If I Knew Then What I Know Now.. So What?

Well.....  this wasn't bad but this wasn't amazing. It's all humor, no plot, and not much of a memoir (but then again I'm not sure if it was meant to be one). It jumps all over the place and has lots of witticisms, but not a lot of "content." I think the only people who would get a huge kick out of this are Golden Girl fans and short Jewish mothers (her words not mine). She talks about acting, Hollywood, her marriage, being a mother, her friends, and what it's like being short. Nothing earth shattering. A perfectly okay book with a couple of really funny quips.

Nevertell

Wow - this is definitely an unforgettable middle grade adventure set in the wilds of Siberia outside of a Soviet prison camp. Combining Russian folklore, history, adventure, and friendship; this unique story is instantly compelling.  Twelve year old Lina was born in a Soviet prison camp. Her mother, her uncle, and her grandfather had been sent to live in the camp when her grandfather told "fairy tales" (forbidden) and criticized the great leader. Leaving in the camp is the only thing Lina has ever known. For years she was the only child until a boy her age was sent to the camp. Together along with some  prison old timers they devise a plan to escape and try to get to Lina's grandmother who lives in Moscow. Almost immediately everything goes wrong. Ghost wolves, giant falcons, and shadow people are suddenly very real and more frightening then the prison guards ever were. Will Lina and Bogdan survive?  Can she do some magic of her own? Lovely, magical, and compelling. Great for readers of all ages!

Legends of Lust

Hubba hubba! This is my second read by Autumn Bardot (I read Confessions of a Sheba Queen a few months ago) and I was NOT disappointed! I'm a relative newbie when it comes to erotica but I have always adored short stories and myths so this collection was gold for me! Bardot spins lusty tales out of many classic myths that readers know and love as well as introducing many tales that were new to me. From Africa to Japan to India to Egpyt to Ireland to America and more; there is something for everyone! Every tale is steamy, seductive, and deliciously naughty. In one story a faerie demands a toll from virgins passing through his woods; but what happens when he falls for one of the maidens? In another an Amazon goddess falls for a mortal man who knows how to do magical things to her body. In yet another one, the Native American trickster god, Kokopelli, seduces and impregnates young willing women while showing them a thing or two about pleasure. Each story is better than the next. A marvelous collection!

Hot to the Touch

Talk about steamy!! This collection of erotic stories centers on polyamory and the ensuing fun that can be had. All stories are exceptionally well written and some include quite a bit of build up and insightful view into the lifestyle. As a person in a monogamous relationship, it was pretty eye opening! From married couples to poly families this collection of erotica sizzles right off the page! From a widow looking for her lost dog to a woman on a work trip to speed dating to naughty adventures in a limo (and a train!); this collection has quite an assortment of good ol' naughty fun. Each story is unique, sexy, and unforgettable. A great collection of erotica and not just for those into the polyamory lifestyle!

Kingdom of the Silver Cat

If Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia had a love child, Kingdom of the Silver Cat would be it! This delightful middle grade fantasy follows a group of children who are mysteriously transported to another world while on their way to school. After the school bus crash lands into a crazy field and their bus driver doesn't return after going to look for help; the fifteen kids on the bus (ranging from ages 8 to 13) realize that they are on their own. They are in a magical place unlike anything they've ever seen; fireballs, ferocious mists, faeries, and other fantastical creatures greet them at every turn. And what's more, the kids discover that they have all inherited some crazy abilities; no two are alike! From fire to super speed to creating music to becoming invisible; the kids are learning more about themselves and their new powers every day. Kingdom of the Silver Cat is an epic coming of age adventure that highlights; friendship, trust, confidence, and the power of belief. While intended for kids; this story appeals to all ages in it's timelessness and readers will be begging for the next book in the series after the climactic ending! Also included are: maps, a glossary of faerie words, and drawing of each of the kids that really help put faces to each of the kids. A wonderful new fantasy adventure with lots of twists, turns, an unforgettable cast of characters and new marvels on every page!

The Rider from Lost Creek

I can finally say that I've read a Louis L'Amour book! This wasn't a bad western, but I haven't read too much in the genre to compare it to. This standalone follows Lance Kilkenny as he comes into town to hep a friend out. He's known as the fastest gunmen in the west, but most don't even know what he looks like because he never stays in any place long. He discovers that his friend Mort Davis needs help securing a waterhole from two wealthy cattleman who are claiming it as their own. As the bodies start piling up, it appears that a full on range war is about to engulf the whole territory, if only Kilkenny could keep his mind on work and his thoughts off the local saloon owner.Fast paced and quick, there is a small mystery that gives resolved in the end and lots of gunfights and stolen kisses from pretty women. Forgettable but fun.

