Shudder by Jennie Hansen

Shudder by Jennie Hansen
My Goodreads rating 5 of 5

I have been meaning to review this book for a week now, but the planets didn't align. You know how things go when life gets crazy.

Shudder is about a girl named Darcy. Her best friend and roommate, Clare, is about to get married to a man named Blaine. Blaine is a prestigious lawyer, but Darcy just can't like him no matter how hard she tries. There is just something that is not right with Blaine. When Blaine tries to move into their apartment the relationship becomes strained with Clare, because Darcy cannot go against her beliefs. Darcy moves out, but tries to support Clare in her decision. At that moment, she doesn't know if she will ever be friends with Clare again, but she lets Clare know she will be there if Clare needs her.

Although there is a little bit of a love interest in this book, I wouldn't consider it a romance book. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more on the romance end, but that is okay. I liked the suspense parts, and there were plenty of them. This book is a look into an abusive relationship, and seeing how someone can get trapped into one. Although, I am sure there are many differenct reasons and outcomes.

There were a couple different plot lines in this book. I've already mentioned the love interest and the abusive relationship. The other one revolves around an unsolved murder. I don't think it was too much to have all three of these plot lines in the book. It made for an interesting and suspenseful read.

I want to thank Jennie Hansen and Covenant Communications for sending me this book to read and review. I think I have said before that Jennie Hansen is one of my all time favorite authors. If you are looking for more adventure/suspenseful books you might try reading Jennie Hansen's The Bracelet series. They are really good. Also check Jennie Hansen's blog. She does giveaways twice monthly for books off her bookshelf. It is really easy to enter. All you have to do is leave meaningful comments on any of  her posts.

Also I don't know if I ever posted the picture of Jennie and I at Deseret Book's Ladies Night Event that happened last month. I went to see her and got some books signed. She was so sweet and wrote me a long message in my favorite book by her, When Tomorrow Comes.






My son went with me. I was a little flustered, because as soon as we walked into the store, he ran off and got lost. Thankfully I found him!






Reader Question: Any favorite authors you would like to share about? I know I have more than one.

The Classics Circuit

Hi everybody. I just wanted to spread the news about a new Classics Circuit. The idea was hatched on the Rebecca Reads blog. The first classics tour is coming up starting next Monday. The first author is going to be Wilkie Collins. Click the link for the tour list. Overlapping in November and December will also be Elizabeth Gaskell. I myself have read and reviewed two of Gaskell's novels: North and South; and Wives and Daughters. You can read those reviews on The Joy of Reading book blog.

I haven't read any from Wilkie Collins, but I did check out The Moonstone from the library. I'll be starting that shortly. If you are interested in the classics then this could be fun. Also, soon there will be a sign-up for the tour in January and February. There is a list of American authors to vote on. The choices are Mark Twain, Willa Cather, John Steinbeck, and Edith Wharton. Go to the Classics Circuit blog to vote.

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy

Genre: Children's Classic
My Goodreads rating: 5 of 5 

I simply love The Scarlet Pimpernel. This was my first time reading the book, but I have been a long time lover of the movie version with Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour, and Ian McKellen. I also very recently was able to see the musical version. It was put on by the local high school. They did a pretty good job with it.

 

The Scarlet Pimpernel is set during the French Revolution. The French Aristocracy are all being executed by Madame Guillotine, but one Englishman and his band of followers are sneaking aristocrats out of the country to safety. That man is only known as the Scarlet Pimpernel, and his real identity is a mystery. The Committee of Public Safety, represented by a character named Chauvelin, would love nothing more than to see the Scarlet Pimpernel put to death by Madame Guillotine. Chauvelin uses all his wit, resources, and even blackmail to try to catch the Pimpernel. Here is a quote from the book that I found pretty well descriptive of Chauvelin's character:

He paused a moment, like a cat which sees a mouse running heedlessly by, ready to spring, yet waiting with that feline sense of enjoyment of mischief about to be done. Then he said quietly--
'Your brother, St Just, is in peril.'

