January Wrap Up!!!

I am so excited and glad to share another reading year with all of you!!!  :-)

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL MY FOLLOWERS AND THOSE THAT STOP IN TO READ MY BLOG!!!  YOU ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED BY ME EVERY DAY!  


Here's what I have read in January: 14 Grand Total of  Books!!
You can click on the title of the book to get to my review of that book.  :-)

~ 1 Children's Book:
~The Happy Man and His Dump Truck by Miryam


~ 4 Young Adult Fiction:
~Topaz and the Evil Wizard by Pat Frayne
~Topaz and the Plum-Gista Stone by Pat Frayne
~The Adventures of Stanley Delacourt by Ilana Waters
~Model Spy by Shannon Greenland

~ 9 Adult Fiction ( Paranormal Romance/ Mystery/  Fiction):
~Starflower by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
~Roost by Jasmine Winterson
~Shaman, Sister, Sorceress by M. Terry Green
~Cover of Snow by Jenny Milchman
~Auraria by Tim Westover
~The Living Room by Bill Rolfe
~Good Gladys by Martin Renaud
~Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris
~What the Cat Saw by Carolyn Hart

How are my Challenges looking?
You can click on each challenge and you will go to my post for that challenge to see which books counted for each challenge or what each challenge entails.  

Over The Year 2013:

1.  Paranormal Reading Challenge 2013  Read 12 paranormal books.  I am choosing to read one a month and to follow their list of which paranormal being is featured that month and read a book containing the featured paranormal.

1/12

2.  Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2013  I am hoping to climb Mount Blanc this year by setting a goal of reading 24 books off my TBR Shelf/List.

2/24

3.  Color Coded Reading Challenge 2013  Read 9 color specific books per list provided.

0/9

4.  What An Animal VI Reading Challenge 2013  Read 6 books containing an animal somewhere in them (cover, title, main character)

4/6

5.  Colorful Reading Challenge 2013  Read 9 books containing a color in the title.  Any color from the Crayola Crayon Color Box is game!

0/9

6.  Monthly Key Word Reading Challenge 2013  Read one book a month, so total of 12 books, that contain the "key word" of the month in the title.  "Key words" are given to pick from every month. 

1/12

7.  EBook Challenge 2013  Read E-Books!  I chose the CD level of reading 10 eBooks in the year.

0/10

8.  Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge 2013  Just like the name implies, simply read more books than I did in 2012.  I hope to read 1-5 more than I read in 2012!

0/5

9.  Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge 2013  Read books from Sookie Stackhouse Series.  I chose to read 5 books from the series this year, as that is the number I have left in the series to read.

1/5

10.  Women's Murder Club Reading Challenge 2013  Read books from this series.  I chose to read 1-3 books from the series to continue to make my way through the set.

0/3

11.  Let Me Count The Ways Reading Challenge 2013  Count pages read.  I chose the Mansion level of reading 10,001 + pages.

3,442/10,001

12.  Witch and Witchcraft Reading Challenge 2013  Read Witchy books.  I chose to read 1-5 witchy books for the Initiate level.

4/5

13.  Reading Challenge Addict Challenge 2013  A challenge to give you the goal of completing you challenges!  I chose the In Flight level of completing 11-15 challenges.

0/15

14.  Pre-1960 Classic Children Book Challenge 2013  Read classic kids books that date before 1960.  I am trying for 12 books, one a month.

1/12

15.  Mystery/Crime Reading Challenge 2013  Read Mystery and Crime books.  I picked the Sherlock Holmes level of reading 30+ books in 2013.

6/30

16.  Off The Shelf Reading Challenge 2013  Read books off your own shelf to lessen your pile.  I picked "Trying", which is to read 15 books off my shelf.

2/15  

17.  Why Buy The Cow Reading Challenge 2013  Read eBooks that you find legally free.  I picked the "coupon clipper" level of reading 12 free eBooks.

