Saving CeeCee Honeycutt (5/5)
CeeCee has a mentally ill mother and a physically and emotionally absent father. She is carrying a lot of weight for a young girl. After she moves in with her aunt her life gets better. CeeCee reminded me of a more sensitive Scout Finch. I really liked this book.
I borrowed this book from our public library.
Right Behind You (YA) (5/5)
Kip sets his young neighbor on fire when he is only a young child. He is institutionalized for four years and then he and his dad and new stepmother move to a new town, with new identities. But Kip cannot leave that part of his past alone and ends up blurting it out to his new friends, to very bad results. Another move happens and he meets Sam, the girl next door who is also damaged goods. A riveting read, as Giles always delivers. Love her books!
Hate List (YA) (5/5)
Nick and Val are the goth couple of the HS--the ones made fun of by the jocks and the popular kids. Nick and Val create a hate list of names of the jocks, popular kids, parents and teachers whom they would like to see dead. One morning, Nick brings a gun to school and begins killing the people from the list. Val needs to figure out how to live with that for the rest of her life. An excellent example of ya realistic fiction and a must read for teachers. This book shows the effects of bullying in a powerful way.
I borrowed this book from my public library.
Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter (4.5/5)
Abe Lincoln became a vampire hunter at a young age. Henry, a vampire, sends names to Abe of vampires to hunt. Vampires apparently had some involvement in the Civil War. This book read like historical fiction with vampires thrown in. I enjoyed it.
I borrowed this book from my public library.
Kendra (YA) (4.5/5)
Kendra has family issues, friend issues, boy issues. But she's got a pretty good head on her shoulders, for the most part. She is a 14 year old trying to find her way. Good ya realistic fiction.
Wife for Hire (4/5)
A cute but predictable romance where Hank, a farmer, hires Maggie, an aspiring author, to pretend to be his wife for 6 months to give him enough of an air of stability to qualify for a bank loan--his father just happens to be the bank president. I like her Stephanie Plum books better than her stand alones.
Murder with Puffins
Second in a cozy mystery series. Meg heads for an island getaway with her boyfriend Michael but doesn't realize that her family is already there. An annoying artist is murdered and Meg's father is a suspect. Meg decides to investigate and try to find the real killer.
Jane Bites Back (5/5)
My favorite author, Jane Austen, lives on as a vampire in this book. Jane is now known as Jane Fairfax and is the owner of a bookstore in upstate NY. Jane sells a manuscript and hits the circuit to publicize her new book and some old enemies come calling. This book was a riot. I loved it.
I borrowed this book from our public library.
Thereby Hangs a Tail (4.5/5)
The sequel to Dog on It, this book details the latest case of the PI team of Bernie (human) and Chet (dog). Chet once again narrates and describes how he and Bernie are trying to find a kidnapped show dog and its owner. Good twists and turns. I did not enjoy the cliffhanger ending when it comes to Chet but I now know that #3 comes out in October so I don't have too long to wait.
I borrowed this book from the library.
Jack Frost--snow Savannah--
The Chemistry of Death (5/5)
David Hunter moves to a small town to work as their doctor. After a few years there, a woman is found murdered. David is called in by police to go back to his forensic science roots and investigate the crime scene. Shortly after, another woman is kidnapped and killed. Then a third. David is racing against time to figure out the identity of the serial killer. A good read that will keep you guessing right up until the end. First in a series.
