Dashing Through the Snow

Dashing Through the Snow by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark

"In the picturesque village of Branscombe, New Hampshire, the townsfolk are all pitching in to prepare for the first Festival of Joy.  The night before the festival begins, a group of employees at the local market learn that they have won $180 million in the lottery.  One of their co-workers, Duncan, decided at the last minute, on the advice of a pair of crooks masquerading as financial advisers, not to play.  Then he goes missing.  A second winning lottery ticket was purchased in the next town, but the winner hasn't come forward.  Could Duncan have secretly bought it?

The Clarks' endearing heroes -- Alvirah Meehan, the amateur sleuth, and private investigator Regan Reilly -- has arrived in Branscombe for the festival They are just the people to find out what is amiss.  As they dig beneath the surface, they find that life in Branscombe is not as tranquil as it appears."


It was a fast, easy read.  It was very enjoyable but it lacked the intensity that is usually seen by both of these authors.

It was fun to see so many of my favorite characters (Alvirah & Willy, Regan & Jack, Nora & Luke) from both authors combined in this mystery.

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 3.5

I was not compensated in any way for this review.

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I Know This Much is True

I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb

The book is about twins, one twin is schizophrenic, one twin feels cheated and angered.  One father missing, one step-father close by.  Friendships gained and lost.  Life twisted, explored, and affirmed.

This is the second book from Wally Lamb that I have read in as many months.  Being a new author to me makes me very critical so I was pleasantly surprised at how well I like the writings of Lamb. 

Twice as thoughtful and twice as heart-wrenching . . . soul-bearing . . . gratifying . . . it is a roller coaster ride of emotions.  I felt the pain and sadness of the characters.  I could relate to the characters which is big feat to accomplish (one of the big reasons Lamb was rated at a 5).

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 5

I was not compensated in any way for this review.  I picked this book out of my children's school's community library.

Between Me and the River

Between Me and the River
Living Beyond Cancer: A Memoir
by Carrie Host

"I do have a future, and the picture of that future is made up of a multitude of tiny dots called 'right now.'"
~~ Carrie Host ~~

"Carrie knows that the diagnosis of a life-threatening illness takes a split second to change your life, as well as the lives f your partner, partners, children, and all who love you. Packed with inspiration, advice, comfort, and hope Between Me and the Rive is Carrie's candid and uplifting memoir of how she found the strength and fortitude to triumph over a rare form of cancer, and craft a new and meaningful life."

When I got this book I was really nervous because I have dealt with cancer personally. (I had cervical cancer. My father, my aunt, my grandmother, my godson, and more had cancer.) I was afraid I would cry throughout the whole book. Yes, there were times that I needed the Kleenex. There were many more times where I sat there nodding my head up and down, totally understanding and connecting with Carrie. The book is poignant and tender, honest and insightful.

This is a beautiful, compassionate story about a woman who is supported by friendships, love of family, and dedication of doctors. This powerful, thought-provoking book stays with you.

Excellent book!

Rating (1, lowest; 5 highest): 5+

Grace

Grace by Richard Paul Evans

"She was my first kiss. My first love. She was a little match girl who could see the future in the flame of a candle. She as a runaway who taught me more about life than anyone has before or since. And when she was gone my innocence left with her.

There are things that become clearer to me as a I grow older. This much I know: too many things were kept secret in those days. Things that never should have been hidden. And things that should have."

This is a story of a young runaway and the boy who hides her from a frightening world too large and unfathomable for him to comprehend. As usual for Mr. Evans, it is a roller-coaster ride of emotions. Get out the tissues.

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 5

Hold Tight

Hold Tight by Harlan Coben

"Tia and Mike Baye never imagined they'd spy on their kids. But their sixteen-year-old son Adam has been unusually distant lately, and after the suicide of his best friend Spencer Hill, they can't help but worry. Within days of installing a sophisticated spy program on Adam's compute, they are jolted by a cryptic message from an unknown correspondent that shakes them to their core: Just stay quiet and all safe.

As if Mike Baye isn't dealing with enough, he also learns that Luca Loriman, the sweet kid who grew up next door, is in urgent need of a kidney transplant. As the boy's doctor, Mike suddenly find himself in possession of an explosive secret that threatens t rip the Loriman family apart at the seams.

Nearby, while browsing through an online memorial for Spence, Betsy Hill discovers a surprising detail about the night of her son's death. Before she can find out more, Adam disappears, taking the truth with him and sending shock waves through the neighborhood.

