Books I’ve Read in 2012

River Whispers A Holiday Yarn (A Seaside Knitters Mystery #4) Stormbreaker (Alex Rider, #1) Eclipse Breaking Dawn Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter #1) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter #2) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azakban (Harry Potter #3) Touch of Power Cookie Dough or Die (A Cookie Cutter Shop Mystery #1) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter #5) Hunted Death by Diamonds (A Vintage Magic Mystery #3) Obsession Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6) Sea Glass (Glass, #2) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7) Glazed Murder (A Donut Shop Mystery #1) Earthquake Terror Sentenced to Death (A Booktown Mystery #5) Spy Glass (Glass, #3) Divergent (Divergent #1) Deeply Desperately (Lucy Valentine, #2) Cinnamon Roll Murder (Hannah Swensen, #15) Buttercream Bump Off (Cupcake Bakery Mystery #2) Brownies and Broomsticks (Magical Bakery #1) Pillar of Light (The Work and The Glory #1) Sonoma Rose (Elm Creek Quilts) Stamped Out (A Stamping Sisters Mystery #1) Seeking Persephone Skirting the Grave (A Vintage Magic Mystery #4) As Sisters in Zion Edenbrooke Rearview Mirror Through the Window of Life: A Vision of the Glorious Future Awaiting the Lord’s Followers Ere His Floods of Anger Flow Tiger’s Quest (The Tiger Saga #2) The Mermaid’s Purse Evading Babylon (Times of Turmoil Series Book 1) Assassin Study (Study #1.5) Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close A Heart Like His: Making Space for God’s Love in Your Life Like a Fire is Burning (The Work and the Glory #2) Truth Will Prevail (The Work and The Glory #3) Cold Justice Royal Secrets Thy Gold to Refine (The Work and The Glory #4) Deadly Politics (A Molly Malone Mystery #1) Out to Canaan (Mitford Years #4) The Wedding Quilt: An Elm Creek Quilts Novel (Elm Creek Quilts #18) A Season of Joy (The Work and The Glory #5) Mouse Tales: Behind-The-Ears Look at Disneyland Praise to the Man (The Work and The Glory #6) The Diva Haunts the House (A Domestic Diva Mystery #5) Foul Play at the Fair The Night Circus No Talking Katie and the Cupcake Cure (The Cupcake Diaries #1) The Pumpkin Roll The Giving Quilt The Assassin and the Pirate Lord (Throne of Glass, # 0.1) Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 Walk Two Moons Olivia The Assassin and the Desert (Throne of Glass, #0.2) The Assassin and the Underworld (Throne of Glass, #0.3) The Assassin and the Empire (Throne of Glass, #0.4) Switchback

Books Read in 2011

The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles #1)

Circle of Quilters (Elm Creek Quilts #9)

Deadline

Clockwork Angel (Infernal Devices #1)

The Quilter’s Homecoming (Elm Creek Quilts #10)

The Winding Ways Quilt (Elm Creek Quilts #12)

Killer Plot (A Book By the Bay Mystery #1)

Fragile Eternity (Wicked Lovely #3)

I Scream, You Scream (A Mystery a La Mode #1)

Comfort Food

The Lost Quilter (Elm Creek Quilts #14)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7)

Murder by Design (Kennedy Killingswoth #2)

Steamed (Gourmet Girl Mystery #1)

Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1)

The Operative

The Aloha Quilt (Elm Creek Quilters #16)

Town In A Blueberry (Candy Holliday #1)

House Rules

Town In A Lobster Stew (Candy Holliday #2)

The Forgotten Garden

Peace Like a River

Scoop To Kill (A Mystery a La Mode #2)

The Inner Circle

The Union Quilters (Elm Creek Quilters #17)

Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods (Underland Chronicles #3)

The Great Gathering (Standing In Holy Places #1)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter #1)

The Celestial City (Standing In Holy Places #2)

