A new wonderful fantastic romance novel!

I am not a huge romance novel reader, mainly because I think they can be pretty trashy, but I just read this amazing novel that just barely came out called Uneasy Fortunes. The sexual tension is beyond amazing and all you get is some great kissing. Click here to read my review at my other blog! You won't regret it!

Did you know potatoes originated in Brazil?

Check out my review of the fascinating 1493: Uncovering the World Columbus Created over at the other blog I participate in, The Crooked Word, and learn even more interesting facts!

Need a gift for a boy 9-14 years old?

If you are trying to find a gift for a boy late elementary to jr high age, check out my review of Noah Zarc by D Robert Pease over at The Crooked Word. It's a space/time-traveling adventure and would be a perfect gift.

A moving story of strength

Everyone I know who has read this book absolutely loves it! Go check out my review over at The Crooked Word!

Epic series!

The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


4.5 stars is more accurate.
Good grief! I had such a hard time putting this book down. Which didn't bode well for my sleep since it's almost 600 pages long. You wonder (at least I did) when you first start reading this series, knowing it's an epically long series - how can Jordan stretch this story out over that many novels and still make it interesting? By being inhumanly talented as an author and storyteller, that's how.
The short of it? The plot thickens! Duh duh duh! :)



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A powerful story of human connection

The Only Alien on the Planet by Kristen D. Randle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was published in 1996, so too long ago for "The Crooked Word" to review it. So I'll just post it here :)

This was a book club read. I thought at first it was going to be your normal high school drama, but was so pleasantly surprised that it pretty much ignored most of that. What a beautifully written story of.... how do I even describe it? It's a powerful story of human connections. There you go. And it is so perfectly realized! It slowly draws you in, and then before you know it, you cannot put it down until you find out what happens! But, even beyond wanting to know what will happen is just the desire to spend as much time with these characters as possible. They feel so real and fleshed out.
I highly recommend this book to anyone!

The Speed of Dark

Doesn't the title alone intrigue you? It did me!Click here to read my review at "The Crooked Word" about this insightful and moving novel told from the point of view of a functionally autistic man offered a "cure."

Wanna see my new Undiez... for my feet?

I came THIS close to putting the second half of that in the body of this post, but I didn't want to scare people too much :) I'm so excited to try these out at my ballet class this week! Why weren't these around when I was doing dance all the time? It's great because you can still get traction (full shoes can be slippery), but you can turn without tearing up your feet. Just imagine the song "I'm so excited!" playing in the background right now :)

Other randomness:

Totally enjoyed doing Yoga with my husband last night. Not sure trash talking is usually done during Yoga, but it was fun anyway :) Which, by the way, I obviously dominated :)

My good friend Rebecca Mckinnon just self-published her first novel!!! I'm attaching links on here and will now, of course, urge all of you to purchase it. Amazon was selling it for only $9!!! And it's eligible for Free Super Shipping. You can also order it in ebook/kindle format.
It's actually really good! It's a cute romance story and quite the page turner. It's the first in a trilogy. I can't wait to get my copy and read her final version! (I had read the rough draft and several versions since).

Her little blurb says:

"Friends or family?
Desire or responsibility?
She thought she’d made her choice.

Now, finding herself trapped in a world splintered from her own, Narissa is determined to return home. Learning that the means of crossing between realities has been lost, she vows to find the elusive gateway.

Narissa doesn’t plan to make friends. She certainly doesn’t intend to fall in love.

Faced with the decision, will she choose the life she wants, or return to the world where she belongs?"

You can buy it here:

http://www.amazon.com/Annexed-Refuge-Trilogy-Rebecca-McKinnon/dp/1461147662/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1310366876&sr=8-2

you can also enter to win a free copy of it on Goodreads here:

http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/12156-annexedAnnexed

There's only 13 days left to enter - so head over there. Or, just buy it! It's a fast read and you'll love it!

There's my randomness for today :)

Fantastic fantasy novel...

Eona: The Last Dragoneye by Alison Goodman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is the sequel to "Eon: Dragoneye Reborn," and while you could probably read this without having read the first - I would still recommend reading "Eon" and then "Eona." This is just as fast-paced (well, perhaps a little bit slower) as the first and such a page-turner!

The summary on Goodreads is as follows:

"Eon has been revealed as Eona, the first female Dragoneye in hundreds of years. Along with fellow rebels Ryko and Lady Dela, she is on the run from High Lord Sethon's army. The renegades are on a quest for the black folio, stolen by the drug-riddled Dillon; they must also find Kygo, the young Pearl Emperor, who needs Eona's power and the black folio if he is to wrest back his throne from the selfstyled "Emperor" Sethon. Through it all, Eona must come to terms with her new Dragoneye identity and power-and learn to bear the anguish of the ten dragons whose Dragoneyes were murdered. As they focus their power through her, she becomes a dangerous conduit for their plans. . . .