0/12

18.  YA Mythology Reading Challenge 2013  Read 10 YA Mythology Books.

3/10

19.  A to Z Reading Challenge 2013  Read a book for each letter of the alphabet (title starts with).

10/26

20.  100 Books in A Year Reading Challenge 2013  Read 100 Books in the year.
13/100

21.  150+ Reading Challenge 2013  Read 150+ books in the year.
13/150

Perpetual:

1.  Stephanie Plum Reading Challenge  Read all the books in this series.

3/22

2.  Kinsey Millhone Reading Challenge  Read all the books in this series.

9/22

3.  Stephen King Reading Challenge  Read all of Stephen King's Books.

0/100

4.  Read 1 Million Pages Challenge  Read 1 Million Pages.

34,625/1,000,000

Book Review: What the Cat Saw

Title:  What the Cat Saw
Author:  Carolyn Hart
Pages:  296
Publication Date:  2012
Version:  Hardcover free for honest review
Genre:  Adult Fiction/Mystery

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Ever since the death of her fiancé, Nela Farley has found herself plagued by a sixth sense: she understands the thoughts of cats when she looks into their eyes. Nela knows that what she’s experiencing is completely irrational and tries to convince herself that she is simply transferring her own thoughts that she doesn’t want to face.

When her adventurous sister, Chloe, goes on a trip and asks for a favor, Nela welcomes the distraction and agrees to substitute at Chloe’s job at a charitable foundation. Chloe has arranged a place for her sister to stay, but when Nela shows up, she encounters the previous tenant’s cat and gets a flash of thought: “. . . dead . . . dead and gone . . . She loved me . . . board rolled on the second step . . .”

Nela wants to ignore what the cat saw, but the idea that the death of former tenant Marian Grant wasn’t an accident is something she can’t ignore. As Nela begins to do some research into Marian’s life, strange events begin to occur, all seeming to lead back to the Haklo Foundation. But when a detective becomes suspicious of Nela’s sister and a second murder occurs, Nela realizes she’ll have to make the most of her unwanted ability to figure out what’s really going on, before she meets her own untimely end…"

My Review:
All Nela was trying to do was a favor for her sister Chloe, instead she finds herself in the middle of a huge mystery and to her dismay she is seen as a suspect as well as her sister.  Chloe has always been a flighty and free girl and being an adult hasn't changed that at all, so when her boyfriend wins a trip to Tahiti she is more than willing to ask her sister, Nela, to come and fill in for her at her job so she can go.  Nela has had a rough patch in her life lately so she agrees to help Chloe out for a change of scenery.  What Nela finds when she gets there leaves her wishing she would have said no to her sister.  Nela is to stay in a dead woman's house while there to house-sit and cat-sit while working for Chloe at her office.  Nela doesn't really mind and the cat, Jugs, is quite good company, but when someone breaks in to the house Nela thinks there may be more to the death of the previous owner than is being told.  Well, that and Jugs told her so, yup, Nela thinks she is crazy too, but she can hear cats' thoughts by looking into their eyes.  As she gets to know things through the office, she comes to see that the company has been having vandals for quite a few months already and they all may be connected to the murder of Marian.  Thing of it all is, how can Nela try to clear her name when she is suspected of helping her sister cover up being the vandal, when the only proof she has she is innocent is coming from a cat?  Being an investigative reporter has taught Nela some things though, and she is on the hunt to figure this whole mess out before she is found guilty of not only vandalism, but murder.  As she gets closer to the truth what will the real murderer do to keep her quiet?  Will Nela find out the truth before she becomes another murder case for detectives?  Who can she trust in a town she has just came to...besides the Jugs the cat?

I thought this was a fantastic book and a great new spin on murder mystery.  I loved the whole idea of hearing the cat's thoughts as she looks into his bright eyes.  The characters were easy to come to suspect and to love and were very well thought out and developed throughout the book.  I liked how the reporter kind of helped develop the characters in the book even more by making notes about the characters as he is trying to help Nela figure out the murderer.  It added more depth and background to the characters in a unique, yet fitting way.  The plot was full of mystery and twists and turns.  I enjoyed seeing how Nela started to user her reporter instincts to try and solve the case herself, with the help of Jugs and Steve, when she sees that she is a main suspect.  She really kicks into action and the book really heats up after that, even more so than it was before that.  Every time I thought I knew "who dun it" I would read more clues that Nela was finding and start second guessing myself and my conclusions.  There was one point that I just had to laugh at how much I was changing my mind on who did it and I just had to say, that's it, they all did it, has to be.  I just didn't know who to lean toward anymore.  I love it when this happens because I am even more drawn into the book then because I want to see how the characters find out who really did it and I just have to find out who did it too.  I would highly recommend this book to anyone with a love of mystery and animals.  The story-line is just great and worth every word you read.

