kmartin802's (Kathy's) First 2013 Thread

I am looking forward to a good reading year in 2013 and have the goal of reducing the height of my TBR mountain which currently sits at 1458 print and ebooks.

I chose an excellent story to be my first book of 2013. I have this sets the standard for all 2013 reading.

1. Divergent by Veronica Roth (487 p.) -- Tris must choose the faction that she will spend the rest of her life with. Raised in Abnegation but unable to be selfless, she chooses Dauntless and then in the course of cruel training finds that courage is being corrupted into cruelty and the faction is being conscripted by another to start a war. Tris finds love with Four (Tobias) who starts as one of her trainers. Together they have to stop the war because they are something other than Dauntless. They are Divergent.

2. From This Moment On by Bella Andre (176 p.) -- Marcus and Nicola are an unlikely pair. He is 36, a wine maker, and the responsible eldest brother in the Sullivan family. She is 25 and a pop superstar. But, when they come together both looking for a night of hot sex, they find more than either bargained for--true love. Great story with some steamy sex.

I really enjoyed Divergent, too--the sequel is out, but I haven't gotten to it yet.

3. Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers (549 p.) -- Ismae escapes a brutal marriage and is sent to a convent to learn to be an assassin in this high fantasy set in an alternate medieval Brittany. She gets involved with protecting young Anne of Brittany who is trying to preserve her kingdom and fight off incursions by the French and the treachery of her own advisors. The only one Anne trusts is her bastard half-brother Duval but Ismae has been sent to find out if he is the traitor. Ismae and Duval fall in love and ferret out the true traitor in this book. It is also a coming of age story for Ismae as she grows from a brutalized peasant child to a strong, confident woman.

4. Can't Help Falling in Love by Bella Andre (198 p.) -- Gabe's a firefighter who doesn't date the women he rescues. Megan is a widow with a young child who doesn't date men with dangerous jobs. Both reassess when they meet (he saves her from a burning building) and are instantly attracted to each other. It takes her longer to get over her fears before falling in love. Lots of spicy love scenes and strong emotions here!

5. I Only Have Eyes for You by Bella Andre (174 p.) -- Sophie Sullivan throws off her Nice nickname and goes after Jake McCann. She has loved him since she was five and he was ten. Jake grew up in the Sullivan family but doesn't feel that he deserves Sophie's love. He is a self-made man who is the son of an alcoholic and has a learning disability. Sophie doesn't intend to let anything stand in her way - not even Jake's insecurities.

I still have not managed to get to Divergent. I really must do that!

6. If You Were Mine by Bella Andre (194 p.) -- Zach Sullivan doesn't know what to do with the puppy his brother Gabe and his family dumped on him. Heather is the owner of a dog training business. Both are opposed to falling in love and determined not to. But instant attraction leads to more than a friends with benefits relationship though both of them have demons to slay before they can find their way to a happy ending.

Hi Kathy, you're on a roll! :) Congratulations on finishing book number six!

7. Let Me Be the One by Bella Andre (227 p.) -- Ryan and Vicki were best friends as teens. When Vicki moved away they kept in touch. Now, 15 years later, she is back in San Francisco after a divorce and pursuing her career as a sculptor. Ryan is a MLB pitcher. What neither of them knows is that they fell in love with each other as teens. Both are afraid to take a chance of ruining their friendship by starting a romance with someone who just wants to be friends. It takes courage for both of them before they admit their love.

8. Come A Little Bit Closer by Bella Andre (257 p.) -- Movie actor Smith falls in love with Valentina who sees him as something other than a superstar but who doesn't date actors. It takes a lot of hot and sweet romance to convince her to take a chance on him. Great family relationships in this one. I love how devoted Smith is to his family and how devoted Valentina is to her younger sister who is Smith's co-star in his current movie.

9. Circle of Lies by Sara Dailey and Staci Weber (250 p.) -- Aiden has to learn to live as a werewolf, deal with the fact that his biological father is Marcus, and deal with a mate bond with Teagan - a human. Teagan has to deal with an alcoholic, verbally abusive father and a low sense of self-esteem and self-worth. She also has a hard time trusting Aiden - who is one of the beautiful people - since she had been betrayed by another beautiful, popular boy. Add to the difficulties of their romance Peter who is an insane werewolf hunter and who wants to kill Aiden and his family and has recruited Teagan's father to help.

*waving* at Kathy

10. Goblin Secrets by William Alexander (223 p.) -- Rownie lives in Zombay. He live with Graba who is a witchworker and has steampunk chicken legs. Rownie is searching for his older brother who has disappeared and goes to the goblins to help find him. They are masked actors in a city who mayor doesn't allow anyone to wear masks. The masks are magic. Rownie learns a lot about his life, his city, and his future in this exciting middle grade fantasy novel which won a 2012 National Book Award.

11. Ever After by Kim Harrison (435 p.) -- Rachel has to fix her unbalanced line which is causing the Ever After to shrink before the demons kill her. Ku'Sox is the one who made the problem worse because he wants Rachel to lift her curse on him and he wants to destroy the Ever After. He kidnaps Trent's daughter to put pressure on Rachel. Trent and Rachel need to work together and really trust each other. Their relationship is fascinating to watch as it grows and develops in this story.

12. Black Ice by Andrew Lane (278 p.) -- Sherlock travels with his brother Mycroft to Russia in this action-packed adventure. The author sows all sorts of seeds that will grow into the adult Sherlock Holmes in this middle grade mystery/adventure. We also get a frantic tour of underground London and czarist Russia through Sherlock's eyes.

13. Luck of the Draw by Kelly Vitollo (201 p.) -- A one-night stand between two lonely people has consequences. Rowan is at a convention in Las Vegas before going home to open her B & B. Breck Wilder is a professional poker player who picks her up. A month of so later he needs some R & R and decides to visit an old friend who recommends a B & B -- Rowan's. When she sees Breck, she faints and then learns she is pregnant. She doesn't know how to tell Breck who claims to love his footloose lifestyle. Lots of conflict before they get together. Witty dialog and strong friendships.

14. Othermoon by Nina Berry (320 p.) -- Dez and her friends need to keep Ximon and the Tribunal from turning on the machine that will cause all shifters and magic users to lose their powers forever. Dez and Caleb's romance ends because she is working with his brother Lazar which makes him jealous and also because she isn't trusting him with her plans. She is determined to do what she thinks is right no matter what it will cost in friendships and romance. Dez also learns more about what she is and where she comes from in this story.