This interaction takes place between Chauvelin and Marguerite Blakeney, whose brother Armand St Just is being used as a bargaining piece. Armand's safety is promised in return for the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Marguerite is a Frenchwoman who married an English dandy, Sir Percy Blakeney, who is generally viewed as the richest fool in England. Though Marguerite swears she has no idea who the Pimpernel is let alone discovering his identity, Chauvelin believes with her popularity as the most fashionable in England, as well as her connections to the Prince of Wales that she can find the information he needs. Little does Marguerite know, the Scarlet Pimpernel may be closer to her than she thinks.

This is possibly the most recognizable quote in the book. I am so glad it was actually in the book, because it is in the movie, and absolutely the funniest thing when recited at a party by Percy Blakeney.

"We seek him here, we seek him there,
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere.
Is he in heaven? - Is he in hell?
That demmed, elusive Pimpernel."

Note that I didn't make a spelling error; that is really how they spell damned in the copy of the book I read.
I read this book as part of a Classics Challenge. It is the last book I am reading for the challenge. It won't be the last classic I read this year, however. So stay tuned for more Classic reviews.

Reader Questions: Are you a Pimpernel fan? If so which is your favorite adaption of the book: one of the multiple movie versions or the musical? Who is your favorite character. Without a doubt, my favorite character is Percy!

Looking for more information on the Scarlet Pimpernel? Check out the Scarlet Pimpernel website.

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

The Three Musketeers
by Alexandre Dumas
My Goodreads rating: 4 of 5Looking for adventure? This book is for you!

The Three Musketeers follows the adventures of a young Gascon named D'Artagnan who dreams of becoming a King's Musketeer. The road to this title is wrought with peril. D'Artagnan starts out rather headstrong and impetuous. Before he even makes it to Musketeer headquarters he finds himself in a duel with an infamous man dressed all in black. This mysterious man is later known to be one of the Cardinal's henchmen.

Not much later in the story, D'Artangnan gets himself into more trouble by contracting himself to three duels in one day: one with Athos, one with Porthos, and one with Aramis, or as they are known throughout the land, the three musketeers. This is our first introduction to this illustrious trio, but they very soon become a foursome as D'Artagnan joins them in a fight against the Cardinal's guards. From that moment on they are bonded together.

Many of the adventures in this book revolve around D'Artagnan's desire to help his mistress, Constance Bonacieux, who is somehow tangled up with the affairs of the Cardinal. Inadvertantly, the foursome serve the Queen, Anne of Austria, and the Duke of Buckingham. Through many of these trials, we come face to face with one of the Cardinal's most deadly mercenaries: Milady deWinter. She is pure venom with an angel's face. She easily attracts and ensnares men, and D'Artagnan is not altogether resistant to her charms. It is funny to me how D'Artagnan's journey is spurred on in pusuit of a woman's love.

I started out listening to this book on my iPod, but I had to finish by reading due to problems with retreiving the files from my computer. I have to say that I had a much better understanding of the end of the book than the beginning. I think while I'm listening my mind tends to focus on doing other things at the same time. Much of the time I listened while sewing, so that may have been a bit of a distraction. The nice thing about listening was that I had no problem pronouncing all the French names and words. So that was a major plus. The other nice thing was the narrator wasn't annoying to listen to. That always helps when listening to an audiobook. If you are looking to listen to the audio version of this book, then I would recommend it.

I read this book as part of a Classics Challenge. The challenge is almost over, but please feel free to visit the site and see what everyone else is reading. I'm sure once this challenge is over another one will quickly take it's place.

Othe books by this author: The Count of Monte Cristo; Twenty Years After (Three Musketeers Sequel); The Man in the Iron Mask (Three Musketeers Book 3)

Reader Question: Do you parlez vous francais, or do you find it difficult to pronounce French words or phrases?

The Story of Meeting Kaleb Nation

Haiku Amy Meets Kaleb Nation

Be Warned: this post could be a little lengthy, but nonetheless interesting.

I was exited to learn about a month ago that Kaleb Nation (aka The Twilight Guy) was going to be on a book tour for his book, Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse. One of his stops was Salt Lake City, which is nearby where I live. I really wanted to go, even though I hate going to these things alone, and I'm pretty sure my friends and family would not have been interested. So I braved going alone with the hope of meeting another book blogger, Natasha of Maw Books, who had interest in going. Sadly, Natasha couldn't make it, but I did.

