2012 Book review #6: Where Two Ways Met

Author: Grace Livingston Hill

Pages:247

Personal Rating: 4/5

From the back of the book: Handsome Paige Madison didn't know what to do. He had returned from the war and was on his way to building an exceptional career with a prominant businessman. But, though Paige couldn't quite put his finger on it, he was sure there was something wrong, maybe even unscrupulous, about his new boss. And to make matters worse, his boss's beautiful, headstrong young daughter had decided she wanted Paige-and that she would do all she could to make him want her as well.

then, in the midst of his confusion, Paige is thrown together with a lovely young minster's daughter when they try to help a family in need. Both drawn and challenged by this girls gentle faith, Paige soon finds himself faced with a vital decision.

Which girl should he trust with his most precious possession: his heart?

Personal Thought and Reflection: This book was published in 1946, so it was quite old fashioned, with old fashion goodness at the core. However, Grace Livingston Hill still wove a pretty enchanting tale! I have a few others of hers on my shelves and I am looking forward to what is coming next! If you want a good clean book with Christian themes and undertones I would go with this!

2012 Book review #5: Shanghai Girls

Author: Lisa See

Pages: 309

Personal Rating: 5/5

From the jacket flap: At it's heart, Shanghai Girls is a story of sisters: Pearl and May are inseparable best friends who share hopes dreams and a deep connection but like sisters everywhere, they also harbor petty jealousies and rivalries. They love each other, but each knows exactly where to drive the knife to hurt the other the most. Along the way they face terrible sacrifices, making impossible choices, and confront a devastating, life-changing secret, but through it all the two heroines of this astounding new novel hold fast to who they are-Shanghai girls.

Personal thought and reflection: This was my first by this author! While I have had "Snow flower and the secret Fan on my shelf now since November (it was a birthday gift from the hubs) I had not yet had a chance to crack it open, but when I was in the library and saw the Lisa See section, I started grabbing enthusiastically! I got Shanghai Girls, and it's sequel Dreams of Joyas well as "Dragon Bones". However, I found out that Dragon Bones is the third in a series, so I will not be reading it...yet....

This book was amazing! I know relatively little about the history of China and the Chinese people. However, this book enlightened me to the sufferings of those who had to flee the country,during the 1930's and the trials that were put on those who made it to America, especially from a woman's point of view. It wasn't easy and it wasn't pretty. And once they made it in, the hardships that awaited them, as they were made to live in poverty sharing a tiny apartment with many "family members" in the segregated Chinatowns in San Francisco and

Los Angeles. The hardships of women as they are sold to men as brides to pay off a family debt and made to live with strangers and call them family.

This book moved fast as I was continually wondering what hardship Pearl and her younger sister, May would have to endure next, and if they would ever get out of it, and be free. Heartbreaking and an excellent history lesson all in one!

2012 Book review #4: The Mayor of Casterbridge

Author: Thomas Hardy

Pages: 386

Personal Rating: 5/5

From the back cover: Under the powerful influence of rum furmity, Michael Henchard, a hay-trusser by trade, sells his wife Susan and their child Elizabeth Jane to Newson, a sailor, for five guineas.

Years later, Susan, now a widow arrives in Casterbridge with Elizabeth-Jane to seek her legal husband. To their surprise, Henchard is now the Mayor of Casterbridge, and following the sale of his wife, took a twenty-one year vow not to drink out of shame. Henchard remarries Susan and as Elizabeth-Jane believes herself to be Newsons's daughter, he adopts her as his own. But he cannot evade his destiny by such measures, for his past refuses to be buried. Fate contrives for him to be punished for the recklessness of his younger days.

In this powerful depiction of a man who overreaches himself, Hardy once again shows his astute psychological grasp and his deep seated knowledge of mid-nineteenth century Dorset.

Personal Thought and Reflection: This is one of the best classics I have ever read, and I am looking forward to reading more of Hardy's works. I, having studied psychology in college, saw alot of underlying psychological themes running through this piece. I kept thinking "If only I could get Henchard help! He needs a good psychologist!"

I really enjoyed this!

