Pendragon Before the War: Book 2 of the Travelers

Title: Pendragon Before the War
Author: D.J. MacHale
Series: Pendragon Mini Series (Book 2)
Genre: Young Adult



Book 2 follows three more Travelers: Aja, Alder and Elli. It was a really quick read and I enjoyed all of the stories in this grouping.

Aja, the Traveler of Veelox, is the first story. Veelox is an interesting world, they have something called Lifelight. It is something that in my mind makes me think programable dreams. You can pick a game, or simulation and it's like you are really there living it out. I think it sounds like fun :) Aja's conflict is that someone is trying to hurt people using Lifelight and she needs to stop them by playing a dangerous game.

Elli, comes from Quillan. Quillan is a territory that is run by a company called Blok. It has gambling that can end in gambling your life against your debts and there are also people who play the "games." Blok is very controlling, creating a very unoriginal territory where everyone wears gray and has little individual thoughts. There is also a group of people who are rebelling against this in their own way (of course) by collecting old, forbidden things from how the territory use to be. Elli accidentally stumbles across these rebels and earns their trust through keeping their hideouts clean. Eventually she become a very valuable piece in the search for relics.

Alder, Traveler from Denduron, wants to be a knight. Problem is, he's an orphan and it costs a lot to train. He is told if he works to pay his way he then can train. However, he is taken advantage of and is never given the opportunity to train, only to serve people. Then one day an odd old man comes to Denduron and will train him, really train him, for free. Of course Alder takes him up on it and ends up learning many valuable lessons and becomes a better knight then anyone who trained in the academy.

I'm anxiously awaiting the next trio, it is already released (actually just last week), I just need to get it from the library. I am most excited about Loor's story!

Pendragon Before the War: Book 1 of the Travelers

Title: Pendragon Before the War
Author: D. J. MacHale
Series: Pendragon Mini Series (Book 1)
Genre: Young Adult



One of my all time favorite series is D.J. MacHale's Pendragon series. It is currently a 9 book series, with the tenth and final book being released on May 12th. In waiting for it to come out, I've decided to read the Before the War books (there are 3) and reread the rest of the series (Once I finish the pile of library books I currently have)

Each of the Before the War books consists of 3 short stories (less than 100 pages each). Each story tells about the life of one of the Travelers before they meet Bobby or even really know about being a Traveler. Book 1 tells the story of Kasha, Vo and Gunny.

Kasha, Traveler of Eelong, has in my opinion, the worst story of the ones I read. Kasha is basically like a panther shaped human. These large cats walk on their hind legs and are basically the main runners of the world. There are real humans here, called gars, but they don't talk and are more like slaves. Kasha's story tells of her playing a dangerous game that hurts gars, and the change in the way of her thinking about them.

Gunny, Traveler of First Earth, is one of my favorite characters in the series. He exists in First Earth, which is Earth in the time of the 1930s. His story revolves around murder and gangs in the 30's, saving a friend's son and helping to prove another friend to be innocent of a murder. I like that Gunny is an older guy (60's I believe they mention in this one) yet he runs around saving lives and acting like one of the younger guys. Later he's also an awesome friend to Bobby.

Vo Spader, Travler of Cloral, definitely ranks up there as favorite character as well. Cloral is a world that is basically all water with little man made island like structures floating around. They have some awesome water items. In Spader's story we learn about his graduation to be an aquaneer and his struggle with his emotions and ego. He learns to work as part of a duo or team and not always showing off.

Initially I didn't think I was going to like the stories, since Kasha's wasn't interesting, but a friend said they got better, and indeed they did. I loved how somewhere in each person's story they either mentioned seeing a Travler ring (although they didn't know what it was) or they would meet Press. I almost wish at times they would have gone up to the point that they met Bobby, so we could see it from their side as well.

The Duggars: 20 & Counting!

Title: The Duggars: 20 and Counting!
Author: Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar
Series: None
Genre: Non-Fiction


I've always enjoyed watching TLC, they seem to have some interesting shows. Many years back I stumbled upon the first special on the Duggar family, a family with (at the time) 14 kids and one on the way. Since then I've caught each of their specials. However, recently, they've started a weekly show on TLC. I don't make a point to watch it, because it conflicts with something else I watch, but I do catch it on occasion.

The family, their values, beliefs, and systems just amaze me. So when I learned that they had written a book (with 18 then, now 19 kids) I just had to pick it up and see what they had to say.