October 12, 2009
I had a babysitter, and a stomach full of nerves. I was on my way, but not before having to settle down my child with dinner and a movie. That made my getaway time a little delayed. Being a stay at home mom, I am not used to the usual commute, and I totally forgot about all the insane road construction plaguing most of my intended route. I didn't factor in extra driving time, so I ended up being a little late. Shoot!

I finally found The King's English Bookstore where the event was to take place. This was my first visit there. It is literally nestled in the middle of a residential area in Sugarhouse, which coincidentally made me clausterphobic. Seriously, the streets in this part of the city are very narrow. I found a parking spot and proceeded to hike down the hill and around the block.

Now picture this: I just bought the cutest clogs the other day at Kohl's. They make me a little taller, they also make it a little more difficult to walk, and they tend to click-clack rather loudly. What didn't make my late entrance any easier is that the King's English has hardwood floors. Yikes! So not only am I late, but I'm making my grand entrance very noisily. Distraction #2: the only available seats are on the other side of the room, so in order to get there I have to cross in front of everyone and their cameras. Not that any of those people read this blog, but I am really sorry if I messed up anyone's video!

What I missed: Kaleb talking about his experience with writing his book. However, I did make it just in time to hear him read the prologue of his book. It was good, and he is a good reader. I just wish the backdrop wouldn't have been shelves full of books, because I got a little distracted with looking at book covers and titles. I guess I must be more of a visual learner, because honestly I was having a hard time. I found the same thing to be true when I listened to The Three Musketeers as opposed to reading it. I caught a lot more details while reading. I think it is interesting that I found that out about myself, but I digress.

Next Kaleb answered questions about being an author and the process of writing. Some questions addressed how he found his agent. He suggested an online site, which I believe he used Agent Query (Kaleb, if you are reading this feel free to correct me). He also talked about how he overcomes writer's block. He said he watches author signings on YouTube to get inspiration from other writers. How cool is that?

He was asked what his favorite books are and he answered Artemis Fowl, The Twilight Saga, Looking for Alaska by John Green, and I think there was another book he mentioned that I can't remember. Rats! I hate when I am forgetful like that. Surprisingly he has never read the Harry Potter series. He said not to hate him, he has just been busy, and that he'll find time to read them eventually.

He was asked a few questions about the characters of the books. I have a hard time remembering those answers, because I have not yet read the book. So the actual character names are still new to me. Kaleb relates himself mostly with the main character, Bran, because he was 14 when he started writing the book, and Bran is 14. He was also asked if any characters were based on people he knows. He answered that some of the villains are based on people he has known, but he wouldn't name names of course. He said it is his way at poking fun at them. That gave the room a good chuckle.

A question about the book series: does he know what is going to happen in each of the books in the series (I think there will be 6, correct me if I'm wrong)? He said he has a huge arc of events of what things will happen in each book, but not the details. Another question regarding the writing of the books was when the 2nd book would be done. He is still writing it and his publisher wants it by early 2010, which will most likely put the book release by the following year.

He also talked about the use of magic spells in his book. I can't remember the finer details of that answer, but having a magic wand definitely makes the spells stronger. His characters can cast a spell without a wand though, and also they have magic words that they use. I think the question was regarding if the spells could be cast internally (like the use of nonverbal spells in Harry Potter), but I can't remember if he said his characters could do that or not. Man, I guess I really should have taken notes. I have a poor memory.

Honestly, that is all I can remember about the question and answer segment. I should have recorded it, but I was too flustered from being late to pull out my camera.

Last, but not least, was the actual book signing. I am always nervous about what to say to an author (or any stranger for that matter). I am typically a shy person, so I tend to stay away from new social situtions. Thus the reason for my nervousness at being there without a buddy. Anyway, Kaleb was really nice. He signed a copy of his book for me, and graciously agreed to pose for a picture. He even put his arm around me; what a cutie! I think I could hear a little bit of a nervous chuckle coming from him, which made me laugh to myself. He must have felt awkward too, putting his arm around complete strangers for pictures. Afterward I thanked him again and expressed that I was glad to have met him. That was that. The only thing left to do was purchase my book, and be on my merry way. Phew! I am glad to have made it through that experience.

