The Best Books Ever

Have you read this book?  No?  Go get it.  Now.  Go here . It will change you. Change. You.

Courting Miss Amsel By Kim Vogel Sawyer Published by Bethany House Published on January 1, 2011 Edythe Amsel is delighted with her first teaching assignment: a one-room schoolhouse in Walnut Hill, Nebraska. Independent, headstrong, and a strong believer in a well-rounded education, Edythe is ready to open the world to the students in this tiny community. But is Walnut Hill ready for her? Joel Townsend is thrilled to learn the town council hired a female teacher to replace the ruthless man who terrorized his nephews for the past two years. Having raised the boys on his own since their parents' untimely deaths, Joel believes they will benefit from a woman's influence. But he sure didn't bargain on a woman like Miss Amsel. Within the first week, she has the entire town up in arms over her outlandish teaching methods, which include collecting leaves, catching bugs, making snow angels, and stringing ropes in strange patterns all over the schoolyard. Joel

City of Fallen Angels By Cassandra Clare Published by Margaret K. McElderry Published on March 5, 2011 The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most importantly of all—she can finally call Jace her boyfriend. But nothing comes without a price. Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second, bloody war. Clary's best friend, Simon, can't help her. His mother just found out that he's a vampire and now he's homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side—along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. Not to menti

Too Rich for a Bride by Mona Hodgeson Published by Waterbrook Press Published on May 3, 2011 With a head more suited to bookkeeping than a bridal veil, Ida’s dreams include big business- not beaus. Ida Sinclair has joined her sisters, Kat and Nell, in the untamed mining town of Cripple Creek, Colorado for one reason: to work for the infamous but undeniably successful businesswoman, Mollie O’Bryan. Ida’s sisters may be interested in making a match for their determined older sister, but Ida only wants to build her career. Under Mollie's tutelage, Ida learns how to play the stock market and revels in her promising accomplishments. Fighting for respect in a man's world, her ambition leaves little room for distractions. She ignores her family's reservations about Mollie O'Bryan's business practices, but no matter how she tries, she can't ignore the two men pursuing her affections—Colin Wagner, the dashing lawyer, and Tucker Raines, the traveling preac

This week is another light week- I am hoping to catch up on my reading this week:       Can  I just say how EXCITED I am to finally have City of Fallen Angels in my hands?  Because I am REALLY EXCITED. What's in your mailbox is a weekly meme from The Story Siren .

Across the Universe by Beth Revis Published on January 11, 2011 Published by Razor Bill (Penguin) As the spaceship Godspeed travels toward a new earth, the lives of 100 cryogenically frozen settlers hang in the balance after someone endeavors to quietly murder them. The other passengers aboard the ship have never known life outside its walls and are enslaved by the machinations of Eldest, their tyrannical leader, who divides them into three distinct classes. When Amy, a frozen settler from earth, survives being thawed in a murder attempt, she immediately bonds with Elder, Godspeed's lone teen and future leader. Amy’s individuality, her rebellion, and her fierce desire for freedom, inspire Elder to act on his own doubts and defy Eldest--his mentor and keeper--with shocking results. Eldest’s methods of twisting history and altering the lives of this captive community are a frightening echo of tyrants in our own history, and Across the Universe challenges readers to consider the

Firelight by Sophie Jordan Published by: Published on:   Summary from Amazon: Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. She longs for the freedom to make her own choices, but when she breaks the 'no flying' rule, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki, a descendant of dragons whose greatest defence is her secret ability to shift into human form. And her rare ability to breathe fire makes her desirable, and important, to the survival of the draki. Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. There she meets gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: he and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slipping away, and if it dies she will be left a

Chime by Franny Billingsly Published by Dial Books Published on March 17, 2011 Before Briony’s stepmother died, she made sure Briony blamed herself for all the family’s hardships. Now Briony has worn her guilt for so long it’s become a second skin. She often escapes to the swamp, where she tells stories to the Old Ones, the spirits who haunt the marshes. But only witches can see the Old Ones, and in her village, witches are sentenced to death. Briony lives in fear her secret will be found out, even as she believes she deserves the worst kind of punishment. Then Eldric comes along with his golden lion eyes and mane of tawny hair. He’s as natural as the sun, and treats her as if she’s extraordinary. And everything starts to change. As many secrets as Briony has been holding, there are secrets even she doesn’t know. I will make this review less than one minute.  I was so upset with this book I slammed it shut after 2 chapters and immediately returned it.  I could say that it was

What's in my mailbox is a weekly meme from The Story Siren.  It gives bloggers a chance to show off what they are reading this week! New books this week (we are a little light this week!) For review from Publishers: Just For Fun: I have many books to catch up on this week!

