River Readers

This was a nice pair of short stories with Christmas settings. Both stories were about a couple who made a mistake in high school and now. 6-10 years down the road, want a second chance. Both need a lot of persuading and a lot of forgiveness, but result in happy couples willing to take that new chance at a forever relationship.

This is one of my top books of the year. I really enjoyed how Jackson connected the past and the present. The fact that so many people, dealing with so many different things, end up connected basically through one wannabe star was so intriguing. I had no problem following the different plots and was not blind-sided by the ending. Character development was enough to keep you interested and involved without bogging you down. I listened to this and it was hard to stop,so I had to make sure I quit early sometimes or I would keep listening to the next chapter!

Coyote and her dad Rodeo live in a converted school bus traveling around the US. They have been on the road for five years ever since Coyote's mom and two sisters were killed in an auto accident. Coyote loves life on the road and has no plans to return home until she learns the neighborhood park is being destroyed. Coyote must get back before it happens so she can retrieve a memory box buried in the park. Now she just has to convince Rodeo to do something he has no desire to do.

Louisiana's grandmother woke her out of the blue and said, "The day of reckoning is coming, we must go" and off they went. Leaving Florida and everything Louisiana knew and loved behind. Granny was vague about their plans but whatever plans she had derailed when she became ill and lands them in Richford, Georgia. It is in Georgia Louisiana begins to unravel the mysteries of her.

Nice conclusion to the Percy series. Sometimes what you think is planned is way off course. Percy believes he is fated to die on or before his 16th birthday, but is ready to sacrifice himself to save New York. However, this final clash isn't all about him. Luke, Annabeth, Grover and many others all play a part in this final clash. Who knows what the future holds when everyone works together. Life will go on or maybe not!

If have a normal everyday family, this book probably isn't for you! However, if you like me and realize family is messy, then dive in and enjoy. My favorite quote from this book is very near the end when Miranda's mom is talking about her feelings for her brother Billy. She says, "They were family. You don't have to like your family, you only have to love them." To me this sums up the adventure Miranda has been on and most situations in any family. We can't choose our blood family and they aren't always easy to like, but deep down love of family is always there.

Little Charlie was a sharecropper's son. All he knew was bad luck and hard work. His bad luck continued when his father was killed and the mean foreman, Cap'n Buck, showed up demanding money his father owed him. He demanded Little Charlie go with him on a slave hunting expedition to the North. That is where Little Charlie's education of the world really began.

There was so much in this story I didn't remember. I am enjoying this listening experience. Now on to the final book.

In a post-apocalyptic world devoid of humans, three animal friends struggle to survive. They scavenge food where they can but their town is quickly emptying of supplies. Then a new character comes to town and promises a town not abandoned. But is he really the best character? 

I probably should have read the first one of these. Maybe it explains what happened to the humans? I thought it was a bit strange that this is set in the real world but the animals where clothes. Really it is a story about bullying and choosing your friends wisely.

Set in a lawless Texas about five years after the end of the Civil War, News of the World by Paulette Jiles is the compelling and beautifully written account of a 400-mile journey reluctantly undertaken by Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd. The purpose of the journey is to return a recently rescued child to her aunt and uncle. Ten-year old Johanna Leonberger had been captured three years ago by the same Kiowa Indian tribe which brutally murdered her parents and younger sister.

More drama in the second book of the series. Hard to believe so much can happen to someone who hasn't even turned thirteen yet! Sadie's British wit is so much fun and Carter tries so hard to be the adult of the twosome. I think I would like my cat to become my guardian. Maybe I would find time to nap. I always laugh whenever the two dream and find themselves floating around with their heads on a chicken. Such an entertaining visual. It's easy to find the humor amid the drama.

This was an enjoyable audio for our trip to Dallas. The story was intense and the voices were done by a male, as Carter, and female, as Sadie. This added to the fun since Sadie was raised British and has an accent. Since they each encounter a romantic crush, the brother-sister teasing and drama gets lots of laughs too. Trying to remember who is who in Egyptian gods and pharaohs was a challenge, but got easier.

I enjoyed listening to this book. It's been a while since I read it with my son and saw the movie (which I don't recommend), so I had forgotten a lot of the details. It is a fun story with lots of action, new and old characters that continues to lead the listener towards a temporary conclusion. Knowing there are three more books in this series helped me to focus on who was who since the cast keeps growing.

Shy bookstore owner Jane Finch grew up hiding in the margins of her own life while her vibrant, adventure-loving sister, Samantha, dominated every plotline. She’s made peace with it, unlike Sam’s business partner, Caleb, who’s always nudging Jane to go after what she really wants. Why should she care what blunt, brash Caleb thinks? They’ve never had much in common, except for Sam.

After tragedy strikes, they don’t even have that.