Review: Maybe Someday

Reviewer: Kelsey (Kristen is being stupid)
Author: Colleen Hoover
Format: Paperback
Pages: 384
Rating: 9 out of 10

Summary (Maybe someday Goodreads will love me back): Sydney is living in an idyllic bubble - she's a dedicated student with a steady job on the side. She lives with her best friend, has a great boyfriend, and the music coming from the balcony opposite hers is fast becoming the soundtrack to her life. But when Sydney finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her, the bubble bursts. The mysterious and attractive man behind the music, Ridge, gives Sydney hope that she can move on and they begin to write songs together. But moving on is harder than she expects, Sydney can only hope…. Maybe someday… Colleen Hoover draws you in to this passionate tale of music, love and betrayal…

My Thoughts: What? Nine out of ten isn't good enough for you? Pft...

Actually, I loved this book. I thought it was just about perfect. I don't say that often. I would read this novel 100 more times (I had to give it back to Kristen but I'm contemplating my own copy). 

First off, this novel has a soundtrack to match it which is wonderful. I loved the music as well as the idea of having music to go with it. I missed the first few songs as I was reading but I went back to listen to them later. I ended up downloading the soundtrack I liked it so much. It does a good job of putting you in the story. It really makes the novel an experience. You, of course, don't need to listen to it but I recommend it. At the very least you can say you listened to a book. I thought it added a lot of character and a lot about the characters too.

This novel was really funny. At times, I was actually laughing out loud. People around me were judging me but I don't care it was worth it. The pranks are genius and hilarious. I want to try a few. I especially love the last one that Ridge does to his buddy. Boys are entertaining. 

The writing in this is...wonderful. I need a new word. It was magnificent? Kristen says it was stupendous but it sounds too much like stupid; I don't like it. Whatever, you get the gist. It was really, super good. I love Colleen Hoover; I'll continue to read her novels. She is so talents and always seems to get emotions just right. Everything is always said at the exact right moment. Add her to the list of author's I have a writing crush on.

Each character was extremely unique. This is one of the few novels where I found that there was a motivation behind every character. They weren't ignored or skimmed over. Things were happening in the background so that you don't just learn about the main characters but the secondary ones as well. This allows for you to better understand reactions as well as the main characters through their friends. I think every writer should put more time into their secondary characters and all around back story. Also, I love how Sydney and Ridge come to communicate with each other. I love how it was all wrapped up and tied together even though the action died down quite a bit before the actual end of the story.

It switches perspective. This was well done. It wasn't awkward or off at all. I thought they could both be real people, unlike when the guy doesn't really seem like a guy.

Slight spoiler (Skip paragraph to avoid): This was my first novel with a deaf character. It was an interesting perspective. This made the novel even more unique though it was at times awkward because of how he handled certain things. I mean, maybe it's normal. I don't know because I don't even know of anybody that is deaf. I'm very interested in characters with a unique perspective. I'll have to look for some more characters like this.

Summary: This is a great love story that I want to read over and over. It made me both happy and sad. I laughed. I cried. I freaked out. It made me feel a variety of things. I recommend this book, not to any specific type of person even. Okay, maybe you should like love stories. Check it out and tell me your thoughts. I LOVE IT!

Review: Swan Peek (Dave Robicheaux #17)

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: James Lee Burke
Format: Paperback
Pages: 402
Rating: 5 out of 10

Summary (peeking at Goodreads): "James Lee Burke's new novel, Swan Peak, finds Detective Robicheaux far from his New Iberia roots, attempting to relax in the untouched wilderness of rural Montana. He, his wife, and his buddy Clete Purcell have retreated to stay at an old friend's ranch, hoping to spend their days fishing and enjoying their distance from the harsh, gritty landscape of Louisiana post-Katrina." But the serenity is soon shattered when two college are found brutally murdered in the hills behind where the Robicheauxs and Purcell are staying. They quickly find themselves involved in a twisted and dangerous mystery involving a wealthy, vicious oil tycoon, his deformed brother and beautiful wife, a sexually deviant minister, an escaped con and former country music star, and a vigilante Texas gunbull out for blood. At the center of the storm is Clete, who cannot shake the feeling that he is being haunted by the ghosts from his past - namely Sally Dio, the mob boss he'd sabotaged and killed years before.

My Thoughts: So, I didn't really realize what I was getting into with this novel. It's one of those novels that somehow manage to sneak onto your shelves without you noticing. Eventually you look at it and think "I don't know where you came from" so you pick it up and look at it for a minute. You proceed to ignore it because it isn't your top priority then suddenly you have free time (you bring it on a trip with you so you have to read it) and you finally read the book. This is the first novel in this series that I've read but it didn't bother me. The author provides enough information on the characters and whatever back story is needed that reading the others wasn't important. That's good because this isn't the usual novel I read and I don't plan on buying that other 17+ novels.

