Happy New Years Eve

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

I came across this book because someone I knew read it, rated it, and recommended it to me on Goodreads.com (No I do not get sponsored by them by any-means, I just use their site...a lot...) I clicked on it to see what the book was about and decided that yes I too in fact wanted to read this book. So on to my "want to read" list it went.

I hope you think this book sounds as interesting as I did! And let me know what you think when you check it out!


"Under the streets of London there's a place most people could never even dream of. A city of monsters and saints, murderers and angels, knights in armour and pale girls in black velvet. This is the city of the people who have fallen between the cracks.

Richard Mayhew, a young businessman, is going to find out more than enough about this other London. A single act of kindness catapults him out of his workday existence and into a world that is at once eerily familiar and utterly bizarre. And a strange destiny awaits him down here, beneath his native city: Neverwhere."
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14497.Neverwhere

Happy Reading!!

Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray

If you recall this past summer I wrote about an Audio book called The Diviners that I fell into on our road trip to Michigan to visit family. Little did I know, and yes this happens more often than not to me, that the book I was beginning was the start of a series. I am still unsure how long this series will go, what I do know is that in August 2014 this book, the second in the Diviners series, will be released and I am actually a little excited. I enjoy this series...(so far being 1 book in and all) because it is set in the roaring 20's, such a fun, romantic, and classy era. (That I believe I maybe should have been born in, that or the 50's.) 

The description of the book brought to you by goodreads.com is as follows;"After a supernatural showdown with a serial killer, Evie O'Neill has outed herself as a Diviner. Now that the world knows of her ability to "read" objects, and therefore, read the past, she has become a media darling, earning the title, "America's Sweetheart Seer." But not everyone is so accepting of the Diviners' abilities...

Meanwhile, mysterious deaths have been turning up in the city, victims of an unknown sleeping sickness. Can the Diviners descend into the dreamworld and catch a killer?"

If you read The Diviners this synopsis makes a little sense...if you didn't it probably sounds ridiculous. But I assure you I think it may be worth it.

Happy Reading!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

                                                        (http://www.sheinspires.com.au/christmas-books-reading-list)

Merry Christmas!! May you have a blessed and love filled Christmas!!

The Forever Queen by Helen Hollick

I am really enjoying doing the research for book to share with you, So much so my want to read list on Goodreads.com is getting very, very, VERY long.

While looking up books a few weeks ago this one came up on my recommended reading list, And I thought it sounded interesting so I choose to share this with you.

"What kind of woman becomes the wife of two kings, and the mother of two more?

Saxon England, 1002. Not only is Æthelred a failure as King, but his young bride, Emma of Normandy, soon discovers he is even worse as a husband. When the Danish Vikings, led by Swein Forkbeard and his son, Cnut, cause a maelstrom of chaos, Emma, as Queen, must take control if the Kingdom-and her crown-are to be salvaged. Smarter than history remembers, and stronger than the foreign invaders who threaten England's shores, Emma risks everything on a gamble that could either fulfill her ambitions and dreams or destroy her completely.

Emma, the Queen of Saxon England, comes to life through the exquisite writing of Helen Hollick, who shows in this epic tale how one of the most compelling and vivid heroines in English history stood tall through a turbulent fifty-year reign of proud determination, tragic despair, and triumph over treachery."

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7717338-the-forever-queen

What do you think? Did this entice you?

Happy Reading!

IGNITE ME!!!!!!!!!

Anyone else waiting on their tippy toes for this release in February? I am so excited I can hardly stand it. I HATE having to wait to see what happens to a character...and I am finding myself liking Warner a lot more than Adam...which is weird. But I believe Warner is a better fit, possibly. 

You can disagree with me, that is fine (I had a lot of people that I knew care for Jacob rather than Edward in Twilight...not my fault I was right. ;)) Anyways, I am more curious to see how the final story will play out and praying it is not a huge disappointment.

According to Goodreads.com this is the synopsis as of right now...

"Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she'll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew-about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam-was wrong."

Such a SHORT synopsis for such an anticipated book. Not cool right!? So I went to Tahereh Mafi's website (http://www.taherehbooks.com/#!ignite-me) and got the SAME description. Again very uncool. But I guess that what makes us waiting on the edge of our seats until February. What are you going to do with your time?

Happy Rea...Waiting!

The Sisters Grimm By Michael Buckley

My good friend Amanda sent me this book recommendation on Goodreads.com and I asked her to write a little review of this book since she enjoyed it to share with all of you!