I was a bit worried about the religious aspect of their book, I know that's a big part of who they are. It wasn't a problem. I really enjoyed getting a look into their lives and seeing the little things and ways they accomplish things that we don't always see (or perhaps not in detail) in the show. It tells Jim Bob and Michelle's stories from childhood to marriage and beyond. They are very detailed about how much they have paid for things and 100% committed to not borrowing money ever. Way to go them!

It includes some of their famous recipes, a few of which we already make at home that I didn't know they also made. I did find it frustrating that each recipe is written down for the whole family. When I'm cooking it's not for 20 people, but 5. I'm a math person, sure I can cut the recipe down, but I would have liked to see it already that way.

They also include answers to emails that they get. Some of which I thought were dumb, "How did Josh propose to Anna?" Hello, that is an episode. We don't need to know that. Some interesting, "Doesn't Jana get tired of being everyone's big sister and spending so much time helping younger siblings instead of enjoying her own interests?" and some I wish they would have addressed, "What happens when the girls want to go swimming?"

Overall, it was a quick read and a fascinating look at one large family.

Heart of Courage

Title: Heart of Courage
Author: Kat Martin
Series: Heart Series (Book 3)
Genre: Romance



The final installment in the Heart series by Kat Martin, Heart of Courage followed the same basic story as the other two.

Lindsey, the woman who has taken over Corrie's spot at Heart to Heart, finds out that her brother has been accused of the murder of two prostitutes. Lindsey knows it can't be true and goes about trying to clear his name. Krista (book 1) is afraid that she will get into trouble so she sends her brother-in-law Thor (Viking) after her.

Of course sparks of all sorts fly and the two fall in love and have to overcome many obstacles. And while all that is happening they manage to solve the murder case as well.

Although the books all had the same basic ingredients:
- Mystery to solve including murder attempts on main female character.
- Man of station below the woman, where a wedding seems impossible.
- The help of private investigator Dolph.

They were enjoyable. I still loved the first book most, but it was definitely a worthwhile series.

Heart of Fire

Title: Heart of Fire
Author: Kat Martin
Series: Heart Series (Book 2)
Genre: Romance



The second book in the Heart series, Heart of Fire was almost as intriguing as the first one.

Corrie, a friend of Krista's from book 1, attends her sisters funeral. It has been said to be suicide, and it appears she also drown the 1 month old illegitimate son she had. Corrie doesn't believe it, and sets out to learn who her sister's murder was and get revenge. The top of her list is Gray, the Earl of Tremaine.

Gray's late wife also died in a drowning in the same river, and the home where Corrie's sister had been staying is only a skip and a jump away from Gray's home.

Corrie hatches a plan that requires her to play a distant cousin of the Earl's who had barely any money and has been left by her husband. Gray doesn't quite believe her, but doesn't know what to believe.

They of course start to have feelings for one another and everything seems to come to a head when Gray finds out Corrie's true identity.

I enjoyed this second installment and look forward to the third (and final I believe). I find that no matter when I read a trilogy, I fall hard for the first book and find the ones after that good, just not to the same degree. I'm not sure if it's me as a reader or something that writers who write trilogies have in common. I'm banking on me as a reader.

Like No Other Lover

Title: Like No Other Lover
Author: Julie Anne Long
Series: None
Genre: Romance



I love new books. The crispy pages, the unbroken spine (well, mine stay that way) and the new book smell. I often peruse the NEW book section of the library and that is where I picked up Julie Anne Long's Like No Other Lover.

We meet Cynthia, she has a past that is that of someone who is not well off. She does however, get a chance to have a season and snags herself a rich fiance. Then something happens (a duel we find out) that causes him to break it off with her. She is basically penniless and now has no one to marry.

Miles is of a well known family. The second son, who happens to be the heir because the first son went missing. He has a woman picked out unofficially by his father that he is expected to propose to.

This is when we meet the two of them. Cynthia is friends with Miles younger sister Violet and has been invited to their country estate for a dinner party (a week long affair). Miles and Cynthia have an understanding that Miles will help Cynthia snag herself another of the men at the party to be her new husband, but of course sparks fly between the two of them.

An acceptable book, it wasn't wonderful but wasn't really all that bad. I felt like the plot was merely a flat line, nothing overly exciting ever happening. It was a story without, in my opinion, a conflict, or much of action.

The Clayborne Brides

Title: The Clayborne Brides
Author: Julie Garwood
Series: None
Genre: Romance



So this was foray #2 into Julie Garwood world. I wasn't so excited. For the past almost week I've been working on this book. This is the telltale sign for me. The better the book the faster it goes.

