Friday, December 21, 2018

Christmas Eve 1914

Christmas Eve 1914 By: Charles Olivier

This was a Christmas gift from audible, its a dramatization so it took awhile to get used to but once I did it was a wonderful story to listen to. It was from a surviving officers point of view, who is writing a letter to the mother of a fallen comrade. I really enjoyed listening to it.

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

My Masters Touch

My Master's Touch  By: Lynda M. Nelson

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!! Seriously I love reading this book every Christmas season and I cry at the end ever time without fail. SERIOUSLY LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!
It's the story of Meshak a little burro that was born the same night as Jesus. He tells the story of growing up with Jesus and traveling with him. Meshak tells of the Saviors ministering time here on the earth through his eyes. It's such a sweet and innocent perspective. This is the book I chose for our book club this month and I am really looking forward to talking about it and seeing what everyone thought. 

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol By: Charles Dickens

I have always been intimidated by this book, like I am with most of Charles Dickens books. I'm not exactly sure why. I am use to reading classics and old English, from Jane Austen, Mary Shelly, and even Shakespeare. But for some reason Charles Dickens books always make me pause before I read them. However I am glad I did. I am definitely familiar with this story through the countless movies that have been made. However reading it was different and interesting. It seemed to me that Charles Dickens was so excited about this book and getting his message across. At least that's what I felt while I was reading it. I did thoroughly enjoy this book and I can see it becoming a tradition every Christmas season to re-read it.

Monday, November 26, 2018

Death Comes to Pemberley

Death Comes to Pemberley By: P.D. James

This book started out a little harsh for me. Being a fan of Jane Austin and loving Pride and Prejudice. I felt that this story started out turning Elizabeth into a villain. Upon reading more I realized that it was just doing a back story of the book Pride and Prejudice but from an outsiders perspective. Once I understood that it made continuing a little easier. I loved being able to re-visit Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, along with Jane and Mr Bingley. This book had my attention almost from the very start, it moved really well and had me believing I knew what the outcome would be and merely kept reading to see how the Darcy's would handle it. Then a twist was thrown in that made my head spin and made it so I didn't want to put the book down. Such an fun and adventurous story. I really enjoy it.


The Scarlet Pimpernel

The Scarlet Pimpernel By: Baroness Orczy

This book hit the ground running, it actually took me by surprise. I had to make sure I wasn't starting in the middle of the chapter. But once I got oriented I really got into this book. I cant believe I had never even heard of this classic book before. It was amazing. It always had me thinking and "on my toes" Such a great read. If you love classic books this one is for you!

During the French Revolution a daring young British noblemen with a few of his comrades dare to defy the rebellion by sneaking into France to smuggle out French nobles and aristocrats out of the country and to Great Britain. Calling himself the scarlet pimpernel after a flower he communicates with his comrades using the red flower as his signature. The french rebellion want his head and will do anything to get it. Spies are sent to England to discover who he; one of these spies thinks he has discovered the identity of this elusive creature. Blackmailing a notable English woman who was a former french actress. He tries to unlock the mystery, only to realize by trying to blackmail this woman he has sealed his own fate.

Monday, October 1, 2018

The Book Thief

The Book Thief  By: Markus Zusak

I went into this book with a faint idea of what it was about. I find it best to read books that way, no spoilers or already watched movies to go off of. This was our book club book for September. This book had me from the very beginning when the narrator was introduced as Death. He talked a little about himself but mostly wanted to relate the story of a young girl named Liesel Meminger. Liesel was brought to a family in Munich Germany during the beginning years of World War II. Herfather not around and their family so poor that there was no food, shelter or way for her mother to properly care for her and her brother. She decided to give them up so they could have a better life. Her brother however never made it to Munich. That was the beginning of Liesel Meminger's career as a book thief.

I find I am a little mixed about this book. I really enjoyed listening to it and getting a different perspective of WWII; from the German civilians perspective. I fell in love with the characters; Liesel, Papa, Mama, Rudy, Max and more. Even though Death (being the narrator) often told of the outcome or the future of some of these characters. It still came as a shock or an ah-ha moment when it occurred. Which is funny when you technically already knew that outcome. 

Friday, August 31, 2018

The Last Olympian

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Last Olympian By: Rick Riordan

This was such a great book. Rick Riordan did an excellent job wrapping up all the loose ends but left a little something in case he wanted to do another series. I always have a hard time coming to a series end and hate saying goodbye to all these characters. But he did wrote it so well that it didn't leave me wondering and thinking "wait that's it". Again another book full of twists and turns and surprises. I really loved reading this book.

A horrible monster in unleashed, one that will help Kronos full regenerate and become his full Titan self again. With the gods fighting the monster in the west, mount Olympus is defenseless and could easily fall to Kronos's army. Percy Jackson cant let that happen. He rally's all the forces he can and heads into Manhattan to try and save Mt Olympus, which seems rather hopeless.

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden By: Frances Hodgson Burnett

This months book club book is the secret garden. I loved this movie as a child and have hard this on my "Classics To Read" list for a long time. I am glad I finally got to read it. This took me back to my childhood and my love for the movie. The book was different from the movie, but not by much and...as usually happens better than the movie. I had so much fun reading this. I really hope this is one that I can one day share with my daughter.




