The Secret Life Of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Sue Monk Kidd's ravishing debut novel has stolen the hearts of reviewers and readers alike with its strong, assured voice. Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lily's fierce-hearted "stand-in mother," Rosaleen, insults three of the town's fiercest racists, Lily decides they should both escape to Tiburon, South Carolina--a town that holds the secret to her mother's past. There they are taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters who introduce Lily to a mesmerizing world of bees, honey, and the Black Madonna who presides over their household. This is a remarkable story about divine female power and the transforming power of love--a story that women will share and pass on to their daughters for years to come
- Goodreads

I had a terrible time reading this book. It was very slow and unrealistic throughout. The ending was actually a little exciting in some parts but that was the gist of it. I am usually excited to watch the movie after I read the book but I think I will skip that.
3 out of 5 Stars

Vampire, Interrupted by Lynsay Sands

After seven hundred years of life, Marguerite Argeneau finally has a career. Well, the start of one, anyway. She's training to be a private investigator, and her first assignment is to find an immortal's mother. It seemed simple enough, until Marguerite wakes up one evening to find herself at the wrong end of a sword. Now she realizes she's in way over her head.

Julius Notte wants to protect Marguerite, and not because someone just tried to take her head off. She doesn't know it yet, but she's his lifemate and he's determined to woo her. It's been over five hundred years since he last courted a woman, but surely the techniques haven't changed. Now if only he can keep her alive—so to speak—so they can have that happily-ever-after.
-Goodreads
I really enjoyed this one. It was really nice having Marguerites story told and it answered a lot of questions. Even some that I didn't know that I had!
4 out of 5 Stars

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

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Remember the woman you used to be ...

Alice is twenty-nine. She is whimsical, optimistic and adores sleep, chocolate, her ramshackle new house and her wonderful husband Nick. What's more, she's looking forward to the birth of the 'Sultana' - her first baby.

But now Alice has slipped and hit her head in her step-aerobics class and everyone's telling her she's misplaced the last ten years of her life.

In fact, it would seem that Alice is actually thirty-nine and now she loves schedules, expensive lingerie, caffeine and manicures. She has three children and the honeymoon is well and truly over for her and Nick. In fact, he looks at her like she's his worst enemy. What's more, her beloved sister Elisabeth isn't speaking to her either. And who is this 'Gina'everyone is so carefully trying not to mention?

Alice isn't sure that she likes life ten years on. Every photo is another memory she doesn't have and nothing makes sense. Just how much can happen in a decade? Has she really lost her lovely husband for ever?
-Goodreads

3 out of 5 Stars
Not my favorite book. It ended up getting better towards the end but over all I didn't like it

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

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Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step.

Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.

Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women - mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends - view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don't
-Goodreads.

5 out of 5 Stars.
I had no intention of picking this book up. It isnt my normal book. The only reason I read it was because of all the comments on Facebook from friends talking about how wonderful this book is. I couldn't put it down. I couldnt wait to pick it back up. I loved every second of it and will pick it up again.

The Mystery of Harry Potter by Nancy Brown

Author Nancy Brown has done all the research and analysis of the Harry Potter series to answer parents' questions without spoiling the endings. Are the stories compatible with our Faith? What kind of role model is Harry? Could children learn spells from the books? How will you know when your child is ready? It's a must-read for every Catholic family!
-Goodreads

4 out 5 Stars. I loved this book. It gave me a hole new insight to all of the Harry Potter books. I loved them before, I love them even more now.

Heaven is for Real by Todd, Sonja, Colton Burpo and Lynn Vincent

A young boy emerges from life-saving surgery with remarkable stories of his visit to heaven.

Heaven Is for Real is the true story of the four-year old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven. He survives and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room. The family didn't know what to believe but soon the evidence was clear.

Colton said he met his miscarried sister, whom no one had told him about, and his great grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was born, then shared impossible-to-know details about each. He describes the horse that only Jesus could ride, about how "reaaally big" God and his chair are, and how the Holy Spirit "shoots down power" from heaven to help us.