Things I love about it:



A love triangle, but it isn't really a choice between two people she loves.



That all parties involved are powerful - no one is on unequal ground.



The characters are sometimes petty, obtuse, greedy, untrusting. Yes, that's on my list of things I like.



The characters also take big leaps of faith in each other, overcome selfishness (sometimes unintentionally) to protect one another.



The dragon storyline and the twist at the end are fantasticly surprising and yet feel inevitable because she set it up so well.



The intrigue and betrayels.



The pull of power on Eona and that it's truly a tempting god-like power.



Both "Eon" and "Eona" are in my top ten favorite fantasy (I count series as one entry) and are next to "Bitterwood" and sequels for dragon stories. Even if you don't like dragons, these are wonderful books!



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Another book review...

My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I started this book out of obligation. My cute neighbor dropped it off to me and I figured I had to at least try it, despite the fact that it is very much not the kind of book I normally read. I'll tell you what - I was surprised by how often I wanted to pick it back up and find out what happened to the characters! I was actually surprised by some of the plot twists and felt that the whole thing was fun and adventurous.



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"Kingkiller Chronicles: The Wise Man's Fear" review

The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In truth... 4.5-4.75 stars, not that I'm being nitpicky about the rating system or anything :) Okay, here goes:



I devoured a just-under-1,000-page novel in 6 days, which I think says something in and of itself. Though, maybe I just mention that hoping it impresses you. Did it work? :) I know some people have complained about the length, but I was never bored (except for Felurian, more on that later). This is true homage to Tolkein, there's no elves or dwarves, or magic rings - this is Rothfuss' world and he has created a truly diverse and rich milieu, full of culture and history. There are many storytelling scenes and lyrics and poems (like LOTR), but, surprisingly, I enjoyed them and didn't feel the need for them to end. I love both the University and when he's out on his adventures! Any scene with Elodin makes me laugh, Denna is contradictory, but I understand her, Kvothe is courageous, clever, yet stupid in so many ways, and has some rather annoying personality issues, but, then again, I like that - characters should have flaws. I absolutely love the Adem - I found them fascinating! I was worried when the jacket blurb mentioned being involved in politics, but it turns out to be courtly intrigue.



*SPOILER ALERT*



Okay, the only part I really had a problem with - Felurian. Did we have to spend that many pages on the quintessential nerd/geek fantasy? Really? A petite, yet properly volumptious fae (fairy, really) who has dark, long hair down to her waist and runs around stark naked and drives men insane because they can't have her after she's grown tired of them, or even better! Actually kills them in the process of coitus due to the "strain." I'm pretty sure if I had to read about her breasts ONE more time, I think I would have thrown the book across the room. Of course, if there is a guy reading this I'm sure I've just convinced you to read it, even if this kind of book isn't usually your cup of tea, so to speak.



*END OF SPOILERS*



Other than that, I found my high expectations more than met and impatiently wait the next installment. You see, THIS! is why I usually wait for the whole series to come out before I read any of them. :)



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"The Glass Castle" review

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I don't believe I've ever read a memoir before, but I can't imagine all of them are this fascinating. It's like a horrible train wreck you can't tear your eyes from. But, it's also inspiring how much this woman overcame! The drama and neglect these kids were put throught is mind boggling to a parent that anyone could treat their kids this way and be okay with it. Don't get me wrong, there are things that are far worse than what Jeannette's parents did, and there is some evidence in the book there might have been some mental issues; but, there is still some staggering stories. What is most amazing is that the whole memoir neither sugar-coats, nor justifies, nor vilifies her parents.

*SPOILER ALERT*

Some things that left me breathless or wanting to punch her mom or dad:

Uncle Stanly trying to grope her and her mother's reaction being: "Poor Uncle Stanley! He must be so lonely."

Her dad breaking their piggy bank savings for New York.

Her dad taking her to a bar and using her as a distraction and bargaining chip when he knew what the other guy wanted.

Letting a 3-year-old cook hot dogs for herself.

The tiger incident at the zoo!

There are many many others, but the zinger of them all:
Letting your kids suffer starvation, deprivation, extreme weather, when all you'd have to do is cash out your land holdings worth a million dollars!!!!