As the lives of these families collide in tragic, unexpected, and violent ways, long-hidden connection in their small suburb begin to work their way to the surface. And when an unidentified Jane Doe is beaten to death no far away, those connections threaten to turn this quiet community upside down -- and force these desperate parents to decide whether there is any line they won't cross to protect those they love most in the world."

The book raises the question how well do you know your child(ren). Harlan's promise of a thriller falls a little short in this book.

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 3.5

Inkdeath

Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke

Inkdeath is the conclusion of the Inkheart trilogy (Inkheart, Inkspell, Inkdeath).
"Ever since the extraordinary events of Inkspell, when the enchanted book Inkheart drew Meggie and her father, Mo, into its chapters, life in the Inkworld have been more tragic than magical.

The fire-eater Dustfinger is dead, having sacrificed his life for his apprentice Farid. Now, under the rule of the evil Adderhead, the fairy-tale land is in bloody chaos, its characters far beyond the control of Fenoglio, their author. Even Elinor, left behind in the real world believes her family to be lost -- lost between the covers of a book.

Facing the threat of eternal winter, Mo inks a dangerous deal with Death itself. Yet there remains a faint hope of changing the cursed story -- if only he can fill its pages fast enough."


Cornelia's stunning and spellbinding descriptions keep you in suspense and filled with magic. You will feel joy, pain, suspense, anger, hope.

Rating (1, lowest; 5 highest): 4.5

Storm Cycle

Storm Cycle by Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen

"Rachel Kirby is a computer genius whose personal life is falling apart. Even as she stands on he brink of a stunning technological breakthrough, her beloved younger sister is plagued by a rare chronic illness that will eventually kill her, laving Rachel all alone.

But thousands of miles away archaeologist/adventurer John Tavek has made a priceless discovery in an Egyptian tomb. A discovery, Rachel realizes, that humankind has been seeking throughout history -- a secret that may save her sister's life and many thousands more. But a powerful organization is also in hot pursuit, led by a man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

Against all odds, Rachel joins forces with the brilliant, enigmatic Tavak in an adventure that will take them across three continents. They have but one piece of a much large puzzle, and it will take all of their wits, instincts, and cutting-edge technology to bring to light an ancient civilization's most amazing legacy."

The details and research and charismatic characters live up to the usual "can't put the book down" writing of Iris Johansen. With her son's help they put together a captivating tale. It is a whirlwind of an adventure and the technological details are gripping.

Rating (1, lowest; 5 highest): 4

Inkheart

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

"One cruel night, Meggie's father reads aloud from Inkheart, and an evil ruler named Capricorn escapes the boundaries of the book, landing in their living room. Suddenly, Meggie's in the middle of the kind of adventure she thought only took place in fairy tales. Somehow she must master the magic that has conjured up this nightmare. Can she change the course of the story that has changed her life forever?"

A wonderfully embroidered fairy tale. This story will delight readers who like an exciting plot with larger-than-life characters. I was disappointed in how long it took to get the story "started". This book, while engaging, could be told in half the amount of pages. Funke likes her imaginative and skillful adjectives.

Rating (1, lowest; 5 highest): 4.5

Blogging's First Magazine

Get Your Kids Hooked on Books

Young people now spend an average of only seven minutes a day reading for pleasure, reports the National Endowment for the Arts. That is one reason 12th grade reading scores are declining.

These web sites can get your kids excited about books -- and help them think outside their required-reading lists.

Book Adventure - Created by Sylvan Learning, this site's Book Finder matches kids (grades -8) with reads they will enjoy. Acing book quizzes lets them win prizes, like Highlights subscriptions and free access to e-books.

Guys Read - Author Jon Siezka (The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs) launched this site to connect boys of all ages with literature relevant to them. Siezka encourages reading which includes non-fiction, comics, and magazines.

Reading is Fundamental - Kids can rate and review books they have already read. Each month there is a featured book and a featured author.

Teen Reads - This site posts extensive lists of upcoming books and interviews with popular writers. There are also tips on how to start a reading club.

The Elegant Gathering of White Snows

The Elegant Gathering of White Snows by Kris Radish

"For eight women, friendship is the first step of the most remarkable journey of all . . .