This story is less character focused and more plot/action oriented. It really just tells you the story. It gives you the information and expects you to keep up. I thought it was interesting. I liked the mystery and how it was all tied together. I enjoyed that I followed along trying to get ahead. It didn't bother me too much that it wasn't super excited. I managed. 

I found myself rooting for characters. Other characters I totally hated. It worked out how it should have been in that area expect that so many times I wanted to smash Clete upside the head.

For me, I don't consider this very high on the reread list. My being stuck mainly within the interest of the young adult genre kind of keeps my interest elsewhere. This was a bit like CSI novels though, if you like that. Let me know what you think about this novel.

Finally: I doubt that I would turn down another in this series but I'm not going to search for them. This novel isn't really my thing but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I enjoyed the mystery of it. If any of the labels speak to you and your favourite type of novels then check this one out!

Review: The Wedding

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Format: eBook
Pages: 276
Rating: 8 out of 10

Summary (I'd marry Goodreads): After thirty years of marriage, Wilson Lewis, son-in-law of Allie and Noah Calhoun (of The Notebook), is forced to admit that the romance has gone out of his marriage. Desperate to win back his wife, Jane's, heart, he must figure out how to make her fall in love with him... again. Despite the shining example of Allie and Noah's marriage, Wilson is himself a man unable to easily express his emotions. A successful estate attorney, he has provided well for his family, but now, with his daughter's upcoming wedding, he is forced to face the fact that he and Jane have grown apart and he wonders if she even loves him anymore. Wilson is sure of one thing--his love for his wife has only deepened and intensified over the years. Now, with the memories of his in-laws' magnificent fifty-year love affair as his guide, Wilson struggles to find his way back into the heart of the woman he adores.

My Thoughts: This book gave me all kinds of happy feels. Well, the happy feels came after the angry "What are you doing, stupid?" feels. I really felt bad for the relationship that Wilson and Jane had. It definitely made me think. Mostly, it made me certain that I never want to have this problem with any future significant others. I don't want this struggle in my life ever.

When the book began I really had no idea where this book would be going. To be honest, I didn't read the blurb. I knew it was Nicholas Sparks and that was enough for me but that also meant that I didn't have the slightest clue what this novel was about. I was really starting blind. In this case, it wasn't a good thing to avoid the blurb. The beginning was rather slow. I stuck with it hoping it would get better. It really did once I figured out what was happening. I had to wade through a lot of back story first. It didn't help that not only did I not see the entire Notebook movie, I also had never read it. 

Once Wilson got into planning, I was right there with him. I started coming up with ideas. I really was frustrated that he was having such as hard time. I was impressed by the changed he did make in his life though. He made a lot of them. He really put everything he had into this. Many of the ideas I came up with to try and help him (yes, I know he's a fictional character) weren't used but I was super excited to see that some were. It's good to know that I can get into the head of an amazing writer. What was a surprise though is how everything fell together. The big surprises, for me at least, remained big surprises until revealed even if I did consider them as possibilities.

I loved the relationship that Noah and Wilson shared. They were so cute. Actually, all the characters and their relationships to one another were unique and interesting and entertaining. 

This book...I just really liked it alright? It was true to solid Nicholas Sparks form. I'm glad I took the risk of just getting it without asking any questions. Like I said, stick with it through the slow beginning because it gets better.

Footnote: I bought another Nicholas Sparks novel while on vacation. I now have two waiting for me and I'm very excited to read them.

Basically: This was a quick little piece of love. Reading this book made me very happy. I love Nicholas Sparks. If you love him too and you haven't read this novel then you should. It would be nice (though not important) to know The Notebook. 

Did you know?
The Wedding is a follow-up to The Notebook?
The Wedding was inspired by a few unnamed couples that Nicholas knows well?
The novel is set in the North Carolina town in which Nicholas now lives?

The Longest Ride

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 398
Rating: 10 out of 10

Summary (GoodestReads and longest summary): Ira Levinson is in trouble. At ninety-one years old, in poor health and alone in the world, he finds himself stranded on an isolated embankment after a car crash. Suffering multiple injuries, he struggles to retain consciousness until a blurry image materializes and comes into focus beside him: his beloved wife Ruth, who passed away nine years ago. Urging him to hang on, she forces him to remain alert by recounting the stories of their lifetime together – how they met, the precious paintings they collected together, the dark days of WWII and its effect on them and their families. Ira knows that Ruth can’t possibly be in the car with him, but he clings to her words and his memories, reliving the sorrows and everyday joys that defined their marriage.