The Rise of Zion (Standing In Holy Places #3)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azakban (Harry Potter #3)

The Keys of the Kingdom (Standing in Holy Places #4)

The Renewed Earth (Standing In Holy Places #5)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter #5)

Return to Red Castle

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7)

Jayhawk

Backlash

If Walls Could Talk (A Haunted Home Repair Mystery, #1)

A Veiled Deception (A Vintage Magic Mystery, #1)

In Trying Times, Just Keep Trying

Flower of the Winds

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1)

Sprinkle With Murder (Cupcake Bakery Mystery #1)

Kissing Cousins

Twilight

Larceny and Lace (A Vintage Magic Mystery, #2)

Alpine for You (Passport to Peril #1)

Smokescreen (Saint Squad #5)

Bookplate Special (Booktown Mystery, #3)

A Crafty Killing (Victoria Square Mystery #1)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7)

Devil’s Food Cake Murder (Hannah Swensen #14)

City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2)

Deadly Currents (An RM Outdoor Adventures Mystery #1)

City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3)

City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments #4)

A Parfait Murder (A Mystery a La Mode #3)

The Diva Takes the Cake (A Domestic Diva Mystery #2)

Crunch Time (A Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery #16)

The Diva Paints the Town (A Domestic Diva Mystery #3)

Truly, Madly (Lucy Valentine #1)

Legacy: A Novel

Tempest In the Tea Leaves (Fortune Teller Mystery #1)

Chapter & Hearse (A Booktown Mystery #4)

Rascal

Farm Fresh Murder (A Farmer’s Market Mystery #1)

Bloodborne

Blackwork (A Needlecraft Mystery #13)

Died to Match (Carnegie Kincaid, #2)

The Diva Cooks a Goose (Domestic Diva Mystery, #4)

Crewel Yule (A Needlecraft Mystery #8)

Twilight

New Moon

The Assignment

If I Should Die

Books I've read in 2010

Code of Honor (Duty Series, #3)
Lockdown
Handle With Care
Catching Fire (Hunger Games, #2)
The Runaway Quilt (Elm Creek Quilts, #4)
The Quilter's Legacy (Elm Creek Quilts, #5)
Enna Burning (The Books of Bayern, #2)
The Journal of Curious Letters (The 13th Reality, #1)
The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #2)
Eggs Benedict Arnold (A Cackleberry Club Mystery, #2)
River Secrets (The Books of Bayern, #3)
State of the Onion (White House Chef Mystery, Book 1)
Hail to the Chef (White House Chef Mystery, Book 2)
Superfudge
Mum's the Word (A Flower Shop Mystery, #1)
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
The New Year's Quilt (Elm Creek Quilts, #11)
Shudder
Slay It With Flowers (Flower Shop Mystery, #2)
The Giver (The Giver, #1)
Five-Star Families: Moving Yours from Good to Great
Thyme of Death (China Bayles Mysteries, #1)
City of Glass (Mortal Instruments, #3)
Murder is Binding (Booktown Mysteries, #1)
The Princess Diaries (The Princess Diaries, #1)
On What Grounds (Coffeehouse Mystery, #1)
Rogue
Chasing Paradise
The Master Quilter (Elm Creek Quilts, #6)
Look Again
Carrot Cake Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery, #10)Mother's Day Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery, #15)
Cream Puff Murder ( A Hannah Swensen Mystery, #11)
Confessions of a Shopaholic (Shopaholic, #1)
Aisling of Eire
Plum Pudding Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery, #12)
Apple Turnover Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery, #13)
The Sugar Camp Quilt (Elm Creek Quilts, #7)
Club Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, #3)
The Best of Times: A Dickens Inn Novel #1
Dearly Depotted (A Flower Shop Mystery, #3)
Twilight (Twilight, #1)
New Moon (Twilight, #2)
Eclipse (Twilight, #3)
Breaking Dawn (Twilight, #4)
The Undaunted
The Diva Runs Out of Thyme (A Domestic Diva Mystery, #1)
Free Men and Dreamers, Dark Sky at Dawn, (Vol. 1)
Crossfire
The Shack
Bookmarked For Death (A Booktown Mystery #2)
Mockingjay (Hunger Games #3)
Methods of Madness
Split Second (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell #1)
Simple Genius (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell #2)
Gregor the Overlander (Underland Chronicles #1)
Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane (Underland Chronicles #2)
Trick or Treat Murder (Lucy Stone #3)
The Help
Blink of An Eye
Between The Lines
The Maze of Bones (39 Clues #1)
Dangerous Connections
A Time To Die
Cold As Ice
A Catered Halloween (A Mystery with Recipes, #5)
Keys To the Demon Prison (Fablehaven #5)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter #1)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter #2)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter #3)
A Wicked Witch Murder (Lucy Stone #16)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter #5)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7)
Ghost of a Chance
Freefall
Murder by the Book (Kennedy Killingsworth, #1)
The Christmas Quilt (Elm Creek Quilts #8)
The Christmas Box
Finding Noel
The Thanksgiving Day Murder (Christine Bennett Mystery #6)
Don't Cry Wolf
Final Act: A Novel
Disney After Dary (Kingdom Keepers #1)
The Friday Night Knitting Club (Friday Night Knitting Club #1)
The Gift
The Christmas List
Disney at Dawn (Kingdom Keepers #2)
Twilight's Last Gleaming (Free Men and Dreamers #2)
Gingerbread Cookie Murder (Hannah Swensen #16)
Candy Cane Murder

