munroe's part in the macabre kidnapping/sex trafficking scheme, to live so she might also one day again find herself in Lumani's crosshairs.  All she could do was walk the narrow line between instinct and conscience - and hope for the best."  Munroe was tranquilized while riding her motorcycle away from Miles Bradford's office.  Bradford saw it happen, saw the ambulance whisk her away, saw the impostor in the hospital, and marshaled all his resources to find her, then to find and rescue Logan.  Munroe is charged with delivering a world famous young actress to the hands of a very sick man.  This psychological thriller is impossible to put down.  Part of a series.

"Human nature was always more inclined to apathy, to avoiding involvement, to seeing things as someone else's problem."

Anyone But Me / Nancy Krulik / 76 pages / First Book in a Series Challenge

Katie Kazoo Switcheroo #1
Katie Carew hates math review.  It means someone is going to be called to work problems on the board - in front of everyone.  When Katie is called on, she takes a deep, cleansing breath to relax and out comes "the loudest burp she'd ever heard.  A real record breaker."  Cruel George Brennan continues his relentless teasing, asking if she can burp a song.  "Burping a song kinda sounds  like a kazoo."  And he gives her a new nickname, Katie Kazoo.  Katie feels so badly, she wishes she could be anyone else and fails to notice the shooting star.  The next morning at school, a big wind that blows on Katie and nowhere else causes Katie to pull a switcheroo with the class hamster.   George's fear of the hamster ultimately enables Katie to put a creative end to his bullying.  This is another great series by Nancy Krulik.  Third graders will love it!  There is a very interesting and informative Hamster Fact page at the end.  I was a bit disappointed that Ms. Krulik used a shooting star in both this and her George Brown, Class Clown series to effect magical in her main characters.

The Diamond Secret / Suzanne Weyn / 209 pages / Fairy Tale Challenge

Ivan Ivanovitch Navgorny was a soldier serving with the Red Army at "The House of Special Purpose" on July 17, 1918 in Yekaterinburg, Russia.  He hears the gunshots that massacred the Czar Nicholas, the Czarina, and their five children.  The jewels sewed into the petticoats of the duchesses caused the bullets to ricochet, necessitating a second round of shots.  The entire imperial family had been killed, save the grandmother in exile in Paris.  Ivan is present at the burial of the family and notices that the corpse of Anastasia is moving.  When she stands, she is shot yet again. Ivan deserts the army.  Rumors abound that Anastasia survived the carnage and has gone into hiding.  Rewards are offered for her return by her grandmother, the Empress Maria, and Lenin.  Ivan and Count Sergei Mikhailovitch Kremnikov devise a scheme to pass a barmaid, a lady with no memory of her past save highly vivid dreams, off as Anastasia, to collect the reward and avoid starvation.  As they journey toward Paris, they are being stalked by a scar-faced man.  Is he the evil Rasputin's henchman or a member of Lenin's Secret Police?  Did Ivan and Sergei not realize that if the White Russians accepted Nadya as Anastasia a political whirlwind with tremendous consequences in Russia, and possibly even the whole world, would be unleashed?  They hadn't intended to start a counter revolution.

The Great Brain / John D. Fitzgerald / 175 pages / Vintage Children's Literature Challenge

"Nobody is plum useless."  The Great Brain, Tom D. Fitzgerald, tells Andy who has enlisted Tom's brother, J. D. , in his efforts to commit suicide.  Their various efforts are not successful - thank goodness.  Andy agrees to give Tom his Erector Set if his great brain can convince Andy's father that he is not useless.  (Andy had lost a leg to gangrene.)  Tom is successful and Andy's success surprises everyone.  J. D. tells the stories of his older brother's amazing exploits in 1896 Utah.  All males in the Fitzgerald family have had the middle name of Dennis to mark a 200 year old betrayal in Ireland.  Although the suicide section could be problematic for some, most will find the Great Brain books to be entertaining, humorous, and nostalgic.

The Not-Just-Anybody Family / Betsy Cromer Byars / 176 pages / Vintage Children's Challenge & First Book in a Series

This is the first book in the Blossom family series which includes Wanted Mud Blossom, a  Mark Twain Award Nominee.  In this story, Junior Blossom is determined to fly off the barn roof, having concocted wings from sheets and staples.  Unfortunately, just as he is about to jump, he sees a police car enter his yard and this vision seriously disrupts his timing.  His Pap is in the county jail for disturbing the peace and his mom is touring out West with the rodeo.  Junior breaks both his legs.  Maggie and Vern break into jail to tell Pap about Junior's mishap.  Mud, Pap's dog, makes a cameo appearance.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang / Ian Fleming / 155 pages / Vintage Children's Literature Challenge

"Only Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, could have dreamed up this marvelous 'mobile, its enterprising owners, and a series of adventures that rival those of 007 himself.  When resourceful inventor Caractacus Potts saves the enormous green roadster from the scrap heap, it doesn't take long for his family to realize they have a pretty amazing auto."  Chitty Chitty Bang Bang speeds, flies, floats, thinks, communicates, and repeatedly saves the day.  The twins knew she was special when her registration tag read Gen11, or genii.

