Riversong

Riversong

by Tess Hardwick

Romance, suspense, fear, healing from the past, starting over & more...so many issues are present in this inspiring book. Tess Hardwick is an awesome storyteller...you feel a part of the action. I really enjoyed this book! A great women's literature book.....I had fun watching Lee's life bloom after she had left a tough situation!!  A great "Fairy Tale" ending....so that makes it even better! 

I finished this book a few weeks ago and am just posting it.....I guess I am all wrapped up in....

....so glad summer will be here in a week (SCHOOL IS OUT SOON!!!)...then I can enjoy my reading and have several stay home and read all day......I can't wait!!

Catching Fire

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Hunger Games    5+ Stars -- LOVED IT! Catching Fire     4 1/2 Stars -- LIKED it pretty good! I read The Hunger Games in less than 48 hours....I was so excited to read the next book (Catching Fire) in the Trilogy. It did take me about a month to finish this second book (not sure why??)....it started right where the other book left off...so that made it a quick, easy transition...but I just couldn't get into it!  We saw The Hunger Games at the movie theater on Good Friday...and it motivated me to pick up this book again...once I did that I couldn't put it down! After the first book, I was so intrigued by Peeta, Katniss, Gale, and Prim...I could hardly wait to see what happened next..... the author surprised me over and over again. What an imagination! Katniss had a huge heart and she loves her sister dearly...as well as Peeta and Gale! My favorite part in both books was when they are actually in the arena trying to become victorious....it is amazing all the obstacles they have to go through.....such brave, wounded souls! Action on every single page...and many unpredictable twists and turns!! Catching Fire ended with a cliffhanger "Katniss, there is no District Twelve."......I am anxious to read the next book to see where she goes and what she does...but I am not ready yet! I think I will take a Hunger Games break...... The funny thing is..."My PGA Man" went with me to the movie and was quick to come home and download the first book and he is reading it now, too! I am curious to see if he reads through all the trilogy himself before I even start book #3??....he adored the movie almost as much as I did! Team Gale? Team Peeta? Hmmmm.......I adore Gale.....but after the movie I joined Team Peeta!

The Hunger Games

If you haven't read it...add it to your list!!!

TRULY AMAZING!

I am typically a chic-lit/woman's literature fan....and didn't think I could get into this book. Well, I loved this book (and I will love the movie, too)!  It took me awhile to bite the bullet and give it a try....but once I did...I couldn't put it down!  Kept my attention every page of the way....very brutal and cruel... but, oh so  beautiful all at the same time! Despite all the blood shed...I still enjoyed every part of this book.  I fell in love with Katniss Everdeen's character...a girl with a big heart but ready to take on anything that stood in her way...when she feels something you seem to feel it, too!  I enjoyed meeting Gale in this first book and hope he appears more in book 2!??! 

 Already started reading it.......what a great way to spend a day off!

Safe Haven

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Not sure how I felt about this book...I adore Nicholas Sparks, but it took me weeks to get through this book. I always love his "love story" type of stories...but this one got a little intense near the end. I really didn't want to turn the next page...but finally did...as usual everything turned out ok, but it wasn't easy! 

Did you read this book? Did you like it?

The jury is still out for my...NOT my favorite!

Amazon.com's book description...

When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo's empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

Guesswhat I am reading now and am really having a hard time putting it down....

LOVING IT SO FAR!!!

Me and Emma

Me and Emma by Elizabeth Flock

What a surprise ending...a very sad novel that was not very easy for me to read!! WOW....poor Caroline "Carrie" was from a very dysfunctional family and she had to do so many crazy things to survive!  Her Mom tried her best to love her daughter...even after marrying a very abusive second husband...Carrie wanted to leave so many times. One of my favorite characters in this book is Mr. Wilson--a nice, older man that Carrie wished was her own..he taught her many lifelong skills and they both shared the love of music! I liked this book but it did take a a few weeks to get through it......being a teacher...it makes me wonder if I have ever taught any students like Carrie?  I know I have taught many children that have been through more than I can imagine.....SURVIVAL is the key word!

What Alice Forgot

by Liane Moriarty

I guess this is my last completed book for the summer!!

Wish I had another two weeks of summer....I would be sure to finish another book or two...

This book was enjoyable -- kind of a "beach read" ...the author is from Australia and Alice is an active "Mum" of three children....it is amazing how her life changes dramatically in 10 years.

Here is the "do-dah" on the back cover summarizing the book..

Alice Love is twenty-nine years old, madly in love with her husband, and pregnant with their first child. So imagine her surprise when, after a fall, she comes to on the floor of a gym (a gym! she HATES the gym!) and discovers that she’s actually thirty-nine, has three children, and is in the midst of an acrimonious divorce.

A good book....pretty scary how Alice loses her memory after a fall off of an exercise bike! I enjoyed her three children (even though she didn't remember them at all after the fall)...they gave her a run for her money. There is a sweet child, a studious child, and one that is a real toot! Alice Love was a very social "Mum" and did everything she could for her kids....there are two little side stories about a Grandma figure named "Frannie" and also about Alice's sister named "Elizabeth"...those two stories also keep the book very interesting! If you get a chance read it...it is an easy read.....I sure would wish that memory loss on anyone!