Fall Into Reading 2010 Wrap Up

My original list/post is linked here. The following is my list of completed books for Fall Into Reading 2010:

Knock Out (FBI Thriller #13)
Gregor the Overlander (Underland Chronicles #1)
Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane (Underland Chronicles #2)
Trick or Treat Murder (Lucy Stone #3)
The Help
A Blink of An Eye
Between the Lines
Maze of Bones (39 Clues #1)
Dangerous Connections
A Time to Die
Cold As Ice
A Catered Halloween (A Mystery with Recipes, #5)
Keys to the Demon Prison (Fablehaven #5)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter #1)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter #2)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter #3)
Wicked Witch Murder (Lucy Stone #16)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter #5)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7)
Ghost of a Chance
Freefall
Murder by the Book (Kennedy Killingsworth, #1)
The Christmas Quilt (Elm Creek Quilts #8)
The Christmas Box
Finding Noel
The Thanksgiving Day Murder (Christine Bennett #6)
Don't Cry Wolf
Final Act: A Novel
Disney After Dark (The Kingdom Keepers #1)
The Friday Night Knitting Club (Friday Night Knitting Club #1)
The Gift
The Christmas List
Disney at Dawn (Kingdom Keepers #2)
Twilight's Last Gleaming (Free Men and Dreamers #2)
Gingerbread Cookie Murder (Hannah Swensen #16)
Candy Cane Murder

I finished everything on my list except Fairy Thorn and added a few books. I hadn't planned on reading the Harry Potter series but since the movie came out last month I decided to refresh my memory. I always re-read the series once a year because I love it so much. I really enjoyed my cozy mystery holiday themed books. They help me get in the holiday mood, although it is a challenge to read in December since there has been so much on my "to do" list.

Cozy Mystery Challange Wrap Up

Thanks for this challenge, I absolutely loved it because I love cozy mysteries. They have become my favorite genre, especially the holiday themed books. I read 11 books, although I would have loved to read more, but with a baby under 1 years old plus my other 3 kids, that was the best I could do.

I started 3 new series; A Domestic Diva Mystery Series, A Manor of Murder Mystery Series and the Coffeehouse Mystery series. I liked each new series and plan to continue reading them.

