the paris wife

I'm not sure this would have been one of my first choices for a book to read, but in the end I did enjoy it. I love historical fiction, and it was well written, but, I had a hard time getting into the story. About half way through is when I really startred to enjoy the read. Ironically, this is about the same time that Hemingway started to turn into a real jerk and I wished I could reach through the words to knock some sense into him.

In the end, Hadley is my hero. She stuck by what she believed, and stood up for herself. But at the same time knew when she was getting in to deep and decided it was best to just cut the cord and try not to worry. It was amazing how much Hadley did for Hemingway, yet it was always so easy for him to forget and overlook her. Leaving her behind, but always wanting to come back to her strong and steady support.

I know this book is based on the truth, and even when you know the ending you are still surprised. Hadley was better for loosing Hemingway, or Hemingway was a fool for leaving Hadley. I guess they outgrew each other, and where Hadley was willing to fight, Hemingway was willing to give up. She was far too good for him, she keept her morals and hated loosing the friends that he so willingly abandoned. In the end it really was all his loss.

... On another Ironic note. After reading this book, I have zero desire to read Hemingway ever again, but had a very strong urge to read The Great Gatsby...

little house on the prairie

This Book in the Little House series always made me a little sad. This was supposed to be it, the big move on to the frontier, but then the Indians got so riled up, so they left before trouble could come.

Re-reading this book as an adult I feel for Caroline. She finally thought they had settled. She had already dealt with leaving family behind in the big woods, not they had to move again, just one year later.

They were out on the frontier, away from people, with just a few good neighbors miles away. Then, right when everything had settled down. Right when they thought everything was going their way. Crops were planted, the house was built and they had glass windows, there was a cow and a well. Everything was good, they had to pick up and leave.

It's funny who you relate to when you re-read books at different points in your life. 

little house in the big woods

Every once and a while I have an odd craving to re-read books. The past few weeks I have wanted to read the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Since my initial read as a child, I have read the entire series a few times in my life. It is just one of those series that I find a new way to relate the lessons and ideals in the books to my life.

Family is so important in the Little House books, and Caroline and Charles are so strong and supportive of each other. A great example of what a marriage should be. Mary and Laura have such fun adventures up in the attic among the pumpkins in the winter and under the trees in the summer.

It's funny, I'd forgotten how short this book is. It was nice to be reintroduced to the characters in this series. To see the love that is shared and how simple life was. It makes me wish that I could go back to that time. A time that there is no technology nothing but the clouds in the sky and the birds of the field. Nothing to hold you back from enjoying the beauty around you.

the lunar chronicles

Honestly, I wasn't quite sure what to expect when starting these books this morning. Yes, I said this morning. As soon as I started the pre-quill Glitch, I was hooked. I knew from the title that it was going to be a Cinderella type story, but what I got was so much more.

Marissa Meyer creates a world in the future that is so simple, yet so perfect. Glitch, is just an introduction to this world. You get to meet the "evil step mom" and learn about Cinders special talents that make her so valuable and unique.

From the beginning, I knew there would be something very special in store for this amazing character. I couldn't wait to find out what adventures Cinder would have with her new friend, Iko, a house robot she repaired, by her side. And so, as soon as I turned the last page of Glitches, and met family that Cinder was left with I couldn't wait to start in on Cinder, and was so glad I was just a few clicks away from page one.

---

Cinder, has not had it easy since her adoptive father was taken away after catching Letumosis, a plague that has been ravaging the earth with no cure. The story opens just as you might expect any Cinderella Story to open, with our wonderful pure young woman totaling away for the family that never wanted her to begin with.

Along with Iko, Cinders one true friend and ally, Cinder runs a small stand at the market where she is known as the best mechanic in the area, but the real mystery is that she has her tallent because she is a cyborg. One day, when the prince shows up at her stand needing repairs done her world takes a drastic change from the status quo.

Through a series of unlikely events, Cinder ends up as a test subject agains the deadly desase. However, this takes her to the exact place she should be. A place that she learns more about herself and how special she really is.

And don't forget about falling in love with the hansom prince and saving the kingdom from great evil. But honestly, what Cinderella Story would be complete without that?

---

The Lunar Chronicles will continue in 2013. Ug. I know, I hate having to wait as well. The next story will carry on with Cinders adventure, but also introduce the character of Red Riding Hood. Hum. I wonder where all of this will take our little Cinderella character. All I know, is I can't wait to find out! 

the last song

This book, like every Nicholas Sparks books I've read I cried. Honesty, you would have thought I would learn my lesson, but obviously, I haven't.

