Still loving the master...

I have honestly never read a John Grisham book. But I don't really enjoy the movies from the books so I doubt that I would enjoy the books. I'm not a real law/political crimes book kind of girl. But I'll take your word that it was good!

I finished Stephen King's Just After Sunset finally. It was fantastic, as usual. Even after reading the whole book...the story "Harvey's Dream" was still my absolute fav. The foreshadowing and build up to the climax was amazing. So good in fact, that I read it out loud to Jethro and Lulu. Neither has ever read Stephen King, but they too were in awe. And agreed that it was an awesome example of the art of the short story! I highly recommend this book, not just to fans of his but to anyone who enjoys a good story.

When we gathered for "story time" I asked them what their favorite short stories currently were. Jethro said "To Build a Fire" by another master...Jack London. And Lulu said "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allen Poe. My gosh...are they brilliant or what?! Haha. At least they have excellent literary tastes! As both of those authors are considered amazing! Both classic storys that are prime examples of foreshadowing! The very element of writing demonstrated by "Harvey's Dream". Boy, did they have an fantastic literature teacher or what?! Oh yeah...it was me! You've got to love homeschooling!

Well, I don't know what I'm going to read next. I have several books calling my name, but very little time to read since christmas is right around the corner. In fact, I'm getting ready to go wrap some gifts now! I can't wait for christmas as I talked to mom and I happen to know we are both getting some really great books!!! Yes, I do have a one tract mind.

I'd rather be reading,
gert♥

Trying new things!

Every once in a while I read something that is out of the romance or historical romance category. Like 20th Century Ghosts. I read a couple of romance novels after that, that I had not read for a while. While I was looking for another of these, I ran across a book our cousin had given me for a birthday years ago. Dom.. dom.. da... daa! The Testament, by John Grisham. I have never read any other of his novels. I have been missing out. I know that there are movies that have been made from some of his books, but I really never payed much attention since I hadn't read them. That will change soon. The Testament is about a lawyer, a millionaire and a missionary. There are complex relationships, almost fatal diseases and money! I really can't tell you more or I would give away something. However, I will say that one or two of the characters renewed my faith in humanity and the power of believing. Mr. Grisham is very, very good at portraying real people and their faults as well as the crazy turns life sometimes takes. I suggest giving this book a try, you will be hooked like I was.

Next on my list is a favorite by Heather Graham. The Presence. I have read it before, but I'm looking forward to a fresh look at it. I'll tell ya all about it next time.



Love and new books for Christmas! Hildi

Stalking the King...

I now know I am not a Stephen King stalker. How you ask? Well because I got a book from the library about his lost works. That author is a stalker! I am just an amatuer fan. Lol. But a huge one! Still reading Just After Sunset and loving it! You know, all of the stories are good. Some are very very good. And every so often there's one that just rocks my socks. So far "Harvey" is that story in this collection. It never ceases to amaze me how the man can tap into our deepest fears and convey the feeling of terror and make it all seem so normal. I mean there I was reading the story and thinking that I would be thinking the exact same things about my husband that the main character is and I was so focused on how good he is at getting into people's heads that when the main point of the story began to seep into my thinking...it was kind of a "wham!!! that's some scary shit!". That's why I love the King!



So again...for any fans out there...get this book! More later...just had to rave about him some more...



not-a-stalker-I-swear,

gert♥

Holidays cut into reading!

I know I have not kept up on the book review myself, so no worries! I was privileged enough for mom and dad to bring with them a book by Joe Hill. He is the king. Well, no not the king, but a King. For those out there that don't know, he is THE Stephen King's son. Of course he doesn't need to advertise that because he is gifted with his own extreme creative talent for story-telling.
20th Century Ghosts is his book of short stories that I read after Thanksgiving. Let me just say that the man is amazing! Some of these stories are not about ghosts, but just imaginative displays that invite the reader to a different world. A world where anything can be ordinary and sometimes the ordinary is odd. It is a compilation that hearkens back to stories we might see on "Twilight Zone" or "The Ray Bradbury Theater". My favorites, if I picked, were Pop Art and Voluntary Committal.

Pop Art is a story of love, trust and young friendship. It is brilliantly painted with emotion and is probably the most non-fiction story of the bunch. Although my other favorite is closely based in reality as well. At least for those of us who are blessed to know someone with a handicap. [I hate that word, because it never describes the wonderful people who develop differently then others.] Certain things in this story are just the product of creativity. But one character is very real and wonderfully written. I believe the author must be lucky enough to know someone like him.

