Birthdays, School, and Rereading books...

These past couple of weeks have been hectic! Switching my major and my school. Getting my summer classes lined up, pre-ordering my books.. blah. So glad that is done and over with! Pick them up on the 17th. Classes start on the 23rd. Sociology of the Family, English 113, and ACA 115.. Urgh. My SBA and HSE classes start in the fall. ( I am majoring in Human Service Technology, concentrating in Substance Abuse ) Also.. my little girl turned TWO! She was two on April 29th but we had the party this weekend due to conflict with my husband's work. so happy we could have it this weekend!!! :)

So yeah, I haven't had much time to read like I would like to! I have been re-reading The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy. First of all... my dad grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and if anyone knows.. there was a a murderer known as the Cleveland Torso Murderer. Spooky, right? He chopped up hobos/hookers, or poor folk and left them all over Cleveland. My aunt told me about it and I googled it. Well The Black Dahlia showed up (this was before the movie came out) and they believe that murder and the Cleveland Torso Murders might be connected (possibly same killer! Eek!) but was never proven. Anyways when the movie came out, I had to watch it. It was okay. Kind of what you call hollywood-fied. Soooo I discovered James Ellroy's book which the movie is based upon. Let me tell you - the book is much better! The movie leaves out so much sometimes it is hard to follow. It made much more sense once I read the book! Anyways. If you are into cop/mystery books based upon a real murder, you might want to check it out. The Black Dahlia was a grotesque/gruesome murder and some parts of the book are too. I won't go into too much detail but it's about two cops, one in particular whom is usually talking (Bucky), their fixation with the Dahlia and the things that are going on in their lives as the case continues. For the most part it is fictional, but it does describe what really happened to the Dahlia's body. It is still considered unsolved, but they do believe they know who did it. If you have a morbid curiosity as I do, check it out. I have read it at least 3 times, which I am doing now in my spare time. :)

Amazon: The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy

Remodel & Books I Want

Ok. I felt it was time to remodel a little. Whatcha think? Nothing major. Just different background and colors. I need to do a new picture but that is not important right now. Really. :) Anyways. There are a few books I am looking forward to! Well 4 that comes to mind... sooo here they are... keep mind they are all not in the same genre.. I kind go all over the place in genres... soooo yeah... :)

Shawntelle Madison's Coveted Came out 4/24/2012 MUST GET!!!!
A Night Like This(Smythe-Smith-Quartet) by Julia Quinn Comes out 5/29/2012
Deadlocked (Sookie-Stackhouse-Book-12) by Charlaine Harris Comes out 5/1/2012!!!
The Dark Monk: A Hangman's Daughter Tale (US Edition) by Oliver Pötzsch (Author), Lee Chadeayne (Translator) Comes out 6/12/2012 ( 4 days AFTER my birthday! )

Hello! Everyone! So sorry I have been MIA for so long!!! School, child, and family life has led to put a back burner on my book adventures but I will surely try to spread the word of books more often!!! So here I go...

Okay... so I will be 25 in June... I am getting old... but I still love YA Literature! One of the most recent books I have read was because of a movie...

Howl's Moving Castle

Yes... it's a bit odd... but I love this movie..soooo I decided to read the book....

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

The book and movie are totally different.. but they are both great! Sophie Hatter is what you describe as a "mouse" but when she turns into a old woman (that is all I am saying about that) she discovers her spark and she isn't a scared mouse at all. It's a cute movie and a even better book. Check it out y'all!!! :)

School and Hurricanes

Sorry it's been a week since I posted! This week has been busy with schoolwork! BIO 161 is very time consuming, and I had to make sure I had a lot of my work done online a head of time for this Hurricane, in case the power goes out! (Praying that it doesn't!) I started a new book, which you can download and read along as well for ::free:: from Amazon through Kindle...

A Lust for Lead: A Supernatural Fantasy (The Legend of the Devil's Guns) [Kindle Edition]

I am not very far into it, but so far I find it very intriguing! Certainly a change of pace for my "normal" books. I also purchased Julia Quinn's Ten Things I Love About You. Super excited. Walmart had it half off for 3.50$! Score!!!

Hopefully I can get some reading done this weekend, considering if the power goes out, that's all I will be able to do. Hmmm... better charge the Kindle! :)

Everyone on the East Coast stay safe!!!!

Finally! Review for Cherished!

I finished Cherished this morning, and I have to say - I truly enjoyed this book. First of all it is a Christian-based novel. I am a Christian, and a firm believer of Jesus Christ. This book rang true with me. It touched my heart deeply. Even if you are not a Christian or have lost your Faith this book will touch you some way or another.

This book is about a young woman who you could say is down on her luck with a job, her faith, and finds some encouragement from her brothers to move from Texas back to St. Louis, her home town. When she returns, many things are drudged back up- especially pain. Kelli, the main character, had an abortion seven years ago when her boyfriend, Brian, decided he didn't want anything to do with the baby or her, because he was going to college and that was that. Brian, on the other hand, found Faith and God, and became a Christian rapper. He also is seeking out Kelli to reconcile and apologize. Although in Kelli's mind a apology can never bring back the child they lost. Throughout the story there are many examples of Faith, believing you are worthy of God, and that you can do anything if you follow God's plan for you. There are other examples of God's forgiveness throughout the novel besides Brian and Kelli's. This book made me remember that God Forgives, and no matter how hard it is, we all should too.

If you are interested in this book - please check it out on Amazon! (Link on the last blog!)

First Week Back & Cherished by Kim Cash Tate

So this was the first week back for my college classes. Yes, I did take summer classes, had two weeks off, then went back for my Fall classes. They aren't too bad. My classes on campus are both in computer labs and seemingly easy so far. My online classes on the other hand might kick my hiney or I just need to work really hard at them. Anyways, so far I am not too stressed. :)

I am more than over half way done with Cherished by Kim Cash Tate. It is a great book so far. I am enjoying it! Hopefully I can get my complete review up by this weekend. I am looking forward to finding out what happens in the end!

If you want to check it out on amazon... here is the link...

Cherished by Kim Cash Tate

I have several other books in line to read for review due to the wonderful www.netgalley.com! It is really a awesome website to request books from publishers. If interested check it out, sign up, and see what books you get from the publishers! :)

Book Review: Ladies In Waiting by Laura L. Sullivan

Ladies in Waiting by Laura L. Sullivan

Ladies in Waiting is about three teenage girls - Zabby, Eliza, and Beth- three Elizabeth's who are Ladies in Waiting for Queen Catherine, during the reign of Charles II. Zabby saves the King's life and has a love/obsession with him. Eliza longs for her plays to be famous, and to be free - meaning not treated like a woman but equally like a man. Beth dreams love and of her sweetheart from younger days, and to be free of her Syphilitic/ Man-hating mother.

I believe this novel to be Historical Fiction, it has no dates or true events that exactly happened - yes the characters (the Elizabeths as far as I can tell are not real from research) such as Charles, Catherine, some of his Mistresses, etc were real people. He did have one mistress- Elizabeth Killigrew - maybe the Elizabeths were derived from her, but only the Author knows. :)

It was a lengthy, but entertaining novel, the only vice I found was the ending. The ending was slightly abrupt, and I would have liked to have known what  happened to the girls after they had all parted their separate ways, perhaps a epilogue or another chapter would have fine. It kind of left you wondering at the end. Otherwise this novel is a great read, a good historical fiction, and I look forward to seeing this Author with other books as well!! :)

Note: This book is due to be May 2012

Reviewed for : www.netgalley.com