Told by the father, but often in Colton's own words, the disarmingly simple message is heaven is a real place, Jesus really loves children, and be ready, there is a coming last battle.
-Goodreads

What an inspirational book. Very emotional at times and everything you want to believe in is confirmed to you. Very innocently written.
4 out of 5 Stars

Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far by Bristol Palin

The oldest daughter of Sarah Palin and single mother goes beyond the headlines, offering readers an inside look at her life, her world, and the things that matter most, including her family and the faith that keeps her centered. When her mother became the Republican Vice-Presidential candidate in 2008, Bristol Palin was instantly propelled into the national spotlight, becoming the focus of intense public and national media scrutiny at the age of seventeen.

In Not Afraid of Life, Bristol gives readers an intimate behind-the-scenes look at her life for the first time, from growing up in Alaska to coming of age amid the media and political frenzy surrounding her mother’s political rise; from becoming a single mother while still a teenager to coping as her relationship with her baby’s father crumbled publicly—not once, but twice. Bristol talks about the highs and lows of her appearance on ABC-TV’s Dancing with the Stars, including the aching hours of practice, the biting criticisms, and the thrill of getting to the show’s finals. She speaks candidly of her aspirations for the future and the deep religious faith that gives her strength and inspiration. Plainspoken and disarmingly down to earth, Bristol offers new insight and understanding of who she is and what she values most.
-Goodreads

I loved this book. Bristol has lead a pretty fortunate life that has been seemed to be pretty hard at some times. Dealing with some hard issues and mean people. I have no idea if the Palin Haters would like this book because the Palins can't do anything right in their eyes but according me I loved it.
4 out of 5 Stars

Vampires are Forever by Lynsay Sands

Inez Urso is beginning to have her doubts. Her business associate Thomas Argeneau has some interesting traits, like an allergic reaction to the sun, excellent night vision, and not much of an appetite for food. And to top it all off, he just tried to bite her neck . . . but maybe that was a sign of passion. If so, she'd be happy to experience more, despite her determination not to mix business with pleasure.

Well, if not forever, at least two hundred years. Inez is the most beautiful woman he's seen in centuries. Those luscious lips, seductive curves, and her elegant neck . . . he just couldn't resist the temptation of one little bite. Now Thomas will do anything to convince her that only an immortal like him can satisfy her all night long . . .
-Goodreads

This one was pretty good. I really enjoyed Thomas and Inez love story.not as much as Bastien but it was enjoyable.
4out of 5 Stars

Vegetarian Times Vegetarian Beginner's Guide

Vegetarian times Vegetarian Beginner's Guide
Is there one book that can answer all of my questions about becoming a vegetarian?

Yes, Vegetarian Times Vegetarian Beginner's Guide is the only book written for beginner vegetarians or anyone just thinking about becoming one. It's packed with information written by the editors of Vegetarian Times, the leading authorities on the subject. Below are just a few of the hundreds of questions this handy book will answer.

Will I get enough protein if I don't eat meat?

Yes, research shows that vegetarians get more than enough protein. A vegetarian diet is also naturally low in fat and fortified with carbohydrates, fiber, antioxidants, and nutrients.

Do I have to eat salad every day?

A resounding NO. In fact, once meat is removed from your dinner plate, you're open to a world of new flavors. Thirty-six delicious recipes and a dozen menus will help you get started.

How does a vegetarian diet help to prevent disease?

Your odds of preventing heart disease, high blood pressure, and even cancer are all increased by eating a proper diet, and a vegetarian diet is a big step toward improving those odds.

If I'm pregnant, is it safe to be a vegetarian?

Yes. In fact, a proper vegetarian diet is a better source of vitamin A and calcium, two important nutrients for your baby's development.

Will my vegetarian children get the nutrients they need from a meatless diet?