There is something about the way that Nicholas Sparks builds a story. He takes people through an awful situation, in a way brings them back from the dead. It's amazing the emotional connection you create with the characters, and each grow in ways beyond imagining.

I cried as Steve, Ronnie's father was over taken with sickness. I cried as she played the piano once again. I cried as Steve died. And I'm sure I cried a few more places as well.

Ronnie became the person she was always meant to be the summer she spent with her father. Although everything started out a little rocky, with one collision her summer changed, for the better. She fell in love, a love that brought her out of herself, that gave her a strength she didn't know she had. A love that was not always approved by some, but a love that stood through some hard tests.

By the end of the summer, Ronnie learned that sometimes the unexpected is more perfect then anything you could plan. At the same time, sometimes things are never what they seem, and as her father grew more and more sick she learned what having true inner-straight means. Most importantly she found her way into faith.

the dressmaker

Maybe it is the mystery surrounding the Sinking of the Titanic, maybe it is the struggle between classes or the adventure of starting fresh. Or maybe it is fact that an amazing story will always draws you in and makes you want more. Whatever the reason, I hated putting this book down... So I read it in basically two sittings. (stoping to sleep in between)

The great tragedy of the Titanic may have happened 100 years ago in history, but Kate Alcott took me back to that time with such skill. The magnificence of the boat has never been lost on anyone, and the loss the of the rich and poor alike makes it so much more then a disaster.

The Dressmaker is a captivating story that bounces between perspectives helping to round out events, yet there is still so much mystery as to what actually happened. I was Tess as she took up the oar with Mrs. Brown. I felt for Jim as he stood up for what was right. As the story unfolded in Pinky Wade's eye's it did before mine as well. I felt the hatred for the Duff Gorden's no matter what the perspective I was reading.

There was friendship, loss, hatred, and above all fear and guilt. The fear of coming so close to death and the guilt for surviving. In the end, just as Miss. Stacy, from Anne of Green Gables, says "the truth will set you free".

the lucky one

This was a spectacular book! With the movie coming out I wanted to read the book before I learned any more about the story. How Nicholas Sparks comes up with his stories I'll never know. Each one is spectacular and each one I can't help but cry.

U.S. Marine Logan Thibault has not had it easy, but is very lucky. His friend attribute his luck to a photograph. After getting out of the Marines and an very unlucky accident Thibault along with Zeus, his German shepherd, goes on a long walk that leads him to Elizabeth and a world he never could have imagined.

Somehow, slowly but surly everything in Thibault and Elizabeth's life starts to come together. Thibault slowly realizes that he has found a home. No matter what Keith, Elizabeth's ex-husband, does to get in the way nothing can tear him apart from this place, his home.

Like all Nicholas Sparks books, the end is always full of twists and turns and for a second you think maybe he really did throw in something so very unexpected. But then there is a happy ending, one that everything is as it should be.

The Vampire Diaries - The Return: Nightfall

It happened again, Dark Reunion re-captured me at the end and I had high hopes for this book. However, at the end, I'm calling it quits, at least for now. There are two more books that were actually written by L.J. Smith in the series. Eventually I'd like to finish them, but for now I am done.

The thing that angers me about this series is the turn that some of the characters have taken. Elena's character has grown and become strong, but I don't think that is true of most of the others. Caroline, in particular has taken a turn for the worse, she has turned evil out of spite. Stefan and Damon haven't really changed all that much, but I've never been overly fond of the way they have been portrayed. Damon in particular, about mid way through this book I was excited about the development in his character, but in the end he was the same old same old. Bonnie and Meredith have always been some of my favorites, but have been fading from the story line.

In this book the evil has truly taken over the town and as usually it is after Elena. But it is attacking from the outside in. Damon is one of the first under the evil influence, preceded only Caroline who has in a sense made a "deal with the devil". Bonnie, Meredith, and Matt and Elena have their work cut out for them in defeating the evil after Stefan was kidnaped. In the end Elena finds her powers and saves the day.

I hope that when I do decide to continue on with the series that the adventure that Elena, Damon and Matt have started ends with a happen ending.

The Vampire Diaries - Dark Reunion

This book did not keep my attention, until the end, then I was completely caught up in it again. I'm not sure what exactly what it was about the story that bothered me so much in the first half of the story. I think I missed the Elana/Stefan interaction. I have nothing against Bonnie and Meredith, they have always been great characters, but for me they work better secondary rather then primary.