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There, Their, They're: A No-Tears Guide to Grammar from the Word Nerd

There, Their, They're: A No-Tears Guide to Grammar from the Word Nerd by Annette Lyon

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The title of this book is my number one grammar pet peeve :) But, there were definitely some things I didn't know (I have NEVER gotten a grasp on the the whole lay/lie thing). I understood it while I was reading through the blurb on it in the book, but the understanding has apparently taken flight again and escapes me. Oh well, at least now I have a reference to look at.
If you have questions about grammar, but don't want to fall asleep or purposefully bash your head into a wall while trying to figure the answer out, then I HIGHLY recommend this! It's short and there are a few misspellings that weren't caught before printing (doubly embarrassing, I guess, given that the author is a professional editor), but you can't catch everything. Even then, though, it doesn't take away from how informative the book is. It's written in a style that's very "user friendly."
I couln't find it at the library, but if you'd like to borrow my copy, you're more than welcome to, or you can find it on Amazon.com.



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"Inventing George Washington" review

Inventing George Washington: America's Founder, in Myth and Memory by Edward G. Lengel

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


If I was to compare this to only history books, it would earn a 5-star rating. It was interesting and very easy to read and follow, but smartly written. Basically it sets out to show the commonly-believed myths about George Washington and how they came to be.

Written by one of the main editors of the George Washington Papers project (therefore having access to ALL of Washington's papers that are still around), you gotta figure he'd know.

He doesn't set out to reveal the "true" Washington, just to reveal how these myths came to be and what they might mean.

I will give him credit that he tries to hide his disdain for the religious myths and those who originated them and those who continue to use them today; though, he's not always successful.

It's only a few hundred pages from what I remember and VERY interesting the whole time. I would highly recommend reading this!





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"Tuck Everlasting" review

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I can definitely see why this is a classic. It was a fast, easy read, but you really feel immersed in Winnie's world. Babbitt's writing is poetic, but not in a "look how poetic I, the author, am!" kind of way.

I was fascinated by the events and wanted to know what happened. I love the characters and I think the Tuck's feelings about their immortality is directly related to their maturity level.



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"Number the Stars" book review

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I have to say it's nice to read about people who were courageous and had more than a scrap of humanity during those times. Not there weren't others (obviously there were), but a whole nation who were able to smuggle out almost ALL of their Jewish population under the noses of the Nazi's is inspiring, to say the least! This is a very short and easy read, but I found the friendship between Ellen and Maryanne touching. I really enjoyed it.



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"Princess Bride" book review

The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure by William Goldman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


After reading Goldman's introduction, I'm very glad he abridged the original novel. I kept picturing Cary Elwes and Robin Wright-Penn (I guess just Robin Wright now) delivering the lines - which, honestly, made it better. The book is funny and clever, but the movie has more charm and charisma. Maybe it's because I saw the movie before having read the book, but I think the movies better (such a classic!)



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"Tiger's Curse" Book Review

Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is an example of an author's dream... self publish and claim the #1 Kindle spot for childrens literature then have a publisher call YOU and say they want to launch their new imprint with a publication of your book. If only.

Anyhow, the actual book - totally teen and slightly cheesy, but I still enjoyed it. And toward the end, the characters actually started surprising me (at least the herione) and I feel like she made a pretty mature choice. Oh, and this book is refreshingly innocent. Kissing only. Not that I mind books that deal with more (as long it's done with taste and restraint), but it is refreshing to read one where they don't just jump in the sack, they kiss. It's sweet.

I would recommend this as a fun read for kids and adults alike.



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"Pathfinder" by Orson Scott Card

Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Completely engrossing! It's so wonderful to have 2 novels of Card's come out that I love, considering the previous few had been somewhat of a let down. This is being marketed as YA and I love that he doesn't dumb it down. It has time travel in it, but instead of ignoring the paradoxes and complications of time travel, it embraces them in wonderfully circuitous conversations. It was definitely a page turner for me and I look forward to the next installment.



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"Hidden Empire" by Orson Scott Card

Hidden Empire by Orson Scott Card

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Hallelujah! Card is back! Skip "Empire" and go straight to "Hidden Empire"! Trust me, I've forgotten most of what was in "Empire" other than there was an assasination attempt on the President (which was successful, I think) and the U.S. came close to a bloody civil war between blue and red states. And, yes, the whole book was just as contrived as it sounds, but mildly entertaining.

Anyhow, the point is, "Hidden Empire" is far more rife with Card's best tool - the moral/ethical dilemma. A deadly disease breaks out in Africa. Do you quarentine Africa? How do you sell that to the public? What would somebody's motivations be for doing that? And that's just the first of many.

I cared about all the characters in this one. Also, it managed to make me cry! Always a good sign for a book (much more difficult in a book setting than a movie).



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