The Clayborne Brides actually consists of three short stories that are intertwined: One Pink Rose, One White Rose, and One Red Rose. This could perhaps be part of the problem. I think books that aren't part of a series are just to short. I enjoy series books because the story lasts longer. In this case, although being a "series" the stories were just too short. Really not much of romance if you ask me. There is another book that comes after this, Come the Spring. It's sitting on my floor, and will be going back to the library tomorrow. I'm not even interested enough to read it.

The stories all take place in the times of the Wild West, another downfall for me. I'll read many kinds, but western types stories aren't my thing.

One Pink Rose tells of Travis and Emily, who meet when Travis is chosen to escort Emily to her betrothed.

One White Rose is the story of Douglas and Isabel. My favorite (if you want to call it that) of the three stories. Douglas meets Isabel to find her being terrorized by a local man.

One Red Rose follows Adam and Genevieve through their journey of being engaged, not and then engaged once again.

Short synopses, I know. The stories just weren't that long nor memorable for me.

Heart of Honor

Title: Heart of Honor
Author: Kat Martin
Series: Heart Series (Book 1)
Genre: Romance





Here's Book #2 of the day...

Heart of Honor is the first book in the Heart trilogy by Kat Martin. I've read another one of her trilogies before (Necklace Trilogy) and enjoyed that. This book was no different.

We meet Leif, which I had issues with what to call him. I kept reading it as Leaf. Although I wonder the whole i before e except after c and when sounding like "a" as in neighbor and weigh, made me wonder if it was more along the lines of Lay-f? Anyway, he's basically one of a clan of remaining Vikings who live on a hidden island. He get shipwrecked and is eventually sold to a circus because of his height and body hair. He is treated worse than an animal and this is where Krista sees him.

Krista and her father save him and then have to take on the task of turning him from a barbarian into a English gentleman. Of course the passions fly between him and Krista. There is a problem, however, she must stay in England to produce an heir for her grandfather, while Leif must return to his island to lead his people. This is the cause for much upset.

Krista also runs a controversial gazette and someone often is trying to harm her, which leads to the need for time spent with Leif so he may keep her safe.

This is very much a Trazanesque story. I love the way he calls her "honnig" which is honey in his own language, even though the term would never be used that way. He just is a phenomenal male character in my mind, I highly enjoyed him. With the exception of course that he keeps refering to his "rod." What a word choice.

Secret Desires of a Gentleman

Title: Secret Desires of a Gentleman
Author: Lauar Lee Guhrke
Series: None
Genre: Romance



Two books I chowed through in one day. They obviously were both good books in my opinion.

Laura Lee Guhrke is an author I've never heard of before. I picked up her book because it was a romance novel in the NEW section of the library (New as of 11-08). Boy was I not disappointed.

Secret Desires of a Gentleman introduces us to Maria (who wants to open a pastry shop....as do I some day. I was hooked) and Phillip. Maria wanted to elope with Phillip's younger brother when they were young teenagers. Phillip, of course stops them because Maria is the daughter of their family cook, while his brother is a peer.

Fast forward 12 years and Maria happens to buy a shop next to where Phillip (and brother) and living. We learn that Phillip and Maria have always had a little thing for each other, although when they meet again that is not immediately evident. Of course over the book, it becomes very much so.

A wonderful Cinderella like story. I'm going to look for more books by this author.

Fish Out of Water

Title: Fish Out of Water
Author: Mary Janice Davidson
Series: None
Genre: Paranormal Romance


Mary Janice Davidson's Fish Out of Water was a quick read. So quick that I finished it during my prep period and lunch period today at work. It's about 275 pages, but the spacing seems large and it just goes quick.

The book is about mermaids who have shown themselves to the human public. They can morph their tail into human legs and have telepathy. I thought that this seemed like an interesting story. It was also in the romance section.

Let me say, the romance of the story? None. The female character (who is half mermaid half human), Fred, has two men vying for her attention. Artur the Prince of the Undersea Folk (the PC of mermaid), who seems like an awesome guy who she is with most of the book. However, there is no romance there, it's more a hey want to marry me? I'll think about it, well okay! Then choice 2 who is Thomas, a human marine biologist who she lusts over but can't have. When I say lust let me clarify, I mean barely warm lusting. He seems not to care for her and appears mostly indifferent. Then BAM! The end of the book where he confesses his love, she breaks it off with Artur and gets engaged to Thomas. Sorry if I just ruined the end of the book, but I personally don't think it's worth much of a read. It was a short amusement for the day, the only book I brought.

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening & The Struggle

Title: The Awakening & The Struggle
Author: L.J. Smith
Series: Vampire Diaries (Book 1 & 2)
Genre: Young Adult



This is actually two books (The Awakening & The Struggle) bound as one. There is also a second book (The Fury & Dark Reunion). Recently L.J. Smith also decided to start another group of books in the series, I haven't read those yet, but based on what I see online, I think they're the same but different.