I thought I would start keeping track of the books I am reading with my first and second graders each week.

15. Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet (40 p.) -- Great illustrations and information about Tony Sarg who is the man responsible for the huge balloons that are part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade each year. 2012 Sibert Medal winner.

16. Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport (40 p.) -- Stunning illustrations and text that hits some of the high points of Martin Luther King Jr.'s career in the Civil Rights movement. Newbery Honor book 2001.

More books that I'm reading with, or at least mentioning to, my first and second graders.

17. A Ball for Daisy by Chris Rascha (32 p.) -- This wordless story still manages to convey a wealth of emotions from joy to sorrow to contentment as we watch a dog with his favorite toy. Caldecott Award 2012.

18. Grandpa Green by Lane Smith (32 p.) -- I liked this story about a Great-grandfather who shapes his life in topiary and who is now sharing the stories with his great-grandchild even though he is very old and his memory is leaving him. These are different than the Lane Smith illustrations in his earlier books.

19. Blackout by John Rocco (40 p.) -- Sometimes it takes a natural disaster - like a blackout - before people can take some time from their busy lives and spend time together. Great illustrations and a great message.

20. Me..Jane by Patrick McDonnell (40 p.) -- This simple introduction to Jane Goodall shows a nature-loving child growing up and deciding to make a difference and ends with a photo of Jane reaching out to a small chimpanzee. Caldecott Honor Book 2012

21. The Pirates of Plagiarism by Lisa Downey (40 p.) -- Pretty good introduction to plagiarism for younger researchers.

22. Falling for Her Fiance by Cindi Madsen (156 p.) -- Wes and Dani are best friends. When each needs a fake fiance, the other steps up never thinking that their romance would become real. Both are very hesitant to destroy a friendship to take a chance on romance. It takes two-thirds of the book before either is willing to take a chance but their are still a number of obstacles to overcome not least of which that they live and work 1000 miles apart.

23. Shattered Souls by Delilah Devlin (264 p.) -- Cait is an ex-cop turned PI who drinks to shut out the voices. When her ex-husband pulls her into a case she has to quit denying her heritage as a witch and battle a demon. Along the way the romance that never died is rekindled between the two of them in some really hot love scenes. Cait is finally ready to share her past with Sam and rebuild the trust that was lost.

24. The Last Station Master by S.A.M. Posey (169 p.) -- Nate was expecting a boring summer when he was sent to his grandparents' rural North Carolina farm as a consequence for joy-riding. He wasn't expecting a terrorist, a ghost and a family mystery. He and his new friends Hannah and Will have to get the terrorist to his boss in the Pentagon and prove that his ancestor was really a station master on the Underground Railroad and not a black slave-owner. The story was exciting and would be great for middle graders.

25. Not Quite Dating by Catherine Bybee (262 p.) -- Jessie is a waitress who needs a rich guy to help her and her young son out. Jack is a millionaire who wants to be loved for himself and not his money. He sees her and lies to her about being a temporary waiter. She knows he's not what she needs but he is kind and loving to her and her son. She's afraid that she and her son will hold him back from chasing his dreams. Lots of misunderstandings in this touching romance!

Time for some picture books again.

26. The Loathsome Dragon by Kim Kahng and David Wiesner (32 p.) -- Kim Kahng retells and David Wiesner illustrates a fairy tale with so many familiar elements including a wicked stepmother, a curse, a dragon, and the power of love. Wonderful pictures - especially of the dragon - will make this a favorite of young fairy tale lovers.

27. I Have a Dream (Book & CD) by Kadir Nelson (40 p.) -- Kadir Nelson's beautiful paintings illustrate the high points of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous I have a Dream speech. The combination of words and pictures help convey some of the power of Dr. King's words for an audience who wasn't alive to hear them originally.

28. Dave the Potter by Laban Carrick Hill (40 p.) -- Lyrical writing tells about the work of Dave the Potter - slave and poet. The notes at the back share what little is known about him and some of the poems he wrote on the clay jars he made. Bryan Collier did the art in watercolor and collage.

29. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (452 p.) -- Scarlet needs to find her grandmother who has been kidnapped. Wolf shows up to help her. But is he really planning to betray her?

Cinder escapes from prison and takes Carswell Thorne along (because he has a ship). She is on the run from Queen Levana but doesn't know whether to join Dr. Erland and try to overthrow the evil queen or run away to live her own life.

They get together because Scarlet's grandmother assisted in Cinder's escape from Luna and might know more about her past.

The story is filled with exciting adventures, tough decisions, romance, and heart-breaking loss. I can't wait for book three.

30. The Buckhorn Legacy by Lori Foster (273 p.) -- Emma leaves town at seventeen leaving Casey to miss her. Now she's back but only for a short time to deal with her father's stroke. Casey wants to rekindle the romance and convince her to stay. Now might be the time when they are both ready to fall in love.

31. Hattie Ever After by Kirby Larson (240 p.) -- Amazing historical fiction story that follows Hattie (from HATTIE BIG SKY) as she pursues her dream to be a newspaper reporter in San Francisco in 1919. The story has wonderful historical detail and a terrific main character in smart, resilient Hattie.

32. Die for Me: A Novel of the Valentine Killer by Cynthia Eden (359 p.) -- The Valentine Killer has followed Katherine to New Orleans despite having her identity changed by the US Marshals. When he starts killing again, she decides to stop running and goes to the police. The detective in charge, Dane Black, is distrustful at first but quickly comes to love and trust her. There are lots of grisly murders and suspenseful scenes before the Valentine Killer is stopped.

33. Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black (384 p.) -- Poorly written and poorly plotted story of a girl who attends a prestigious ballet school to learn about the disappearance of her sister, gets cast in the lead role of a ballet that her sinister teachers are using to call demons into the world, and is involved in a love triangle with a mysterious boy and a boy who says he wants to help her but is stalking her. Pass it by!

34. Mr. Crumb's Secret by Phyllis J. Perry (91 p.) -- Young Fribble Mouse learns a lot about research skills and using the library when he tries to discover his neighbor Mr. Crumb's secret. Fribble learns about the dictionary, the library catalog and the nonfiction section, the newspaper archives, and the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature. It was a cute story with lots of learning opportunities for young researchers.