2012 Book Review #3: Every Breath You Take by: Ann Rule

Title: Every Breath you Take

Author: Ann Rule

Pages: 681

Personal Rating: 5/5

From the Back Cover: In perhaps the first true-crime book written at the victim's request, Ann Rule untangles a web of lies and brutality that culminated in the murder of sheila Blackthorne Bellush-a woman Rule never met, but whose shocking story she now chronicles with compassion, exacting detail, and unvarnished candor. Although happily ensconced in a loving second marriage and a new family of quadruplets, Shelia never truly escaped the vicious enslavement of her ex husband, multi-millionaire Allen Blackthorne, a handsome charmer- and a violent, controlling sociopath who subjected sheila to unthinkable abuse in their marriage, and terrorized her for a decade after their divorce. When Sheila was slain in her home, in the presence of her four toddlers, authorities raced to link the crime to Blackthorne, the man who vowed to monitor sheila's every move in his obsessive quest for power and revenge.

Personal Thought and Reflection: This is my first time ever reading a book by Ann Rule. Never thought I would enjoy a true crime novel so much! I raced out almost as soon as I'd turned the last page and grabbed 3 more of her books and they are currently gracing my TBR shelf now, and there are so many more I want to get from her. Her background info and detail is phenominal. I absolutely could not put this down!!! If you enjoy true crime stories grab a book by Ann Rule, you won't be disappointed!

2012 Book Review #1: Dragons of Autumn Twilight

Title: Dragons of Autumn Twilight

Author: Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

Pages: 444

Personal Rating: 4/5

From the Back Cover: Life-long friends, they went their separate ways. now they are togehter again, though each holds secrets fromt he others in his heart. They speak of a world shadowed with rumors of war. They speak of tales of strange monsters, creatures of myth, creatures of legend. They do not speak of their secrets. Not then. Not until a chance encounter with a beautiful sorrowful woman, who bears a magical crystal staff, draws the companions deeper into the shadows, forever changing their lives and shaping the fate of the world.

Person thought and reflection: I have to say I am pleasantly surprised at how much I actually enjoyed this book! My husband has been hounding me for years to read this series, and they have been gracing my TBR shelf for about 2 years now. I finally decided to just take the plunge....I came up satisfied!

These were written in the 80's, so they have been around for awhile, so I'm a little behind...only about 20 years, no biggie! But I can say I am glad I did finally pick this up. I am not a fan of sci- fi, or fantasy. In 2010 I read the first book in the Sword of Truth series, and enjoyed it well enough. Then last year I tried the 2nd in the series, and my enthusiasm for the series waned. These feelings made me really hesitant when reaching for the Dragonlance series. However,I am glad I didn't let Terry Goodkinds works keep me from picking up the likes of Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. These two are amazing writers! They made me laugh and drew me into the journey right alongside their characters. The signs of truly masterful writers.

While I will not be reaching straightaway for #2 in this series, as I have other books I would like to get through first, I can guarantee it won't be long before I visit the companions of this tale in their next adventure Dragons of Winter Night.

Whats next on my stack? The Romance Readers Book Club by: Julie L. Cannon

Book Review: "One Summer" by: David Baldacci

Title: One Summer
Author: David Baldacci
Pages: 320
Personal Rating: 5/5

From the inside Cover: It’s almost Christmas, but there is no joy in the house of terminally ill Jack and his family. With only a short time left to live, he spends his last days preparing to say goodbye to his devoted wife, Lizzie, and their three children. Then unthinkably, tragedy strikes again: Lizzie is killed in a car accident. With no on able to care for them,the children are separated from one another and sent to live with family members around the country.
Just when all seems lost, Jack begins to recover in a miraculous turn of events. He rises from what should have been his deathbed, determined to bring his fractured family back together. Struggling to rebuild their lives after Lizzie’s death, he reunites everyone at Lizzies’s childhood home on the oceanfront in South Carolina. And there, over one unforgettable summer, Jack begins to learn to love again, and he and his children learn how to become a family once more.

