Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder

From Goodreads.com:

"The apprenticeship is over—now the real test has begun.

When word that Yelena is a Soulfinder—able to capture and release souls—spreads like wildfire, people grow uneasy. Already Yelena's unusual abilities and past have set her apart. As the Council debates Yelena's fate, she receives a disturbing message: a plot is rising against her homeland, led by a murderous sorcerer she has defeated before....

Honor sets Yelena on a path that will test the limits of her skills, and the hope of reuniting with her beloved spurs her onward. Her journey is fraught with allies, enemies, lovers and would-be assassins, each of questionable loyalty. Yelena will have but one chance to prove herself—and save the land she holds dear."

Jennifer's Review:

Well, I hate to say it but; the last book of a series tends to disappoint me. The story was creative and the newest characters were still well written. Maria is a great author.

I just found myself getting bored with how much repetition there was. Being that I had read both the first and second books, I knew everything that was repeated. I expect some repetition so that we can be up to speed in case it has been a while or a couple books since reading the beginning of the series. However, it almost felt like half the book was taken up with "getting us up to speed". There was even stuff from the beginning of the book that was explained later in the book...?

The romance was perfect, I thought, in all three books but this one was, well, perfect. LOL The ending made me smile and even feel like the ending didn't leave me wanting more. I can't remember another series that has done that for me.

I give Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder 3 1/2 stars.

Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder

From Goodreads.com:

"YOU KNOW YOUR LIFE IS BAD WHEN YOU MISS YOUR DAYS AS A POISON TASTER...

With her greatest enemy dead, and on her way to be reunited with the family she'd been stolen from long ago, Yelena should be pleased. But though she has gained her freedom, she can't help feeling isolated in Sitia. Her Ixian background has changed her in many ways—and her newfound friends and relatives don't think it's for the better....

Despite the turmoil, she's eager to start her magic training—especially as she's been given one year to harness her power or be put to death. But her plans take a radical turn when she becomes involved with a plot to reclaim Ixia's throne for a lost prince—and gets entangled in powerful rivalries with her fellow magicians.

If that wasn't bad enough, it appears her brother would love to see her dead. Luckily, Yelena has some old friends to help her with all her new enemies...."

Jennifer's Review:

Well, I gave five stars to the first book in this series. Magic Study also had me turning pages. Love the new characters Maria created in this story and the strength of Yelena keeps building. It did take me two days to finish instead of the one of Poison Study.

I kept wondering what was going on in Yelena's brother's mind, why he was so angry. Loved that she brought in people from Ixia to keep the story "together" with the first. I usually have a hard time when an author goes from one character in a book and then book two is about a character in the first book instead of keeping the same main character. Does that make sense? In short, I love this series and can't wait to pick up the third... my family isn't near as excited!

I  give Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder four and a half stars.

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

From Goodread.com:

"About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust—and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear..."

Jennifer's Review:

I hadn't ready any other of Maria V. Snyder's books before picking this one up. I couldn't put it down. You can ask my family. They were quite annoyed that I had to finish it in one day.

I just really liked the main character, Yelena, and how much she was able to handle. She is strong willed...kind of like me. The twists in the story made it impossible to put down. I kept guessing what would happen next and was never quite right about any of it. Definitely prefer to not be able to guess every step in a book.

Will be checking out and reading the next two in the series and let you know what I think.

My almost fourteen year old started reading the first couple of pages and couldn't wait for me to finish so she could read it too. A book that gets you from the beginning.

I give Poison Study five stars!

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

On the back cover:

"Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything."

Jennifer's Review:

Great story! Love the adventure and romance of it. I knew this was being made into a movie so I picked it up at the book store on Monday. Had it read by Tuesday night. Nice, quick read. Had me turning pages. At one point my daughter asked me what I was reading because my eyes were big. LOL

The twist, I felt, is that it is written from Ethan's perspective. Usually it is the girl that does all of the talking- at least in all the books I have read. I was interesting but I could tell it was written by a girl ( or girls in this case) because some of Ethan's thoughts were a little too... Well, they sounded like they were what a girl would think a boy would say or think. Does that make any sense?

I really loved the magic and intrigue. I will definitely be picking up the second in this series!!

I give Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl 4 1/2 stars.

