If I stay

 I read this book after finishing The Book Thief, which was probably a mistake accounting for my dislike of this book. The writing didn't impress me, and I was turned off by the disjointed flashbacks. I really struggled to finish this one, and probably should have given up and put it down.

However, the last ten or so pages made it all worth it, particularly this last bit: "I'm feeling not just the physical pain, but all that I have lost, and it is profound and catastrophic and will leave a crater in me that nothing will ever fill. But I'm also feeling all that I have lost in my life, which includes what I have lost, as well as the great unknown of what life might still bring me. And it's all too much. The feelings pile up, threatening to crack my chest wide-open." This is real, the pain Mia feels, and anyone that has experienced any form of loss will understand this and weep a little, or a lot, for the feelings that ring so true in Gayle Forman's words.

Second Firsts: Live, Laugh, and Love Again

"You can do the impossible, because you have been through the unimaginable." p. 145

If you have ever experienced a loss in your life, either through death or divorce or something else, this book is for you. Think of it as a manual to help you navigate through the grief and suffering of loss, with the final destination being Life. As anyone that has lost someone knows, grief is debilitating and lonely and hard to break free from. This book is a helpful coach. Having experienced loss herself, the author's understanding of it and grief is real. That is not only comforting to the reader, but it also makes her advice easier to accept and her suggestions easier to follow.

I found the Grief Cleanse to be the most challenging exercise, but also the most rewarding. I experienced a great amount of frustration and anxiety while doing the written cleanse, but once completed I experienced an overwhelming amount of clarity and peace. It also helped me to want to move forward with my life.

I would really like to take the author, Christina Rasmussen, out for lunch and thank her profusely for writing the book that saved me from spending a lifetime in the Loop of Loss. I received this book at the most perfect time. I had just been lamenting to a friend about how I couldn't seem to shake the sadness that had been following me for years after suffering a devastating loss when this book arrived in the mail. I intended to devour it, cover to cover, in one sitting, but the book's structure did not lend itself to that. Instead, I read it slowly, page by page, stopping frequently to take notes in the margin, underline important parts I want to remember, and journaling when instructed by Christina. I know that this book has changed my life, thrusting me forward out of the Waiting Room and into the miraculous present. I am re-entering Life and it feels so good. This book will have a special place on my bookshelf, and I intend to buy one for every person in my life that could benefit from its words. My life has been transformed.

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from Hay House Publishing for this review. The opinion in this review is unbiased and reflects my honest judgment of the product.

The Rosary: The Prayer that Saved My Life

What a powerful and inspirational book!

Being a Catholic myself, I found it easy to identify with the author's love of her faith and religion. I have always had a special interest and love for Mary, but never could quite get into praying the Rosary, no matter how many times I tried. But after reading just the first few pages of this book, I decided to pick up my Rosary beads and give it another try. Why? Because the author inspired me. She inspired me with her story of praying the Rosary each day as she sat in a tiny bathroom in Rwanda just hoping to stay alive. Her faith brought tears to my eyes as I imagined what that experience must have been like for her. Her situation was extreme and terrible and almost impossible to imagine, but I think many of us have had some life experience that has either caused us to move closer to or farther away from God. Rather than believe that God had abandoned her in that bathroom, she picked up her beads and prayed with all her might. In spite of everything awful going on around her, she decided to dig her heels in and draw strength from her source. That is what inspired me.

Before reading this book, the mysteries of the Rosary intimidated me because I didn't really take the time to understand each one and meditate on them. In the book, the author explains an easier way to remember each mystery as one is praying the Rosary and I found that to be incredibly helpful. While praying the Rosary, I struggled less with the "rules" of how to say the Rosary and could focus more on the meaning of the words I was praying. There was a sense of calm and serenity that descended on me as I finished, and it was then that I understood the words the author had written early in the book. The author states that the Rosary has "enormous power", enough to change the world and bring lasting peace to our hearts. I can honestly say that I feel more peaceful after saying the Rosary, and I have only been saying it for about four days now. I felt more peaceful, thus I went out to face my day in a state of peace, hopefully bringing and spreading peace throughout my day. From that I understand the other part of what the author said, that it has enough power to change the world. Imagine if more people prayed this powerful prayer instead of watching the disturbing news headlines before going out into the world each day. As Gandhi said, we have to be the change we want to see. If we want more peace, we have to be more peaceful ourselves. I think the Rosary is a wonderful first step to making that happen.

