Okay so here's yet another good not great read. I know it seems that I mostly always post positive reviews for my books. Where's the dirt??...Where's the honesty?? Well the fact is I have been fortunate enough to come across some pretty good stuff. I may have issues with a few things within the book but for the most part there has been nothing that I hate from any book I have read so far. Some books are just okay good...others are absolutely amazing. Still I respect what it takes for an author to write something that they believe in...and I try my best to be honest in a positive way (and sometimes trying really hard to be positive if need be). There is no need to be nasty if I don't like something...and I have not come across one that I have just given up on and stopped reading. (Actually I did that a year ago with Infinite Jest...yeah, I know...everyone that has read it boasts so much for it...I on the other hand was driven completely mad by it and just quit it like a bad boyfriend...I just could not deal anymore..but we'll talk about that later) So with that..here is another book review:

 

I received my copy of the book keep·er: Sydney Keane Series: The Beginning by Laryl Dixon and I was excited to jump right in. With a cover like that how could you not want to??!!...it just kinda screams to be read!! You wanna know about this girl with the super cool glasses and the fiery hair..just so bold and out there smack dab on the cover. A slight whopper of a book at 332 pages. Perfect for a solid read...not too long to be intimidating. And if you noticed, the title states "Series" so it's interesting to see where this book is going...but first we have to get through this one: The Beginning.

Our journey starts with Sydney Keane. Haunted with a terrible past...her childhood...her innocence stripped from her by men in and out of her life...terrible things no girl/woman/human should face..she has become a person hardened by it all and yet ever so determined to seek the happiness she deserves. Sydney is content to be the perfect wife and mother...to overcome her demons and ignore the not so perfect things in her mundane and extremely dysfunctional marriage. However, there is one thing that Sydney will not ever compromise or see as second best and that is the safety and happiness of her child. OMG I almost choked up right now thinking of that...how real that feeling is for a mother....I felt that love in Sydney's character. There is so much going on in this story..in this book. So many "real life" experiences it's amazing and horrifying. The issues of sexual abuse..extra marital affairs...child abandonment...drugs and drinking as ways to cope/and/or forget life's struggles...teen pregnancy....the list goes on. A hard knocks life struggle of a book...I loved that the author was willing to take that story there....I loved seeing a character go through so much with a not so perfect family but still one that truly loved her..struggle and persevere...struggle and persevere. It was all very inspiring at times....but here's why I could not go past 3 stars...(not that I care for star ratings because I don't really)....I had some slight issues with the story. Now now....let me say first, yes I enjoyed the book...the whole story-line had me riveted. I was rooting for Sydney from the start and rooted all the way to the end. I was sad to see the grit and grime of reality put into words on paper. I was horrified to know that atrocities such as the ones presented in this story actually exist in the real world and I am quite impressed that Laryl is not afraid to go there...but, sometimes I had moments where I felt the way I was reading it was so simply put it almost made the issues not seem all that bad......eeeeek!! I don't know if that comes across the way that I mean it...I guess it just seemed to flow in a way that it was like "ok so that happened..that's sad...okay but here's the resolution to it...okay perfect...oh no, another bad moment, can't believe that happened...and great that worked out". I'm not saying that there could not be positive outcomes to disturbing experiences, I'm just saying that in this story it was happening sooooo perfectly. In the real world the scars are well, real..and yes I get that this is a book but since we are discussing the real issues we or rather I, could have used maybe a bit more grit and depth (if that's possible). I think I felt like it was just flowing one right after the other...next thing I know there's a trial and that all went better than expected. Yes sometimes that is life..and maybe I'm just being bitter for the people who's outcomes don't come out all that wonderful. It doesn't mean that I disliked this book. If you want an uplifting feel good at the end kinda read...then trust me this is it. And there are parts of this book that continue to resonate in me...haunt me more like it. I was angry and happy and sad and relieved...a whirlwind of emotions coming out of this reading experience. But did I want more grit and rawness??...yes, personally I did.

This is only "The Beginning" so I am excited to see how it goes with the other books. Sydney Keane is quite the character...I fell in love with her and all the craziness surrounding her life..but also the calm she continues to yearn for in her and her child's life. Actually...and almost forgot to mention, my most fave character was Sydney's always resilient and "moves to the beat of her own drum" grandmother Memaw...OMG that woman had me laughing. I wanted her to be a real life person I know. The role she plays in Sydney's life is a crucial one. It's beautiful..it's uplifting and it goes there....so get the book!! Read the book!! and anticipate the others to follow!!

With much anticipation, I received my FREE copy of this book via giveaway and thanks to the amazing talent Laryl Dixon for making that possible, all in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly and voluntarily gave.

The Restoration Of Otto Laird by Nigel Packer

...and another one!! Book review from another book that I read during the Holidays that I had to write a review about. A slow moving read but beautiful in many ways.

So this is the book The Restoration Of Otto Laird by Nigel Packer. Terrible Pic because you can't really see the design of the cover but no matter because I don't even think that is the official one. My copy is an ARC...and I was fortunate enough to be one of the many peeps that got to read it first. It took me a minute to jump right to it....only because I knew the reviews went on about it being slow moving and slow moving is completely okay with me but when you have a house filled with chaos created by kids "slow moving" can sometimes get lost in the world of oblivion and it's quite easy to get disinterested real quick. Did that actually happen??...Almost but not quite.

Here is the story of Otto Laird...living a serene and quiet life in Switzerland with his wife Anika. Once an eccentric architect with an eccentric sense of style he now spends his time writing letters to friends that he never actually mails out. All is well with the world until one day he discovers a building he designed in the 60's is scheduled to be demolished soon. This news prompts a sudden trip to London (in the hopes of saving this building from demolition) and eventually his past...the past having much to do with his first wife Cynthia and his son Daniel. After that it is a whirlwind of dramatic emotions and memories. It's a beautiful read that confronts many issues...many human realities, aging, estrangement, family drama, world (historical) issues, confronting regrets and bad decisions...a slew of raw emotions. The story is deep and poetic but sometimes rather slow.....still, beautiful. 

Did I love the book?? Yes, for the beauty that it is...the depth to which the writing style goes. Love it completely?? No. I found myself wanting more from Otto Laird. A name like that..the description for him initially I wanted more from it. At times I found myself a little bored..the reason for me thinking it was getting a bit slow. The book has potential. It gets into things..the rawness of life...but then it stop short...leaving me yearning for more. It's still a book that is unique in it's tale...beautiful in it's thoughts..but not quite "days later haunting". I wanted it to be...it almost was...but not quite.

Thanks to Nigel Packer and the great peeps at goodreads for making my win of this free ARC possible..all in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly and voluntarily gave!!

 

A Ghoul's Guide to Love And Murder by Victoria Laurie

I've been a-slackin' but I'm back with a vengeance....A current reading Frenzy and a backlog of books I've already read and have to review!!!

So I've been slacking on the reviews...life gets busy and priorities come first so doing what you love gets put on the back burner. But I have reading goals so I have to find the time..the kids can wait...I hope. YAY to no more annoying holiday events for awhile and no more sick family members puking all over me.  I've read quite a few books and I want to get some reviews put out. Some books I received free via giveaway, some I received via Christmas gift card shopping and some obtained book hauling at my local Goodwill. 