Personal thoughts and reflection: I LOVED this book. I couldn’t put it down, and spent the last night up until 2 am finishing, as I couldn’t just leave the last quarter of the book unread! I had to know how everything resolved itself!!
I liked the character of Jack immediately. I was sucked in emotionally with this one! I have said it before and I’ll say it again. I believe the greatness of a book is shown when it can bring it’s reader to emotion, whether it be sadness, triumph, jealousy, anger, or any other emotion while reading, it has done it’s job! This book evoked so many emotions in me. Sadness, hope, anger, fear, it was all there!

The one thing that struck me about this book was it’s style. Now I have only read ONE of Baldacci’s books so far (The Christmas Train), though I was hooked from that one and went out and started stockpiling his works from then on, I am excited to get into some of his series!! (I’m a big series addict!) But this one reminded me of a Nicholas Sparks book. It read a lot like many of his. He spun a great tale, and I kept thinking “This was written by a guy?” Though some of the fight scenes were obviously written by one of the male gender! (come on, admit it, the thought of a fight scene makes you wanna read it, huh?)
If you are looking for a great, easy, fun, emotional adventure to sink your teeth into, grab this book!! If you enjoy Nicholas Sparks works, grab this book! Heck, Just Grab this book!!!! I promise you , it will grab you back!!

Book Review: "Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married" by: Marian Keyes

Title: Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married
Author: Marian Keyes
Pages: 624
Personal Rating: 5/5

From the Back Cover: What happens when a psychic tells Lucy that she’ll be getting married within the year? Her roommates panic! What is going to happen to their blissful existence of eating take-out,drinking too much wine,bring men home and never vacuuming?
Lucy reassures her friends that she’s far too busy arguing with her mother and taking care of her irresponsible father to get married. And then there’s the small matter of not even having a boyfriend.
But then Lucy meets gorgeous,unreliable gus. Could he be the future Mr. Lucy Sullivan? Or could it be handsome Chuck? Or Daniel, the worlds biggest flirt? Or even cute Jed, the new guy at work?
Maybe her friends have something to worry about after all….

Personal thoughts and reflection: From the first page, this book had me laughing! I was entranced from page 1! I enjoyed Lucy’s journey as she hopped from man to man, wondering if THIS one was “THE ONE”.

She is a classic codependent, clinging to any rubbish that comes her way, due to the life she grew up in with a drunk father. Taking care of, and pampering men has always been a way of life for her, starting with her dad. She finally wakes up and decides to stand tall and not allow anyone to walk all over her anymore. And when she does….she finds her one true love!
This was my first book by Marian Keyes, and I can assure you, it won’t be my last! I plan on running right to library this coming weekend and seeing if they have any of her other works….but then again, looking at my overflowing To-Be-Read shelf, maybe I will wait a while!

Book Review: "The Virgin Suicides" By: Jeffrey Eugenides

Title: The Virgin Suicides
Author: Jeffrey Eugenides
Pages: 243
Personal Rating: 4/5
Number read for the year: 6

From the back cover: The Virgin Suicides announced the arrival of a major new novelist. In a quiet suburb of Detroit, the five Lisbon sisters-beautiful,eccentic, and obsessively watched by the neighborhood boys- commit suicide one by one over the course of a single year. As the boys observe them from afar, transfixed, they piece together the mystery of the family's fatal melancholy, in this hypnotic and unforgettable novel of adolescent love, disquiet, and death. Jeffrey Eugenides evokes the emotions of youth with haunting sensitivity and dark humor and creates a coming-of-age story unlike any of our time...."

Personal Reflection: Going into this one, I wasn't sure what to expect. I'd heard some great things about it, and some not so great things, so I went into it with an open mind. For the most part I enjoyed this one, there were some slow parts, where I wanted to scream "Hurry up! I wanna know what happens next", and many times I felt the sorrow that the family went through during this time of loss. The actions of some of these girls made me want to yell at them "You stupid girl! Get your head on straight!" and at other times, I just wanted to hug them, and take them to the best psychiatrist I could find.

One of the ways I rate a book is by how friendly the characters are. Can I get to know them, have feelings for them? Can I "make friends" with them? I did so with Eugenides suicidal girls. I wanted to slap the poop out of their parents and take them under my wing.

