The Chronicles of Narnia

I am sure that several of you have read these books before and probably more then once. However, for me, it was my very first time reading them. That is why I have not posted in such a long time. I wanted to read the entire series before I posted about them. A few of them I liked and others not so much. I was told that I have read the books in the chronological order and not the order that they came out in. I have no idea (of course) what order you may have read them in but if by chance you have not read them (like me) then here is what they are about. Enjoy.

.

The Magician's NephewNarnia...where the woods are thick and cool, where Talking Beasts are called to life...a new world where the adventure begins. Digory and Polly meet and become friends one cold, wet summer in London. Their lives burst into adventure when Digory's Uncle Andrew, who thinks he is a magician, sends them hurtling to....somewhere else. They find their way to Narnia, newborn from the Lion's song, and encounter the evil sorceress Jadis before they finally return home.

.

The Lion, The Witch and The WardrobeNarnia....the land beyond the wardrobe, the secret country known only to Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy...the place where the adventure begins. Lucy is the first to find the secret of the wardrobe in the professor's mysterious old house. At first, no one believes her when she tells of her adventures in the land of Narnia. But soon Edmund and then Peter and Susan discover the Magic and meet Aslan, the Great Lion, for themselves. In the blink of an eye, their livers are changed forever.

.

The Horse and His BoyNarnia....where horses talk and hermits like company, where evil men turn into donkeys, where boys go into battle....and where the adventure begins. During the Golden Age of Narnia, when Peter is High King, a boy named Shasta discovers he is not the son of Arsheesh, the Calormene fisherman, and decides to run far away to the North--to Narnia. When he is mistaken for another runaway, Shasta is led to discover who he really is and even finds his real father.

.

Prince CaspianNarnia....the land between the lamp-post and the castle of Cair Paravel, where animals talk, where magical things happen...and where the adventure begins. Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are returning to boarding school when they are summoned from the dreary train station (by Susan's own magic horn) to return to the land of Narnia--the land where they had ruled as kings and queens and where their help is desperately needed.

.

The Voyage of the Dawn TreaderNarnia....the world of wicked dragons and magic spells, where the very best is brought out of even the worst people, where anything can happen (and most often does)...and where the adventure begins. The Dawn Treader is the first ship Narnia has seen in centuries. King Caspian has built it for his voyage to find the seven lords, good men whom his evil uncle Miraz banished when he usurped the throne. The journey takes Edmund, Lucy, their cousin Eustace, and Caspian to the Eastern Islands, beyond the Silver Sea, toward Aslan's country at the End of the World.

.

The Silver ChairNarnia....where owls are wise, where some of the giants like to snack on humans (and, if carefully cooked, on Marsh-wiggles, too), where a prince is put under an evil spell...and where the adventure begins. Eustace and Jill escape from the bullies at school through a strange door in the wall, which, for once, is unlocked. It leads to the open moor...or does it? Once again Aslan has a task for the children, and Narnia needs them. Through dangers untold and caverns deep and dark, they pursue the quest that brings them face to face with the evil Witch. She must be defeated if Prince Rilian is to be saved.

.

The Last BattleNarnia...where dwarfs are loyal and tough and strong--or are they?....where you must say good-bye and where the adventures begins again. The Unicorn says that humans and brought to Narnia when Narnia is stirred and upset. And Narnia is in trouble now: A false Aslan roams the land. Narnia's only hope is that Eustance and Jill, old friends to Narnia, will be able to find the true Aslan and restore peace to the land. Their task is a difficult one because, as the Centaur says, "The stars never lie, but Men and Beasts do." Who is the real Aslan and who is the imposter? Will we be forced to bid farewell to Narnia forever?

Al Capone Does My Shirts

by Gennifer Choldenko

This book takes place during the Great Depression, when jobs are hard to come by. Moose (a 12 year boy) is forced to move with his family to Alcatraz, when his father gets a job there. His father works long hours, and his mother takes a job too. Moose is put in charge of his autistic sister, Natalie. There is a beautiful relationship between Moose and Natalie, and how he helps deal with her obsessive behavior and temper tantrums. There are other children on the island that Moose makes friends with, and there is basket of trouble- Piper. Piper is the beautiful but scheming daughther of the warden. One of her many schemes is charging their classmates for the opportunity to have their laundry done by the inmates.
The book is a short read, and told from the viewpoint of Moose. I love the family relationships in the this book. Moose has a very good solid relationship with his father. It is great to read a book where the father is loving, and cares so much for his family. It is an uplifting read!

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Loved it, loved it, loved it! Be sure to check this one out. The sequel will be out sometime in the next 6 months.

Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words. Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings. In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

(Thanks to Barnes & Noble website again for the pic and synopsis)

Prada & Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard

Okay, so I know there are a lot of, shall we call them Pride & Prejudice knockoffs. Anyway, this one is adorable. I loved it! A cute quick read. I hope you enjoy it.

Here's the storyline: To impress the popular girls on a high school trip to London, klutzy Callie buys real Prada heels. But trying them on, she trips...conks her head...and wakes up in the year 1815! There Callie meets Emily, who takes her in, mistaking her for a long-lost friend. As she spends time with Emily's family, Callie warms to them—particularly to Emily's cousin Alex, a hottie and a duke, if a tad arrogant. But can Callie save Emily from a dire engagement, and win Alex's heart, before her time in the past is up? (synopsis & picture from Barnes & Noble website.)

Accidental It Girl by Libby Street

First off I have to give a second recommendation for "The Historian" and "Zippy." I just finished these the past month and they were both so, so, so good.
Secondly, here's my recommendation. It was just a fun, cute little romance. I do need to warn you that there are a few cuss words in it, but other than that I remember it being pretty clean. There were a few parts where I laughed out loud. I hope you enjoy it to.


What comes around...

Photographer Sadie Price is known for her thick skin and infallible instincts. A lofty education has made her skilled in her craft, and a fear of poverty — and love for Jimmy Choo — has made her one of the East Coast's most savvy paparazzi. She keeps her exhilarating but sometimes hectic life manageable by staying on the right side of the razor-thin line between celebrity photographers and the stalkerazzi. But all that changes when Sadie locks horns with one of Hollywood's hottest bachelors.

...goes around.

Something about Ethan Wyatt's charisma and startling good looks throws Sadie off her game. Something about Sadie's dogged determination — and a very compromising picture she snaps — throws Ethan off his. Hatching a scheme befitting the silver screen that made him famous, Ethan sets out to give Sadie a taste of her own medicine. And when her life almost instantly becomes as frenzied as those of the "It Girls" she follows, Sadie starts to see her career, her love life, and Ethan Wyatt in ways she never had before....
(picture and synopsis taken from Barnes & Noble website)

Leven Thumps, Professor Winsnicker's Book of Proper Etiquette for Well-Mannered Sycophants

Long title I know. This book is pretty interesting since it is written in the sense of being a textbook for a sycophant but this textbook doesn't belong to just any sycophant. This book belongs to Lev's sycophant, Clover. Or at least it did that is until he accidentally dropped it before returning to Foo. This book is also unique in that after each chapter the teacher left room for the sycophants to write their thoughts down about what he or she thought about that certain chapter/lesson. It really helps you get into the mind of Clover and understand him a bit better. I loved the little doodles all over the place that Clover put in it the most. This book really makes you feel like you are reading a textbook. One thing that you need to be mindful of is that if you read this book you are going to need to read a few more Leven Thumps books then just the first one. If you don't then you will be missing some inside information. Anyways here is what the Professor wrote about his own textbook to help you get a feel for what you will find.
.
Greetings, my young sycophant, greetings. How fortunate you are to be holding such a magnificent book. How your mind must be shivering in anticipation of the great wisdom of which you are about to partake. I know I can hardly wait, and I wrote the book. I know it will be tempting to quote and speak aloud the beautifully written text you are about to experience, but please, for the sake of all that is possible in Foo, do not. The very existence of your world and dreams could be shattered by your carelessness. Do not let this book out of your sight. You have been warned. On a much happier note, enjoy!

Once Upon a Marigold

I finished reading this book in 2 days! It was awesome! It is a really easy read, and I love the way the author wrote the book. You could call it a male Cinderella story, with a twist of Snow White. Christian grows up in a cave a with a troll, and falls in love with a princess. There is comedy, adventure, action, and plots for assassination, something everybody!

