Please Consider...Giving and Receiving

Last year, TalyaWren - a zine project - produced its first zine as a thank you to those who contributed to a fundraising effort. This year, TalyaWren is focusing its efforts towards raising funds for Door to Grace.

From Talyawren: An estimated 100,000 U.S. children are commercially exploited sexually each year. The average age for children (female and male) entering into prostitution and pornography is 12-14, plenty are younger. Sex trafficking is no respecter of home-life, geographic location, socio-economic status, gender, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.

Door To Grace is a Portland, Oregon-based movement whose mission is to “restore life to rescued children.” Please visit their site—DoorToGrace.org—for further literature on what compels them and how they are responding to the needs of child survivors, like providing a holistic approach to their care.

TalyaWren: A Zine Project has created a humble but wonderful zine-sized thank-you card for those who have helped contributed to the zine artistically and/or monetarily. TalyaWren would love to share a zine with those who are moved to help them help Door To Grace (w/ $10+) donations. See the “raising funds” page on their site—talyawren.wordpress.com—for how you can give and receive. You may also visit the site for further information on the zine project and Door To Grace.

Please consider contribtuing a few of your dollars to a worthy organization, Door to Grace via TalyaWren. Not only will you be helping a worthy cause, you will also be thanked in a fabulous way via a zine-sized thank you card. I know, for a fact, that TalyaWren produces a fabulous zine.

For further information, please read dear friends and neighbors

To donate, head on over to TalyaWren, Raising Funds.

Thank you.

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And, if you be so kind, please spread the word about these fundraising efforts on behalf of TalyaWren.

L at Omphaloskepsis has announced an incentive for spreading the word - a giveaway. For more information as to how you can be entered please visit TalyaWren - psst... The deadline is June 1, 2012

Neverwhere Group Read - Part 2

Fan art by Pika- la- Cynique

“The only advice I can give you is what you're telling yourself. Only, maybe you're too scared to listen.”

Back Cover: Richard Mayhew is a plain man with a good heart - and an ordinary life that is changed forever on a day he stops to help a girl he finds bleeding on a London sidewalk. From that moment forward he is propelled into a world he never dreamed existed - a dark subculture flourishing in abandoned subway stations and sewer tunnels below the city - a world far stranger and more dangerous than the only one he has ever known.


Welcome to week two of the Neverwhere Group Read. This week's reading section was a very quick read. I could not believe the pace - it zipped by with great entertainment. I am very much enjoying the story; quirky plots and characters seem to agree with me especially when written with wit. I do believe, Gaiman has been gifted with the ability to tell bizarre stories.

For more insights to the questions asked, check out Stainless Steel Droppings - Neverwhere Discussion, part 2.

Warning! SPOILERS are ahead.

Bigger Warning! My answers are not too I depth. Sorry. I am tired, and have no desire to plunge deeper into my brain for more thoughtful and/or analytical responses. I am rather simple, when it comes to reading, and my answers reflect this trait of mine. I either like it or I don't. One reason of many as to why I like group reads - makes me purposefully think about why I am liking or not liking a story.


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1. Chapter 6 begins with Richard chanting the mantra, "I want to go home". How do you feel about Richard and his reactions at this point to the unexpected adventure he finds himself on?


I don't blame him. I would want to go home too. What a freaky out- of- this world experience he has encountered. And what's more, he is being told he cannot go back home. I feel sorry for the guy. His life in London Above is very lame, but yet a life that is grounded in reality. His life in London Below is far from "reality" and his footing is slipping. I have hope for Richard. Hope that his experience in London Below will afford him a better life Above - that he will loose his blase attitude approach towards life.




2. The Marquis de Carabas was even more mysterious and cagey during the first part of this week's reading. What were your reactions to him/thoughts about him as you followed his activities?

At first, I thought it was par for course with him, and then at one point - when he met up with Croup and Vandemar - I thought he definitely was not to be trusted. For a moment, I thought he was their boss. By end of this reading section, I was feeling a bit sorry for him, and also a bit impressed. He is trying to protect Door, in his own way. He is trying to keep good on an oath he has mad. I do believe he made a deal - a oath - with Door's father. Now, at this current point in reading, I do wonder how his character will play out. I cannot imagine he is done and the story will move on without him. He is too important by way of adding eccentric interest. His cunning and honorable ways are entertaining.