This was a great piece of work by Eugenides. I had read Middlesex (Which won a Pulitzer Prize in 2002) by this author a few years ago, so I was expecting another great one by him, and I wasn't disappointed. This was a great reading experience, if a little sad. However that being said, the fact that I had emotion when I turned the last page says alot about how this author reaches his audience. He doesn't merely tell a story, he takes his reader by the hand and engages them with his characters. This is truly a skill found in only the best authors.

He has another book, The Marriage Plot set to be released in October of this year, I am definitely putting it on my list to purchase. I am excited to read another by this Pulitzer-Prize winner.

Book Review: "The Kite Runner"

Title: The Kite Runner
Author:Khaled Hosseini
Pages:372
Personal Rating: A or 5/5
Number read for the year: 29


Goodreads review:An epic tale of fathers and sons, of friendship and betrayal, that takes us from the final days of Afghanistan’s monarchy to the atrocities of the present.
The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption. And it is also about the power of fathers over sons -- their love, their sacrifices, their lies.
The first Afghan novel to be written in English, The Kite Runner tells a sweeping story of family, love, and friendship against a backdrop of history that has not been told in fiction before, bringing to mind the large canvasses of the Russian writers of the nineteenth century. But just as it is old-fashioned in its narration, it is contemporary in its subject -- the devastating history of Afghanistan over the past thirty years. As emotionally gripping as it is tender, The Kite Runner is an unusual and powerful debut.
Author Biography: Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, the son of a diplomat whose family received political asylum in the United States in 1980. He lives in northern California, where he is a physician. The Kite Runner is his first novel.

Personal Thoughts:Phenominal book!! I don't know why it's been sitting on my TBR shelf for sooooo long, I can't wait to get to A Thousand Splendid Suns! That one is also in my stacks, I bought them at the same time...a few years ago, when they were going through their hayday, it's taken me just now to get to them...this book makes me thank God for allowing me to live in America, and for the men and women in our armed forces who are willing to risk their lives to go into a place like Afghanistan and save those less fortunate, as well as make sure our country stays a free place.

Book Review: "Stillwatch" By: Mary Higgins Clark

Title:Stillwatch
Author: Mary Higgins Clark
Pages: 368
Personal Rating: B or 4/5
Number read for the year: 27

From the insde flap cover: Broadcast journalist, Pat treymore comes to Washington to do a piece on the senator andvice-presidential nominee Abigail Jennings, but also to discover the truth behind her own mysterious past. Despite anonymous warnings to stay away, PAt continues her search- revealin gdark secrets that threaten to end the senators political career...and Pat's life.

My Personal thoughts:This one was ok, not as great as previous ones I've read of hers. But still enjoyable. I gave it a 4/5 rating. It had been sitting on my TBR shelf for quite some time, and I decided I was in the mood for some mystery and went for it.

Book Review: "Living Dead in Dallas"

Title: Living Dead in Dallas
Author: Charlaine Harris
Pages:279
Personal rating:A or 5/5
Number read for the year: 26

From goodreads review: "Cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse is on a streak of real bad luck. First, her co-worker gets murdered and no one seems to care. Then Sookie is attacked - and poisoned - late one night by some weird and apparently mythical beast. She only survives because the local vampires roll up and graciously suck the poison from her veins (like they didn't enjoy it). But in return the blood-suckers need a favor.

Which is why Sookie ends up in Dallas, using her telepathic skills to search for a missing vampire, on the condition that her undead friends don't do anything, well, vampiric while she's there. Easier said than done. All it takes is one delicious blonde and one small mistake for things to turn deadly."



Personal Thought:I thought the second one in this series (this one) was better than the first. I think I'm starting to get addicted to this series...oh boy! lol

Book Review: "Leaving Ireland" By Ann Moore

Title: Leaving Ireland
Author: Ann Moore
Pages: 378
Personal Rating: A or 5/5
Number read for the year: 25


From the back Cover:Hoping for a better future, Gracelin O'Malley sets sail from her beloved Ireland- a journey that takes her to a world far different from anything she's ever known. After surviving the difficult voyage, she joins her brother Sean, already much changed by his exciting life in Manhattan. she takes a job in a saloon, learning firsthand the harsh reality of immigrant life and the horrors ofthe Irish tenement district. Haunted by the choices of her past, and desperate for news of the infant son she left behind in County Cork, she finds solace in the friendship of a runaway slave, a woman who has made unspeakable choices of her own. As grace struggles to adapt to her new home, she reunites with a man she once misjudged. With his help, she finds the courage to take a stand against the corruption and injustice around her, but her brave actions threaten the very people she swore to protect.

