50 Book Challenge- Book 14- Water for Elephants

For those that haven't read this book, you need to. I thought this book was absolutely amazing. After Jacob's parents are killed in a car accident, he finds out that his dad's veterinary practice he has been going to school to join is so broke that the bank owns it and the house. Left with nothing, Jacob joins the Benzini Brother's Most Spectacular Show in the World circus train and begins traveling the country.

At first, nobody is sure of his place until they find out that he has vet experience. His first job is to kill one of the show horses that has gone lame. From there, he treats the lion with no teeth, Bobo the chimp, and then a bull elephant is purchased when another circus collapses. Everyone thinks that Rosie, the elephant is stupid until they find out that she only speaks Polish.

There is a tangled love affair between the vet, the lead performer, and the equestrian director, also her husband. There are midgets, rowdy old men, cooch girls, and a handful of other characters that are brilliant in their telling.

I loved this story, throughout the entire read, I could easily picture myself traveling on the train, in the menagerie, or eating in the grease tent. This is a fantastic tale about love, compassion, and being free. It is a fairly quick read but it will leave you wanting more. After looking it up, most of the details are based in truth and really did happen on a traveling circus in America. I won't tell you the details, but it is some fascinating stuff.

50 book challenge-Book 13- The Invisible Ring

This is the 13th book I have read for my challenge, and it is also the 4th Anne Bishop book that I have read. It is the 4th book of the Black Jewels series and I have to say, this has been my least favorite. It took me FOREVER to get through because none of the characters are the same, it was difficult to get into because it is actually a prequel that should have been the first book. The book is called the Invisible Ring and doesn't have much to do with a ring at all.

While the plot of the story was decent,it took forever to get to. It started as a story of a journey to buy slaves, then you find out that the person purchasing the slaves isn't whom she is supposed to be, and they have a spy amongst them. Unfortunately, the story isn't as exciting as I just made it sound. I hope that the next book is going to be much better. I feel that had this story started as the first in the series as I feel that it should have been, the story would have flowed better. There are suck rich characters in the main series that I missed them throughout the whole series.

50 Book challenge- Book 12- Cupcake

I can't believe I have been doing as well as I have on this book challenge. I love to read but I'm not a strong reader. Currently I am actively reading book 13 which seems super hard to believe in the end of March.

Book 12 for me was called Cupcake by Mariah Jones. This was a Kindle edition book I purchased for $0.99. I was intrigued by the title as I love cupcakes. I also really liked that the story was set in Portland, my hometown. Sadly, I quickly came to find that there was no landmark to make the story based in Portland at all.

In the beginning, I was able to easily resonate and become akin to the story as it was about an overweight female living in Portland who was perpetually on a diet to lose weight. Darcy Miller is the owner of Cupcake, a bakery. In a near robbery of her store, she gets shot because she is wearing uncomfortable underwear, the hot guy who opens up an art shop right next to her shop asks her out on a date, and she embarrasses herself at a health club in a way that only a big girl can do.

While she likes the guy that asked her out, she feels uncomfortable with him because of their size differences. Then her ex-priest ex-boyfriend comes back to town to proclaim his undying love to her. Who will Darcy choose? Will she lose the weight she so desperately wants to be rid of? Read the story to find out.

I liked this book because the story was interesting and easy to follow. I really hates that most of the story did not have any in-depth details to really pull me in. The formatting was a little off and chapters would often start at the bottom or middle of the page. The editing didn't seem to be very thorough as there was several words not capitalized that should have been, missing quotes and other issues that were a little off, making the story a little challenging to read. Overall, I give this story a B- more for grammatical issues than a story line.

50 Book challenge- Book 11- English Tea Murder

Admittedly, I have a problem. Once I start reading a book series, I can't stop until there is no more. Leslie Meier's newest book is not an exception to that rule. Admittedly, I should have read this one before chocolate covered murder because it precedes that one, but the story panned out just fine. In this novel, report Lucy Stone goes to England on a once in a lifetime vacation with her friends. While on the plan, the tour guide dies of an asthma attack, but Lucy isn't convinced that it is simply allergies. Her own daughter has asthma so she knows about it and something with the account doesn't sit right with her. Throughout the trip, the other members of their group act oddly; her friend is pushed into a busy London street, a girl jumps off a bridge into the icy, dangerous pier, and it appears that the whole group, excluding herself and her friends, have conspired to kill a man because of a crime that he committed years before and paid his debt in prison for!

The plot thickens when the group returns home and Lucy finds out that the replacement tour guide was engaging in inappropriate conduct with one of the students and now she is pregnant! Will this one end in murder too??? Read this fantastic story to find out.