Yes, and numerous health organizations have published papers supporting a meatless diet for children, including the American Academy of Pediatrics.
-Goodreads

I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to take the full leap into vegetarianism but this book certainly has given me some tools to help me make better choices and maybe see me on my way to it.
4 out of 5 Stars

Promise (Soul Savers #1) by Kristie Cook

Alexis Ames decides to learn who she really is, with or without the help of her mother, who guards their secrets closely. After meeting Tristan Knight and discovering that he s not normal either, the secrets begin to unravel. Their union brings promise to the future of mankind. But it also incites a dangerous pursuit by the enemy. Because they are a match made in Heaven and in Hell.
- Goodreads

This book was alright. It was written pretty well. Ut the story didn't exactly grab me. Maybe some day I will read book 2 but it isn't going to be today.
2 out of 5 Stars

The Accidental Vampire by Lynsay Sands

Ever since an accident turned her into a knockout vamp, Elvi Black's been catching her z's in a coffin, staying out of the sun, and giving up garlic. She knows there's more to being undead than what she saw in Dracula, but she can't very well ask her mortal friends about proper biting etiquette. But when her neighbors placed a personal ad for her in the local paper, she never imagined she'd meet Victor Argeneau, a vampire who could have his pick of any woman, dead or alive.
Rich, powerful, and drop—dead gorgeous, Victor's the perfect man for a novice neck—biter like Elvi. He's willing to teach her everything he knows, but he'll have to do it fast. Someone's out to put a stake through her new vamp life, and only Victor can keep her safe and satisfied for all eternity.
- Goodreads

One of my favorites in the Argeneau series. Nice change from the repeated story lines with a twist.
3 out of 5 Stars

Aarons Pick- The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

Jill and Eustace must rescue the Prince from the evil Witch.

NARNIA...where owls are wise, where some of the giants like to snack on humans, where a prince is put under an evil spell...and where the adventure begins.

Eustace and Jill escape from the bullies at school through a strange door in the wall, which, for once, is unlocked. It leads to the open moor...or does it? Once again Aslan has a task for the children, and Narnia needs them. Through dangers untold and caverns deep and dark, they pursue the quest that brings them face and face with the evil Watch. She must be defeated if Prince Rillian is to be saved.
-Goodreads

Aaron gives this 5 out of 5 Stars and I agree completely with him. This is my favorite in all the Narnia books.

Safe Harbor by Christine Feehan

One of seven daughters in a line of extraordinary women, Hannah Drake has been the elusive object of affection for Jonas Harrington for as long at the young man can remember. If only the stunning super-model was driven by a passion other than her career. But Jonas isn t the only one with desires for Hannah.

From the shadows has emerged a vengeful figure who stalks the beauty with one terrifying purpose: to strip her of all she is and destroy her. Only one man was destined as her protection. Now, out of a storm of danger, Jonas must guide the woman he loves from a sinister darkness that threatens not only Hannah, but the entire Drake family.
-Goodreads

this one might be my least favorite so far out of the Drake Sisters. I found Hannah to be a pushover and Jonas kind of a jerk. Still glad I read it and can't wait to read the next one.
3 out of 5 Stars

Dangerous Tides by Christine Feehan

Libby Drake never saw herself as the kind of woman who could attract the attention of handsome and brilliant biochemist Tyson Derrick. Until fate throws them together-and leaves them vulnerable to a secret enemy.
-Goodreads

So far not my favorite in the series but I still enjoyed. I hope the next one will be better.
3 out of 5 stars

Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen

Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.

Jacob was there because his luck had run out - orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive 'ship of fools'. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act - in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.
- Goodreads

This book was actually pretty good. I had no interest in reading it until my aunt told me how much she likes it. knowing me I can't let someone else love a book without me knowing all about it so I picked it up.

4 out of 5 Stars

book club book #2 -Crow Lake by Mary Lawson

Crow Lake is that rare find, a first novel so quietly assured, so emotionally pitch perfect, you know from the opening page that this is the real thing–a literary experience in which to lose yourself, by an author of immense talent.

Here is a gorgeous, slow-burning story set in the rural “badlands” of northern Ontario, where heartbreak and hardship are mirrored in the landscape. For the farming Pye family, life is a Greek tragedy where the sins of the fathers are visited on the sons, and terrible events occur–offstage.

Centerstage are the Morrisons, whose tragedy looks more immediate if less brutal, but is, in reality, insidious and divisive. Orphaned young, Kate Morrison was her older brother Matt’s protegee, her fascination for pond life fed by his passionate interest in the natural world. Now a zoologist, she can identify organisms under a microscope but seems blind to the state of her own emotional life. And she thinks she’s outgrown her siblings–Luke, Matt, and Bo–who were once her entire world.