Let's see...first up and one I started and finished a few weeks ago: A Ghoul's Guide to Love and Murder(Ghost Hunter Mystery #10) by Victoria Laurie. I didn't even know there was a #1-9...so I def need to get on that ASAP!! The title called to me. Who wouldn't be intrigued by A Ghoul's Guide To Love And Murder??!! It's sounds genius..and amazing..and totally right up the Dalai Momma's Alley!!

The book arrived for me and my first thoughts: Aaaaaawwwwwwwwwww. Just like the book Daisies for Innocence Cozy Mystery, this one came in the form of a totally cute little mass market paperback pocket book size. Typically I don't like that but for anticipated cozy mysteries I make an exception. It's too adorable looking not to but also super useful to tote along for appointments or road trips...or anywhere else you don't want to lug a full size book around to. So cute size...cute cover...let's hope the story has just the right amount of flair and amazing-ness that the title seems to capture. 

Again, I had no idea that there was a #1-9 so I guess reading what I hear is the last book in the entire series is not the best idea. I might have totally ruined the entire thing for myself. I should have read all the details...but I didn't. I don't think all hope is lost. Actually, I am looking forward to purchasing all the others and do a reading marathon until I get right back to the last one to which I will just have to re-read...there!! problem solved!! and yet another reading goal!! And I know just when to do it....duh, Spring Break is fast approaching. Now I'll have something to keep me sane while dealing with 4 bratty screaming, always fighting kids for an entire freakin' week. But until then....I have read the book and what I get from it I like...even if it is the very last one in the entire series. 

So I kinda consider this something like a preview to what is to come. Yes backwards...but even though I figured out it was the last book I did not want to not read it..and I refused to wait. I wanted to dive in because it intrigued me so much. I love a good cozy mystery!! I'm giving nothing away because of this though...I can't even begin to say what I think of the book because I have not read all the others. I will say this...I loved the writing style...I love the characters. I loved the story line. It's a Kooky fun and quick read and I absolutely look forward to reading all the others!!! (and starting all over again with this one)

Other reviewers praise the entire series...and from what I get from this book I would more than likely agree. I consider my mistake of reading the last book in an entire series as just a preview of what I should be expecting. I am on a reading mission to get all the others...and come right back and review the entire lot of them. In the meantime I completely recommend this book. Not in the way that I read it...(get the other books first) but still I can assure you if they are anything like this one then it is worth it to get all the others. A great well written book...a quick read. My only regret is that I was not a part of the exciting loyal Ghost Hunter Mystery bandwagon...I had no clue these amazing books were out there for me to enjoy!!

A super huge thanks to the always wonderful peeps over at goodreads and Victoria Laurie for making my win possible...received this lovely in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly and voluntarily gave!!

BEASTS: 16 More Weird Stories by Brendan Detzner

So I had been anticipating this book Beasts: 16 More Weird Stories by Brendan Detzner ever since I signed up in the hopes to win a giveaway copy. Eagerly anticipating...overjoyed when it finally arrived, I rushed through my other commitments so I could get right into this book. It was such a quick read....breezed right through all 146 pages..and that includes re-reading a few stories. WTF...I mean seriously WTF did I just read??!! I am talking straight up twilight zone stuff. New age twilight zone stuff. These are not your typical horror genre stories...this is weirdness. The kind of weirdness that haunts you..the kind of weirdness that had me realizing on several occasions that my mouth was left wide open and my body was kind of rigid and frozen and again with that thought "WTF??". Was I anticipating this?? I'm not sure...I don't know what I was thinking. I guess when I saw "weird stories" I went right with horror and the scare factor that comes with it. This is different than that...abstract...sometimes sci-fi scary..and I loved it. 

It's a collection of short stories..odder and odder as you go along reading. A few stories I read right through them with a reaction of "what just happened??" A few I was kinda laughing maniacally and thinking "Is this craziness??.genius?? I love it" But I will say, there were moments that I had to go back and re-read because I would find myself engrossed in a story..then find myself in that "I'm totally lost" realm. Thinking, "did I just skip something here..miss something??" and then the confusion set in..and with Brendan's books it's easy to get confused if you miss something just because the stories are so unique. Some stories seemed to veer off...giving the effect that I skipped a paragraph or a page even. I felt that because of that the stories needed a bit more to them. I am not sure if anyone else had that same issue and if not then maybe I just did not get the story or how it should be read. And for some they were a riot to read. I mean come on, Sasquatch and Chupacabra..WTF??!! (please someone share with me your take on that tale). Ooooh oooh, I loved I-65, A Day And Two Nights When I was Twenty, and Spirits of the Wind (most fave). Good, solid, gave me chills, pulled the blankets a little bit more over my head, bizarre feeling feels.

Can we talk about the cover for a second??!! How unique..and odd..and creative and cult classic-ish. Night time...a street light blaring in the background (what's with street lamps and their way of making things appear extra creepy??) this huge dark 2 story house...with all kinds of STUFFED ANIMALS nailed to the outside walls and windows. CREEPY...like blaring child molester/murder creepy...like a killer clown probably resides there creepy. Like, "I want to know what's going on there and also I totally don't". My 7 year happened a glance upon it and gave a look of both dread and curiosity, flat out saying "Mom, why do you have that book??" The kid was freaked out..and that's just over a cover pic!! Buuahahaha!! I like the size of the book...the flip-floppiness of the book...the font size...the story notes.

Overall I would say this is a book that I could see as a cult classic hit if only for a few tweaks. Creepy...odd...Twilight Zone meets Rocky Horror Picture Show meets that weird house in the neighborhood that is shrouded in mystery and urban legends. This is a great short story read. A book you can enjoy in one sitting...haunting..at least a story or two is going to stay with you well after reading it.
Thanks to Brendan Detzner and the peeps over at Librarything for making my request for this book possible....via giveaway free in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly and voluntarily gave.

Also wanted to mention that this book was not the book I actually requested and was sent email that I would be receiving. That book was Scarce Resources: 18 Weird Stories, but it had been awhile and since I had received nothing I decided to make mention of it. Soon enough (which I was most appreciative about) Brendan Detzner responded to me right away via email apologizing for the issue and totally redeeming himself (which he did not have to do) by sending me BEASTS (signed) and 2 other books!! I love that about authors..when they go out of their way for their reading peeps!! So that's a big kudos to me in my book (no pun intended) and wanted to give props to Mr. Detzner for that.

The Witch of Lime Street by David Jaher

Chock full of information..interesting..and had me amazed

aaah...the feel of a book...the velvety feel

I was very intimidated to read this book. Not sure what I was getting into and it being a whopper of a book at 448 pages..not to mention that it is classified as non-fiction (I always get a little intimidated to read anything non-fiction). Still I was very intrigued...very much drawn in to the subject that has anything to do with the great Harry Houdini. From beginning to end I was enthralled. I hardly ever read a 400+ page book in just a few days but I did with this one because it was so good...so much information...so much history...so much story behind it. I didn't have time to read this book when ever I could...BUT I made the time. I love books that grip me that much It's what I love about reading...finding something so engrossing...so captivating...so informative.