50 Book challenge- Book 10- Chocolate Covered Murder

I love a good murder mystery as most anyone else does. Leslie Meier is one of my favorite writers for this because she has built a believable character in Lucy Stone, the Tinker's Cove, Maine news reporter turned snoop. Not only does she love to get a good story for her local newspaper that she works at, but she is also a pretty good detective, getting people to answer questions that the police miss or cant get an answer for.

Chocolate Covered Murder was no exception to this rule. It is true that Max may have fell through the ice while ice fishing at night. That doesn't explain why he was wrapped in his own fishing tackle before going in. Tamzin was a floozy that flaunted her overly large chest to every man in town, including Lucy's husband, Bill. That didn't mean that she deserved to be found dead and covered in chocolate. While Lucy struggles to keep up with her reporting job, take care of her family, and bake a fabulous dessert while on a diet, she also really wants to solve this murder.

In the end, not only does she solve the double murder, but she also finds the person responsible for smuggling drugs into her town and distributing them to all the kids in the area.

If you like a good murder mystery with a heroic lead character, Leslie Meier's Lucy Stone series is the perfect one for you. To date, there are over 20 books in the series, I've read every one and they always get better than the last.

50 Book Challenge- Book 9- Cinnamon Roll Murder

This was the newest book released by Joanne Fluke. Throughout the story, there are two mysteries taking place. The first mystery being who killed, Buddy Neiman, the keyboardist of the band Cinnamon Roll Six, and the second mystery being is Norman really Diana's father? Hannah must find the answer before Norman's wedding which is only one week away! With such a challenging deadline, there will be less sleep for everyone and a lot of deception.

This book was fantastic as I believe all of Joanne Fluke's books are. This book is full of delicious recipes and intrigue. I am pleased to say that not only did Hannah discover the killer, but she saved Norman from a marriage that wouldn't have worked out anyway because the two didn't love each other. I highly recommend the whole Hannah Swensen series to anyone that loves a good cookie or a mystery.

50 Book Challenge- Book 8- Wicked Witch Murder

Wow, book 8 of this challenge was a good one. I love Leslie Meier's writing style because it is so simple. It is so easy to read that it doesn't take me nearly as long as it does to read everything else. I have read this entire series, this book being number 20 of the Lucy Stone murder mystery series.

This is the story of Lucy Stone and her tiny Maine town of Tinker's Cove. While Lucy has her hands caring for her two tween girls working for the Pennysaver weekly newspaper as a lead journalist, she now has to deal with all the craziness of a religious zealot of a new neighbor and a self proclaimed witch that has moved to town and set up shop. When Lucy discovers the charcoal remains of a human body in the woods behind her house, all order falls apart as everyone scrambles to identify the body, keep the witch and the zealot apart and keep up with daily life. Many obstacles get in the way, such as a hurricane, the death of the zealot's wife, and crazy people all over town.

Will Lucy be able to piece it all together before time runs out? Who was the original killer of the burned body? Read this enticing story to find out.

50 Book Challenge- Book 7- Zombie Cinderella

My 7th book of this challenge was a short novel called Zombie Cinderella. It was a featured title on my Kindle for free. I am now a firm believer that every fairy tale should be a zombie story.

Zombie Cinderella was a fantastic story of her fairy dead-mother scratching her in the cemetery after her father's funeral. She walks home after being left by her step-family and notices that the town seems more deserted than ever before. Once home, her step-mother immediately strips her of her fancy things and her dignity and makes her a maid. Her step-sisters make her life as a maid hell on earth before leaving for the ball.

Cinderella dies from the pain and torture she endures during the short time between her father's funeral and her sisters leaving for the ball. After a few hours, she is awoken. Alive and hungry, she goes in search of her stepmother, to eat her brains.

This was an awesome read. I am a firm believer in the zombie apocalypse- what, with all the medications, nuclear damage that can be done, deformities, and ever grown number of harmful contagions in our world it seems entirely likely- and this story is just another prime example of how we can still retain memories after death. Think carefully of how you treat the living, they may come after you when they are dead.

50 Book Challenge- Book 6- The Help

I just finished reading The Help. It was a phenomenal book! I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in civil rights or stories of the south. It was a little hard to get through at times because many parts of the book are phonetically spelled. But the story was great. I also watched something on HBO that said that many of these events in the book were true events (not just the parts of civil rights events but stories from the maids.)

