Saving Zoe

Saving Zoe by Alyson Noel

Just days before Echo's fourteenth birthday, her older sister Zoe was brutally murdered. Now as Echo is approaching her fifteenth birthday she is working through the various steps of grief, trying to be patient and understanding with her zoned out mom and absent dad, and deal with all of the stares, gossip, and comments that come with being the "tragedy girl." The stares and comments have only gotten worse now that Echo is beginning high school where she has to come face to face with Zoe's friends and boyfriend, Marc, each day. Then Marc offers Echo her sisters diary to read. Reading Zoe's diary helps Echo get to know Zoe, the real Zoe, and also gives her clues as to what exactly happened that led up to her being brutally murdered.

I thought this was a really good book. And even though it involves a lot of heavy duty mature themes (murder, sex, drugs, date rape) as a few unfair reviews point out, the book never goes into great detail on these points.

I Like Ruby Oliver

The Boy Book by E. Lockhart

Ruby Oliver is quirky, funny, totally neurotic, has quirky parents, and lives on a houseboat. She wears fish nets and combat boots. In many ways she reminds me of me when I was in high school. In this second book in the series, Ruby is returning to school at the end of summer and is still a social leper. Her best friends have abandoned her, one of whom is dating her ex boyfriend, Jackson, who she may or may not still have feelings for.

Maxwell and King Back in Action

Simple Genius by David Baldacci

Michelle Maxwell is in trouble. Still reeling from the emotional turmoil of their last case, Michelle needs help from a professional. Sean King is willing to do whatever it takes to save her from herself and spends all of their agencies money to do so. he is forced to take a case from his ex, Joan Dillinger. It seems like a simple enough investigation. Head down to Virginia and figure out if Monk Turing, genius extraordinaire, was murdered or committed suicide. However, once Sean arrives at the think tanks compound, he is quickly cut off at every turn, secrets and soldiers are every where and he is forced to go head to head with the all-powerful CIA.

This is the third book in the Maxwell/King series. I love these two characters and also really enjoyed the introduction of Horatio Barnes and hope to see him in future books.

A Very Good YA

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Mia is a talented cellist with her whole life ahead of her. She has a talented rising rock star boyfriend and hipster parents who love her and her little brother Teddy. On the road, her and her family are in a violent accident and Mia has an out of body experience as she lies in a coma watching her loved ones gather and reminiscing on her life thus far while she decides whether to stay or go.

I thought this was an excellent YA. Sad and poignant.

Finished Two

Impulse by Catherine Coulter

Stand Alone Romantic Suspense

Raphaella Holland is a journalist in Boston who happens to come from a very wealthy family. When her mother is suddenly hist by a drunk driver and in a coma, Raphaella finds her secret hidden journals detailing the story of her birth father and her mothers obsession with him. So, Raphaella flies to Dominick Giovanni's private island in the Caribbean, determined to expose him for the criminal he is and seek revenge for her mother and herself.



Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts
In the Garden Trilogy #1

A lot of my book buddies read Nora Roberts' books and I have kind of avoided them because I was convinced I wouldn't like romance books. While I suppose this was in deed a romance, I found it to be an entertaining and sweet story. And I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.

Stella is a young wife and mother of two precocious boys. She has a wonderful life and sweet husband. Suddenly, Stella's happy life is turned upside down when her husband, Kevin, is tragically killed in a plane crash. Forced to pick up the pieces and begin a new life, Stella packed up the boys (after a two year grieving process) and headed south where she finds a new home, new friends, a new career, and new love.

Sofia's First Real Chapter Book!!

Dolphins at Daybreak by Mary Pope Osborne
Magic Treehouse #9

Sofia came home all excited because her teacher was reading one of the Magic Treehouse books to her Kindergarten class. She liked it so much, she asked her teacher if she could borrow one. So, we read one together taking turns. She is a very fluent reader and does very well reading with expression. It was so great reading this with her and seeing her excited to find out what would happen next.

Proud mommy moment!

Another Patterson

Don't Blink by James Patterson

Nick Daniels is a semi-famous well seasoned reporter for a New York magazine called the Citizen. He lands an exclusive interview with a fallen sports hero. As they sit down at a ritzy steak house to begin, a well known mob boss is slain before their eyes. Nick quickly becomes embroiled in a case involving both the NY and Russian mobs.

Like most Patterson's, this was a quick thrill ride with a lot of twists and turns. Entertaining.