Thursday, June 30, 2011

The Borrower

The Borrower

Ms. Hull is a young librarian who makes a connection with Ian, a 10 year old boy with very religious thoughts on Ian's apparent homosexuality.  Ms. Hull finds Ian in the library one morning, after he ran away from home and slept there overnight.  She begins to drive him home and he says if she does, he will tell his parents that she kidnapped him.  This begins their road trip, destinations picked by Ian.  Ms. Hull wrestles with what to do morally, Ian tries to decide how long the trip should last and I was sucked in like watching a train wreck.  These are great, complex characters.  This book had a good secondary storyline with Ms. Hull's father--is he Russian mafia?  A revolutionary?  An old man who tells stories?  This book was different, but in a good way.  I enjoyed this book.  I borrowed the book from the library.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow (YA)

Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow

Jake Ransom and his sister Kady are transported into a world filled with ancient civilizations, dinosaurs and mythical creatures.  Following in the footsteps of their parents, Jake and Kady attempt to figure out where they are and how to get home.  This book was jam packed, sometimes almost too much so.  A reader could get lost with the references to mythology, ancient history and a sort of physics.  I liked the main characters and think that this could be a good book for a strong boy reader.  I read this book on my Kindle.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Muder Past Due

Murder Past Due

This is the first book in a cozy mystery series featuring Charlie, a librarian, and Diesel, Charlie's Maine Coon cat.  Charlie's young boarder, Justin, discovers that a famous author is his biological father.  Shortly after that news, the writer is killed.  Charlie begins to investigate in the hopes of solving the murder and bringing Justin some closure.  This book was a good mystery, had good characters (love Diesel!) and had a nice, cozy feel to it.  I enjoyed it a lot and have #2 on my Kindle to read.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

The Red Queen

The Red Queen

This is the second book in Gregory's series telling of the War of the Roses.  I enjoy Gregory's historical fiction and this book was no different.  Margaret believes that she is like Joan of Arc and has been chosen by God to be the mother of the true King of England--her son, Henry Tudor.  Margaret plots and plans to make this happen and this vision becomes the driving force in her life.  This book shows how women were powerless and powerful all at once, how people would turn on family and friends at the drop of the hat, and how keeping the family name in power was the end all be all.  This was a good read.  I read it on my Kindle.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Jolted (YA)

Jolted (YA)

Newton's family is cursed with being struck and killed by lightning.  Newton is sent to a survival school to learn the needed skills for survival.  With help from his very smart pig, Josephine, Newton learns about life, friendship and survival.  This book was a good, quick read with a lot of humor.  The characters were great and ones that I cared about and wanted to know what happened to them.  I really enjoyed this book.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Housecat Confidential (Kindle)

Housecat Confidential (Kindle)

A must read for cat lovers!  This book is told from the point of view of Finn, a Maine Coon type of cat.  Finn tells of her early childhood in the shelter, finding her new parents, and detailing her life with them.  She even bears all about her forbidden love affair with Mousey.  This was a fun book and I smiled at all of Finn's antics.  I could totally relate to the thought process given to these actions by Finn's mother and writing partner.  This book was a fun read.

The Journal of Curious Letters (YA) 1st in series

The Journal of Curious Letters (YA)

This is the first book in a YA series.  Atticus, known as Tick, receives a mysterious letter telling him that he will soon get a series of clues.  If he figures out the clues, he will meet a man named Master George and help him save lives.  Tick decides he will pursue this venture and he meets up with some other kids in the same boat and they bond over their adventure.  This is a good book to recommend to boy readers of the middle school and early high school reading levels.  I have #2 here to read soon.  I enjoyed the characters, especially Tick, and this book had a sort of Harry Potter feel for me--and I loved the Harry Potter books.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Tolstoy and the Purple Chair

Tolstoy and the Purple Chair

This is a book for book lovers.  Nina loses her older sister to cancer.  As a way of healing, she vows to read a book a day for a year.  This book details that year and the struggle to read, be a wife, a mother, a friend.  Nina connects the books that she is reading to her life and uses them as a balm for her pain.  When she reacts to a book that I have read, I smile and can agree totally.  I loved her writing style and that she loves reading so much.  I was sent this book to review by the Amazon Vine program.  I loved it.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Demons Prefer Blondes

Demons Prefer Blondes

Rafe's sister is kidnapped.  He would rather rescue her but he must go to Earth to repossess a sacred wooden chest.  Did I mention that Rafe is a demon?  He is not looking forward to going to Earth since his last relationship with a mortal did not go well.  But he gets a little more than he bargained for when he meets Lucy, owner of a beauty salon.  Lucy does not know it but she is part demon herself and has succubus in her.  This causes she and Rafe to have an instant chemical reaction to each other and of course they are bound by the box and Rafe's urge to protect her.  This was a good, fun read.  It is in the paranormal romance genre.  I was sent a copy of this book for review by the publisher.