Also intrigued by the roaring 1920's this book gives me all the details of the time...but more so when it came to the psychic world...the invention(??) of a new way of communicating with deceased loved ones...spiritual realms, if there is one. OH...OOOH and this book is not just about Harry Houdini like I first thought. This book starts with a rich history of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle..the writer of the amazing Sherlock Holmes character and stories. I don't even want to give anything away about what the psychic world has to do with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and how the lives of his and Houdini's intertwined. One thing I will say, is they both loved their mothers..fiercely and in different ways they were the force and inspiration for who they were and why. And we are talking about The Witch of Lime Street so there is more to this story than Houdini or Sir Conan Doyle..there is another just as intriguing person a part of this time that is just as amazing and intriguing. So much rich history in this book. Just an amazing and wonderful read. Difficult, yes, when you consider that there is so much information..when you consider the era and the mystery around it especially if you are not familiar with it. But worth it, ABSOLUTELY. You will not be bored by this book!!

From the vibrant cover to the interesting contents inside this is a wonderful read. (Did I mention it has deckled edges for that added "old world" look...No...well it has deckled edges and that goes perfect with velvety feel, the rich dark coloring of the cover...the mysterious look of the book just as mysterious looking on the outside as it is on the inside) I learned many things...and am intrigued to know even more if that is even possible.

I received this book thankfully to the peeps at bloggingforbooks for honoring my request..to http://davidjaher/ for writing such a great read..and for it all being made possible for me to receive free in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly and voluntarily gave.

Daisies For Innocence (Book One of the Enchanted Garden Mystery Series) by Bailey Cattrell

Totally fun and suspenseful cozy mystery!!

An adorable Mass Paperback Cozy Mystery

So I received my gorgeous little copy of the book Daisies For Innocence by Bailey Cattrell and I was so excited to get right to it. I love a good cozy mystery especially during the cold rainy holiday vacation where I have the time and attention to snuggle in the blankets and focus on reading. Yes, my lazy butt will use any excuse or no excuse to read but what joy when there is an actual excuse. The kids don't go to school...they can't go outside to play if it's cold and raining and the hubby doesn't expect me to step out for anything. What's there to do??....READ!! And this book has been quite enjoying.

This is Book One in the Enchanted Garden Mystery Series. The story starts with Ellie, a citizen of the Poppyville community that owns and runs a gorgeous cozy garden/cottage style shop called "Scents and Nonsense" that specializes in handmade perfumes...scented candles..therapeutic essential oils and whipped up batches of aromatic body soaps/scrubs. Newly divorced she is settling into the life that she has made for herself within her very own hometown (the quaint little scenic Poppyville town). All appears well until a part-time employee of hers, Josie, ends up murdered right at the gates of her beautiful garden property right at the entrance to the public Boardwalk. A whole slew of mess ensues. Ellie becomes suspect #1, all of this happening just before and because she found out that her ex-husband (the arrogant self centered Harris) and Josie had been dating for quite some time, her ex husbands best friend (the biased jerkface Lang) is the detective heading this murder case and he is none too fond of Ellie, Ellie falling for a friends brother (the very gorgeous and athletic, nature loving Ritter), her eccentric best friend Astrid and Ellie's lovable pet Corgie Dash, by her side through out this entire ordeal, finding out that the victim had a very shady past...knew some very seedy people...all of this and some while she is on the hunt to find out who really killed this woman and why. A great suspenseful, fun read..I breezed right through all 336 pages in just a few sittings. I was entertained thoroughly by all the characters in this book and there are plenty. I was wondering and guessing to the end..and overall I simply had a lot of fun reading this.

 

What's more beside a fun story-line, I really enjoyed the added touches to this book..at the end there is a section devoted to Aromatherapy and Recipes...how freakin' adorable is that??!! A recipe for Astrid's Chewy Double Chocolate Chunk Hazelnut cookies....yum!! Aromatherapy tips and blends...quite unique!! And then.....AND THEN a sampler to the next read in the Magical Bakery Mystery Series, Brownies and Broomsticks...intriguing!!

As far as looks go the cover is typical of every cozy mystery...vibrant fun cover. I especially loved this one. Just a beautiful little book. Mass Market Paperback...didn't even bother me because it was such an adorable little book. Easy fit so I could tote the book anywhere I went which is just what I did because I really wanted to get through the entire thing.

I really enjoyed this read. Just right for a quick suspenseful fun book. Nothing too serious...and definitely a great book to take along for vacations...a quick trip to the park...waiting at appointments..or snuggling up at home. Anticipating jumping right into book TWO!!

I received my copy of this adorable book via giveaway FREE in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly and voluntarily gave!!

Harables by Haidji

I have been slacking. I thought the holidays were gonna give me more time to read read read and then throw in a review or two......NOPE!! Too busy with holiday drama...financial crap...screaming kids...house cleaning...screaming kids...being sick with a cough for the second time in a month..gift shopping and then wrapping....oh and did I mention screaming kids??!! I pop open a book only to have to stop and close it again 2 pages in. I am ready for the holidays to be over with so I can go back to being the lazy reading bum that I am while the kids are in school. But I'm here because I have a review...not a vent. Moving on to the review...I managed to breeze through this read that took about a day to get through.

so that's the book....but what do you think of my random house penguin my daughter made me??!!

A couple of months ago I read the book Life Into Mist by Haidji and I loved it. Beautiful and poetic..unlike anything I had ever read. Then I had the opportunity to read another book by the very artistic and unique Haidji..Harables: Short Stories 1. I am glad that I did. True to Haidji form this book is odd and beautiful and poetic...I think I kinda enjoy reading her work even though at the moment I am not the biggest fan of poetry (I totally use to be when I was younger...lately nothing seems to stick). Again this is unlike anything I typically read and I think that is what intrigues me so much about Haidji and the beautiful stories that she puts out for the world.

A collection of short stories each one so poetically written..each one odd in such a beautiful way. I won't even begin to get into any synopsis or summaries of them because it's difficult to really describe her stories in a way that would do them justice. I will say this..it's refreshing to read something from someone that is not afraid to be different. There is no drag to her work..no overly descriptive unnecessary paragraphs...she does not get deep into character description. Sometimes that is what is needed in other books but not in Haidji's. She makes each collection of stories into a piece of poetry...sentences flowing gracefully...and the reading time in them is quick but perfectly so. It feels like you just read lyrics to a song and not a book.

Again, just like in Life into Mist, Harables delivers in that same way. If you love poetry...if you love abstract...heck, even if you don't but are not afraid to try something different then I recommend this book. I don't typically buy poetry books although I do enjoy some poetry from time to time...so I am never sure what to attempt to read...Haidji's books are the perfect fit because I am reading fiction.. great stories, but I also feel like I am getting my poetry fix. Get the book...and HAPPY READINGS!!(at least you should be happy when you are reading..if you're not then I don't know what the hell is wrong with you and your reading skills)

Oh yeah...I received my free copy of this book thanks to Haidji and giveaway in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly and voluntarily gave!!

The Happy Life of Preston Katt by J.J Zerr

I'll say it now...it's the anything but happy life of Preston Katt if I'm being honest..

Yes...it's kinda a tear jerker...I shed some tears...

The thing that bothered me...the beautiful young looking nun on the cover...what was the point really???

