Introduction to Me....

I am brand spanking new to this whole blogging thing and have no clue what I am doing, so please bear with me!  I have been an avid reader since I first learned how to read and books are one of my greatest loves.  My first loves of course would be my family.  My husband Joey, teenage son Gabe and our pets Gypsy the boggle (half Boston Terrier, half Beagle) and Ninja the tiger kitty.  Both pets were adopted through rescue groups and are, in my humble opinion, the cutest pets ever.  But back to my new blog.  I decided after joining the website goodreads that it would be a neat idea if I could blog as well, posting my reviews on the many books that I read.  I don't have a specific genre that I tend to stick with.  I enjoy books from middle school (YA) ages on up.  I will admit I'm not much of a fan of non-fiction, but I will read it if it is something that interests me.  I have recently begun obtains "first-read" or advanced copies of novels and thought "Hey!  Why not set up a book blog to put my reviews on?".  I love books and love to share my opinions on the books I read, so hat would be the ultimate outlet for me!  So with that, I welcome any and all to my blog.  It is truly a work in progress and I can only hope it gets better in time.  If you have suggestions I am always open to hearing them, and I look forward to posting more in the future.

Thanks, and good night!

~Laurie

Secrets of the Lost Summer by Carla Neggers--Review

Love, love love this book. A deviation from the usual books I read by Carla Neggers, but definitely highly recommend this book. Olivia and Dylan had great chemistry and I was pleasantly surprised to learn the depths of Grace's "secret". I can't wait to pass this book on to the ladies at work who live to read (almost) as much as I do.

California Demon: The Secret Life of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner--Review

Buffy the Vampire Slayer all grown up! Great book, easy read, can't wait to find the first one. I didn't realize it was a series at first. Hope to see many more demon hunting books from Ms. Kenner! Highly recommend this book and I'm sure the first one, Carpe Demon, was just as great.  Would definitely give this book **** for a fun and easy read.

The Sound and the Echoes by Dew Pellucid--Review *****

Fantastic book that I highly recommend for anyone who loves the Potter series. Don't get me wrong, this is by NO means a Potter knockoff, but a brilliantly executed tale that is slightly reminiscent of the Potter books. Pellucid's Fate Sealers remind me just a bit of Dementors (although not QUITE as scary! Lol) and the Orphanage had a bit of a magical quality to it....sort of like Hogwarts....but yet still completely original. While I admit that it did take a few pages before I was "into" the book, once in, I didn't want to leave. The author manages to put together a captivating story, and at the same time, subtley bring about a wonderful, relevant point about a land where everyone can live together in "Harmony" regardless of whether they are a Sound, an Echo or a "Mongrel" which is another name for someone who is half Sound and half Echo. I received this book directly from the author when she noticed I had entered the giveaway for her book. She offered me a copy in exchange for a review. Best decision I've made in a while! I unashamedly admit that I have already contacted Ms. Pellucid and asked if she is going to be writing a sequel to The Sound and the Echoes because I want more (which is another reason it probably reminds me of Potter, as I could never get enough of those either). The most amazing thing about this book is that even with the ending, she could let it end as is.....or continue with the story and take it in SO many different directions. I am thrilled to say that I now have another author I can add to my list of favorites: Dew Pellucid. Well done, and I truly hope that one day I will be able to return to your Echo realm and see what has been happening in my absence.

The Lost Years by Mary Higgins Clark--review *****

I admit that I am quite biased where Mary Higgins Clark is involved. From the time my mother, grandmother and I began reading her books, I fell in love with her mesmerizing storytelling and the endless ideas she comes up with. The Lost Years tells the tale of Mariah Lyons, whose father, Jonathan, is murdered one night, shortly after finding what he believes to be the only letter written by Jesus Christ to his faithful follower, Joseph of Arimathea, which had been stolen from the Vatican Library in the 1500's. Jonathan's wife (Mariah's mother) Kathleen is the primary suspect when she is found hiding in a closet holding the murder weapon. Kathleen suffers from Alzheimer's and is not able to defend herself or tell the police what really happened that night. Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Jonathan has been having an affair for years....an affair his wife knew about.
As the police begin their investigation they find that the ancient parchment has disappeared without a trace. Mariah now finds herself trying to save her mother from being charged with her father's murder, as well as trying to locate the parchment and find out who REALLY killed her father. With an abundance of twists and turns, and an appearance by beloved Higgins Clark characters Alvirah and Willie Meehan, this book is a page turner until the very end. I highly recommend this book with no reservations. A wonderful book by an accomplished author.