The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

This is the story of Edward Tulane, the haughty china rabbit who belongs to a little girl named Abilene.  When Abilene and her parents journey to England, Edward is lost at sea.  After laying on the ocean bottom for a year, Edward is rescued by a fisherman.  Thus begins his miraculous journey.  The passing years find Edward living with different people and learning how important it is to open your heart and be loved.

One part of the book that really touched me is near the end when Edward is conversing with an antique doll.  He says that he doesn't care if anyone comes for him; he's done with being loved and done with loving because it's too painful.  As the doll leaves the shop with her new owner, she tells Edward, "Open your heart.  Someone will come.  Someone will come for you.  But first you must open your heart."  Edward's heart stirs, and as much as he doesn't want to believe it, he can't help but hope that someone will come for him.  His heart had opened.

He's rewarded in the end.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane was a real treat to read, and the illustrations were gorgeous. Edward's journey was sad at times, but the lessons he learned from his experiences are applicable to us all.  I can't wait until my girls are older so that I can share this book with them.

4/5

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Incarceron is a prison unlike any other: Its inmates live not only in cells, but also in metal forests, dilapidated cities, and unbounded wilderness. The prison has been sealed for centuries, and only one man, legend says, has ever escaped.

Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, can’t remember his childhood and believes he came from Outside Incarceron. He’s going to escape, even though most inmates don’t believe that Outside even exists. And then Finn finds a crystal key and through it, a girl named Claudia.

Claudia claims to live Outside—her father is the Warden of Incarceron and she’s doomed to an arranged marriage. If she helps Finn escape, she will need his help in return. But they don’t realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost far more than they know.

Because Incarceron is alive.

I've read numerous reviews of this book, the majority of which have been 5-star reviews.  So I was expecting Incarceron to be amazing.  But, it fell far short of my expectations.

First of all, the terminology was confusing.  It took me quite awhile to understand what certain words meant.  I also had a hard time grasping what was happening.  Maybe it was too complex a world for a simple girl like me.  I enjoyed Finn and Claudia as characters, and was rooting for them to find a way to free Finn from Incarceron, but the story as a whole didn't do much for me.

I read a week or two ago that Taylor Lautner has been signed to play Finn in the movie version of Incarceron.  Catherine Fisher seems pleased, but, personally, I don't think he fits the part.  At all.  I tried to imagine him as Finn while reading, and I just couldn't do it.

I have the sequel, Sapphique, on reserve at the library, but I don't know that I want to read it anymore.

3/5

Bad reader

So, I've been a bad reader the last week.  I've been watching a lot of TV/movies with the hubby, so I guess that's a good reason. ;)

Anyway, looking at the 100 Greatest Novels sidebar, I realize that I haven't read anything from the list in quite awhile.  Since September of 2008, apparently.  Wow.  So, this year I'm going to try to make more of an effort to read books from the list.  It might not happen, but that's my goal as of now.  We'll see.

Dark Flame by Alyson Noël

In Shadowland, Ever's attempt at getting the antidote for Damen failed.  Instead, she bound herself to her enemy, Roman.  Now there's a dark flame ignited inside her, and she's being pulled toward Roman.  She knows that she loves Damen, or at least some small part of her knows it, but Roman is the one she wants now.  She eats, sleeps, and breathes Roman, and she's terrified that Damen is going to find out and dump her.  She needs Roman to give her the antidote, but she's continually driven off course by her intense longing for him.

I thought Dark Flame was really good; much better than Shadowland.  It definitely held my interest, and I loved learning more about bad guy Roman...where he came from and what his story is.  He's such an interesting character, and I'm hoping to get more of his story, especially now that something surprising has happened to him.  I liked seeing this alternate side to Ever, too.  I just wish she'd learn to trust Damen, and not always attempt to work everything out on her own.  I want her to grow and learn from her mistakes, and I think she's finally getting there.  Damen was his perfect, patient self, and I respect that.  He's had ample opportunities now to drop Ever like a bad habit, but his love for her is true and has lasted centuries.  I also liked seeing a bit of Jude again.  He's now remembered his past with Ever, and he's ready to fight for her. 

I have two big gripes:  One, the way Ever was able to overcome her attraction to Roman.  All she needed to do was think positively, really?  Two: Haven.  She's annoyed me to no end since book one, and I just want her to disappear.  She should go to the Shadowland and never return!  I hate the way she jumps to conclusions, and how she thinks she's better than everyone.  Ugh.  Go away, Haven.

Overall, a really good read.  I'm looking forward to Night Star.