"From one generation to the next fairy-tale stories have been passed down. Through the retellings, the stories have undergone some changes, but we all know the essence of how the tales go. We have a lot of twists on the classic tales in books, television shows, and movies lately. Sometimes telling the story from a difference character’s perspective, other times putting those fairy-tale characters in modern times. One of the recent twists on these tales is “The Sisters Grimm” series by Michael Buckley and illustrated by Peter Ferguson. The series features two sisters, Sabrina and Daphne Grimm. Their parents disappeared out of the blue one day, leaving the two girls to bounce between an orphanage and a series of horrible foster families. After nearly a year and a half, Granny Relda, a woman claiming to be the girls’ grandmother who they believed was dead, moves the girls from New York City to Ferryport Landing to live with her. Granny Relda claims that not only are the girls descendants of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm who collected and published many of the well-known fairy-tales, but that her neighbors are the fairy-tale characters they (and other authors) wrote about. It is the Grimm legacy to investigate any unusual crimes and keep an eye on the mischief-making fairy-tale folk, also known as Everafters. In a nutshell, Sabrina and Daphne Grimm were the next in a long line of “fairy-tale detectives.” These stories are told from eleven-year-old Sabrina Grimm’s perspective. Sabrina has become the protector of her younger sister, and takes it upon herself to be the voice of reason in a situation she doubts is the truth. This means that Sabrina is argumentative and hard to deal with at first, which is understandable given what she is dealing with. The first book, “The Fairy-Tale Detectives,” largely sets up the plot for future books, but the first case does have a surprising twist. There is a playful sense of humor, including inside jokes for those who are familiar with the fairy-tale characters. The target audience for the series is ages 7-13 years-old, but they make fun, quick reads for adults too, especially those of us who enjoy fairy-tales. They are part mystery, part fantasy, and part adventure."

You can check the book out for yourself here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/176327.The_Fairy_Tale_Detectives?ac=1

What do you think? I know I will be placing this book on my never ending hold list at the Library, will you?

Happy Reading!

O'Little Town by Don Reid

Since it is the Season of Christmas (my favorite season of all) I have bene researching some Christmas books for all of you to check out...and I came across this one that sounded quite interesting.

...However I am unable to find it at my local library, which I find very odd! But anyways the synopsis of this book according to (you guessed it) Goodreads.com is as follows;

"Christmas, 1958: Elvis is on the radio, Ike is in the White House, the Lord is in his holy temple . but there is no peace in Mt. Jefferson.

In a small town where everybody seems to know everybody, there are still a few secrets. Three families find they are connected in ways they never suspected: an angry teen, a dying man, a lonely wife, a daughter in trouble . just ordinary people, muddling their way through ordinary challenges. Illness. Marriage. Bad decisions. Friendship. Faith. Forgiveness."

What do you think? Interesting enough to capture your attention? I pray you have better luck at finding it than I did at your Library. I was able to find this book by the same author that takes place in the same small town...

And though it is not truly Christmas orientated I still feel it has the potential to be a good read. Follow THIS LINK to check it out for yourself.

Happy Reading (and searching)!!

Letters from Father Christmas

Our last and final book selection discussion for this past month.

What did you all think about this book? It was not exactly what I thought it was going be, I was thinking Lord of the Rings...but with Christmas. But I loved seeing the creativity Tolkien was with his children. It is so sweet to see all the of the photos and letters that he took the time to write his Children.

I enjoyed the rhymes, the pictures, and the attention to details of each characters hand-writing. 

It was kind of him to help reassure his daughter during the war I thought through Father Christmas, it is something we do not forget, but doesn't always stand out when reading authors from the era.

What did you think about this book? I enjoyed it, but it was harder to read for me than the other 2. But I did enjoy the creativity that he showed. Just a reminder that he was a father as well as a author. And he clearly loved his children,

What was your experience reading this book?

I do not know if I could have kept it up that long...what about you?

Would you have introduced the other characters? The Polar Bear? The Elf?

Happy Discussing! 

The Christmas Bus

CAUTION THIS POST WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!

Now let's have a chat about the second choice of books that we had this month. 

I actually read this book in 1 day. It is a nice, short, easy read. Which again with the schedule I have been carrying on with and with the dystopian books I have been entertaining, this was another breath of fresh air.

I was surprised at how religious this book got, I did not mind though I wonder what some of you thought about that turn of events?