Ranger's Apprentice Series

The Ranger’s Apprentice books are written by the author John Flanagan. He is from Australia and it somewhat shows in the way that he writes his books. If you are a big stickler for grammar then you might have a hard time every now and again. He also uses some language in these books too. The first book in the series had about 13 words but as you read further along in the series he seems to be able to control himself better in that area. The reason that I started to read these books was because my husband was reading them and he really enjoyed them. Looking at the cover I could tell that it was not the type of book that I would pick out myself but I would still give it a try. Now after reading the entire series I can say that I actually liked these books over all, which really surprised me. I have got a picture and a little short about each book but this time I am going to write a little something extra after each brief of the book, my opinion of the book. If you think this is the book for you then don’t read to far but then again you may want to do that anyways so you can get a better feel for what this series holds. Anyhow, enjoy!Ranger’s Apprentice Book 1: The Ruins of Gorlan
The Rangers, with their shadowy ways, have always made him nervous. And now fifteen-year-old Will has been chosen as a Ranger’s apprentice. But what he doesn’t yet realize is that the Rangers are the protectors of the kingdom who will fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And there is a large battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom. This time he will not be denied.
.
(I loved this book the most out of the entire series which is kind of funny since it uses the most language. It is a somewhat slower pace than the other books but it gives you a good background area for the characters before you get into the real adventure.)Ranger’s Apprentice Book 2: The Burning Bridge
For years, the Kingdom of Araluen has prospered, with the evil Lord Morgarath safely behind the impassable mountains. But the scheming hand of the dark lord has not been idle. When Will and his friend Horace, an apprentice knight, travel to a neighboring village they discover the unsettling truth. Could it be that Morgarath has finally devised a plan to bring his legions over the mountains? If so, the King’s army is in imminent danger of being crushed. And Will and Horace are the only ones who can save them.
.
(This book was also pretty good and it has some unexpected turns to it too. But for the series this is when the battling and things can get a bit descriptive, especially if you have a good imagination.)Ranger’s Apprentice Book 3: The Icebound Land
Kidnapped and taken to a frozen land after the fierce battle with Lord Morgarath, Will and Evanlyn are bound for Skandia as captives. Halt has sworn to rescue his young apprentice, and he will do anything to keep his promise, even defy his king. Expelled from the Rangers, Halt is joined by Will’s friend Horace as he travels toward Skandia. On their way, they are challenged again and again by freelance knights, but Horace knows a thing or two about combat. Soon his skills begin to attract the attention of warlards for miles around. But will he and Halt be in time to rescue Will?
.
(Ok, honestly, I did not like this one too much. Parts of it were really sweet and tender and really got you connected to some of the characters more but I don’t like how they introduce certain things, sorry but can’t say more about that. I guess you should just read this on carefully. Don’t get me wrong it is a very important book for the rest of the series because the last three books will refer to what happened in Skandia.)Ranger’s Apprentice Book 4: The Battle for Skandia
For Will and Evanlyn, freedom has never felt so fleeting. Still far from their homeland after escaping slavery in the icebound land of Skandia, the Ranger’s apprentice and the princess’s plan to return to Araluen is spoiled when Evanlyn is taken captive by a Temujai warrior. Though still weakened by warmweed’s toxic effects, Will employs his Ranger training to locate his friend, but an enemy scouting party has him fatally outnumbered. Will is certain death is close at hand until old friends make a daring, last-minute rescue. The reunion is cut short, however, when they make a horrifying discovery: Skandia’s borders have been breached by the entire Temujai army. And Araluen is next in their sights. If two kingdoms are to be saved, the unlikeliest of unions must be made. Will it hold long enough to vanquish a ruthless new enemy? Or will past tensions spell doom for all?
.
(This was really good and actually I think it was probably the funniest book of the lot. A lot of serious things happen in it and I am sure that is why the author put more hummer in it to help lower the tension that is created. In all honesty I think that the author could have ended the series here but I guess he figured that left some loose ends.)
Ranger’s Apprentice Book 5: The Sorcerer of the North
Several years have passed since the apprentice and his master, Will and Halt, led the Skandians to victory against invaders, and Will is finally a full-fledged Ranger with his own fief to look after. The fief seems sleepy, boring, even until Lord Syron, master of a castle far in the north, is struck down by a mysterious illness. Joined by his friend Alyss, Will is suddenly thrown headfirst into an extraordinary adventure, investigating fears of sorcery and trying to determine who is loyal to Lord Syron and who is planning to betray him. Will and Alyss must battle growing hysteria, traitors, and most of all, time. Lord Syron is fading, but when Alyss is taken hostage, Will is forced to make a desperate choice between loyalty to his mission and loyalty to his friend.
.
(I did not like this book. I do like how things were cleared up but for over half of it the main character, Will, just did not match the personality that he has had all along. Maybe the author was trying to make him seem more grown up but I don’t think it worked. I did like how the new characters were introduced but man it really annoyed me that one of the characters that I liked turned out to be completely different. You know the saying, “you can’t judge a book by its cover,” (funny that it applies here)? Well that totally applies to the characters in this book.)Ranger’s Apprentice Book 6: The Siege of Macindaw
The kingdom is in danger. Renegade knight Sir Keren has succeeded in overtaking Castle Macindaw and now is conspiring with the Scotti. The fate of Araluen rests in the hands of two young adventures: the Ranger Will and his warrior friend, Horace. Yet for Will, the stakes are even higher. For inside Castle Macindaw, held hostage, is someone he loves. For this onetime apprentice, the time to grow up is now.
.
(I’m glad that the author went back to his old method in this story and that the characters once again hold the same personality as they did before. I was also impressed with the pretty impossible circumstance that was presented to the characters and how they actually managed to do what they did. My husband says that this is the one book that does seem a little farfetched in that area but he still enjoyed it. But the best part of all for this book was the ending by far. Now I don’t know if more books are to come but don’t worry because I’ll let you all know.)
.
(Picture provided by Barns & Noble)