I did enjoy the concept of the story, one of the oldest vampires comes to Fell's Church and causes problems. But there was a level of personal interaction that I felt was missing. It was beyond romance. Elana had a way of tying everyone together.With her missing from the story in physical form until the very end I felt the loss of the group of friends.

About mid-way in this book I was not planing on reading the next, but the end pulled me back in and I couldn't wait to start the next.

The Vampire Diaries - The Fury

This book has some interesting twists. Someone is terrorizing Fell's Church a new mystery evil that has taken over Fell's Church. The trouble in store is more then they could have imagined and the results of the evil is more then expected.

Bonnie learns more about her powers. Damon learns he is not quite as evil has he would like everyone to think he is. Stefan both gains and looses a lot. And last but not least, Elana goes through the most of all. The ends in a surprise that shows the true colors and strength of each character.

One of my favorite parts of this book is that you get to learn a lot about Stefan and Damon's past. Where they came from, how they were turned vampire and most importantly, what came between them.

I hated putting this book down. The book had such a fast pace that it keept me interested from start to finish.

The Vampire Diaries - The Struggle

This book picks up where the last ended. And of course there is lots of trouble on the verge of happening. Between Caroline, and Damon, there is no rest for Stefan and Elana. With the help of Bonnie and Meredith everyone gets out mostly unscathed and surprisingly, Damon is not the baddest bad.

As Caroline tries to destroy Elana's reputation. She steals Elana's diary a perfect weapon filled with secretes. Damon continues tries to steal her away from Damon. A feat he has put a lot of effort into with few results. Damon could have never guessed what his efforts would lead to.

Stefan takes the ultimant leap with Elana when he asks her a very big question, one that drives Damon off the edge. Elana's family is not 100% on board with the marriage either. This is a wedge that is the start of a deep cut that will tear many apart.

After the Founder's Day ceremony Elana runs out of fear to a place she thinks she will be safe But safety in Fell's Church is hard to find, and unfortunately Elana misses her mark and it sends her down a path much different then the one she had hoped to be on.

The Vampire Diaries - The Awakening

I started watching The Vampire Diaries show. I thought it would be fun to see what the books were like. To be honest, I was a little disappointed, but that was more because of the extreme diferences between the two. They both had there merits, but I think that when they took the story and turned it into a show they did a good job of creating a compelling story.

In the book Elana was in control. She hadn't necessarily had it easy, but she had a lot of it figured out. But when Stefan came in to her life everything was turned upside down. Falling for Stefan, in the long run opened up a door that Elana would have maybe done beter if she had just steered clear, but then it wouldn't have been much of a story then would it.

When Damon, Stefan's brother shows up her trouble increases and doubles. Damon believes that Elana should be his, and makes sure to cause as much trouble for Stefan as possible. When Stefan disappears after a fight with Damon Elana thinks she knows who to blame.

As soon as I finished I couldn't wait to start the next book. Sometimes it's fun to read a fun tween book. Never much content, but lots of fun to read.

temperance brennan series - deja dead

This is the first in a long series that the tv series Bones is based on. I love Bones and have been a faithful watcher since season one. I finally have decided to tackel the books. I had a hard time getting through Deja Dead, the first in the series. It had nothing to do with the charters or the plot. I think it was just the way it was written. Something about the flow of the story that didn't catch me. On top of that it was a very long book. I really wanted to dive in and love this book, and it just never happend. 

The story is about a anthropologist, the best in the business. She hasn't had it overly easy and in some ways her move to Quabeck is her running away from problems. But like everyone who tries to run away from something trouble always finds you. 

There is a serial killer on the loose, but Temperance is the only person that sees the connection. She slowly puts the pieces together building her case, until the police finally give in and dig deeper into her theory. If only they had believed her sooner. In the end the bad guy(s) are caught, but not without some surprising twists. 

Although I didn't love this book, and I am not rushing into the next book in the Series, it was not all bad. I do plan on reading more of Katy Reichs books about Temperance Brennen in time, but not right away. 

the help

I wasn't quite sure how I would feel about this book when I started. I tried to go in with as open of a mind as I could. After the frist few chapters I didn't want to put it down.

The book is written from three different points of view. What was strange about it was the change of perspective rarely overlapped, it just changed and started at approximately the same place. Every once and a while I had to take a second to remind myself from who's perspective I was reading, but over all I had no issue with the switch. The perspective switched between two African American women and one white one. Without the change in perspective I'm not sure this book would have had the same effect. Seeing the storyline from different angles made the story more full.