In this universal drama of family love and misunderstandings, of resentments harbored and driven underground, Lawson ratchets up the tension with heartbreaking humor and consummate control, continually overturning one’s expectations right to the very end. Tragic, funny, unforgettable, Crow Lake is a quiet tour de force that will catapult Mary Lawson to the forefront of fiction writers today.
- Goodreads

I personally found this book to be very depressing. there wasn't anything happy about the book.
I give it 3 out 5 Stars

Handle with Care - Jodie Picoult

"Every expectant parent will tell you that they don't want a perfect baby, just a healthy one. Charlotte and Sean O'Keefe would have asked for a healthy baby, too, if they'd been given the choice. Instead, their lives are made up of sleepless nights, mounting bills, the pitying stares of "luckier" parents, and maybe worst of all, the what-ifs. What if their child had been born healthy? But it's all worth it because Willow is, well, funny as it seems, perfect. She's smart as a whip, on her way to being as pretty as her mother, kind, brave, and for a five-year-old an unexpectedly deep source of wisdom. Willow is Willow, in sickness and in health." Everything changes, though, after a series of events forces Charlotte and her husband to confront the most serious what-ifs of all. What if Charlotte should have known earlier of Willow's illness? What if things could have been different? What if their beloved Willow had never been born? To do Willow justice, Charlotte must ask herself these questions and one more. What constitutes a valuable life - Goodreads

This was and unbelievable book. It had me wrapped up in it from the very beginning. very sad and emotional journey. The ending made me really mad. Still a really great book.

4 out of 5 stars

Once Bitten . . .

One minute Leigh is walking home in the early hours of the morning, and the next a vampire is sinking his teeth into her neck. Turns out it was a rogue vampire marked for termination, but it does Leigh little good because the damage's already been done. She's become one of them.

Lucian Argeneau, hunter of rogue vampires, has been alive for over two thousand years, and there's very little to excite him anymore. Food has become tasteless, sex is ordinary. Then Leigh drops into his life. Suddenly he finds himself craving coffee . . . and imagining the sassy brunette atop the black satin sheets on his nice big bed. It's Lucian's job now to enlighten Leigh on the inner workings of being immortal . . . and tutoring her is igniting a fire in him that hasn't burned in centuries.

But until they stop a renegade bloodsucker from destroying the human race, passion will have to wait!
-Goodreads

This book had a slow start for me but ended really good. Each new book in the Argeneau series I read seems to get just a little bit better!

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Book club meeting #1

Our very first book club meeting was this afternoon. Judy, Kris, Sarah and I got together at my house so we could discuss the book How High The Moon. lots and lots of fun was had. For a parting gift I gave them a can of Orange Crush, a honey teaspoon (that I bought while we were at Disney) and a container of Pez. I think they were all pleasantly surprised by the gifts.
I would certainly say our first meeting was a success. For a full review scroll down and you will find it in March.

Our next book club book is Crow Lake by Mary Lawson.

"Aarons Pick" - A Dog Called Kitty

The puppy was small and fuzzy, with a friendly, wagging tail — and Ricky was afraid of him!
No wonder, since he was attacked by a dog when he was just a baby. So when a stray puppy comes sniffling around the farm, Ricky tells it to get lost.
But the puppy keeps trying to play with Ricky. And every time Ricky's Mom feeds the cats, the little dog comes running. The cats aren't sharing their food, however, and the poor pup is slowly starving.
If Ricky doesn't overcome his fear, the little puppy may die — but if he lets himself get close enough to feed it, he may find the best friend he's ever had!
Winner of the Texas Bluebonnet, the Oklahoma Sequoyah and the Nebraska Golden Sower Awards.
- Goodreads

Aaron and I read this book together. It actually made both of us cry. poor Ricky has been through so much with dogs, it doesn't seem fair.

Aaron gives this 5 out of 5 stars

Oceans of Fire - Christine Feehan

The third daughter of seven in a magical bloodline, Abigail Drake was born with an affinity for water and a strong bond with dolphins. After she witnesses a murder, she flees right into the arms of Alexsandr Volstov. On the trail of stolen Russian antiquities, he's a relentless Interpol agent--and the man who once broke Abby's heart. But he isn't going to let the only woman he's ever loved slip away again.
- Goodreads

let me tell you that I love, love, loved this book! I fell in love with the charactors and the story. So far my favorite of the Drake sisters.