Dragonspell Series

I LOVE THESE BOOKS!!! The author is Donita K. Paul and she has just done a wonderful job at introducing you into a new world full of adventure. These books are great to read with the family or by yourself. Both my husband and I have enjoyed reading these books time and time again. But I will just let you read for yourself what each book is about (they are in order of how they appear in the series), enjoy.Dragonspell
Once a slave, Kale is given the unexpected opportunity to become a servant to Paladin. Yet this young girl has much to learn about the difference between slavery and service. A Desperate Search Begins. A small band of Paladin's servants rescue Kale from danger but turn her from her destination: The Hall, where she was to be trained. Feeling afraid and unprepared, Kale embarks on a perilous quest to find the meech dragon egg stolen by the foul Wizard Risto. First, she and her comrades must find Wizard Fenworth. But their journey is threatened when a key member of the party is captured, leaving the remaining companions to find Fenworth, attempt an impossible rescue, and recover the egg whose true value they have not begun to suspect. Weaving together memorable characters, daring adventure, and a core of eternal truth, Dragonspell is a finely crafted and welcome addition to the corpus of fantasy fiction.Dragonquest
A New Quest Begins. A dragonkeeper of Paladin, Kale is summoned from the Hall to The Bogs by the Wizard Fenworth to serve as his apprentice and tend his newly hatched meech dragon, Regidor. But Kale isn’t going alone. The Hall is sending a student to monitor her performance and report back to the scholars. Worst of all, it’s Bardon–an older boy Kale finds irritating, but who at least can hold his own in a sword fight. New Friendships Are ForgedMeanwhile, the Wizard Risto has seized another meech dragon, bringing him dangerously close to gaining the power he seeks. So with only a motley band of companions, Kale sets out on a desperate quest to rescue the second meech, to free those dragons already enslaved, and to thwart Risto’s devious plans. It’s up to Kale to lead the search and to embrace the role that’s rightfully hers. But will her efforts be enough to save the land of Amara from the dark future that awaits at Risto’s hands?Dragonknight
Before vowing his allegiance to Wulder as a knight, Bardon heads to the mountains for solitude. His life is suddenly complicated by a woman and her granddaughter, N"Rae, on a mission to rescue the woman's son trapped in a chamber of sleep. Bardon learns that more of Paladin's knights are imprisoned - and suspects one of them is Dragon Keeper Kale's missing father. The band travels north, uncertain of their destination and encountering numerous perils. When they unlock the chamber, they discover a dozen knights - who cannot be awakened. The journal holding the secret to rousing them is in an unknown language. How can they find the help they need, and overcome even graver obstacles, to rescue the knights? Return to the land of dragons and magic you discovered in Dragonspell and DragonQuest, in this finely crafted and memorable work of fantasy fiction with a core of eternal truth.Dragonfire
Three years of strife have passed since Kale and Bardon freed Paladins knights. Now, fiery dragons scorch their beautiful countryside as an evil husband-and-wife wizard duo battle one another for supremacy. The people of Amara just want to be left alone, hoping the conflict with disappear. But Paladin is dying, and Bardon and Kale, now married, must accept fateful assignments if their land is to survive. Can their efforts turn the tide against their adversaries? Kale’s responsibility is to find, hatch, and train an army of dragons by working side-by-side with the dragon keeper father she has never known. As the Amaran countrymen seek escape, she must gain a greater understanding of her gifts to overcome her doubts. And as the end draws near, with friends and family in serious jeopardy, both Bardon and Kale must face their greatest trials yet.Dragonlight
The fantastic land of Amara is recovering from years of war inflicted on its citizens by outside forces–as well as from the spiritual apathy corroding the Amarans’ hearts. With Kale and her father serving as dragon keepers for Paladin, the dragon populace has exploded. It’s a peaceful, exciting time of rebuilding. And yet, an insidious, unseen evil lurks just beneath the surface of the idyllic countryside. As Kale and her father are busy hatching, bonding, and releasing the younger generation of dragons as helpers throughout the kingdom, the light wizard has little time to develop her skills. Her husband, Sir Bardon–despite physical limitations resulting from his bout with the stakes disease–has become a leader, serving on the governing board under Paladin. When Kale and Bardon set aside their daily responsibilities to join meech dragons Regidor and Gilda on a quest to find a hidden meech colony, they encounter sinister forces. Their world is under attack by a secret enemy… can they overcome the ominous peril they can’t even see? Truth has never been more important, nor so difficult to discern.The Vanishing Sculptor
Now this last book is not completely part of the series above because it takes place in a different area of the world and somewhat an earlier time too but you do have some characters from the books above that are in this story as well. This book also follows pretty closely to what the other ones were making a point at too.
.
Tipper, a young emerlindian woman, has been responsible for the upkeep of her family’s estate since her sculptor father disappeared several years ago. To make ends meet, she’s been forced to sell off the artwork he left behind. When at last her father returns, accompanied by two strangers from a distant land, Tipper discovers that her actions have unbalanced the foundation of her world and endangered her father’s life. She must act quickly to undo the threat. But how can she save her father and the world on her own? The task is too huge for one person, so she gathers the help of some unlikely companions, including the giant parrot, Beccaroon, and the aristocratic tumanhofer, Bealomondore, and set out on a quest, eventually witnessing the loving care and miraculous resources of Wulder.
.
(Picture provided by Barns & Noble)