35. Til the World Ends by Julie Kagawa, Ann Aguirre, and Karen Duvall (361 p.) -- 3 Novellas about the end of the world as we know it. Julie Kagawa gives us Red Lung disease when has killed most of the population and caused a complete societal breakdown. Aguirre gives us chemical spills that have polluted most of the land except for exclusive enclaves for the rich. Our heroine is a thief who is struggling to live outside the enclaves. Duvall gives us an Earth that is scorched and ruined due to solar flares. While it has killed many, those who survive are called kinetics and have a variety of powers. Our heroine knows when flares are going to happen and our hero can control the weather. Together they can calm the sun and let life resume. All 3 were well-written and had engaging characters.

36. Lycan Unleashed by Tiffany Allee (115 p.) -- Human Sensitive Astrid Holmes needs to clear her name when evidence disappears. She needs to work with an ex-colleague with whom she shared one hot kiss before he went to the OWEA. Mason is a Lycan who wants her but guilt has kept him away. Together they have to solve a murder and clear her name.

37. Double Crossed by Ally Carter (89 p.) -- The Gallagher Girls meet the Heist society in this story of a kidnapping/jewel theft that goes wrong because Macey McHenry, W W Hale V and Kat Bishop—three teens who are anything but ordinary—get involved. Hale and Macy are attending a high society party when gunmen wearing masks of US Presidents sneak in apparently to rob the guests or hold them for ransom. Hale and Macey use their skills as thieves and spies to thwart the robbers from the inside while Kat and Abby work from the outside to outsmart the gunmen and capture the real thief.

Also contained in this ebook are the first three chapters of Heist Society and the first two chapters of the first Gallagher Girls book, I'd Tell You I love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You. I have only read Heist Society but now I'm eager to read the rest of that series and read the Gallagher Girls series too.

38. Stone Cold Revenge by Jess Macallan (262 p.) -- Elle has to move into her father's house where he wants to train her to be his heir. She agrees because she wants to kill him. As her 28th birthday approaches, she is gaining the powers she inheritied through her mother's bloodline. She has the ability to steal wards and weave souls. Soul weaving scares her because her father is an example of a soul that should not have been re-woven and created a person who is terribly wrong. Elle has the help of an uncle who is a god and a fairy godmother who is wonderfully snarky and is also Tuatha de Danaan. Elle also has the support of her current love - Jax who is a gargoyle - and her childhood love - MacLean who is a phoenix. Middle book in a trilogy but a strong story.

39. Mind Games by Kiersten White (241 p.) -- Paranormal thriller about two young girls with psychic gifts who are orphaned and taken to a special school where their gifts are abused. The older girl is blind but has visions. The younger always makes the correct choice. She is trained as an assassin and also does corporate espionage. If she doesn't comply, they will kill her sister. Complying threatens her sanity. The story in told in alternate viewpoints and a non-linear fashion. Engaging and engrossing but, also, the first book in a trilogy.

40. Released: The Shapeshifters' Library by Amber Polo (312 p.) -- After a fire set by book burning werewolves, Liberty moves the public library into the abandoned Shipsfeather Academy. There she discovers that the lower floors are being used by the dog shapeshifters who are librarians and who are held there by a curse cast by the alpha werewolf and former head librarian of the public library. Liberty falls in love with the headmaster who spends a lot of his time as an Old English Sheepdog. Together they have to find a way to break the curse and save the town from being controlled by werewolves. Light urban fantasy with a lot of library in-jokes.

41. Dream Eyes by Jayne Ann Krentz (325 p.) -- Gwen who is a pyschic counselor and writer for a paranormal TV show comes home to Wilby, Oregon to discover the death of her mentor. She calls on her sister's soon to be brother-in-law Judson Coppersmith who have paranormal gifts of his own to help her determine if her mentor was killed and who did it. Judson and Gwen had met and been attracted before but it was the wrong time and she said the wrong thing. He is plagued by nightmares and, though Gwen is a dream specialist, he doesn't want to be a patient. He wants to be her lover. Together the two get close while trying to solve the very complex case. Evelyn's death was just one part of a string of murders using a paranormal weapon.

42. Necessity's Child by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (328 p.) -- Young Syl Vor is at loose ends now that his clan has moved to Surebleak. His older cousins have left for their apprenticeships, his young cousins have a nurse to care for their needs, his mother and aunts and uncles are too busy to spend time with him. He wants to be of use.

Syl Vor persuades his mother to let him attend the local school where he will meet and mix with Surebleak's kids.

Kezzi is Bedel. Her tribe has been on Surebleak hidden and keeping separate from the rest of the citizens for a long time. She is the apprentice to the head woman of the tribe. When she is caught running loose on the street, she is brought to the school where she reluctantly becomes friends with Syl Vor.

Rys Lin pen'Chala fell afoul of Surebleak toughs was found outside the Bedel stronghold near death. He is nursed back to health and finds much to admire among the Bedel.

They come together at the new consolidated school where Rys has to defeat his programming and Syl Vor has to defend the school in a way far to old for him.

43. Dualed by Elsie Chapman (304 p.) -- West Grayer lives in a society where each child has a genetic duplicate. In other to achieve adulthood they need to kill this duplicate. This is the story of West's attempt to kill hers. It is tense, gritty, and emotionally draining. Well-written but nothing that I will want to read again.

44. House Rules by Chloe Neill (333 p.) -- Someone is killing vampires, Cadogan House is formally withdrawing from the Greenwich Presidium, and Merit gets initiated into the Red Guard in this action-packed episode of the Chicagoland Vampires series. Merit suffers jealousy when an old initiate - now Master of a House in California - tries to discredit Merit in order to get Ethan for herself. Ethan is very angry that Merit has joined the Red Guard and jealous of her partner there - Jonah.

45. Unremembered by Jessica Brody (302 p.) -- Sera is found at the scene of a plane crash - the only survivor. She is uninjured but has lost her memory. She remembers nothing about her past. When Zen comes to her hospital room to try to rescue her, she doesn't remember him. But soon she is being chased by evil scientists and Zen is the only one who can explain what Sera has forgotten. This science fiction story has time travel, genetic manipulation, memory erasing and a really sweet romance.

46. The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen (352 p.) -- Jaron is king but his Regents don't trust him and none of them see the danger Jaron sees from Avenia and the pirates. He runs away from the castle to solve the pirate problem on his own. Jaron is smart, and tricky, and determined and his is completely incapable of giving up until he gets what he wants. Luckily, he wants the best for his country. This one had lots of adventure and danger as Jaron has to deal with treason and determine who he can trust. Second book in a trilogy.