4/5

Also in the series: Evermore, Blue Moon, Shadowland

Entice by Carrie Jones

At the end of Captivate, Nick was killed and carried off to the mythical Valhalla.  Zara, who swears that her life means nothing without Nick in it, allowed pixie king Astley to kiss her, thus making Zara his queen.  Now, Zara is bound and determined to find a way to save Nick.  Bedford is being overrun by evil pixies, and young people are disappearing left and right.  A war is brewing, but Zara knows she doesn't stand a chance of defeating the evil pixies without warrior Nick by her side.  Finding a way to get to Valhalla is difficult enough, but, once there, will Nick even want Zara anymore, now that she's been pixie kissed?

I thought Need was good (3.5 stars), and I really enjoyed Captivate (4 stars), so I was very eager to read Entice.  (I read Need and Captivate during my 6-month blog break, so I didn't review them.)  The bottom line: I liked Entice a lot, but the whole 'finding a way to Valhalla' thing was far too drawn out.  Most of the book followed Zara and Astley (with support from Issie, Devyn and Grandma Betty) on their search for Valhalla.  Their attempts proved unsuccessful a time or two too many, which not only drew the story out, but annoyed me.  I just wanted to know if Zara would find her way and rescue Nick.  Not that I like Nick that much...he's okay, but Astley is the guy pixie I'm rooting for!  You can't help but fall in love with him in Entice.  He's so considerate of Zara and would do anything for her, even help rescue her werewolf boyfriend.  I am completely Team Astley!

The fourth book will be released sometime in early 2012.  Ugh.  Another long wait for another series book.  I look forward to seeing what the title will be, as well as what the cover will look like.  I think the covers in this series are gorgeous.

4/5

Also in the series: Need, Captivate

Misguided Angel by Melissa de la Cruz

After inheriting the dark Van Alen Legacy, Schuyler fled to Florence with her forbidden love, Jack. Now the two of them must embark on the mission Schuyler was destined to complete: to find and protect the five remaining gates that guard the earth from Lucifer, lord of the Silver Bloods.

Back in New York, Mimi has been elected Regent of a crumbling coven. Struggling with her heartache over the loss of Kingsley and with her overwhelming desire to destroy Jack, she must focus all of her energy on a perilous new threat. Vampires are being abducted and their captors are planning to burn them alive online…for all the world to see. Help arrives in the form of Deming Chen, a Venator from Shanghai, who must untangle the web of deceptions before the killers strike again.

As the young vampires struggle for the survival of the coven, they uncover a deadly secret, a truth first discovered by Schuyler’s mother during the Renaissance but kept buried for centuries. And as the Blue Blood enclave weakens yet further, fate leads Schuyler to a terrible choice that will ultimately map the destiny of her heart.

Boy, did I have mixed feelings about this latest Blue Bloods novel.  I wanted to love it because, really, I've loved them all.  (Okay, maybe not the first book, but it was still pretty entertaining.)  After reading about these characters for five books now, I feel completely invested in their lives, so it's disappointing when an entire book goes by without anything really happening.  The story that had been built up over the four previous books went almost nowhere in this fifth installment, which seemed like it was written simply as a filler to tide us over until the next book comes out.  And why is it that authors feel they have to write so many books in a series?  The story could have ended with this fifth book, but I'm left waiting for a sixth book to be published.

I really like reading about Schuyler, Jack, Mimi and the gang.  There were two very noticeable missing characters this time around, though: Kingsley (for obvious reasons) and Bliss.  Where was Bliss?  She's been a major character through four books now, and not even one mention of her in book 5?  What?  I did enjoy the interactions between Mimi and Oliver.  Mimi has really grown on me over the series, and I enjoy reading her side of the story just as much as Schuyler and Jack's side.

As disappointed as I am with this book - it is, by far, the weakest book in the series - I can't find it in me to rate it lower than a 3.  I really can't believe I have to wait until October to read the next book.

3/5

Also in the series: Blue Bloods, Masquerade, Revelations, The Van Alen Legacy

My Top 10 of 2010

#1 North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

I loved this book about mill owner, John Thornton, and Margaret Hale, the middle-class minister's daughter who overcomes her prejudices and falls in love with him.  It's a dense book, but so worth the effort.  John Thornton definitely became one of my new literary crushes upon reading this novel!  Best read of 2010.

#2 Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

I devoured this book!  Like Twilight and The Hunger Games, I couldn't put Hush, Hush down. Not only did bad-boy/fallen angel, Patch, steal Nora Grey's heart, but he stole mine, too.

#3 Fire of the Covenant: The Story of the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies by Gerald N. Lund

I was amazed, awed, and humbled by the faith of these pioneers who set everything aside to heed the words of their prophet to gather in Zion. I couldn't have done it. Reading about the experiences of these Saints brought tears to my eyes. An inspiring story.

#4 A Tapestry of Spells by Lynn Kurland

This book, the fourth in the Nine Kingdoms series, follows Sarah and the mage Ruith on a journey to stop Sarah's brother from destroying the Nine Kingdoms.  Another fabulous read from Lynn Kurland!