There was another description that the author gave that will stay with me for a long time. She referred to Rosary beads as a rope hanging down from Heaven. It's comforting to think that there is something right there for us to grab onto that will strengthen our connection to the source that created us.

Many people today are moving away from God, are not into prayer, and have let go of religion. Yet, the world is in such a state of chaos and disrepair. Something from the book that resonated with me is that prayer is so powerful because our minds latch onto the words that we repeatedly say and we begin to believe those words. If that is true, and I believe that it is, why wouldn't someone want to say this prayer of beautiful words? Thoughts and words have the power to transform lives, so why not choose the words we say and think more carefully?

I am sincerely glad that the author chose to write this book, and even more glad to have had the opportunity to read it, because it has a powerful message that is capable of transforming hearts and lives, and that can only be good.

Thank you, Immaculee Ilibagiza, for sharing this book with all of us.

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald

It took me way too long to finish this book. It was interesting at first when Scott and Zelda first met, but then things started to drag once their patterns of self-destruction took over. It finally picked up for me around the last 100 pages or so. With that said, I am glad to have read it.

I knew very little about F. Scott Fitzgerald before reading this book, and even though it is a work of fiction much of the important details are based on some truth. I absolutely adored Zelda in this book. I felt she was honest with her feelings most of the time and she held her own against Scott, who was an absolutely despicable husband, but I'll get to that later. Zelda fell in love with the dream with which Scott blinded her. She'd wanted more than Alabama, but was hesitant in following Scott to NYC. Hindsight is always 20/20, but she should have stayed in Alabama. Scott was ambitious, which can be a good thing, but he thrived off the opinions of others. I think that's an occupational hazard in the world of artists, and it certainly was for Scott. Like Hemingway, his good buddy and an equally despicable husband to Hadley (read The Paris Wife), he was the cause of his own destruction. He relied heavily on the reviews of his stories and novels and allowed those to sway his moods. He was a terrible alcoholic, as was Hemingway, and dragged Zelda down with him. I admired Zelda for her determination to pursue her own interests - ballet, painting, drawing, and even writing - and I was so angry with Scott for not encouraging her. He called her pursuits an amateur's hobbies, while his endeavors were of the "professional" nature. All of Zelda's stories, and even her novel, were published, albeit under Scott's name. He never gave her due credit for anything that she did. And I absolutely despised that he allowed Hemingway to alter his feelings for Zelda, telling her that she was the reason he couldn't write anything decent. He was a man with a million excuses. Then, when he had her put into mental facilities for long periods of time in an effort to fix her thinking so that she would return to him only interested in being a "supportive" wife and mother, I wanted to scream! He wanted a cheerleader, someone to accompany him out on the town, looking pretty and smiling and stroking his ego. But Zelda wanted more than that. She wanted to express herself and her own talents, and I admire her for that. She died an untimely death, but I found myself breathing a sigh of relief when she got news that Scott had died. I thought, finally, she can be who she really is without Scott lording over her and trying to manipulate her into his own little "muse".

I did not feel good when I finished reading this one. It was exhausting following this couple on their crazy wheel of self-destruction. The 20's has always fascinated me, and recently I became very interested in learning more about 1920s Paris and the American writers that planted themselves there, but after reading this book and The Paris Wife I think my fascination has waned. For years I have placed writers like Hemingway and Fitzgerald on a pedestal, but now I have come to believe that though they were fine writers their potential was never reached. Their obsessive reliance on alcohol, narcissism, and immoral practices led them astray from what they could have been. And that is so sad.

The Kindness of Strangers

I'm not really sure where to begin with this one. I liked the book and I recommend the book, but I have to be careful here. One of the themes involves coping with and recovering from tragedy. One family is in the process of recovering from a father's death, while another family is hiding a deep, dark secret that will forcefully impact the first family. The mothers of each family are best friends, except mother #1 doesn't have a clue about mother #2's secret.  So how well does mother #1 know mother #2? It turns out not well at all!

