The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I am not certain why I read this book except, I read between shades of gray and these two books seemed to have the same theme running through them. They both take place during a time of inhumanity during WWII.  This book tells the reader how life was during WWII for the citizens of Germany. Just how much suffering they endured during the 1940's. How it was difficult not to go along with Hitler, how difficult it was to be a Jew waiting, and how it was difficult not be able to help the Jews when they were paraded to camps.

It took me awhile to read this book but I did complete the book with tears in my eyes. How did the US miss all that was happening across the ocean?  Why wasn't it part of US History, this should not be forgotten.

Its a good read but difficult at times. Take your time reading this novel. If you haven't read between shades of gray by Ruta Sepetys, you need to find the book and read it.

things i know about love by Kate LeVann

This book is written by Livia and Adam, they use a blog to write their private thoughts,like keeping a diary. Livia wanted to keep a blog, what she learned about love. She started the blog before leaving for America, to visit her brother in Princeton, NJ. She left behind 'boyfriends'.  Not knowing exactly what it meant to be in love or to know when you are loved by someone.  She runs into Adam, a friend of her brother's from Manchester. But at the same time other guys seem to get in her way with getting to know Adam. What does Livia learn about love? That you need to learn about by reading things i know about love .  Possibly you will begin your own blog/diary.

Its a good read, enjoy it, the ending comes to a quick stop.

Thread Reckoning by Amanda Lee

As Valentine’s Day approaches, Cassandra hires Marcy to come up with an embroidery design for the wedding dress she will be wearing. The design is to include some jewels provided by the mother of the groom. Marcy quickly discovers that Cassandra is very unpleasant and demanding, but she intends to finish the work. The mother of the groom is found murdered outside Marcy’s store and some of the jewels are missing. Marcy once again starts trying to figure things out since she is a suspect. To make things even more stressful for her, David - the man who left her at the alter - turns up claiming he wants her back.

Things start to happen fairly quickly in Thread Reckoning, with Cassandra showing up at the shop to talk to Marcy about what she wants done for the dress. She has a bit of an attitude right from the start, not liking the fact that Marcy’s dog Angus is in the shop. Even after her future mother-in-law is murdered, Cassandra remains focused on the wedding and isn’t that supportive to the man she is marrying.

Marcy seems to be a suspect again since the victim is found outside her store and some of the jewels are missing. It doesn’t take long for Macy to start doing her own investigating again. There is a woman detective that is working on the case who doesn’t seem to like Marcy much.

Cassandra hires Marcy to come up with an embroidery design for her wedding dress.

Thread Reckoning is a good addition to the Embroidery Mystery series. People who have read and enjoyed the first two books in the series will probably enjoy this one as well.

Stitch Me Deadly by Amanda Lee

When Louise Ralston wanders into Marcy's shop, The Seven-Year Stitch, shows Marcy a century old sampler, asks for her help finding ivy and collapses and subsequently dies.


Since Marcy gave the older woman a cup of tea, and since the drug that killed Mrs. Ralston is found in Marcy's guest room night stand in a vial with someone's name on it that Marcy has never heard (her mother left the vial there on her last visit), Marcy is considered a suspect. Marcy considers the sampler to be a vital clue, especially when she realizes that the original verse has been removed and replaced with a verse, about ivy, from The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Intrigued by the piece, the woman's last request, and in the interest of self-preservation, Marcy begins to do a little detective work, of the genealogical nature, on her own. She learns that Mrs. Ralston was hiding a very big secret. Someone either recently learned of the secret or knew and recently became afraid of its coming to light and that someone is afraid Marcy will uncover it before it can be hidden forever.

Marcy is settling in nicely to life in her new hometown. Her glamorous costume designer mother, based in San Francisco, doesn't understand her daughter's choices, but does understand the appeal, to a small extent, of the small town when she comes to vouch for the origin of the pills. Marcy's best friend Sadie and her husband own the coffee shop down the street. Both Sadie and her husband and Sadie and Marcy experience some ups and downs, adding an additional layer to each character, and more depth and reality to the plot.

The search for ivy, or Ivy, as Marcy learns, is fascinating and involves many of Marcy's new friends, especially the librarian and her husband, the local police chief. After being recently jilted, Marcy is a big gun shy when it comes to men and is enjoying her time with Ted the cop and Todd the brewmaster, though the names are similar enough to confuse readers at times.

There are plenty of threads for readers to pick up and those who pick up the right thread will have the mystery sewn up in short order.

I really enjoy the Embroidery Mystery series. This summary is taken from another site. At times I seem I can't put words together to make sense.  