This was the story of what it was like being a black maid during the height of civil rights during the 1960s. These were stories of maids working with white families and the duties they performed, the lives they led and the overall feel of living in the south during these trying times. It also detailed the life of a white woman, Skeeter, who didn't see those lines of color. She was an outcast for many other reasons than wanting to associate with the help, like the fact that she was too tall, too skinny, not dating anyone, and that she lived a little too far out of town.

I loved this book, nearly as much as I loved the movie. I recommend this book to everyone. I think it carries a powerful message that everyone should not only know, but respect and strongly consider.

50 Book Challenge- Book 5- Devil's Food Cake Murder

Last night, I finished reading book 5 of the 50 book challenge. The book I chose was called Devil's Food Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke. This was book 14 of her Hannah Swensen series. I love this series and have read every book; however, this book dropped a bombshell for an ending that I wasn't expecting!

In this story, Hannah comes across a dead minister in the church office while visiting the pastor's grandmother,Grandma Knudson. At first, Grandma Knudson is skeptical as to whether the substitute minister is the same person she remembers from childhood, thinking that he may be his cousin, a sneaky person that had a rotten core since teenager-hood. After the minister is found dead, the supposedly real Reverend Matthew comes to town to claim the body. Everyone is confused because this new "reverend" that comes to town could be a twin of the one that just passed. While investigating the murder on her own time, Hannah gets to spend time with her long time dentist boyfriend, Norman.

Norman has recently added a new dentist to his clinic, Dr. Bev, his ex-fiance. While spending time more time with her than Hannah would like, Norman reveals that he does still love Hannah and still wants her to marry him. Together, Hannah, her sisters, and Norman work at solving the case. There are several twists and turns that surprise everyone, but not nearly as much as the bombshell that Norman drops on Hannah at the end of the story-- He is marrying Dr. Bev so that he can continue to see Diana. It turns out, when Dr. Bev broke off her and Norman's engagement, she was pregnant with Diana and never told him! Now, Hannah is without a boyfriend, shocked that he has a child nobody but Norman ever knew about, and shocked that Norman would go along with the ultimatum that was placed on him and his visitation.

The next book to this series will be released on February 28, 2012 and you better believe that I will be picking it up to see how this new tale unravels! This story was a great read, as all of Joanne's books are. There are several fantastic recipes available throughout the book for cookies, coffee, and several other great desserts. I can't wait to try them all!

50 Book Challenge- Book 4- Husk

Recently, I took a chance on a new author that I had never heard of before. His name is Matthew Hults. Husk was his first book.

This is what the publisher had to say about it:
"ONE NIGHTMARE ENDS…
Serial killer Kale Kane has finally died, having survived five years in a coma after a shootout with police. But is his reign of terror truly over? When he died, Kane took the reasons for his atrocities with him, along with the answer to a question police never got to ask: did he work alone?

…AND A NEW HORROR BEGINS.
Mallory Wiess is a typical teenage girl… or so it seems. When she moves to rural Minnesota with her father and younger brother, she quickly discovers her new home won’t be as boring as she’d feared. Who is the dark figure watching her from the house across the street? What is the shape hanging in the shadows of the old barn behind the neighborhood? And why has someone begun digging up graves at the ancient cemetery in the forest? Soon Mallory will learn the truth. For she has attracted the attention of a killer, a ruthless predator who believes only her death will finish the work Kale Kane began, and unleash an evil that has faded into legend. In the end, one night will decide if the dead will rise. "

This book was a great read. I picked it up on my Kindle for $9.99, thinking that this book would be about zombies. I started reading, and immediately, I was hooked. The book is more of a paranormal thriller than a book about zombies, but it was still a good read. Matt has a way with words that leave you on the edge of your seat, always wanting more.

The only complaints I have about this book is that there are several grammatical errors, almost as if the editing job was a little rushed so that the book could be published. The ending kind of gave the same vibe as well. While the story was complete, the ending seemed lame compared to the rest of the phenomenal story. The characters were nicely depicted, and I could see them in my mind's eye.

For anyone that loves a good thrill, this book is definitely worth a try. I am dyslexic and a very slow reader and I was able to finish this book in two days.

50 Book Challenge- Book 3 Queen of Darkness

Admittedly, it has been a a few days since I finished reading my 3rd book of this challenge, but I have been so busy, I haven't had the time to post about it. The third book I read this was Queen of Darkness, the third Anne Bishop book in the Black Jewels trilogy.

From the editor, "It began with the mystery of Daughter of the Blood. It continued with the magic of Heir to the Shadows. Now, the stunning conclusion to The Black Jewels Trilogy.
"Darkly mesmerizing...fascinatingly different...worth checking out." --Locus"

This is the story of Jaenelle and her entourage trying to save the dark realm after war is declared. In this book, Jaenelle goes to great lengths to save the people that she loves as well as her kingdom. I loved this book. It was action packed and had everything that a dark fantasy should consist of.