Crows and Cards / Joseph Helgerson / 344 pages / July Challenge - Set in St. Louis

When I searched the catalog for St. Louis based fiction and came up with this title, I thought it would be about the St. Louis Cardinal baseball team.  Boy!  Was I ever wrong!  I was not disappointed, however!  This historical fiction tale, set in 1849 St. Louis, tells of young Zebulon Crabtree and his intense disappointment at being shipped off to St. Louis to be apprenticed to his uncle, a tanner.  On the steamboat to St. Louis, Zeb falls in with a gambler who convinces him that gambling money off rich folks is actually helping them to give to the poor.  Zeb can't figure out why the gambler cheated a poor, bling Indian chief, however, and his conscience forces him to use the gambler's superstitions to thwart his cheating.  This audio recording is a delight and the story ending is a real laugh-out-loud treat.  The is a very informative Afterward and an excellent Dictionary.

Fatal Judgment / Irene Hannon / 280 pages / First Book in a Series / July Challenge - St. Louis

Guardians of Justice #1
Martin Reynolds is determined to kill Judge Elizabeth Michaels.  He counts her a terrorcrat - one of the members of the judiciary responsible for subverting the constitution.  Deputy U. S. Marshal Jake Taylor has been assigned to protect her.  Her sister was murdered in Liz's home.  When her abusive husband is cleared of the murder, law enforcement fears that the judge herself was the target.  Irene Hannon is a master of suspense, romance, and faith-based literature.  Fatal Judgment is an excellent, set in St. Louis, read!

House of Secrets / Chris Columbus / 490 pages

Film writer, producer and director Chris Columbus (did his parents really name him Chris?) tries his hand along with the help of YA author Ned Vizzini writing an adventure fantasy for young readers.  He gets a book blurb from none other than J K Rowling herself, perhaps because he was the director of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone?  Anyway, three squabbling siblings, age 15, 12 and 8 are thrown into the adventure of their life when their parents purchase the old Kristoff home in San Francisco.  Sharks, pirates, a colossus, a witch, savage warriors and characters who come to life from books written by the mysterious Kristoff are all involved in an action-packed story.  There's plenty of humor, bravery, ingenious solutions, contemporary references, bloody gore, and all the ingredients of a wild and crazy ride.  Seems like there will be a sequel.  Not as good as Harry Potter though....

Fortunately the Milk / Neil Gaiman / 110 pages

Neil Gaiman writes a ridiculously funny story about what happens when a dad runs out to get some milk for his children's breakfast cereal.  As Gaiman says in his forward, sometimes the dad in stories is shown as mostly reading the newspaper and disconnected from what happens with the family.  Not so in Fortunately the Milk.  Readers are left wondering if Dad made it all up or really did meet a Stegosaurus time-travelling professor....  Easy chapter book.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Beautiful Creatures: The Manga / Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl / 240 pgs

Ethan falls for the new girl in school, Lena, who is beautiful and has magic powers.  Lena is a "Caster" which is kind of like a witch and on her upcoming 16th birthday she will find out if she will be claimed by the light or by the dark side. 

This is a pretty straightforward clichéd teen romance;  Ethan and Lena have a past life connection, Lena's overprotective Uncle is keeping secrets from her, Ethan and Lena's family don't want the two to have a romantic relationship, and so on.  There is plenty of teenage drama and tears, breakups, rescues, you know the drill.   I can tell that this graphic novel was trying to pack a lot into 200 pages so it felt like you were reading an abbreviated version of the story.  (Though, I don't think I could stand an extra 100 pages)

The artwork was basic line drawing, some of the characters looked to much like other characters so it was hard to distinguish between the two.  The art was detailed enough to keep my interest and of good quality (the figures were proportionate, there were facial expressions), but I would not call it outstanding. 

Still, Teenagers who loved Twilight, will most likely eat this up; the novel, manga, or movie.  And the graphic novel was clean enough to recommend to any YA (no sex, no nudity, no language, no gory violence).

Sever (Chemical Garden Trilogy Bk. 3) / Lauren DeStefano / 371 pgs.

The final book in the Chemical Garden Trilogy.  Rhine finally catches up to her brother Rowen and together they uncover the research their parents had been working on before they died.  Characters that were in the previous books are brought back so all the storylines are resolved.  It gives the series closure for those that stick with it.  I really enjoyed the first book in the series, but felt that the other two were lacking in action and in the depth.  It felt like the characters stopped questioning the important questions of life and were just existing out their days in this bleak world. 

