A Stranger in the House, by Shari Lapena

My daughter saw this in a bookstore so we checked it out from the library.  She is the one who wanted to read it but hadn't, so I thought I would.

It was ok.  It was enough to keep me reading - it built up my curiosity for the ending.  There was an unexpected twist at the end that left me feeling a little disappointed.  Not that she didn't write it well, I think I just had a certain ending in my mind and when it didn't play out, I felt disheartened.  I don't like how she made the main character out to be.

The author has a slight Mary Higgins Clark style about how she writes, which was good.  I didn't care for her use of the F-bomb but she at least kept it clean.  She did manage to weave a story with pieces of a puzzle that I had to see completed, so I'll give her that, too.

I guess I just didn't like the ending.  I didn't care for the twist. 

If you like thrillers, this is a decent read.  I just don't like the feeling of disappointment it left me with.  It also had me realize I prefer something a bit more uplifting, I think. 

Oh, well... on to the next!

I'm Half-Sick of Shadows, by Alan Bradley

I was sad to finish this book... it was another really good one.

I feel like I know the characters as real people, now.  It was so enjoyable getting to know Flavia more.  I especially love her budding relationship with her father and her strong bond with Dogger.  There was a hint of love exchanged between her and her sisters, this time, too.  

I loved this story! At first, I thought it was going to be one of my lesser favorites, but once I reached a certain point in the book, it was all I could do to put it down! I'm labeling these purchase-worthy because I want to read them over and over, again! I'm so glad there's another one coming out in March! 

I don't know where Mr. Bradley gets his genius, but I'm certainly so glad he's chosen to share it with the world.  :)

A Red Herring Without Mustard, by Alan Bradley

I got so wrapped up in beginning the fourth Flavia de Luce book, that I almost forgot to log the third one!

I think this one is my favorite of the three I've read, so far.  The ending was just nice.

This one still stays true to form with the mystery, humor, and enjoyability.  

If you haven't read these, and you enjoy a good book that's clean and charming, these should be on your list of to-reads, for sure! :)

Now to finish the last one... boo.  Although, I've been told there's another coming out in March, so - YAY! 

The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag, By Alan Bradley

I cannot get enough of these books! I've already started the third one!!

Flavia de Luce is my new favorite person.  I love her precociousness! Alan Bradley writes her like a pro! Her wit and humor and attitude and cleverness are neatly packaged inside this eleven year old girl, and I only wish she were real so I could meet her! 

One thing I love about Mr. Bradley's books, is he gives clues throughout, but one can never solve the mystery on those alone -- he leaves out the important ones till the end when Flavia's solving yet another crime for her friend, Inspector Hewitt.  

I almost hope this girl never grows up so her stories can keep being produced! They're full of British lingo, which I love, and the number of times they'll have you smiling or laughing out loud or even "Ah-ha-ing" will keep you coming back for more! I certainly am! 

They're clean, humorous, charming, and entertaining... I highly recommend them!

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, by Alan Bradley

Enjoyable... Fun... Delightful...

These are words I would use to describe this book! It was such a pleasure to read! 

It's a fiction mystery and the main character is Flavia de Luce.  

The plot is enough to keep the pages turning.  But, if that wasn't enough, the way it's written and the character's personalities will draw you right in.  It had me laughing out loud at times and trying to puzzle the clues together, at others.  I haven't enjoyed a book this well in a long time!

I'm just glad there are three more! :)

Wait Till Helen Comes, by Mary Downing Hahn

I read this when I was in 5th grade and it terrified me! I've been trying to get my kids to read it, for a while, now and they finally did.  Well, my daughter did.  She's in 4th grade and you know what she said about it? 

"That wasn't scary, Mom."

*sigh* 

Well, whatever.  hahaha

I read it, again, to see if I remembered it correctly.  It did seem to be more of a mystery, now, than a scary story.  It still scared me when I was younger, nonetheless.  ;)

If your kids are into suspenseful books, this would be a good one for them to read.  See if they think it's scary! ;)

Deep and Dark and Dangerous, by Mary Downing Hahn

This one was better than the last one I read.  Although, it was strikingly similar to the one I read when I was in 5th grade.

Both stories had two girls, somehow related, who were being torn apart by a ghost girl, who drowned.  This one might have scared me a little when I was younger; it was well-written in the mystery and horror (if you will) area.  I got it for my kids, along with several other Halloween books appropriate for the season, but this one was neglected.  I had nothing else to read, so I thought I'd give it a shot.  It was decent, considering.  ;)  If you have kids in, I don't know, grades 4-6, maybe, and they like a good thrill, this would be a good book for them. 

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs

I had this one on hold for quite a while, and finally got it and finished it a week ago.