#5 Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Rose Hathaway failed in her first attempt to save her love Dimitri, but she won't fail a second time.

#6 Stardust of Yesterday by Lynn Kurland

When Genevieve Buchanan inherits a castle, she doesn't expect to inherit the ghost that haunts it.  Kendrick at first sets out to kill Genevieve so that he can break the curse that was placed upon him, but bit by bit he falls in love with her.  Don't let the cheesy cover fool you.  This is definitely one of Lynn Kurland's best!

#7 Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Convicted murderer Yelena is given a reprieve when she becomes the food taster for the Commander of Ixia.  Food poisoning isn't her only threat, though.  Dangerous people are out to kill her, and Yelena must always be on guard.  She ends up falling in love with her mentor, Valek, the kingdom's number one assassin.  I loved this book and I fell in love with Valek, right along with Yelena.

#8 The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Thomas and the Gladers are given another seemingly impossible mission: to cross the Scorch in two weeks, or die of the Flare, a horribly infectious disease.  This book was a complete roller coaster ride, even better than The Maze Runner!

#9 Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans

Just as Beth Cardall's life is falling apart, she meets Matthew, a stranger who will change her life forever.  One of Evans' better books in recent years.  I loved it.

#10 Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

While I don't really like the cover of this VA book, I love the story.  The burgeoning relationship between Rose and Dimitri made me swoon, and the twist at the end of the book blew me away.  Definitely one of the better books in the VA series.

The above books rated 5 or 4.5 stars this year.  Only the top 6 received a full 5 stars.  I'm getting stingier with my 5-star ratings, I guess.  I'm excited to see what the new year holds in store for me.

Reviews to come

I still need to review Misguided Angel by Melissa de la Cruz and Entice by Carrie Jones.  I'll try to get to those soon!  Thanks for your patience.

Final stats

While I didn't reach 129 books as my sister Kira predicted, I did read 127 1/2.  In all fairness, that number is closer to 129 than 122, which was the next highest prediction, so I declare Kira the winner of the 2010 prediction war.  I still love you, Beth and Camille! :)

Any predictions for 2011?