If it had just been told from one of the three sides there would have been a lot of lost information. It is interesting, that all three sides had a African American rights point of view. Minny and Aibileen were the help, and Miss. Skeeter was a young white women with an enlightened perspective. By far Aibileen was my favorite point of view. There was something in the purity of her voice that I loved. She had unending faith and it showed.

There were a few characters that I felt I wanted more from, or had wished further interaction with others, but over all I felt that each cliche southern woman and gentleman was portrayed quite nicely. I think this is defiantly a book that in the future I will want to pick up and read again.

Now that I've read the book, and enjoyed it, I am more excited to watch the movie then I was before.

the notebook

As so many of the female gender before and I'm sure after me, I too have fallen completely in love with Noah and his complete and loving devotion to Allie.

This is not the first time I've read The Notebook, and I'm sure not the last. Every single time I read this book I need to be sure to have a box of tissues. Without fail I will cry. But while reading this book I learned that crying over an ereader is not the same as with a real physical book. There is something about the way the tears stain the page that is magical and sends your emotions to the characters. Splotches on the screen just seem alien and pitiful, but that didn't stop me from shedding tears all the same.

This is one book that once I start I can't seem to put down, and lots of tears and a few hours later I'm longing for a Noah of my very own. Hoping that someday someone will love me, and stick by me through thick and thin. Someone to sit in a rocking chair on an old porch with. Someone to inspire me and encourage me to do things greater then I knew I could.

Each time I read this book I'm always surprised by the simplicity of it. There is really nothing overly showy about the story, it's all about how sometimes young love can be the truest of all, if given the chance. How some love can endure even the worst, and how love will conquer all.

True love. Faithful love. Patient love. Forgiving love.
Just thinking about it makes me want to read the book over again.

castle series - howl's moving castle

This book was a great read. I hated putting it down! I can't wait to read the next one!


Howl is a wizard that comes with a lot of trouble. Calcifer, a demon that is bound to Howl with a curse. Then a scarecrow she turns upright and dog she rescues, a sticks she gives magic to. Not to mention a spell that has turned Sophie into an old woman. I guess it is easy to say that Sophie has an adventure that leads to love of the most unexpected kind.

This story keept me wanting more. Wondering what new magic will pop up. In the end looking back at all the actions that Howl took were all to help and save Sophie. The Witch of the Waste does not make anything easy for anyone of Howls group. But with the help of some very unlikely friends Sophie and Howl defeat the Witch of the Waste.

At the beginning Sophie made a deal with Calcifer to break his curse if he will break hers. In the end the curse is broken in a way that no one but Calcifer could have imagined.

In the end Howl and Sophie have fallen in love. Howl tells Sophie that they "ought to live happily ever after".

southern vampire series - dead reckoning

It's official. Sookie can not catch a break. If it's not a vampire war, it's a fae war. If it's not weres it's were panthers. If its not being kidnapped it's being persecuted. If it's not Bill, it's Eric, or Quinn. The poor girl has had to deal with so much throughout this series, I don't know how she could still be functioning.

Victor, representative of the Vampire King Felipe de Castro, is attempting to take over Louisianna in every way possible. He has opened up both a human and vampire bar in hopes of cutting off business to Sam and Eric. Unfortunately, it's working.

With the help of Amilia and Bob, Sookie breaks the blood bond to Eric. She does this to, in a way, prove to herself and Eric that there is more then just a blood bond between them. That their love is real. And she is right. At first, Eric is angry about the bond being broken it was an extra layer of protection for Sookie agains vampires that may want to take her for her special talents, but I think in his own way he understands why she did what she did.


Fortunately, in this book a lot of lingering questions are finally answered. Like, questions answered about Sookie's Gran, and her relationship with the fae. And why Sookie is a telepath, and what the real result was of Eric's maker visiting Eric. And trust me, Sookie is not happy about it, but there are some things that are just too good to spoil.

I think this is the first book that is chalk full of answers. But even if things are finally starting to fall into place, there is still plenty to figure out. Unfortunately, we will all have to wait until May for "Deadlocked" to come out to find out more. For me, May can't come soon enough!

southern vampire series - dead in the family

This is a book full of CRAZY! From the very beginning everyone's life is turned on end. 

Sookie is recovering from injuries after the fae war. Bill was also injured and is having problems healing. He refuses to contact the one person who might be able to help him, his vampire sister. Eric's maker shows up and turns everything upside down and back again. Sam is having family problems and Jason is dealing with the death of his ex-wife. Sookie aslo has some of her fae family staying with her. They are mourning the loss of Claudine, and also, missing their fae world that was closed off to them. And that's only on the first page. It seems like everyone is in over there heads and on top of it all, Sookie still has to deal with the deceitful vampires that have taken over Louisiana. 