I really did enjoy meeting Kaleb. I was introduced to him online through my love of the Twilight Saga. I've been following Kaleb's posts and videos on his Twilight Guy site. He is really funny, and crazy in a humorous way. His vlogs make me laugh out loud. He really is a talented guy, and I am really looking forward to reading his book. As soon as I'm finished I'll be sure to let you all know what I think. One last thing I want to say is thanks to Kaleb for visiting Salt Lake City. It was great meeting you, despite all my embarrassment and awkwardness.

Questions for my readers: "Are you shy, like me, or do you have a more outgoing personality?"
Or: "Have you been to any author signings? If so, who did you meet?"

A Sequel to the Original Vampire

.

Dracula The Un-Dead

by Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt

I just found out today that there is a sequel to Bram Stoker's Dracula coming out on October 13th. It is written by a direct descendant of Bram Stoker - Dacre Stoker. How exciting is that?

Here is a plot synopsis from the Goodreads site.

Bram Stoker’s Dracula is the prototypical horror novel, inspiration for the world’s seemingly limitless fascination with vampires. Though many have tried to replicate Stoker’s horror classic—in books, television shows, and movies—only the 1931 Bela Lugosi film bore the Stoker family’s support. Until now.

Written by a direct descendant of Bram Stoker and a well- known Dracula historian, Dracula: The Un-Dead is a bone- chilling sequel based on Bram Stoker’s own handwritten notes for characters and plot threads excised from the original edition. Written with the blessing and cooperation of many members of the Stoker family, Dracula: The Un-Dead begins in 1912, twenty-five years after Dracula “crumbled into dust.” Van Helsing’s protégé, Dr. Seward, is now a disgraced morphine addict obsessed with stamping out evil across Europe. Meanwhile, an unknowing Quincey Harker, son of Jonathon and Mina, leaves law school for the stage, only to stumble upon the troubled production of Dracula, directed and produced by Bram Stoker himself.

The play plunges Quincey into the world of his parents’ terrible secrets, but before he can confront them he experiences evil in a way he had never imagined. One by one, the band of heroes that defeated Dracula a quarter-century ago is being hunted down. Could it be that Dracula somehow survived their attack and is seeking revenge? Or is there another, far more sinister force at work whose relentless purpose is to destroy anything and anyone associated with Dracula?

Fast-paced, full of suspense, and rich with historical detail, Dracula: The Un-Dead is the answer to every vampire fanatic’s prayers.

I know I am ready to pick up this book. Anyone else?

The Other Mr. Darcy Giveaway hosted by Bloody Bad

I wanted to let you all in on another book giveaway. It is on Trin's Bloody Bad Book Blog. She is giving away a copy of The Other Mr. Darcy. I am so excited, because I am a Mr. Darcy fan all the way. Did you know he has an American cousin? I think I am in love.

New blood in England

Darcy's cousin still single

Which lady prevails?

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Genre: Children's Classic/Adventure

My Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

Argh me mateys! Make ready the sails, and swab the poop deck. The Hispaniola is about to set sail in search of the infamous treasure on Treasure Island. Join Jim Hawkins, Long John Silver, Captain Smollett and the rest of the crew in a tale of high adventure, piracy, danger, and coming of age. Whether you be a landlubber or a seafaring lad or lass, this story is sure to fill your lust for buried treasure.

This story begins in Bristol, England, where young Jim Hawkins lives and works in his parent's inn, The Admiral Benbow. There they lodge a pirate named Billy Bones who is continually on the look out for the feared one-legged man. When some former shipmates have a run in with Billy Bones, he receives a fatal wound. Upon searching  Billy Bones' chest, Jim finds a treasure map, but ends up running for his life when the aforementioned pirates ransack the inn looking for it. Jim takes the map to some respected men in town, Dr. Livesey and Squire Trelawney. The three form a secret pact to find the treasure. Squire Trelawney funds the trip, and so doing finds a ship and crew. Despite their pact to keep their knowledge about the treasure a secret, it seems the whole crew knows what the quest is about. They soon set sail for Treasure Island, but Jim Hawkins discovers that most of the crew, led by the ship's cook, Long John Silver, are planning a mutiny so they can keep the treasure for themselves. Jim now realizes that an adventurous trip for treasure has just turned deadly. Will he make it off Treasure Island alive?