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

On the back:

  "Although I had never seen him before, I recognized him immediately. I'd have known his voice anywhere. This was the guy I'd seen on my last journey back in time.  Or more precisely, the one who'd kissed my doppelganger while I was hiding behind the curtain in disbelief.
  Sixteen-year-old Gwen lives with her extended- and rather eccentric- family in an exclusive London neighborhood. In spite of her ancestors' peculiar history, she's had a relatively normal life so far. The time traveling gene that runs lie a secret thread through the female half of the family is supposed to have skipped Gwen, so she hasn't been introduced to "the mysteries," and can spend her time hanging out with her best friend, Lesley. It comes as an unwelcome surprise when she starts taking sudden, uncontrolled leaps into the past.
  She's totally unprepared for time travel, not to mention all that comes with it; fancy clothes, archaic manners, a mysterious secret society, and Gideon, her time-traveling counterpart. He's obnoxious, a know-it-all, and possibly the best-looking guy she's seen in any century..."

Jennifer's review:

  I was intrigued from the first page and really enjoyed the storyline. The characters are all intriguing and have their own mystery behind them.

  There are a few parts where I felt lost but quickly found my way.

  Only a few cuss words- of course the book would be just fine without- but it wasn't covered in them.  There is only a hint of romance in this book. I was expecting more from the back cover. The story is so intriguing that you really didn't need much more, but I still would have liked more. 

  I have so many theories running through my head about what is to come next that I am holding my breath for the next book in the series, "Emerald Blue". Should be out this year in paperback. Came out last year in hardcover. Can't wait to get my hands on it.

I give Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier 4 1/2 stars.

Kensuke's Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo

On the back:

"Washed up on an island in the Pacific with his dog Stella, Michael struggles to survive on his own. He can't find food. He can't find water. But just when things are at their worst, Michael realizes that he and Stella are not alone.

His fellow castaway, Kensuke, has lived on the island since the bombing of his native Nagasaki. Kensuke keeps his distance at first, but slowly, he lets the boy into his world. The two teach and learn from each other until, inevitably, they must talk about escape."

Jennifer's Review:

My nine year old and I read this in a little book club her school put on. Super cute book that teaches about responsibility and understanding. 

Such a great little adventure that I really enjoyed reading with my daughter. I plan to read it with my son, as well. :)

I give Kensuke's Kingdom four and a half stars.

  

   

Entwined by Heather Dixon

On the back:

"For centuries, the Keeper has been waiting within the walls of the palace. But now Azalea, eldest of the kingdom's twelve princesses, has found the magic entrance to his hideout. Azalea, who thought her life was unfurling brightly before her, but then lost her mother. And her freedom. She, too, is trapped inside the walls of the palace by the strict rules of Mourning- no color, no sunlight, no suitors, no dancing. What is more, her father won't stop treating her like a child. So the Keeper extends an invitation. Each night Azalea and her sisters may dance in his silver forest. He is dashing, and his magnetic eyes are always on Azalea. What the Keeper wants in exchange may cost her everything. But the Keeper should not underestimate Azalea's temper, or her strength,  or her love for her sisters and her kingdom."


Jennifer's Review:

Well, I have to say, this was CUTE! So clean, so intriguing. This story is based upon the Twelve Dancing Princesses, a story I never really understood. With this "version" I got it. :) Much better!

Azalea, being the oldest, feels the resposibility of taking care of her younger sisters resting heavily on her shoulders. While her father is truly grieving for the loss of her mother, Azalea must keep the family upbeat but is kept within strict rules of Mourning.

Just enough romance, suspense, with a twist of humor. An easy read that is great for all ages starting around middle school.

I give Entwined five stars!

  

Flat Stanley and the Haunted House by Jeff Brown

On the back:

"Stanley can't wait for the Halloween party at school. But when a bully picks on his friend, Stanley saves the day in no time flat!"


Jennifer's Review:

For my son, Flat Stanley has been great. He is not one that likes to read but this story was fun and imaginative. Poor Stanley is flatted by a bulletin board. LOL The story is perfect for this time of year.

Of course, my eight year old son is "too old" for Flat Stanley but it was fun while it lasted!!

I give Flat Stanley and the Haunted House five stars!

   

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

  

On the back:   

"Some people are born with the first word of a language resting on their tongue, though it may take some time before they can taste it.

Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Islilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree, was born with her eyes closed and a word on her tongue. She spent the early years of her life listening to her aunt's stories and learning the language of the swans. Then, a colt was born with a word on his tongue- his name, Falada- and when Ani spoke it, she found the key to his language, too. But as Ani's gift grew, so did others' mistrust of it, and soon her mother felt she had no choice but to send her away to be queen of a foreign land..."