 

I signed up to receive this copy via giveaway...why?? I am not even sure. The cover kinda appealed to me. I saw a hot looking nun on the cover. I thought, "Def something about forbidden love". And yes hot nun..cause she is pretty..then my brain starts going in the direction of equally hot body hidden behind them nun robes...steamy scenes between a woman of faith and a young also hot military guy. Yeah.....uh....anything but. Turns out I was nowhere near that...but could I have possibly been the only one thinking that when they saw the cover??!!

The story starts off with Katt...Preston Katt but known as Katt...and his shipmate Moriarty...two Seaman Second Classes that crept off their war ship the USS Callahan to have a drunken dirty rendezvous with two Japanese whores...they struggle with trying to get back on the ship without being noticed because they will obviously be in some major trouble if caught. Moriarty already is notorious for trouble making and Katt is just a skinny rookie that has not had much experience with life on his own. Moriarty is the bad boy...Katt has the conscience and is very driven by religion. He knows he needs to stop hanging out with Moriarty if he is to focus on his life goals in the military and life in general. But something always seems to steer him towards the temptations of Moriarty and all the rebelliousness he gets into.
Backtrack...this is December 7, 1941...in Pearl Harbor right in the middle of World War II....the day after their night of boozing and women they are attacked by the Japanese. In Zerr's writing we capture a feel of the devastation of war while on a war ship...battle ship..in the military. Intricate with technical details...sometimes I found myself bored...but maybe that's just me..obviously this book needed all the technical ship stuff...I mean we are talking about a war!! Throughout the story Katt looks back to the times growing up...living with his abusive alcoholic mother and her bad choices in partners...Sister Ralph (Ding Ding Ding...the nun on the cover) and Mrs. Grossman always sympathizing with him and his struggles. And because of his struggles as a kid with his mother he vowed never to go down the same path...however, it was harder to do than he thought...especially with a friend like Moriarty. Although to be fair to the character Moriarity is no bad guy..never intentionally trying to be a bad friend...he's just a rebellious guy that does not like to be limited by rules and he loves having a wingman. Military Banter...and fun in between all the struggle and trauma of a war. So...as the story moves along Moriarty gets injured and is set up to stay in the hospital for the military. Katt goes to pay him a visit...maybe not trying to make us think that he is excited about seeing his friend..come to find out Moriarty gets discharged out to battleship Yorktown and although it fills Katt with a sense of relief (relief because it helps him to see it as a way to keep him from fun trouble) he feels bad as a friend..having not done more for him as Moriarty did for Katt to get discharged back to the Callahan when he was sent to the hospital for a concussion and could not be quickly released. Moriarty was that friend that got a doc to release Katt sooner than later so the two could stay together on the Callahan. So on Katt's way back to the Callahan he discovers that the ship is setting off port...dramatically finding his way back to the ship he realizes that they are on a mission to save Yorktown's occupants (they got bombed by the Japs). All Katt could think about is his friend Moriarty. Disaster strikes...and well, With the most amazing eagle eyes to see enemy subs, periscopes, etc it has helped him to move up in the ranks...He is very hard on you'll have to read the book to find out what..with whom...why..whatever. 

So at first I wanted to not like this book. I started reading it and I thought with all the military war details it was too technical for me. I wanted more. More backstory....more feelings. Things were nothing like it stated..Katt was not happy. If anything most of the time he always had the conscience to stop himself from doing anything on a whim for fun. He always felt like he and those around him were being punished by God for something he did..always concerned with letting everyone he knew down. And then the cover of the Nun..there was not enough in the story about her for her to deserve to have her face on the cover. If anything there was a few lines about her...nothing that special. His friendship with Moriarty was good but not great...not enough adventures for me to accept that Katt went out of his way to save the guy. But I will say as I continued reading I realized that it was a decent read. I was sad a lot for the life of Preston Katt. I was so sad for how the book ended. It was bittersweet. I still wish there was more...more details...more backstory...more about his  troubled family life and this amazing compassionate Nun and Mrs. Grossman but I was pleased that it was just enough for the ending to have the effect that it had on me. The entire story...worth it for that ending.

I received my copy free via giveaway in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly voluntarily gave!!

Who Killed Randy Ratphink? by Jerry Flu Book Review....

Who the hell killed Randy Ratphink and why?? Get ready for a crazy strange adventure coming from what must be one of the craziest authors that ever existed!!

craziness of a book...even crazier a read

I just finished my copy of the book Who Killed Randy Ratphink?: The Postmortem Adventures of a Fried-Brain Hippie! by Jerry Flu. First off let me give props to the fact that Jerry Flu sent me a signed copy of his crazy looking book a long with a book mark....Kudos in my book (no pun intended...or intended...whatever). Excited to jump right in I think I did the fastest speed read I ever did with the book I was currently on just to get to this one.

Jerry Flu..courteous enough to personalize my copy..and send a fab bookmark!!

So, this crazy whirlwind of a book...starts with Randy Ratphink. We meet him as a celestial being floating around somewhere in some astral world between the real living world and heaven (I think)...no body...no face...nada!! He is trying to get to the heart of his matter (only he has no heart) and that is trying to figure out who the hell killed him. Yes, we already meet a dead dude..and he wants to know who he pissed off in life to the point that they would murder him?? Then we read on and we realize that he is not the easiest guy to like...we can clearly see how and why he can gain some pretty nasty people wanting him dead. Randy takes us back...a guy always on the go...homeless...penniless...basically a hustler..con artist..a druggie...a drinker...a swindler always getting into some sort of trouble...but also a total idiot with the worst luck because his hustles get him nowhere and more times than not he is being hustled. He is on a cruise ship....he did not pay OBVIOUSLY...he somehow smuggled his way in...and being in the bar of this cruise ship trying to find a way to get his tab paid. He meets Daisy...basically another hustler..a bubble yum gum smacking and blowing hustler...but we don't figure that out yet until Randy gets himself in trouble using a card that Daisy gave to him "from her first husband that died and left her his credit"...turns out that story was so not true...and now Randy finds himself stranded on an Island with no way to get back home (not like he really has a home though...oh and Daisy don't know that yet either)..Daisy get's kicked off herself...together they are on an Island trying to get back "home"...they find a way onto some cheesy cheap low class plane with a amateur pilot (amateur as in never flew ever before)..they get hijacked..taken to Cuba (??)...become part of another attempted hijacking...and then the feds come in and rescue them....

Another crazy adventure from Florida to New York...meeting Elvis!! Not an impersonator...the real deal (or so the guy says)...they get to New York (not very easily) they get swindled by someone selling a "Bob Dylan" guitar...Daisy figures out Randy is a homeless bum...but she sticks with him (when she is not getting busted by the cops). Together they try to make it work...hustling...getting by. And then.....BOOOOM!! It's all over for Randy Ratphink.