It was definitely a peculiar book, that's for sure.  I have to wonder where some authors get their ideas - did they have a bizarre dream that, when written down with detail added, turned into some sort of novel?

This book had a mix of past, present, real, not real, and unreal, with a touch of weird.  A boy loses his grandfather, ends up in therapy about it because of the circumstances of his death, which bring out the stories he was told by him as a little boy... which leads him to the island his grandfather did most of his growing up on.  There, he finds the stories are real, that he's actually part of them, and has to choose to stay in the real world or the world he's discovered.  It pretty much leaves one hanging, almost as if there were going to be a sequel.  I doubt there will be, because it also had a sort of finality to the ending... and even if there were a sequel, I wouldn't read it.  The book was interesting enough at the beginning, but once the mystery was unravelled, the story seemed to drag on and lose its pull on me.  I finished it simply because I wanted to see how it ended, which, in my opinion, wasn't great.  The most interesting part, I'd have to say, is how the author weaved authentic, vintage photographs into the story.  I wouldn't say don't waste your time, because it might appeal to some, but I find my taste is for more realistic circumstances, and this book was full of fantasy.  Oh, well.  Not a complete waste of time.  ;)

Death of a Chimney Sweep, by M.C. Beaton

I am currently waiting (for over a month, now!) for two books at my local library, and I really was wanting to read something in the meantime.  So, I found this book. :)

I love a good mystery, so I was intrigued.  (This author has written, apparently, 27 mysteries, all starting with "Death of...".) 

He starts his story off quickly, cutting right to the chase.  Someone dies, then someone else is dead (a lot of people die, actually)... there's a local police sergeant who's always trying to help solve the crimes, infringing on someone else's territory... and there are lively characters to keep it interesting.  Many details are added in to keep the reader guessing whodunnit, and the plot is enough to keep the pages turning.  The lingo is fascinating, as it's origination stems from England. 

I almost felt like the writer was trying to drag the story on longer than it needed to be, maybe adding too many details... but the ending was kind of funny.  The sergeant's cat actually did away with the bad guy, and in order to protect the animal, he dumped the body somewhere to make it look like an accident. 

It was clean, it was entertaining, it was enough to maybe lead me to another of his books should I have to wait any longer for the books I really want to read... and it was free from my library - can't beat that!

The Doll in the Garden, by Mary Downing Hahn

When I was younger, I loved a good ghost story - anything with mystery! I once read a book by Mary Downing Hahn called, "Wait Till Helen Comes".  I was in 5th grade and it terrified me!

My kids love a good ghost story, even though they can't sleep afterwards.  I think we have it in our blood to find such things so fascinating.  My MIL gave us some books this summer, this book being one of them.  When I saw who the author was, I snagged it, immediately! I've told my kids about the other book I read many times but they haven't gotten up the gumption to read it just yet.  I thought they'd like this one, though, so we brought it home.

I'm currently awaiting my turn for a book at the library, so I've been trying to find things around my house to read that I haven't read, already.  (And some things I have.) I saw this book and thought I'd see if it was as spine-chilling as the one I've read, before.

Alas, it wasn't.  Maybe if I were still 10 or 11, it might have been.  Being an adult, I saw where it was headed early on, which isn't saying it's bad.  I'm just a little too grown up for it.  (It's no Mary Higgins Clark, that's for sure.)

I think my kids might find it intriguing, though.  ;) If your kids like this sort of thing, I would guess it's more mysterious than scary, if I were to try to look at it from a juvenile's point of view.  A friend of mine and I were talking, yesterday, about how being an adult can sometimes take the fun out of things.  Oh, well.  :) 

Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25, by Richard Paul Evans

This book took me less than eight hours to read.  I could not put it down! I had to, however, take breaks to digest what I just read and let it all sink in.

This was such an awesome book! Of course it is, RPE wrote it!

He can write men well.  He can write women really well. 

He writes electric teenagers with flare.

This is the first (yes, first - I have to wait for the next one!) in a series of, actually... I don't know how many books, but I guarantee you'll be hooked.

It's supposed to be geared toward the young adults of the world, but I'm a youngish adult and loved it! It had me hooked from the very beginning.  I kept thinking while I was reading it not only about how well it was written, but how well it was researched.  Much brain-stocking info had to be acquired to make this book seem realistically fiction vs. a far-fetched fake.  It's full of a little mystery, a nice flowing plot, and an ending that leaves you a mixture of satisfied with a want for more.