3. How did you feel about the Ordeal of the Key?

This is one of the more interesting parts of the book to me. I like that they each had a role to fulfill. I do like that Richard finally needed to do something rather than just tagging along. The ordeal that Richard faced was wild. A crazy hallucination trip,it seems. A mind tugging and ever filling of doubt journey. I was duped into almost thinking that maybe this story is just Richard's psychotic episode. Part of me would not be surprised to find out in the end that it was. Although, I do hope it plays out differently than that.

What intrigued me most, Richard was about to cave into suicide when the bead from Anaesthesia pulled him back and gave him strength. A person passes through another's life, leaves an unseemingly insignificant imprint, and yet that imprint could have powerful impact in the future. We all have potential of effecting another person's life for the good without us even knowing so. Now, that Richard is back with Hunter and Door, how will he be effected from this experience? I wonder. I do hope the change will be positive.




4. This section of the book is filled with moments. Small, sometimes quite significant, moments that pass within a few pages but stick with you. What are one or two of these that you haven't discussed yet that stood out to you, or that you particularly enjoyed.

The Angel Islington scene left a surreal impression. The door they enter through, the Angel himself, and the wine - all surreal. I am curious if Angel Islington will feel a bit more concrete once he needs to follow through on his promises. In some ways, it seemed too easy that Door and Richard found their way to Islington.

The other scene that has made the most impression was when Marquis de Carabas met up with Croup and Vandemar. It took guts on his part to seek out those two thugs. The scene was entertaining as I tried to sort out what was happening and then marvel at Carabas' bravado, and then hope he has not met his demise. His wit attracts and holds my attention.


“I have always felt that violence was the last refuge of the incompetent, and empty threats the last sanctuary of the terminally inept.”. p. 184

5. Any other things/ideas that you want to talk about from this section of the book?

I have no other thoughts at this time, I am just purely enjoying the crazy ride. One thing though, last week, I mentioned that Carabas reminded me of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. This week, that thought was made more solid. I am liking that character more and more. So far, he seems to be the one with most dimensions.

A rather bizarre journey we are on. I am very curious how it will end up - a dream? reality?

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Last week was a busy week. I apologize for my lack of discussion participation. I thank all those who made their way here to Polishing Mud Balls and took the time to comment - I enjoyed them all. I do plan to discuss this week. I have great hopes to read everyone else's posts that are linked up and at the very least visiting those who have visited me.

 

 

Neverwhere Group Read - Part 1

“Young man," he said, "understand this: there are two Londons. There's London Above―that's where you lived―and then there's London Below―the Underside―inhabited by the people who fell through the cracks in the world. Now you're one of them. Good night.”

Back Cover: Richard Mayhew is a plain man with a good heart - and an ordinary life that is changed forever on a day he stops to help a girl he finds bleeding on a London sidewalk. From that moment forward he is propelled into a world he never dreamed existed - a dark subculture flourishing in abandoned subway stations and sewer tunnels below the city - a world far stranger and more dangerous than the only one he has ever known.



Neil Gaiman intrigues me. His writing is not neatly packaged, but so very entertaining. The worlds he builds are crazy unique, and seem to take me a bit to get into, but in a fun way not a dragged down way. I aim to read all of Gaiman's books so when I saw Carl announce the Neverwhere Read Along, I knew I had to jump on the reading experience.

For more insights to the questions asked, check out Stainless Steel Droppings - Neverwhere Discussion, part 1.

Do know, I doubt I have spoilers contained in my answers for this week, but I do not guarantee.


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1. What do you think of our two villains thus far, Messrs, Croup and Vandemar?

Thugs. Absolute thugs who are ruthless and not human, or at least I don think they are. What they exactly are, I am not certain. Creatures who are thugs. I found them to be quite gross, revolting, and deathly intimidating. How Richard has escaped their murderous ways, I don't know, except that then we would not have a story.



