Review - Unclean Spirits: Book One of the Black Sun's Daughter by M.L.N. Hanover

Unclean Spirits: Book One of the Black Sun's Daughter by M.L.N. Hanover
Released: July 28, 2009
Publisher: Pocket Books
Age Group: Adult
Pages: 400 pages
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4/5
Author Site: M.L.N. Hanover

Jayné Heller thinks of herself as a realist, until she discovers reality isn't quite what she thought it was. When her uncle Eric is murdered, Jayné travels to Denver to settle his estate, only to learn that it's all hers -- and vaster than she ever imagined. And along with properties across the world and an inexhaustible fortune, Eric left her a legacy of a different kind: his unfinished business with a cabal of wizards known as the Invisible College.

Led by the ruthless Randolph Coin, the Invisible College harnesses demon spirits for their own ends of power and domination. Jayné finds it difficult to believe magic and demons can even exist, let alone be responsible for the death of her uncle. But Coin sees Eric's heir as a threat to be eliminated by any means -- magical or mundane -- so Jayné had better start believing in something to save her own life.

Unclean Spirits was action packed..always had something happening to keep me on my toes! It was a pageturner that I had trouble putting down and found myself waking up at night to read just a few more pages. Jayne is basically a loner with no friends, boyfriend, nor any family left that wants anything to do with her. She's sort of the black sheep because she wouldn't follow her father's rules. I felt kind of sorry for her not so much for the obvious reasons but because she just seems to have hit bottom in her life and needs something to hold onto..something to call hers and maybe even a shoulder to lean on. I could relate to that.

I loved Midian! He is sassy mouthed and funny at the same time and I just really enjoyed his two sense worth not to mention he could cook and boy I do think highly of men who know their way around a kitchen!

Aubrey was an okay character but I'm just not all that into him. He's just not tough enough for me and he seems more like a suit man whereas I am all about the jeans and leather and kick ass urban hero type. Maybe he will harden up in later books..I dunno but I just am not feeling him as Jayne's lover or sidekick.

Jayne is just getting her feet wet in book one and still not totally sure if this will be a one time thing with her by killing the thing that killed her uncle or if she resumes his work where he left off and help others with a supernatural crisis.

Review- Island Girls and Boys by Rachel Hawthorne

Island Girls and Boys by Rachel Hawthorne

Released: June 1, 2005
Publisher: HarperTeen
Age Group: Young Adult
Format: paperback
Source: Bought
Rating: 4/5
Author Site: Rachel Hawthorne

Date: July 4
Rental type: 2-person sailboat
Rented by: Jen Taylor and Dylan Nelson
Rental time: 8:15 p.m.
Destination: Out to sea!
Life jackets: 2
Time back: ??? Don't wait up!

Fresh out of High School these 3 BFF's plan to spend there summer on a remote island before they say there goodbyes and head off to different colleges at the end of the summer.. Jennifer got them all summer jobs at the Coastal Campground Resorts to help pay there share of the uittilies and grocery costs while staying in her grandparents house.

I started reading this book and couldn't put it down! I got so caught up in the characters and there little tantrums. I can't say that I like one more than the other because they all have a quality that I can relate to in my younger and now self. Jennifer is a take charge kind of gal and like me I have to have things a certain way. I defiantly don't like changes of any sorts. Amy is more tender hearted and brings in all types of strays(cat,dogs,oh and um mm guys) and always in the middle of Jen's and Chell's squabbles. I feel for Amy because I know what it's like to have to keep the peace. I do it all the time with my youngsters...and Miss Chelsea; what a total drama queen, but she gets it honestly. She's the baby in her family and yes I'm the baby in mine. I had my moments and I still do lol. Anyhow Chelsea has a boyfriend (Noah one of the unexpected things) and she ends up spending all her time with him during their summer of independence. Jen doesn't approve of Noah staying with them and not partaking in his share of the costs. I have to agree I would be hot too but soon Jen finds something to take her mind off the matter at hand altogether when none other than a sexy blue eyed boy named Dylan comes into her life. Dylan's just a passerby also looking to have a good time before he goes off into the army. Unexpected things start to happen between Jen and Dylan. One he will be leaving soon and two they starting to fall in love with each other. What will the out come be???? Will Dylan stay with Jen until he has to go or will he just pack up and leave her heart broken??? Well whatever the outcome it's one summer they all will never forget.....