An American Weeia in Paris

Elle Boca opens up the latest Weeia Marshals book with a bang and the action never stops! Danni, the acting head of the Paris Weeia office is inside the Eiffel Tower guarding some high ranking American Weeias when suddenly the structure is held hostage by brute men with guns and bombs. They are able to take out some of the enemy, but the real mystery is; who took out the other men? Some lightening fast superhero has been running around Paris and stopping crimes. While that is excellent for Parisians, it's worrying for Danni because it appears there is a Weeia flaunting their powers, just asking to get caught by human authorities. It's going to take all her skills (and a little help from her friends) to track down this vigilante. And as if she didn't have enough on her plate, she has another smaller case to attend to and a huge surprise that will rock her to her very core. Action packed, this mystery has a beautiful backdrop of Paris that only enhances the story. Descriptions of mouthwatering food, her new poodle, and the sights around Paris really make the reader feel at home in this world. Fantastic as always, I can't wait for the next installment!

Whammy

Part small town Texas drama part super hero drama; Whammy weaves together two stories to create a humorous, adventure mystery. Klive Anderson is a man of simple pleasures. He likes coffee, good sleep, his easy steady employment working in a Texas oilfield, and writing superhero stories in his journal. His roommate on the other hand is a the complete opposite. Stacey Karlisle owns the town's only coffee shop, but really it's just a front for her dope business. Differences aside they get on real good and can easily waste an evening watching Clint Eastwood movies together. Living in small town there isn't much drama to speak of but when one of Klive's coworkers is killed in a work accident, things begin to go off kilter for for him. He's unsettled and takes to writing more about villains and superheroes in his journal. When Stacey picks up his notebook one day she gets drawn into his story. Little does she know just how drawn in she's about to be. Off the wall, laugh out loud funny, and unique; Whammy is a zany western/comic adventure fantasy that readers won't soon forget about.

A Discovery of Witches

This book started out SUPER slow, I wasn't sure I was going to make it. But I did and I got super invested in the characters. There was a bit of a twilight/50 Shades of Gray vibe as the main vampire is VERY protective and controlling of his love interest, the hapless witch, who needs to be rescued time and again. They weren't my favorite characters and I found myself really identifying with the side characters (of which there were plenty). The quick and dirty summary of this book is that a historian (who is also a witch - who denies her powers and lives as a human) who studies old alchemy manuscripts finds a weird bewitched text in an Oxford library and suddenly witches, daemons, and vampires are following her every move. They want the manuscript and they can't believe a lesser witch such as her somehow found this seemingly lost text and managed to open it. Her life is in danger as all the magical creatures converge on her. One creature (who may or may not have ulterior motives) seems to actually care about her. A scientist (whose also a sexy centuries old vampire) takes her under his wing and protects her until they figure out what the big deal about this manuscript is.

Fighting for Space

Shira Teitel, Amy. Fighting for Space: Two Pilots and Their Historic Battle for Female Spaceflight.  9CDs. unabridged. 11hrs. Hachette Audio. ISBN 9781549121005. $35.00.

Spaceflight historian Amy Shira Teitel tells the empowering true story of two female pilots who fought to be the first women in space. This dual biography captures the brilliant lives of Jackie Cochran and Jerrie Cobb as they trailblazed their way into the cockpit and into the hearts of millions of Americans. Both became pilots at a time in America when women should be barefoot and pregnant - certainly not setting flying records or breaking the space barrier. They fought against sexism and proved to men time and again they they belonged in the air. The dawn of the space age brought new dreams and both women longed to get into space. Jerrie Cobb took all the same tests as America's first astronauts and refused to let the matter lie. She had already proved she could be a pilot, she could prove that she was astronaut material as well. Passionately narrated by the author; who gives both young women vim and vigor; causing them to leap from the page right into the listener's imagination. This inspiring story highlights two women that challenged the social norms and used their grit and determination to prove themselves the equal of any man in the air or the the atmosphere. An impressive and awe inducing biography that space junkies, feminists, and historians will eat up! - Erin Cataldi, Johnson Co. Public Library, Franklin, IN

1776

I honesty don't think I was n the right mindset to take on this historical nonfiction narrative. It took me longer to finish then I would have liked. I didn't actually read what this was about and I just assumed it was all about the Revolutionary War. Which in essence it is, but like the title suggests (stupid me), this book is about the year 1776 only and about all the trials, tribulations, and setbacks that the Continental army dealt with in the first year of the war. By all accounts, the rag tag, undisciplined, untrained, and under-equipped army should have lost from the onset, but with a vivacious leader like General George Washington and the grit of some, they were able to get the American public on their side (slowly) after suffering many retreats and defeats in the beginning. Told in a narrative way, this story is engaging; but very overwhelming with names, places, and other "mundane" aspects of war. I learned a lot of neat tid-bits that never came up in class; but overall this is an exhaustive read and one I was not much in the mood for even though it was well-researched and written.