Miss Julia Rocks the Cradle

One of my favorite authors is Ann B. Ross...she writes the BEST Southern Fiction Series I have ever read!  She started the series in 1999 and I sit on the edge of my seat for a new one to be published. Ann Ross has written 12 books about Miss Julia and her adventures....she is an amazing, funny, spunky older southern lady that has been through just about everything humanly possible!

The latest book in the series ~ #12!

Each one of Miss Julia's books gets better and better.....Miss Julia's widowed husband's mistress, Hazel Marie, had twin girls in this book (she has recently married and her husband loves the babies like crazy) ~ One of the little girls had the exact same name as my Grandmother ~ Lillian Mae!  That was so cool to me....the babies got over colic and began taking pacifers by the end of the book and the babies were held by every lady in town. Miss Julia's house is always a crowded house....full of family and friends. I love Miss Julia!! What a great way to end my reading for the summer. I just noticed on Ann B. Ross' website that there will be another Miss Julia book out in 2012!! Yippee....I can't wait!

Heaven is for Real

Heaven is for Real

by Todd Burpo

I picked up this book to have an easy read during recent travels. I read the book in about 2 hours (and I'm a slow reader) and loved it -- crying at times (with joy) and at other passages, because I know it's "real" ..... especially out of the mouths of babes. It is an awesome book of warmth and hope ....such an easy read....it makes me really look forward to meeting my loved ones in heaven.....what a JOYOUS revival!!

Reminds me of one of my favorite childhood songs....."Jesus Loves The Little Children"!

Loved it!!! Great Book....very inspirational!

False Victim

I started this book one night and finished it the next day as I traveled home 

from the cool, cool mountains of Ruidoso, New Mexico.

Rarely, do I finish a book in less than two days....but with the wait time at the airport....

I accomplished that mission this time!

False Victim

by Kathie Truitt

It is a quick read....and will keep you on the edge or your seat....I was scared something may happen to Julie's children or her dog....and luckily they were all safe to the end.  I hope the next book I read is as easy to read as this one was...(I will keep tabs on Kathie Truitt and will read her next novel when it is published!!)

This may someday be a Lifetime Movie...they have a contract for it... the author is just waiting to see if it happens or not? You can follow Kathie Truit on her Author Fan Page on FB...some good posts about this book, too!

House Rules

Two more days until my SUMMER STARTS....Two more days of kindergartners!

I am anxious to start my summer and to start reading some new books!

House Rules

by Jodi Picoult

I am a huge fan of Jodi Picoult!  I have read most of her previous books....it took me awhile to get this one started...I have postponed and postponed.  I loved this book ....as an avid reader and as a teacher of autistic kindergartners in the regular classroom. Wow...so many of Jacob's issues really hit home to me!

I really enjoyed this book and adored Jacob...and his family!

Now off to explore (or better yet - DOWNLOAD!!) Jodi Picoult's most recent book Sing You Home.

Little Bee

I think this will be my last book of Spring Break. A busy weekend coming up.....

"My PGA Man" is off tomorrow...we plan to hit SXSW (at least see the roadside shows)

 and play a round of golf.

Sneaks N' Cleats Tennis/Golf Tournament on Saturday

and

Sunday...a day of leisure....getting ready for 50 more days of kindergarten! 

HURRY SUMMER!

 

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This was an ok book...not the best one I have read in awhile.

The other day, I was sorting through books I have bought to read...

ready to read a "real book"...

not one on my Sony Reader or Ipad. I had two copies of this book...so sometime I

must have thought it was going to be FANTASTIC!!?!?

 

 

Coyote Smart

I just got through reading Coyote Smart by Dr. Cindy Bradford.

What a great book....this is her third book and each one gets BETTER!

Coyote Smart was my favorite of Cindy's books so far ---

very fast moving and hard to put down.  Cindy lives very close to the Texas/Mexico border.

 I learned so much about the human/drug smuggling crisis we have

between the borders while reading this book.

My cousin is a US Border Patrol Detective in El Paso, Texas,

 and deals with these issues on a daily basis.

He is now in an office position (thank GOODNESS).....

but served many years as an undercover detective....

and boy was he scary looking (but ALWAYS carried a gun...and know I now why!!)

I adore MOST of the characters in this book..and love the idea of "Faith" reappearing

in each book.  A wonderful story...with so much emotion and unexpected twists!! Loved it!!

Cindy Bradford's other two books....both FANTASTIC!!

I am so lucky to know Cindy personally...we both spend our free time in Ruidoso, New Mexico.

Auntie Linda, Cindy Bradford and me...visiting at Starbucks in Ruidoso.

Thanks, Cindy...hope to see you soon!

And...excited to see what is coming next.....keep writing great books!

The Pre-Nup

I have read two books in a week..simply amazing! 

I found this book on a fellow blogger's reading list...

...and it was a CHEAP BUY ($4.69) on Amazon.

What the heck!?!? I downloaded it on my Ipad (Kindle) and the reading began...

I know more about Pre-Nups now than I ever wanted to know! Whew...

The Pre-Nup is a fun and light novel that is very easy/quick to read.

I would recommend it to anyone that is a BIG Chick Lit fan...LIKE ME!

 I'm going to make it a point to read Beth Kendrick's other books soon....maybe Nearlyweds?