I don't want to spoil the book for anyone, but I do want to warn any potential readers to proceed with caution. The subject matter doesn't produce warm and fuzzies, and at times it can be pretty unbearable. However, the writer did an AMAZING job capturing the essence of this subject. She is a middle school English teacher from Ohio. Her words will put you right there in each scene with the characters. You will love some and detest others. If you're like me, you might even find yourself crying loud, heavy sobs on your sunny deck while tears and snot stream down your face. (Luckily no neighbors popped over!)You will want to put your arm around the little boy, Jordan, and tell him you will make everything okay again. You will be more attuned to the signs and symptoms. And you'll probably pray for the safety of all children, for always.

Good luck. Feel free to pop back and share your response/reaction if you decide to read it.

For the Love of Pete

I grew up listening to the exasperated phrase, "For Pete's sake", but never "For the love of Pete" until one day during a morning meeting. I thought, What a cute saying!, and started using it. Then, almost a year later I happened upon this book in a library sale and picked it up for 50 cents. The cover is totally cute - a purple and white VW Beetle with a daisy on the hood - and obviously the price was right. I figured that the worst case would be it turned out to be a dud and I could pass it on to someone else who might enjoy it. It turned out to be pretty good. The writing was so-so  - how can I get paid to be a proof-reader??? - and some dialogue exchanges weren't completely believable. BUT the action-packed plot had me turning pages quickly. This is a fun, quick read that you could finish in one beach day sitting/laying. Check it out! What have you got to lose...for the love of Pete?!  :)

Wabi Sabi Love

by Arielle Ford

The full title of this book is actually Wabi Sabi Love: The Ancient Art of Finding Perfect Love in Imperfect Relationships 

According to Ford, Wabi Sabi is Japanese for  finding beauty in imperfection (I realize this is probably a loose translation). Ford maintains that this phrase, or idea, can be used to improve the relationships in one's life. For example, how one chooses to see things informs how they appear to him/her. For example, if a person focuses on what irritates him or her about a friend or partner, then they will view the relationship negatively. However, if a person chooses to view another person's differences in a positive light, that relationship will become better. Ford concludes that having differences is inevitable, but what matters most is how we manage the differences. She provides several different exercises throughout the book to help a person go from "annoyed" to "enjoyed", as well as how to more effectively communicate with friends and partners. I think this book could be useful to anyone who wishes to improve the relationships in their life.

A powerful quote included in the book is one by Rumi, a 13th century Persian poet and theologian: "Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it."

Summer People

by Elin Hilderbrand    

I really like reading novels by Elin Hilderbrand (see previous posts for The Island and The Blue Bistro).
How does she pronounce her name, by the way? Is it like Ellen or is it with a long 'e' like Eelin?


Anyway, I found this book at the used book store and thought it would make a really good summer beach read (even if the closest 'beach' to me is Lake Ontario!) While I started reading it on the beach, I finished it in my bed, but the bulk of it was read on my deck with a cold drink in hand. This book (and others written by Hilderbrand) is set in Nantucket and all I REALLY want to do right now is go to Nantucket!! (My good friend is vacationing there right now and I am insanely jealous!) One day when I hit it big with my own novel I will buy a house in Nantucket and live out my summers there....oh, a girl can dream!

To the book....I had a difficult time getting into this one - maybe because there were teenagers involved? - but once I did I really struggled to put it down. Hilderband hit on some real issues facing this family - the death of a spouse, father and friend; teenagers and sexual responsibility; acceptance; forgiveness; family secrets; the past; and the question of how to move on after tragedy. The characters were so perfectly woven together, even their quirks seemed to bind them together by the end of the novel. It affirmed the beliefs that life does not stop for tragedy, and sometimes pain is necessary for growth. This was not a happy, feel-good story, but it does have a happy ending with good closure (as long as you read the Epilogue).

Happy reading!