Leven Thumps And The Gateway To Foo

Book written by Obert Skye who has a very interesting writing style all his own. The book seems to move a little slow at first but then it picks up with all of the interesting things that take place in the story. I have only read the first book of this series but I am planning on reading the rest so I will let you all know later on how well they are. So far I have enjoyed it and you might like it as well. Here is a some more information about the book.

.

Fourteen-year-old Leven Thumps (a.k.a. "Lev") lives a wretched life in Burnt Culvert, Oklahoma. But his life is about to change and his destiny be fulfilled as he learns about a secret gateway that bridges two worlds — the real world and Foo, a place created at the beginning of time in the folds of the mind that makes it possible for mankind to dream and hope, aspire and imagine. But Foo is in chaos, and three transplants from that dreamworld have been sent to retrieve Lev, who alone has the power to save Foo.
Enter Clover, a wisecracking, foot-high sidekick; Winter, a girl with a special power of her own; and Geth, the rightful heir to Foo. Their mission: to convince Lev that he has the power to save Foo. Can this unique band of travelers help Lev overcome his doubt? Will Lev find the gateway in time? Or will Sabine and his dark shadows find the gateway first and destroy mankind?

.

(Picture and book description provided by Barns & Noble.)

Tales Of The Frog Princess

These books are written by E. D. Baker and I think the author has done a wonderful job in taking a classic fairy tale and twisting it into something new and totally its own thing. I would love to see this author actually take another fairy tale and do the same thing that they have done with these books. A nice thing about this series is that it doesn't take to long to read since they were actually written for young readers. I read the entire series in a week and have read these books several time since. They have some pretty funny parts in them that will make you laugh out loud. I would totally recommend this book to be read together as a family. Here is the order of the books and a little description of each one. If you think that you might be interested then don't read to much as you get further down the list (Images from Barns and Noble site).The Frog Princess
Princess Emeralda's laugh sounds like a donkey's bray rather than tinkling bells, and she trips over her feet more often than she gracefully curtsies. But if Emma ever wished for an escape from her frustrating life, she never expected it to happen by kissing a frog named Prince Eadric!Dragon Breath
When your grandmother is a cranky old witch, your intended prince is a jerk, and your kingdom is about to be invaded, "happily ever after" can be exasperating. But from the bottom of the fishbowl sea to the heights of the mountaintop Dragon Olympics, Princess Emma takes on an epic quest to reverse an old spell and save the kingdom of Greater Greensward from peril.Once Upon A Curse
Many years ago, an angry fairy cast a curse on Princess Emma's ancestor, Princess Hazel. The fairy decreed that Hazel and all her female descendants, upon reaching their sixteenth birthdays, could not touch a flower, or else all their youth, beauty, and kindness would be erased. No one before her has been powerful enough to undo the curse, but Emma is determined to outsmart an adversary she thought she'd left behind long ago.No Place For Magic
Emma and Eadric are finally ready to get married! But Eadric's parents aren't so sure about having a witch in the family. So when Eadric's irritating little brother, Bradston, needs rescuing from some horrible trolls, Eadric's mother won't let Emma use her magic to help. To make matters worse, Eadric suddenly seems a bit too found of the girls from his past. But clever Emma has just enough tricks up her sleeve to save the day and her romance with Eadric, proving once and for all that she is just as enchanting as the spells she casts.The Salamander Spell
Princess Grassina has always lived in the shadow of her older sister, Chartreuse, whether it's being one step behind in lessons or getting the leftover suitors when Chartreuse deems them unworthy. But when a terrible curse plunges Greater Greensward into terror, Grassina returns from an errand with a few surprises --- including magic skills only Chartreuse is supposed to have. As she explores her newfound ability, Grassina realizes she has what it takes to save the kingdom. And it's more than just a little magic.The Dragon Princess
Meet Millie, the charming but somewhat cursed daughter of Princess Emma and Prince Eadric. Why cursed? You see, every time Millie gets mad (and she gets mad a little too often) she turns into a dragon. And not a cute pink dragon either. She becomes a full-on, green-scaled, huge-winged, fire-breathing dragon---big enough to scare the petticoats off her friends, family, and, of course, potential suitors who come to see about her hand in marriage. It's embarrassing---even maddening---that this happens, but no one seems to have any answers for her. . . until she hears about a witch in the far reaches of the Icy North, a witch guarded by a frightening brigade of abominable snowmen (who have no interest in helping a princess in distress).Dragon Kiss
Now to let you all know I have not actually read this book yet. When I was getting the images off of the Barns and Noble site I saw that there was another book out. I so can not wait to read this one! Here is what they had to say about it themselves.