Thursday, July 4, 2013

The Forgotten / David Baldacci / 422 pages

Baldacci brings back John Puller in this novel.  Puller reminds me so much of Jack Reacher.  Both characters are military men trying to do what is right and always doing it on the line between legal and illegal all in the name of justice.  If you crave action, there is plenty.  If you like strong, silent men who are survivors in the most dire situations, you will be happy.  This plot - driven novel also shines some light on the vile practice of human trafficking and the billions of dollars going into rich men's pockets.  When the government cracks down on drugs and guns, greed and evil find new ways to maintain their pipelines of money. 

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Magic and Other Misdemeanors / Michael Buckley / 283 pages

This is the 5th book in the Sisters Grimm series and just as delightful as the previous titles.  I listened to the recorded version which is narrated by L. J. Ganser.  He makes the books so much fun. You can see the characters!  The Fairy Tale Detectives Sabrina and Daphne Grimm work with their grandmother, uncle and Puck to solve the mystery of some missing magical items and save the world from tears in time.  The books are charming...pun intended.  Recommend for grades 4-7.

Touch & Go/Lisa Gardner/423 pages

This is my first book by this author.  I read it based on the recommendation by "Mizzou'77" and I wasn't disappointed.  An entire family disappears without a trace, with no witnesses, no motive and no ransom demand.   The book offered plenty of twists and turns, and kept you guessing until almost the very end. 

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Jewels of the Sun / Nora Roberts 368 p. First in Series

Jude Murray returns to her Irish roots when life dishes up a failed marriage and an lackluster career.  Faerie Hill Cottage nourishes her love for Irish folklore.  Aidan Gallagher finds Jude the warp to his weave and the yin to his yang.  He begins to share his country's legends and myths.  Begins with a certain amount of predictability.  Jude's ire is provoked by Aidan's marriage proposal and the anger scene is fun.  Nora Roberts stays true to her sensual romantic roots with this one.

Super Burp! / Nancy Krulik / 124 pages / First Book in a Series

George Brown, Class Clown #1
George Brennan has always been class clown, popular and funny.  When his military family moves yet again, he decides to turn over a new leaf.  He even chooses a new name - George Brown.  It is never easy being the new kid, but for George it is a nightmare.  To celebrate the not-so-good first day of school, his family goes to Ernie's Ice Cream Imporium.  George has a rootbeer float with chocolate ice cream which causes a massive, magical, recurring burp.  Did wishing on the shooting star cause George's trouble?  The burps cause George to behave outrageously.  Can George squelch the belch?  Author Nancy Krulik also wrote the Katie Kazoo Switcheroo series, and Katie is mentioned as one of George's friends from the old school.  In fact, he gave her her neat nickname.  Aaron Blecha's illustrations coupled with Ms. Krulik's stories make this series a welcome addition to elementary collections.

Miss Daisy Is Crazy / Dan Gutman / 84 pages / First Book in a Series

My Weird School #1
A. J. likes football and video games.  He hates school.  His second grade teachers, Miss daisy, says she hates school, too.  She would rather watch TV and eat bonbons.  She also claims to hate Math and says she can't read.  The kids wonder if she is even a real teacher.  Is Mrs. Cooney, the school nurse, a spy?  The kids decide to buy the school and turn it into a video arcade.  The principal says that although this would not be possible, they could rent the school for one million pages.  This is a fun, quick for your early readers.

The Secret pf Platform 13 / Eva Ibbotson / 250 pages / Fairy Tale Challenge

Platform 13 of King's Cross Station, London, has a secret.  It is located on a gump - "a special mound, a grassy bump on the earth," and this bump is a hidden door which opens every nine years to reveal a tunnel which led to a completely different world.  The "mysterious tunnel led to a secret cove where a ship waited to take whoever wished it to an island so beautiful that it took the breath away.  The island is populated by most unusual magical beings, people and interesting animal, including the mistmakers who in response to music emit a find, clean-smelling mist that conceals the island and its inhabitants."  The king and queen of the island are human and are heartbroken when their three-month old son is kidnapped by a Mrs. Trottle when his triplet nannies take him to London.  Nine years later, the king and queen send three trusted subjects to reclaim their prince.  Is Mrs. Trottle's son, Raymond, the prince?  Filled with magic, including a nuckelavee - a being with a man's head and a horse's body, but no skin, The Secret of Platform was a delightful find and a most engaging read.

Middle School, the Worst Years of My Life / James Patterson 281 p. First in Series

Rafe Khatchadorian starts Middle School with a rules-filled lecture.  He and Leo the silent devise a game, he gets points for every rule in the book he breaks.  Along the way he get in dutch with the school bully and must finance buying back his R.A.F.E. journal of rule breaking events by selling soda's by the cup out of his locker, fell in "like" with the most popular girl in school, and ends up on the worst student list.  The story turns dark when he deals with "Bear", his mother's live-in boyfriend, physical abuse.