When She Woke

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan

This book was recommended to me by our local librarian - is that when you know you're a frequent flier? The story is a modernized version of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

**Spoilers beyond this point, so proceed with caution, although I will not give away too much**

Hannah Payne (symbolic since she experiences various sorts of pain throughout the book) has an affair (hated this part of the plot - why is there always an affair? Are humans REALLY that weak and incapable of respecting the sanctity of love?) with Reverend Aiden Dale (!!!), who acts as national minister (no more separation of church and state, folks) and is married to Alyssa. During the affair, Hannah gets pregnant and rather than tell Aiden she decides to abort the baby, which is illegal. Through a strangely arranged meeting, Hannah's abortion occurs on dinosaur sheets in a dark apartment by a man named Raphael. She is picked up by police soon after and tried for her crime - murder. And thus begins the life of Hannah as a Red. And that's when the story gets good! (or at least better?)

Something Borrowed

With all this hype over Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James (yes, I shamelessly read all 3 books in one weekend - NOT my proudest life moment), names of suggested actors to play Christian Grey have popped up all over the Internet. In this flurry of names, there was one that I did not recognize - Colin Egglesfield. After some fast searching, I discovered he played the role of Dex in the film version of Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin. I had seen the film awhile ago, but borrowed it from the library to refresh my memory. Oh yes, I thought, that is Christian Grey. I was entertained by the movie, but thought I should read the book, too. So, off to the library I went and two days later I finished reading. Which brings me to the actual purpose of this entry:

I enjoyed the movie MUCH more than I enjoyed the book. This is rare for me because I am almost always disappointed in the movie version of a book. Neither Rachel nor Dex struck me as likable characters in the book. Rachel exhibited low self-worth and extreme neediness to be loved by Dex because she believed he would make her life complete and bring her the happiness she's always wanted, and Dex was an arrogant, spineless jerk that took advantage of Rachel's crush. Darcy was the only character that seemed to be consistent in both the book and the movie: center of attention, completely self-absorbed, and competitive (although, I hate when they cast characters that don't fit the physical description of the book - Darcy had dark hair in the book, just like Dex, and she was supposed to be show-stopping beautiful). I liked how the movie eliminated Hillary's characters because, to be honest, she wasn't very memorable. I wish Emily Giffin had cut Hillary and left Ethan as Rachel's confidante, conscience, and advisor. In the movie Ethan had a wit to him that added an element of humor to the scandalous affair taking place between Rachel and Dex, but he couldn't fulfill this role as a distant party living in London in the book.  I am most certainly not a proponent of lying, cheating, and scandalous affairs, so I wouldn't say that I loved the story. However, I think Giffin hit on a topic that is quite prevalent today. I did feel bad for Darcy throughout the affair between Dex and Rachel, until it was revealed that Darcy was also cheating on Dex. I think this was the only redeeming quality of the entire snafu, and it allowed Rachel and Dex to be together without guilt looming over their relationship. As for the friendship between Rachel and Darcy, I didn't really see how they maintained a friendship to that point. Although, that relationship was clearly the reason Rachel had been unable to find happiness - she was constantly doting over, appeasing, and answering Darcy's every beck and call. That relationship really needed to change (in this case, end) in order for Rachel to grow a backbone and live her own life and for Darcy to become more self-reliant instead of relying on Rachel for all of life's decisions.

So, there you have it.

Explosive Eighteen

I haven't read very many of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, but I have enjoyed the ones I've read. This one was especially hilarious! It's rare to read a book where I'm laughing out loud on almost every other page. These characters and the situations they get themselves into are unbelievably funny. It's an easy, entertaining couch read - perfect for a snowy Sunday! Recommended!!

The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb

I wasn't really sure what to expect when I began reading this book, but the desciption piqued my interest. It was one of the first library downloads I added to my new kindle. The story (because it is not a true autobiography) is very detailed and captivating, although it is a long book (I've been reading it for weeks and my kindle tells me I have only read 52% so far!).

My husband and I used to watch the TLC show "Little People, Big World" and absolutely LOVED it! This book also focuses on the life of a particular little person, Lavinia Warren Bump, from the late 1800s. What especially captivates me is the character of P.T. Barnum, showman and owner of the American Museum (and later creator of the circus), and his relationship with General Tom Thumb, a.k.a Charles S. Stratton, and Lavinia "Vinnie" Warren. The author, Melanie Benjamin, really brings these historical characters to life in this novel, which is well crafted and written in a style that makes the reader appreciate her use of words. I am grateful to be reading this on my Kindle Touch because every page contains at least one word that needs to be defined. I am hoping my vocabulary will improve as a result!