I completed the following books:
On What Grounds (Coffeehouse Mystery #1)
Dearly Depotted (A Flower Shop Mystery #3)
The Diva Runs Out of Thyme (A Domestic Diva Mystery #1)
Carrot Cake Murder (Hannah Swensen #10)
Mother's Day Murder (Lucy Stone #15)
Cream Puff Murder (Hannah Swensen #11)
Plum Pudding Murder (Hannah Swensen #12)
Apple Turnover Murder (Hannah Swensen #13)
Bookmarked For Death (A Booktown Mystery #2)
Grace Under Pressure (A Manor of Murder Mystery #1)
Trick or Treat Murder (Lucy Stone #3)

Mother's Day Murder ( A Lucy Stone Mystery, #15)

By Leslie Meier
Published in 2009, 256 pages

Description:
Spring in Tinker's Cove, Maine, finds local reporter Lucy Stone wishing she were digging in her garden instead of languishing in her office at the Pennysaver newspaper. But flowerbeds will have to wait when Mother's Day rings in a feud between two neighborhood moms-and the fallout is fatal...
Two of her four kids may be out of the nest, but Lucy knows only too well that mothering is a lifetime commitment. At least she gets to kick back and enjoy a fancy Mother's Day brunch with her brood-that is, before the festivities are interrupted by a nasty scene courtesy of Barbara Hume and Tina Nowak. Opposites in every way, the only thing these mean moms have in common is the need to best each other at every turn, using their teenage daughters as pawns in elaborate games of one-upsmanship...
The hostilities only escalate when Bar and Tina team up to host an after-prom party for local teens. Lucy-persuaded to participate so she can keep an eye on her own daughter, Sara-has a front row seat for the fireworks. But even after witnessing the women's claw sharpening rituals, she never expects to see actual blood spilled-until Tina is shot dead on the public tennis court, right in front of Lucy.
Having witnessed Tina's death, Lucy naturally expects to cover it for the Pennysaver, but when her boss snatches the story, she's relegated to backing him up instead of taking the lead. It's an exercise in frustration, especially since Lucy can shake neither the image of Tina's last moments nor the suspicion that the evidence against prime suspect Bar isn't as cut and dried as it seems...

I read this book in a few days and liked it. I generally like to read a series in order but I chose to go out of order to read a Mother's Day book. I like that Leslie Meier has a book for almost every holiday.

I like Lucy Stone as the main character. The thing I like most about her is that I can relate to her as a mother. She worries about her kids, she tries to balance home and work, she doesn't know what to make for dinner and of course there is always a murder for her to solve in her free time.

Carrot Cake Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery, #10)

By Joanne Fluke
Published in 2008, 288 pages
Author's Website


I read Carrot Cake Murder for 2 reading challenges; Cozy Mystery Challenge 2010 and Light & Fluffy Fluke-A-Thon. I have liked the Hannah Swensen series and this was no exception. I do wish Hannah would choose between Mike and Norman and I am leaning towards Norman. Will Joanne Fluke ever have Hannah make a decision in this romance? There are several recipes I want to try like the Carrot Cake and Peanut Butter Cake recipes.

On What Grounds (Coffeehouse Mystery, #1)

By Cleo Coyle
Published in 2003. 275 pages
Author's Website


I finished reading On What Grounds (Coffeehouse Mystery, #1) and really enjoyed the first book of the series. I am not a coffee drinker but it was still fun to learn so many interesting facts about coffee and it's history. I never new coffee brewing was such a science. The main character Clare was very likeable and I thought she had a sweet relationship with her former MIL Madame. It will be interesting to read the other books in the series to see if any happens between her and her ex-hubby Matt. Good twist at the end of the book.

Cozy Mystery Challenge 2010

I decided to participate in the Cozy Mystery Challenge 2010. I love cozy mysteries. An online friend introduced my to cozies a couple of years ago and I've been hooked ever since. This friend started me on Joanne Fluke and the Cookie Lady mysteries which I really like. I had been reading Dianne Mott Davidson and never knew they were cozy mysteries. I've committed to read 7-10 cozies by September 30th.