Jennifer's Review:  

Loved this book! Great characters you love almost immediately. So much adventure and just enough romance.

I feel like the description on the back of the book just leaves you guessing. There is so much to this book, so much more than the back describes. Plus, the girl on the cover is just gorgeous. Wonderful story that my 13 year old wouldn't read because of the title. Finally I "made" her read it and she LOVED it, too. :)

I was so sad when the book ended but dove right into the second. 

I give The Goose Girl five stars.

A Stranger is Watching by Mary Higgins Clark

On  Goodreads: "Ronald Thompson knows he never killed Nina Peterson... yet in two days the state of Connecticut will take his life, having found him guilty via due process of law. But Thompson's death will not stop the pain and anger of Nina's husband, Steve. Thompson's death will not still the fears of Nina's six-year-old son, Neil; witness to his mother's brutal slaying. Not even the love and friendship of Sharon Martin, a journalist who is slowly becoming a part of their world, will ever erase their bitter memories. Only time, perhaps, will heal their wounds. But in the shadows a stranger waits, a cunning psychopath who has killed before, who has unfinished business at the Peterson home..."

Jennifer's Review:

From the first page you are hooked. Did you expect anything different from the amazing thrilling author, Mary Higgins Clark? The first time I picked up this book I was in 8th grade and told to go find a book in the library. I had never heard of this author, nor worried about what the book had in it. I was only grabbing it for an assignment and didn't expect much out of it.

I remember a classmate telling me she was watching me read at one point because I was turning the pages so quickly. She thought I wasn't really reading the book at all. lol

This book is written in each person's view per chapter. It works. A Stranger is Watching definitely got me into other books by the same author. I have never been disappointed by one that I've picked up by M. H. C. and even had to stop reading them when my husband was working graveyard. So real! So scary!

LOVE THEM!

I give A Stranger is Watching five stars.

Evermore by Alyson Noel

On the back cover:

After a horrible accident claims the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever Bloom can see people's auras, hear their thoughts, and know someone's entire life story by touching them. Going out of her way to avoid human contact and suppress her abilities, she has been branded a freak at her new high school- but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste.

Damen is gorgeous, exotic, and wealthy. He's the only one who can silence the noise and random energy in her head- wielding a magic so intense, it's as though he can peer straight into her soul. As Ever is drawn deeper into his enticing world of secrets and mystery, she's left with more questions than answers. And she has no idea just who he really is- or what he is. The only thing she knows to be true is that she's falling deeply and helplessly in love with him.

Jennifer's Review:

Somewhat of a mushy and unbelievable rendition of Seers by Heather Frost. From the moment Damen comes into the story it is no longer believable. He is super gorgeous, rich (as everyone seems to be in this story), and only wants our main character Ever. Because of his amazing looks all the girls want him and bend over backwards to catch his eye. That isn't so untrue when it comes to high school but for Ever being lost in his eyes and always feeling that he makes her world right... I would have liked a lot more insight into why he has an affect on her. Maybe in her next book?

Can't stand how bad the language was and the romance scenes got worse and worse. Luckily they never went all the way but that seems to be their main purpose in life.

I really do like the story line and Ever. Her character is the most realistic of all of them. Her sister, Riley, doesn't act at all like a twelve year old. She acts more like a seven or eight year old. I would have LOVED her if she were made to be that age and acted the same.

One thing I would like to offer this author is to stop having everyone "purse" their lips all of the time. Just a thought.

I give Evermore three stars.

My Not-So-Fairy-Tale Life by Julie Wright

On the back cover:

"Life has not been easy for Suzanna Quincy. But she has not made it any easier for herself, either, by dabbling with drugs and alcohol. When she discovers she is pregnant, Suzanna suddenly realizes her life is not the fairy-tale she hoped it would be.

 Confronted by the reality of no parental support, no job, no car, and no prospects, she has to make a momentous decision about what to do with her life- and the life of her baby. Her decision propels her on a cross-cuntry jouney to Provo, Utah, where she hopes to find a refuge with her older brother and his not so friendly wife. Along the way, Suzanna has some harrowing experiences and meets an intriguing guy who believes in some weird religion.

 My Not-So-Fairy-Tale Life follows a young woman on a path of self-discovery. Filled with choices and consequences, laughter and tears, romance and broken dreams, it is a novel for all ages."

