Reviews

Welcome to a crazy alternate-historical steampunk world, starring a plucky and determined mother/son pair who must use all their wits to escape from a Seattle that has been taken over by zombies.

Seventeen year old Evan, his mother and little sister Libby move in to a historic home following his parents’ divorce. The stately old home had been vacant for many years and the new occupants and their activity awakens the spirit of a young girl who lived and died in the house nearly a century ago. She confuses Evan with the boy she loved and left behind when she died.

Imagine having a quilt camp that you could go to for a week each summer and learn new quilt stitches making life-long friends as you learn--kind of like summer camp for adults. There are five women whose family stories you'll read about. It's a wonderful novel about love, friendship, ambition, and forgiveness built around a quilting theme.

Joni Eareckson Tada broke her neck in a diving accident in 1967 and has been a quadraplegic for over forty years. She could have wallowed in misery and grief, but instead she chose to live her life in a different way.

The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen is filled with recipes, craft projects, and personal stories aimed at those who want a little of the country life.   Recipes are divided up into four broad categories: Breakfast, Appetizers, Lunch, and Dessert.  The ingredients, measurements and directions are clearly presented, and most have interesting tidbits or helpful hints in the margins.&nbs

Anita Shreve's novels usually require patience on the part of the reader, and this book is no exception--in fact it can be quite demanding!  But the deeper the reader can get with this particular book,  more intricate and rewarding levels are mined.

This novel was found on Michael Crichton’s computer after his death. How convenient! Steven Spielberg has bought the film rights and I understand why. Every conceivable adventure that could happen to a pirate in the 1600’s of the Spanish Main does so- hurricanes, battles at sea, fortress attacks. There is even a “cracken”!

This is a YA Mystery, is the second one in the Death series. The main character is Aphra Connolly a teenager who lives with her dad on a island.  Aphra goes to find her mother, Natalie, in Seattle, but what happens there is one big adventure. This is a fast-paced mystery with a flare of chick lit.

Ex Machina: The First Hundred Days follows New York City superhero Mitchell Hundred as he decides to retire when he realizes he can effect real change by becoming Mayor of his city.

I have often enjoyed reading books in which the author uses letters or diary/journal entries to weave a story. These Is My Words by Nancy Turner, Letters From Yellowstone by Diane Smith, and Letters to Callie by Dawn Miller were good reads that used this type of plot development.