Personal thoughts: This author was new to me at the beginning of the year, when I read the first one of the Gracelin' O'Malley series. I fell in love with her writing and her characters. There is a third book in the series, and I want to read it eventually, though I don't own it yet. If you have any Irish in your blood, I would suggest this one for you, these novels are rich with Irish History as the story of Gracelin O'Malley unfolds in this delightful series.

Book Review: "A Girl's Best Friend" by: Kristin Billerbeck

Title: A Girl's Best Friend
Author: Kristin Billerbeck
Pages: 318
Personal Rating: 4/5
Number read this year:9
Total Pages read this year:2,596

Fromt he back cover:From the outside, Morgan Malliard has it all: diamonds at her disposal, a willowy figure, a doting daddy, and allt he elegance that money can buy. But money can't buy happiness- or an identity to call her own- and morgan is realizing her perfect life has no purpose other than spectacular grooming (which isn't really a purpose at all unless you're a chimpanzee.) Then a falling-out with her father drop kicks Morgan into the real world, and she is suddenly forced to get an actual job, wear affordable shoes and cope with public transportation- not to mention deal with that mysterious hottie who may or may not be stalking her!
It's time for a spa get away with her best gals, Lilly, and Poppy, because there's just something about lying under a pile of sweet smelling papuya plaster that can help a girl figure things out. Like the fact that life isn't about living up to a perfect ideal, and that with God's grace, the beauty of it may just be int he flaws after all...

Personal Thoughts and review: I enjoy Kristin Billerbeck. Her style is similar to that of Janet evanovich. Somewhat snarky humor is used to spin her tales. This is the sixth book of hers I've read, and hers are always a treat, laced with Chirstian principle undertones, "A Girls Best Friend" is a nice summer read.

Book Review: "My Sunshine" By: Catherine Anderson

Title: My Sunshine
Author: Catherine Anderson
Pages: 421
Personal Rating: 4/5
Number Read this Year:7
Total Pages read This year:1813

From the Back Cover: When Isaiah first hired laura, he wasn't expecting her to be such a breath of fresh air. Impressed by her healing touch-and captivated by her dazzling beauty-Isaiah finds himself falling in love. And he'll move heaven and earth to convince Laura that she's the woman he needs...the only one who can bring joy to all his days.

Personal Thought and Review: This was a run of the mill grocery store paperback. I picked it up at Sam's Club for a mere 4.88, the low price being my main reason for picking it up. I used to really enjoy mass paperback romances, but recently have not invested so much money or time into them. While this was a light, easy read, I didn't come away from it feeling as though I had gleaned anything useful from it, although it was fun brain candy.

I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars because I felt the story was well written, and the storyline was well filled out, and easy to follow, however i felt that some of the character development was lacking. This is an enjoyable read if you enjoy a good romance, with a little mystery thrown in for good measure.

Book Review: Gracelin O'Malley By: Ann Moore

Title: Gracelin O'Malley
Author:Ann Moore
Pages: 398
Personal Rating:5/5
Number read this year:6
total pages read this year:1,392

From the back cover: Life has not been easy for Gracelin O'malley. only fifteen when she married the local English landlord to save her family from financial ruin,she has tried her best to be a dutiful wife, providing him with an heir. Despite her husband's escalating cruelty, Gracelin's spirit remains unbroken, though she is no longer the innocent country girl she once was. As famine devastates the land, she openly defies him by feeding the desparate souls who come to her door. As political unrest sweeps across the countryside, she harbors Irish rebels-her own brilliant brother among them-keeping them hidden, as well, the deepest secret of her heart. And as a disaster threatens those she loves most, Grace fights to keep them alive, her profound courage inspiring everyone around her.