Great Book!  5/5 Stars!

Book Review: Dead and Gone

Title:  Dead and Gone
Author:  Charlaine Harris
Pages:  312
Publication Date:  2009
Version:  Hardcover
Genre:  Adult Fiction/Mystery/Fantasy

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Except for Sookie Stackhouse, folks in Bon Temps, Louisiana, know little about vamps-and nothing about weres.

Until now. The weres and shifters have finally decided to reveal their existence to the ordinary world. At first all goes well. Then the mutilated body of a were-panther is found near the bar where Sookie works-and she feels compelled to discover who, human or otherwise, did it.

But there's a far greater danger threatening Bon Temps. A race of unhuman beings-older, more powerful, and more secretive than vampires or werewolves-is preparing for war. And Sookie finds herself an all-too human pawn in their battle."

My Review:
I am a huge fan of the Sookie Stackhouse Series and I was not disappointed with this continuation at all.  It had all the great characters I have come to love so much over the many books I have read and Harris, in her true form, brought the action and adventure and the mystery once again.  I was hooked from the first chapter of this book and couldn't wait to read on in the book.  I must say that a lot was going on in this book, but not once did I feel overwhelmed by it all or confused.  The writing of this book just flowed and was a great read.  Trouble just seems to find Sookie, and this book was no different.  I continue to love the characters and their continued development as well as the relationships that are formed and bonds that are made.  The plot was also great, full of mystery and action and twists and turns.  Just when you think you got it all figured out something pops up to make you realize you don't have it at all figured out.  What keeps me reading a book and loving a book are a few things:  there are great characters, there is a good plot line laid out, and there are no lulls in the action while reading.  This book did all of that for me and more!  I absolutely love Charlaine Harris and her writing!  I can't wait to read on in the series to see what happens next in the small town of Bon Temps.

Sookie finds herself drawn in to and investigation on who killed her sister-in-law, who is a werepanther.  Was this a hate crime because someone knew she was a were and they just happened to have come out to the public as existing?  Was her brother somehow responsible seeing as how his wife and him were separated now after her cheating on him?  Who would do such an inhumane thing to a woman who was pregnant?  Also, Sookie is put in the middle of a war...a war between her great-Grandfather (a fairy who loves humans) and the fairies who think his thinking is wrong and want nothing to do with humans.  Much blood will be shed in this war, but will some of that blood be Sookie's, Bill's, or Eric's?  How can Sookie keep herself safe and those she loves from beings that are so powerful?  Not even her witchy roommate can cast a spell that will protect Sookie this time.

5/5 Stars!!!

Book Tour/Review: Model Spy (The Specialists)

Title:  Model Spy The Specialists #1
Author:  Shannon Greenland
Pages:  224
Publication Date:  2007
Version:  PDF free for honest review
Genre:  Young Adult Fiction/Mystery

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Teen genius Kelly James is in a lot of hot water. A whiz with computers, she agreed to help her college RA, David, uncover some top-secret information. After all, she doesn't have many friends and David has always been nice to her. It doesn't hurt that he's supercute and irresistible, too. All she has to do is hack into the government's main computer system. But a few hours later, her whole life changes. She is caught and taken in for questioning, only this isn't your run-of-the-mill arrest. Rather than serve a juvenile detention sentence, she accepts the option to change her name and enlist in a secret government spy agency that trains teen agents to go undercover. As if that wasn't overwhelming enough, she discovers that David works for this agency as well! And before she even begins to understand what is going on, she's sent on her first mission as an undercover model. And who better to partner with than David himself!"

