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I'll try to split this between the two stories, but they flow together so seamlessly that I didn't realize I'd started the second book until I noticed I was reading another chapter 5.
In the first book, [House of Dark Shadows:], we are introduced to the King family, mom, dad, little sister Toria, middle son David, and oldest son Xander (Alexander). They are on the way to Pinedale, where dad has just gotten a new job as principle in a school there. None of the kids are overly thrilled about the move...but kids are rarely happy about leaving everything they know behind. They move into an old run down house on the outskirts of town...and this is where things get interesting.
The house seems to play games with sight and sounds. You'll hear someone talking upstairs only to find out they're in the room right next to you. Not only that...there is a hallway lined with doors. Doors that take you to another place and time.
I loved all the kids....wasn't too fond of the parents. The story moves quickly and keeps you interested. You follow Xander and David primarily, and it's wonderful to see the world through the eyes of children again. Everything seems fresh and new, even if I know it really isn't. The story hooks you very early on and drags you along happily through all the adventures.
Warning: There may be very minor spoilers since this is about the second in the series
In the second book, [Watcher in the Wood:], the family is dealing with the disappearance of their mother, the strange appearance of a man intent on getting them out of the house by any means necessary, and a meadow that seems to take all their cares away for awhile. Secrets are revealed and feelings are hurt. I wonder if these will cause permanent damage to relationships later on, so far it's an open door to go either way.
Xander, David, Toria, and their father are all eager to jump in and help find their mother, who has disappeared through one of the portals. However, they all have their own idea of how it should be done sparking arguements, more lies, more secrets, and a few near death experiences. The pace of the story continues in a way that I could hardly tell that one book and ended and the next had started.
Two new characters are also introduced. The creepy man that is bound and determined to get the Kings out of the house, and a mysterious old man that is desperate to find a way to get there. I have the third in my cabinet waiting for me, and I just may need to move it forward in my reading list a little. They leave you with quite a cliff hanger!
4/5 for both.
In the first book, [House of Dark Shadows:], we are introduced to the King family, mom, dad, little sister Toria, middle son David, and oldest son Xander (Alexander). They are on the way to Pinedale, where dad has just gotten a new job as principle in a school there. None of the kids are overly thrilled about the move...but kids are rarely happy about leaving everything they know behind. They move into an old run down house on the outskirts of town...and this is where things get interesting.
The house seems to play games with sight and sounds. You'll hear someone talking upstairs only to find out they're in the room right next to you. Not only that...there is a hallway lined with doors. Doors that take you to another place and time.
I loved all the kids....wasn't too fond of the parents. The story moves quickly and keeps you interested. You follow Xander and David primarily, and it's wonderful to see the world through the eyes of children again. Everything seems fresh and new, even if I know it really isn't. The story hooks you very early on and drags you along happily through all the adventures.
Warning: There may be very minor spoilers since this is about the second in the series
In the second book, [Watcher in the Wood:], the family is dealing with the disappearance of their mother, the strange appearance of a man intent on getting them out of the house by any means necessary, and a meadow that seems to take all their cares away for awhile. Secrets are revealed and feelings are hurt. I wonder if these will cause permanent damage to relationships later on, so far it's an open door to go either way.
Xander, David, Toria, and their father are all eager to jump in and help find their mother, who has disappeared through one of the portals. However, they all have their own idea of how it should be done sparking arguements, more lies, more secrets, and a few near death experiences. The pace of the story continues in a way that I could hardly tell that one book and ended and the next had started.
Two new characters are also introduced. The creepy man that is bound and determined to get the Kings out of the house, and a mysterious old man that is desperate to find a way to get there. I have the third in my cabinet waiting for me, and I just may need to move it forward in my reading list a little. They leave you with quite a cliff hanger!
4/5 for both.
I just couldn't finish this book. I made it up to just after page 100 and had to put it down. The only person I was able to enjoy was the crazy guy. I'll set it aside for now and perhaps take it up again later for another shot.
The third and final book of the Legends trilogy finishes off the series with quite the epic conclusion. Raistlin and his brother Caraman, Tasslehoff, and Lady Crysania have split ways. Raistlin and Lady Crysania enter the abyss to do battle with the dark queen, Takhisis. Meanwhile Caramon and Tasslehoff are thrust forward in time to bear witness to the effects of Raistlin and Crysania's actions. Not particularly liking what they see, they rush back to the present to try and change the future and save the world they love.