.

Audun is a teenage ice dragon in love...with a human princess. Can he become human and win Millie's heart? Audun is on a quest to find Princess Millie, and to become human in order to win her heart. But The Dragon King has set out a number of tasks Audun must perform before he is permitted to even try to woo Millie...and each one is filled with E. D. Baker's signature adventure and hilarity as this dragon-turned-human-turned dragon and back again battles sea witches and warlocks both familiar to readers of the series, and altogether new. A fantastic stand-alone fairy tale that brings new life to this wonderful series.

The house of Night Series

After she is Marked, 16-year-old Zoey Redbird enters the House of Night and learns that she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess Nyx. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is mis-using her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny— with a little help from her new vampyre friends.

OK I LOVE THESE BOOKS! Hands down I read each one in a day! Now warning they are made for teens, but these books are not writtern like the Twilight series is. Now with that being said I love them all! There is some language in the books that may that be for some, just wanted to throw that out. Also every wal-mart I have seen carries these books so you can get them there which is a plus! All I can say is happy reading!
Sorry these are written by P.C and Kristen Cast

Adding Labels

Hi again everyone. Thanks to all who have contributed to the blog. My reading list is definitely growing, how about yours? Anyway, I hope you're enjoying the blog. I thought it might be a good idea to add labels of the genre of the book, so that if you're in the mood for say a "science fiction book" you can go to the sidebar, click on science fiction, and Bam! a list of science fiction books before your eyes. So if you wouldn't mind going back to the posts you've already made and then in the future posts you make add the genre down at the bottom of the new post box where it reads, "Labels for this post: e.g., scooters, vacation, fall." I've already added the sidebar, so you just need to add the labels. Thanks all. Happy Reading!

Oh, here are some ideas for genres if you need some.
Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Religious, Biography, etc.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

I have to be quick, my kids are wanting me. Here's another book that I really liked. There are 2 others in the series that are already out. I'm on the waiting list at the library for them. The 2nd is City of Ashes and then the 3rd is City of Glass. It was fun to read, but I have to say the twist at the end was kind of weird. Still a good read.


When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing — not even a smear of blood — to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end. (Barnes & Noble website again.)

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

I love this book! it is a little long but worth it- it is kind of a historical mystery type book about Dracula- i randomly bought this book at Barnes & Noble one day and it is now one of my favorites ever - and i got all of my family to read it and it is one of their favorites as well now! I don't want to say too much about it because part of the fun of this book is not really knowing where it is going to take you next- so enjoy

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

A little over two years ago I was sitting in a doctor's office having blood tests for gestational diabetes. It took over 3 hours and so I grabbed Harry Potter to take along with me. The nurse and I started to talk about the books and she told me, "Oh, if you like Harry Potter, you should read Fablehaven. Well, it took 2 years, but I started the Fablehaven books and I love them. I would even go so far as to say I love them as much as Harry Potter. They keep getting better and better each book. So I would definitely recommend them. My only warning is that the series is not finished yet and the 4th book completely leaves you on edge. Enjoy! (The pictures and overviews are from the Barnes & Noble website.)

For centuries mystical creatures of all description were gathered into a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite. Kendra and her brother, Seth, have no idea that their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws keep relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken — Seth is a bit too curious and reckless for his own good — powerful forces of evil are unleashed, and Kendra and her brother face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save their family, Fablehaven, and perhaps even the world, Kendra and Seth must find the courage to do what they fear most.


At the end of the school year, Kendra and her brother Seth find themselves racing back to Fablehaven, a refuge for mythical and magical creatures. Grandpa Sorenson, the caretaker, invites three specialists — a potion master, a magical relics collector, and a mystical creature trapper — to help protect the property from the Society of the Evening Star, an ancient organization determined to infiltrate the preserve and steal a hidden artifact of great power. Time is running out. The Evening Star is storming the gates. If the artifact falls into the wrong hands, it could mean the downfall of other preserves and possibly the world. Will Kendra learn to use her fairy gifts in time? Will Seth stay out of trouble?