Below is my list and I will add to it as I go. (This list is subject to change) :

1. On What Grounds (Coffeehouse Mystery, #1)
2. Dearly Depotted (Flower Shop Mystery, #3)
3. The Diva Runs Out of Thyme (Domestic Diva Mystery, #1)
4 Carrot Cake Murder (Hannah Swensen Mystery, Book 10)
5. Mother's Day Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery, #15)
6. Cream Puff Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery, #11)
7. Bookmarked for Death (A Booktown Mystery #2)
8. Plum Pudding Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery, #12)
9. Grace Under Pressue (A Manor of Murder Mystery, #1)
10. Trick or Treat Murder (Lucy Stone #3)
11. Apple Turnover Murder (Hannah Swensen Mystery #13)

Light & Fluffy Fluke-A-Thon

Recently I came accross this Light & Fluffy Fluke-A-Thon challenge at Bloggin' 'bout Books and decided join her and finish the series. I started with Joanne Fluke when I started reading Cozy Mysteries and I've enjoyed the series and many of her recipes.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder ‘00
Strawberry Shortcake Murder ‘01
Blueberry Muffin Murder ‘02
Lemon Meringue Murder ‘03
Fudge Cupcake Murder ‘04
Sugar Cookie Murder ‘04
Peach Cobbler Murder ‘05
Cherry Cheesecake Murder ‘06
Key Lime Pie Murder ‘07
Carrot Cake Murder ‘07
Candy Cane Murder ‘08
Cream Puff Murder ‘09
Plum Pudding Murder ‘09
Apple Turnover Murder ‘10
Gingerbread Cookie Murder ‘10

Books I've Read In 2009

The City of Ember (The First Book Of Ember)
The Candy Shop War
Change of Heart
Marley & Me: Love and Life with the World's Worst Dog
Inkheart (Inkheart Trilogy, #1)
Dairy Queen
The Off Season
Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1)
The Eyre Affair (Thursday Next, Book 1)
Poison Study (Study, Book 1)
Magic Study (Study, Book 2)
Water Keep (Farworld, Book 1)
Fire Study (Study, Book 3)
The Spark: Igniting the Passion, Mystery, and Romance in Your Marriage
The Dragon in the Sock Drawer: Dragon Keepers #1 (Dragon Keepers)
The Christmas Cookie Killer (Fresh-Baked Mystery, Book 3
Royal Target
New Moon (The Twilight Saga, Book 2)
Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, Book 3)
Magyk (Septimus Heap, Book 1)
Chocolate Kisses for Couples: Practical Ideas to Sweeten Your Love Life
Kite Runner
Epicenter
Dragon Slippers
The Hound of Rowan (Book One of The Tapestry)
The Mysterious Benedict Society
Casting Spells
Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely, #1)
Ballet Shoes
Flowers of the Winds
Breaking Dawn
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book 2)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3)
Harry, A History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter PhenomenonInk Exchange (Wicked Lovely, #2)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4)
Storm Glass (Glass #1)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6)
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows (Book 7)
Dead Until Dard (Sookie Stackhouse #1)
A Wrinkle in Time (Time, Book 1)
Candy Apple Dead (Candy Shop Mystery Book 1)
Pick Your Poison (Yellow Rose Mystery #1)
A Wedding to Die For (Yellow Rose Mystery #2)
Lemon Tart: A Culinary Mystery
Magic Kingdom for Sale--Sold (Magic Kingdom of Landover, #1)
Book of a Thousand Days
Eggs in Purgatory: A Cackleberry Club Mystery
The Brethren
Shades of Earl Grey (A Tea Shop Mystery, #3)
Round Robin (Elm Creek Quilters Novels)
The Mummy Case (Amelia Peabody, #3)
The Hunger Games (Hunger Games, #1)
Key Lime Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen Mystery, Book 9)
Fatally Flaky (Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery, Booke 15)
The Actor and the Housewife
Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary (Fablehaen, #4)
The English Breakfast Murder (A Tea Shop Mystery, #4)
The Rise of Zion (Standing in Holy Places Book 3)
The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1)
Pursued
The Sound of Rain
Hazardous Duty (Duty Series, #1)
Missing Pieces
Flashback
Fool Me Twice
Silhouette
Diamondback Cave
Shadow Hunter
The Cross-Country Quilters
Dead Wrong
Seventh Seal
Keeping Faith
The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands
Above and Beyond (Duty Series, #2)
The Ties That Bind
Pride and Prejudice
The Lost Symbol (Robert Langdon, #3)