Books Read in 2010

DECEMBER
127. Misguided Angel (Blue Bloods #5) - Melissa de la Cruz
126. True Grit - Charles Portis
125. Innocent Traitor - Alison Weir
124. Keys to the Repository (A Blue Blood Companion Book) - Melissa de la Cruz
123. Matched - Ally Condie
122. Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy #6) - Richelle Mead
121. Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy #5) - Richelle Mead (re-read)
120. Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) - Richelle Mead (re-read)
119. Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3) - Richelle Mead (re-read)
118. Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2) - Richelle Mead (re-read)
117. Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead (re-read)
116. Head in the Clouds - Karen Witemeyer
115. Nevermore - Kelly Creagh
114. Paranormalcy - Kiersten White
NOVEMBER
113. Crescendo (Hush, Hush #2) - Becca Fitzpatrick
112. Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick (re-read)
111. The Scorch Trials (Maze Runner #2) - James Dashner
110. Dead Beautiful - Yvonne Woon
109. Chinese Cinderella: The true story of an unwanted daughter - Adeline Yen Mah
108. The Van Alen Legacy (Blue Bloods #4) - Melissa de la Cruz
107. Torment (Fallen #2) - Lauren Kate
106. Bespelling Jane Austen - Mary Balogh, Colleen Gleason, et al.)
105. Shadowland (The Immortals #3) - Alyson Noel
104. Firelight - Sophie Jordan
103. Mudbound - Hillary Jordan
OCTOBER
102. The Eternal Ones - Kirsten Miller
101. My Soul To Take (Soul Screamers #1) - Rachel Vincent
100. Promise Me - Richard Paul Evans
99. Extraordinary - Nancy Werlin
98. Sleepless - Cyn Balog
97. Halo - Alexandra Adornetto
96. The Body Finder - Kimberly Derting
95. Mini Shopaholic (Shopaholic #6) - Sophie Kinsella
94. Revelations (Blue Bloods #3) - Melissa de la Cruz
SEPTEMBER
93. Masquerade (Blue Bloods #2) - Melissa de la Cruz
92. Safe Haven - Nicholas Sparks
91. The Joy Luck Club - Amy Tan
90. Blue Bloods - Melissa de la Cruz
89. Dairy Queen - Catherine Gilbert Murdock
88. The Disreputable History of Frankie-Landau Banks - E. Lockhart
87. Just One Wish - Janette Rallison
86. Blue Moon (The Immortals #2) - Alyson Noel
85. I Now Pronounce You Someone Else - Erin McCahan
84. Forget-Her-Nots - Amy Brecount White
83. Harvesting the Heart - Jodi Picoult
82. Evermore (The Immortals #1) - Alyson Noel
81. Number the Stars - Lois Lowry
80. Life As We Knew It - Susan Beth Pfeffer
AUGUST
79. Peony in Love - Lisa See
78. Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins
77. Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins (re-read)
76. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins (re-read)
75. Fallen - Lauren Kate
74. Whitney, My Love - Judith McNaught (re-read)
73. Almost Heaven - Judith McNaught (re-read)
72. The Dark Divine - Bree Despain
71. Something Wonderful - Judith McNaught (re-read)
70. Once and Always - Judith McNaught (re-read)
69. Eclipse: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion - Mark Cotta Vaz
68. Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #2) - Maggie Stiefvater
JULY
67. Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
66. Sorcery and Cecelia Or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot - Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer
65. The Two Lives of Miss Charlotte Merryweather - Alexandra Potter
64. Claire de Lune - Christine Johnson
63. Stolen - Lucy Christopher
62. The Beautiful Between - Alyssa B. Sheinmel
61. Maid to Match - Deeanne Gist
60. A Garden in the Rain (MacLeod #8) - Lynn Kurland
59. Sweet Misfortune - Kevin Alan Milne
58. Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy #5) - Richelle Mead
57. Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) - Richelle Mead
56. Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3) - Richelle Mead
55. Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2) - Richelle Mead
JUNE
54. Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead
53. The Mountain Between Us - Charles Martin
52. How to Marry a Marquis - Julia Quinn
51. Cleopatra's Daughter - Michelle Moran
50. What Happens in London - Julia Quinn
49. Captivate (Need #2) - Carrie Jones
48. Spells (Wings #2) - Aprilynne Pike
47. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella - Stephenie Meyer
46. Fire of the Covenant - Gerald Lund
MAY
45. The Wives of Henry Oades - Johanna Moran
44. Heart of the Matter - Emily Giffin
43. Unwind - Neal Shusterman
42. Fire Study - Maria V. Snyder
41. Magic Study - Maria V. Snyder
40. One Enchanted Evening (de Piaget #12) - Lynn Kurland
39. The Icing on the Cake (MacLeod #5) - Lynn Kurland
APRIL
38. The Three Wise Ghosts (MacLeod #6) - Lynn Kurland
37. The Gift of Christmas Past (de Piaget #5) - Lynn Kurland
36. Beastly - Alex Flinn
35. Before I Fall - Lauren Oliver
34. The Maze Runner - James Dashner
33. To Kiss in the Shadows (de Piaget #9) - Lynn Kurland
32. The Samurai's Garden - Gail Tsukiyama
31. The Walk - Richard Paul Evans
30. Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick
29. Poison Study- Maria V. Snyder
28. The Wedding Dress - Virginia Ellis
27. Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson
26. Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 1 - Stephenie Meyer and Young Kim
25. The Kitchen House - Kathleen Grissom
25. Hourglass (Evernight #3) - Claudia Gray
24. The Lightkeeper's Daughter - Colleen Coble
23. If I Stay - Gayle Forman
MARCH
22. Need (Need #1) - Carrie Jones
21. Prisoner of Tehran - Marina Nemat
20. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
19. The Overnight Socialite - Birdie Clark
18. House Rules - Jodi Picoult
17. Stardust of Yesterday (de Piaget #10) - Lynn Kurland
16. Legacy - Cayla Kluver
FEBRUARY
15. The Power of Love (Kissed by an Angel #2) - Elizabeth Chandler
14. Kissed by an Angel (Kissed by an Angel #1) - Elizabeth Chandler
13. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
12. The Warrior Heir (The Heir Chronicles #1) - Cinda Williams Chima
11. Wings - Aprilynne Pike
10. Loyalty's Web - Joyce DiPastena
JANUARY
9. North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell
8. Rainwater - Sandra Brown
7. Sizzle - Julie Garwood
6. A Tapestry of Spells (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 4) - Lynn Kurland
5. Christmas Jars Reunion - Jason F. Wright
4. Mrs. Mike - Benedict & Nancy Freedman
3. Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1) - Maggie Stiefvater
2. Deadly Little Lies (Touch #2) - Laurie Faria Stolarz
1. Dreamquake (Dreamhunter Duet #2) - Elizabeth Knox

Book Reviews

A

Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Adoration of Jenna Fox, The by Mary E. Pearson
Afterlife by Claudia Gray
Alchemist, The by Paulo Coelho
Almost To Die For by Tate Hallaway
And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Appeal, The by John Grisham
As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason
At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks
Atonement by Ian McEwan
Austenland by Shannon Hale