Very strange things are afoot at Fablehaven. Someone or something has released a plague that transforms beings of light into creatures of darkness. Seth discovers the problem early, but as the infectious disease spreads, it becomes clear that the preserve cannot hold out for long. In dire need of help, the Sorensons question where to turn. The Sphinx has always given sound advice — but is he a traitor? Inside the Quiet Box, Vanessa might have information that could lead to a cure — but can she be trusted?Meanwhile, Kendra and members of the Knights of the Dawn must journey to a distant preserve and retrieve another hidden artifact. Will the Society of the Evening Star recover it first? Will the plague eclipse all light at Fablehaven?


Brace yourself for a shocking secret. Two hidden artifacts have been found. Three more remain unrecovered. More preserves face destruction as the Society of the Evening Star relentlessly pursues new talismans. Reading in Patton's Journal of Secrets, Kendra learns the location of the key to a vault housing one of the artifacts. In order to retrieve it, the Knights of the Dawn must enter a death trap-a dragon sanctuary called Wyrmroost. The mission cannot proceed without stealing a sacred object zealously guarded by the centaurs. Anybody seen Seth? The race is on to acquire all five of the artifact keys to the great demon prison. Will the Knights of the Dawn conquer Wyrmroost? Who can stop the Sphinx? Can Vanessa be trusted to help? What artifact will be found next? Find out in Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary.

Austenland

This is a fun read for anyone who loves Jane Austen...or more specifically Mr. Darcy (aka Colin Firth, the only real Mr. Darcy.) It's a short fun read, and I definitely recommend it. Here's a synopsis as stolen from Barnes and Noble...

Jane is a young New York woman who can never seem to find the right man—perhaps because of her secret obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Predjudice. When a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-obsessed women, however, Jane’s fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become realer than she ever could have imagined. Is this total immersion in a fake Austenland enough to make Jane kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?

A Girl Named Zippy

Hello, everyone. I thought I'd start my first post on this blog with my favorite book ever.

Now, there are categories of favorite books. Some books you read over and over because they're like Ramen: easy to eat and slightly mushy. That's the entire works of L.M. Montgomery for me, especially Anne of Green Gables. I've probably read the entire series two dozen times, mostly between the ages of 8 and 16. It drove my mom crazy. I'll be addressing that series in a later post, mostly because I finally re-read them for the first time in almost nine years. (I was that burned out on them.) And they were just as good, if not better, than I remembered.

Then there are the books you say are your favorites because you want to look smart in front of other people. For instance, I love Ray Bradbury in small amounts. Something Wicked This Way Comes is one of the most beautifully-written, gripping books I've ever read, and it's just one creepy little book. But the descriptions...! the characters...! the ending! I read it and I despair of ever being an author. And Ray Bradbury is one that you can trot out in intellectual circles and people look over their designer glasses at you and say, "Quite."

This book falls in neither category. I can only think of two people (out of the bajillion plus) I've recommended this book to that loved it almost as much as I did. One was my husband (surprise!). One was my sister. My husband loved it because it made him laugh so hard that we had to pull off the highway while he wheezed and wiped the tears of mirth off his glasses. My sister loved it for the same reason that I did: this little girl was me.

There are some marked differences, yes. Haven "Zippy" Jarvis was raised by a detatched mom who burrowed into their living room couch, reading, for years. She toiled not, neither did she spin. (We'll talk about the Zippy sequel, She Got Up Off the Couch, at a later date.) Zippy's dad was a smooth-talking, handsome, do-nothing dad who gambled for a living. Zippy had two siblings: a sister who pinched her in the soft place under her arm while they were sitting in their Quaker church on Sundays, and a brother who was handsome and furious.

Plot-wise, this autobiography is just as skimpy as I've laid it out here. What makes this book so heart-wrenchingly funny is the fact that you read it, and you see things exactly as a seven year old sees them. Consider this excerpt:

My dad asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I said I'd have to think about it...[One] night, just before I fell asleep, I realized what I wanted to be...I went outside, where my dad was puttering in his tool shed, and told him I wanted to belong to the Mafia. He asked what did I mean when I said that, and I said like in the movies, and he nodded.

A few days later he came home with a framed certificate printed on very genuine yellow paper that said I was an official, lifetime member of the Mafia. Some of it was in Italian and some of it was just in an Italian accent. A man named Leonardo "The Lion" Gravitano Salvatore had signed it with a tall, threatening signature.

