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Finished reading To Fetch a Thief by Spencer Quinn � 3***
Book # 3 in the Chet and Bernie mystery series has our man-and-dog duo on the trail of a missing elephant trainer, and his elephant, Peanut, while also working a divorce case that hits a little too close to home. I’ve read the first three in the series in pretty close succession, and I’m really noticing a pattern / formula. I’m still entertained, however.
Link to my full review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Finished

Currently Reading and listening to

I am currently reading this is a really good book.

Just started Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire.

Finished reading My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George � 2.5***
12-year-old Sam Gribley leaves his crowded New York City apartment for his family’s remote land in the Catskills, intent on living off the land. Reading his story we learn about the uses of various plants and animals found in this natural habitat. Sam is resourceful and intelligent and shows great courage and creativity. I was disappointed in the ending, which felt contrived. The book lost a ½ star there. I can certainly see why it continues to appeal to young readers, however.
Link to my full review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

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Currently reading and listening to

Currently reading

Finished the audio version of Shadows by Edna Buchanan � 4**** (Book on CD narrated by Robertson Dean.)
Buchanan started her writing career as a journalist working the police beat in Miami. She’s a great storyteller, making the city, itself, a character in her novels by including elements of Miami culture and history. Her characters are colorful, human, intelligent, flawed, and strong. The pace is unrelenting, though she does include a few moments of humor or tenderness to relieve the tension. I was engaged and entertained from beginning to end.
Link to my full review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Finished the audio book version of The Round House by Louise Erdrich � 4**** (Audio book narrated by Gary Farmer)
It is obvious from the dust jacket that this novel will deal with issues of justice, but the story touches upon much more than this central issue. Characters must come to grips with personal responsibility, PTSD, loyalty, alcoholism and domestic abuse. Erdrich also explores a rich cultural heritage and a loving nuclear family. Her prose is lyrical and flowing. I was a little put-off by the conspiracy of silence that envelopes the ending and would LOVE to discuss that with someone else who has read the book. The audio version is capably performed, mimicking the oral story-telling traditions of the characters.
Link to my full review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Finished

Currently reading and listening to

I've recently finished The Darkest Hour by Maya Banks, Undertow by Cherry Adair and Summer At Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs. I'm currently reading How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks. I'm thinking about only reading paranormal books for the month of October.

I'm reading some fantasy: ; some horror: ; some suspense: ; and, some humor: .

I tend to start tons of books and struggle to finish them. Currently I'm reading....


When Summer Comes has been a struggle for me. I started it before reading the other books in the series (this is book #3 not counting the prequel novella) and the large cast of characters (most of them have huge parts in other books) were meaningless to me. When they were talking about someone's death by car accident and who was responsible I had no idea who it was or the significance to it. Anyway, I paused this book and went back and read all previous books. I know now who is who. Unfortunately, it didn't make me like the heroine any better. Shame because I really like the way Brenda Novak writes and as a series as a whole I do like the Whiskey Creek books but this one and the one before are just not that wonderful.

Finished



Currently reading and listening to

I finally finished and only gave it 2.5 stars. Hated the heroine. Disliked the fade-to-black way of writing half the sex scenes. Barely liked the hero. Such a shame.

I've finished up How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks now moving on to Club Dead by Charlaine Harris.

Listening to Endless Night by Agatha Christie and reading Chili con Carnage by Kylie Logan on my Kindle.

Finished

Currently reading and listening to

I finished and adored it. I think this is the best of the series so far (of those that I've read, of course.)

Now reading by Lizzy Ford.

Finished Book 4 of House of Commarre It was ★★★★.

Reading

Finished reading We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson � 4****
Eighteen-year-old Mary Katherine (Merricat) Blackwood narrates this story of her family’s isolation due to past scandal. This psychological study of a disturbed family is a short quick read but still offers a rather full exploration of distorted thinking. The tension is based on not knowing how things will turn out; the reader is constantly waiting for something dreadful to occur and even when things go badly the reader knows this can’t possibly be the end of it. The result is a suspenseful read without gore or graphic description. Even when the book is finished, I’m left anxious and in suspense.
Book Link to my full review: /review/show...

Finished listening to the audio version of The Giver by Lois Lowry � 3*** (Playaway audio read by Ron Rifkin)
This is a good young-adult work of fiction. Jonas is intelligent, resourceful, responsible and courageous. I do think it’s important for young people to learn to question authority and think for themselves, but I’m not too happy with how Lowry paints all the adults (except for The Giver) in the Community as disingenuous liars, although I recognize how this serves the plot. I fully appreciate why the novel continues to be hugely popular for middle-school readers. The audio has terrible “spooky� music, apparently designed to enhance the suspense, but which is just irritating.
Link to my full review: /review/show...

I am listening to

about to start

I finished up Club Dead today. Now moving on to Pleasure Unbound .

Finished

Currently reading and listening to

I finished up Pleasure Unbound and loved it, I couldn't put it down. I'll be starting When Blood Calls next.