This volume is a fast paced epic conclusion that keeps you turning pages up until the very end. All four are faced with decisions that, if made incorrect, could lead to the end of the world. The end shows us that not everything is at it seems, and that people will suprise up until the very last. The only way for a hero to save this day is make an ultimate sacrifice for eternity. Who will be the one willing to give everything they have and could have to stop the end of time?
I am continuely amazed at the characters in these books. They come to life in a way that is seen so rarely. They become your friends and family. You cheer when they succeed and would do anything to stop them from making the mistakes they do. Their development is so seamless and natural that I am continually surprised to find they are not real. As this part of their story ends, we look forward with what is rest of the world to better days, and grieve for those that were lost along the way.
5/5
This volume is a fast paced epic conclusion that keeps you turning pages up until the very end. All four are faced with decisions that, if made incorrect, could lead to the end of the world. The end shows us that not everything is at it seems, and that people will suprise up until the very last. The only way for a hero to save this day is make an ultimate sacrifice for eternity. Who will be the one willing to give everything they have and could have to stop the end of time?
I am continuely amazed at the characters in these books. They come to life in a way that is seen so rarely. They become your friends and family. You cheer when they succeed and would do anything to stop them from making the mistakes they do. Their development is so seamless and natural that I am continually surprised to find they are not real. As this part of their story ends, we look forward with what is rest of the world to better days, and grieve for those that were lost along the way.
5/5
In interesting look at a spectacular fossil found at a dig site in Germany called the Messel Pit. The fossil is believed to be one of the "missing links" in the evolution of humans. While it would have been nice to hear more in the book about the fossil itself, the book did give a wonderful history of a period in ancient history called the Eocene. It explored several different theories of evolution branches that could have potentially lead to humans.
Overall a very informative book. My only complaint was the lack of more information on the fossil, Ida, herself.
3.5/5
Overall a very informative book. My only complaint was the lack of more information on the fossil, Ida, herself.
3.5/5
Derek Fontaine is running from his past and his family. He is going to claim the ranch in Texas that was given to him by his recently deceased uncle. He does not expect an overly warm welcome from the ranch hands, but when he stumbles into cattle rustlers and murder, he's definately in for more than he bargained for.
One of the unexpected things on Derek's new ranch is Amber. His uncle's housekeeper who has stayed on waiting for Derek to arrive hoping that he will allow her to stay. Amber is also running from her past and the nearby town that has shunned her unjustly.
As Derek struggles to bring the ranch back into operation, he develops a deep respect for Amber's hard work and dedication to his Uncle and the ranch. However, will his assumptions about her past tear them apart or bring them back together?
3/5
One of the unexpected things on Derek's new ranch is Amber. His uncle's housekeeper who has stayed on waiting for Derek to arrive hoping that he will allow her to stay. Amber is also running from her past and the nearby town that has shunned her unjustly.
As Derek struggles to bring the ranch back into operation, he develops a deep respect for Amber's hard work and dedication to his Uncle and the ranch. However, will his assumptions about her past tear them apart or bring them back together?
3/5
I picked this up as my first book on my new Nook ereader because I somehow got my hands on book 12 in this series and wanted to at least read the first one before reading number twelve. I found it for waaaay to much money online or 2.99 in electronic format...so electronic it was!
Twilight Phantasies is the story of a very special woman named Tamara. Tamara works for a top secret government agency that tracks and studies people with "unusual" abilities. He guardian also works for this agency tracking a vampire named Eric Marquand. Tamara's guardian is quite fanatic in his belief that all vampire's are inherently evil and should be destroyed or made weak so he can study them.
Tamara decides to go ice skating in the middle of the night, she can no longer sleep, and meets the very same man (vampire) that her guardian has been tracking and attempting to capture this whole time. She instantly feels the connection...it's as if their minds were somehow joined.
Needless to say, when her guardian finds out, trouble arises...in many many forms. I throughly enjoyed the story and the characters. The small side plots and characters only brought the main ones to life even more. I've purchased the next couple in the series and I hope they are just as good.
3.5/5
Twilight Phantasies is the story of a very special woman named Tamara. Tamara works for a top secret government agency that tracks and studies people with "unusual" abilities. He guardian also works for this agency tracking a vampire named Eric Marquand. Tamara's guardian is quite fanatic in his belief that all vampire's are inherently evil and should be destroyed or made weak so he can study them.
Tamara decides to go ice skating in the middle of the night, she can no longer sleep, and meets the very same man (vampire) that her guardian has been tracking and attempting to capture this whole time. She instantly feels the connection...it's as if their minds were somehow joined.
