River Readers

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.

This audio-book was absolutely hilarious! I found myself laughing so hard I was scared I might run off the road. Having actually done one pageant in my life, I have a special understanding for many of the inside lines and worries these girls have. The fact that they get the chance to find out who they are outside of the rigors of pageant life and the dreams that may or may not have been theirs. There were true brains and lots of talent too spare even meeting up with pirates, black shirts, giant snakes and drug-like berries.

This book was nothing like I expected. It was a different telling of the Sea Queen and sirens. Also the prince is a pirate and much happier that way. I found myself rooting for them to find the stone to destroy the evil queen and right many wrongs. I was pleased to find an ending that made sense and wasn't fairy-tale perfect either.

This was a very different take on the Peter Pan story. Tiger Lily was usually a minor character and here she gets her day in the sun. However, she also has a relationship with Tinkerbell that is very different from the one Peter and Tink are always shown having. This was sad, yet strangely satisfying too.

I liked this book a lot because it was a bit different. While the dysopian society is similar to others, I liked the idea of belonging to a passion. I'm not sure I would want that passion to decide my fate, but I guess in a way that is what choosing a career does - just not usually at seventeen. I had a little trouble keeping everyone straight, but the charts at the front were a good reference tool. I began to care for many of the characters and look forward to the next book to see how Brienna and the others fare.

This book reminded me of the real life story of Jaycee Dugard who reappeared after 18 years. She had two children and quite a story. This one makes sense because of the guilt Amy feels, both for having gone meekly along instead of resisting and for the act that results in her return. The secrets she keeps and the fear she feels are believable. It is also nice to see someone trying to make decisions that protect someone else and not taking the easy route to save one's self or make life simple. Not an easy read, but worth it.

Listening to this second book gave me new insights into my favorite series. I keep uncovering things I don't remember reading or have forgotten since watching the movies after reading the book. Jim Dale once again transports the listener back to Hogwarts and makes you feel such a part of the action. I can visualize the characters and the places with ease - even ones I had forgotten about. As always it was fun to rediscover Dobby, the Forbidden Forest and the beginning of Harry and Ginny's love.

A fun mystery using one of my favorite foods as a character. Never met a chocolate, a cherry, or a cheesecake I didn't like, so this was clever and made me hungry. Not a bad cast of characters and I will probably check out the next one in the series to see if it is as entertaining or is too predictable.

This was not exactly what I was expecting. It was a much darker look at the fairy tales I love. While I enjoy a good fractured tale or a remake, this book had me looking at the stories in too much of a literal tunnel. The idea of Snow White being a 7-9 year old girl who "marries" the dwarves or the more pagan/Wiccan rituals that are suggested were not my cup of tea. I know Grimm's stories are much darker than Disney's, but that doesn't mean I enjoy looking at them through the eyes of a pedophile either.

This graphic novel was recommended by Kayla and I really enjoyed it. The story was done in a subtle fashion that didn't preach. The differences between Aster and the other boys was defined, however neither the girls or the boys seemed to know what to make of him. It took his elderly grandmother and a girl from the wrong neighborhood to help Aster discover who he truly is and how to accept the differences about him.

This was an interesting page-turner. Not your typical murder mystery, it had a decent amount of twists and false clues to keep you interested. I had my suspicions about the actual killer from the beginning, but not for the reason they ended up being the killer. This one had some nice romance and closure for the family and those falsely believed to be involved.

A new thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author and “Queen of Suspense” Mary Higgins Clark.

A fun continuation of the Heartbreaker series. That is one magical fountain and the lives of those who live nearby are well worth learning about. I'm enjoying how each new stories increases the back stories and expands the characters as a whole and individually. Fun and light.

This is not your mother's Nancy Drew! While there have been a lot of updated Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys stories, this one is definitely more adult. The cops are tougher, the plot is personal and the surprises are plentiful. The noir look is much darker, but fits the theme. I did like how their were ties back to the younger stories though. I will read another volume with no problem.