Just after midnight in a small town in Wisconsin, eight woman begin walking together down a rural highway. Career women, housewives, mothers, divorcees, and one ex-prom queen, they are close friends who have been meeting every Thursday night for years, sharing food, whine, and their deepest secrets. But on this particular Thursday, Susan, Alice, Chris, Sandy, Gail, Mary, Joanne, and Janice decided to disappear from their own lives.

Their spontaneous pilgrimage attracts national attention and inspires other women from all across the country. As the miles fall away and the women forge ahead on their backroads odyssey -- leaving small miracles in their wake -- each of their histories unfolds, tales of shattered dreams and unexpected renewal, of thwarted love affairs and precious second chances.

In luminous, heartwarming prose, Kris Radish deftly interweaves the women's intimate confessions into the story of their brave history-making walk."


A rallying cry for the empowerment of women and a celebration of the strong bond that exists between female friends.

Rating (1, lowest; 5 highest): 5

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Double Take

Double Take by Catherine Coulter

"The police are convinced that Julia Ransom is guilty of the brutal murder of her husband, renowned psychic August Ransom. But after six months of investigation and media frenzy, she is free of their scrutiny, because of the lack of evidence. One afternoon she walks from her Pacific Heights home to Fisherman's Wharf, alone, unwatched, and -- she realizes, happy. Standing at the railing on Pier 39, she savors the sounds around her -- tourists, countless seals on the barges, and for a moment enjoys the sheer normalcy of it all. It suddenly comes to an end when a respectable-looking man distracts her with conversation before striking her unconscious and heaving her over the rail into the San Francisco Bay. If it weren't for Special Agency Cheney Stone, Julia would drown. Cheney quickly realizes the attempt on Julia's life must be connected with the murder of her husband, and reopens the investigation with the SFPD.

Meanwhile, in Maestro, Virginia, Sheriff Dixon Noble (last seen in Point Blank) learns about a woman named Charlotte Pallack, whose extraordinary resemblance to his vanished wife, Christie, gone for three years, sends him across the country. Although in his heart he knows that this woman can't possibly be his missing wife, Dix is compelled to see her with his own eyes.

In San Francisco, Dix's and Cheney's paths cross, brought together by FBI Special Agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock. All four begin to unlock the mystery behind Charlotte Pallack's identity, as well as the forces behind Julie Ransom's attempted murder and the vicious murder of her husband. The most fascinating aspect of the case is the extraordinary cast of psychics they meet as they push deep into the intriguing and complex world of visions, mind benders, and communications with the dead. As the stakes and the body count rise, Savich, Sherlock, Dix, and Cheney fight for answers -- and their lives."

Another great book by Coulter, but a little slow in bringing in all the characters and making them pertinent to the plot. I figured out the mystery man behind the killings so that was disappointing.

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 4.

Carrot Cake Murder

Carrot Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke

"Hannah Swenswe has a lot on her plate, baking up a storm for The Cookie Jar. But she'll always make time for her business partner, Lisa, who's preparing for a big family reunion. Everyone is delighted when Lisa's long-lost uncle makes a surprise appearance. No one has heard from Gus in wenty-five years. Uncle Gus is immediately the hit of the reunion. He's almost as popular as Hannah's scrumptious carrot cake. But the next morning, as the whole family gathers for the group photo, one person is missing. Hannah offers to track down Uncle Gus, but her search leads toa shocking find. Over by the bar at the pavilion, she spots two slices of her infamous carrot cake, frosting-side down on the floor -- and Gus's corpse with an ice pick jutting out of his chest.

A little snooping reveals that not everyone was celebrating Gus's return. And when Hannah unearths secrets from Gus's past, she discovers many more people with an axe to grind. Now Hannah's got to sift through a long list of suspects to find a killer -- even if it could mean a recipe for her own demise..."

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 5.

I love this series with Hannah. I love mysteries and a great sense of humor and Joanne does both. Think... James Patterson meets Janet Evanovich without the detail and gore of James (though, I love his books too).

Double Cross

Double Cross by James Patterson

Another excellent thriller by Patterson. I hated the ending... it does leave you hanging. The good news with the ending, I'm hoping, is that there is more to come. I love the Alex Cross series.

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 5.

"Just when Alex Cross's life is calming down, he is drawn back into the game to confront a criminal mastermind like no other. The elaborate murders that have stunned Washington, DC, are the wildest that Alex Cross has ever seen. This maniac adores an audience, and stages his killings as spectacles in public settings. Alex is pursuing a genius of terror who has the whole city on edge as it waits for his next move. And the killer loves the attention, no doubt -- he even sets up his own Web site and live video feed to trumpet his madness.