My Review:
Oh my gosh, I LOVED this book!  I was immediately sucked into it and enjoyed the whole experience of reading the book; the characters, the plot, the action/adventure, and the mystery of it all.  It was one of those reads where the action started pretty much on page one and didn't end for the entire read, which is what makes it such a great book in my opinion.  I hate it when you start out with action and then fizzle out, but this was not the case in this book.  When I had to put it down because life got in the way of my continuing on reading, I was very eager and quick to pick it up again at the next available minute I had to do so.  This book was wonderfully written and never left me with any confusion about where the author was trying to go with the plot or what I was supposed to be getting out of the read.  I loved the concept of the book too, a tech savvy girl, who is kind of a nerd who never seems to fit in anywhere, including her many foster homes, meets up with a boy who is actually nice to her and likes her, but then she does him a favor that changes her life forever (and not in a little way).  I just LOVED it!  The characters in this book were just amazing.  They were so well developed and so easy to see them as real people I found myself almost believing they were someone I could meet some day.  They were easy to relate to also, and their personalities just make them all the better.  I think this is truly a talented author, who did a wonderful job creating a great book.  I also think this book is a good read for any age really from young adult on up.  The action, adventure, mystery, and touch of romantics in it make it a well rounded and easy read that is fun to read too.  The plot shows that no matter what we think we know about the people around us and even our closest friends, we may not really know everything about the true person we are talking to.  I highly recommend this book to anyone in the mood for a good mystery and adventure read.  I will definitely have Shannon's books on my to read list.  I can't wait to see where the series goes.

5/5 Stars!!!

Shannon Greenland

Author Biography

Shannon Greenland dreaded reading and writing as a kid. Ironic, as she’s now a successful award-winning author. Her 5-book series for young adults, The Specialists, as well as her other novels, received such honors as National Booksellers Best, Daphne du Maurier and Romantic Times recognition, National Readers Choice, CAPA nominee, Aspen Gold Readers Choice Award, Holt Medallion and the Popular Paperback award from the American Library Association.

Penguin Publishing launched Greenland’s latest novel The Summer My Life Began in May 2012, and brings her entire spy series to e-form this winter.

When not writing, Shannon’s eager for adventure outside of a book’s pages. Hiking, rafting, climbing, caving, swimming, snorkeling, sailing, surfing, mountain biking, spelunking, canoeing, power lifting, running, camping, para sailing . . . she’s done it all.

Originally from Tennessee, the world traveler divides her time between Florida and Virginia where she mentors, tutors, and teaches math and gives authors talks at area schools.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: JKSCommunications, Marissa DeCuir, 347.574.3136, marissa@jkscommunications.com

AWARD-WINNING YA SPY SERIES COMES TO E-READERS

Penguin Publishing brings back Shannon Greenland’s The Specialists, featuring girl tech genius GiGi, after successful paperback release

NEW YORK, NY – October 2012 – Shannon Greenland’s award-winning teen spy series The Specialists is brought back to the spotlight after six years in paperback. The 5-book series releases on Kindle, Nook and all e-readers this winter from Penguin Publishing.

Inspired from the hit television show Alias, Greenland’s book series begins with Model Spy (originally debuted in 2007) when 16-year-old Kelly James is caught uncovering top-secret information for her irresistibly cute and nice friend David. Rather than serve a jail sentence, she accepts the option to change her identity and enlist in a government spy agency that trains teen agents. Instantly, Kelly Spree, a.k.a. girl genius GiGi, is born and sent on her first mission as an undercover model with a partner she’s surprised to find as an agent himself.

The Specialists e-book release comes on the heels of Penguin’s publication of Greenland’s stand-alone novel The Summer My Life Began, which was chosen as a Hot YA Read by the She Knows Book Lounge, and devoured by librarians who called it “terrific” (School Library Journal) and “a breeze to get through; light and entertaining” (Texas librarian Jen Bigheart).

Greenland’s impressive nine-book career – she also previously released three romantic suspense novels – has earned her awards from National Booksellers, Romantic Times, National Readers Choice, American Library Association, Daphne du Maurier and many more prestigious literary organizations.

“Brilliant,” Kidz World; “Greenland makes you ride along, and I love it!” Echelon Press; “Hours of good reading,” Scribes World; “The imagery used to twine the characters lives is amazing,” Writers Unlimited; “Sure to surprise,” The Readers Studio; “Witty and very adventurous. Readers will not be disappointed,” Teens Read – are just a snippet of the high-praised comments Greenland has received for her writing.