5 out of 5 stars

Unplanned by Abby Johnson and Cindy Lambert

Abby Johnson quit her job in October 2009. That simple act became a national news story because Abby was the director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas who, after participating in her first actual abortion procedure, walked across the road to join the Coalition for Life.
Unplanned is a heartstopping personal drama of life-and-death encounters, a courtroom battle, and spiritual transformation that speaks hope and compassion into the political controversy that surrounds this issue. Telling Abby’s story from both sides of the abortion clinic property line, this book is a must-read for anyone who cares about the life versus rights debate and helping women who face crisis pregnancies.
- goodreads

Really good book. You can actually see where Abby decides that abortion is not the way to go. You can see how God sends her signs. really good book.

3 out of 5 stars

Unbearable Lightness - Portia de Rossi

"I didn't decide to become anorexic. It snuck up on me disguised as a healthy diet, a professional attitude. Being as thin as possible was a way to make the job of being an actress easier . . ."

Portia de Rossi weighed only 82 pounds when she collapsed on the set of the Hollywood film in which she was playing her first leading role. This should have been the culmination of all her years of hard work—first as a child model in Australia, then as a cast member of one of the hottest shows on American television. On the outside she was thin and blond, glamorous and successful. On the inside, she was literally dying.

In this searing, unflinchingly honest book, Portia de Rossi captures the complex emotional truth of what it is like when food, weight, and body image take priority over every other human impulse or action. She recounts the elaborate rituals around eating that came to dominate hours of every day, from keeping her daily calorie intake below 300 to eating precisely measured amounts of food out of specific bowls and only with certain utensils. When this wasn't enough, she resorted to purging and compulsive physical exercise, driving her body and spirit to the breaking point.

Even as she rose to fame as a cast member of the hit television shows Ally McBeal and Arrested Development, Portia alternately starved herself and binged, all the while terrified that the truth of her sexuality would be exposed in the tabloids. She reveals the heartache and fear that accompany a life lived in the closet, a sense of isolation that was only magnified by her unrelenting desire to be ever thinner. With the storytelling skills of a great novelist and the eye for detail of a poet, Portia makes transparent as never before the behaviors and emotions of someone living with an eating disorder.

From her lowest point, Portia began the painful climb back to a life of health and honesty, falling in love with and eventually marrying Ellen DeGeneres, and emerging as an outspoken and articulate advocate for gay rights and women's health issues.

In this remarkable and beautifully written work, Portia shines a bright light on a dark subject. A crucial book for all those who might sometimes feel at war with themselves or their bodies, Unbearable Lightness is a story that inspires hope and nourishes the spirit.
- goodreads

What a book. it was actually hard to read. Not because it wasn't fantastic but because her mind went all the time. I felt like in was running and running and running. it was very sad in some places. thankfully she finally found her peace. She would have no doubt died it she would have went any farther. good for her for finally finding her way.
4 out of 5 stars

The Twilight Before Christmas - Christine Feehan

Seven sisters...and a legacy of magical secrets.

Bestselling novelist Kate Drake is one of seven sisters gifted with amazing powers of witchcraft. Returning home in time for her northern California town's annual Christmas pageant, Kate catches the spirit of the season and decides to open a bookstore in a charming but run-down historic mill. Decorated former U.S. Army Ranger Matt Granite, now a local contractor, doesn't mind working in the undeniably eerie house -- not if it means getting closer to Kate. There's something about the quiet, sensual woman that powerfully attracts him.

When an earthquake cracks the mill's foundation and reveals a burial crypt, Kate senses that a centuries-old evil has been unleashed and that it's coming after her. Though Matt vows to guard her from dusk till dawn, Kate knows she will have to summon all of her and her sisters' powers to battle the darkness threatening to destroy both Christmas and the gift of soul-searing passion her hometown hero wants her to keep forever....(less)
- Goodreads

2nd book in the Drake Sisters series and this one was better then the first. love the way Christine writes and pulls you in. great series so far.
4 out of 5 stars

Magic in the Wind - Christine Feehan

New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan presents the story of Sarah, the eldest of the extraordinary-and magical-Drake sisters, now rewritten and expanded, in this very special collector's edition.