If history interests you, particularly the time of the civil war, then I believe you may enjoy reading this book. It certainly has given me a new appreciation for little people trying to live in a big world.

Boundaries: When to say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life

Well, let's face it. We all come in contact with people who would love to take control of our lives. They want us to be certain places at certain times, they expect us to behave in certain ways, they expect us to understand them, to cater to them, to do favors for them, and the list goes on and on. It can be exhausting trying to please the people in our lives. The boss wants us to chair a committee, lead a project, take on an extra duty. He asks, we feel obligated, we say yes even though we really don't want to do it. We are afraid to say no. Why?

This book suggests that we are all exposed to behavioral patterns from an early age that shape our beliefs and thoughts. We take those with us into adulthood, even if they don't serve us. As a result we become anxious, stressed, depressed, ultimately feeling that we have no control over our own lives. So what to do?

Learn when to say yes and how to say no. Similar to how we build fences to define and protect our property/yards, it's beneficial to learn how to protect our lives and personal space by establishing boundaries for those we come in contact with, otherwise we risk becoming doormats and stretching ourselves so thin that we may feel we lose sight of who we are as individuals. It's ok to say no and still maintain personal relationships. Actually, personal relationships can be enriched by establishing boundaries because it allows us room to grow individually, which in turn helps us to deepen and strengthen our relationships because we have more to give (since we're not giving all of us to everyone that demands/expects it) to those that we choose to share our life with. It's empowering to be able to choose who gets our time.

Overall, this book gets just an 'okay' vote from me. It is laden with biblical references that seem forced and often irrelevant. Connections were unclear or non-existent. In my opinion, the book would have been better if the biblical references were removed. So, if/when reading, focus on the deeper content.

The Peach Keeper

by Sarah Addison Allen

I REALLY enjoyed this book. The story was a reminder of the importance of friendships and how TRUE friendships, though they might fade, never truly disintegrate. Real friendships grow roots so deep that they last for a lifetime.

Some SPOILERS beyond this point!

This story is really about friendship and the lengths that a person will go to to defend the foundation that friendship is based on. Agatha's decision to help Georgie through a difficult situation reveals the love she felt for Georgie. Even in her old age, even after she and Georgie's friendship seemed to slip away, she was willing to lie and take the fall for Georgie's teenage actions. Agatha's promise transcended time and years of broken friendship. The peach tree that grew over Tucker Devlin's gravesite seemd to represent the secret that Georgie and Agatha shared and kept for many years. The removal of the tree and the revealing of Tucker Devlin's grave represented the release of that secret because it was time for Willa and Paxton to know that part of their history so that they could create the lives they wanted for themselves.

I highly recommend this book.

Making Your Thoughts Work For You

by Dr. Wayne Dyer and Byron Katie

"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." Wayne Dyer


I think the message presented makes a lot of sense, and it goes along with the quote, "Change your thoughts, change your life." (Also a book written by Dyer)

It seems that our world has transformed many of us into fast-paced workaholics with many technological advances (iphones, laptops, texting, instant messaging, email) that provide numerous conveniences. Unfortunately these conveniences ultimately funnel more feelings of stress into our lives, along with feelings that we are not accomplishing all that we should. I think Byron Katie's "work" could be instrumental in helping people to look at their thoughts in a different way than they are used to. As the observer, it becomes easier to turn those thoughts around, making them work FOR you rather than against you.

I got this from the library....worth checking out!!

Sarah's Key

This book has been on my list for awhile now, mostly because of its Paris setting (I'm in love with Paris and the French language), and partly because of its subject matter: Nazi-occupied France and the deportation of Jews. As a teacher of World War 2, it's helpful for me to research and gain further knowledge of that particular, though extremely sad, period of time. Prior to reading this book, I had no knowledge of the Vel' d'Hiv roundup that occured on June 16, 1942, nor did I ever learn about the instrumental role the French police played in these tragic and inexcusable events. My leisurely strolls through the Marais in Paris certainly would have been different for me had I known then what I know now.

In the book...

