Thursday, September 27, 2012

Seconds Away




This is the second novel in the Mickey Bolitar series and I can't wait for the third installment. There is just something about the characters and the writing that I love.

In this installment Mickey and his sidekicks, Ema and Spoon, must solve the mystery of their other friend, Rachel's, shooting and Rachel's mom's murder.

As usual, the writing is spot on, the characters believable and lovable, and the action nonstop. If these books don't get teenagers reading, nothing will!

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Shelter




I don't know why I hesitated to read this series by Harlan Coben because I love his writing. But, I'm glad I finally downloaded it and I read it one day!

Mickey Bolitar's dad is dead and his mom is in rehab so he has to live with his uncle, Myron. He hates Myron but knows he has no place else to go.

Mickey starts a new school and even has a new girlfriend but when she disappears, he and his quirky, nerdy friends decide to investigate.

Even though this is a YA novel, it reads like an adult one. Harlan Coben is just so masterful! He creates characters who are fun and real and this book just has so much heart.

In fact, as soon as I finished it, I downloaded the second one that was just released and I'm halfway through it.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Last to Die




Tess Gerritsen lives in Maine and that's what originally attracted me to her. So glad I found her!

Three teenagers have something in common. Their parents were killed the same week and the three kids survived. Now, their foster families are being murdered, too, and, again, the kids manage to escape. What connection could these kids have? Who wants them dead?

That's the mystery Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles must solve. It takes them to Evensong, the secluded private school in Maine the kids attend.

I really enjoyed this novel. The writing is crisp and the characters are believable and interesting. The focus switches from character to character so it's never boring.

Yay, I updated in a timely manner! Now, that I've figured out how to use the BlogPress app, it makes it so much easier to do it using my iPad.

I'm still trying to add a video but it keeps saying my YouTube password is wrong. I know it isn't because I tried it out at the YouTube site and it worked fine there. So, I've still got to twiddle with that. I took a video of Kylie reading to me. Yes! It happened, just as I thought it would. It made me realize that she's been able to read for a while, now, but, it's still a chore so she's been hiding it. When I challenged her, told her she'd be reading to me NEXT year, she took the bait. "Oh, I can read now, Grammy!" So I made her prove it. And she did! I hope to have it on here soon.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Update...Finally

Oh, I've been so neglectful of this blog! I don't know why I got so lazy. I have been reading, though. Now, if I can just remember anything about the books!


This was a sweet but harrowing coming-of-age novel about a young girl dealing with the slowing of the earth, the lengthening of days and nights, and the dissolution of her parents' marriage. It's wonderfully written with simple but beautiful language.



This is one I spent quite a bit of time on but haven't finished yet. It is about a wife who goes missing. It's told through two voices. The husband speaks and the more he says the creepier he gets. The wife's voice is heard through diary entries talking about their life together and that gets weirder and weirder.

I'm a curious soul so I'll definitely finish it but I just have to be in the right mood.




I read this one fairly quickly. It, too, is told through two voices but this time it's two half sisters. Dana's father is a bigamist. She grows up knowing he has another wife and daughter and always feels like she takes second place to his other daughter, Chaurisse.

The second half of the book is told through Chaurisse's eyes. She and her mom have no idea of her father's other family. When Chaurisse and Dana meet is when the book gets really interesting.

This is also very well written with lovely descriptions.



I just finished this one yesterday and am still freaked out. It is one scary book...not edge-of-your-seat scary but scary in the sense that, Yikes!, this could really happen and might even be happening as we speak.

Jackson Oz is a scientist who notices that there has been a worldwide increase in human deaths from animal attacks. But, no one will listen to his warnings until it's too late. He's a smart cookie and figures out what is causing the animals to act so out of character but the solution makes no one happy. This one will stay with me for quite a while.




Written by Tracey Clark, the founder of the Shutter Sisters blog, this how-to book is an ongoing read for me. I love all her simple yet effective ideas for capturing everyday life. Every time I read a section, it makes me want to pick up my camera and start snapping away. She doesn't go into the technical aspects of photography, just keeps it creative and fun.



Kylie and I are making our way through the Junie B. Jones series of books. They are a riot and we always crack up when reading about her misadventures. Junie B. is quirky and unique and we love her. Kylie started first grade last week and before I know it, she'll be reading to me!


Here she is heading into her first day. Don't you just love the welcoming look on her teacher's face? Ky will be visiting us this weekend and I'm anxious to hear all about how it's going. Just before school started I said to her, "You'll probably have homework this year." Her reply? "I know; I can't wait!"

She's just like her grandma!