Guardians of Stone by Anita Clenney

Guardians of Stone by Anita Clenney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Anita Clenney's books are always exciting. Things are happening and there are twists and unexpected turns. This book lives up to that promise. The story is about a girl, Kendall, who has the gift of discovering things about people and objects by touching them or something that belonged to them which makes her unusually adept at finding lost items. She works for Nathan, a rich collector who is searching for a specific ancient box for reasons he will not disclose. Then there's Jake who also works for Nathan as a "tough" guy, good in a fight, and skilled at finding and protecting people. Nathan sends Jake and Kendall to Italy to find the box. The box is under the protection of the Protettori, an organization begun many many years ago. The locals say the castle is cursed and anyone that goes there doesn't come back. Their adventures are exciting and the situations they find themselves in are comical as well as extremely dangerous. There are lots of secret passageways and strange guardians all over. Kendall is having revelations like she had been to the castle before, but she doesn't remember that. Of course, there is a bit of a love interest between Jake and Kendall as well as some kind of relationship between Nathan and Kendall, but we don't know exactly what. The only thing I didn't like about the book was the ending. I know it is leading up to a sequel, but it didn't seem finished enough to move on. We didn't discover the truth about Jake or Nathan or their relationship. I was just a little disappointed that at least one of the mysteries didn't get solved.


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The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

by Jasper Fforde
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had been reading about the Thursday Next books on several blogs and I was curious to read one. I chose this first one of Jasper Fforde's novels, "The Eyre Affair." I had listened to "Jane Eyre" on an audiobook last year so I knew the story and, in particular, how it ended. "The Eyre Affair" was very entertaining, but a little strange. I chose it for our book club's October selection. One of the ladies in our club claimed, "I like unusual books. This is one of the strangest I've come across." Hahaha. She likes mysteries and crime-solvers. Anyway, it wasn't exactly what I expected, but it was okay. I don't have a real strong desire to go out and find another one, but I'm glad I read this one.


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Dark Nebula by W.J. May - cover reveal

Nothing is as it seems anymore.

Leery from the horrifying incident at the end of her first year at Guilder Boarding School, Rae Kerrigan is determined to learn more about her new tattoo. looks Her expectations are high, an easy senior year and a happy reunion with Devon— the boy she’s not supposed to date. All hopes of happiness fade into shattered dreams the moment she steps back on campus.

Lies and secrets are everywhere, and a betrayal cuts Rae deeply. Among her conflicts and enemies, it appears as if her father is reaching out from beyond the grave to ruin her life. With no one to trust, Rae doesn’t know where or who to turn to for help.

Has her destiny been written? Or will she becomes the one thing she hates the most-- her father’s prodigy.

Dark Nebula is available December 15th

It is the sequel to Rae of Hope, part of the Chronicles of Kerrigan

See my review of Rae of Hope here.

BIO OF W. J. MAY:

 

Wanita May grew up in the fruit belt of Ontario - St.Catharines. With a crazy-happy childhood, she has always had a vivid imagination and way too much energy.

The youngest of six -- four older brothers, and a sister -- taught her at a young age to be competitive in all aspects of life.

At sixteen, she began competing in athletics (track and field) and before she turned seventeen, she was representing Canada in high jump. She continued to compete, breaking Canada's JR High Jump record (1.92m - 6' 3 1/2" for those metric-ly challenged). She attented University of Toronto, and Kansas State University - winning CIAU's and becoming All-American 6x - NCAA Indoors Runner Up + more.

But you're not interested in her athletic career - unless of course you're curious to know she stands 1.70m (5'7") and has jumped 20cm over her head on more than one occasion. She's represented Canada at the World Championships, World Jrs., won Francophone Games, and loved every minute of every competition. From the grueling workouts, the crazy weights she lifted on her back, the days she thought her lungs were going to spit out of her mouth for lack of oxygen, the traveling around the world and the opportunity to read - her favorite past time.

Life continued with her husband (a distance runner from Liverpool, UK, who she met at KSU) and then their first, then second and finally third child. Their house became full of more imagination and stories. Wanita and her husband run an online business, dealing in antiques and collectables - particularly jewelry and porcelain

After her father passed away in 2009, from a six-year battle with cancer (which she still believes he won the fight against), she began to write again. A passion she'd loved for years, but realized life was too short to keep putting it off.

Her first book, Rae of Hope - from the Chronicles of Kerrigan, published by Mitchell Morris Publishing debuted Oct 2011. Rae of Hope, the first book in the series is going to be free to download on Amazon October 15th.

Here is the link:

http://www.amazon.com/Rae-Hope-Chronicles-Kerrigan-ebook/dp/B005LJEVJQ/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AZC9TZ4UC9CFC&qid=1329789966&sr=8-2

Dark Nebula is available December 15th, 2012.

She is represented by Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency. Wanita is a writer of Young Adult, Fantasy Fiction and where ever else her little muses take her.

