May Reads

The Invisible Wall by Harry Bernstein 4* the story of his life growing up poor and Jewish in England during the early 1900’s, reminded me of Angela’s Ashes

Secrets to Happiness by Sarah Dunn 4* cute easy chick lit….Holly’s life post divorce. She tries to talk a married friend out of having an affair, she dates, and she adopts a dog. She is also contacted by an ex’s new girlfriend.

The Accidental Mother by Rowan Cowen 3* British chick lit Sophie hasn’t seen her childhood friends Cassie for years. Sophie has been concentrating on her career and Cassie has been dedicated to motherhood. Sophie is taken totally by surprise when she is notified Cassie has died, and left Sophie as the guardian to her 2 small children.

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews 3* I’m not that big on fantasy, but this was a decent book. It reminded me of adult Harry Potter meets Twilight. It has magic, shape shifters, and vampires. It took me a while to get into it. The author refers to previous occurrences like there was a book before this one, but this is her debut novel, so??? I just found those parts odd since she didn’t go into great detail, just touched on things that I felt should have been delved deeper into. I’ll probably read the next in the series. Quick, easy read.

The Girl She Used to Be by David Cristofano 4* the story of a girl who has to go into the witness protection program at the age of 6 when she and her parents witness a horrific crime. Finally at the age of 26, she just willing goes when the mob family finds her. Fast, easy read, couldn’t put it down even though it wasn’t totally believable.

Cast in Shadow by Michelle Sagara 3* fantasy Kaylin is a member of the Hawks (police) and has tried to move on from her life on streets as a child. All the bad memories come rushing back when children start dying in the same way they did when she was a child.

The Rift by Walter J. Williams DNF the story of a huge earthquake centered in the southeastern US. He just flipped from person to person, I couldn’t get a feel for any of the characters. I gave up about halfway through.

Some Assembly Required by Lynn Kiele Bonasia DNF chick lit overkill there is an autistic boy whose mother dies at age 22 of a brain aneurism, his uncle is an alcoholic who falls off a cruise ship and gets lost at sea, there’s cancer, a man leaving his gf of 4 years after cheating on her, she moves to a new town, etc etc. I gave up halfway through. Just TOO much drama!

Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder 4* the start of a new series by her, but continues with a lot of characters from the Study series. This one focuses on Opal and her studies at The Keep. She goes on her first mission to help the Stormdancer Clan which has had 2 of it’s Stormdancers killed.

Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner 2.5* YA seems too young even for a YA book. It’s the story of Before and After the war between humans and fairies. Just not much of a story IMO.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan 4* YA (reminds me of The Village mixed with zombies). Mary is stuck in a small enclosed town that is run by The Sisterhood and protected by The Guardians. On the outside are The Unconsecrated (zombies). She dreams of life outside of her small village and what is on the other side of the forest. I didn’t like the end, but more because I didn’t want it to end.

Harriet and Isabella by Patricia O’Brien 4* the fictionalized account of the adultery trial of Henry Beecher (Harriet Beecher Stowe’s brother) and the rift it causes between Harriet and her sister Isabella. Fascinating look at that time (1870’s). The trial dragged in part, but otherwise a terrific story.

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs 3* fantasy Mercy is a shape shifter who turns into a coyote. She lives in a city with werewolves and vampires. She ends up helping out a young werewolf when he comes to her shop looking for a job and some bad guys follow.

Closer to Fine by Meri Weiss 3* too much drama in one book for me (AIDS, cancer, gay and lesbian issues, family drama). Also too much talk about music. Alex has issues coping after her brother dies of AIDS. Her best friends try to help her through (one is gay and his father can’t stand him because of that).