A few miles away, at a local rodeo, a Wake Forest College senior’s life is about to change. Recovering from a recent break-up, Sophia Danko meets a young cowboy named Luke, who bears little resemblance to the privileged frat boys she has encountered at school. Through Luke, Sophia is introduced to a world in which the stakes of survival and success, ruin and reward -- even life and death – loom large in everyday life. As she and Luke fall in love, Sophia finds herself imagining a future far removed from her plans -- a future that Luke has the power to rewrite . . . if the secret he’s keeping doesn’t destroy it first.

Ira and Ruth. Sophia and Luke. Two couples who have little in common, and who are separated by years and experience. Yet their lives will converge with unexpected poignancy, reminding us all that even the most difficult decisions can yield extraordinary journeys: beyond despair, beyond death, to the farthest reaches of the human heart.

My Thoughts: Guys...I love this novel. I love it. Also, I loved it. Did I happen to mention that I loved it? I'm sorry but I really, really did.

This novel made me feel all kinds of crazy emotions. It made me cry, laugh, and, worst of all, this novel made me smile. I mean, it really made me smile. I smiled like an idiot while I was reading this novel. I'm sure people were judging me while I read at school. Then there was the crying, urg the crying...

As much as I feel like this novel was perfect (exaggeration), I feel like we didn't learn all that much about Sophia. Looking back, I guess we did but compared to what we learned about Luke, it was nothing. We learned so much more about Luke. We were told what drove him, why he made choices, what he cared about. In this way, it was almost as if he was more of a main character. It was told from three(ish) perspectives. It was complicated though because Ira's point of view was told first person but Sophia's and Luke's parts were both told third person. It's didn't really bother me; I only noticed in passing. 

Also...I'm in love with Luke but he could be really stupid sometimes. I don't understand why he would be so crazy. Didn't he realize that he was hurting his mom more than anything else would have? urg! Boys are so stupid!

Ira and Ruth were like the couple from Up. Cry some more there.

I loved how it all came together in the end. I sort of figured out what was going to happen in the end before it came but I still really enjoyed it when the time came. I was impressed with the planning that must have gone into making this novel. I mean, I'm sure it didn't require more planning than any other novel I've read but, while reading it, it felt like it did. It all tied together perfectly and amazingly and I was so pleased with it all.

This novel was a quick, easy, interesting read. I didn't put it down until I was finished. I already have plans to read it again.

This is definitely one of my favourite novels and, for certain, it is my favourite Nicholas Sparks novel. I think this book was interesting in both the story that was told and the way it was told. 

To whom would I recommend this novel? Everyone. Read it.

No Great Mischief

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Alistair MacLeod
Format: Paperback
Pages: 296
Rating: 6 out of 10

Summary (Using Goodreads): Alexander MacDonald guides us through his family’s mythic past as he recollects the heroic stories of his people: loggers, miners, drinkers, adventurers; men forever in exile, forever linked to their clan. There is the legendary patriarch who left the Scottish Highlands in 1779 and resettled in “the land of trees,” where his descendents became a separate Nova Scotia clan. There is the team of brothers and cousins, expert miners in demand around the world for their dangerous skills. And there is Alexander and his twin sister, who have left Cape Breton and prospered, yet are haunted by the past. Elegiac, hypnotic, by turns joyful and sad, No Great Mischief is a spellbinding story of family, loyalty, exile, and of the blood ties that bind us, generations later, to the land from which our ancestors came.

My Thoughts Here: I thought this book was, at times, very hard to follow. It is sometimes a story told within a story. It consists of flashbacks with a reflection on how it affects the present day. I had to really pay attention to make sure that I didn't think the past was the present or vise versa. Some parts of the novel seemed to drag on while others went by in a flash. Focus was necessary for sure. 

The novel was full of great visuals. In fact, the novel starts in a place I am familiar with and I was instantly transported there. I could see what he saw. I love that it takes place in Canada, not many novel do. I love that it started near my home even more. 

There was a problem with names though. Calum is the brother but also the name of the great-great-grandfather or something like that. Plus, there are three Alexanders. There isn't just two, there are three. I understand that it was supposed to build some connection between them and to point to the family relations (we studied this novel in my Canadian Literature class...luckily, I almost failed the essay and feel it's now necessary for you to suffer with me...). Family is a huge part of this novel, I understand but maybe it could have been easier to figure out without all the similar names.

In some parts of this novel, I found it awkwardly inappropriate. Inappropriate is one thing but the phrasing of it and the words chosen made it super awkward to read. I was uncomfortable at parts. I mean nothing is super detailed or horrible or anything, just awkward.

Also, ew on the ripping out of teeth but I love that he became an orthodontist because of it. 