Who doesn't like a story about pirates? I really enjoyed this book, even though I got a little bit lost with the nautical terms. I found myself comparing Jim Hawkins to William Turner, and Long John Silver to Captain Jack Sparrow. What can I say? I am a Pirates of the Caribbean fan.

Something I liked about this book was even though the pirates were despicable people, they still had that admirable quality of charisma. Long John Silver was such an intriguing man. As a reader, I really had no idea what his next play was going to be. Jim mentions towards the end of the book that Silver kept switching sides according to who might come out on top. It kind of reminds me of a quote from the Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Jack Sparrow says,

"Me, I'm dishonest, and you can always trust a dishonest man to be dishonest. Honestly, it's the honest ones you want to watch out for, 'cause you can never predict if they're going to do something incredibly stupid."

I think that quote perfectly describes the characters in this book. Jim Hawkins is the honest man who throughout the story keeps doing incredibly stupid things. Long John Silver is obviously the dishonest man, but amazingly still manages to fool some or all of them at various points of the story.

I thought this was a great read as part of my Classics Challenge. I am glad I picked it up and want to recommend it to those who love adventure and pirate stories. Which leads to this question: Do you side with the Pirates or the Honest Men?

Reading Journal Sept. '09

I have been having a difficult time motivating myself to get a book review done. I am getting pretty far behind. I thought I would try to jot down the books I've read this month. I tried to do this every month since the beginning of the year, but like most of my intentions that plan fell by the wayside by about March.

Here is my list for September:

A Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Paperquake by Kathryn Reiss
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Freefall by Traci Hunter Abramson
Sea Glass by Maria V. Snyder
Methods of Madness by Stephanie Black

Book Ratings

Shannon Hale wrote a post on her Squeetus blog that got me thinking about rating books.

I know this was awhile ago, but I haven't spent the time to really think about it. I admit I did rate books by the 5 star rating that Goodreads has on their site. Theirs is basically 1 if you didn't like it, 2 if you thought it was o.k., 3 if you liked it, 4 if you really liked it, 5 if you thought it was amazing. I thought it was an o.k. system, but every now and again I would look at the books that had the same rating and I thought to myself that some of those books I liked more than others. So I guess it wasn't really a true interpretation of how well I liked some books as opposed to others. I just sort of gave up on rating books anyway.

For one thing, everyone has different tastes. So matching up perfectly with another person's tastes is going to be impossible. For another thing, I would look at a book rating I had given months later and rethink my decision. A book that I thought was completely amazing at the time I read it had somehow evolved to "maybe it wasn't as great as I thought." I have to admit that in a way other people's opinions can tend to sway me. I am more of a follow the crowd type person. Believe me, I am fully aware of the shortcomings of that personality trait, but that is a totally different topic.

For awhile now I haven't been giving the 5 star ratings on this site. I think I will keep it up on Goodreads, just because that site is more for me to keep track of books I have read and want to read. However, I do need some sort of system to evaluate the books I review. I liked what one person commented on Shannon's blog.

Leslie commented:
"How did this book change my outlook on a specific topic?

Did I see myself in any of the characters? Did I see someone else I know?

How will what I do today or tomorrow be influenced by what I read?

Can I identify with the motivations of the characters?

Good, bad, liked it, didn't like it. It doesn't really matter for me. What does matter is amid a busy life or work, family and the hundred other commitments I have this week, will I remember this book? Will I remember it when a situation arises that is similar to that in the book? Will I be able to talk intelligently about it at the next book club meeting--even if it wasn't the scheduled reading.

And if I will remember it--if it made me think--that is when I believe the book and the reader have both done their job."