Valentine

Wow. That's a gut punch. Raw, gritty, and profound. It made me feel l just read some Appalachian noir. Set in West Texas during the late seventies; a fourteen year old Hispanic teenager is brutally and horrifically raped and assaulted and it tears the small town of Odessa apart. For many of the Bible thumping, good ol' boy residents, that young boy (who works in the oil fields) is innocent until proven guilty. Besides she was asking for it! For Mary Rose the woman who found poor Gloria, bloodied and barefoot after crawling across the desert to escape the man who brutalized her, it's insane that anyone could place blame on the girl. She's only fourteen, she's a child! Told in alternating perspectives from different women in the town; this story will captivate, enrage, and haunt readers. Wonderful storytelling!

Beach Read

I am head over heels for this book! This fluffy chick-lit book is exactly what I needed in my life. I laughed, I got emotional, I was totally invested. A romance author and a serious "literary" author find themselves in neighboring lake houses. They have a past. They can't stand each other. Or can they? They challenge each other to write a book that reads like something the other person would write. Witty and wonderful. I don't even want to give a detailed summary. Just read it. You'll be falling in love with the characters, their story, and their growing attraction. This is one I will recommend to everyone!

The Guest List

I love good ol fashioned murder mystery and like a lot of reviews have said - it's reminiscent of Agatha Christie. One of the cool things is that it opens up with a dead body at a wedding.... but you don't know who it is! It's told through flashbacks leading up to the murder so it keeps you guessing as to who the murderer and the victim. The setting is a bleak little island off the coast of Ireland, it's a really posh wedding and of course their is loads of drama leading up to the ceremony and during the reception. The story is told through several perspectives. The best man, a plus one, the wedding organizer, the bride, the maid of honor, and the groom. The story moves quickly and you're on the edge of your seat as you try to put all the pieces together. I didn't even come close to getting the ending right, which made me love it more! A fantastic murder mystery!!

Tell the Wolves I'm Home

My heart!!!! From beginning to end I loved this book. Every flawed character was perfection and I never wanted this story to end. Fourteen year old June's best friend in the world is her Uncle Finn. When he dies of AIDS she is heartbroken and no one, not even her sister or her mother, understand what she's going through. They all just want to move on. When Finn's "special friend" reaches out June reluctantly agrees to meet him. Soon they realize how much they both loved the same bond and they slowly start to trust each other. A dazzling coming of age tale told through art, sibling rivalry, medieval music, and more. Truly wonderful and a story I will definitely visit again!

Bunnicula

I probably haven't read this book since second grade, but my initial reaction to this book is still spot on. It's fabulous. Even as an adult I still laughed out loud. The scene where the cat, Chester, is trying to get rid of the vampire rabbit, Bunnicula, by "staking" him with a thawing steak is hilarious. I can just imagine that orange tabby covering the bunny with the steak and then hitting it repeatedly. Too funny. They don't make kid's classics like this anymore.

For those of you unfortunate few who have never read this timeless tale... you're missing out. The story follows Harold and Chester, the pets of the Monroe family as they encounter a third pet to their household, a bunny named Bunnicula. The cat Chester is convinced that Bunnicula is a vampire because he sleeps all day, can't stand garlic, has fangs, and turns vegetable white by draining them. Harold the dog doesn't really care one way or another, but Chester is convinced they have to act... before it's too late.

It's a funny and classic story. I will have to re-read the rest of these in the series.

Magic Hour

Well written, but the plot was a little implausible to me. I went into this blind without reading the summary so I had no idea what I was getting into. Basically a small town sheriff from the outskirts of the Olympic National Forest discovers a small feral child holding a wolf pup. The girl hides, growls, bites, and doesn't know how to speak. Ellie is out of her depth so she calls her famous psychologist sister to come out and help work with this kid. They're trying to get her identified and find her family, because this kid has gone through so much trauma and needs all the help she can get. The sisters find themselves drawing closer to each other and find themselves head over heels over this mysterious wolf girl. Emotional, filled with small town gossip, budding relationships, family drama, and a quest for justice.

The Things We Do for Love

Saddened by their inability to have children, a couple gets divorced. Angie moves back to her family's hometown to help out with the family restaurant and get her mind off things. She discovers that the family business isn't doing too hot since her father died 6 months prior and she decides to put her marketing and advertising skills to use while her two older sisters work in the kitchen with their mother. One of the first changes she makes is hiring another waitress, much younger than the old and slow one they have now. She offers the job to Lauren. A high school senior from the bad part of town that has her eyes set on getting a full ride to college and making something of her life. Angie quickly becomes like a mother to Lauren taking her under her win. Then the unthinkable happens and Angie must decides if her heart can handle what's about to happen. Is she done running and is she ready to take a chance? Heartfelt and moving. Chick lit at it's finest.