50 Book Challenge- Book 2- Heir to the Darkness

Well, I found that after getting this challenge started, it has become easier to read my books. I have just completed book 2 of the 50 book challenge. It is the second book in Anne Bishop's Black Jewels trilogy. I highly recommend it for anyone that loves a good fantasy. This is what the publisher has to say about the book:
"In this violently passionate, "darkly fascinating world,"** the Blood rule: a race of witches and warlocks whose power is channeled through magical jewels. Ambitions unfurl in this second novel of The Black Jewels Trilogy, as the realm's dreams of a liberator have finally been made flesh...

Jaenelle, singled out by prophecy as the living embodiment of magic, is haunted by the cruel battles the Blood have fought over her-for not all of them await her as their Savior. Nothing, however, can deflect her from her destiny-and the day of reckoning looms near. When her memories return. When her magic matures. When she is forced to accept her fate. On that day, the dark Realms will know what it means to be ruled by Witch."

I liked this book because it was a lot more light-hearted than the first, however, nothing and everything seemed to happen during this installment. There was not a lot of action, however, the Craft in this book was necessary to create the story of the third installment as I have discovered quickly. I highly recommend this series to anyone. The characters are well developed and once you start reading, you won't want to stop!

I've Been Slacking

For the last two days I have not written on my blog. Seeing this, I admit, I am a little upset with myself over it. Thursday night, I had a long night as Raph doesn't get home from school until nearly 10 PM. Hail and I hung out, however, he was super tired since he had NO nap all day. The rest of Thursday was devoted to finishing up homework and trying to find a schedule that was going to accommodate my mass amount of homework I have this week as well as getting some work done. I hope that I can do it all. I have nearly 350 pages of text books to read this week!

Friday was a nice day spent at home. Hail and I played itsy bitsy spider for a couple hours. That's his new song and he is getting pretty good at doing the hand motions and mumbling in tune. :) We went to the grocery store and picked up a few staples we were running low on as well as stopped at the library and picked up the second and third book in my series that I reading for the 50 book challenge right now. I couldn't wait to start reading, which is exactly what I did during nap time.

When Hail went to bed, Raph and I watched Contagion. It was a good movie right up until the very end. The ending was really lame and I was expecting something much more dramatic based on how the rest of the movie went. It really made me think though; If I were to come down with an airborne illness such as this unnameable disease they were dealing with, who would I infect? Would they be able to survive? How would it effect everyone I know?

Well today is a fun filled day planned. We are going to ride the max to the Lloyd Center Mall. As Hail calls it, it's a train. He will get to play on the kiddie play area with other kids his age and I am getting a new pair of plugs for my ears. Time to go make some coffee!

50 Book Challenge- Book 1 Daughter of the Blood

Staying true to one of my goals this year, I have completed the first book of my 50 book challenge. The first book of the year was Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop. Normally, I don't read these kinds of books but Raph suggested it and since I have ran out of all my own books to read, I gave it a try. This book is awesome and I am very upset that I can't pick up the second of the black jewels trilogy from the library until tomorrow. :(

This is what the publisher has to say about the book:
"Seven hundred years ago, a Black Widow witch saw an ancient prophecy come to life in her web of dreams and visions. Now the Dark Kingdom readies itself for the arrival of its Queen, a Witch who will wield more power than even the High Lord of Hell himself. But she is still young, still open to influence-and corruption.

Whoever controls the Queen controls the darkness. Three men-sworn enemies-know this. And they know the power that hides behind the blue eyes of an innocent young girl. And so begins a ruthless game of politics and intrigue, magic and betrayal, where the weapons are hate and love-and the prize could be terrible beyond imagining..."

Wow. That is really all I have to say about this book. It is riddled with magic, sex, backstabbing and violence- many of the things that make up a good story. The only gripe that I have about the entire book is that the way it is written, sometimes you feel like this is present day while other times you feel like you are supposed to be in medieval times. That gets a little confusing but with all the great characters and background, it will seem like a small price to pay.

For those that love a good fantasy, I highly recommend this book. Since I am now taking public transportation to school instead of driving, that gives me 2 hours four days a week to read. I was a little shocked that it only took me 8 days to read this book as I am dyslexic and a slow reader because of it. The book is a good a good 400 pages, longer than what I usually can read in that amount of time. I loved this book and will more than likely read it again once this challenge is over.