Now I don't know if I am going to examine books that deeply, but I like some of those thoughts. Can I identify with any of the characters, is the book memorable, is it worth talking about or is it merely escapism?

So my basic idea for reviewing books is talking about what things I did or didn't like. Along those lines I like to include how much swearing or sexual garbage is in the book. Don't get me wrong, I like romantic stuff, but sometimes the lines are crossed as to what I want to be reading. I know that doesn't hold true for everyone, but I appreciate clean books. You know who else has this format down to perfection? Melissa of One Librarian's Book Reviews. She has one of my favorite book blogs.

I know many book bloggers have posted discussions similar to this, so I'm not going to ask if you do or don't like rating systems. Instead I am going to ask, what kinds of things do you look for or would like to see in a book review?

I know my blog has a long way to go as far as book reviews are concerned, but I am still glad to belong to the book blogging community. I have read and heard about many more books, so many that I can't keep up, but I am still amazed at the power of book bloggers. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with the world.

Log Cabin Quilt Block

A couple of posts ago I mentioned the friendship quilt I am working on. This is the block I am doing. It is the Log Cabin Block. Traditionally the center is supposed to be red, because red represents the hearth of the home. I didn't know that when I made my quilt block, but it is just a fun little fact I picked up. Here are some more fun facts that I read about on Quilty's Quilt History blog:

The history behind the log cabin blocks.

1. Traditionally the block had a light side (happiness) and dark side(sorrow) to represent life in a home.

2. The yellow or red center would represent a hearth in a home (red) or a candle left burning to guide a family member home at night (yellow). There has been some controversy to having a black center. This is rumored to represent a safe haven/comfort for escaping slaves during the Civil War.

3. In sewing the log cabin block, it is sewn from the center out representing the building of a home, one log at a time surrounding the hearth/heart in the middle.

That isn't all the information I found on Quilty's Quilt History blog. Click on the link above to read more about the Log Cabin quilt block.

Maybe when I finally get my finished quilt blocks back (the ones that are currently being rotated through the group) I can share the history of the other blocks on my quilt. That could be a fun new segment. I think I'll call it Amy's Block of the Month. I'll keep you posted.

Pay It Forward

I got a fun gift in the mail the other day from Britt of Book Habitue. So now it is time to Pay it Forward. The first 3 people to comment on this post get a gift from me. Right now I have no idea what it will be, but it could be fun figuring it out. The only other rule is if you win you have to Pay it Forward to 3 people on your blog.

getting gifts feels good
makes me feel someone cares, but
giving is joyful

Remembering September 11

utter disbelief
sit, watch endless news reports
two towers falling

This haiku is to basically remember my experience on 9/11. It is probably something that many Americans can relate to.

many heroes lost
freedom, country, fellowmen
never forgotten

We will never forget those brave men and women whose actions were to save others while risking themselves.

Promoting Secret Speakers

Have you heard of Secret Speakers yet? It is a new book out that needs some promoting. Here is the book trailer:



Go to the Secret Speakers website to read more about it, and download 5 free audiobook chapters. I am very interested in reading this book.
You can also join the Secret Speakers Goodreads Group to help promote it.

What's in Your Pocket?

key fob, tangled mess
cell phone, post-its, pen and change
pockets bulging full

The Friendship Quilt

This year I am part of a group making a friendship quilt. This is where you pick a pattern for a quilt block (mine is the Log Cabin block), and you rotate your fabrics every month. This way I am getting a different quilt block made by everyone in the group. I, in turn, will make my Log Cabin block out of everyone's fabric. That is why it is called a friendship quilt. So in honor of that I wrote a haiku. I tried to add a picture of my quilt block, but the computer is not my friend right now. So you'll just have to imagine it instead.

needlepoint, up down
stitch history, add a block
quilted time capsule

Spam is Good Brain Food

For your feasting pleasure, here is the haiku I submitted on Epic Rat for Zombie Appreciation week.