Then the real adventure begins...Mr. Celestial meets some Buddha like being that speaks an awful lot like Yoda from Star Wars...all that "do or do not, there is no try" lingo. I gotta say after reading line after line it got a little annoying. So this Buddha wants Randy to succumb to his new reality, rid himself of his egomaniac ways and let go of everything. Randy can't seem to..for whatever reason he wants and needs to know who killed him (as if it really matters). That's the part I was having trouble with...why does he need to know if he is already gone. There is nothing he can do about it. So because he refuses to allow Yoda..I mean Buddha to do his work Randy is led on an adventure of his own sub conscience. Crazy one that it is...he meets of bus load of dead weirdos..a skeleton bus driver..they listen to Hippie music and and...and..I'm not even sure..I don't remember, there was so much going on. He meets some nut of a Blue Bimbo is trying to kill him. He became the head of the Church of the Divine Mushroom...and ran into Mr. Timothy Bleary. There were other crazy nutiness in-between. Oh and Daisy was able to summon and speak to him via conjuring thanks to Madam Salaami. And so here is where my problem with the book lies...who killed Randy??...why do we care??..why does he care?? From the start it was evident that it did not really matter..we all know he had it coming to him the way he was living. And through the whole book we are not given enough clues to consider it a mystery...to know that at the end there was going to be a conclusion. There was just too much going on...too too much going on. The dead and sub-conscience world of Randy Ratphink was far crazier than his supposed crazy life alive. But we need to have a reason for all this so there's the reason....later we understand why...and later we learn yet another point in all this. It's an interesting kinda ending.

This is certainly a joyride of a story...I love certain aspects of this book. I loved the writing most times...it's a mind fuck of strangeness and fun and humor. I love the details (but at times the details drove me nuts and I wanted to get to the point)..the way Flu describes things is insane...most times a good kind of insane.
....after all that crazy mix match whirlwind of what seems like a drug induced psychedelic adventure that Randy is describing to us I am very indifferent about it all. I think about it and I loved it...I loved the concept...I loved a lot of the lines (of words)...I loved the adventure..I have not read anything quite like it...but then at times I'm like exhausted thinking about it and remembered how exhausted I became trying to get through it..it was too much at times. Some of the journey was just going off in directions that I saw no reason why it had to be that way or why it had to go for so long.

Still, I say read the book....it's worth the trip (and I don't mean drugs kinda trip....ahaha). The book is that weird I want people to read it...I gotta share this craziness with others...it's just too weird to describe perfectly so you gotta find out for yourself that's for sure.

 I received my free copy of this book via giveaway in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly gave. Thanks to you Jerry Flu for making my win/request possible!!

Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris

....And here's what I was reading on the weekend....

Funny....funny stuff!!

Choose Your Own Autobiography Neil Patrick Harris by the sarcastic and witty Neil Patrick Harris...I have been anticipating reading. I love Neil Patrick Harris as an actor so obviously I am gonna be looking forward to falling in love with him as a writer of his own life. Yes...it has lived up to my expectations. He has turned an autobiography into something fun to read. Not that autobiographies are not fun but sometimes they get a little bland...far from the case with this one.

I love that I am reading a book about Neil Patrick Harris by Neil Patrick Harris and I love that as I am reading it I can hear his voice narrating. He writes like I see him in movies...in the media..etc. It's wonderful and refreshing and fun to read!! Then of course there's the whole "choose your own..next chapter...ending" concept....BRILLIANT!! I am not typically a fast reader but I think I was going a hundred miles a minute because I wanted to get through all the twists and turns and then go back and do it all over again...and let me be honest, I did just that. I read this entire book over and over and over because I did not want to leave anything out and because I really enjoyed this book that much. I found myself purposely choosing the endings that I knew were not possibly true just for the laughs (to which there is plenty). He has an amazing childhood and he is proud of it..amazing parents..equally as proud and he does not skimp on the details of his doogie years..his first thoughts on his sexual identity..the women he engaged with..the friends in and out of his life...the people in the business. I especially loved photos..the other celebrity excerpts...the "choice" that was actually wrong and the illustrations for that ending...every bit of it in true Neil Patrick Harris form..sarcastic..theatrical..snooty..HILARIOUS!! Can I recommend the "made for tv movie" details on page 89...the memories section to each..AHAHA. Or better yet the drink recipe for How I Wet Your Mother on page 45 (there are a few cocktail recipes throughout)...another AHAHAHA!!...a word from Whoopie Goldberg on page 37...heeheehee. Oh and if you read the book and read it right then come back and give me a little "Kungaloosh" nod please.

This is a great book to own..an even better book to gift to someone. If you love all things Neil Patrick Harris then this book needs to be in your life.  You are going to read this and have Neil narrating inside your head and you are gonna chuckle...no, scratch that you are gonna laugh your ass off!! And I almost forgot to mention that my copy of this book is the freakin' bees knee's...I love the cover color....the pics chosen...love Neil in all his theatrical glory.

Thanks to the peeps at Blogging For Books for my opportunity to receive this free copy in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly gave...after I stopped laughing of course!!

Thirteen Ways Of Looking by Colum McCann

Poetry in the form of a Novella and 3 short stories 

Random House always puts out great stuff

A wonderful book...poetic and haunting..the kind of book that stays with you well past reading it...days..months...years..unforgettable. [book:Thirteen Ways of Looking|25229229] by Colum McCann is going right on my 'Most Faves" list...a beautiful and disturbing read.

Dysfunctional lives told in the most poetic way. I found myself so engrossed in a story...haunted by the tragedy...mouth agape...then it ends and I move right into another set of lives..more tragedy..more dysfunction. It got better and better each story...more gripping the feeling. In the first story, a novella, we are introduced to a lonely old retired judge that battles with the struggles, aches, pains and illnesses of a very long life. I love how we tap into one narrative describing a crime scene (or rather leading up to it and after) and all the logistics of that and then tap right back into the Judge's life and his perspective on the people around him mainly his care taker Sally and his pompous son Elliot that appears always too busy with career and affairs to deal with his father. A beautiful and tragic story...I am quite disturbed by it (and I mean that in the best of ways). The next story, we are placed right into the mind of a writer and his story idea of a female Marine in Afghanistan..the struggle..guarding a post and the phone call that is to be made to her loved ones back home. I've never read anything like it. It's simple, quick but quite good. In yet another read we are haunted with the tale of a woman...adopted a son at the age of six from the impoverished seedy world of Vladivostok. Now thirteen and as McCann so poetically puts it "and there was already a whole history written in him." Born deaf with rumor that he was exposed to mercury, radiation sickness and beatings...Tomas came with his struggles but nothing deterred Rebecca from loving him. A challenge to deal with, add that to her being divorced from Tomas's adopted father..she is a woman on her own and getting through it...then while on a Christmas holiday with her son off the coast of Ireland, Tomas goes missing. A gripping read..McCann captures everything a parent feels or would feel. And lastly, the story of a Nun who many years ago endured a disturbingly perverted and violent crime committed on her by a young man that now as an older woman (he an older man) has discovered he is alive and portraying himself to the world as being a good man of society having accomplished much. What she thinks..what she feels...and how she wants to handle the turmoil and scars of her ordeal...haunts me to say the least. McCann has a way of writing that is so poetic..so beautiful and disturbing at the same time...how is that possible??!!. I am in love with the way he writes!!

I don't know how it is that I have lived my life having not read anything by Colum McCann until this book. Time is a-wasting and I am on a mission to read more from him. If any of McCann's other works are anywhere close to the beauty that is Thirteen Ways of Looking then consider me sold now. (and if they are not I am still eager to read his other stuff) I am on a mission to read more by him and I would recommend to anyone that if you take the chance to read Thirteen Ways of Looking then you will certainly want to read more great writing by him. 