Jennifer's Review:

Pretty down to earth and well written. I enjoyed My Not-So-Fairy-Tale Life quite a bit. It is a glimpse into a life of a young woman who has made many wrong choices. As it states in the book, Suzanna made her decisions after a lack of love and direction from her mom. We have to turn around and look at ourselves, though, and stop blaming anyone else for our choices. Suzanna does this and learns how to truly love.

I am so grateful for this story. It made me laugh and cry. I also felt at peace. Thank you, Julie Wright for making Suzanna loveable!

I give My Not-So-Fairy-Tale Life 4 1/2 stars.

Fire of the Covenant by Gerald N. Lund

From Goodreads:

"In the summer of 1856, three companies of handcarts were outfitted and sent west from Iowa to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. All went well, and they arrived without undue incident. But two additional companies - one captained by James G. Willie, and the other by Edward Martin - left England late in the season. When they arrived at Iowa City, they were long past the time for safe departure across the plains. By the time they left Florence, Nebraska, with still more than a thousand miles to go, it was near the end of August. As if that were not serious enough, President Brigham Young thought that the arrival of the third company ended the migration for that season and ordered the resupply wagons back to Salt Lake. Fire of the Covenant is the story of those handcart pioneers and their exodus to the Salt Lake Valley. Author Gerald N. Lund has used the same techniques present in The Work and the Glory series to blend fictional characters into the tapestry of actual historical events, making this a story filled with all the elements of great drama - tragedy, triumph, pathos, courage, sacrifice, surrender and faith."

Jennifer's Review:

It breaks my heart to read about what these fine Saints went through to follow the counsel of a prophet, leaving behind family and friends to get to the Salt Lake Valley. Reading Fire of the Covenant gave me a renewed love for the sacrifices made by pioneers everywhere. The love they shared with one another and the faith in the Lord that was shown. What an amazing trek. I love the characters that are created and based on real people. I love the way this book moves. It is long and when I picked it up thought I would never be able to get through. It was suggested by a friend so I tried it out. I definitely got through. It is beautifully written and hard to put down. 


Thank you, Gerald N. Lund for writing such an account. Thank you for bringing these pioneers to life and helping to give us such a great understanding for what they went through.


I give Fire of the Covenant five stars for sure!

MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins

On the back cover:

"Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been  captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

 It is by design that Katnss was rescued from the arena of the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans- except Katniss.

 The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebel's Mockingjay- no matter what the personal cost."

Jennifer's Review:

I LOVED Hunger Games. I liked Catching Fire a lot. Mockingjay? It was such a disappointment. The beginning was going along like the first two but then it turned into, what seemed to me, just a book to get finished by the author. It was rushed and the very end had so little detail that I just sat there when I was done and thought, "WHAT??"

 I am grateful for an ending but am so disappointed in what little details were given.

I give Mockingjay 3 1/2 stars.

Rumors of War (Children of the Promise Series Vol. 1)

Inside Cover:
"The elders could see nothing but smoke until they turned the corner onto the street where the fire was. And then, both of them stopped. "The synagogue!" Elder Thomas said. It had never occurred to him that anyone- even the Nazis- would do such a thing.

 Elder Thomas got his camera out. He snapped the shot but then heard someone say, in German, "What are you doing there?"

 He tucked the camera inside his coat, under his arm. He tried to appear natural, but his heart was suddenly beating hard. A man was crossing the narrow street and coming t oward them.

 "Making pictures?" the man asked as he walked closer. Elder Thomas took a better look. He was what he feared: the black uniform with silver trim, the braided hat. Gestapo.

  Elder Alex Thomas wants only to teach the gospel to the people of Germany. But it soon becomes obvious that he will never complete his mission. War is coming, and that will affect not only Elder Thomas but also his family back home in Salt Lake City.

 In the family is Wally, Elder Thomas's younger brother, who usually just wants to have a good time but lately doesn't seem to care much about anything. There's his sister Bobbi, who is supposed to marry Phil Clark, the most eligible bachelor in the Salt Lake Valley. The problem is, she can't ignore her attraction to Dr. Stinson, a University of Utah professor who's not a member of the Church. And there are Elder Thomas's parents, D. Alexander Thomas, stake president, and his wife, Bea, who want their children to be true to the values and ideals they've taught them. But President and Sister Thomas are finding they can't just tell their children what to do anymore, and they're wrried about what will happen when the United States enters a war that no one seems able to stop.