"Sarah Drake has come home." Ever since Damon Wilder sought refuge in Sea Haven, he's heard the same breathless rumor pass the lips of nearly every local in the sleepy coastal town. Even the wind seems to whisper her name-a reverie so powerfully suggestive that it carries the curious Damon to Sarah's cliff-top home, and seeks to shelter him there. But Damon has not arrived alone. A killer has tracked him to Sea Haven, and into the shadows of Drake House. But Sarah has her own secrets, and danger-as well as a desire more urgent than either has ever known-is just a whisper away
- Goodreads

my friend has been trying and trying to get me to read these books (the Drake Sisters) I was a little hesitant at first but decided to give them a try. Love them! They are very intriguing.

4 out of 5 stars

How High The Moon - Sandra Kring

In this tender novel set in 1955 Mill Town, Wisconsin, Sandra Kring explores the complicated bond between mothers and daughters, the pressure to conform, and the meaning of friendship and family.
 
Ten-year-old Isabella “Teaspoon” Marlene has been a handful ever since her mother, Catty, dumped her with an old boyfriend and ran off to Hollywood. Teaspoon fights, fibs, never stops singing, and is as unpredictable and fearless as a puppy off its leash. Still, Teddy Favors, a man who has taken his share of kicks, is determined to raise her right. 
   
Teaspoon wants to be better for Teddy—even if that means agreeing to take part in a do-gooder mentorship program and being paired up with Brenda Bloom, the beautiful reigning Sweetheart of Mill Town. Against all odds, as the summer passes, this unlikely duo discover a special friendship as they face personal challenges, determined to follow their hearts instead of convention.

It’s while Brenda and Teaspoon are putting together the grandest show the Starlight Theater has ever seen that Catty returns to Mill Town, shattering illusions and testing loyalties. But by the final curtain call, one determined little girl shows an entire town the healing that can happen when you let your heart take center stage.
- Goodreads

Such a fun read. I loved being able to get into the mind of a little girl and see the innocence of what a child sees. Tis is my first actual book club book and I think it was a good one.

4 out of 5 stars

February Recap

Here is my recap for the month of February.
South Dakota
California
Florida
That leaves 42 to go.

Me by Ricky Martin

International superstar, Ricky Martin, who has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide, opens up for the first time about memories of his early childhood, experiences in the famed boy band Menudo, struggles with his identity during the Livin' la Vida Loca phenomenon, reflections on coming to terms with his sexuality, relationships that allowed him to embrace love, and life-changing decisions like devoting himself to helping children around the world and becoming a father. Me is an intimate memoir about the very liberating and spiritual journey of one of the most iconic pop-stars of our time.(less)
-Goodreads

I really enjoyed this book to the fullest. I have always liked Ricky Martin and now I like him even more. I could hear him talking to me as I read his book. I absolutely recommend.
4 out of 5 Stars

A Bite To Remember by Lynsay Sands

Rule #1: Never get involved with someone who won't be there for you when the sun comes up.

Once bitten, twice shy, and sexy PI Jackie Morrisey wasn't going there again. Vincent Argeneau may be the hottest guy she's ever met, living or dead, but she's here to stop a killer from turning this vampire into dust, not to jump into bed with him.

Rule #2: Never kiss a vampire . . . it can be a pain in the neck.

Okay, so Vincent's had four hundred years to perfect his kissing skills, and he does look rather tempting when he runs around the house shirtless. He's also charming, protective . . . did we mention he can kiss? Jackie needs to be on her guard, or else she'll have to come up
with a new rule: If you're going to fall in love with a vampire, make sure it's a bite to
remember.