B

Battle of the Labyrinth, The by Rick Riordan
Beauty by Robin McKinley
Beloved Emma by Lori E. Woodland
Bespelling Jane Austen by Mary Balogh, Colleen Gleason, et al.
Best of Times, The by Penny Vincenzi
Beyond Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury
Bleeding Dusk, The by Colleen Gleason
Blood Promise by Richelle Mead
Bloody Valentine by Melissa de la Cruz
Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz
Blue Moon by Alyson Noël
Body Finder, The by Kimberly Derting
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
Book Thief, The by Markus Zusak
Boy in the Striped Pajamas, The by John Boyne
Brainiac by Ken Jennings
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
Briar Rose by Jane Yolen
Bright Side of Disaster, The by Katherine Center

C

Caine Mutiny, The by Herman Wouk
Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella
Candle in the Darkness by Lynn Austin
Catcher in the Rye, The by J.D. Salinger
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult
Choice, The by Nicholas Sparks
Christmas Jars by Jason F. Wright
Christmas Jars Reunion by Jason F. Wright
Christmas List, The by Richard Paul Evans
Cinderella Pact, The by Sarah Strohmeyer
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler
Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Convenient Marriage, The by Georgette Heyer
Courting Trouble by Deeanne Gist
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

D

Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Dark Divine, The by Bree Despain
Dark Flame by Alyson Noël
Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon
Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, The by E. Lockhart
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox
Dreamquake by Elizabeth Knox

E

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir
Emma by Jane Austen
Emma: Woman of Faith by Anita Stansfield
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Enna Burning by Shannon Hale
Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman
Entice by Carrie Jones
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Escape by Carolyn Jessop
Eternal Ones, The by Kirsten Miller
Eve's Daughters by Lynn Austin
Evermore by Alyson Noël
Evernight by Claudia Gray
Everyone is Beautiful by Katherine Center
Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin

F

Fallen by Lauren Kate
Finding Noel by Richard Paul Evans
Finer Points of Sausage Dogs, The by Alexander McCall Smith
Fire by Kristin Cashore
Fire and Ice by Julie Garwood
Firelight by Sophie Jordan
Fly Me to the Moon by Alyson Noël
Flying Home by Rachel Ann Nunes
For One More Day by Mitch Albom
Forbidden, The by Beverly Lewis
Forest Born by Shannon Hale
Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White
Forgotten Garden, The by Kate Morton
Frostbite by Richelle Mead

G

Gift, The by Richard Paul Evans
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Goose Girl, The by Shannon Hale
Grace by Richard Paul Evans
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Great and Terrible Beauty, A by Libba Bray
Great Gatsby, The by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The by Mary Ann Shafer and Annie Barrows
Guinea Pig Diaries, The: My Life as as Experiment by A.J. Jacobs

H

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto
Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult
Handmaid's Tale, The by Margaret Atwood
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult
Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer
Heat Wave by Richard Castle
Helen of Troy by Margaret George
Help, The by Kathryn Stockett
Heretic's Daughter, The by Kathleen Kent
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Hidden Places by Lynn Austin
Hiding Place, The by Corrie Ten Boom
Horse and His Boy, The by C.S. Lewis
Host, The by Stephenie Meyer
Household Guide to Dying, The by Debra Adelaide
Hunger Games, The by Suzanne Collins

I

I Am a Mother by Jane Clayson Johnson
I Hated Heaven by Kenny Kemp
I Love You, Ronnie: The Letters of Ronald Reagan to Nancy Reagan by Nancy Reagan
I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan
Illusions by Aprilynne Pike
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
In Search of Heaven by Anita Stansfield
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Innocent Man, The: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town by John Grisham
Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir
Invention of Hugo Cabret, The by Brian Selznik
Iron Daughter, The by Julie Kagawa
Iron King, The by Julie Kagawa
Iron Daughter, The by Julie Kagawa
Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott

J

Jane Austen Ruined My Life by Beth Patillo
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Joy Luck Club, The by Amy Tan
Juliet Club, The by Suzanne Harper
Just One Wish by Janette Rallison

K

Katherine by Anya Seton
Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt
Kite Runner, The by Khaled Hosseini
Know-It-All, The: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World by A.J. Jacobs

L

Lace Reader, The by Brunonia Barry
Last Battle, The by C.S. Lewis
Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead
Last Song, The by Nicholas Sparks
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Life Is Just What You Make It: My Story So Far by Donny Osmond
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Lightning Thief, The by Rick Riordan
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, The by C.S. Lewis
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Longing, The by Beverly Lewis
Lord of the Flies, The by William Golding
Lost Duke of Wyndham, The by Julia Quinn
Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, The by Syrie James
Lost Saint, The by Bree Despain
Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin
Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos
Lucky One, The by Nicholas Sparks