In Conclusion: I was lucky enough to meet the writer who used to teach at my university and came in to talk about this novel. He was pretty entertaining as a person and kind of funny. I even got my copy signed, be jealous. Also, like I said above, I love that this took place in Canada. I think it is similar is ways to perks of being a wallflower (a stretch) and to Looking for Alaska (still a stretch). I'm not sure who to recommend this novel too. Maybe you'll want to look into it though. Then again, had I not been forced to read it for class, I probably would not have read it at all. I'll leave it up to you.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My Rating: 6 out of 10

So, yeah. Had to read this for class. It was okay, I didn't give up on it so you know, that's a good thing! 

I really liked that I could picture everything because finally, a book from home about home! 

- Kristen 

Bones of the Lost

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Kathy Reichs
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 336
Rating: 8 out of 10

Summary (GoodReads love): When Charlotte police discover the body of a teenage girl along a desolate stretch of two-lane highway, Temperance Brennan fears the worst. The girl’s body shows signs of foul play. Inside her purse police find the ID card of a prominent local businessman, John-Henry Story, who died in a horrific flea market fire months earlier. Was the girl an illegal immigrant turning tricks? Was she murdered?

The medical examiner has also asked Tempe to examine a bundle of Peruvian dog mummies confiscated by U.S. Customs. A Desert Storm veteran named Dominick Rockett stands accused of smuggling the objects into the country. Could there be some connection between the trafficking of antiquities and the trafficking of humans?

As the case deepens, Tempe must also grapple with personal turmoil. Her daughter Katy, grieving the death of her boyfriend in Afghanistan, impulsively enlists in the Army. Meanwhile, Katy’s father Pete is frustrated by Tempe’s reluctance to finalize their divorce. As pressure mounts from all corners, Tempe soon finds herself at the center of a conspiracy that extends all the way from South America, to Afghanistan, and right to the center of Charlotte.

Thoughts: Let me start by saying how much I love Tempe...a lot. How can you not love her? Sure, sometimes she is a little bit stupid and goes where she shouldn't but she cares so much about people. I love how hard she fought for the murder victim in this novel. I was also surprised to find how much the one cop cared in the end; it seemed like he didn't care for most of the novel.

I'm glad that the novels seemingly three story lines all ended up back together though it would never happen like this is real life. The conspiracy might exist like it did but what are the chances that she would get all the pieces and be able to put them together like she did.

One of my favourite things about Kathy Riechs novels is that the science is more realistic then it is on TV. Things don't happen fast. This novel has large time gaps in it almost as proof. 

But what's up with Pete? Also, I want more Ryan. Plus, Katy is crazy to just enlist like that but I guess that all that matters is that she is happy.

I wish that the novel would specifically say that she told the cops where she went when she runs off because she runs off all the time and it kind of makes me want to punch Tempe in the face. Like, call the police first or something if you can't get a hold of someone specific. Fine, run around risking your life if you want. I understand that the whole reason is to build suspense and to add action, and it does do that but seriously...

I like that she traveled during the novel. Kathy Reichs often travels to do her work so it stands that Tempe would to. I love that element of realism. I think it really adds some sense of movement to the novel too. She doesn't just sit in one spot. Plus, it's kind of exciting.

Final Thoughts: In all honestly, I will probably continue to buy Kathy Reichs no matter what happens. She could write another 16 novels and I would be more than happy to wait at Chapters on the release date. I'm hooked and will always be hooked. Maybe that makes my opinion on the matter a little bit bias so if you don't believe me than maybe you should go out and buy the book. If not this book than one of her many others. I have them all and they are beautiful. Tell me what you think, I could be blinded by my constant fangirling!

P.S. Sorry I've been MIA, school is sucking the life out of me this year. Hopefully, I'm back now but no promises! Love you all, lovely people.

P.P.S. If Kathy Reichs or anyone that works with her is out there, SEND ME THE NEXT BOOK!! Pleeeeeease.

The Richest Man in Babylon

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: George S. Clason
Format: Paperback
Pages: 196 (My edition had 144)
Rating: 8 out of 10

Summary (te amo Goodreads): Beloved by millions, this timeless classic holds the key to all you desire and everything you wish to accomplish. This is the book that reveals the secret to personal wealth.
 
The Success Secrets of the Ancients—
An Assured Road to Happiness and Prosperity
 
Countless readers have been helped by the famous Babylonian parables,” hailed as the greatest of all inspirational works on the subject of thrift, financial planning, and personal wealth. In language as simple as that found in the Bible, these fascinating and informative stories set you on a sure path to prosperity and its accompanying joys. Acclaimed as a modern-day classic, this celebrated bestseller offers an understanding of—and a solution to—your personal financial problems that will guide you through a lifetime. This is the book that holds the secrets to keeping your money—and making more.

