The Deceivers

The Deceivers
By Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler
084237939x 165p

Easy read, I guess meant for a younger age. Kind of a hit-you-over-the-head type of story, though more up-to-date than I would have expected with the shoplifting thing. Too tidy of an ending with the grandfather though. Beginning was a bit bland, but picked up in the middle and end. I liked that their problems are not magically solved, and I liked the different sections in the book: world, Hell, and nonfiction. Though the descriptions of Hell was somewhat silly and a bit distracting at times.
8/10

First Impressions

First Impressions
By Nora Roberts
9780373285389 301p

Too predictable to have her find out from Anne. Cute story and characters though.
7/10

The Second Time Around

The Second Time Around
By Mary Higgins Clark
0743412621 373p

Liked Casey, too bad we didn't get more of him. Great story, gripping, twisted, and full of twists, very interesting.
9/10

An Affair to Remember

An Affair to Remember
by Christopher Andersen
0688153119 312p

I always like reading a book about Kate Hepburn that has stories in it I haven't heard before! One thing wrong with this book- the caption on one of the photos refers to the wrong movie (Woman of the Year when it is actually from State of the Union). Good book, tons of details, even respectful given the gossipy subject matter.
9/10

The Christmas Thief

The Christmas Thief
By Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark
9780743272254 298p

Amusing, quite a few coincidences, as usual. Mary Higgins Clark novels are better than the ones she writes with her daughter- more intricate and well-thought-out.
7/10

The Pact

The Pact
By Jodi Picoult
9780061765230 416p

Have to say it: I really didn't like the dead girl. Probably won't be a popular opinion, but I thought she took the easy way out in many cases and just let things happen to her. And no, I'm not blaming a child for what happened in that bathroom, I mean everything else. She stood her ground on sex, but only until he swayed her otherwise. She dated him only because their families expected it. I thought she was onto something when she went over after they broke up and had the 'best friends' conversation, but no, that just brought her back into the same stifling place she had been before. She could have picked another way to assert her independence but she didn't, she chose the cowards way out. It doesn't take bravery to commit suicide, it takes bravery to admit you need help. Of course, she did... to the person who wouldn't/couldn't/didn't bother to get it for her. He loved her so much he'd pull the trigger and end the life of his future wife, and yet wouldn't pick up the phone and call someone for help? That seems unbelievable. More like he really didn't know her as well as the lawyer and everyone else thought. His whole defense was that the two teens shared a mind, yet Chris didn't even realize she was revolted by sex with him? Yeah, that seems believable. With the parents storyline, I think if it had been handled differently it could have been a decent storyline. I do want to know what was in the journal that Melanie burned though. Did she know, was it easier to blame Chris than herself for not realizing? Without what happened to Em when she was 7, would it all have turned out differently? Was that the catalyst to why she felt the way she did towards Chris and, ultimately, herself, or the excuse?

And I won't even touch the subtitle "A Love Story"?? Is she kidding? The more I think about this book, the lower a score I give it.
7/10

All Through the Night

All Through the Night
By Mary Higgins Clark
0671027123 206p

Good, touching story, perfect for Christmas (too bad it's July!)
8/10

Dance of Dreams

Dance of Dreams
By Nora Roberts
230p

8 of 8. Love Davidov, absolutely love him. Ruth is almost a formidable partner for him. Almost. He's such a compelling personality that any character fades next to him. Even the cat, shockingly! They're normally the biggest scene-stealers!
8/10

The Aloha Quilt

The Aloha Quilt
By Jennifer Chiaverini
10 hours (book on CD)

I was afraid that was how the ex-husband thing was going to end, but even so it was actually handled better than I feared. I also like that I really didn't know what choice Bonnie was going to make at the end.
9/10

Kate Remembered

Kate Remembered
By A. Scott Berg
0399151648 370p

Beautiful. Can tell that he really loved her, yet could distance himself enough to be honest and not gloss over her faults. Thought 'faults' seems too harsh of a word! Amazing woman who lived a life she chose to live, at a time when that was extraordinary.
10/10
7/11/10 10:51 PM

Reflections

Reflections
By Nora Roberts
0373484429 271p

7 of 8. I liked these characters, I liked the playful interactions- Ruth convincing Seth to let her have a cat, Monica and Ruth, anything with Nicky and Lindsay. Yet the whole thing felt a bit cliched and flat.
7/10

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul on Tough Stuff

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul on Tough Stuff
By Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
155874942X 325p

Sometimes it seems like the teen versions of these books are more real and less sugar coated than the adult ones.
9/10

Considering Kate

Considering Kate
By Nora Roberts
0373243790 242p

6 of 8. Love Jack! What a sweetie! Adorable story, great family in this series.
9/10

Soccernomics

Soccernomics
By Simon Kupert and Stefan Szymanski
9781568584256 306p

Funny to read this as the World Cup was going on! They made some predictions about the 2010 World Cup that didn't come true, and some that did. Very interesting.
8/10

Mary Anne + 2 Many Babies

Mary Anne + 2 Many Babies
The Baby-sitters Club #52
By Ann M. Martin
136p

Ha, I remember the egg project, though we didn't take is as seriously as they did. And we didn't pair it with a married project. And we weren't on the honor system, our eggs were signed by the teacher, so she's know if you replaced it.
8/10

J.R.R. Tolkien: Architect of Middle Earth

J.R.R. Tolkien: Architect of Middle Earth
By Daniel Grotta
0762413379 176p

Very interesting overview. Nothing too surprising, but a nice read.
8/10

The Book of Useless Information

The Book of Useless Information
By Noel Butham and the Useless Information Society
286p

Amusing. Wonder how many are actually true, though.
8/10

Anatomy of the Castle

Anatomy of the Castle
By John Gibson
1586631942 199p

8/10 for text, 9/10 for pictures. Needs some diagrams, I thought. My favorite castles were: Swallow's Nest in Yalta, Ukraine on page 157. Bodiam Castle in East Sussex, England on page 179. Scotney Castle in Kent, England on page 180. Leeds Castle also in Kent on page 182. And Bannerman Castle on the Hudson River in NY.
8/10