"When orphaned Mary Lennox comes to live at her uncle's great house on the Yorkshire Moors, she finds it full of secrets. The mansion has nearly one hundred rooms, and her uncle keeps himself locked up. And at night, she hears the sound of crying down one of the long corridors.
The gardens surrounding the large property are Mary's only escape. Then, Mary discovers a secret garden, surrounded by walls and locked with a missing key. With the help of two unexpected companions, Mary discovers a way in—and becomes determined to bring the garden back to life." Review from Amazon

Sunday, August 12, 2018

The Man Who Broke Into Auschwitz

The Man Who Broke Into Auschwitz By: Denis Avey

This is a true story about British soldier Denis Avey who fought in the deserts around Egypt during WW2. He was captured as a POW and was able to find a few times to escape his captors, only to be caught again. Eventually he was sent to a POW camp right by Auschwitz called E715. Him and his fellow POW's were sent to work on a factory with the Jewish prisoners from Auschwitz. The POW's tried to help the prisoners whenever they could without either of them getting into trouble. Denis made friends with two of these Jewish prisoners one called Hans and another called Ernst. Denis Avey talks about his remarkable and very disturbing time as a POW. He talks about the terrors he had seen and how he felt he was able to survive. Through Hans, Denis was able to plan a truly terrifying ordeal for the two to switch places so that Hans could have a "break" from prisoner life; and so Denis could see what it was like inside Auscwitz.

I really enjoy reading about WW2 especially the personal experiences from the survivors of all areas of the war. World War Two has always fascinated me since I was first told about it in 8th grade. From my first time reading The Diary of Anne Frank and being told about the holocaust and WW2. I have been enraptured ever since. If you are like me and enjoy stories from WW2, then this is a definite must read.

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Jonathan Livingston Seagull By: Richard Bach

This was our book for book club this month it was a really short read but WOW. It was so good. I could relate to it in so many ways, religious and spiritual, emotionally. I could see a great moral about dedication, hard work, believing in yourself, friendship and love. This was a really fantastic read, and I really want my kids to read this when they get older.

Saturday, July 21, 2018

Battle of the Labyrinth

Percy Jackson and the Olympians-The Battle of the Labyrinth.   By: Rick Riordan

Percy's story continues with yet another adventure, more new friends and the return of old friends as well. I have really enjoyed this series and I'm a little sad I only have a book left.

The war between the Titan Kronos and the Greek Gods gets ever closer as Percy and his friends try to find out what their former friend Luke is up to and how close Kronos is getting to becoming whole again. With the help of a mortal AnnaBeth and Percy need to find the architect Dedalius to enlist his help. While Grover and Tyson get ever closer to finding the long lost god Pan.

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

The Titans Curse

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Titans Curse By: Rick Riordan

I have really enjoyed this series so far. I have always been fascinated with the Greek gods and all the myths, legends and culture that surrounds it. So this series has been so much fun to read. I was afraid that this series was going to become tedious, like watching a soap opera where 3 minutes of part of multiple stories are dragged out to create an hour long show. But it hasn't been like that at all. Rick Riordan keeps finding new ways to reel you in and keep your interest. I am very excited to start the next book to see what new twists and turns are in story for Percy and his friends.

 Percy Jackson is back for another adventure. With his satyr buddy Grover and some new friends. Percy only has a few days to find and save the Goddess Artemis and his friend Annabeth.

Monday, June 11, 2018

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt By: Beth Hoffman

This is a book that was introduced to me by my book club. I have never even heard of this book. It started out really kinda depressing. If it wasn't for my book club I may have stopped reading it. But I am really glad that I finished it, it turned out to be a great read and even funny.

Cecelia Honeycutt also known as CeeCee had a wonderful mother who she loved dearly. But CeeCee noticed he mother becoming different. Things started becoming harder and harder. Then CeeCee's world was completely changed when he mother had unexpectedly passed away and CeeCee went to live with her great aunt in Georgia. Aunt Tootie had a wonderful friend who was also her cook and helped her with the house named Oletta. She also had some eccentric friends and neighbors and goes on some crazy adventures.

Thursday, May 31, 2018

Sea of Monsters

Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Book 2. Sea of Monsters By: Rick Riordan

Since I enjoyed the first book so much I decided to continue on in the series. In the second book Percy Jackson continues with even more adventures with more at state. He teams up once again with his friend Anna Beth as well as Tyson a cyclops friend from school. That he later discovers is his brother when Poseidon claims Tyson as his own. They go on a dangerous  mission to save camp half blood, Percy's satyr friend Grover, and stealing the mythical golden fleece from the cyclops Prometheus.

This was a great continuance from the first book. With lots of twists, turns and page turning moments. So far I am really enjoying this series.

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

The Lightning Thief

Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Book 1-The Lightning Thief By: Rick Riordan

I have read this book once before a long LONG time ago. :) however the first time I read it I wasn't all that interested in the story and had a bit of a grudge against reading it. For reasons I will not explain. However with the start of Spring I wanted a book that I could listen to while I was working out in the yard. Something fiction that didn't need to have my full unoccupied attention. That's when I remembered this book. I thought it would be a good idea and put my prejudices aside. Turns out I REALLY enjoyed this book and I look forward to the rest of the series.

The book is about a half human, half god named Percy Jackson. Who is the son of Greek God Poseidon. Percy doesn't know who his dad is and always considered himself a handful. Being kicked out of 6 different schools in his 6 years of being in school. He was told he had ADHD and Dyslexia. However that was simply his God attributes shining through. He had his identity thrown upon him and by the tie he was able to almost wrap his head around who he really was, he was given a world saving quest to retrieve Zeus's master lightening bolt and return it to him. With the help of his friends Annabelle daughter of Athena and Grover a satyr sworn to protect Percy. They venture out from New York headed to LA to confront Hades in the underworld. But with side quests, twists and turns and monsters on their heels these three discover the truth and unearth an even bigger mystery that is bigger than a potential World War 3.

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Chasing The Prophecy

Beyonders - Chasing the Prophecy, By: Brandon  Mull

It has been so long since I read these the first time that this book had a few "oh yeah" moments for me. It was fun re-reading it. I really enjoy this series.