Sarah lives with her mother, father, and brother in Paris in 1942. One summer night while Sarah is sleeping there are a series of knocks on the door, followed by voices that indicate it's the police. Sarah quietly scampers to her mother's room to wake her, while her father hides in the basement and her four-year-old brother sleeps in the bedroom. Her mother answers the door to French police that demand she pack clothes and leave with them immediately. Through tears, she does as she's told, and Sarah helps her brother into the closet hideout they play in. She makes sure he has water and a flashlight, and then locks him in and puts the key in her pocket. She promises she'll come back for him soon, and she knows her father will find him once the police leave and he can emerge from the basement. But things don't happen exactly as Sarah has imagined, and soon she, her mother, and father, are in the Velodrome waiting with the other Jews that have been torn from their homes in the early morning hours. What will happen to her brother?

The very short chapters alternate between Sarah's point of view and that of Julia, who is a journalist living in present-day Paris. Julia is American, in her forties, and married to a French man named Bertrand. They have a daughter, Zoe, who is a bit of a smart-ass. Her husband has just purchased his grandmother's apartment in the Marais district of Paris, and he plans to remodel it into a new home for his family. Julia doesn't seem too keen on the idea, but goes along with it anyway. Bertrand is an ass, for lack of a better word. He is condescending toward Julia and is involved romantically with another woman, Amelie. For whatever reason, probably because she loves him, Julia puts up with his despicable behavior and attends to her job at the American French magazine where she is assigned a story on the Vel' D'Hiv Jewish roundup in 1942. Her job will be to find and interview people who remember that horrid day and use facts only in the piece she writes. This is where things get very interesting for the reader. I won't give away the details, though, because this is such an intricately detailed plot. You really have to read it for yourself because any description I would give could not possibly do it justice. Tatiana de Rosnay has created a masterpiece with this novel, one that will stick with me forever. And there's a bonus: I learned something about history that I never knew before, something that I can share with my students, too.

Happy Reading!

Inside-out Wellness

by Dr. Wayne Dyer and Dr. Christiane Northrup





Oh. My. Word.





This is a hilarious recording of a live conference, and it absolutely reeks of truth.





Dyer has become one of my favorite people to listen to because he has such a soothing, uplifting voice. He begins this set of audio CDs with his usual positive words. Change your thinking, change your life.





Then enters Northrup. This is the very first time I've encountered Northrup, who is such a delight. She does not hold back as she lays out truths about the female (and male) body.

A very entertaining "listen" about the body and how Northrup thinks it should be cared for.

Bite Club by Rachel Caine

I got seriously "sucked" into this series (couldn't help the pun). I have been patiently awaiting the arrival of this book from my library hold list, and have been trying to get my teenage vampire fix elsewhere. That attempt has been dissatisfying and I am so glad I finally got to read this book! There is so much character development in this series, added to a fantastic and complicated plot, and TONS of action and adventure! I just ate it right up.

A little bit of background for those of you that might be unfamiliar with the series:

Claire Danvers is an exceptionally intelligent teenager with a passion for science. She could attend college at M.I.T, but her parents don't think it's a good idea for her to go so far away at the ripe young age of 16. So instead they enroll her at TPU, Texas Prairie University, which is only a couple of hours from home. Upon her arrival at TPU, Claire knows this has been a bad match. Claire narrowly escapes a murder attempt by a gaggle of mean girls who throw her down a flight of stairs. Too afraid to continue living in the dorms, Claire sets out to find an alternative place to live: The Glass House. After much persuasion, Claire becomes a housemate and fast friend to Eve (Goth Girl), Michael (Ghost Boy), and Shane (seriously hot and angry boy). But things don't settle down for Claire. She manages to get herself mixed up with the town's vampires, leading her and her friends into all sorts of hairy trouble.

So, in this book (#10 in the series), Claire finds herself trying to save her boyfriend Shane from self-destruction. The town's Founder's evil father has escaped imprisonment and returned to seek revenge on his daughter and the town's humans. But first he needs an army and funding, and Shane sort of unwillingly becomes a participant in this mad scheme to destroy the town. The old man orchestrates a version of Fight Club that involves humans versus vampires, and streams the fights over the internet. Claire and her friends discover Shane's secret and set out to convince him to ditch it before the Founder finds out and orders him and all other participants killed.

All this before the book's halfway point.