Shadowspell by Jenna Black Published on: 3/2011 Thank you Jenna Black!  Thank you for improving in this book.  I wanted so badly to like the first book in the series (Glimmerglass) but honestly thought very negatively about it.  Everything that I didn't like about the first book (an underdeveloped plot, unlikable characters, uninteresting storyline) got a whole (and I mean WHOLE lot better in her second installment.  The introduction of the Elking provided a breath of fresh air into the storyline- with more drama and excitement for the reader.  I will say, though, that the book took a PG-13 (or dare I say R?) turn in the last 1/6 of the book= I was pretty surprised by it.  I kept wondering if I was reading a ya book or an adult fantasy story.  This book is not for the feint of heart or for younger readers. I will absolutely be picking up the next volume in July!  (You can read the first chapter here )

The Final Summit by Andy Andrews Published by Thomas Nelson Date Published:  April 12, 2011 Summary (taken from Amazon.com page): David Ponder is back.  This time the fate of mankind is in his hands.     This is mankind's last chance. Centuries of greed, pride, and hate have sent humanity hurtling toward disaster, and far from its original purpose. There is only one solution that can reset the compass and right the ship, and it consists of only two words.             With time running out, it is up to David Ponder and a cast of history's best and brightest minds to uncover this solution before it is too late. The catch? They are allowed only five tries to discover the answer.             Readers first encountered David Ponder in The Traveler's Gift.   Now, in The Final Summit, Andrews combines a riveting narrative with astounding history in order to show us the one thing we must do when we don't know what to do. Many years have passed since David Ponder di

DG Doppleganger: The First Escape Tyndale Publishers Published 2008 The First Escape is the story of Saskia and Sadie Dopple, a set of fiery haired twins who have a temperment to match.  The are living in a orphanage in England when Saskia is suddenly taken from Sadie and placed into an adoptive home.  Sadie escapes from the orphanage with help from the school handyman (and lackey) Erik.  Sadie and Erik find themselves drawn into the home of a man who claims to know Sadie's mother.  (And he ends up being a nutcase murderer.)  Saskia ends up with an old woman who owns a large house- and knows immediately something is very very wrong. The theme of this book is part graphic novel and part regular novel.  I thought the combination of the two flowed seamlessly and really added to the over all character of the book. I was not a fan of the style of graphics, but they grew on me- they felt very gothic.  This book in itself was a very gothic novel- it reminded me of a Series of Unfort

Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs  Published by Waterbrook Press  Published March 2011 Summary from Amazon.com: Stepping from a battered coach on a rainy April eve, newly widowed Elisabeth Kerr must begin again, without husband or title, property or fortune. She is unafraid of work and gifted with a needle, but how will she stitch together the tattered remnants of her life? And who will mend her heart, torn asunder by betrayal and deception?    Elisabeth has not come to Selkirk alone. Her mother-in-law, Marjory Kerr, is a woman undone, having buried her husband, her sons, and any promise of grandchildren. Dependent upon a distant cousin with meager resources, Marjory dreads the future almost as much as she regrets the past. Yet joy still comes knocking, and hope is often found in unexpected places.   Then a worthy hero steps forward, rekindling a spark of hope. Will he risk his reputation to defend two women labeled as traitors to the Crown? Or will a wealthy beauty, untai

What are you reading this week?  I will admit, I am a little behind on my reading.  Work has been crazy and we had people over this weekend- so my books had to be put on hold (so you will see some repeats this week!) To Review: It is going to be a busy week!