Finished

Currently reading and listening to

Finished the audio version of The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty � 3.5*** (Audio performed by Elizabeth McGovern)
Using facts from the real life of Louise Brooks (1920s film star) as a framework, this is novel is really a character study of one woman’s awakening. I was caught up in the story from the beginning. I liked the way Moriarty depicted Cora’s developing sense of self. Parts One and Two introduce us to Louise and Cora, and detail the time they spend in New York. Part Three picks up when Cora returns to Wichita and covers 50+ years, where we continue to see Cora grow and the effects of her awareness on those around her. Elizabeth McGovern does a fine job performing the audio version.
Book Link to my full review: /review/show...

I am reading . I should finish it today and start

Finished Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline � 3.5***
This was a captivating novel made richer, I think, by using two time-lines, allowing the reader to compare and contrast the stories of 17-year-old Molly (a troubled teen in foster-care) and 91-year-old Vivian Daly (a wealthy widow living in a Victorian mansion). Kline effectively uses Molly’s Native American heritage in exploring one of the central issues. The novel also shines a light on a relatively unknown episode in American history.
Link to my full review: /review/show...

Amie wrote: "I finished up Club Dead today. Now moving on to Pleasure Unbound."

Amie ~ You'll have to check in again after you read Dead to the World. It's the next book in the Sookie Stackhouse series and it is my all time favorite in the series. So much Erik and he is SO funny in it.

..and I am torn on whether to read or or .

SMH

Yes Jennifer C I loved Dead To The World too!! I have not read the last one after so many bad reviews!

Jennifer C. wrote: "Amie ~ You'll have to check in again after you read ..."

Glad to hear that. I kinda had a hard time with keeping my interest in Club Dead.

Has anyone read . So far it's o.k. but I want to have an idea if it will pick up or is it just going to plod along.

I kept reading and it did pick up. I'm a little over half-way finished the book. I don't think that it's going to be in my top 20 but at least it's picked up to the point that I will finish!

I've finished , and . Didn't care for any of them a whole lot. The worst was Wicked Witch Murder. I can't believe that I enjoyed this series so much 7 years ago but this book was terrible. I am hoping it was just a bad book. Dancing With the Devil by Keri Arthur has potential but ultimately I thought the heroine was a little annoying because she was TSTL (a lot). Plus she has a self sacrificing attitude that at one point I hoped she actually would die and get it over with...but alas there are quite a few more books in the Nikki and Michael series so that wouldn't happen. I have 3 more of these books to read for reviews and I'm hoping they get better. Alice in Zombieland also had great potential but it went down hill 'round the middle area. Plus it appears to be a retelling of Alice in Wonderland (it's called The White Rabbit Chronicles for Pete's Sake!) Not so much. The Alice in Wonderland is more symbolic not literal. Pity. It could have been pretty awesome. So the highest rating I have given so far this month has been for the book that I hoped the heroine would die LOL.

Ezinwanyi~For you, Agron wrote: "..and I am torn on whether to read or or .

SMH"

Did you love as much as I did? I'm such a fan of Ford! By the way, what does SMH mean?

Finished the audio version of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett � 4**** (Audio performed by Vanessa Maroney)
This is a classic of children’s literature, first published in 1911. At heart it is about the restorative powers of friendship, love, and nature, and the power of positive thinking. It’s a rather simple story but I can easily see why it has remained popular with children for over 100 years. Vanessa Maroney does a fine job narrating the audiobook.
Book Link to my full review: /review/show...

Finished

Currently reading and listening to

I've finished up When Blood Calls and Tall, Dark & Dead . Both were just okay for me. I'll be reading Veil of Night next.

Listening to and reading

Christina wrote: "Did you love as much as I did? I'm such a fan of Ford! By the way, what does SMH mean?..."

SMH--Shake My Head.

YES! But i loveeee Sawyer. Chloe and Sawyer's book is my favorite. there was much more meat in this book. Plus, Chloe is my favorite sister.

I am now on book 4 as you can see above. I think I am addicted to the series.

Finished The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce � 4**** (Audiobook performed by Jim Broadbent)
When recently retired Harold Fry learns that a former work colleague is dying of cancer, he makes a snap decision to walk the length of England to be by her side. So, without his phone or proper shoes, with nothing more than the clothes on his back, he sets out on foot. As unlikely as this pilgrimage is, the insights Harold gains from hours alone with his thoughts are life-changing. There is something about Harold that will appeal to a wide range of readers. I grew to love him and my heart broke for him as I learned how he had lost his way. Jim Broadbent does a marvelous job of narrating the audio version. He had good pacing and his inflections brought out the wry humor in certain passages.
Link to my full review: /review/show...

Ezinwanyi~For you, Agron wrote: "Christina wrote: "Did you love as much as I did? I'm such a fan of Ford! By the way, what does SMH mean?..."

SMH--Shake My Head.

YES! But i loveeee Sawyer. C..."

I am hoping to get to the 4th book in the Lucky Harbor series soon. I actually started it a while back but keep getting side tracked by books due back to the library or buddy reads. I am addicted to this series too!

I finished book 4 and will get book 5. I enjoy the heroines in this series