What did you think of the little town called Christmas? Did this book make you feel, as it did me, that you were reading a Hallmark movie instead of actually watching one? I loved the predictableness (is that a word? My computer does not seem to think so...if not I here by do declare that for this day, and any days here on forth I feel the need to use it, it is in fact a real word) of this book in a way, because sometimes I like to feel like Sherlock Holmes for a change, instead of John Watson. 

What did you think of the Hippie couple (aka Joseph and Mary?) Did you think they would have a baby boy on Christmas? I did. That is where my Sherlockness (I KNOW that is not a word but I like the way it sounded) ended. But I liked their spirit and I was surprised to find out their young age!

Anyone else see a coming together of Leslie and Peter? I saw that one from the moment they started decorating cookies...though it never officially happened I believe the author wanted you to know it would.

And what about dear Myrtle? Or not so dear if you would prefer...was she a Christmas Angel wrapped up in a sassy little old lady? I would like to think so. I think she played her role beautifully and made an exceptional, yet predictable exit. Though I did not see it to be her that took the Angel...I really did not know who did that, so much for my inner Sherlock Holmes.

What did you like and dislike about this little treasure? Like I stated I read it in one sitting (during a much needed nap-time by a sick little toddler) I enjoyed the typical warmheartedness of the Christmas story. The happy ending all tied up with a Christmas bow. Sometimes it is just nice to read a book that makes you want to grab a cuppa and watch a Christmas movie on Hallmark, or sing Christmas carols. It is always nice to reflect and see what all the characters learned during the events of the story, and what you as the reader can learn. I learned again to just be who I want to be, and treat others with the kindness that God would offer. Which is always hard, especially when I am driving (Just ask my dad who listens to my mouth sometimes when I am talking to him while driving)

What did you learn from this book?

Happy Discussing! 

The Christmas Wedding

CAUTION THIS WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS!

Okay so let's start this discussion, those of you that read this book what did you think?

How did you feel about the believe-ability factor or 3 men proposing to 1 woman? And about them all being gentlemen with her not telling them who she choose until the wedding day?

What about Gaby's relationship with her children? Did it make you pray that you have that kind of relationship with your children? I know it did me! I pray my sweet toddler wants to talk with me the way those fictional children wanted to speak with her. And that he respects me the way they respected her.

How did you feel about her children's lives?

Claire and Hank? Do you think it is feasible that Gus would have turned around so quickly? I mean I know the episode with his father was an eye opening experience, but enough to make him automatically side with his mother?

Emily and Dr. Perfect? I was relieved that they had a solid marriage, and she was immune to the adultery that was beckoning at her door.

Lizzie and Mike? Their relationship was also a refresher. Sad but that is real life and I appreciated it.

Seth and Annie? I loved the over the top fun couple. What was your reaction to them teaming in and making the single wedding into a double? 

How did you feel about the family dynamic? Crazy Christmas carols and all they made me smile, and feel warmth. And that is what a Christmas story is all about in my mind.

What are your thoughts on Gaby's husband decision Marty? I honestly assumed it was Tom. Because it is kind of odd  my my mind that you are marrying your deceased husbands brother. But I assume the relationship made sense and he would understand her sorrow in the passing of Peter. But still, a little odd.

Overall I did enjoy this book. It was an easy read and made you feel warm and fuzzy, and after all the dystopian young adult books I have read lately this was a nice refresher. 

Now enough about me, what did you think?

Happy Discussing! 

Not so patiently waiting....

As you all know our Next book starting in January is The Book Thief by Mark Zusak, and if you are like me and prefer to borrow the books before you buy them as a precaution on the off chance you may not particularly care for the book then you are also on a extremely long waiting list. I just looked up on my Nook (by Barnes and Noble) the price of actually purchasing the book....and it was on sale for $5!! Get it while it is Hot folks! The paperback seemed to also be on sale for $8! So if you were having issues like me this is probably the best route to take.

Here is the link to the Barnes and Noble website. The book that is on sale is the non-movie related cover (which I personally prefer anyways) SO I wanted to be sure you all had the link to the book I was speaking of; http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book-thief-markus-zusak/1100189892?ean=9780375842207

Happy Reading Bookworms!

Holy Cow where did the time go?

Ever had the moment where you look at the calendar and have to do a double take because you could have sworn it was earlier in the year than this? Well that has been happening to me a lot lately. Hence the lack of postings, but whether I like it or not it is December! And now we have a month to talk about the Christmas books we read and are still reading. And to wait on the edge of our seats to start the Book Thief. I am extremely excited for that book! I promise to do my best not to let life get me too busy to write a few notes on here for you during this holiday season. 

I am looking froward to hearing how you felt about these books! 

Happy Reading!