Hey so: This book is super small and really intelligent  It has useful tips for managing your money and getting rich but it's not boring. It's told in story format with the setting of Babylon. Don't worry, it's not stupid. I already told you it was pretty smart. If you would like to learn to grow your wealth then you should check this book out. It's easy to read and understand as well as implement. I really believe that everyone should give this book a quick once over if nothing else. What have you got to lose? Look more at what you can gain!

Extreme Vinyl Cafe

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Stuart McLean
Format: Hardcover (others available)
Pages: 265
Rating: 6 out of 10

Summary (via Goodreads): If you ask them, Dave and Morley's friends will tell you that no matter how long you've known people, they can still surprise you.

After all, no one expects to see a grown man dive into the trunk of his car to chase a rat. And despite what they may claim, few people are actually prepared to have their backyard, never mind their twelve-year-old son, shoot to stardom on YouTube's Most Watched Videos. And yes the sight of an 87-year-old bungee-jumping off a cruise ship is...unusual. But well-wishers at the Vinyl Cafe will advise you to be philosophical about such things.

No matter who sends a volley of nails through your truck window, which mannequin is disrobed or how green your skin turns when your mom leaves town, life marches on. In Extreme Vinyl Cafe bestselling author Stuart McLean regales us with the wild impulses, and extreme behaviours of Canada's favourite characters at the Vinyl Cafe. 

My Thoughts: At first, I wasn't really into this book. I had no idea where it came from or how it ended up on my shelf. I'm still not sure. I think it just materialized there one night while I was asleep but never noticed. Anyway, I thought that it was short enough that I should just suck it up and finally read it. I'm sad to say that I'm not a fan of short stories. I like to get with my characters and stick with me. I was happy to find out that this uses most of the same characters. I was sooooooo glad I didn't have to keep learning new characters; my mind can't take that. I was also excited to find out that most of the stories were pretty funny. Some of the short stories in this book had me laughing so hard and others had me face palming because, really, who gets into these kinds of messes? My favourite story might have been the one about planning funerals because something like what happened in the story would happen in my family. 

This book was easy to pick up and put down. It was okay that I had to stop reading to do my homework because they were short stories and I could easily keep up with what was happening. I found that I became quickly interested in each story once I started to read it. 

Something else that was good was that the author was answering fan mail (all of these letters were hilarious). It taking place in Canada was something nice too; it doesn't happen very often.

Final Thoughts: You will enjoy this book more if you already enjoy short stories or if you only have small blocks of time to kill. If you enjoy making fun of people that do stupid things then this book may give you a few good chuckles. I will not be buying the other books in this series but I can see myself returning to this one whenever I feel like having a laugh. I thought that it was more for a grown up audience though and it's quite different than the YA I normally read. 

P.S. What kind of music do you want at your funeral?

The Time Keeper

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Mitch Albom
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 224
Rating: 9 out of 10

Summary (via Goodreads): In this fable, the first man on earth to count the hours becomes Father Time. The inventor of the world's first clock is punished for trying to measure God's greatest gift. He is banished to a cave for centuries and forced to listen to the voices of all who come after him seeking more days, more years. Eventually, with his soul nearly broken, Father Time is granted his freedom, along with a magical hourglass and a mission: a chance to redeem himself by teaching two earthly people the true meaning of time.

He returns to our world--now dominated by the hour-counting he so innocently began--and commences a journey with two unlikely partners: one a teenage girl who is about to give up on life, the other a wealthy old businessman who wants to live forever. To save himself, he must save them both. And stop the world to do so.

My Take (quickly because this is a funny book to review): I really loved this book. It has an incredible premise. It really forces you to think about your view of time. You question whether or not you waste time. You wonder if you live life to the fullest. You also have to question what you think about death. I could understand each characters side of the story. I could follow why they would make certain choices or say certain things. The characters used in this book could be any person in the world.

In Closing: You should just read this book because you just should. It's pretty incredible and life changing. Give it a try.

The Reckoning (Taker #2)

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Alma Katsu
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 352
Rating: 6 out of 10

Summary (via Goodreads): Lanore McIlvrae is the kind of woman who will do anything for love. Including imprisoning the man who loves her behind a wall of brick and stone.

She had no choice but to entomb Adair, her nemesis, to save Jonathan, the boy she grew up with in a remote Maine town in the early 1800s and the man she thought she would be with forever. But Adair had other plans for her. He used his mysterious, otherworldly powers to give her eternal life, but Lanore learned too late that there was a price for this gift: to spend eternity with him. And though he is handsome and charming, behind Adair’s seductive faÇade is the stuff of nightmares. He is a monster in the flesh, and he wants Lanore to love him for all of time.

Now, two hundred years after imprisoning Adair, Lanore is trying to atone for her sins. She has given away the treasures she’s collected over her many lifetimes in order to purge her past and clear the way for a future with her new lover, Luke Findley. But, while viewing these items at an exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Lanore suddenly is aware that the thing she’s been dreading for two hundred years has caught up to her: Adair has escaped from his prison. He’s free— and he will come looking for her. And she has no idea how she will save herself.