M

Mage's Daughter, The by Lynn Kurland
Magician's Nephew, The by C.S. Lewis
Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog by John Grogan
Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz
Matched by Ally Condie
Me & Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter
Meet Your Match by Stephanie Fowers
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Mermaid Chair, The by Sue Monk Kidd
Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, The by Kate DiCamillo
Misguided Angel by Melissa de la Cruz
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Moroni Code, The by Jack Lyon
Mrs. Mike by Benedict & Nancy Freedman
Mudbound by Hillary Jordan
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
My Soul To Take by Rachel Vincent

N

Nazi Officer's Wife, The: How One Jewish Woman Survived the Holocaust by Edith Hahn Beer
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
Night Star by Alyson Noël
No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
Number The Stars by Lois Lowry

O

On Mystic Lake by Kristin Hannah
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
One Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury
Other Boleyn Girl, The by Philippa Gregory
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

P

P.S., I Love You by Cecelia Ahern
Paper Towns by John Green
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Parting, The by Beverly Lewis
Pemberley by the Sea by Abigail Reynolds
Peony In Love by Lisa See
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Portuguese Irregular Verbs by Aleaxander McCall Smith
Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, The by Muriel Spark
Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Princess Bride, The by William Goldman
Princess of the Sword by Lynn Kurland
Prom Nights From Hell by Meg Cabot et al.
Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans
Promise to Believe In, A by Tracie Peterson

Q

Queen's Fool, The by Philippa Gregory

R

Rachel and Leah: Women of Genesis by Orson Scott Card
Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon & Dean Hale, with Nathan Hale
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
Resistance by Anita Shreve
Rest Falls Away, The by Colleen Gleason
Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz
Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason

S

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
Saints by Orson Scott Card
Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
Scarlet Letter, The by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Scorch Trials, The by James Dashner
Sea of Monsters, The by Rick Riordan
Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever, The by Julia Quinn
Scarlet Pimpernel, The by Baroness Emmuska Orczy
Shadow Dance by Julie Garwood
Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead
Shadow Music by Julie Garwood

Shadowland by Alyson Noel

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella

Shopaholic and Sister by Sophie Kinsella

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella
Shopaholic Ties the Knot by Sophie Kinsella
Silver Chair, The by C.S. Lewis

Sizzle by Julie Garwood

Sleeping Beauty Proposal, The by Sarah Strohmeyer

Sleepless by Cyn Balog
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
So Many Books, So Little Time: A Year of Passionate Reading by Sara Nelson
Sovay by Celia Rees
Spindle's End by Robin McKinley

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead
Star of the Morning by Lynn Kurland
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Stargazer by Claudia Gray
Steve & Me by Terri Irwin
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall
Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson & Gabrielle Charbonnet
Sunflower, The by Richard Paul Evans
Sweet Love by Sarah Strohmeyer
Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

T

Tales of Beedle the Bard, The by J.K. Rowling
Tapestry of Spells, A by Lynn Kurland
Tenth Circle, The by Jodi Picoult
Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
Thanks For the Memories by Cecelia Ahern
These Is My Words by Nancy Turner
These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Thirteenth Tale, The by Diane Setterfield
Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) by Jerome K. Jerome
Three Musketeers, The by Alexandre Dumas
Time Traveler's Wife, The by Audrey Niffenegger
Titan's Curse, The by Rick Riordan
Torment by Lauren Kate
True Grit by Charles Portis
Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

U

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Ultimate Gift, The by Jim Stovall
Undomestic Goddess, The by Sophie Kinsella
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin

V

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Vampire Diaries, The by L.J. Smith
Van Alen Legacy, The by Melissa de la Cruz
Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, The by Maggie O'Farrell
Virgin Blue, The by Tracy Chevalier
Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The by C.S. Lewis

W

Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen
Wednesday Letters, The by Jason F. Wright
When Love Blooms by Robin Lee Hatcher
When Twilight Burns by Colleen Gleason
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
Widow of the South, The by Robert Hicks
Woman's Place, A by Lynn Austin
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

X

Y

Year of Living Biblically, The: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A.J. Jacobs
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

Z

Matched by Ally Condie

Cassia Reyes lives in a Society where every choice is made for her: what to eat, what to wear, where to play and work, when to die.  On her 17th birthday, Cassia is also told who she'll marry: she's been Matched with her best friend Xander Carrow.  Cassia's excitement over being Matched with Xander is short-lived, though, when Ky Markham's face flashes on the screen.  Ky's face is only there for a moment, but it's long enough for Cassia to wonder if he could be the one.  The Society tells Cassia that it's simply a rare glitch that caused Ky's face to show, that she should focus on her life with Xander.  But Cassia can't get Ky off her mind, and the more time the two spend together, the harder Cassia falls.  She also begins to question the rightness of the Society in mapping out her life for her.  Ky opens Cassia's eyes to an entirely different way of life, and the Society is not happy.