All I'll tell you is Michael Vey is the main character... he has special "powers" that stem from something that happened to him around the time of his birth... his mom has been kidnapped due to his new-found friend's research on their past - as they both have these powers in common... and he has to put pieces of a puzzle together to take you from one chapter to the next.  If you like Richard Paul Evans, mystery, thrillers, and a touch of science fiction, you'll love this book!

It's a page-turner.  It's a must-read.  I loved it! Can't wait for the next!

I'll Walk Alone, by Mary Higgins Clark

I usually spot the newest release by Mary Higgins Clark on an endcap at my local Kmart.  When I saw this one, I immediately placed a hold on it at my library.

I had to wait a while for it, but it was well worth the wait!

When I read the description on the inside cover, I must admit I was a little disappointed.  It mentioned identity theft.  How interesting could that be, I wondered? But, I've read just about every single one of her 30 books (the ones my library has, anyway) and couldn't pass this one up.

I'm so glad I didn't! This followed her same style, with twists and turns and additions to her growing puzzle along the way! She weaves a tale of a young woman who's lost her son, and now has strange charges to her bank accounts and credit cards, when a picture of her son being kidnapped shows she's the one who did it.  She knows she's not crazy, but the rest of the world thinks she is.  With the help of her friends (no thanks to the detectives on her case), the mystery is solved and.... I'm not going to tell you what happens! It's a must-read, that's for sure.  The only thing I found to be a slight let-down was the criminal's motive - I thought it was a little weak.  It's like you hit a big climax, only to have your balloon wither and deflate slowly.  Other than that, it was a very good read. 

If you're a fan of mystery or of Mary, herself, this book won't disappoint.

The Heretic Queen, by Michelle Moran

I cannot get enough of this author! I'm so bummed that I've read all of her books already. 

This book happens after the last book I read of hers, being told my Nefertari, the daughter of Mutny, who's point of view was the focus of the last book.  A lot more of this book was fiction, but still based on a lot of historical facts and characters.  The Pharaoh of this story is Ramsses II, husband to Nefertari.  It tells of his reign, Nefertari's love for him and his love for her, the birth of their first two sons, his other wife's jealousy, his famous war in Kadesh and so much more! There's even a touch of mystery linking everything at the end, creating an unforgettable ending.  I'm thinking this one was slightly better than the last two, but not by much.  The web of plots this author weaves is so well-done and creates quite the page-turner.  It's one of those books that causes you to have a love/hate relationship with the ending in that you love how it ends, but hate that it's over.  She paints such a romantic picture of Egypt and its rulers, and writes so well what very well may have happened.  Her knowledge of the time is impeccable, which is made obvious throughout the book. 

I sincerely hope this author comes out with more books as she has become one of my favorites.  I highly recommend all three that I've come across.

The Shadow of Your Smile, by Mary Higgins Clark

I waited for what seemed like forever for my library's copy of this book to finally become available. 

It was well worth the wait, too!

Mary Higgins Clark is the best in my book when it comes to weaving tales of mystery and suspence, who-dunnits and even a smidge of romance.

Her latest was good from the get-go, as usual, with her usual way of adding pieces to the puzzle through her plethora of characters, all well written and thought out.  I love how she makes things seem a little obvious at times, then adds yet another piece to the puzzle and throws you for a loop till the very end when it all comes together and you have the ah-ha moment she intended.

In this novel, she included everything from a nun's beatification to murder, from charity foundations to scandal.  It was definitely a good read and is right up there with all of her other books.  Keep 'em comin', Mary!

Somebody's Baby by Charlotte Vale Allen

My review of this book is pretty straightforward:  It's about a 31 year old woman who's mother just suffered a heart attack, and on her death bed tells her daughter that she kidnapped her in a supermarket when she was a baby.  Then she dies, telling of a letter that confesses everything and starts this woman on a search for her real mother/family.  She finds her, it'a joyous reunion and all is well.  She tries to find out who her "mother" really was, finding dead end after dead end and numerous identity changes, all leading nowhere.  It turns out she had stolen something like 20+ identities since she was a teenager and planned the whole kidnapping for whatever reason and the book just leaves you hanging as to who this woman really was.  The author could've at least said she was abused as a child and stole all the money that made her so wealthy and wanted a new life but was physically unable to have children due to the horrid abuse she endured as a child and was also unable to get close to any man, also due to her childhood abuse... anything but nothing would've been good.  Fiction should end well, not happily, necessarily, but at least have closure, you know? That's my opinion, anyway.  It was a decent book, and kept me turning pages till the very end... which is probably why I kept reading it even though there were more than two bad words, but only increased my disappointment more at the end when I couldn't even solve the mystery.  Oh, well.  Chalk one up to... well, whatever.  ;)

Storm Front, by Jim Butcher

It took me EIGHT DAYS to read this book, Storm Front by Jim Butcher, and that, for me, is a very LONG time. 