A special thanks to the people at Random House and Colum McCann for making my opportunity of receiving this free book in exchange for an honest review possible...And honest review I have done happily. I will treasure this book and recommend it to anyone that is looking for a beautiful and genius read.

Instructions For The End Of The World by Jamie Kain

A YA book review...

Advance Readers Copy...not the same look when you purchase it yourself

Instructions for the End of the World by Jamie Kain was not like anything I was expecting. Of course when you read a title like Instructions For The End of The World you think of some killer virus or zombies even..it's only natural in these times because it is such a popular topic but this book was anything but. So now once I have read and have been mistaken I feel pretty good about what I just read and what Instructions For The End Of The World really stands for.

The story breaks up into chapters, and then subheading in-between, each one with the name of the character that is going to be doing the narrative...and it switches quite often between the characters. These main people that we fumble back and forth into the lives of are Nicole Reed, Isabel (Izzy..Nicole's younger sister who is so much different from Nicole), and Wolf (a hunky nature loving and Nicole lusting teenager). So Nicole's father, James Reed..a retired Lieutenant Colonel and the author of a self published book called The End Of The World As We Know It, has decided to spontaneously swoop up his family (2 teen daughters and wife) and relocate them miles and miles away from the life that they knew and were accustomed to and move them into the family inherited dilapidated but very large Victorian home complete with 20 acres of forested land in the Sierra foothills. Mr. Reed is not your typical father...he is a nutcase (at least according to his daughter Izzy and his wife he is), a Survivalist that is always trying to prepare his family for the end of the world. The only one that takes him to heart is Nicole but even she at times questions his sanity or why all the moving and learning is so important. Still, she is loyal to her dad and has picked up many of his traits and abilities...such as being able to shoot a gun for the use of obtaining food out in the wild. Which brings us to Wolf and the first chance encounter he has with Nicole. Sitting up high on a Madrone tree Wolf comes into sight of Nicole and he finds her intriguing from the start...until she decides to aim her rifle at a rabbit, to which case he becomes perplexed and annoyed with her...still intrigued but now not sure of what he thinks of this act of cruelty(or so he views it as). Let me go back...Wolf is from the Sadhana Village and Spiritual Retreat Center, a commune of nature loving and respecting people that do Yoga on the daily (and mediation I'm sure). He has a love of building tree houses, forts, little huts of solitude around the village and one in particular that he is currently building is right inside the property line of Nicole's family home. Nicole comes across the place and that is where Wolf and her meet face to face...she is intrigued and weary of him (and knows right off that her father would not like what he refers to as "Hippies"). From the start there is something budding between the two but the book must be read to to know just how far that goes if it goes. There are far greater issues throughout. Nicole and Izzy's mother, fed up with her mentally unstable Survivalist husband has run off...abandoned the family. Their father has run off in search of his wife...leaving the girls to fend for themselves in a world they do not know, miles and miles away from civilization, no running water, and no form of communication to the outside world. Their only source of relief and help has come from Wolf (who is battling his own obstacles with his mother, a former addict, Founder of the Sadhana Village and runaway of sorts) and several other teens their age from the commune nearby. There is so much family dysfunction it's a wonder the girls have survived with their parents as long as they did....and now they are left to survive without them.

I have to say at my age (to which I will not share) I somewhat enjoyed this YA read. It's something that I can see my teens enjoying and as a matter of fact I intend on sharing this book with them. I don't have any serious complaints for the book only that I wish there was more intensity from the start...getting to know Nicole, Izzy and Wolf was a great part of the read but by the time that was all said and done the book was coming to an end and I would have liked to have read more interaction with Wolf...a little more drama with the day to day stuff as the girls were left alone to their own devices. It kinda all started happening in the end, but still it was a fairly good read, a quick read with about 214 pages you can get through this in one sitting or over about 2 days. I recommend this book to anyone just getting into the YA scene...it's a lovely transition that covers just enough YA issues but not to the point where it is overwhelming.

Thankful, I received my free ARC of the book via request in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly gave!!

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The Dinner by Herman Koch

...and boy what a dinner it was.

My awesome copy...when it came to my door

Before I started reading I knew absolutely nothing about the book The Dinner by http://hermankoch/ . I did not read a single review...I did not do any google research that I typically do. I went in completely blind...cause I like to live on the edge?? Maybe...nah, I just wanted to take a chance on it without any outside influence. Am I glad that I did??...well duh, here's the review:

For one, can I just say I loved the cover. Great cover...love the hole and severe burn where a plate should be...so fitting to the story...very symbolic of the journey you are about to take!! This is a totally uncomfortable book and I say that in a good way. How so you wonder??.. I just believe that Herman Koch's intentions are to make us uncomfortable as we read every single page, every single line, get deep into the lives of the characters in this story, be in the moment,  and it delivers. So we start off with the narrator of the story, Paul Lohman...Mr. Curmudgeon, I get that from the start. He goes on with the entire story in a complaining state...entitled..slightly annoyed...bitter that he has a successful brother..resentful of his brother's success at career, marriage, and life in general...Serg Lohman, whose status and money affords him the ability to get into some of the most exclusive eateries. Waiting lists??...what's that for Serg Lohman!! There is a dinner that is to take place between the not so successful Paul and his wife Claire...to meet with Serg Lohman and his beautiful and just as fabulous wife Babette. Chapter upon chapter we get the bitter Paul feeling oh so injusticed by Serg's success. It had me laughing a little and almost relating...even if it is an absolutely disgusting thing to admit. There is another story within that story and that's where it gets even more crazier..even more distorted...even more sickening. A revolting crime that involves his son Michel and Serg's two sons...but more than that it is how Paul describes the whole thing...his take on this very perturbing matter. And the thing is we have no clue how the boys are involved...in what way...we have to keep reading and as we keep reading the situation becomes more complex...stranger. We are expected to hate the very 'pompous' Serg if Paul could have his way about things but our opinions, at least mine, makes me think much deeper into Paul's resentments and what that tells about him as a person. A man with a chip on his shoulder all the way through and a penchant for violent thoughts, I found myself hating him...or at least feeling slightly uncomfortable with him as the story unfolds.

The thing I loved about this story is that we are taken through a fancy schmancy dinner in a very fine restaurant between 4 very different very dysfunctional people..all the elaborate and exquisite courses...and through each of these food adventures and Paul's narrative another cryptic story is unfolding. The way it is done is unique and amazing and I could not get enough. It reads very slow but I don't mean that in a negative way....highly suspenseful to the point of almost irritating....I LOVED it. It's one of those books that you just can't put down...you think each page is gonna give you something you need to know...but no...you have to wait for one other page..and one other page more....gripping and addictive!! And as you go along you know you are waist deep in something quite disturbing. It reminds me very much like The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. It gives me that exact same perverted feel. A gruesome car accident that you drive slowly to see if you can catch a glimpse at carnage even though you know you shouldn't.