Book Review: The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner

by Khaled Hosseini

371 pages

Summary:

In his debut novel, The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini accomplishes what very few contemporary novelists are able to do. He manages to provide an educational and eye-opening account of a country's political turmoil--in this case, Afghanistan--while also developing characters whose heartbreaking struggles and emotional triumphs resonate with readers long after the last page has been turned over. And he does this on his first try.
The Kite Runner follows the story of Amir, the privileged son of a wealthy businessman in Kabul, and Hassan, the son of Amir's father's servant. As children in the relatively stable Afghanistan of the early 1970s, the boys are inseparable. They spend idyllic days running kites and telling stories of mystical places and powerful warriors until an unspeakable event changes the nature of their relationship forever, and eventually cements their bond in ways neither boy could have ever predicted. Even after Amir and his father flee to America, Amir remains haunted by his cowardly actions and disloyalty. In part, it is these demons and the sometimes impossible quest for forgiveness that bring him back to his war-torn native land after it comes under Taliban rule. ("...I wondered if that was how forgiveness budded, not with the fanfare of epiphany, but with pain gathering its things, packing up, and slipping away unannounced in the middle of the night.")
Some of the plot's turns and twists may be somewhat implausible, but Hosseini has created characters that seem so real that one almost forgets that The Kite Runner is a novel and not a memoir. At a time when Afghanistan has been thrust into the forefront of America's collective consciousness ("people sipping lattes at Starbucks were talking about the battle for Kunduz"), Hosseini offers an honest, sometimes tragic, sometimes funny, but always heartfelt view of a fascinating land. Perhaps the only true flaw in this extraordinary novel is that it ends all too soon. --Gisele Toueg

So many people have liked book but I really struggled with it. I really enjoyed reading about the Afghanistan culture and so I did get drawn into the story and the book but I found it very depressing and sad. Even in the end when Amir redeems himself, I didn't feel any better, it was just to much of a downer for me. I will still read A Thousand Splendid Suns in the near future.

Book Review: Magyk (Septimus Heap, Book 1)

Magyk (Septimus Heap, Book 1)
by Angie Sage
564 pages

Summary:

The seventh son of the seventh son, aptly named
Septimus Heap, is stolen the night he is born by a midwife who pronounces him
dead. That same night, the baby's father, Silas Heap, comes across a bundle in
the snow containing a new born girl with violet eyes. The Heaps take this
helpless newborn into their home, name her Jenna, and raise her as their own.
But who is this myster ious baby girl, and what really happened to their beloved
son Septimus?
The first book in this enthralling new series by Angie Sage
leads readers on a fantastic journey filled with quirky characters and magykal
charms, potions, and spells. Magyk is an original story of lost and rediscovered
identities, rich with humor and heart.

I finished Magyk (Septimus Heap, Book 1) today and I found it entertaining. It's the first book in a series of 5 and I plan on continuing with the series. There were many similaritites to Harrry Potter but that's okay. I found it a quick and fun read.

Read Together -- 2009

Jennifer at Snapshot is sponsoring the Read Together 2009 challenge to encourage us to connect and spend time with our children through reading. I think this is a great challenge and I'm excited to set goals for each of the kids.