Readers can grab a copy of any of Greenland’s novels wherever books are sold or downloaded. The Specialists Series is also available in audio book format.

About the author: Shannnon Greenland grew up in a small Tennessee town as a kid who dreaded reading and writing. Ironic, as she’s now a successful award-winning author of nine young adult novels. When not writing, Greenland’s eager for adventure outside of a book’s pages. Hiking, rafting, climbing, caving, swimming, snorkeling, sailing, surfing, mountain biking, canoeing, power lifting, running, camping, para sailing . . . she’s done it all. The world traveler divides her time between Florida and Virginia where she tutors math students and gives author talks at area schools. She’s currently at work on a new suspense trilogy set in Washington D.C.

              

Website: ShannonGreenland.com

    @ShannonGreenlan      Shannon Greenland    Shannon Greenland

Book Review: The Happy Man And His Dump Truck

Title:  The Happy Man and His Dump Truck
Author:  Miryam  Illustrated by Tibor Gergely
Pages:  24
Publication Date:  1950
Version:  Hardcover
Genre:  Children's Book

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"A happy man thrills a group of farm animals when he takes them for a joy ride in his dump truck. This book is a true classic illustrated by the inimitable Tibor Gergely."

My Review:
This a such a cute and great classic.  I remember being read this story by my Grandmother and Mother as a little girl.  It was one of my favorites.  Once I had a son of my own it quickly became one of his favorites too as I read it to him, over, and over, and over again.  I love classic Little Golden Books like this, they truly are timeless and can be spread throughout the generations.  The dump truck man is such a breath of fresh air in his cheery demeanor and how he treats everyone he meets, including farm animals, like they are friends of his.  My son always liked how the animals got such a great ride from the man and got to have such a fun time.

Got to love the wonderful classics!

5/5 Stars by far!!!!

Book Review: Good Gladys

Title:  Good Gladys Embrace the Dead
Author:  Martin Renaud
Pages:  207
Publication Date:  2012
Version:  PDF free via author for honest review
Genre:  Adult Fiction/Mystery

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"News reports that the famous psychic Good Gladys is missing coincide with the brutal stabbing of her business manager. Gladys's daughter Dara asks an old friend, private investigator Byrne Aase, to help find the murderer. She claims that the man the police have in custody is innocent. In fact, she believes that the accused is her mother, having been transformed into a man during a seance gone awry."

My Review:
I must say that this is a very unique book.  It takes a spin on mystery like no other I have read...private investigation, old lovers needing favors, murder, seances, and mystery all in one book.  I did come to like the book and all the characters, but I must say that through the first few chapters I was a bit confused as to what exactly was going on and what the author was really trying to go for in this mystery.  It seemed at first like a mystery about to go in my Did Not Finish (DNF) pile, never to be looked at again.  I hate DNF piles however, so I gave it a go and told myself to push on anyway; just a bit further.  I can't say that this was a favorite book of mine that I have read, but it was certainly one that I have never read anything like.  I think, personally, it was the characters that kept me reading this book.  They were very interesting and came to be very well developed throughout the book and I must say, if I come to like the characters I do tend to finish the book and like that also.  Byrne was a favorite of mine, he gets into this whole "mess" just because his old flame Dara comes walking back into his life asking for a favor of him.  He goes from a pretty normal life, so to speak of anyway, to one that is full of mystery and questions and even more importantly he is trying to help a woman who he hated from the moment he met her so long ago, Dara's Mother...who now just happens to be a man, or so it seems.  All in all, this was a book that I liked, it just got off to a rather confusing start is all, but once I got my head around what was going on, it all started to make sense...well, as much sense as a man saying he is the woman on trial for murder would make to an average person.  ;-)  

So, not one of my all time favorites, but it's worth the read if for nothing else than reading a book outside the norm.

3/5 Stars!