I'll admit that it took me a little while to really get into Matched.  Not having the time to read more than a few pages at a time didn't help, I'm sure, but the pace of the story was just very slow starting out.  We follow Cassia as she prepares for her Match Banquet, and the details of her world are revealed ever so slowly.  It's not until the middle of the book that things actually pick up, but by that time so much had been revealed about the way the Society dictates every aspect of its citizen's lives that I was hooked.

Cassia's uncertainty about which path to choose was believable.  On one hand she had her perfect life; her Match with Xander; everything she's ever known.  On the other, she had Ky; her grandfather's illegal poem telling her to "rage against the dying of the light" and to "not go gentle"; the sense that things aren't what they seem.  Cassia doesn't want to make trouble for herself or her family.  Which path is the right one?

Matched kept me on the edge of my seat.  It was a very intriguing read, one that made me think.  I wouldn't want to live in Cassia's world, that's for sure, but knowing I had someone like Ky to curl up to would make the fight worth it.

Can't wait to read the second book!

4/5

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

I'm going to warn you right now that this review will contain SPOILERS.  I just can't write a review without referring to things that have happened throughout the series, and I'll also include spoilers from Last Sacrifice itself.

You've been warned.  Read no further, unless you don't mind spoilers.

In Spirit Bound, Rose and Lissa brought Dimitri back to life, after he was turned into a Strigoi in Shadow Kiss.  Being a dhampir again wasn't easy for Dimitri, though, and he found himself dealing with a lot of depression and guilt for the lives he'd taken as a Strigoi.  He also told Rose that he didn't love her anymore, that he couldn't love anyone again.  Rose, heartbroken, decided to give things with Adrian a chance.  At the end of Spirit Bound, Rose was arrested for murdering Queen Tatiana.

Last Sacrifice picks up where Spirit Bound left off, with Rose in prison.  Her father and friends plan and execute a daring break-out.  Shocking as it is - Rose had no clue a jailbreak was in the planning, as Lissa had blocked Rose from her mind - Rose is most shocked to see that Adrian and Dimitri have worked together to break her out.  Oh, I loved it, but I was so torn!  Those two men are both awesome in their own ways, and while I knew Rose and Dimitri were meant to be, a small part of me wished that Adrian would win the girl.  Still, I'm Team Dimitri and have been from the beginning.

Most of the book follows Rose as she, Dimitri and Sydney the Alchemist hide from the Moroi authorities, in the hopes that Rose's trial can be stalled, giving them enough time to discover who really murdered the queen.  They also hope to find Lissa's half-sibling because another Dragomir guarantees that Lissa will be in the running to become the new Moroi monarch.

After the amazingness of Spirit Bound, I had such high expectations that Last Sacrifice would be just as good, if not better.  I was a bit disappointed.  First of all, the book was far too long.  Almost 600 pages, with most of that spent with Rose in random small towns, hiding out.  The first chapters were amazing, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.  Then the action slowed and strange new characters - the Keepers - were introduced.  I didn't like those chapters at all.  Snore.  The rest of the book seemed kind of slow after that.

I had no inkling at all that the killer would be Tasha!  Poor Christian.  I guess it makes sense, since Tasha wanted Dimitri to be her guardian - and more.  While I'm sad for Christian, I'm happy that Adrian's mom wasn't the killer because I think that would have destroyed Adrian, especially after what he'd gone through with Rose.  His ending was completely heartbreaking, and after he yelled at Rose and then wasn't heard from again, I thought "Is that really it?"  I wanted more closure with the Adrian story, but I have a hunch that things were left that way because Adrian is going to be the main character in Mead's VA spinoff series.  His story is definitely NOT over.  Richelle Mead says in her Acknowledgements page that she "[hopes] you'll continue to enjoy the many Moroi and dhampir adventures to come."  Here's hoping I'll get Adrian's story, and that Rose and Dimitri will make appearances. 

As sad as I was for Adrian, I was ecstatic that Dimitri (aka "a certain smoldering dhampir", according to my sister Kira) finally declared his love for Rose and that they got their happily ever after!  They belong together, no question.  And I'm glad that the bond between Lissa and Rose was broken when Rose almost died protecting Lissa from Tasha's bullets.  I'm hoping that Rose will have a more 'normal' life now that she doesn't have to feel everything Lissa's feeling, and she no longer has to take the darkness and insanity from Lissa.

As to who Lissa's half-sibling is, I had no clue it would be Jill.  Maybe I should have seen it coming, but I didn't.  I hope that Lissa is nice to Jill, and that the two of them end up having a great relationship.  It's not Jill's fault that she's the illegitimate child of Eric Dragomir, after all.

I'm glad that Christian and Lissa ended up together, and that Lissa was elected queen.

Overall, I found Last Sacrifice a satisfying conclusion to the Vampire Academy series, but it wasn't as good as Spirit Bound.  And there wasn't enough Rose and Dimitri love.  Can't win 'em all, though.