47. Finn Finnegan by Darby Karchut (198 p.) -- Finn MacCullen is an orphan and half-human. He is newly apprenticed to Knight Gideon Lir to learn how to battle the Amandan who want to kill all Tuatha De Danaan and take over Ireland. I loved the relationship between Gideon and Finn. I thought the story had a great mix between humor and sadness. It had a lot of action for middle grade readers to enjoy.

48. Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson (352 p.) -- Sophia goes to live with her godfather on a plantation in Mississippi just before the Civil War. At first, she is happy to be showered with lovely things but soon she notices that he keeps her isolated from her family and from others who live in the area. She wonders what happened to his wives. Were there really four of them? She soon comes to dislike his volatile temper and treatment of his slaves. She refuses to marry him until she sees how he can threaten her family. She falls in love with a preacher who she meets in the woods but has to set him aside to protect her family. Finally, in true gothic fashion, the godfather's evil becomes known and causes his demise. Lovely story filled with gothic overtones.

49. Seven Kinds of Hell by Dana Cameron (374 p.) -- Zoe Miller is an archaeologist who just lost her mother to brain cancer. She and her mom have been on the run all her life staying away from her family. Now the family and her hidden family history is catching up. Zoe learns that she is fangborn -- a werewolf. When her cousin Danny is kidnapped, she has to come to terms with being fangborn and gather some ancient relics to rescue him. Rivals for the relics include a fangborn US senator who wants to out the fangborn and rule humans and a human Russian mobster who believes the relics will make him fangborn too. Adding to the complications is that the relics want something from Zoe too. Exciting adventure with a likable heroine. While the ending is not a cliffhanger, it is unresolved. A sequel is needed.

50. Poison by Bridget Zinn (288 p.) -- Kyra is a Master Potioner who is on the run after attempting and failing to kill her best friend Princess Ariana. She had a vision of Ariana destroying their country. While on the run searching for Ariana, Kyra takes up company with a tracking pig and a fellow traveler named Fred. together the three of them along with Fred's wolfhound Langley battle evil witches and goblins and elude the King's army. They have to unravel a terrible plot and save the kingdom and Ariana. There were lots of surprises at the end of this story but everything works out for a "happy ever after" ending.

51. The Best Man by Kristan Higgins (432 p.) -- Faith Holland is left at the altar when her groom comes out as Gay. She flees to San Francisco to try to get over losing the love of her life. Three years pass before she comes home and gets swept into the embrace of her zany family, reconciles with her ex-fiance who is still her really good friend, and falls in love with Levi Cooper who happens to be the one to convince her fiance to come out of the closet. Levi and Faith have been dancing around each other for years and each is convinced that the other hates them. The chemistry is magic but both have issues to resolve before their romance can flourish. Funny and heart-tugging, this romance had it all.

52. Hysteria by Megan Miranda (336 p.) -- Mallory killed the boy she was dating when he broke into their home drunk and threatened her. She wasn't charged but she is being stalked by his mother and is having horrible nightmares. Here parents decide to send her to a boarding school for a change of scene but her reputation preceded her. Once there she finds herself the target of the mean girls and also hasn't outrun the nightmares. She wakes up one morning to find that one of the popular kids was killed in her room while she was sleeping with the aid of a sleeping pill. She has to figure out who did it before the police become convinced that it was her.

53. Six Years by Harlan Coben (368 p.) -- College Professor Jake Fisher watched the love of his life Natalie marry another man and promised to leave them alone. Six years later he sees the groom's obituary and decides to contact his lost love. He sets of a chain of events that bring him into conflict with the mafia, various police forces and the FBI as he tries to unravel what happened to Natalie. This first person narrative was engaging and engrossing. Jake was a man who would do anything to find the woman he still loves.

54. The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson (295 p.) -- Locke and Kara have been released from their black boxes and given new bodies by a scientist who thinks of them as product samples. When they learn that Jenna is still alive, both are determined to find her--Locke out of love and Kara out of hate. Locke loves them both but something was lost when Kara was revived. Great science fiction look at the nature of love and friendship and the idea of what makes someone human.

55. Fox Forever by Mary E. Pearson (290 p.) -- Locke is in Boston again to do a Favor in return for the help the underground gave him in his escape. He needs to get close to the daughter of the Secretary of Security and learn where he has been keeping a Resistance leader. Locke falls in love with the daughter and ends up rescuing her from her father too. Excellent conclusion to a thought-provoking series.

56. Rage Against the Dying by Becky Masterman (320 p.) -- Brigid Quinn is retired FBI and now married to Carlo, a man she calls Perfesser. She has hidden the truth of her past as an undercover operative and reinvented herself. However, the one case that haunts her which included the murder of her young protegee is coming into her new life. A confessed serial killer has led the cops to her protegee's mummified body. But something doesn't ring true in his confession. And someone is trying to kill her only she kills him first--and then decides to cover it all up so as not to blow her relationship with her new husband. With a cop suspicious about the assailant's death and the FBI agent who also caught the supposed serial killers discrepancies missing, Brigid has to solve the case alone.

57. Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza (470 p.) -- Mila is surprised to learn that she is an android created by a secret military project to be a war machine and stolen by her "Mother." She thought she was just a grief-stricken 16-year-old mourning the death of her father. When the military catch up to them they try to flee but are captured. Mila meets the next generation of Milas -- 3.0 -- and has to compete with her to save her life and her mother's life. Exciting science fiction; first of a new trilogy.

58. Buried: A Bone Secrets Novel by Kendra Elliot (347 p.) -- Michael has been searching for his brother Daniel since he and his classmates were kidnapped as children. Only one of the kids -- Chris Jacobs -- was ever found. Chris was starved, abused, and beaten and suffered nightmares for years. He also told everyone that he didn't know what happened. He became a recluse and left home as soon as he turned 18. His only contact - and that is only by phone - was his sister Jamie. When the bodies of the other children are found, Michael is determined to find Chris. He meets Jamie and both fall in love. They set off in search of Chris and encounter all sorts of surprises along the way. The man who kidnapped, murdered and abused the kids is also looking for Chris to clean up loose ends. Exciting story told from multiple viewpoints including the killer's.

59. If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch (256 p.) -- Carey and her little sister Janessa have been surviving off the grid deep in a state forest. Carey was taken there by her mother purportedly to protect her from the father that beat both of them. However, her mother was bipolar and used Meth and moonshine. She left the girls for long stretches of time and when she was with them was as likely to abuse them as care for them. When they are found and returned to Carey's father, Carey has to adjust to a whole life she doesn't know anything about and get to know a father she didn't remember. Wonderful survival story. Carey was a strong character to survive all that happened to her.