After that my life changed, and I mean for the better. Hardly anyone ever bothered me, except for my sister, who must have belonged to whatever is bigger and meaner than the Mafia. Maybe the Jehovah's Witnesses. She dared even to lock me out of the house one night when my parents were away, when there was a bat on the front porch that was clearly diseased and looking for hair. My brother came from out of nowhere and unlocked the door, and just in time, too. Back in the house I gave my sister a whole host of menacing, Italian faces, which she pretended to ignore.

Please, do yourself a favor and read this book. It's clever without being sharp, tender without being mushy, and honest without being preachy. It's the best book I've ever read.

The Hunger Games & Catching Fire

I figured that since I started this blog, I should probably post something, huh? Sorry, I've been busy with in-laws in town. So I'll present my two favorite books at the moment. (I don't have one overall favorite book of all time. I have a thousand favorites. So here are two that I've read recently.) These are a MUST READ.

These two books by Suzanne Collins are AMAZING. I couldn't put either one down. The 2nd book just came out Sept. 1st and there will definitely be more books in this series.

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survived. (From the Barnes & Noble website)



Oh and don't read the synopsis for this one until you read the first book. It'll give it away.


Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. (again from the Barnes & Noble Website.)

the mother in me

I am about 3/4 through this book and love it. For those of us who are young mothers. Mothers to young children and at times find ourselves thinking "is this normal". Motherhood is part of us all but it doesn't come easy over night. It is a process and a trait we are all learning. This book includes short stories and poems about being a mother. I love the stories but not a big fan of the poetry. But maybe that is just because I have really never been big into poetry. This is a quick read so I hope you check it out!

The Book Thief

This is a powerful, and very moving book! I bawled at the end.

"It is 1939, Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still. By her brother's graveside, Liesel Meminger's life is changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is The Grave Digger's Handbook, left there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, where the help of her accordion-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife library, wherever there are books to be found."

It is told from the viewpoint of Death, and it is very different and interesting perceptive. The book takes place during Nazi Germany, so there is war-time violence. It is an amazing book that covers so many themes- hope, love, family, courage, and standing up for what you believe in.

The Lighting Thief

I love this series! If you like the Harry Potter series, you will love this series! You meet Percy Jackson, a trouble youth, who finds out the Greek gods are still alive and well in the 21st Century. It is a action-packed, hilarious book. The chapter titles made me roll on the floor laughing- like "I accidentally vaporized my Pre-algebra teacher". It is a great twist of greek mythology and sarcastic humor.

The Book of Lost Things

This is one of my favorite books ever. It was hard for me to get into it, but after the first thirty pages the story really came alive and sucked me in. It has a great twist to some classic fairy tales.

High in his attic bedroom, twelve-year-old David mourns the loss of his mother. He is angry and he is alone, with only the books on his shelf for company.

But those books have begun to whisper to him in the darkness, and as he takes refuge in the myths and fairytales so beloved of his dead mother he finds that the real world and the fantasy world have begun to meld. The Crooked Man has come, with his mocking smile and his enigmatic words: 'Welcome, your majesty. All hail the new king.'

And as war rages across Europe, David is violently propelled into a land that is both a construct of his imagination yet frighteningly real, a strange reflection of his own world composed of myths and stories populated by wolves and worse-than-wolves, and ruled over by a faded king who keeps his secrets in a legendary book . . . The Book of Lost Things.

Home for Christmas

I know it is no where near Christmas but I could not help read one of my most favorite books yesterday. This book was written by Anita Stansfield. It is not a terribly long book so if you are looking for something to read in only a day or two this would be perfect for you. Home for Christmas is one of the last in a series she has written but it is actually okay to read this book out of order. The main character is a girl by the name of Allison who is going to school at Provo's BYU and working an accounting job too. Right at the start of the book you learn that she is unable to go home to Australia for Christmas and the reason is simply that she prayed about it and just feels like she needed to stay. Yes, this book has teaching and principles from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day-Saint and how those things apply to everyday life and choices that we make. It is a wonderful book and the story is so sweet and tender. I hope you all get a chance to read this lovely book one day. Well the only thing left for me to say is, "Happy Reading!"

Here we go!

Welcome, welcome! I'm so excited to get this going. I don't know about you all, but I read insatiably. There is nothing like a good book to escape for a little while. But whether you're like me or you're not a big reader at all or you're somewhere in the middle, I, for one, would love to hear what you're reading and how you like it. So if you have a book to suggest, please write a little blurb about it (no giving away the plot though!!) and tell us how you liked it. Please include the author's name so everyone else can find it if they want and a picture of the cover would be great if want to put one up. If there is any offensive language or anything that might be offensive to someone, please give a little warning. Let's respect that not everyone has the same taste and not write nasty comments. Alrighty, I think that's all. I can't wait to get started!