 In Rumors of War, the first of the series Children of the Promise, author Dean Hughes recreates the eara of World War II in stunning detail. But more than that, he shows how the war affects an ordinary family of Latter-day Saints. If you're interested in Church or world history, or if you're simply looking for a powerful LDS novel, you won't want to miss Rumors of War."

Jennifer's Review:

First off I want to say, YAY! My computer seems to be working right and I can again put up some reviews!

With that being said, I cannot say enough about how much I love this book. What an eye opener to the people at this time. I can honestly say I have a new love and respect for those who went through World War II. I enjoyed that this is a pretty much normal LDS family. (Not everyone has a stake president for a father.) There are quarrels so you know it is pretty darn true to life!

The chapters are mostly split up and about different members of the family and what they are going through. I sometimes don't like this approach because there are one or two specific characters I am interested in and none of the others. However, this book makes each character interesting and complete, making me excited for each and every chapter.

Dean Hughes is a great writer. Not one of his books has disappointed me so far. Keep up the great work!

I give Rumors of War five stars! 

The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal

On the back:

  "According to the oracle, there was a chance the princess could die, murdered, before her sixteenth birthday. All the oracle saw was blood, and the princess dead in this room."

  But I am sixteen, I thought hazily. Is that what they want to tell me, that I'm safe now?

  My father went on. "The princess was the only heir. We had to keep her safe, no matter what the cost... We hid the princess away so she would be safe until after her sixteenth birthday. And we replaced her with another baby, a false princess. You."

  I am alone, I thought as I gazed around the hall. All of this, all of my life, it was a dream. And it is ending.

  "What is my name?" I asked. For the first time, the queen stirred, raising her head to look at me. "Sinda," she said, her voice thin. "He said your name was Sinda."

  Jennifer's Review:

  This is a book I could not put down. Ask my family, it was constantly in my hands until I was done.

 Great story line, neat main character, good clean romance, magic and adventure.

 There were quite a few editing errors making me wish I could have gone through it before it was published and helped out a little. It always detracts from the story when you have to read and re-read something just to understand that part of it was a type-o.

  I give The False Princess 3 1/2 stars. It would be four stars if not for all of the long descriptive paragraphs. There were many times I just skipped a paragraph to get to the juice of the story. A couple of times I went back to read what I had skipped and found that it wasn't anything that kept the story going. Lots of pretty words and nice descriptions but they, to me, were just too long.

 Still, I think you'll enjoy it!

Daughters of Jared by HB Moore

From the author's website:

"From the Book of Ether comes a haunting story of two royal sisters. The elder sister, Ash, will do anything to bring her father, King Jared II, back to the throne. The younger sister, Naiva, only wants to save her family from destruction. Greed and the quest for power blend together in H.B. Moore’s volatile new novel, Daughters of Jared. The bond of sisterhood becomes precariously fragile when one man . . . named Akish . . . falls in love with the younger sister, Naiva. Yet he chooses to marry the elder sister. The sisters’ hearts are divided. And when Ash becomes queen, seduced by the promise of power and wealth, Naiva watches her world crumble away. She sees only one way out. But it will require forsaking all that she holds dear."

I was given a copy of Daughters of Jared from the author to read and review. I am so grateful for this opportunity. Heather B Moore is one of my favorite authors because she is able to bring scripture stories to life. She causes me to want to open my scriptures and re-read the true story now that I feel I know the characters better. The desire to read scriptures is always a good thing! Of course, this is historical fiction and that is what makes it such a fun read.

 Fun may not be the right word to describe Daughters, though. It is such a sad and scary thing when someone you love turns to evil to fulfill desires.

This story moves along at a nice pace. At one point in the story Naiva decides to leave. I kept trying to tell her to look behind her and keep a better watch. These characters are real to me. Very important in a story of any kind but most of all, I believe, in historical fiction. We have to be able to relate in some way for the story to touch us.

Daughters is a great read. Nice and easy and fast paced.

Here is a little taste of Heather's writing style and why I love her so much:
"Filth surrounded me. Damp air permeated my skin. I felt the dirt in my hair, in my clothes, and beneath my feet."
Can't you just imagine yourself there? I know this is a short blurb but I am one to leave the details for the reader. :)

I give Daughters of Jared four stars.