60. Three Sisters by Susan Mallery (340 p.) -- Andi, Boston, and Deanna live is adjacent Victorian homes on Blackberry Island. Each are at turning points in their lives. Andi was recently jilted at the altar by the man she was with for ten years and her parents are taking his side. She moves to Blackberry Island to open a new pediatric practice and restore the aging Victorian. She isn't interested in a new romance but her contractor Wade King is hot. Boston has been married to her high school sweetheart Zeke King but their marriage is crumbling because neither can get beyond the death of their six-month-old baby. Deanna and Colin are also having marriage issues because of her need for perfection and OCD. She has just about completely alienated her husband and oldest daughter. The three women bond and support each other as they rebuild their lives. Funny and poignant and a real page-turner.

61. Pivot Point by Kasie West (343 p.) -- Addie is a Searcher who can look at two future paths and decide which one to follow. When her parents divorce, she has to choose whether to stay in the paranormal world with her Mom or go to the normal world with her Dad. There are cute boys in both futures and lots of danger too. Addie is wonderful nerd with a quirky voice, dry sense of humor, and very literal mind. Excellent story!

62. Calculated in Death by J. D. Robb (386 p.) -- This episode is a police procedural. Eve is investigating the death of an accountant who is a mother of two and happily married. Her investigation takes her into the world of big business. Luckily, Roarke is her expert guide. There are more murders and fraud and money laundering and lots of really stupid criminals. I liked how well Eve and Roarke understand each other and how well they support each other's strengths. I did miss most of the side characters. Loved the running joke about Eve's fear of Trina as she is preparing for the Red Carpet event when the movie about the Icove Investigation premieres.

63. Always on My Mind by Bella Andre (216 p.) -- Lori leaves her cheating boyfriend and the dance production she is involved with and goes looking for a new life. An ad for a farmhand leads her to Grayson Tyler's farm and a new love. Grayson has left New York after his wife died in a drunk driving accident. He feels guilty that they had grown apart and she had turned to drinking. Neither one is at all eager for a new love but each helps the other heal. This one ends with a surprise wedding.

64. 17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma (360 p.) -- Lauren becomes obsessed with her search for 17-year-old Abby Sinclair when she starts having visions of what happened when she went missing. The leads her to remember the disappearance of her 17-year-old babysitter Fiona. She has visual and aural hallucinations and begins to get lost in her own head. She pulls away from the people who love her -- her Mom, her boyfriend Jamie, and her best friend Deena. This is an exploration of Lauren's descent into mental illness and is filled with lush language and vivid descriptions. The pacing is slow and the chapters are short.

65. Crossfire: The Darkride Chronicles by Laura Bradley Rede (276 p.) -- Immediate sequel to Darkride, this book starts with Cicely, Ander, Luke, Emmy, D.J., and Five in a van running from both vampires and Hunters. They go to Naomi in Maine for help, learn more about their powers, start various romances, are captured by the Hunters, and escape. Lots of romantic triangles - Cicely, Ander and Luke; Cicely, Ander, and Noami; Ander, Naomi, and D.J. But things work our well and the right couples get together. This was exciting, adventurous, and romantic.

66. The Ashford Affair by Lauren Willig (368 p.) -- Parallel stories of Clemmie in 1999, lawyer and workaholic, who discovers that her beloved Granny Addy was not her grandmother but her grandfather's second wife. The other story is Addie's as she goes from poor unwanted orphan to family matriarch. In Addie's story we meet her cousin Bea who is her best friend and biggest betrayer. Addie and Bea's story documents the changes in England around the time of World War I. Well-written, well-developed characters, and second chances at romance and enduring love for both women.

67. The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abe (352 p.) -- World War I is dawning and orphan Lora Jones is given the chance to attend a posh boarding school in rural England. There she meets Jesse who is a supposedly mute groundskeeper and Armand who is the son of the Duke who provided the opening at the school for her. Both boys court her but it is Jesse who tells her that she is a drakon and that he is a star and who is able to help her learn to shift to smoke and dragon. Armand is also descended of dragons as was his mother. She committed suicide as she was attempting to fly. The Duke hasn't recovered from this loss when his older and most beloved son is killed in the war leading to the stunning climax of this book. The book was lyrical and the romance was intense. Teenage hearts will beat faster! First in a series.

68. Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs (342 p.) -- Mercy needs to save the day when Adam and his whole pack are captured by rogue government agents who want to force the government to give them shoot-to-kill licenses for werewolves and other fae. With Zee back on the fae hidden reservation and Samuel away, Mercy is a little short of allies. She calls on Stefan and Bran sends Asil. There is also some help from the legitimate government agency and the police. Mercy also has the dubious assistance of one of Zee's magical swords as she gets tangled in both human and vampire politics.

69. Prophet of Bones by Ted Kosmatka (347 p.) -- Baffling science and characters who were opaque to the reader made this one a less than successful novel for me. It is science fiction and alternate history. In this world, science has proven that the Creationists were right. All life began 5800 years ago and all human had one set of common ancestors. Paul is an expert on bones. When he is called to a dig and discovers a set that don't fit into the accepted world view, all hell breaks loose. He is pursued and threatened and all those he goes to for help find themselves dead. There is also a billionaire who is playing God and doing his own secret genetic experiments including creating human-ape hybrids.

70. Taken by Erin Bowman (360 p.) -- Start to a new dystopian trilogy that has it all -- a dastardly villain, noble rebels, action, danger and adventure. Grey Weathersby climbs the wall that surrounds his city looking for answers to why all the 18 year old boys disappear on their birthdays, and finds answers he couldn't have imagined. Emma follows him and Bree is one of the rebel girls which leads to a realistic love triangle.

71. Furious by Jill Wolfson (326 p.) -- Three high school girls with well-justified anger issues are recruited by Ambrosia to be the modern recreation of the Furies and right wrongs. Ambrosia is eager for revenge on the descendant of her murderer. Meg is an ill-treated foster child who is picked on by the school's in-crowd. Her only friend is gay genius Raymond. She has a crush on Brendon who is one of the surfer dudes and who is the focus of Ambrosia's revenge. This is a story of how revenge can quickly get out of hand and the quest for justice can lead to bullying. It takes Meg's own sense of fairness and Raymond's unflinching friendship to save the day. Well-written, hard to put down, and engaging characters make this one a winner.