Storm Runners by Roland Smith

This is a cliff hanger and now I need to read the next book in the trilogy.This is the 2nd book of Roland Smith's I have read. I thought it was more like reading about storm chasers we see on the Weather Channel but I was totally mistaken. This is a father and son team.  They don't chase the storms they get in areas ahead of the storms to assist residents before, during and after the storms hit an area.

You need to read Storm Runners to get into the beginning of the trilogy. This is an easy and quick read.  I would recommend it to students who really don't like to read ( high interest/low vocabulary) Each chapter begins with a time of the day it heightens the anxiousness of preparing for this storm to come. READ its a good story so far. so many surprises and strength of 3 teenagers.


Storm Runners- The Surge , is the 2nd book in the series.Chase, Nicole and Rashawn have made it to to Nicole's farm. There is destruction of the family home and many of the circus animals are out wandering the farm, Pet, the elephant is about to give birth. and the water from the hurricane is rising.  Chases' dad, John and Tomas plus a news crew have also reached the Rossi farm while navigating through the hurricane. But all of a sudden a message comes from the Rossi circus and Tomas family is missing. The Storm Runners are on the run once again.

Storm Runners-Eruption   This is the 3rd book in the trilogy. The Rossi traveling circus is in trouble, so is Tomas' family all are in Mexico. Chase and John, and Tomas with Nicole and news crew go to Lago Mexico where a volcano is erupting.  Chase finds out his dad's occupation before going into the construction business. Will the Rossi circus be found, is Tomas' family safe?

Panic Button by Kylie Logan

Button Box Mystery # 3
Josie Giancola, owner of the Button Box shop, knows her buttons. But when she comes into contact with a rare charm string, she never imagines it will lead to murder…

Josie is approached at her shop to appraise a very rare item—a complete charm string. In Victorian times, girls strung buttons on long strings to make the charms. Once the string reached 1,000 buttons—no two alike—the legend was that the owner would meet her beloved.

But the owner of this charm string is not looking for love—she’s desperate to donate the piece to a museum and be rid of it. She believes the string is far from charmed—it’s cursed. When Josie finds the woman strangled with the charm string, she doesn’t know whether the curse is real…but the killer certainly is.

Being a former Home Economics teacher and now a Librarian I am drawn to buttons, embroidery and books. I love the way the author brings in the history of buttons and now button strings. I remember growing up and when shirts wore out I had the job of cutting off the buttons and putting them in a button box. I wish I knew what happened to my Mom's button box. There maybe a few valuable buttons in that box.

Now to wait for Button Box #4 

Thread on Arrival by Amanda Lee

An Embroidery Mystery #5
Embroidery shop owner Marcy Singer gets hung up on a tapestry that may lead to sunken treasure and be the motive for murder....

When Marcy’s friend Reggie, Tallulah Falls’ local librarian, asks her to teach an embroidery class as therapy for domestic abuse victims, she gladly agrees. One of the women wants to flee from her abusive husband but is afraid to leave her elderly father-in-law behind. And she thinks Marcy can help.

The elderly gentleman shows Marcy a tapestry his grandmother made, which he believes reveals the location of pirate treasure off the Oregon coast. He’ll move to a shelter—provided Marcy takes the tapestry to keep it safe. But when the police arrive the next day to escort him out, they find the old man murdered and the house ransacked. Does someone want that treasured tapestry desperately enough to kill for it? (GoodReads)

I really enjoy these mystery novels, to me its a good old mystery with a twist of embroidery crafting included. I had the murder solved but only half of the mystery before reaching the end. I hope there is a 6th mystery.

Angels at the Table by Debbie Macomber

Do you believe in Angels, I do. I know my angel is with me all the time. My angel helps with my day, especially days when I feel alone even when many people are around.  Angels at the Table, brings Shirley, Goodness and Mercy back with an apprentice angel Will . There project is to lend a helping hand. The 4 of them get over zealous and try Gabriel's patience. Do they clean up their errors? Do they find away to bring Lucie and Aren together? The 4 of them have strange ways to bring everything back to right.

I always enjoy Debbie Maccomber novels,especially her Christmas Angels novels. A touch of romance, joy and friendship.

the time keeper by Mitch Albom

I have read other Albom's novels, but this one seemed to touch me more then the other.  I don't I have ever wished for the day to be over or even to have more time. I use each of my days fully.  I know I hadn't wished to have yesterday again. Each one of my days is precious to me. I have taken time to copy a couple of quotes to keep in my journal. They say something to me and I wish to keep them near. For one reason, some books I keep while others I donate or give away. A book in itself needs to be handled, read and passed along to anyone who might read it.

the time keeper, made me think, wonder and search within myself.   Some parts made me sad and teary.