So, if there were just a handful of words I would use to describe this book, they would be cocky, unrealistic, dark, lame, and sex.  There were two F-words, too.  They were towards the very, very end (like within a few pages of the ending) or I would've stopped.  Still, there was a lot of swearing, and like I said before, some obsession with sex.  Yuck.  Plus, the whole magic/wizard thing is just plain bizarre to me.  On the whole, I didn't like it and won't be reading this author in the future.  I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone as a worth-while read and hope those who were reading right along with me won't hold it against me.  ;)

I suppose I can try to say a few good things about this book:  yyyyeaaaah, nope.  Not really.  The plot was so simple-minded and just not twisty and turny enough for me (I'm used to Mary Higgins Clark... now that broad can write one heckuva mystery AND keep it clean, all at the same time). His attempt at being funny was so obviously that:  an attempt.  I have to give him this, though, it sounds as though he's done his research on the "Nevernever" and magic and all that cra- um...stuff.  I don't know anything about it, but I would have to guess he's not making this stuff up.  Or maybe he is, who knows.  (Who cares...) Sorry, that was low. 

I'm totally book-bashing, and I can't say I'm proud to be doing that, because he's published and I'm not, right? So, who am I to talk? It's just my humble opinion and you can take it or leave it.  ;) On to the next...

The Probable Future by Alice Hoffman

This was such an emotional book! I felt the characters big time in this one, such feelings as sorrow, regret, love of so many levels, pain, anger, fear, and so many more...

This book focused on a plethora of characters, all linked together and coming together differently at the end.  I love the way this woman writes and entertwines the story so well. 

It takes place in a small town in Massachusetts called Unity.  It's based on a family of women that wake up on their thirteenth birthday with a gift of some sort, the most recent is the gift (if you will) of seeing the way someone's going to die.  What this character, Stella, finds out, though, is sometimes she can prevent this death.  Trying to do this gets her father accused of murder and gets her and her mother living with her grandmother, whom her mother hasn't spoken to in years.  Stella has been pulling away from her mother since her parents' divorce, her father being a liar of sorts and very unfaithful to his wife.  She trusts him, nonetheless.  Somehow, everyone ends up back in this small town where the story began 300 years ago for the Sparrow family.  I can't begin to describe the main theme of this book without just telling you about the whole thing, for telling about one part and leaving out another would simply not do this book justice.  There's romance, mystery, intrigue, danger, history, lore, and such a real feeling of love.  I do not buy books unless I'm going to read them more than once, and this is definitely a book on my list of books to buy. 

If you want a book that touches you and stays with you so that you have to continue to ponder it once you read the last page in order to digest it all, this is definitely a must read! I highly recommend it! It's a book that you won't want to end, but will love the ending just the same.  It's also clean, I love that.  This is an author I'm adding to my list, for sure.

For a sneak peak inside, click here.

The Thirteenth Tale

I just finished reading a book my mom gave me....... IT WAS SO GOOD!

And when I Googled it, the awesomest website came up! Click HERE if you want to read it ONLINE!!!

It starts with a letter from an author to a biographer, only she does biographies of deceased people, so this live one she's about to turn down. But the author mentions a story about twins and she's captivated - she has a twin, herself, only the twin died at birth. This famous author is known for giving several different accounts of her life story, but never the real one. Now that she is old and ill, she's chosen this biographer to tell her final story to. One of her previous books was, at first, entitled, "Thirteen Tales", only there were 12 tales and the whole world is kept wondering about this 13th tale... Could this be it?? As the story is told to her, the biographer isn't sure if what she's being told is the truth, until she finds bits and pieces of evidence showing her that what she's being told, really happened. Then, at the end, just when the pieces are not quite fitting into the perfect picture, there's a twist, a new detail that solves the puzzle of puzzles, and everything becomes clear. It's a story full of unforgettable characters, plots that make you want to go back and reread because they're so shocking, you can't possibly have read it right, and as you read, you find yourself unlocking the mystery - only to find at the end you were wrong all along. Then, when you're done, you want to go back and reread the whole thing because you've had the ah-ha moment the author intended you to have. (Kind of like The Sixth Sense, if you ever saw that!)

I love books that wait till the very end for the climax, but keep you wanting to keep climbing and climbing until you get there. I highly recommend this very good read!

I'm starting another book today, and if my schedule allows, I'll have it finished in a few days to a week. I'll do a review on it when I'm finished.

I love reading and try to fit it in whenever possible... sometimes late, late at night when I should be sleeping, but can't because the book's just too darn good! (That didn't happen last night, I swear.)


Keep watching for more reviews! ;)