72. Stolen Magic by Stephanie Burgis (383 p.) -- Kat is traveling to Angeline's fiance's home for her long delayed wedding. She has to behave with utmost proprietary but it is hard for her. She also needs to search for some missing Guardian objects, deal with her nemesis Lady Fotherington, figure out who is stalking her and trying to kill her, help her brother Charles with his new romance, and determine who the mysterious Marquise de Valmont really is.

73. Soldier Dog by Sam Angus (247 p.) -- Stanley Ryder, age 14, runs away to join the army in WWI after his father drowns his dog. He wants to find his older brother. He is assigned to a unit in charge of messenger dogs and assigned a dog named Bones. The two train together and are sent to France and find themselves on the front lines where Bones dies heroically. Stanley wants to go home but is assigned another dog named Pistol who immediately bonds with him. Both are severely injured and separated. After many trials, all four - Stanley, his brother Tom, his Da, and the dog he thought was Pistol but was really the dog he thought his father drowned survive the war. This was a very good middle grade war story about a little known aspect of World War I.

74. Wicked Cravings by Suzanne Wright (431 p.) -- Jaime has an out-of-control inner wolf. Dante is a workaholic pack Beta. But they are attracted to each other and overcome a jealous ex-girlfriend and another woman who claims Dante is her mate before they can have their own relationship. The sex is graphic and borderline kinky in this one. The emotional scars each has are well-described. The characters are likable.

75. Sharp: A Mindspace Investigations Novel by Alex Hughes (352 p.) -- Adam has to deal with possible job cuts at the police department, rebuilding Cherabino's trust, and the murder of one of the students that he damaged which led to his being drummed out of the Guild. He also has to deal with a Guild investigator who needs to find out how much danger Adam poses to the Guild and a FBI investigation too. The crime quickly involves forbidden Tech and a crime boss who seems to have more power than the police.

76. The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd (420 p.) -- This book has a very Gothic atmosphere as young Juliet Moreau travels to the isolated island where her exiled father has continued his gruesome experiments on living animals in the hope of creating an intelligent, peace-loving being. Things don't work out as well as he would hope. This also includes a romantic triangle between Juliet and her childhood friend Montgomery who is working as the Doctor's assistant and shipwreck survivor Edward.

77. The Mystery Woman by Amanda Quick (357 p.) -- Beatrice Lockwood works for Flint & March. She has reinvented herself after her mentor in her life as a psychic was murdered by someone searching for her. Now Joshua Gage, former Crown agent, has been manipulated in to finding her for the man who wants her. While figuring out who is trying to abduct her and why, Josh and Beatrice fall in love. This is a great story complete with a Mad Scientist and a Russian assassin called the Bone Man.

78. Leonardo da Vinci (Giants of Science) by Kathleen Krull (123 p.) -- Fascinating descriptions of a fascinating man--the original Renaissance Man--Leonardo da Vinci. I think the descriptions paint a picture that middle schoolers can understand and learn from. The breadth of da Vinci's curiosity was amazing. From art to anatomy to hydraulics to optics to paleontology, it seems there was nothing that didn't interest him. The story of his notebooks and the way he wrote them and what happened to them is a wonderful mystery.

79. Isaac Newton (Giants of Science) by Kathleen Krull (126 p.) -- Krull makes Isaac Newton human and his discoveries understandable to someone who isn't a science geek. Krull shows readers Newton in all his genius and pettiness. Students will enjoy learning about his experiments using himself as his own guinea pig and will enjoy hearing about his arguments with other scientists. Newton's work with optics, light and gravity are explained as is his fascination with alchemy.

80. The Rules (Project Paper Doll) by Stacey Kade (416 p.) -- Science fiction story of a girl who is half human/half alien who escaped from the lab and scientist who created her but is in danger of being recaptured. When she falls in love with Zane Bradshaw, who has issues of his own including an abusive father who happens to be the chief of police and a mother who abandoned him, Ariane's low profile is ruined, bringing her to the attention of the scientist. Good story and clearly the first book in a trilogy.

81. One Plus One Equals Blue by MJ Auch (262 p.) -- Homeschooled Basil is a loner in his middle school. His synesthesia has made him a target for bullies. When Tenzie, a new girl who also has synesthesia, becomes his friend, he has to learn what having a friend means. Adding to the stress is the fact that the mother who abandoned him when he was five for a career in Hollywood is coming home and also pushing her way into his life. Basil sees through her pretty fast but it takes running away, seeing the real Carly, and being abandoned by her before Tenzie sees the light.

82. Battleship: A Daring Heiress, A Teenage Jockey, and America's Horse by Dorothy Ours (368 p.) -- Detail packed, well-researched nonfiction about Marion duPont Somerville Scott and her quest to have her horse Battleship win the Grand National at Aintree. Also spotlights the life of the teenage jockey Bruce Hobbs who rode the horse to victory. Gives lots of detail about the horse scene and life among the rich from the early 1900s to the 1930s. We get a touch of Hollywood too because Marion was married to actor Randolph Scott for a couple of years too.

83. Sketchy by Olivia Samms (238 p.) -- Bea, just out of rehab and starting her senior year at a new school, finds herself involved in tracking down a murderer/rapist. Bea has a new ability to draw what another person has seen. Cheerleader and future ivy league student Willa was raped and left to die but survived. She says that she can't identify her assailant. She can't admit that she is a drug/alcohol addict and was high when he raped her. When Bea's best friend and the one who introduced her to drugs is the next victim, she becomes even more determined to find and stop the killer. Meanwhile, she is dealing with trying to stay clean when her older dealer features into her investigation and regaining the trust of her parents. She goes to the police where Sergeant Dan Daniels comes to believe her but wants her to stay away from the case. Good mystery, interesting characters, and the start of a series.

84. Headed for Trouble by Suzanne Brockmann (368 p.) -- This collection of stories ranging in length from a couple of pages to multiple chapters give further glimpses into the lives of the characters in the Troubleshooters series. We got lots of chances to catch up with Sam and Alyssa, Jules and Robin, and other favorite characters too.

85. An Affair of Deceit by Jamie Michele (274 p.) -- Somewhat disappointing romantic suspense title. Chinese-American lawyer Abigail Mason is so stoic and emotionally opaque that I really couldn't connect with her as she learns that the father who abandoned her and her mother is still alive, a spymaster, and missing again. When CIA agent James Riley comes to see if she knew anything about her father being missing, she is swept into a part of her life she thought was over. She and James fall in love though she is very reluctant to do so. The plot has a huge number of coincidences that really strain belief.