Jennifer, Amy, and Chelsea learns a valuable lesson during their time spent living together. They all learn that living together is not as easy as they expected it to be. It's not easy living on your own and they found that out real quick..Can there friendship withstand all the unexpected changes that's coming on the horizon???

Review- Pie In The Sky by Lois Ehlert

Reading level: Ages 3 and up
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (April 1, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0152165843
ISBN-13: 978-0152165840
Authors Site: Lois Ehlert

Do pies grow on trees? Join a father and child as they watch over their backyard cherry tree--and all the colorful living things surrounding it--throughout the seasons. At the end of the summer, they harvest the cherries together and make a delicious pie for the whole family to enjoy.
This stunning new book from bestselling author Lois Ehlert features color concepts, backyard natural history, vibrant collage illustrations, and, best of all, a recipe for making cherry pie. Yum!

Okay seems like Lois Ehlert is becoming one of my children's favorite authors. Every time we go to the library one of them checks out a book by her. lol... Not that I'm complaining! I'm really glad they enjoy her books as much as they do. I think Ehlert is a great children's author and I love her books as much as the kiddies do. They are fun and easy for the kids to read.

Pie in the sky is great for those of all ages. It shows the innocents of a child on how they think and learn. As grown ups we often forget the pricelessness of being a youngster ourselves. I'll never forget that my sister wanted to be an apple tree when she grew up. Well she's all grown up but I still don't see any apples hanging from her. LMAO Sorry issy you knows I love ya but that was just to darn funny.... All those crazy questions we asked our parents growing up and you know a child just knows everything or so they seem to think they do. Like in this story the little boy thinks pies is going to grow from the cherry tree. Everyday the boy looks at the tree and sees different shapes and colors on the tree, all types of insects and birds but never any pie. An one day when the cherries ripened his daddy finally says lets make a pie.

Review-Every-Day Dress-Up by Selina Alko

Reading level: Ages 5 and up
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (October 11, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0375860924
ISBN-13: 978-0375860928
Authors Website: Selina Alko

It's no secret that little girls love playing dress up, but the little girl in this book ditches her princess duds in favor of costumes inspired by great women in history.

What an fun adorable book I just loved everything about it. Besides playing ordinary everyday princess dress up. This little girl spices up her wardrobe every day of the week! She dresses up as a different famous woman in history. For example; Amelia Earhart, the First Lady of the US, and many more that I haven't even heard of. I found that Every-Day Dress-Up is very educational and fun all at the same time. Your child not only learns the days of the week, but also learns about history of different famous women and on how to be creative in learning; not to mention the illusturations are fun and unique. I highly recommend this book....

Review - The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Released: September 27, 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 464 pages
Format: Hardback
Source: Bought
Rating: 4/5
Author Site: Michelle Hodkin

Mara Dyer doesn't believe life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her strangely unharmed. There is.
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love. She's wrong.

Despite the mixed reviews I have read I really found myself enjoying this one in the begining but about three quarters in I think is where I started losing it and where I must agree it has some meh parts in it that I'm not too sure I understand the point of like the thing with the bugs at the zoo. I'm like what was that?

I'm not sure how to explain it but it was like okay here Mara is lost three classmates in a horrible accident, moved to a new school, made a friend, fell in love, maybe she's a bit pyschotic but she seems to be coping with it and so on in the biggest potion of the story and then almost right at the end all heck starts breaking loose which is fine but by the end of the story I am left feeling like I have more questions than answers!

Now that my quirks are listed let me tell you what I loved! NOAH! Noah is a smooth talking hottie and rich to boot and he loves Dogs which is a huge plus for me! Mara is a wonderful character as well. I love how even though she is missing her friend and still trying to piece things together, and maybe a bit pyschotic that she still has spunk and speaks her mind and is not some weakling.

As much as I absolutely adore my vampire, were, and other similar stories I was refreshed by the uniqueness of this one and can't wait to see where the next book takes us because oh yea the clifhanger is like a season finale to your favorite tv show! I kept flipping pages and crying NOOOOOO this can't be it! Not now don't cut me off now!