Two halves scrambled brains
One part spleen, two liver slabs
Zombie spam sandwich

Zombie Haiku at The Epic Rat

If you haven't been over to The Epic Rat blog this week, well you haven't lived. It is zombie week over there, and I was very interested in Cecilia's post on Zombie Haiku by Ryan Mecum. It looks pretty interesting. Maybe I should check it out, but in the meantime, you all should definitely check out Zombie Week. You had better hurry though, Zombie week ends tomorrow. Sorry I didn't post this sooner, but these days it is hard to get to the computer.

That's not all!! If you are entered in any of the Zombie giveaways or Zombie Grab you can get extra entries for writing a Zombie Haiku. So go for it!! Here is a video for your brain feasting pleasure. Thanks Epic Rat!

A Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi

Genre: Psychological Thriller

I was so lucky to receive an ARC copy of A Circle of Souls from the author, Preetham Grandi. I have to admit that at first I was apprehensive. This kind of book isn't my usual read and I am always nervous to encounter content riddled with swearing, gruesome scenes, and sometimes sex. However, I was happily surprised to find that A Circle of Souls was not like that at all. So first and foremost I want to thank the author for that, because it just proves you can write a stunning book without the muck.

The Plot: A Circle of Souls is set in Newbury, Connecticut where a young girl has been murdered. Since it is such a strange murder, the police detective calls the FBI for their top agent. Nearby at the Newbury hospital, a psychiatrist is trying to help a new patient who is having disturbing dreams at night. The seven year old girl can draw her dreams with complete accuracy the next day, and somehow the sketches are giving clues to solving the murder.

What I liked: I think the title of this book is a perfect description of how literally all the characters are tied together. I really enjoyed that aspect. The chapters tend to alternate between the two main groups of characters, so that really helps the book in terms of leaving you wanting more. It is definitely a page turner.

Another thing that I liked is the author's knowledge of child psychiatry. Where he actually is a psychiatrist, it makes the situations much more real for me. It really reminds me of another author I like, Robin Cook.

Since this book is about a murder, it is inevitable that we would have to hear some specifics about how it happened. I would call those parts a little bit shocking, but overall I didn't mind it. The author did a slendid job of keeping it from getting too disgusting to handle.


What I didn't like: There was just a little part at the end that kind of felt weird to me. I don't want to say what it is, because it is just a bit of a spoiler. I don't think it is a bad thing, I just think it is a different philosophy that is more difficult for me to embrace. That won't hold true for everyone and it didn't in any way change my view of the book or my enjoyment of it.

I was very pleased with this book. I thought it was a great read, and I want to thank the author, Preetham Grandhi, for sendimg me this book. I would highly recommend it to anyone. If you want to contact the author or see more about this book visit the website: A Circle of Souls.

Bright Blue Miracle by Becca Wilhite

Genre: Young Adult

Synopsis:
Bright Blue Miracle, by Becca Wilhite, is about a seventeen year old girl named Leigh Mason. Leigh's mom get's remarried, and Leigh is not ready to share her room, her family, or her best friend, Jeremy, with her new step-sister, Betsy.

Leigh's younger twin sisters don't seem to have any problems adjusting to the mixed family. In fact, they seem to think Leigh should be excited to have a sister her own age so she can see what it's like to be a twin. Maybe Leigh could be friends with Betsy, if she wasn't completely gorgeous, tall, athletic, and practically perfect in every way. It doesn't help that Jeremy wants to date Betsy either.

Unfortunately, this isn't the only struggle that Leigh is facing. They all seem to lead up to one big crisis that will either bond the family or tear them apart.

Review:
This was a short, fun, and easy to read book. It wasn't without it's emotional roller coaster. The author really lets you sympathize for both step-sisters, even though the story is from Leigh's point of view. I still caught a few glimpses of what Betsy was feeling. The book doesn't involve the parents as much, especially the step-dad. The story is really mainly about the two girls learning to accept each other. There are some tender learning moments from Leigh's Grammy that really touched me.

"Sometimes terrible things happen. Sometimes they happen because someone makes a choice that affects lots of people. Sometimes awful stuff just happens because things go wrong. People die, and that always hurts our hearts. But there's always something to learn from a tragedy." (pg 77)

Overall I liked this book alot. I don't think it is one I will re-read, but I would definitely recommend it to others.