86. Behind the Lies by Robin Perini (352 p.) -- Jenna is on the run with her small son Sam. She is fleeing the husband she just learned is an assassin. She runs into Zach Montgomery, B movie actor and undercover CIA agent, who is running from people who want to kill him too. When their enemies converge, Jenna and Zach have to survive. They fall in love along the way.

87. The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa (448 p.) -- Allie is forced to team up with Jackal when she tries to rescue her mentor Kanin from the evil Sarren. They return to New Covington where Sarren has unleashed Red Lung. Zeke is there too. He has come looking for Allie. Allie, along with Zeke and Kanin who have both been infected with Red Lung, have to find Sorren who might have a cure to save their lives. Great story!

88. To Wed in Scandal by Liana LeFey (294 p.) -- Sabrina's pig-headed determination not to marry for love almost ends tragically. When she meets childhood nemesis Henry, Lord Montgomery, and falls in love with him, she tries all sorts of other relationships to get over him. Most notably, she chooses Lord Fairford who has a secret life as a man who abuses and kills girls he buys from brothels. When she elopes with Fairford, Henry has to take off across England to rescue her.

89. Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger (307 p.) -- Cute story where the worldbuilding overwhelms the plot. Sophronia is a trial to her mother and is sent to finishing school. Neither Sophronia nor her mother knows that this finishing school trains assassins and spies. Sophronia fits right in, makes friends among her fellow students and the "sooties" who keep their floating school operating, and makes an enemy too of Monique de Pelouse. I think the plot concerned the recovery of a missing prototype that Monique had last but, with all the social details and steampunk inventions, the plot wasn't the most important part of this story. It does feature Carriger's trademark humor.

#87: I am not sure whether to pick that one up or not. I have enjoyed Carriger's other books though, so I will probably give it a shot at some point.

90. Twice Tempted by Jeaniene Frost (371 p.) -- Leila and Vlad need to work on their relationship in this story but an old girlfriend with a deadly agenda isn't making it easy. When Vlad offers to make Leila a member of his line rather than proposing, Leila is heartbroken and determined to leave him. However, leaving him puts him in the path of great danger. Vlad comes to her rescue, marries her, and makes her a vampire and, while they defeat this enemy, Vlad's oldest enemy is still out there. I want book 3!

91. The Rules for Disappearing bu Ashley Elston (320 p.) -- Meg Jones and her family are in the Witness Protection Program and have just been moved to Louisiana. This move has been hard on them -- her mother has turned to alcohol and her little sister has become clingy and withdrawn. Meg is determined not to get involved with anyone but Ethan Landry barges his way into her life and plans. Gradually, Meg regains her memory and realizes that she saw a guy named Sanchez murder a family friend and the boy she had a crush on. He let her live because she said she knew where the ledgers he killed to find were even though she didn't. Now that her memory has come back, she does remember where the ledgers are and is determined to find them to make it safe for her family. There is also a suspicious US Marshal named Agent Thomas who becomes her friend and pumps her for information at the same time. Great mystery that still leaves some questions at the end.

92. Cuts Through Bone by Alaric Hunt (320 p.) -- The trope of the hard-boiled detective is made modern by the addition of a young, female, Puerto Rican assistant and computers and cell phones in this murder mystery. Camille Bowman, a beautiful blond Columbia student and Manhattan heiress, is found dead, shot by a gun that belonged to her fiancé Greg Olsen, an Afghan war veteran. The detective Guthrie and his assistant Raquel Vasquez search from the confines of Columbia to the underworld of NYC in their search for clues and soon learn that the target was Olsen, not Bowman, and the motive has to do with his time in Afghanistan. Not much character development, too much description, and lots of loose threads detract from the story.

93. The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead (401 p.) -- Sydney and Adrian are working on their relationship with Sydney in complete denial about how much she loves him. I love Adrian for his love of Sydney, his loyalty, and his humor. A witch is target young, untrained magic users and Sydney and her mentor Ms. Terwilliger have to find and stop her. Sydney learns lots more magic and comes to terms with using it. Sydney's doubts about the Alchemists continue to grow. Meeting Marcus Finch, former Alchemist, makes her doubt her loyalty even more. Sydney has so much pressure on her in this story and comes out stronger and more sure of what she wants in her life.

Kathy - what happened to 93? Have a lovely Sunday.

94. Bare It All by Lori Foster (473 p.) -- Alice has gotten away from human traffickers and has made a new life for herself keeping alert and keeping to herself. Detective Reese Bareden crashes into her life and makes her reassess. And, when trouble comes looking for her again, Reese is there to love and protect her. Spicy love scenes and wonderful emotional passages follow the course of their love. Nice to see Logan, Pepper and Rowdy from the first book in the series again too.

95. The Caretaker by A. X. Ahmad (304 p.) -- Ranjit Singh, Sikh and disgraced Indian Army officer, gets into trouble when he gets involved with a grieving Senator's wife, stolen plans for a missile that both India and North Korea want, a corrupt Senator's aide, and a few local rednecks on Martha's Vineyard. Lots of action and angst as Singh tries to keep his wife and daughter from being deported by Homeland Security and stay alive too.

96. The Rising by Kelley Armstrong (406 p.) -- Maya and her crew are still on the run from the Cabal that created them. They united with the characters from the Darkest Powers trilogy and together hammer out a compromise with the Cabals. Maya also has to reassess her relationship with her best friend Daniel. Everyone else can see that he wants to be more than her best friend but Maya has convinced herself that they are only friends. Good conclusion to trilogy with all the loose threads wrapped up.

97. The Last Girl by Jane Casey (384 p.) -- Maeve Kerrigan and Josh Derwent are called to the scene of the murder of the wife and daughter of defense attorney Philip Kennford. They need to figure out if the murderer was after Kennford or the wife or the daughter. And no one, not Kennford or his surviving daughter, seems willing to give the police any help. Maeve also has to deal with her doubts that her boyfriend really wants a relationship. This story had tons of suspects including dissatisfied clients and Kennford's scorned lovers. It was well-written and entertaining.

98. The Girl with the Iron Touch by Kady Cross (384 p.) -- Third in series--features return of the old villain from earlier books who kidnaps Emily to transfer his brain into a new vessel. Meanwhile, he is haunting Griffin from the Aether. Both Griffin and Finley's and Emily and Sam's romances reach resolution in this story. There is wonderful world-building and great steampunk features in this story and this series.