My Thoughts: If you took Beauty and the Beast, Romeo and Juliette, and a slightly watered-down version of 50 Shades of Grey and put them together you would get this book. Looking at those titles, you can see where the problem might come in. I feel the need to say that this book was bizarre, just as the first novel in this series was. I can't say that it was my favourite though. Alma Katsu is an incredible writer and has a brilliant mind but Lanore's mind is a bit of a scary place to be. I didn't appreciate that she cut herself down to think that she might actually care for Adair. That's just plain not good for women everywhere. I personally do not like thinking about how screwed up some people might be.

This said, I am glad that she saw the characters through. I can't say that their decisions surprised me. They were true to how they were. Each one fought for what was right, or at least what they thought was right. Every character had a growing moment too. I don't agree with readers that hate when characters change; people change and grow so why wouldn't characters in stories?

I'm not pleased with the ending. It was too sudden. I was expecting some grand ending or some huge event that would lead into the next novel but I was left disappointed. There was no lead up. There was no subtle change over time that led to the conclusion of this story. The reader doesn't even get a glimpse into the mind of Adair. There is absolutely no explanation to what he chose to do in the end. It just bothers me. I hold onto the hope that the next novel will explain his decisions. Two books in, I hope I won't be disappointed. 

Final Thoughts: I enjoyed the writing itself but the end really upset me. For such a long story, I expected more. I pray that the final book will be better and leave me content. If you read the first in the series, it won't hurt to read this one but I liked the first one about a thousand times more than this one. Take from that what you wish...

The Taker

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Alma Katsu
Format: Paperback
Pages: 436
Rating: 9 out of 10

Summary (from Goodreads): True love can last an eternity . . . but immortality comes at a price. 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.

My Thoughts: I feel it is necessary to start off by saying that this is definitely not a children's story. There is murder, mystery, intrigue, rape, immortal beings, and the police. When I picked up with book, from the amazing Wal-mart discount shelf (my first love), I choose it purely based on the cover. Okay, sure, 'don't judge a book by its cover', but I just love those masquerade masks...Anyway, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. 

First of all, this book is strange. Like Wuthering Heights, this story is a story inside a story during a large portion of the novel. I managed to follow this one better than Wuthering Heights. 

Then, of course, there is the fact that you are thrown right into the story. After that, a lot of what we read is the main character backtracking. What I can't understand is why Luke helps her. I mean, this chick shows up in the ER and asks for help escaping, are you just going to help her out? The police were the ones that bring her in. That would give me pause...

Next, the author tries to get us to believe in this world, which is our world, where there are, in fact, people that live forever but that also hang around each other. One is 'in charge' but it's kind of more of an 'I own you' kind of way. He's a bit of a wacko. Then again, this whole concept is nuts right. Sure but then why does it seem so real.

I found myself feeling sorry for the main character. What had she ever done? All she really wanted was love. Sadly, it came at a higher price then she would have thought. 

It leaves us wondering what is going to happen to Lanny. We think she is safe but is she really? She might be able to get herself out of this mess but does she? What will happen to her and Luke? We don't know. We are left completely stranded in this story. I found myself stuck, wondering what was going to happen. I super excited to read book two! I really want to find out what happens in the end.

Final Thoughts: I read this book while Kristen and I were on our break but kept an eye out for the second novel. I waited and waited until I could wait no more. I couldn't wait very long for the next book. Now that it's on my shelf I figured I would go back and review this so that I can gush about how awesome I hope the next one it. I'm going to start reading it right now. You should too.

Seriously though, this is not for children or people that are sensitive. There is murder, rape, torture, plain old capturing and locking up. At times, I found myself uncomfortable. Also, I told my one friend that she couldn't borrow my copy because she was simply too immature. Then again, I could be the sensitive one here... Let me know what you think about it.

Knock Out

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Catherine Coulter
Pages: 417
Format: Paperback
Rating: 8 out of 10

Summary (Thanks GoodReads): Seven-year-old Autumn Backman needed a hero. When she saw Special Agent Dillon Savich on TV after he'd brought down bank robbers in a Georgetown bank, she knew she'd found him. She called Savich, but she didn't use the phone." "They were burying dead people in my daddy's grave ... they're coming after us. Please help me." "Who's they?" "Blessed, he's coming." "Ethan Merriweather, sheriff of Titusville, Virginia, a small mountain town near the Titus Hitch Wilderness, goes looking for a missing little girl. Soon after he finds her, Ethan realizes that Autumn has brought him a huge problem - a relentless madman who has the ability to control others simply by looking at them. And the madman is after her and her mom." "It's Uncle Blessed, and he wants Autumn." "When Savich answers Autumn's call, she tells him Blessed is from Bricker's Bowl, Georgia. Savich and Sherlock go to Blessed's home, learn about his brother, Grace, and meet their mother, Shepherd. Savich soon realizes the only way to stop Blessed is to "cut off the snake's head." Back in Titusville, Ethan, Autumn, and her mother, Joanna, are forced to hide from Blessed and Grace in the wilderness. Ethan knows the brothers will never give up their insane pursuit for Autumn. It's a race to stop the madness, or the madness will destroy them all.