Now these stories were published in the 90's, and I know Twilight came after that, but the resemblances are immense.

Vampire Boy tries to live life as a high schooler.
Vamp Boy eats animals instead of humans.
Vamp Boy is from early 15th Century, dresses nice and is a real gentleman.
Vamp Boy thinks Girl smells really good, ignores her and is mean to stop himself from draining her.
Vamp Boy has change of heart when Girl almost dies.
Vamp Boy and Girl fall in love.

Sounds familiar right? Things that are a bit different? He feeds off her (although it doesn't kill her), Vamp Boy (aka Stefan) is battling his brother who likes to feed of humans.

Personally, I enjoyed this book, not as much as Twilight, but I still really liked it. I felt the ending/preview for next book, was way easy to predict. Either way, I am eagerly awaiting the end of my time on the wait list for the next book.

Apparently CW to pick it up for a show.

Outliers: The Story of Success

Title: Outliers
Author: Malcolm Gladwell
Series:None
Genre: Non-Fiction


A NYT Bestseller, and it had a math term on the front. It didn't sound like a book that I would normally read, but I decided to give it a go anyway. Boy was I glad I did.

I read introduction and almost put it down after a few pages, but decided if it's so high on all those lists it must be decent. I kept reading. I think the fact that Chapter 1 was about hockey players really helped to solidify it for me. This book is incredible. I don't want to say it has changed my life, but it was definitely given my brain some food for thought.

Each chapter of the book looks at someone (or several) who are famous. He is proving (or tying?) that each of these people are successful for reasons other then hard work and things of that nature.

Chapter 1 for example tells of aforementioned hockey players. In looking at famous hockey players, most of them (a very significant number) have birthdays in Jan/Feb/March. Why is this? He looks further into it and it comes about that the cut off age for each age group makes these kids the oldest. This makes them the bigger ones who have had more practice. Therefore they are picked out early as better, given better resources and more time to play making them even better which leads to...ect. ect.

He looks at famous musicians (The Beatles and others), Bill Gates, Founder of Apple, and those are in just the first few chapters.

I am highly enjoyed this book for thought, and think I may delve into his others. Surprisingly I'm didn't chow through it because it was so thought provoking that sometimes I just sat there with the book and would think without reading. Overall I highly enjoyed looking for the patterns in each group.

On a totally different note...Hunted, the most recent addition to the House of Night Novels came out today. I wanted to buy it, but told myself I must wait to borrow from library. At least I'm only wait list #7.

The Bride

I'm been going through some rough times and have decided to fall back to my favorite type of books, the ones that until recently I was a bit fed up with. The type of books? The scripty, beautiful cover, mushy, historical romance novels. I picked up Julie Garwood's the bride based on another websites review.

Jamie is the fourth child of her father, and treated a bit like Cinderella. She, however, feels like this is a totally normal thing and that of course the youngest daughter should take care of her family. She is also English.

Alec is a Scottish laird and has been ordered by the king to marry Jamie or one of her sisters. He of course chooses Jamie for both her spirit and her beauty.

The Scottish ways of Alec and his clan and the English ways of Jamie clash and in the beginning of living in Scotland, Jamie accidentally creates a few wars with other clans, which really never come to head but are fixed in an interesting way.

To Scotland with Love

Title: To Scotland With Love
Author: Karen Hawkins
Series: MacLean Brothers (Book 1)
Genre: Romance



Wow, I've fallen off the face of the earth for half a month. Yikes. I did, however, have a lot going on, one of which was vacation. That's why I picked up To Scotland With Love by Karen Hawkins. It was to be my plane book.

We meet Venetia and Gregor, two who have been friends since childhood. There'd never been any stirrings or wantings between the two, they were just friends. That is until one day when Venetia was abducted by a man who had hopes of marrying her. Gregor rode to her rescue (much to Venetia's dismay, SHE could have fixed it.) The lot of them are stuck in a roadside inn because of the snow in April. There they become attracted to each other and in the end get engaged.

This is the first book in a series that revolves around Gregor and his brothers. The family has a curse. Everytime the men loose their temper, they affect the weather. The weather outcome differs depending on the brother. For Gregor it was cold and snow (hence being stuck at the inn)

I felt that the story overall was okay. Basically the entire story took place at the inn with Venetia and Gregor denying themselves each other until the end when they can't help it anymore and the book is over. I was hoping for a bit more romance and a bit less denying.