-Goodreads


So far my least favorite out of the Argeneau series. I had a really hard time getting into this one. after reading the last one that I really liked this was a huge disappointment.
1 out 5 Stars

Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult

As Jodi Picoult's Picture Perfect begins, it is daybreak in downtown Los Angeles. A woman suffering from amnesia is taken in by an officer new to the L.A. police force, after he finds her wandering aimlessly near a graveyard. Days later, when her husband comes to claim her at the police station, no one is more stunned than Cassie Barrett to learn that not only is she a renowned anthropologist, but she is married to Hollywood's leading man, Alex Rivers.
As Alex helps Cassie become reaccustomed to her fairy-tale existence, fragments of memory return: the whirlwind romance on location in Africa, her major anthropological discovery, the trajectory of Alex's career. Yet as Cassie settles into her glamor-filled life, uneasiness nags at her. She senses there is something troubling and wild that she cannot remember, something that would alter the picture of her perfect marriage. When she finds a positive pregnancy test in her bathroom, she is flooded with dark memories. Trying to piece together her past, she runs to the only person she trusts will keep her hidden--Will Flying Horse, the policeman who had initially harbored her.

Moving from the sweltering African grasslands to the desolate plains of the reservation to the claustrophobic glitz of Hollywood, Jodi Picoult's story is one rich in detail, breadth, and emotion. Picture Perfect is a lush, beautifully written novel that will captivate its readers.
-Goodreads

Really great book. Took me back to my home. (maybe even made me a little homesick) it is your typical Jodi Picoult book. You never know where she is going to take you and when she takes you there you never see it coming. It left me a little depressed. Now I am going to have to read some happy books to get over it. I will read more of her stuff for sure but I need to pace them in between some books.
3 out of 5 stars

January Recap

I have decided to give each month a recap of where I have been reading for my Where have you been reading challenge that I am embarking on this year.
Here is my list so far.
Alaska
Arizona
DC
Hawaii
New York
So far so good with this challenge. I am having a lot of fun with it too.
45 to go

Finding It by Valerie Bertinelli

Welcome back to chez Bertinelli, where life is as crazy and comical as ever. In revealing talks with her longtime boyfriend, Tom, Valerie gets even more personal about her inner worries: her maternal anxieties about her son, Wolfie (he’s fallen in love and, as she writes, "getting your sex talk from Eddie Van Halen wasn’t recommended in any of the parenting books I read"); the challenges of dealing with a blended family; her mother’s own new diet adventure; and a craving for a deeper relationship with a Higher Power ("I have experienced days of inner peace and connectedness with a larger spirit—twice," she writes. "Why not more often?"). And as if these everyday challenges weren’t enough, Valerie is working to maintain her own very public weight loss and approaching her fiftieth birthday. This is the story of what happens after you change your life. And it’s not all peaches and cream, or even low-fat yogurt.
This inspiring memoir, from the beloved actress and author of the bestseller Losing It, is an optimistic story for trying times. Warm and friendly, honest and self-aware—with the same winning wit and candor that touched a generation of fans in Losing It—Finding It is about working on all the reasons we gain weight in the first place so that it doesn’t happen again. It’s about becoming better, not just thinner. And it’s about believing in love and happiness, having faith that both are possible, and finding out that God does want you to enjoy life’s desserts—even when you’re on a diet.
-Goodreads

Second book by Valerie that I have read and really enjoyed both of them. I think I liked this one a tiny bit more then the first. Lots of insights in to her life with her (now) husband, her son, Ed, her parents and a little bit about her brothers. It was a deviate page turner.
3 out of 5 stars

Tall, Dark, and Hungry by Lynsay Sands

It bites: New York hotels cost an arm and a leg, and Terri has flown from England to help plan her cousin’s wedding. The new in-laws offered lodging. But they’re a weird bunch -- and it isn’t just that they’re Canadian! There is the sometimes-chipper-sometimes-silent Lucern, and the wacky stage-actor Vincent: she can’t imagine Broadway casting a hungrier singing-and-dancing Dracula. And then there is Bastien. Just looking into his eyes, Terri has to admit she’s falling for someone even taller, darker, and hungrier. She’s feeling a mite peckish herself. And if she stays with him, those bloodsucking hotel owners won’t get her!(less)
-Goodreads

Number 4 in the Argeneau and so far my favorite by far. Loved this story line with Bastien and Terrie. If Ever there was a vampire story that I wanted to come true this would be it.
4 out 5 stars

America By Heart by Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin's Going Rogue earned her slots on bestseller lists coast to coast, but according to the former Alaska Governor, it also had another, unforeseen benefit: She credits her book tour conversations with ordinary Americans as the inspiration for this book. In America By Heart, the always outspoken former vice presidential candidate intersperses personal reflections with her favorite classic and contemporary readings on family, religion, and patriotism. Rousing selections for like-minded mavericks; bound to be a bestseller.
-Goodreads

I loved every second about this book. Kept me interested with every page turn. I can hear Sarah as I read it. I would recommend to all of my conservative friends.
5 out of 5 Stars.