When it comes to Bill, Sookie does her best to keep out of it all, but she hates to see him suffer, knowing it was caused by her. She decides to take matters into her own hands and contact Judith, Bills "sister". They were both made by the same maker, because of this she may be able to help him heal. She comes, helps and Bill does get better, much to Sookie's relief. 

Eric's maker is a problem all unto it's self, and one that Sookie can't do much about. He has brought another one of his "sons" who ends up causing more problems then he is worth. While Eric's maker is there, he stirs up a lot of trouble. It is clear that Eric is uncomfortable with him around, and because of the blood connection, Sookie feels all this discomfort as well. 

Not only does Sookie have her fae uncle and cousin staying in her home, but she is also being hunted by a fae that is enacting revenge for the lose of Claudine. Her fae family save her from him, but it causes the loss of Eric's maker's "son" and his maker himself. This leaves Eric free of a maker, but not free of problems he has caused. 

This is an entire book of "no one can catch a break". Every time I think what more can happen?, something else happens. Poor Sookie.

southern vampire series - dead and gone

Since vampires have been somewhat successfully "out of the coffin", now it's the two natured turn to come out to the public. Of course it is a bumpy transition. But for Sookie, it is the least of her problems.

Eric and Sookie are now bound in every way after he tricks her into preforming a vampire marriage ceremony. This saves Sookie from some of the new regime that has taken over Louisiana. Not everyone likes Eric, so when he is threatened, so is Sookie.

On top of vampires, Sookie is also dealing with problems coming from her fary prince great grandfather. Sookie is kidnaped and gets caught in the middle of the war, she is saved by Bill, Eric, and Claudine. It is a battle that not everyone comes out of alive.

As a result of the battle Sookie finds out that her family has been involved in the war for her whole life. Her parents were killed as a result of a fae attack. And her former sister in law was crucified after being caught in the middle as well.

In the end the fairy world is cut off from the human world, trapping many fae in the human world, and some are not happy about that.

southern vampire series - from dead to worse

Qunn is missing, but this is just the start of the problems to come for Sookie in this book.

Thanks to Erik, Sookie meets the most unexpected of people, her Great Grandfather Niall, he is a Fairy Prince. Finally some light is shed on Sookies unique pedigree. The dinner that she shares with Niall is not all together enlightening, there are many questions left unanswered, but some things do start to make sense.

Once again supernaturals are being attacked and killed. This time were's are being attacked and killed. The Shreveport Weres are split over the issue, one side with Alcide at the lead and the other is Patrick, the winner of the wolfpack leader competition.

Alceide asks Sookie to come supervise the meeting of the fractions of the Shreveport pack. Sam comes along as well as extra protection. At the meeting the pack is attacked by a pack displaced by hurricane Katrina. This pack has been the cause of the weres being attacked. At the end Shreveport comes out on top winning the war. Alceide is named the new pack leader, since Patrick is killed durring the attack.

The weres are not the only ones feeling strain and pressure. Since the Louisiana vampire community has not only been weakened by Katrina but the Vampire Conference also left many vampires injured or dead. The Queen lost both of her legs durring the attack, and while she re-grows her legs the kingdom is left very weak. This weakness is taken advantage of by Felipe de Castro the King of Nevada.

Felipe kills many vampires in Louisiana, however he would like to keep Erik because he is a powerful and rich vampire that always ends up on top. Thanks to Erik's blood bond with Sookie, she is protected from being forced into service of Felipe, but she is still impacted by the takeover.

So he is out of the picture. Erik has his memories back from his time he was under a curse and spent with Sookie. As normal he pursues Sookie relentlessly. Since Quinn is missing, Sookie has not seen him since the Conference. Eventually, Sookie gives in and re-kindles her relationship with Erik. This strengthens her protection under the new vampire regime. In the end Sookie secures her protection under Felipe by saving him from Sigebert, the last of Queen Sophie-Anne's guards.

To no surprise of Sookie, Crystal, her sister-in-law is caught cheating. This is not a good thing. Part of the ceremony included a punishment clause for unfaithfulness. The punishment will be taken by Calvin Norris, the family member who spoke for Crystal while Sookie, who spoke for Jason, must give out the punishment. Because of Crystals there is a lot of stress created between Sookie and Calvin, who were once friends.

On another surprising family front, Sookie has found and visits Hadley's son, Hunter. When she visits she gets learns something she never would have imagined. Hunter is also a telepathy and Sookie will protect him from vampires if it's the last thing she does.