This is the book to read if you like suspense but the kind that in a way can almost be construed as slow because it doesn't reveal itself by simply jumping out at you...it makes you wait...it takes you on it's journey. This is the book to read if you can find yourself highly disturbed and be ok with that. This is the book...PERIOD. I absolutely loved it. It took me a few days after I actually read the entire thing to write a review because I wanted to stew on how the story made me feel. A week later the book has not left me...I am haunted by the story..and that is always a good thing. This is one of those books you will not easily forget.

Thanks to Herman Koch for his genius portrayed on paper and for the peeps at http://bloggingforbooks/ for making my request possible...I received this book free in exchange for an honest review and honest review I did give. Again, Thanks!! 

Angels here on earth....just in time for the Holiday's...

So a lovely little gift with a great big intention happened to me the other day and I just had to share..one lovely action rippled into several more lovely little events. I have to be a bit cryptic about this just to spare the person I am referring to any embarrassment and attention that they do not want...otherwise if I had it my way I would shout it to the rooftops...I would proclaim what a wonderful friend I have..I would brag about her until peoples ears and eyeballs bleed with all the promotion I am giving to her. Trust me, I would....

And so...a few days ago I received a message from a FB friend asking me to give her my address. This friend is not someone I know in the outside world..it has been strictly social media..actually just limited to Facebook. Lovely person..I enjoy her postings when she does post and she has shown the same for me when I post..at least on occasion she has cause ya know,  if you know me, about 5,000,000 times a day that I do post can be exhausting to keep up with.  Although I will say I think she must get awfully annoyed with me from time to time...who doesn't, right??!! I am a Facebook posting beast and am not ashamed to admit it. Ok so back to the message...she asked me for my address..although I barely know her I give it because...well, why not...call it a good vibe!! She tells me it is to gift me a book. Of course immediate reaction is pure elation...(I think I did a cartwheel...I think I did two in a row actually). I bragged to my kids...I bragged to my hubby and I waited as patient as an extremely inpatient person could for the arrival of this "book". I did not have to wait very long..I go to check my mail and in it a letter...from the friend. I think to myself "Ok so it's probably a gift card..a voucher...even a coupon for a book...just as awesome". Only it was more than that..something I totally was not expecting but at the current time much needed for myself and my little family. Again, I won't go into those details...that would be rude. But the reason I feel I have to at least mention this much is because it was a beautiful moment..a lovely experience that was in some weird way shared among two people that met and only know each other via Facebook. The power of social media, right??!! Trust me when I say that this gift was beyond anything that I deserve...and I almost did not want to accept it. Included in the lovely gift was a note...with the wishes for me to enjoy my Thanksgiving and to get myself a book or two. (You don't have to tell me twice lady...lovely lady!!)

So I RUN home (2 houses down) and call the hubby...I could barely get the surprise out. He is overjoyed...yadda yadda yadda I message her to tell her how much I freakin' love her!!....AHA....yes I was laughing and typing...crying..and laughing...laughing crying...and typing....and crying. My grandmother was right..no matter what religion you are..or not.."there are angels on this earth and you don't have to die to meet them." Whatever the word you want to call it...blessed...lucky...gifted by random chance...whatever, I felt the holiday spirit...and trust me I was not feeling it at all. Every one singing and praising their blessings on facebook...(showing off is the term I use)...I wished I could smack some people into reality or just smack them period cause I'm kinda a Curmudgeon like that and my inner me always hates those fake outer people. Don't get me wrong I have many things and people and events in my life to be thankful for (also, not everyone is fake for being happy and showing it)...I live with 5 of them and they mean more to me than anyone or anything and get me through no matter what the obstacle..the only 5 people worth this roller coaster of a ride called LIFE...the only 5 that know my "crazy" and love it and accept it and totally get it..my little family!! But still I am not gonna sugar coat the fact that I...scratch that....WE have had a very tough year...most of it financial and unexpected. Yes my life is far better than most with the same situation or worse but still tough for us and we have dealt with not just the tough stuff but tough people that have spewed their opinions on us and ignored all our efforts as a family that we do make. Blah Blah Blah....it was that moment that I opened that letter that made me remember "the angels on earth"...a reminder that we are not alone...with no judgement, someone sees mine and my husbands efforts and struggles...sees all we do for our kids...and wants to help(mind you she didn't even really know any of my issues..I am not that open on social media)..with no stipulations or explanations or proof. I am reminded of the beauty that this world also has (cause sometimes we need a reminder...we all can't be perfect in happiness in faith).

So with that.....I follow the instructions to a Teeeeeeeee...ya, know, it DOES state I should get myself a book or two. There was a special store I had in mind but they were not open at the time so I picked a Half Price Bookstore..a local one I go to. The peeps there are always so kind. Before we get there my husband asked me "What book are you looking to get?"...Duh, he should know..for the past year I have been on a mission to find an old vintage copy of Gone With The Wind. Tough mission, I could not find it. I did not want to buy it online(nor could I afford to)..and I did find it at Barnes & Noble but for the price of $30...a beautiful edition but I felt guilt about ever getting it. If it's vintage I want it to be at a Vintage price. The hubby says "Why not just come across the street and get it?" (Barnes & Noble is across from Half Price) I said "Nope". but a part of me wanted to say yes. We get out of the car...walk in...I do my traipsing through the aisles first before I start focusing. My husband says "I am gonna ask the clerk if they have it on file."...Standing in the middle aisle with my daughter..waiting..my husband comes back and says "Nope...they say they don't have it in the system as having any copies here...if you want we can go somewhere else??"...Always helpful he is!! I tell him "Noooo..I am not gonna waste gas we can't afford to check out another store..I will just have to get my next option and save that one for another time." Just as I turn right at the corner of the aisle I was beside my eyes glance downward to the right..and there it is....GONE WITH THE(FREAKIN') WIND!!! And a vintage copy at that. I could not believe it. I didn't even know what aisle I was on or that I was beside the 'M's" (for Margaret Mitchell). It was so meant to be that I get this book..I am still freakin' the phug out!! Oh boy did I snatch that copy and hold it ever so tightly to my bosom like a brand new baby...she is my brand new Vintage baby!!

My beautiful vintage-ish baby

Okay so I am walking around with my new old baby girl...mission accomplished, I could basically die happy now when my hubby tells me to look around for something else...my daughter rooting that idea on...(as if I need all that....ppppfffttt). I decide on one more book...my daughter picks it out. She found it as the look of it called to her...she read the synopsis and that called to me so I said yes. Beautiful copy of the book Our Tragic Universe by Scarlett Thomas. 

and it comes with black painted edges folks!!

Thinking I was done..then I realized, I can't leave until I check out the clearance...I always check the clearance. There I found a copy of Revolutionary Road..reprint of the Vintage Edition (??). It was the cover I wanted. It was only $4 but $4 I felt bad about spending. I had a goal to not go over $10 and my seven year old was holding a movie copy of Shrek in 3D and my 4 year old had a stuffed squirrel (he LOVES stuffed babies). I go to the counter...debating still. She tells me the price..slightly over $10 so I tell her "I won't take the Revolutionary Road". The clerk...She says "Will you take it if I give it to you for $1?"...I jumped..."YES." Such a sweetheart she says "good then...you made the right choice..it's a great book..that's a great copy and it's gonna be worth it..you have to own it." It's Revolutionary Road, of course it is gonna be worth it. But still, so amazingly sweet of her to give it to me for only a Dollar for the simple fact that it's a great book and she wanted for me to experience it. That's why I love my local Half Price Bookstore!!. 

lovely edition...and lovely addition to my collection

So there's my story...my experience...my wonderful gift that started with a message from a lovely friend on Facebook. Now I am not the biggest fan of giving thanks to a bunch of Pilgrims on Thanksgiving...I side with my beautiful Native American Peeps on that one. But I am all for being with family...and honoring what my friend also stated in the note that she wished for me to do: Enjoy Thanksgiving with your family. With her gift that is very much a gift not only to me but to my husband and kids(books included), I now can!!(without all the stress and worry)

Mr. Squirrel that the 4 year old just had to have!!