My Take: Overall, outstanding but I won't lie to you, the beginning was a bit slow. It might have just been the fact that I was so busy I couldn't get into it though so don't let what I said scare you away. I didn't read the other 15 books by this author in this series, I read it as a stand alone, which worked but I did at times feel like I was left out of what was happening because I might not have had all the back story but I had enough to follow along and still enjoy it. I was able to relate to the character without knowing everything about them. We were filled in with the information we would need to understand their motivations and actions.

Also, there is enough action to keep your interest. Every so often I would have a moment of disbelief at what they were going through but in the end it all made perfect sense. I found myself even wanting to protect Autumn like all the other characters in the book did; she was very lovable. I was happy to find myself being able to tell the difference between reality and fiction when in this novel it is sometimes hard to tell what is really happening and what the character's are tricking others into believing. I found their "gifts" to be somewhat believable...okay sometimes it was a stretch but I have a great imagination and that helped.

Final Thoughts: If you like action and can handle the strange telepathic...stuff that happens then this book is great for you. There are many twists and turns that keep things fresh and interesting. You might want to start with the first book in the series before reading this but you don't have to. I think that I might go back and read the previous novels. Enjoy!

P.S. I'm sorry that not much has been up but it's major project and midterm time for us. Plus, I don't read when I'm sick...I stare at the walls and plan ways to get out of doing things like homework. (Not kidding...) It should start to pick up soon. Also, I need ideas for some good books or certain kinds of books. All I have at home are CSI books and Classics, neither of which interest me at the present. Any thoughts?

Getting Rid of Bradley

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Jennifer Crusie
Pages: 264
Format: Paperback
Rating: 9 out of 10

Summary (Via GoodReads): Lucy Savage is finally getting rid of Bradley--and his hideous green recliner. Bradley is out of her life for good. Or so she thinks. Turns out Officer Zach Warren wants to arrest the very same Bradley for embezzlement and figures the lovely Lucy can lead him straight to his target.

Good thing there's a copy around. Because someone shoots at Lucy and then blows up her car. Zach insists she needs twenty-four-hour protection. What does he think her three dogs and attack cat are for? Still, he insists on moving right in to Lucy's house.

Now there's danger lurking outside and in her own kitchen, bathroom--and bedroom. Or maybe Zach is just what Lucy needs...

My Thoughts: I loved this novel. I loved the character of Lucy. She's so cute and so innocent...well, okay, not for long. Even though the stereotype is over done I really liked the fact that Zach was protective, even a bit over-protective. That's how he should be. It just seemed to make sense that he would act the way he did with him being a police officer.

Also, there was a great plot twist at the end. Sure, I saw it coming but to me, that really didn't matter because it made sense and only added to the story. I loved that there was a lot of foreshadowing but that they didn't make it so over-done that when it happened it was still interesting. I loved the action that was added. Plus, I'm a sucker for a little romance.

Final Thoughts: This novel has good character development and each one is different in their own way. The plot is never boring and something is always happening. I've read this book multiple times and think you should read it though I will need to put a 18A rating on it. That's just a heads up! Enjoy!

Flash and Bones

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Kathy Reichs
Pages: 271
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 8 out of 10

Summary: Just as 200,000 fans are pouring into town for Race Week, a body is found in a barrel of asphalt next to the Charlotte Motor Speedway. The next day, a NASCAR crew member comes to Temperance Brennan's office to share a devastating story. Twelve years earlier, Wayne Gamble's sister, Cindi, then a high school senior and aspiring racer, disappeared along with her boyfriend, Cale Lovette. Lovette kept company with a group of right-wing extremists known as the Patriot Posse. Could the body be Cindi's? Or Cale's?

At the time of their disappearance, the FBI joined the investigation, only to terminate it weeks later. Was there a cover-up? As Tempe juggles multiple theories,the discovery of a strange, deadly substance in the barrel alongside the body throws everything into question. Then an employee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention goes missing during Race Week. Tempe can't overlook the coincidence. Was this man using his lab chemicals for murder? Or is the explanation even more sinister? What other secrets lurk behind the festive veneer of Race Week?