The Taker by Alma Katsu

From Goodreads.com: "On the midnight shift at a hospital in rural St. Andrew, Maine, Dr. Luke Findley is expecting a quiet evening. Until a mysterious woman arrives in his ER, escorted by police—Lanore McIlvrae is a murder suspect—and Luke is inexplicably drawn to her. As Lanny tells him her story, an impassioned account of love and betrayal that transcends time and mortality, she changes his life forever. . . . At the turn of the nineteenth century, when St. Andrew was a Puritan settlement, Lanny was consumed as a child by her love for the son of the town’s founder, and she will do anything to be with him forever. But the price she pays is steep—an immortal bond that chains her to a terrible fate for eternity." Jennifer's Review: Again, I started out only having read the first two sentences of the description so as not to give away the story. It sounded appealing and right up my alley. Even the full description does not warn against the contents of this book. The story line was engrossing, so much so that I had to finish and see what was to become of this girl, Lanny. Unfortunetly, the whole book, from start to finish, was filled with sexual desire from so many directions. This is a disgusting imagination that Alma Katsu has. There is no way you could get me to pick up another of her books. Not from this series of books or any other book written by her. I need something to rinse my mind out. Nancy on Goodreads put it perfectly: "I must have missed something with this book because the reviews are rave yet I am ashamed I finished it. Because I am Puritanical? Perhaps. The writer's style is flawlessly executed. She created interest immediately. Her description complete and idea of immortality intriguing. I could have been happy with the first few chapters then the last few chapters and skipped about 200 pages in between." I give The Taker one star.

Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf

Inside Front Cover:
"Allie can't remember the night her boyfriend, Trip, died. She knows they were driving on the cliff road. That Trip lost control. That she woke up later, broken and bruised. That, somehow, she survived. All Allie has left are the scars, a constant reminder of Trip. Not ready to face the truth, she tries to ignore a nagging feeling that the crash wasn't an accident. Her best friend, Blake, and her brother, Andrew, will do anything to help Allie move on, but when the police reopen the investigation into the crash, suspicions in their small town intensify. Soon Allie's memories collide with a dark secret she's kept for too long. Caught somewhere between her past and her future, can Allie find the truth so she can finally break free?"

 Jennifer's Review:
First of all, I want to say that I WON this book in our last blog hop!! So cool! Breaking Beautiful just came out this month so I think I am one of the first to review it online. Watch, there will be 1000 more. Anyway...

This is an easy read. I was able to get through it in just over a day. (That includes working, sleeping, being a mom and wife.) If I sat down and read without stopping it would probably be just a few hours. In a few chapters it was almost too slow but would pick back up and keep me reading.

I don't like to guess what is going to happen in a book. I like to just let it take over and guide me as I read. (I think Jillian would totally predict this book within a few chapters...) So, I was a little surprised at the outcome. Allie's big secret took me by surprise and turned the whole book upside down.

 I enjoyed Breaking Beautiful as a light read. In a mystery, I would prefer a little more suspense but was between books so enjoyed this break from my normal genre. I would call this a romantic mystery. Love that there was nothing even implied inappropriately!

You tell me, "Does time heal all wounds"?

I give Breaking Beautiful 3 1/2 stars.

Raging Rivers by Taylor Brady

On the front and back covers:

"A Family Born of the west- and bound by destiny, desire and the bold spirit of the American Frontier.

In wagons, in mule carts and on foot- down treacherous rivers and across endless plains- the pioneers came in search of the Golden Land- drawn ever westward by the glorious promise of the American frontier.

Fleeing the horrors of her past and the vengeance of violent men, young Katherine Carlyle buys passage aboard a flatboat bound for the Western territories- only to be shipwrecked by a catastrophic storm. Exposed to the devastating cruelties of the wilderness, it is Katherine who must lead a helpless group of women and children to safety- following a perilous trail that will carry her toward a rugged enigmatic frontiersman called Byrd Kincaid... and to a love that will bring forth a magnificent dynasty of intrepid adventurers and audacious dreamers."

Jennifer's Review:

I absolutely love Western Romance. I had forgotten that until finding my copy of the book series The Kincaids. Loads of excitement, death, heartbreak, betrayal, and, of course, romance! LOVE this series and will be re-reading it just for fun! :)

I enjoyed how this was written. Kept me turning pages all the way through.

These are rated PG-13.

I give Raging Rivers 4 stars.