In Colorado, another criminal mastermind is planning a triumphant return. From his super-maximum-security prison cell, Kyle Craig has plotted for years to have one chance at an impossible escape. If he has to join forces with DC's Audience Killer to get back at the man who put him in that cell -- Alex Cross -- all the better."

Christmas Magic

Christmas Magic is two books in one. Mistletoe and Holly by Janet Daily and
Sweet Sea Spirit by Emilie Richards.

Mistletoe and Holly: "Christmas festivities were the furthest things from Leslie Stiles's mind when she left the city for her aunt's house in Vermont. Her plans were foiled. Her neighbor Tagg Williams ignited a spark in her with his contagious Christian enthusiasm. It was the season of giving and Christmas filled the air. Could Leslie resist the season... and her heart's desire?"

Sweet Sea Spirit: "Hanging upside down from a giant tree, free-spirited Sandy MacDonald met Tyler Hamilton, on of Georgia's most prominent attorneys. Tyler was from a world that demanded sophistication and elegance. If there was one things Sandy couldn't resist, it was a challenge... a challenge that seemed insurmountable until Christmas showed her the miracles of love."

I don't usually read romantic novels but I do love Christmas time so the title appealed to me. Yes, I was rooting for the romance and so happy when both couples finally got together.

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 4

Different But Tolerable

Cameron, my dear son diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, mild Cerebral Palsy, Sensory Integration Disorder (old name under DSM) is an avid reader. Cameron struggles due to severe ADHD and other issues, but has learned to read on a first grade level, which means he is not as independent as he should be in fourth grade but he still loves to look at books. At age nine, he reads at a first grade level, reads very methodically -- though very disorganized -- but loves to read.

Cassandra, my dear daughter, is still in the process of learning to read and is reading first and second grade books. She too loves to read.

I cherish the many ways my children are completely different from one another and how they love and tolerate one another. Wouldn't my house the world be stiff and boring if we all did things the same way? Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if we each tried a little harder to understand those who share the planet, but live in a different world?

Sisters

Sisters by Danielle Steel

"21-years old Candy -- its the only name she needs -- is blazing her way through Paris, New York, and Tokyo as fashion's latest international supermodel... Her sister Tammy, 29, has a job producing the most successful hit show on TV, and a home she loves in L.A.'s Hollywood Hills... In New York, oldest sister Sabrina, 34, is am ambitious young lawyer... Annie, at 26, is an American artist in Florence, living for her art. On one Fourth of July weekend, as they do every year, the four sisters come home to Connecticut for their family's annual gathering. But before the holiday is over, tragedy strikes and their world is utterly changed. Suddenly, four sisters who have been fervently pursuing success and their own lives -- on opposite sides of the world -- reunite to share one New York brownstone, to support each other and their father, and to pick up the pieces while one sister struggles to heal her shattered body and soul. Thus begins an unscripted chapter of their lives, as a bustling house is soon filled with eccentric dogs, laughter, tears, friends, men... and the kind of honesty and unconditional love only sisters can provide. But as the four women settle in, they are forced to confront the direction of their respective lives. As the year passes and another July Fourth approaches, a season of grief and change gives way to new beginnings as a family comes together to share its blessings and a future filled with surprises, and ultimately, hope."

It was a great story and a roller coaster ride of loss and courage. As soon as the story started, I fell in love with the characters. I would love to see/read a sequel to this.

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 4.5

Two Little Girls in Blue

Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark

"When Margaret and Steve Frawley come home to Connecticut from a black-tie dinner in New York, their three-year-old twins, Kathy and Kelly, are gone. The police found the babysitter unconscious, and a ransom note from the 'Pied Piper' demands eight million dollars. Steve's global investment firm puts up the money, but when they go to retrieve the twins, only Kelly is in the car. The dead driver's suicide note says he inadvertently killed Kathy. At the memorial, Kelly tugs Margaret's arm and says, "Mommy, Kathy is very scared of that lady. She wants to come home right now." At first, Margaret believes that the twins are communicating and that Kathy is still alive. But as Kelly's warnings become increasingly specific and alarming, FBI agents set out on a desperate search."

Riveting, suspenseful. I liked the telepathy angle. Another great book by one of my favorite authors.

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 5