Z Man (9 yrs old, 3rd grade)

We used to read together everyday but lately I have let him read on his own. He still needs my help and reading isn't his favorite thing because he struggles with it, but he has been enjoying the Diary of a Wimpy Kid. We started reading Dragon Rider together but I think the size of the book discourages him. Our goal is to continue with Dragon Rider and also continue the Third Grade Detectives series that we started. He really like the detective series, he enjoyed the secret codes and the fact that we could finish it in a short period of time.

Princess Izzybee (6 yrs old, 1st grade)

We read together everyday although it is the daily school books she brings home and the AR books that she takes tests on. I just checked out a cute series at the library titled Katie Lynn Cookie Company; The Secret Ingredient. We are going to start it this week and read the other cute books in this series along with her other AR reading.

Doodle (2 yrs old)

I have really slacked in my reading with the Doodle. She has become more and more interested in looking at books and pretending that she is reading. My goal is spend at least 15 minutes reading with her everyday.

Spring Reading Thing 2009

Katrina at Callapider Days is hosting Spring Reading Thing 2009. For this challenge you put together a list of books you want to read between March 20 and June 20 and then simply read them. Your list can be as long or as short as you’d like and you can modify at any time during the challenge. If you would like to join along you can sign up here, Spring Reading Thing 2009: Let’s Read!

Below is my short tenative list:

Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George
Magyk: Septimus Heap Book 1 by Angie Sage
Epicenter by Sonia O'Brien
The Hound of Rowan: Book 1 of the Tapestry by Henry H. Neff
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Storm Glass (Glass Book 1) by Maria V. Snyder

Added:
Casting Spells by Barbara Bretton
The Mysterious Benidiect Society

Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely, #1)

Ballet Shoes

Flowers of the Winds

Breaking Dawn

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book 2)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3)

Harry, A History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon

Ink Exchange (Wicked Lovely, #2)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4)

Words Kids Need to Hear

I have been reading the book Words Kids Need to Hear and there are many good suggestions in this book. Chapter 3 is titled "I Treasure You" and I loved a family's idea to show attention for accomplishments in a healthy, memorable way. The author shares a simple idea that can make a profound impact on the way members of a family celebrate one another. They call it the victory candle and it's a simple concept.

Soon after a specific and significant achievement by someone in the family, start a meal with a lit candle on the table. Turn off the lights, any by the glow of the victory candle raise your glasses of milk, water or whatever to toast the person and his or her feat. That person then enjoys the honor of blowing our the candle at the end of the meal. Record the event in a special victory candle journal. Over many years, entries could inclue awards won, first teeth lost, faith milestones reached, academic and sports achievements, acts of bravery, and even workplace accomplishments.

By creating a standard ritual, everyone recieves the same celebration. The result: the person feels pesonally celebrated--the accomplichment itself remains secondary. Long after the candle extinguishes, the victory candle's warm glow of attention continues. Imagine reading the victory candle journal through the years and reliving the moments and memories. When done well, the "I am treasured" feeling transcends time.

I loved this idea and we are going to start doing. I will share our first victory candle celebration hopefully soon.

Books I have read in 2008

Fablehaven
The Golden Compass
The Seventh Sinner
The Curse of the Pharaohs
The Broker
The Moroni Code
Vanishing Act
Shawdow Song
At Home In Mitford
Return to Red Castle
Mermaid's Purse
A Light In The Window
Death By Darjeeling
My Sister's Keeper
The Goose Girl
The Tenth Circle
By A Spider's Thread
Jayhawk
Death Of A Domestic Diva
Tippy Toe Murder
Nineteen Minutes
Blind Side
Gunpowder Green
The Great Gathering
Double Take
Knit One, Kill Two
The Celestial City
Arthurian Omen
Needled to Death
These High, Green Hills
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
A Girl of the Limberlost
Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star
Princess Academy
The Host: A Novel
City of Bones
The Great and the Terrible: From the End of Heaven, Book 5
Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague (Book 3)
A Modest Proposal
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Cherry Cheesecake Murder
The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate
City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments, Book 2)
Home Improvements: The Chapman Guide to Negotiating Change With Your Spouse (Marriage Saver)
The Great and Terrible, Volume 6: Clear As the Moon
Uglies (Uglies, Book 1)
The Deep End
Pillage