Book Review: Adventures of Stanley Delacourt

Title:  The Adventures of Stanley Delacourt
Author:  Ilana Waters
Pages:  244
Publication Date:  2012
Version:  PDF Via Author for honest review
Genre:  Mid-Grade/Young Adult Fiction/Fantasy

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Ten-year-old Stanley Delacourt loves his quiet life in the peaceful village of Meadowwood. At least, he does until his best friend is killed. Then the town library—where Stanley lives and works—is burned to the ground. The individuals responsible for both tragedies are a nasty group of soldiers. They work for the kingdom’s new leader, Christopher Siren. With the grown-ups too fearful to take action, Stanley vows to confront Siren. He plans to get answers and demand justice. Little does he know that his journey will involve sword-wielding knights, kidnapper fairies, and dark magic. 

Stanley has only two allies back home: a witch named Meredith, and a young apothecary called Sophie. Can they help him discover the reason behind Siren’s crimes and end this terrible reign? Or is Stanley set to become the next victim in the tyrant’s evil plot?

If you enjoy the fantasy works of Rick Riordan, Lemony Snicket, or Philip Pullman, then explore the world of Stanley Delacourt today!"

My Review:
This book reminded me of Harry Potter in a way, as far as a young boy trying to find out his family background and who he is while trying to overcome a great evil by getting rid of an evil being.  The characters were great and were of a wide variety.  I also liked how Stanley joins forces with a friend to do what is right by the village they live in, and stop the evil leader that seems to have taken over their village/kingdom.  They don't know what is really going on, but they know that whatever it is, is not right or good for the village.  Stanley was a great character and I enjoyed going on the journey to the kingdom with him to see what was going on and stop the evil king.  I think the book would be a great read for middle aged readers, as it is easy to follow, understand, and has the action and adventure needed to make them want to continue the story to see if Stanley succeeds in his quest.  I also must say that it is a good read no matter what your age if you like adventure, epic journeys, great characters, and just an all around fun read.  I enjoyed it and looked forward to jumping back in to the adventure when I had to put it down.  It was very well written and written in such a way that you don't feel as though it is way "below you" to read if you are an adult reading it.  Sometimes it's just fun to read young adult books and this was one of those times for me.  Was a fun and easy read that was very enjoyable to me.  I would recommend to anyone looking for an action and adventure packed journey to go on.

4/5 Stars!

Book Review: The Living Room

Title:  The Living Room
Author:  Bill Rolfe
Pages:  141
Publication Date:  2012
Version:  PDF Via Author for honest review
Genre:  Adult Fiction

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"When success and even love are not enough, you need a miracle…

Daniel Clay has good looks, money, and a rising career as a New York investment advisor. Meanwhile, his personal life is barren of love and family. But when a distant relative dies and leaves him a house in England, Daniel embarks on a life-changing journey—toward love and his soul’s awakening.

He meets and falls in love with Claire, a children’s palliative care nurse. With her help, he opens his home and heart to comfort young patients in their final days. As Claire tends to the children in a beautiful glassed-in room overlooking the sea, Daniel prays for miracles. Just when his prayers are answered, a mysterious illness strikes him down and relentlessly drains away his life. With no hope for a cure, Daniel holds fast to a deep secret that he can never reveal. And now, he needs a miracle of his own."

My Review:
Can anything make Daniel Clay look past his very successful career and money?  What more should he really want or need?  He has his stunning good looks, more money than he can even spend, and a career as an investment advisor that would make anyone jealous of him and his success.  He is completely deemed a workaholic even by himself.  He hasn't taken a vacation in forever and he seems to believe he is not meant to have love or family because he doesn't have time after work.  Daniel's views are about to be changed though, when he finds out he had a long lost uncle who passed away and left Daniel his huge, old, yet beautiful house.  When he decides to go look at, fix up, and sell this house he thinks it will be a two week or less job.  He couldn't have been more wrong.  After a bit of an accident with a mallet Daniel meets Claire, a pediatric palliative care nurse.  She only helped treat him because of his extremely rude behavior while waiting in the ER for help for over an hour.  Daniel comes to see Claire in a new light and soon feels horrible for his behavior and asks if he can make it up to her with dinner or at least coffee.  What can a caring, gentle, loving, beautiful woman like Claire ever have in common with a greedy, selfish, and rude rich guy like Daniel?  Daniel soon learns why Claire has the job she has and what she really does at work.  Can this be the start of an actual relationship for Daniel that doesn't involve his job?  Can miracles really come true when you stop being selfish?  Can prayers made at just the right time really be answered?  Daniel needs a lot of help if he is to survive his biggest health battle ever.  He knows what he has and why, but has vowed to never tell.  But how can he be cured or survive if he holds the secret to his illness inside?