99. SEAL of Honor by Tonya Burrows (352 p.) -- Nice romantic suspense title. Gabe Bristow is out of the SEALs because of an injury and at loose ends when he is approached to lead a team to rescue a wealthy American businessman kidnapped in Colombia. His team is new and composed of a variety of misfits. Complicating things even more is the sister of the kidnapped businessman who becomes Gabe's love interest. Lots of exciting scenes and lots of romantic ones too. Look forward to more adventures to get to know the rest of the team better.

100. Of Triton by Anna Banks (246 p.) -- Emma is just coming to terms with the idea that her mother is the lost Syrena princess when the man Nalia loved comes to find her. King Grom was to marry her but there was an accident and each thought the other lost. Emma's love is Grom's younger brother. He wants to reunite Nalia and Grom. However, politics is happening undersea and Jagen is trying to oust the Royals. Galen wants to mate with Emma even though she is a half-breed. Half breeds are not allowed to live usually. I love Emma's voice and ached for her choices. Great romance and very exciting too.

101. Dare You To by Katie McGarry (480 p.) -- Emotionally intense story of a girl from the wrong side of the tracks and a boy who seems to have everything finding that each other is what really matters. Beth Risk has been taking care of her alcoholic, drug-addicted mother and protecting her from her abusive boyfriend until she take the blame for something her mother did, is arrested, and is taken away by her Uncle Scott. Scott had left to pursue a baseball career and left Beth feeling abandoned. She hates living with him because she is so afraid of what will happen to her mother. Ryan is the "golden boy" - handsome, well-off and a star baseball player. But he faces constant pressure from his privately battling parents to be perfect. date the right girl, and follow his dad's dream of a Major League career. He certainly can't talk about his gay older brother since his father kicked him out and is pretending he doesn't exist. Beth and Ryan's relationship starts out badly because he was dared to get her phone number. Beth has major trust issues and the whole idea of being the object of a dare just feeds into her low self-esteem. It takes a lot of work before they can love and trust each other.

102. The Spanish Revenge by Allan Topol (402 p.) -- Unrealistic thriller with cardboard characters. Read more like a political piece about the growing threat that Muslims will out-breed Christians and take over the world than a thriller. Few likable characters.

103. Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris (338 p.) -- Satisfying conclusion to the long-running Sookie Stackhouse series finds Sookie with the right man for her. She is also pulling away from the supernatural world -- at least the vampire part of it -- by ending her relationship with Eric. The fae have also gone back home and sealed the portal. Many old favorite characters made an appearance in this one that sees Sookie framed for the murder of her former friend Arlene and sees her as the target of a large number of old enemies. I liked it.

104. Evidence of Life by Barbara Taylor Sissel (307 p.) -- Excellent, gripping story about a woman whose husband and daughter disappear and are presumed dead. The story follows Abby as she deals with grief - mainly denial and anger - and searching for answers to the whereabouts of her family despite knowing that those closest to her are keeping secrets from her that they don't think she is strong enough to handle.

105. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo (432 p.) -- Middle book in the Grisha Trilogy has Alina getting a second amplifier, being captured by and escaping the Darkling, and meeting a new ally in her fight to defeat the Darkling and save Ravka. Sturmhond, aka Prince Nikolai, is a great character who is quick with a quip, an accomplished actor, and a notable liar. He is also a Ravkan patriot who wants to take the throne from his incompetent older brother and father. Mal and Alina's relationship is tested as she grows in power and Mal is pushed to the side.

106. Aberration by Lisa Regan (414 p.0 -- Told from the viewpoint of FBI Agent Kassidy Bishop and the serial killer with multiple personalities who is killing people who did Kassidy wrong, this thriller is suspenseful and twisty. Both main characters are well-drawn and sympathetic characters. While I hated the crimes the killer committed, I felt sorry for the boy who had been so abused as a child.

107. Mortal Fire by Elizabeth Knox (436 p.) -- Canny Mochrie, math genius and loner, travels to an isolated valley with her stepbrother and his girlfriend, discovers a magic that she has actually known all her life, and falls in love with a boy who has been imprisoned unchanging for more than 30 years. Complex and difficult read which demands a persistent reader.

108. The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die by April Henry (213 p.) -- This exciting story begins with the heroine regaining consciousness after being beaten and tortured and hearing her abductors decide to kill her. The tension just ramps up from there. Cady is on the run with no memory and not knowing why someone wants to kill her and not knowing who she can trust. She is befriended by Ty who waits on her at McDonald's and sees that she need help. Together, they have to unravel the plot and save the day. Very well-written. I enjoyed the first person narration.

109. Wolf With Benefits by Shelly Laurentston (421 p.) -- Toni Jean-Louis Parker has lots of experience handling difficult people. After all, she has been riding herd on her ten younger brothers and sisters, who are all prodigies of one sort or another, for years. But, since she is part of a close jackal family, this is what she does. She meets Ricky Lee Reed, a laid back Southern wolf, because they have many acquaintances in common. They get involved in various situations from the comical - getting a bear shifter who is afraid to fly into an airplane - to the dangerous - the kidnapping of Toni's seven-year-old math genius brother. The story is filled with quirky characters and funny dialog. Lots of characters from earlier books in the series are in this book too.

110. The Pirate's Wish by Cassandra Rose Clark (336 p.) -- Naji and Ananna's adventures continue as they try to do three impossible things to break the curse that binds them together. While battling creatures from the Mists and pirates, they fall in love. Great characters and lots of adventure.

111. Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts (484 p.) -- Eli has been accused of killing his soon-to-be ex-wife but, despite harassment from the police detective on the case, he isn't charged except in the court of public opinion. He comes home to Whiskey Beach to live in Bluff House, his family home, and start a new career as a writer. Abra Walsh is his part-time housekeeper and also yoga teacher, massage therapist, and barmaid. She is still recovering from her escape from an abusive boyfriend. Together they heal and fall in love while trying to find out who killed his wife, hurt his grandmother, and is digging for buried treasure in his basement.

113. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson (372 p.) -- Rory comes from Louisiana to London to attend boarding school just as a murderer is recreating the Jack the Ripper murders of 1888. A near death experience gives her the ability to see ghosts and gets her involved with a secret arm of the police who deal with ghosts and who might be the only ones to stop these new killings.