I would not only recommend reading this book, but strongly suggest you buy it for future enjoyment. I know I will. I can not wait to read Heart-Shaped Box, also by Joe Hill. It has gotten rave reviews and must be good, if 20th Century Ghosts is any indication of what awaits me in those pages.

Love and Praise those King genes!! HIldi

Real life cuts into my reading time...

I hate that! Well Larry almost never gets to go to the movies so I don't have to share a sodi with him. And thankfully now they have that free refill thing so I only fight with Jethro & Lulu over who has to get up and get the refill! Haha.

Well I finished the second book, The Hollow in the Nora Roberts trilogy. It was just as good as the first!!! The third one, The Pagan Stone came out recently but I haven't gotten my hands on it yet! I'm on hold for it at the library. As I'm spending all my book money on Xmas gifts right now!

As for The House at Midnight, it just didn't ever catch my interest. And though I usually don't do this...I gave up on it. There are just too many other books I'd rather be reading to waste precious time on one I'm not enjoying. So I picked up Alice Hoffman's Blackbird House instead. It's a collection of stories that move through different times but all center around the same house and it's occupants lives. Wow. It was very good. But then again, it's very rare for Ms. Hoffman to disappoint. If you recall, she's the author of Practical Magic. And while usually if you see a movie first and then read the book, you're a bigger fan of the movie. I love them both. The movie is different enough from the book that its almost two different stories with the same general theme. Anyway...I truly recommend any of her books!

Now I've moved on to the master...Stephen King. I talked to mom and went ahead and picked up the new book, Just After Sunset for dad for Christmas. She said go ahead and read it and she'd get me something else. So I am very reverently and with supreme care reading it before I wrap it. I'm only one story in, but of course it's brilliant. Seriously, although there are a few (very very few) of his many books that I haven't necessarily drooled over, I would consider myself a huge fan! Not the stalker type of course...I've never even visited his fan site. Just the type that truly admires his work and love it when he includes notes about how he got the idea or trouble he had writing it. His thought processes amaze me. And sometimes when I see a really good horror movie or read a really scary book...I wonder if he enjoyed it too? And if he thinks...man, why didn't I think of that?! Or if he just gets a kick out of it? Is that stalkerish? Hmmm...maybe borderline. But I could die happy if I just got to have lunch with him someday. Hahaha. Anyway...more on his brilliance as I get farther along in the book.

cuddles, tea & a really good read,
gert♥

Soo full of it!

Gert,
You always did drink the sodi's! And now we get the girls their own drinks and the husband and I share. You guessed it. He drinks all my sodi!



Well, I finished FAEFEVER! I must confess to being slightly cross with the author, Karen Moning. Her books are thrilling and scary and very sexy. However she leaves us on the edge at the endings! Then I have to wait for the next installment. I know that is part and parcel with a lot of series books, but to me it is frustrating. I have become so hooked on the characters and the city of Dublin, that I feel like I am there waiting for the bad guys to get me until another book comes out. Ms.Moning truly delivers on the suspense.
In FAEFEVER, our main character is learning even more about the people and fae around her. She still isn't sure if there is anyone she can trust and it's getting down to crunch time. Bad things are about to happen in Ireland and possibly our whole world. Can't wait to see who helps her out of this one or if she's strong enough to do it on her own!
Since I have a little wait for the next in the FEVER series, I decided to read a different one by Karen Moning called The Highlander's Touch. There are quite a few Highlander books that Ms. Moning has written and they are all creative gems. Also in some of the later ones like, The Dark Highlander and The Immortal Highlander she actually leads us to the Fever series with certain characters.


Picture me with Highlanders. OOOOHHHH! Hildi

Sooo not jealous...

Okay. Maybe just a little. And you have never been good at sharing...remember how we used to have to share a drink at the movies when we were little? I'd get like one drink of the whole thing and you'd start crying and tell mom I drank it all!!!

On to books...I knew you'd love that Tess Gerritsen! She is an amazing writer. Seriously, I'm not even a huge mystery fan but I've read almost all of her books and liked them all. I especially liked The Bone Garden because of the historical aspect. And her characters were vivid. As you said Julia Quinn is an author I always enjoy also!

I finished both of the first two books in the Nora Roberts Sign of Seven Trilogy. Blood Brothers was the first installment and it was great! Loved all the characters she introduced and the two main ones for this book were easy to fall for. Beyond the love story though is a very scary tale. For sure leave the lights on when reading this one. The second book, The Hollow focuses more on two other characters and their story is no less enthralling! Nor is it less scary. As our band of six on the side of good get stronger so does the evil threat. I absolutely cannot wait for next tuesday when the final book The Pagan Stone is released!