Naruta, the Boy Ninja / Tracey West / 75 pages / First Book in a Series

Uzumaki Naruto is studying to be a Ninja, but he is failing miserably.  He would rather play practical jokes and deface statues with graffiti than study or practice.  His sensei, Master Iruka, is stern and strict with the orphan, seeing his younger self in Naruto.  At the behest of Mizuki, Naruto steals the Scroll of Sealing from Lord Hokage.  Mizuki wishes to unleash the 9-tailed fox that once threatened the village.  Naruto proves himself to be a hero, as well as an apt pupil, in this adaptation of the manja based on traditional Japanese culture by Masashi Kishimoto.

Code Name Verity / Elizabeth Wein / 343 pages / Scottish/Irish Challenge

This is an intriguing and informative story of courage, determination, and friendship.  Maddie is a Scottish pilot and jack-of-all-trades capable of making repairs on planes as well as flying them.  Although she fhas logged more flight time than all the boys, she cannot officially fly.  She does not hesitate to volunteer to fly a plnae when an undercover resistance operation in in desperate need of a pilot. Unfortunately, the plane is fired upon and in danger of crashing.  Maddie convinces her best friend, Julie, to parachute out to maximize her chances of survival after which Maddie will crash land the plane.  Julie is captured by the Germans, tortured, threatened with execution, and forced to write all she knows of resistance operations, flights, and contacts.  Write she does...but what she writes helps the Allies instead of the Germans.

The Paris Wife/Paula McLain/331 pgs.

I am so happy I'm in a book club, otherwise I doubt if I ever would have read this book--and that would have been a shame! This is a fictionalized account (although I'm pretty sure, a very accurate one) of Ernest Hemingway's life with his first wife, Hadley Richardson. It takes the reader from their first meeting,to their moving to Paris so that Ernest can concentrate on his writing. Along the way, the reader is introduced to Ezra Pound, F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda, to name a few. The author portrays Hemingway's way of life, and the toll it took on those around him--especially Hadley. It is an engrossing read--I even looked up biographical material on Hemingway after I finished the book. As an aside--the author describes Hadley's life growing up in St. Louis; it's fun to read about Forest Park, the St. Louis Public Library, the 1904 World's Fair, etc.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Chasing the Prophecy / Brandon Mull / 504 pages

This sadly is the last book in the Beyonders trilogy.  Let me tell you, folks, Brandon Mull knows how to write a book that will keep you turning the pages, create characters that you'd want to know and some you definitely wouldn't, and create a setting that is intriguing.  Two teens from our time venture through a portal into the land of Lyrian.  Through their courage, friendship, intellect, and special talents, they help to save Lyrian from an evil emperor.  Great book for middle grade readers who like fantasy, action, and heroic stories.

LEXICON / Max Barry / 377 Pages / Read June 22-23, 2013

First there's Wil Parker, a young man who wakes up disoriented on the floor in an airport men's room. He's being accosted and kidnapped by two mysterious men who seem to think Wil is someone he's not. Suddenly those same kidnappers appear to be trying to protect Wil from others intent on killing him.

Next there's Emily Ruff, a teenage con artist recruited off the streets of San Francisco due to a set of survey questions she answered.* She's been taken to an school where a secret organization plans to train her in the arts of language and persuasion. Emily is to become a "poet" and work as an operative for the organization.

Then there is Virginia Wolff, a dangerous and highly effective "poet" who may have gone rogue. For some reason Virginia seems to want Wil Parker dead and has 'persuaded' others to assist her in that task.

LEXICON is for fans of suspense, secret organizations, or those who like touches of literature, history, and culture mixed in with the thrills.

* The survey questions are listed in the back of the book if you want to find out if you could be a suitable "poet" candidate. 😉

YOU: A NOVEL / Austin Grossman / 383 Pages / Read June 15-16, 2013

Russell Marsh has had many jobs but finds his life is going nowhere so he applies for and is hired by a video game company created and run by some of his old high school buddies. Black Arts Games, producer of the award-winning 'Realms of Gold', was founded by Simon, a now deceased but genius designer, and Darren, the ultimate entrepreneur.

The story is a mix of reality and mystery which provides a look into how a video game is really developed and marketed. Follow Russell as he tries to figure out and debug the newest Black Arts project; a problem which will take him back to his high school days AND have him holding personal conversations with the fantasy heroes of Realms of Gold I through VII.

Fans of video games, inside information on the video game industry and it's history, those who enjoy hard-luck heroes who struggle to finally get things right, may enjoy Grossman's novel, YOU.