Death in Daytime (4.5/5)

Death in Daytime (4.5/5)

Good cozy mystery--this is the first in a series. Alex is a soap opera diva. Her boss is killed and she is the prime suspect. She begins to investigate the murder herself so she can clear her name. Good twists and turns; I wasn't sure of the murderer's identity so this book kept me guessing. I have #2 in my TBR pile.

Kiss of Life (YA) (5/5)

Kiss of Life (YA) (5/5)

This is the sequel to Generation Dead. Teenagers are able to return from the dead as zombies. There are some people who accept them and others who fear them. It becomes a sort of war between the zombies and the beating hearts. In this book, Adam returns from the dead, Phoebe breaks up with Tommy and starts dating Adam, and some of the zombies are looking for justice. Apparently #3 is out in the spring and I will read that one too--this is a good series.

The Carbon Diaries 2015 (YA) (4/5)

The Carbon Diaries 2015 (YA) (4/5)

Laura journals the year that the great storm hit and people had to start using carbon cards to buy things. This book reminded me of the book Life As We Knew It. I like that this book was told in journal form but it was a little slow in the middle. There's action and romance in this book and I think HS boys and girls would like it.

If I Stay (YA) (5/5)

If I Stay (YA) (5/5)

Mia and her family are in a horrible car accident and she ends up in a coma. Mia needs to decide whether to stay or to let go. This book reminded me a little of The Lovely Bones--in that Mia can hear and see what is going on around her--without the grisliness and violence. A great, quick read. Very emotional at times but also very powerful.

Ink Exchange (YA) (4/5)

Ink Exchange (YA) (4/5)


Second book in the series that began with Wicked Lovely. In this book, Leslie is chosen by the King of the Dark Court to do an "ink exchange" where his blood is tattoed onto her so that he can feed off of her emotions. Leslie is drawn to another fairy, Niall, and needs to decide if she will let herself be used by the Dark Court King or if she will take back control of her own life. A decent read that HS girls especially would enjoy. I have #3 to read soon.

When I Crossed No-Bob (YA) (4.5/5)

When I Crossed No-Bob (YA) (4.5/5)

Addy comes from a rough family. Her father takes off to Texas and then her mother leaves her behind to go after him. A schoolteacher and his new bride take her in and raise her. Pappy returns but he's bad news--he's involved in the KKK. Addy realizes that just because he's family, that doesn't mean she has to be like him or even like him. A good coming of age story and this book had good action.

Kiki and Gizmo

Kiki and Gizmo are sleeping amid my piles of books. Kiki is a Maine Coon battling HCM and Gizmo is a seal point Ragdoll.

Finger Lickin' Fifteen (5/5)

Finger Lickin' Fifteen (5/5)

The latest in the Stephanie Plum series, probably my favorite series of all. In this one, a chicken barbeque guru is decapitated and Lula is a witness. The killers are after her and she moves in to Stephanie's apartment, causing Stephanie to move into Ranger's apartment. The usual twists and turns (cars blowing up, Stephanie torn between Morelli and Ranger) and the usual laughs (love Lula and Grandma as a cooking team!)

Al Capone Shines My Shoes (YA) (5/5)

Al Capone Shines My Shoes (YA) (5/5)

This is the sequel to Al Capone Does My Shirts. Moose is still living on Alcatraz and has to pay back Al Capone for doing a favor for him. Natalie is at a special school now, Piper's mom is pregnant and Jimmy is jealous of Moose's friend Scout. Good action in this one. MS and HS boys and girls would like this book.

Stolen Children (YA) (5/5)

Stolen Children (YA) (5/5)

Amy gets a new babysitting job and gets more than she bargains for when she and her little charge are kidnapped. Amy tries to leave clues in the ransom videos for cops. She's a smart girl. Good action in this book. MS and HS girls would really like this book.

The Rock and the River (YA) (4.5/5)

The Rock and the River (YA) (4.5/5)

This book details the civil rights movement and the Black Panthers. Sam and Stick are two brothers whose father is involved with Dr. Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement. Stick, the older brother, becomes involved with the Black Panthers. This book shows the horror that African Americans faced during this time period and how desperate people were to make a difference. Good boy book especially.

Skin Deep (YA) (5/5)

Skin Deep (YA) (5/5)

Andrea Anderson is a HS student who doesn't really fit in. She is hired to walk a neighbor's dog while the neighbor is in the hospital. She meets Zena, a Saint Bernard, and feels a connection. When the neighbor gets out of the hospital, Andrea and she form a close friendship. Andrea begins to connect more with people including Ashley, a popular classmate, and Dennis, her mom's boyfriend. Good realistic fiction, especially for HS girls.

The Help (5/5)

The Help (5/5)

I can see why this book has gotten rave reviews. It is powerful, even though sometimes it is difficult to read. Why do people hate other people based on the color of their skin? That question can still be asked today. In this book, the high society white ladies of Jackson, Mississippi treat their help like lesser beings. One lady, Miss Skeeter, decides to write a collection of the stories from the colored help. This is risky for all involved. But man does it create a reaction when it is published. Readers will root for Miss Skeeter, Aibleen and Minny to get out of this unscathed. A great read. Good writing style. I would highly recommend it.

Soldier's Secret (YA) (5/5)

Soldier's Secret

This book tells the true story of Deborah Sampson, a woman who disguises herself as a man in order to fight in the Revoluntionary War. Deborah is a true heroine and this book is a good, quick read. I found it interesting to learn how a woman was able to disguise herself and how some men who discovered her identity reacted. MS and HS boys and girls would like this book.

Wide eyed Maggie

Maggie looks wide eyed in this picture. She had been sleeping on the kitty condo and probably didn't appreciate me taking her picture.

Purple Heart (YA) (5/5)

Purple Heart (YA) (5/5)

Matt is in Iraq fighting the war. He gets injured and can't really remember the circumstances of when he was injured. He heads back to his unit and gets back in the thick of battle again. This book shows the effects, physical and mental, of war on people. Some swearing, some violence but a powerful book for HS boys and girls. Good read.

Little Audrey (YA) (4.5/5)

Little Audrey (4.5/5) (YA)

This is a memoir of sorts about growing up in a coal mine town. Audrey is the oldest of 4 girls, 5 if you count her sister who died a few months ago. Dad has a drinking issue; Mom is still dealing with her daughter's death. Sounds dreary but there is humor in this book. I especially liked Audrey's friend Virgil and his monkey obsession. A good, quick read.

Schooled (YA) (5/5)

Schooled (YA) (5/5)

Cap Anderson has lived his entire life on a hippie type commune with his grandmother, Rain. Rain falls and breaks her hip and Cap must move in with a social worker and go to the local middle school. Needless to say, he is like a fish out of water. He gets elected as 8th grade President as a joke and he has no idea that it is a joke. Good humor in this one and a good message to the book. MS and HS boys and girls would like this one.

Puppet (YA) (5/5)

Puppet (YA) (5/5)

Based on a true story, this tells the tale of a Hungarian Jewish boy who was forced to testify against his father and family friends when a Christian girl comes up missing. The Jews are accused of killing her and they are thrown in jail. This shows yet another horror of the hatred that Jewish people faced. This was a powerful book.

Murder Packs a Suitcase (3.5/5)

Murder Packs a Suitcase (3.5/5)

First book in a cozy mystery series. Mallory Marlowe, newly widowed, begins a career as a travel writer. Her first assignment is to go to Florida. Quickly, a murder happens of a fellow travel writer and Mallory is considered a suspect. She decides to try to find the real murderer herself. Good twists and turns--I didn't figure out who did it--but a little slow in parts.