My persoanl thoughts: This book really brought the Irish potato famines to life for me. I was able to see the suffering of those poor Irish farmers, as they lost their homes and lives at the hands of ruthless, wealthy English landlords, who only cared about getting paid, leaving the poor in ditches, dying of hunger and yellow fever.

This was a hard read for me, emotionally, because while I was reading, I kept reminding myself that while this particular story and the characters within were fictional, the events were based on something that really happened. People DID starve and suffer in this tragic way, and that reality was heartbreaking.

I have the sequel to this one, Leaving Ireland,and am looking forward to reading it later this year, I have some challenges I need to read for and library books as well to finish first though.

I rated this a solid 5 out of 5 for solid plot, history research,and the ability to yank at my hearstrings. I would reccomend this one to anyone, but especially those with Irish background who care to learn more about their heritage and background. Amazing book! A job well done, Ann Moore!

Book Review: "The Inheritance" by Louisa May Alcott

Title: The Inheritance
Author: Louisa May Alcott
Pages: 177
Personal Rating: 4/5
Number Read this Year:4
Total Pages read This year:992

From the front Flap of Cover: Set in an English country Manor, the story follows the turbulant fortunes of Edith Adelon, an impoverished Italian orphan whose loyalty and beauty win her the patronage of wealthy friends until a jealous rival contrives to rob her of her position. In the locket around her neck, she carried a deep secret about her natural birthright. But an even greater truth lies hidden in Edith's heart- her deep reverance for the kind, and noble Lord Percy, the only friend who can save her fromt he decietful, envious machinations of Lady Ida.

Personal thoughts and review:
This was Louisa May Alcott's (Author of Little Women)very FIRST book, it was found at Harvard University, with the words "My First Novel written at seventeen- High St.Boston" on a piece of paper that was pasted on the inside of a notebook. This piece of work, the very first book written by Alcott, was found in the Houghton Library, by the writers of "The Selcted Letters of Louisa May Alcott", as they commenced research for their book. This was in 1988. And 9 years later "The Inheritance" was published.

While this book was short of length, the knowledge that it is the first novel written by such an acclaimed author, makes it so special.

I enjoyed it very much. I only gave it a 4/5, for it's length, and sometimes it feels as though it is filled with holes, the plot and character development is thin. However, the thought that it is her very first book written at the ripe young age of 17 is amazing!! I can't imagine the excitement of those who were standing in the rare manuscript library at a prestigous college, looking for letters to fulfill material for one work, and stumbling across something as great as an entire novel that was never published, not only just an entire novel, but her VERY first one, written before she was ever publsihed. Amazing!!

Book Review: "Then Came Heaven" By LaVyrle Spencer

Title: Then Came Heaven
Author: LaVyrle Spencer
Pages: Audio
Personal Rating: 4/5
Number Read this Year:3
Total Pages read This year:815


From the Cover: As time passes, Sister Regina and Eddie Olczak come to realize that something has blossomed between them that transcends their love of Krystyna (Eddie's Deceased wife) and Eddie's daughters. Thrilled and secretly frightened, they both summon the courage to look within their hearts and make their own choices.


Personal thoughts: This is a good heart wrenching story about loss of a loved one, and learning to move on and about sacrifices that sometimes must be made in order to have true love.

Book Review: "The Other Queen" by Philippa Gregory

Title: The Other Queen
Author: Philippa Gregory
Pages: 433
Personal Rating: 5/5
Number Read this Year:2
Total Pages read This year:815

From the Back Cover: This Dazzling novel from bestselling Philippa Gregory presents a new and unique view of one of history's most intriguing, romantic and maddening heroines. Mary, Queen of Scots, trusts Queen Elizabeth's Promise of Sanctuary when she flees from rebels in scotland and then finds herself imprisoned as the "guest" of George talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and his indomitable wife, Bess of Hardwick. The Newly married couple welcomes the doomed queen into their home, certain that serving her hosts and jailers will bring them an advantage in the cutthroat world of the Eliabethan court. To their horro, they find that the task will bankrupt them, and as their home becomes the epicenter of intrigue and rebellion against elizabeth, their loyalty to each other and to their sovereign comes into question. If Mary succeeds in seducing the earl into her own web of treachery and treason, or if the great spymaster William Cecil links them to the growing conspiracy to free Mary from her illegal imprisonment, they will all face the headsman.