Book Review of Marking Time by April White

A YA fantasy book that an adult can really get into...

Marking Time (Book One in the Immortal Descendants Series)

I received my copy of the book Marking Time by April White and I was intimidated to say the least..it's a whopper of a book at 431 pages and it's a fantasy novel. I don't have that much freakin' experience in YA fantasy. Am I too old for YA Fantasy?? The description had me intrigued and I was ready to tackle it...full steam ahead!! And I will say no matter the age it's a great book with a great plot, lots of mystery and plenty of excitement.

We are immediately introduced to Siara Elian, a 17 year old tom-boy tagger with a great and useful skill of night vision and a fear of shadows. So the book begins with her being caught marking up a tunnel by two cops..but not before she runs across some shady guys engaged in scandalous conversation. Intrigued to find out who they were she comes across another problem...her mother has been missing..which is typical of her mother..and she is forced to live with her grandmother Millicent until she returns per the cops orders. So she is off with her grandmother to Elian Manor in England...far away from the home and the home life that she is use to. Once at the massive Elian Manor she faces yet another ordeal...the posh life and the rules that Millicent has strongly enforced on her. Millicent is not so kind to Siara..she is cold and direct except when it comes to speaking to Siara about her mother and her past..suddenly it's a cryptic mess that only intrigues Siara even more. They get into a discussion about her mother..to which Siara shows her a drawing of a clock...a clock that was given to her by her father, another total mystery. Much to Siara's curiosity, Millicent becomes enraged to see the design of the clock and forbids Siara to ever draw such a thing. Not one to follow rules Siara flees the manor to search the woods nearby...while there she soon discovers that she is being followed...by two very different people. One being "Slick" one of the guys in the tunnel back at home and "Wolf" someone that is trying to help her to get away. Not sure whether to trust 'Wolf" she knows she has no choice..he leads her to a train station where he tells her to find "the spiral at White Chapel"...having no clue but needing to escape whoever "Slick" is she does so...hiding herself in a service alcove. And that's where things really start to get weird. Focusing on a spiral, she instinctively begins to trace it with her fingers...she hears an intense hum followed by violent shaking and a puking outburst...then she is in another time...the Victorian Era..only she does not believe it and thinks it is a play or a city tour experience. Again she comes across 'Wolf" who is drawn to her and wants to help her. There is a whole other dramatic suspenseful experience when she comes across Jack the Ripper...(I won't even get into all that although it is very important to the story). So there in the 1880's Victorian London "Wolf" goes on to fill her in on some facts...that his name is Archer Devereux and that she is what is known as a "clocker" which is a time traveler. Everything is a mystery to Siara and she does not know what to believe. Frustrated with Archers new information she flees only to run into Jack the Ripper who is for whatever reason out to get her. Archer comes to her rescue....and just when she is tracing the design of a spiral to go back home she spots her mother.....then she is back in her time...and "Slick" is waiting for her. She escapes and heads back to her grandmother's. It is there that she is presented with more cryptic clues to who she is..who her mother is and what her family is about. There is a book...pictures...and the truth of her lineage (sorta but not quite and only what little info Millicent wants her to know) She gets sent to St. Brigid's where things get even weirder..she discovers many new family secrets..meets many other strange characters....there's bears (shape shifters) a Vampire..werewolves...experiences many more time travels and yet the mystery continues to remain...where is her mother?? and who is Siara really??..Why is "Slick" and his goons after her??....Why is Tom( Adam and Ava's cousin that went missing from St. Brigid's) missing and found back in 1888??..how and why does Jack the Ripper play into all this?? The story takes you on many turns and "spirals" and in every chapter there is some new mystery and also some answers. Engrossing to say the least. This book does not quit.

On a personal level, I especially loved the wide range of characters...the descendants...family lineage and what they stood for. From the Aislin's..the descendants of fate. The Duncan's..the descendants of war. The Gorans..the descendants of nature. Elians...time travel. Aeron...death. Then there are the Suckers...and the Ungees...the Seers. I love all the witty nicknames that Siara's character gives to everyone and anyone that comes across her path before she figures out who they actually are. I loved Siara's character...tomboy...into parkour...a rebel at heart. I could easily imagine that edginess she portrayed but also see all her wild vulnerability. That is what made the book so fun..she was willing to take risks to get to the truths of all these mysteries..and for one goal..to find her mother even though romance and friendships get involved in the whole sorted mix. There is toooo much going on..and sometimes too much is frustratingly too much but not in this case...it is welcomed happily.

I really enjoyed this book. Again, I would classify this as a YA fantasy...and although I don't have much experience with YA this book did it for me...I am captivated no matter my age. It's complex...funny...and mysterious...an entertaining read until the very end. I am even more excited to learn that there is more...more of this story and I look forward to reading every single book that comes out in this series (The Immortal Descendants). April White is an amazing writer and she has me hooked completely.

I thankfully received my copy of this book via giveaway in exchange for an honest review...to which I have happily done so!!

The Gift Of A Charm by Melissa Hill

And we have another book review..Something warm and cozy for the season...a romantic read. 

So I don't typically indulge in romantic books but I liked the cover. Maybe it's the time of year..the cold in the air but I saw that cover and thought it would be fitting. Anything to get in the festive holiday spirit cause more times than not I am all about the 'Baaaahumbug!!'.

(my pic does not do the actual book cover any justice..it's really a lovely vibrant cover)

Again, I don't typically read feel-good sentimental romance stuff but I figured that since the holidays were here and the weather was getting colder I wanted to try something a little different from what I usually aim for...The Gift of a Charm seemed pretty amazing and so I went for it.

A feel-good story; the main character Holly working in a fabulous vintage clothing store in New York, comes upon a charm bracelet hidden in an old coat. The charm bracelet is very similar to the Tiffany's charm bracelet that she owns. Feeling impelled to seek out the owner she is on a mission. Then there's Greg, on a mission of his own...leaving the corporate world in order to follow his passion of photography. True to romance stories, we get a lovely little connection between Holly and Greg and that's the end of that...only that's so not true!! There are little twists and turns throughout..a lovely unique read and I have discovered that it is the only way I will enjoy a romance book...if it has unique little twists and a great purpose besides all the affection and lust.

Again, I don't typically read romance tales but the ones I have currently read I liked and this book goes right along into that grouping. Just in time for the holidays...it's warm..entertaining..lovely, a light read. I enjoyed it.

Thanks to Melissa Hill for making it possible for me to win via giveaway this book in exchange for an honest review.