I'm torn between 4 and 4.5 stars, but I'll go with 4 because the more I think about this book (I finished it last night), the more I wish it would have been better.

4/5

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

After an unsuccessful mission in Siberia, Rose returns to St. Vladimir's Academy and is reunited with Lissa.  Rose aces her guardian trials and the girls graduate, both ready to move on and see what life has to offer.  Rose hasn't forgotten about Dimitri, though.  She knows he's out there somewhere, waiting for her.  She hasn't forgotten her mission, either, and won't give up hope that she can somehow save Dimitri.

Of the five Vampire Academy books I've read, Spirit Bound is my favorite.  (It also has the best cover of the series.)  All the regulars are back for some non-stop, kick-butt action.  Rose has moved on and is now in a relationship with Adrian, though she's still not over Dimitri.  The fact that Adrian knows of the feelings his "little dhampir" still has for Dimitri and loves her anyway really makes me like him that much more.  He just keeps growing on me.  Lissa really matured in this book, and proved what an asset she can be.  And Dimitri... oh, I do love him.

I feel like I can't say much about this book without giving too much away!  It's so hard to write a non-spoilerish review, so I'm just going to say that I LOVED this book, just as much as the first time I read it.  I can't wait to start Last Sacrifice.

5/5

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

The deadly Strigoi attack at St. Vladimir's claimed the lives of Moroi students, teachers, and guardians.  Dimitri was captured, and now Rose is determined to find him and 'save' him, even though it means she must abandon Lissa.  Though she swore to protect Lissa at any cost, Rose knows that she must follow her heart and fulfill the promise she made Dimitri all those months ago.  Thinking that Dimitri will be in his homeland, Rose travels across Siberia in search of the man she loves.  She meets Dimitri's family, and also a mysterious businessman named Abe, whose role in Rose's life is bigger than she ever expected.

Back at St. Vlad's, Lissa is depressed without Rose, but the new headmaster's daughter, Avery, cheers her up with drinking and partying.  Christian doesn't approve, and even Adrian isn't sure what to think of the change.  Rose still occasionally uses her bond to visit Lissa, and doesn't like the new Lissa she's seeing.  Something is just not right.

I remember thinking during my first read of Blood Promise just how boring and drawn-out most of it was.  The second time around was even worse.  All the time Rose spends in Siberia is a complete snooze-fest.  New characters were introduced in both storylines (Rose and Lissa's), but I can't say I even cared about a single one of them.  With the exception of Sydney the Alchemist and Abe, the new characters played no important part in furthering the story.  I felt like the regular characters didn't have enough of a presence in this book, and I missed them.  And what's with all the random Rose and Dimitri flashbacks?  They added nothing to the story.

The last few chapters were the saving grace of the book.  Rose failed in her attempt to save Dimitri, and now he's after her.  But Rose may have a way to really bring Dimitri back.

My original rating was a 4, but if I were to rate the re-read, I'd give it a 3.5 at most.  I think Blood Promise is the weakest book in the series.

4/5

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

With graduation just around the corner, Rose and the other novices begin their field training, and Rose is assigned as Christian's guardian.  Ever since her first Strigoi kills, she has been seeing the ghost of her friend Mason, as well as dark shadows that creep across her vision.  The ghosts are making it almost impossible for her to concentrate on the tasks at hand.  Adrian tells her that aura is always tinged with black, that he can see her taking the darkness away from Lissa and into herself.  Will Rose survive the madness that threatens to overtake her?  And who can she trust with the secrets she's been keeping?  She longs to tell Lissa about her love for Dimitri, but feels that Lissa has enough to worry about already.  And as much as she wants to tell Dimitri about the ghosts she's been seeing, she fears he won't believe her.  When the Strigoi attack the campus of St. Vladimir's, everything as Rose knows it changes.

This book had a twist that blew me away the first time I read it.  It wasn't as exciting a read this time around (really, I've found that none of the three I've now reread have been), but that's because I already know what's going to happen.  The element of surprise has been taken away.  I still really enjoyed it, though.  The last few chapters, especially, were awesome and I remember thinking that I couldn't wait to delve into the fourth book to see what would happen to one of my favorite characters.

In Shadow Kiss, Dimitri and Rose take their relationship to a new level.  I love that they finally made plans for a future together (yay!), and I'm glad that Rose thought about what her life will really be like as Lissa's guardian.  I still have quite a crush on Dimitri, of course, but I also really like Adrian.  Everyone, Rose included, thinks he just wants to have "fun" with Rose, but he really does love her, and his actions at the end of the book make that clear.  What's also clear is that Rose will ever only have eyes for Dimitri.  And now she has to do something she never dreamed possible...

I'll go with my original rating, just as I did with the other books.

4.5/5