I started The House at Midnight by Lucie Whitehouse. I'm having a little trouble getting hooked on it. It's a good concept but the characters haven't caught my interest just yet. In fairness to the author though...things have been crazy at my house and I haven't really had a chance to dive in headfirst. So I'll reserve further judgement for now.

I did browse amazon.com the other day and my gosh! So many books, so little time!!! There are about fifty new ones to add to my reading list. Stephen King put out a new book of short stories and his son Joe Hill just came out with his second novel. Those are my guys. Seriously, lunch with the two of them is like one of my biggest fantasies. I just want to pick their brains!

picturing me with the masters of horror,
gert♥

Jealous?

Gert,
Don't be jealous that I have all the cool stuff! I'll share.

Well I must say I enjoyed the last two books I read.
A Little Bit Wicked, by Victoria Alexander and To Catch An Heiress by Julia Quinn.
I spoke of A Little Bit Wicked briefly, and was pleased with both the characters and the plot. I love it when an author shows us how completely a couple match each other. It's a fun story with a darker side of marriage exposed. Of course there is a happy ending and old wounds are overcome. I would recommend this story to historical romance readers.
The second book, To Catch An Heiress, is the tale of a very strong young lady that has overcome quite a lot on her own. She meets a handsome man with a few secrets and a shadow over his heart.I laughed at the heroine's quirkiness and cried for the pain our hero felt. Together they overcome traitors and loneliness. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and as always would recommend any of Julia Quinn's books.

Tess Gerritsen is the author I am currently reading. The book is called, The Bone Garden, and I am one-hundred and eleven pages into the three-hundred and seventy page book. I can only say, WOW! This book grabs you from the first page on. I am a huge fan of mysteries and this one not only applies, it has two. At least that's all I have found so far. This story is dark, scary and very graphic. Yes, I am slightly squeamish, so I must admit to reading ahead of the detailed autopsies and dissections . That is why it's soo good, though. I don't mind to skip a paragraph just to get to the next part. The characters are very real and the period detail is wonderful. I love to learn when I read and I feel like this book can teach quite a bit. I'm already attached to the two main females.
It starts with a letter from 1888, and then goes to the present. Our first female character is a divorced woman who bought an old house on her own and finds bones buried in the yard. Then we move to 1830 and a hospital lying-in ward for pregnant women. Our next character is there. I have to stop or I'll share the whole thing.

I shall let you know how I like it when I'm done, but I already love it!


The next book I have to read is the third installment in the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. She is one of my favorite authors and I am very excited to read it. If you like time traveling, fae, and all things magical and dark, then she's the author for you.


Love and make believe, Hildi

Look who's talking...

Not mature?! What?! I'm not the one who drinks caprisuns. Or has a Hello Kitty liter. Seriously.

So I finished not only Book 1 Blood Brothers but also Book 2 The Hollow in the Nora Roberts Sign of Seven trilogy! Omg. Good Stuff!!! The plots were good...you can't go wrong really with Big Bad Evil thing versus Good, slightly extraordinary, people. The characters are definately worth caring about. And it's funny, sexy, entertaining. And scary...gotta love that! I'm anxiously awaiting Book 3 The Pagan Stone which comes out November 25. Definately a recommended read!

Next I'm moving on to a book called The House at Midnight by Lucie Whitehouse. It's an author I've never read but it caught my eye at the library. Looks spooky. I'll let you know!

I'm going to get Lulu on here to do a review because she's been reading a couple of young adult series that I don't read lately. Just in case anyone wants to check out that market!

what a good day for a book,
gert♥

Mature?

Gert,
I guess you might be the wiser, but I'm not so sure about maturity. I mean please, you know I only drink caprisuns! I have been Christmas shopping the last few days, so I have yet to finish A Little Bit Wicked.


All four books by Stephenie Meyer were an absolute thrill to read. Don't we read books to escape for a while and live in another world, time, or place? She provided tons of people with not only those basic desires, but a real thirst for the next book. Heck, I was excited about the next chapter. I have found scads of books I enjoy, but few that I NEED. Crazy? Maybe, but I'm also a Titanic fan. That should explain a lot.
The final book in the series was indeed a perfect conclusion. Either team Edward or team Jacob can be happy with it. I just hope Ms.Meyer will let us know how four of my favorite inhuman characters are doing in the future. Who is not worried about the next time they see the Volturi?



P.S. I just wanted to add a title to my favorite series list. Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon, is for sure one of the most emotional and gripping reads I have ever experienced. There are others in this series of course, but start with this one and let me know what you think. Yes, Gert gave it to me!