I must say I entered this book with skepticism  but was quickly hooked and loving it.  It truly is an inspirational story that I think everyone should read and needs to read.  It really puts life into perspective for any reader, I know it did for me.  I quickly came to love all the characters, even the ones with personal flaws, like Daniel.  Claire was one of my favorites though, but part of that is because I see some of me in her.  I also loved the soft side of Daniel that was brought out by Claire and her sharing her job with him.  The plot was amazing and very touching too.  You really just read this book and feel inspired to do good in your own life.  I know I left this book feeling genuinely happy and glad that the author wrote it, shared it, and asked me to read it.  A true inspiration, is what I would call this book.  It makes us remember that no matter how bad things are and how busy things in our lives are, there are others that have much harder things to deal with in life...and if they can carry on and even have moments of happiness  then the rest of us should have no problems at all carrying on and remembering to be happy.  I have always believed you should try not to sweat the small stuff and this book helped me remember that yet again.  Personally, I have some things going on that are frustrating and are proving hard to work through, but after reading this book I am reminded that at least I have the opportunity to probably work through them and "fix" things to try and get back to a "normal" life in the end, no matter how far out that end is.  Some people don't have or get that chance, to see the end and be "normal" again.  You need to remember that miracles happen every day, sometimes without us even realizing them.  Life can be short, so you better just appreciate what you have and not think about all you want.  This book reminded me that prayers can be answered if they are asked for the right reasons and that being a selfish person doesn't really get you anywhere in life.  I can't say enough good about this book!  The plot, the characters, and the writing were all very impressive and well worth reading.  This is a book I plan to and will recommend to MANY!!  Very touching and inspirational read.

5/5 Stars!!!!

Book Review: Auraria

Title:  Auraria
Author:  Tim Westover
Pages:  380
Publication Date:  2012
Version:  Paperback Via Author free for honest review
Genre:  Adult Fiction/Fantasy

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Water spirits, moon maidens, haunted pianos, headless revenants, and an invincible terrapin that lives under the mountains. None of these distract James Holtzclaw from his employer's mission: to turn the fading gold-rush town of Auraria, GA, into a first-class resort and drown its fortunes below a man-made lake. But when Auraria's peculiar people and problematic ghosts collide with his own rival ambitions, Holtzclaw must decide what he will save and what will be washed away. Taking its inspiration from a real Georgia ghost town, Auraria is steeped in the folklore of the Southern Appalachians, where the tensions of natural, supernatural and artificial are still alive."

My Review:
What to say about this book?  I must admit I really had a very hard time reading this book and continuing to read this book.  The concept of the mysterious lands and people was great, but I just didn't find it to be that much of a mystery read as I had hoped to get out of it.  I guess I was hoping for more supernatural encounters along with more action/mystery.  After the first 100 pages of this book, I was ready to just pack it in and call it a day...I did keep reading, but I found that I wasn't all "gun ho" over getting back to reading if I had to stop.  The plot has great potential, I just thought it was a bit slow moving and action deprived.  As for the characters...now those I did love.  I loved James and his determination, Abigail was also a fun character, as were all the supernatural characters such as the moon maidens, the headless man, and the piano playing Mr. Bad Thing.  I also have to give great compliments to Tim Westover for his writing.  The descriptions and the words he uses were fantastic.  Really, this is why I continued to read on after contemplating quitting the book.  I just loved reading his work and how he wrote!  I know that may seem like a contradiction  but I really did love the writing in the book, I just wished it had a bit more of some things too.  Bottom line of my opinion?  It was a nice book to have read, as the characters and the author were great, so they made up some for the slow pace and lack of adventure.  I do recommend this book, but perhaps to a "audience" that is not as much into adventure or fast paced books.  It is kind of a slow and steady read I would say.  All in all, glad I read it, but it just wasn't a great book for me personally.

3/5 Stars!