Since I've read "The Othe Boleyn Girl", I have been wanting to read another book by Gregory. She makes the Elizabethan court and all that it entails so alive. I felt as though I was right there with the characters.

This book was written from first person point of view by Bess, George and Queen Mary, each chapter written by another character, so youare getting three view points of the story. The story of Bess who hold a grudge as she watches her holdings and everything she has worked for slip away while carrying to the every need of Queen Mary. You read the thoughts of George as he slowly slips into enchantment of the beautiful Queen he has been made a jailer of, all the while trying to remain faithful to his own Queen, Elizabeth. And you read the thoughts of the treasonous traitor, Mary, Queen of Scots. You start to take sides as you see the story unfold, and you feel what the characters feel.

Gregory writes with amazing character development, to the point where you make friends, or enemies of her characters.

I enjoyed this book very much, and gave it 5 out of 5 stars. I will later this year, be reading "The White Queen" by this author, and I am much looking forward to it.

Book Review: "Dracula" By: Bram Stoker

Title: Dracula
Author: Bram Stoker
Pages: 382
Personal rating: 5/5
Number Read this Year: 1
Pages Read for the year: 382

From the Back of the Book: Count Dracula sleeps in a lordly tomb in the vaults beneth his desolate castle. His stony eyes are open. His cheeks have the flush of life beneath their pallor. On his lips- a mocking,sensuous smile and scarlet fresh blood. He has been dead for centuries, yet he may never die....Here begins the story of those who feed a diabolic craving into the veins of their victims, into the men and women from whose blood they draw their only sustenance. It is a novel of peculiar power, of hypnotic fascination. The reader is warned that he who enters Castle Dracula may not escape it's baleful spell, even when he closes this book.

This book was as great as I thought it would be from the beginning. As of late I have been wondering about the whole Vampire thing, since the uproar for the Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer. I sorta wanted to see how they compared and contrasted. I wanted to see how her version held up to one of the originals.

Which brings me to something I learned while doing my research. I had always thought that Count Dracula was THE original Vampire. The first. However, that isn't true at all. There were THREE written before Bram stoker's Dracula: The Vampyre By John Polidori,Varney the Vampyre by thomas Preskett, and Carmilla Written by Sheridan LeFanu.

Learning this fact, I am all a-search for these first novels, so I can do more research. I don't know if they are still in print, or not, but I would really like to read them,and get some more background to the original gothic character of the vampire.

I gave this wonderful gothic tale a 5/5. It was a quick, easy read, as far as classics go, and the storyline kept me intrigued...I was forever wondering who would die next? WHEN the heck were they gonna die? And would they ever catch this evasive bloodsucker? So, if you have not had enough of the Vampire craze, I wholeheartedly suggest this one, to wet that Vampire desire!!

Book Review: "Baby Proof" by Emily Griffin

Title: Baby Proof
Author: Emily Griffin
Pages: 340
Personal Rating: B or 4/5
Number read this year: 57
Pages read for the Year:18,572


From the Book Jacket:
First comes love. Then comes marriage. Then comes...a baby carriage? Isn't that what all women want?

Not so for Claudia Parr. And just as she gives up on finding a man who feels the same way, she meets warm, wonderful Ben. Things seem too good to be true when they fall in love and agree to buck tradition with a satisfying, child free marriage. Then the unexpected occurs: one of them has a change of heart. One of them wants children afterall.

This is a witty, heartfelt story about what happens to the perfect couple when they suddenly want different things. It's about feeling that your life is set and then realizing that nothing is as you thought it was- and that there is no possible compromise. It's about deciding what is most important in life,and taking chances to get it. But most of all it's about the things we will do- and won't do- for love.

I have read two other books by this author and they were both pretty good. This was definitely a "brain candy" sort of book. It was an easy, fast read.

I gave this one a 4 out of 5 rating because I found it (along with her other two) very predictable, even though they are fun, they are your run-of-the-mill chick lit book.