I read this in less than 6 hours because I couldn't bear to put it down. This series has very little dull moments. Things are always moving at a break-neck pace and I find myself reading voraciously and flipping pages feverishly to discover what happens next. If you're looking for an entertaining series, this one's a shoo-in.

Marked (House of Night #1) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

A young librarian recommended this series to me as I was checking out a Rachel Caine (Morganville Vampires) book. Immediately I logged onto goodreads to see people's reviews. Had I heeded those reviews, I probably would not be in the predicament I am now: I was entertained by the book, but distracted by the lack of quality writing. The teenage dialogue seemed so unrealistic and forced. I spend 40 hours a week surrounded by teenagers, and I've never once heard them say, "hee hee." How about the continuous and confusing misuse of 'affect' and 'effect'? Isn't it customary for a manuscript to go through a rather lengthy process of editing before it is printed? Reading this book has given me hope that the novel I've been writing for 5 years has potential to eventually be published. But I'd lobby for a better editor...

Zoey is floundering through her normal high school routine when suddenly she is approached by a strange man near her locker. He Marks her, meaning he tags her as a vampyre (why is it spelled like this, anyway? Do the authors have something against the usual way - vampIre? That is never explained in the book, either.) She rushes home to tell her mother, running into her drunken boyfriend and his friends, who are absolutely horrified by her new Marking. When she shows her mother the Mark, her mother shies away in disgust and panics. Immediately she calls her new husband, a member of the People of Faith, who calls the pastor and the family psychologist to the house. Zoey retreats to her bedroom and escapes, driving to her Cherokee grandmother's lavender farm. Luckily her grandmother is more understanding and brings her to the House of Night before she dies from all the coughing (??). Her roommate, whose name I can't seem to remember even though I finished reading only moments before writing this, has a thick Southern accent and is very naive. She introduces Zoey to her friends and they accept Zoey quickly. Enter Aphrodite, the leader of the "mean girls" at House of Night. She is in training to be the High Priestess, but also makes it her mission to destroy Zoey. Naturally, Aphrodite's ex-boyfriend is interested in Zoey, and that just adds fuel to an already raging fire.

This book lacks many things, in my opinion, but what it does not lack is teenage drama. However, several of the characters aren't developed enough (Erik especially), and this makes it difficult for the reader to identify with them.

The marking on my book says "Young Adult", but I don't know that I'd agree with that since there are very inappropriate references to things that young adults needn't really be aware of...yet.

The Island by Elin Hilderbrand

Wow.
I've only read one other book by Elin Hilderbrand (The Blue Bistro), and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So, naturally I had high expectations for this one - and Elin did NOT disappoint. She writes in such a way that I feel like I KNOW each character. She is such an expert at characterization. The plot is simple yet deep, and I like that because it allows the reader to really become acquainted with each character and their particular situations.

Birdie is recently divorced from millionaire Grant Cousins and is enjoying the company of a new man, Hank, whose wife has fallen ill to Alzheimer's and permanently resides in a caretaking facility. Her daughter, Chess, calls in the middle of the night to tell her that her wedding to perfect man Michael Morgan is off. Chess moves back home with Birdie in Connecticut, and Birdie decides to take Chess to her family's summer home on Tuckernuck island, off the island of Nantucket. Birdie's other daughter, Tate, who makes a very nice living as a computer consultant, calls to tell Birdie she is coming to the summer house, too. At the last minute, Birdie invites her sister India, whose famous sculptor husband committed suicide fifteen years ago. Together these four women set off to Tuckernuck, leaving the fast pace of the mainland for a more primitive existence on an island without electricity and warm water. Each woman carries with her a secret, along with the hope that Tuckernuck will save them from themselves.

With the end of the book comes some kind of closure for each character, depending on her need. But, it also provides hope for the future, a revival of sorts. Additionally, Hilderbrand's novels have instilled in me the 'itch' to spend part of a summer in Nantucket. So, if you have any connections or advice on where to inexpensively stay for a week or so, please be so kind as to share. I've got Nantucket on the brain for summer 2012!

(I have to thank my friend Rebecca for not only turning me on to Ms. Hilderbrand, but for also being my supplier!)

Despite its thickness, this book is a fast read. And it will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy afterward :) Enjoy!