Her LINKS:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-WJ-May-FAN-PAGE/141170442608149

Twitter: @wanitajump

Website: www.wanitamay.yolasite.com

Email: wanitamay@aol.com

Book Trailers: http://www.youtube.com/user/wanitajump

Where Rainbows End by Cecilia Ahern

Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was written as a series of letters - well, e-mails, letters & text messages. I know there's a name for that type of book, but I can't remember it right now. Anyway, I liked the way it was written. The story was about Rosie and her best friend, Alex. That's the bottom line. They went through their whole lives from age 7 to 50 something corresponding with each other, standing up at each other's wedding, supporting each other across an ocean and loving each other although neither one was brave enough to admit it. At age 17, Alex moved to Boston because his Dad got a glorious job there. He couldn't make it to Rosie's end-of-school dance, so she went with someone else, got very drunk and got pregnant! Yes, her dreams of going to school in Boston were dashed when she decided to have the baby. The father split immediately. Alex went on to medical school to pursue his dream of being a doctor. They still kept in touch though. Their lives went on with missed opportunities and bad marriages, etc. The book is rather predictable. You know what is going to happen in the end, but getting there all you can think is "what roadblock to true love is going to appear next?" I know this is a spoiler, but with a title like "Where Rainbows End" you should know that they get together in the end. It takes a LONG time, but they finally get together IN THE EPILOGUE!!! I did really enjoy this book. I especially liked the fact that Rosie's daughter, Katie, was the key to getting them together. If you are a lover of love stories, I recommend you read this book.


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Literally Dead by James Conroy

Literally Dead by James Conroy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was asked to read and review this novel by the publisher. It interested me because there were several authors mentioned in the blurb I read. I'm not a fan of crime fiction, but this book held my interest. Many famous authors' names were dropped - Ernest Hemingway, Carl Sandburg, Edna St. Vincent Millay - there's also a plug for James Conroy! The story takes place in Chicago and deals with the effort to start workers' unions and the corruption of Chicago's police force. I guess it held my interest because I have family that would have lived in Chicago when the story takes place AND my father was a steelworker and belonged to the Steelworkers' Union. The young writer who is at the center of this story was also son to a renowned union organizer. His father was killed during a worker strike in an attempt to get better wages and working conditions for the workers of a shoe company. It turns out that he was actually murdered and now his son is trying to put the pieces together to find out who murdered him. Hemingway is depicted as you would expect - garrulous and independent; Sandburg and Millay are very important people in this Chicago and help the boy out as much as they can. They also bring along Clarence Darrow to get him out of jail and help with his puzzle. Writing it here, it seems rather fantastic, but reading it, it flows together. It was a very good book. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I don't particularly like crime fiction, but this was okay - almost historical. I recommend it.

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The White Garden by Stephanie Barron

The White Garden: A Novel of Virginia Woolf by Stephanie Barron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Virginia Woolf is one of my favorite authors and this book is a fictionalized account of events surrounding her death. Stephanie Barron does an excellent job making you believe the events she creates are true. The way things progress makes this book exciting and very hard to put down. If you like mysteries and puzzles, you'll love this book. She gives you bits and pieces and weaves them together, extending one piece, then another, then weaving around to join them to complete that part of the puzzle. Wonderful! And, I just love Virginia and Stephanie's story does her justice and kind of justifies her actions that others have labeled "crazy". I definitely recommend this book.

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Book Blogger Hop 9/21 - 9/27/12

I haven't participated in a Book Blogger Hop in a while and I really missed it...soooo, here goes!
This Book Blogger Hop lasts from 9/21/12 to 9/27/12 and is hosted by Crazy for Books. This is the question of the week:

What is the one thing your blog readers probably do not know about you?

 

Hmmm...it will be interesting to read what other people answer to this question. I'm trying hard to think of something...my best friend is my eldest sister, Betty, who is 12 years older than I am. She thought my parents had me just for her and we have always been close. Now we go to water aerobics classes, sing (well I'm the accompanist) in the church choir, and sew costumes for our local high school musicals. She certainly doesn't act or look like she is 12 years older than I. I'm hoping I'm as healthy as she is when I'm her age.

 

If you want to participate in this Book Blogger Hop, create a blog post and go to Crazy for Books and add your link.  It's really fun!

 

 

 



Uncontrollable by S.R. Johannes

To enter the "Uncontrollable" ebook Giveaway, just complete the form at the upper right.

This giveaway ends at noon on September 15th!

Good Luck!



The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book has two things going for it - it is science fiction and it's a classic. This is a series of stories about people from Earth who travel to Mars and what they did there. All the stories have a 1950's vibe to them, in my opinion, even though they claim to take place from 1999 to 2026 and they are going to Mars! They must have some kind of advanced technology. It was the words that were used and the images that played in my mind - I saw people dressed as in the 50's and acting as people did then. Ray Bradbury has quite the imagination. My favorite story was the one about the House of Usher - creepy but very cool. I also liked the Hathaways and Tom and his parents. Bradbury touched on all kinds of social issues - racism, bookburning, greed, etc. I'm sure there is a story in this book for everyone. I recommend it! It is a little book, but it gives you a lot to think about.

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Uncontrollable by S.R. Johannes

Uncontrollable by S.R. Johannes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another great story by Shelli Johannes! I loved "Untouchable" and "Uncontrollable" is just as exciting. Grace, the heroine, is just so amazing. She has been through hell and still tries to help the people and animals she loves. I felt her sadness at her losses and I especially felt the cold when she fell into that snow drift. Johannes knows how to write to keep you turning pages and anticipating what will happen next. Her villains are believable and she gives you little clues, but you have to be clever enough to notice them. Twists and turns abound. The relationships are real - not sappy and gross. Grace is a teenage girl and her relationships are age-appropriate. This is a great book. If you care about the environment or wildlife conservation, you need to read this book. Fantastic! Next week - on September 14th - I will be hosting a giveaway for this ebook! Come back and enter to win a copy!

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