Needless to say, when her guardian finds out, trouble arises...in many many forms. I throughly enjoyed the story and the characters. The small side plots and characters only brought the main ones to life even more. I've purchased the next couple in the series and I hope they are just as good.
3.5/5
This is a simple and very real story of a group of friends that decide to get together to read the complete books of Jane Austen. As we listen to their tales and their thoughts on the books, we fall into their lives. Problems that sound so simple become complex as we see them through the people living them.
Readers of any sort will be able to relate to this group of readers. I did find some of what happened to be a bit predictable, but it was in a comfortable sort of way. I've always enjoyed books that about life, and I think this one will be read for years to come.
On a side note, I've ordered the movie from NetFlix to see how well they did it.
4/5 stars
Readers of any sort will be able to relate to this group of readers. I did find some of what happened to be a bit predictable, but it was in a comfortable sort of way. I've always enjoyed books that about life, and I think this one will be read for years to come.
On a side note, I've ordered the movie from NetFlix to see how well they did it.
4/5 stars
I read this book awhile ago, shortly after it was released in hardcover, and decided to read it again before I picked up the rest of the series. In Wicked, we read about the life of Elphaba, eventually known as the wicked witch of the west. We visit the shocking circumstances of her birth - the first green child ever seen. We follow her as she grows up, a fairly normal childhood, and then leaves for school. While at school she meets the rest of our cast of characters and becomes very politically active. Here is where the book really becomes interesting so I won't say too much more and risk giving too much away.
I actually loved the young Elphaba and enjoyed seeing her grow up and learn. Maguire shows us a side of her story that does not stray from the facts of the original Wizard of Oz, but gives us an alternate viewpoint where evil may not really be so evil. Elphaba is just like any other person in the land of Oz, but gets a bad reputation by standing up to the Wizard and the things he does that she feels are wrong.
Wicked is a quick read with enjoyable characters throughout. While the story is familiar, it is told in a way that makes it seem brand new. I hope to start Son of a Witch soon.
4/5
I actually loved the young Elphaba and enjoyed seeing her grow up and learn. Maguire shows us a side of her story that does not stray from the facts of the original Wizard of Oz, but gives us an alternate viewpoint where evil may not really be so evil. Elphaba is just like any other person in the land of Oz, but gets a bad reputation by standing up to the Wizard and the things he does that she feels are wrong.
Wicked is a quick read with enjoyable characters throughout. While the story is familiar, it is told in a way that makes it seem brand new. I hope to start Son of a Witch soon.
4/5
Courtney is having a bad couple months. She finds her fiance is a flirt and possible more and her best friend was covering for him. She decided to take solace in some nice hard liquor and a Jane Austen novel. The next morning she wakes to find herself no longer Courtney living in LA, but Jane Mansfield living in England...a long time ago.
As Courtney/Jane struggle to figure out what happened to send her into another time, place, and body...she comes to learn that not everyone is as they seem and first impressions don't usually last.
The story of Courtney as Jane is a wonderful adventure into the world of Jane Austen, full of romance, mistaken intentions, and best friends. The story ends in a somewhat traditional Austen fashion, but is even more wonderful because of it.
4/5
As Courtney/Jane struggle to figure out what happened to send her into another time, place, and body...she comes to learn that not everyone is as they seem and first impressions don't usually last.
The story of Courtney as Jane is a wonderful adventure into the world of Jane Austen, full of romance, mistaken intentions, and best friends. The story ends in a somewhat traditional Austen fashion, but is even more wonderful because of it.
4/5
Annie has recently found herself owner of her late uncle's mystery bookstore named Death on Demand. Every Sunday she has a group of mystery writers in as a group to discuss whatever it is mystery writers talk about. This Sunday goes a little different than past ones. One of the writers, Elliot, is speaking on all the dirt he's managed to dig up on all the other group members. But just as Elliot gets started something happens, he ends up dead, and Annie end up the prime suspect.
As Annie and her friend Max rush around the island to find clues to clear her name, several more end up dead. This is where I started losing interest. I have read further books into the series, and enjoyed them. I just could not get into anyone here and the solution seemed somewhat thrown together at the last second. It just wasn't quite my cup of tea.
2.5/3
As Annie and her friend Max rush around the island to find clues to clear her name, several more end up dead. This is where I started losing interest. I have read further books into the series, and enjoyed them. I just could not get into anyone here and the solution seemed somewhat thrown together at the last second. It just wasn't quite my cup of tea.
2.5/3