Cherry Cheesecake Murder

Hannah Swensen and her bakery, The Cookie Jar, bask in the glow of Hollywood glamour when Main Street becomes a movie set. And although tensions simmer as the cameras roll, no one expects the action to turn deadly...until it's too late...
There's no such thing as privacy in Lake Eden, but Hannah never thought things would go this far. Everyone has been telling her what to do ever since she got not one but two marriage proposals. Movie mania soon shoves Hannah's marriage dilemma into the background and even gives her cat a shot at stardom. The Cookie Jar serves as snack central with Main Street rented out for the week. She stirs lots of fresh gossip, whipping up treats for cast and crew, including demanding director Dean Lawrence's favorite--cherry cheesecake.
Everything's on schedule until Dean demonstrates a suicide scene with a prop gun that turns out to be all too real. As filming continues, Hannah sifts through the clues, hoping against hope that the person responsible for Dean's death is half-baked enough to have made a mistake. When it happens, Hannah intends be there--ready to rewrite a killer's lethal script with the kind of quirky ending that can only happen in Lake Eden...

I have really enjoyed this series. I have fallen in love with cozy mysteries and this series is the first cozy mystery I read. The story is predictable and everytime I read a Joann Fluke book I bake and eat tons of cookies. She has some great recipes.

I started this book in June and got sidetracked with a bunch of other books. It's not that I didn't like the book, I just get a little bored with Hannah at times. I wish she would just pick a guy and not keep dragging out the dating of 2 guys. I want to finish the series but I need a break.

Series Challenge Season 2

I found a reading challenge I thought I would join even though I'm a little late. It's hosted by Kathrin and it's Season 2 of the Series Challenge! The rules are - no set number of books, but participants have to get up-to-date on one or more of the series they are reading - and it runs June 1 through November 30.

I don't want to over committ myself so I may pick a few and add to it if I can. I'm going to start with:

From The End of Heaven (The Great and Terrible)

Breaking Dawn (Twilight Series)

Rise Of The Evening Star (Fablehaven>

Grip Of The Shadow Plague (Fablehaven)

Cherry Cheesecake Murder (Hannah Swensen Series)

Key Lime Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen Series)

Carrot Cake Murder (Hannah Swensen Series)

The Great Gathering

In the near future, Tad and Emma North and their children live in a United States that is growing increasingly wicked. The Norths and their extended family notice that many Latter-day Saints are being deceived by alluring temptations, and they wonder how much longer the Lord will allow American society to continue its downward spiral.
Then comes an invitation from Church leaders for the Saints to gather together. This invitation isn’t well-accepted—and even openly mocked—but those faithful Church members who trust in the Lord soon find themselves accomplishing monumental tasks. Join these humble yet heroic Saints as they embark on an unprecedented journey to build New Jerusalem.
The Great Gathering, the first novel in the Standing in Holy Places series, paints a vivid picture of exciting prophesied events that still must occur before the Second Coming. If you have an interest in what awaits the members of the LDS Church, this series should definitely be on your reading list!

I absolutely loved this book. I stayed up way to late last night to finish it. It's a fictional story about 3 families who are living through the "last days" before the second coming. It kept my attention the entire book and of course I sit and ponder being asked to do many of the things they were asked to do in the book. "Would I listen?" I like to think that I would. "Are we prepared?" We are not prepared!

The The Celestial City is the second book in this series and it comes out Monday so I am hoping to read it.