Killing Kennedy by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugan

I read Killing Lincoln and loved the book. Now that I have read Killing Kennedy. I learned more about the Kennedy days before and during his time in office. I do remember the days Kennedy was assassinated. I was 7 years old but remember how quiet my home was and watching TV all weekend as his funeral readied, listening to Walter Conkrite. Its another  one of those days you remember forever, same as the space shuttle tragedy and remembering the World Trade Towers tragedy.  We all ready have a generatin of students who do not know of the World Trade Towers and Pentagon bombings.

I knew of some of Kennedy's history but not the issues with LBJ and Oswald.  My copy of Killing Kennedy is being donated to my school library, I do agree with the author this is a book to read. It is a easy and quick read. My question if anyone can answer it, is Lisa Weihl or Martin Dugard any relation to the people O'Reilly mentioned in the book.

MacKayla Lane Series

by Karen Marie Moning
Book 1- DarkFever
Book 2- BloodFever

I am waiting on the next book in the series.  Patiently.

Inn Boonsboro Trilogy

by Nora Roberts

Book 1- The Next Always

Book 2-The Last Boyfriend

Book 3- The Perfect Hope

What really drew me to this series besides that it is Nora Roberts and the the Inn Boonsboro began Pre Civil War it is a 'ghost living at the Inn as the brothers are renovating the hotel.  First the ghost was a breeze and a scent then it began to 'talk' and move items as well as make appearances.  With this 'ghost' making appearances the 3 brothers Beckett, Owen, and Ryder continue to renovate the Inn.  This trilogy is a romance so who get which brother? All 3 are good reads and I love the paranormal within the trilogy.  

Enjoy the trilogy, I did. 

a single thread by Marie Bostwick

 It's a long way from Fort Worth, Texas, to New Bern, Connecticut, yet it only takes a day in the charming Yankee town to make Evelyn Dixon realize she's found her new home. The abrupt end of her marriage was Evelyn's wake-up call to get busy chasing her dream of opening a quilt shop. Finding a storefront is easy enough; starting a new life isn't. Little does Evelyn imagine it will bring a trio like Abigail Burgess, her niece Liza, and Margot Matthews through her door.

Troubled and angry after her mother's death, Liza threatens to embarrass her Aunt Abigail all over town unless she joins her for quilting classes. A victim of downsizing at the peak of her career, Margot hopes an event hosted by the quilt shop could be a great chance to network-and keep from dying of boredom.

As they stitch their unique creations, Evelyn, Abigail, Liza, and Margot form a sisterhood they never sought-but one that they'll be grateful for when the unexpected provides a poignant reminder of the single thread that binds us all. (www.goodreads.com)

I have been reading mysteries with thread as a theme such as buttons and embroidery. When i picked this book up i thought it was something similar. But unknown to me, yes it has theme of quilting (thread) running through the story but also ladies helping each other dealing with breast cancer, the camaraderie.  It was a good read! I am looking forward to reading the next in the series 'a cobbled court quilts novel'. 

Wonder by R J Palacio

I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?

I read Wonder , this is a quick and easy read. I enjoyed this book. Auggie is a hero, I called my son a hero as well when he graduated from high school. He has Aspergars he was picked on, ridiculed and just tormented every day of school, even on his soccer team when he was in elementary school. It was terrible to watch I just didn't know what else to do after making administrators aware of it. I even think it made life worse for my son.  I can imagine how life was for August. Heroes they are.

Pick the book up and enjoy the read.

Fifty Shades Trilogy

Fifty Shades Trilogy by E L James
I have read where this trilogy is on the NY Times Bestseller list. I ask myself how this is possible. When I picked up the first book in the trilogy I did out of curiosity.  I have read many novels  that were erotic, romance with eroticism and many other types of erotics. I probably read Fifty Shades of Grey cover to cover skipping very few pages. As i read the 2nd book Fifty shades Darker, I was hoping Anastasia had grown more back bone and went on with her life. But no she succumbed to Grey. I was talked into reading the 3rd Fifty Shades Freed by colleagues. I can say I should have listened to myself and not have purchased the book. Over the 3 books I probably read less of this book then all of the other 2. I skipped more pages looking for the story of the book.
if you are looking for an erotica book go to your book store their are so many more worth your time. One such author is Karen Marie Moning her Highlander series is erotic.  I am now beginning to read her new series MacKayla Lane novels, DarkFever.
I recommend passing on the Fifty Shades Trilogy and find another author with great romance and eroticism.

Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech

Trouble twins" Dallas and Florida are orphans who have given up believing there is such a thing as a loving home. Tiller and Sairy are an eccentric older couple who live in the beautiful, mysterious Ruby Holler, but they're restless for one more big adventure. When they invite the twins to join them on their journeys, they first must all stay together in the Holler, and the magic of the place takes over. Two pairs of lives grow closer and are changed forever.(goodreads.com)

This was the first book I have read by Sharon Creech. I really enjoyed this story. 2 couples, one a set of twins considered trouble makers and the 2nd a husband and wife. The older couple brings the twins into their lives. Tiller and Sairy give the twins a home, confidence and reassures them they are normal kids growing up. Dallas and Florida do wonder about the older couple but do enjoy the adventure. A good read quiet and unassuming it will bring smiles into your life. 

Waltzing at the Piggly Wiggly by Robert Dalby

An irresistible Southern charmer about small-town gossip, second-chance romance, strange weather, and ballroom dancing in the most unlikely places.

Laurie Lepanto is on the horns of a dilemma. Her favorite market, the Piggly Wiggly, of Second Creek, Mississippi, is on the verge of closing its doors, nearly done in by a new Mega-Mart across town. Over the years, the Piggly Wiggly has been more than a supermarket-it's been a community center and town hall, and it's even seen a little romance blossom in its aisles.

Laurie-who has never met a problem she can't solve- is determined to help Mr. Choppy, the Piggly Wiggly's manager, keep his business afloat. She enlists her fellow "Nitwitts," a formidable array of the town's most influential widows, and the town's most eligible silver fox, Powell Hampton, a sixtysomething widower and former ballroom dance instructor. For two hours a week, Powell will waltz-or fox-trot or tango-at the Piggly Wiggly with Second Creek's ladies while the salesclerks do their shopping for them.

In a place like Second Creek, where everyone knows everyone, waltzing at the Piggly Wiggly soon becomes the town's most festive event. And after a few turns around the floor with the handsome and charming Powell, Laurie soon begins to make plans for romance as well as civic renewal. (goodreads.com)

This was a good read, romantic, charming and loving with friendships.

The Shack by Wm. Paul Young

Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation, and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his "Great Sadness," Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever.

I found comfort reading this book, it gave me a sense of goodness and peace, as if the Trinity was leading me through a dark path as it was leading Mark to find a way to forgive himself.

Flyboys by James Bradley

Flyboys is historical fiction but as I read the book it seemed so real. its subtitle is 'a true story of courage'. As I read this book there were times where I had to stop reading the book just to be able to continue reading the book. The scenes seemed so real.  To think that our fighter pilots were treated with such barbarism.  As i read this book I kept thinking about Heart of the Samurai. How the Japanese tried very hard to keep others(foreigners) out of their country.
This acclaimed bestseller brilliantly illuminates a hidden piece of World War II history as it tells the harrowing true story of nine American airmen shot down in the Pacific. One of them, George H. W. Bush, was miraculously rescued. The fate of the others-an explosive 60-year-old secret-is revealed for the first time in FLYBOYS. (goodreads.com)


I recommend reading this book. We need to remember how American pilots and soldiers were treated because we are being treated the same by middle easterner radicals. They have/ had no care for life.

The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

        Annabeth is terrified. Just when she’s about to be reunited with Percy—after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera—it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and Leo fly in on the Argo II, she can’t blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek weapon. With its steaming bronze dragon masthead, Leo’s fantastical creation doesn’t appear friendly. Annabeth hopes that the sight of their praetor Jason on deck will reassure the Romans that the visitors from Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace.

And that’s only one of her worries. In her pocket Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving demand: Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me. Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send seven demigods on a quest to find—and close— the Doors of Death. What more does Athena want from her?
Annabeth’s biggest fear, though, is that Percy might have changed. What if he’s now attached to Roman ways? Does he still need his old friends? As the daughter of the goddess of war and wisdom, Annabeth knows she was born to be a leader, but never again does she want to be without Seaweed Brain by her side.
Narrated by four different demigods, The Mark of Athena is an unforgettable journey across land and sea to Rome, where important discoveries, surprising sacrifices, and unspeakable horrors await. Climb aboard the Argo II, if you dare. . . .
In The Son of Neptune, Percy, Hazel, and Frank met in Camp Jupiter, the Roman equivalent of          Camp Half-Blood, and traveled to the land beyond the gods to complete a dangerous quest. The third book in the Heroes of Olympus series will unite them with Jason, Piper, and Leo. But they number only six--who will complete the Prophecy of Seven?
The Greek and Roman demigods will have to cooperate in order to defeat the giants released by the Earth Mother, Gaea. Then they will have to sail together to the ancient land to find the Doors of Death. What exactly are the Doors of Death? Much of the prophesy remains a mystery. . . . (goodreads.com)

I enjoyed this 3rd book in the trilogy of the Heroes of Olympus. At times it got alittle confusing with all the various places in Italy.  Wish i knew more about those places of interests. Now I must wait until Fall 2013 for book 4 The House of Hades.