Love and escaping,
Hildi

Older and Wiser {of course!}

I may be seven years your senior but that just means I'm seven years wiser! So stick that in your juicebox and suck it!



Still reading the Nora Roberts. Didn't have a lot of time to read yesterday. So I'll just open up a discussion about the best book series ever:




The twilight series by Stephanie Meyers.



Honestly, this is one of the best series I've ever read. Ranks right up there with Harry Potter. And I don't say that lightly because Lulu, Jethro & I were addicted to those books. I picked up the book twilight for Lulu on the recommendation of a friend of hers and then read it myself on a whim. I rushed out to buy the second one. I was for sure hooked on the world of Bella & the Cullens. I must admit to being a huge Jacob fan though and bawled at the end of the third book. I know there's been some flack about the fourth book but I thought it was fantastic and was thoroughly satisfied with how it came out. I think she stayed completely true to her characters and storyline which can't be an easy task for a writer. Especially when the books became such a huge phenomenon. I know I personally recommended them to MANY people.



Cannot wait for the movie to come out! Fingers crossed that they do a good job. I'm pretty happy with the choice of actors. I know Lulu & I will be there opening night with a group of friends and surrounded by other fans. That always makes it soooo much fun!



love & anticipation,
gert♥



ps- hit us up with some of your book recommendations or just chat about the twilight series. We LOVE comments!

whatever!

Gert,
Good lord! I can't wait to see that movie! Stephenie Meyer is one of the best authors I've ever read. Her world is truly captivating and addictive. I have finally finished Breaking Dawn and I am most happy with the culmination of the four books in the series. By the way Gert, it is also your God given right to remain seven years my senior. Ha!

What I recently read( before Breaking Dawn):

was the first in a whole family of books by Victoria Alexander. Gert read three of them and brought them to me. I have to say the first one I read was not so great. Don't get me wrong, the characters are colorful and easy to like. The plot is well thought out. I just am not a fan of so much internalization on my character's parts. I prefer more dialogue. The book I finished is Let It Be Love. As I said Gert liked it and there were some good points so I will read the next one I have of hers.

A Little Bit Wicked is about a friend of the main character in Let It Be Love, and his leading lady. He is bound and determined to escape the bonds of matrimony as are four others in their group. As these stories take place in England in the mid-nineteenth century, and our gentleman are under various pressures to do just that, it looks like it might be a good one. I'll let you know.


One I would recommend:

to anyone who likes vampires and other fantastic creatures, is When Darkness Falls. It takes you on a frightening journey from Scotland to the French Quarter. Shannon Drake spellbinds you with her dark forces and even darker hero. OOOOOHHH! I get goose bumps just thinking about using the bathroom in a dark house!!

Love and light-switches,
Hildi

Woo hoo! I'm first!

Haha...totally taking advantage of the fact that Hildi is buried in the world of Stephanie Meyer's to go first! Besides...I'm older, therefore first is not only my desire...it's my god given right by order of birth. [take that Hildi!]



So...what I'm reading now:



Blood Brothers by Nora Roberts. 1st book in the Sign of Seven Trilogy.



I just started it last night. I'm only on chapter six but it's fantastic so far. Scared me so bad I did not want to get up in the dark and go to the bathroom. I did of course, because Larry neither enjoys me turning on multiple lights in the wee hours of the night or waking up wet. Haha. Anyways, as always with Nora Roberts, this is a vastly engrossing read.





What I just finished:



Far From Home by Charlotte Hardy.



A young adult novel Lulu picked up at the library about a young irish girl who leaves her little village in Ireland to follow the youngest son of an english earl to London. It spans twelve years, has pretty accurate historical detail and definately kept me interested! Twelve years to realize who the really great guy in her life was. Lord I hope it doesnt take Lulu that long! Definately one I'd recommend for anyone who likes historical fiction.





What I'm recommending right now:



The Borgia Bride by Jeanne Kalogridis



An historical novel set in 15th century Italy which follows Sancha, a membor of the royal family of Naples. It chronicles her marriage to Joffre Borgia, the son of Pope Alexander VI and the subsequent events. And c'mon Lucrezia Borgia is a key player. Who hasn't heard disturbing historical gossip about her?! Sure it's fiction but with great historical detail and talk about compelling! Lulu read it first and kept saying "you have to read this!". Also she kept saying "omg. you are not gonna believe how gross some of this is!". So of course I had to read it. And truly there is some perversion present but it added to the storyline. With all the talk we had going about it, Jethro decided he had to check it out. He's now 400 pages deep into its 506 pages! As Jethro is not my most motivated reader...I'd say this highly recommends the book!



love & good books,

gert♥