Single White Vampire by Lynsay Sands

Search Amazon.com for single white vampire by lynsay sands

SWM - "Lucern." Successful biographer of family, books recently categorized as "paranormal romance." Something of a recluse. Hates crowds, aggressive women. Doesn't like sunbathing, garlicky dinners or religious symbols. Likes old-fashioned values; spicy Mexican dishes; warm, nice-smelling neck; and plump red lips. Stronger than ten men and can vanish in the blink of an eye. Currently unaware he's seeking a woman to share eternity.

SWF - "Kate C. Leever." Newest editor of Romance at Roundhouse Publishing. Perky, fun. Has recently discovered a legacy author just dying to be broken out. In fact, her career could take off from it. (The tall, dark, handsome writer just needs to be taken to several romance conventions and introduced to his fans . . . and stopped from acting so strange in public.) Dislikes "difficult, rude, obnoxious, pig-headed writers." Currently she's met the man of her wildest dreams.
- Goodreads

This is the one that I had a hard time putting down. (3rd in the series) I had a fun time reading about all of their mishaps. I thought the ending was a little silly and could have been better but other then that it was a fun read.
3 out of 5 stars

"Aarons Pick" - Champ

RILEY is awful at sports. He wants to quit the baseball team, but his dad won't let him give up. So when one bad swing brings a three-legged dog into his life, Riley feels like he's been thrown a curveball. How can he take care of a dog and make his dad proud?

CHAMP is a former champion show dog. But when the accident that leaves him with Riley also leaves him with three legs, this dog has to learn some new tricks. Can Champ show Riley that winning doesn't always mean coming in first?


Together, Riley and Champ make a great team, but not everyone thinks so. Could they be separated?
-Goodreads


Aaron brought this book home from school and was so excited that he decided I had to read it. The book is about a fun loving border collie (as is our wonderful dog Jackie) I thought this book was absolutely adorable with lots of life lessons. It brought tears to Aarons eyes and surprising my eyes also.
The way Aaron acted made me decide to do a "Aarons Pick" aspect to my reading blog. It might give you some ideas for your 4th grader out there.
Aaron will chose the star status on these books.
5 out of 5 stars

Decision Points - President George W Bush

President George W. Bush describes the critical decisions of his presidency and personal life.

Decision Points is the extraordinary memoir of America’s 43rd president. Shattering the conventions of political autobiography, George W. Bush offers a strikingly candid journey through the defining decisions of his life.

In gripping, never-before-heard detail, President Bush brings readers inside the Texas Governor’s Mansion on the night of the hotly contested 2000 election; aboard Air Force One on 9/11, in the hours after America’s most devastating attack since Pearl Harbor; at the head of the table in the Situation Room in the moments before launching the war in Iraq; and behind the Oval Office desk for his historic and controversial decisions on the financial crisis, Hurricane Katrina, Afghanistan, Iran, and other issues that have shaped the first decade of the 21st century.

President Bush writes honestly and directly about his flaws and mistakes, as well as his accomplishments reforming education, treating HIV/AIDS in Africa, and safeguarding the country amid chilling warnings of additional terrorist attacks. He also offers intimate new details on his decision to quit drinking, discovery of faith, and relationship with his family.

A groundbreaking new brand of memoir, Decision Points will captivate supporters, surprise critics, and change perspectives on one of the most consequential eras in American history – and the man at the center of events.(less)
-Goodreads

What a delightful read. To be able to get into the mind of our former president. To be able to understand what he was thinking what he was being told. What he was feeling. I found this to be such a good read that I had a hard time putting it down.
4 out of 5 stars