My Take: I really like Kathy Reichs books because she has the science but she also has the people. The novels that she writes are full of just enough action and just enough drama to keep you focused while at the same time, teaching you something that you didn't know or telling you how something works. She thinks about things and adds things that I would never even think about had it not been for her novels. She's great.

I've read all Reichs novels so now I'm just trying to keep up with the character, Temperance. I want to know what will happen to her, I want to know how she will solve what seems to be an unsolvable mystery. I'm curious to know how it ends and that it what propels me to finish these books.

I said before that there is just enough action to keep our interest and that's true. It isn't over loaded with useless detail but uses the action to move through the story. Each one of her novels has something happen to Temperance. She always gets herself into some kind of trouble and I find that as I read I get excited to find out what she will get herself into next.

Since Kathy Reichs is a real forensic anthropologist, the science is real. You really do learn some things. I think that's great because it makes the whole thing seem much more real.

Final Thoughts: If you like science, mysteries, racing, and just a touch of good drama, than this is a good novel for you. one thing that I love about Reichs' novels is that you don't have to read them all. She always gives an introduction so if you want to read only this one, you could. It's all around good.

P.S. Fun Kelsey factoid: Next year I will be going to school for anthropology and Kathy Reichs is the reason. ☺ Also, if you have read any of Kathy Reichs novels and haven't already than you should check out the Television show, Bones. It airs on Global and Fox (cable).

(This season is done but whatever!)

Anna Karenina

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Leo Tolstoy
Pages: 754
Format: Paperback
Rating: 2 out of 10

Summary (From GoodReads): The sensual, rebellious Anna renounces a respectable yet stifling marriage for an affair that offers passion even as it ensnares her for destruction. Her story contrasts with that of Levin, a young, self- doubting agnostic who takes a different path to fulfilment.


My Take: Thought it began interesting enough, with its multiple love stories that were all woven together, it quickly grew confusing and complicated. I was interested to know how it ended and I truly did want to finish it but I just couldn't do it. I got lost in the Russian names that I couldn't pronounce and the many nicknames/short forms of names that each character had. There were many characters and each had at least three different names. Also, my mind couldn't decided which characters I liked and which I didn't. One second I liked one and the next I couldn't stand them. It drove me crazy.

The plot was good when I could keep track of who we were talking about. The switching between the different story lines had no rhyme or reason to it. Sometimes one character got two chapters and other times they got five or six in a row. I didn't like that. Soon I was skipping chapters so that I could just read the parts about Anna because I was the most interested in her but in the end I gave up on the story all together. I ended up googling the ending because I still wanted to know. One day I'll try reading it again but for now it sits on my shelf with the bookmark hanging out of it.

Final Thoughts: It has a good but slightly very confusing plot. You really have to be paying attention and have a long attention span because not all 750 pages are filled with action but are all filled with words. On the upside, you may make it all the way through it. It has a interesting ending according to google. I hope you can get through it.

P.S. How do you make it through really long books? Any tips?


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UPDATE - Kristen


It's kind of funny that Kelsey decided to post this today, because I literally recommended this to someone today! Though I'm still trudging through it, I kind of like the changing chapters though I do wish Anna herself was more focused on. I'm determined to finish this, no  matter what.
My rating thus far isn't has low as Kels', probably a 7 for me.

My Sister's Keeper

Reviewer: Kristen
Author: Jodi Picoult
Format: Paperback
Pages: 500 (varies)
Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Summary (From Goodreads): Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate -- a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister -- and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.

My Sister's Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life, even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less? Should you follow your own heart, or let others lead you? Once again, in My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult tackles a controversial real-life subject with grace, wisdom, and sensitivity.

My take: I'll admit it, I picked up this book because I saw the movie when it was in theaters (so long ago, right?). If you're not reading it because you saw the movie, I seriously suggest that you do. The book is so much different than the movie is! So so so so different. (Could I be anymore insipid...) I don't want to give spoilers away, but it is a tear-jerking heart breaking novel. I think I actually cried more during the novel than I did in the movie. Which is something of a feat, because I rarely cry during novels.(Though I do have my few that unfailingly make me ball like a baby...) The only thing that kept this book from a solid ten out of ten was the changing perspectives. I hate changing perspectives. In some books it works, and I'm not saying it doesn't in this one, but I'm just not a fan. Also keeping it from a perfect score was all the medical terms and information. I get it, essential to the story and what not, but a few times I had no idea what they were talking about. I'm one of those people who will look it up though, but I know a lot of people don't. I flew through this book, but it did have a few dry parts. Probably essential to the story, but I just wanted to get back to the main events. All in all, I suggest you read this, because the difference from the movie and novel is somewhat -for lack of a better term - humourous. 

Final take: If you read this book, make sure you have a box of tissues beside you... it's a heart breaker.