2. Thus far we've had a small taste of London Below and of the people who inhabit it. What do you think of this world, this space that lies within or somewhat overlaps the space the "real world" occupies?

Bizarre. Reading the first chapters of this book has brought my mind into the land of bizarre. Also, a bit of confusion too. It took me a bit to get into the flow of the two worlds, but I have the flow now - or so I hope.

So, London Below, it seems like they are living in a different time period. Is this so? Or is it just their world structure is so vastly different with magical abilities that it seems to be a different time period but it is not?



3. What ideas or themes are you seeing in these first 5 chapters of Neverwhere? Are there any that you are particularly drawn to?

The story, so far, has such a quality of bizarre and thuggish aspects that I have not really thought about themes and nor have any popped out at me. It shall be interesting to see what everyone else has to say for this question.




4. We've met a number of secondary characters in the novel, who has grabbed your attention and why?

Marquis de Carabas - When I think of him the Cheshire Cat comes to mind, almost immediately. I think it is due to Carabas's baragaining style coupled with the bizarre feeling of the story along with how he is trying to lead Door around. *shrug*. I don't trust him much though, something is up. Why is he so intent on finding out who murdered Door's family? Maybe he honestly wants to know but I think there is an ulterior motive.

Hunter - yep, she has most definitely grabbed my attention right from the start of crossing the bridge at night and then most definitely when she requested to be Door's bodyguard. Her mysterious entry into Richards life, seemingly out of nowhere is what sparked my interest along the fact that she seemed to be guiding Rochard to his location caught. Then, she shows herself to be quite the intimating female and I am very intrigued. I am curious how her character will play out in the story.




5. As you consider the Floating Market, what kind of things does your imagination conjure up? What would you hope to find, or what would you be looking for, at the Market?

Floating Market brought dirt, and grittiness to mind. Clean and unclean people. Lots of scents - varying, known and unknown. My mind conjures up the markets that I saw in Israel - the Arab markets, busy with lots of haggling. One could get lost amongst the crowd, and the strangeness of it all was a bit overwhelming. That is how I vision the Floating Market; strange, overwhelming, many foreign scents, noisy,along with the addition of street roughness, and behind the door trading.





6. If you haven't already answered it in the questions above, what are your overall impressions of the book to this point?

So far, I am really liking this book. Although, my mind has not been able to completely intake the bizarreness. Also, due to the bizarreness, I have had to just go with the flow and not get too worried about having the details all in order. I felt much like I was going along on a ride down Alice's hole in Alice in Wonderland. The movie, starring Johnny Depp, came to mind frequently, albeit, Alice seems a bit more tame in the brute department.


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I am reading the hardcover edition of Neverwhere. I have noticed, I did not jot down any quotes that stood out. A shame because I like to note quotes. Hmmm....maybe I have become too use to the ease of the "highlight" function in my ereader. Mostly though, I was too involved in the story to take notes - the pace was quick, and my energies were focused on trying to stay away from complete confusion. Oh, let me be clear, the confusion was not a bad confusion, frustrating it was not.










 

Photo A Day : May...Days 7 - 19

This challenge is proving to be good for me. Several days I would not have picked up my camera if not for this challenge, a good motivational tool.

Photo A Day is brought to us by Fat Mum Slim, every month she gives us a list of daily prompts- fun!

For more details, make sure to check out May Photo A Day List.

My plan - to post photos taken once a week here on my blog. I may not accomplish everyday due to work (12 hour shifts) or life (forgot), but I do hope to only miss 2 days max per week. Not only will I post here, I will also post my photos to my Flickr account and shared in the Photo a day group.

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Day 7 : someone who inspires you

Elizabeth inspires me with her cooking; creative, daring, and good.

Day 8 : a smell you adore

Day 9 : something you do everyday

Day 10 : a favorite word

- a good word, Life.

- my favorites - fantastic, excellent - were too long

Day 11 : kitchen

Day 12 : something that makes you happy

- took these photos on Day 13. Makes me happy when the girls do something special for me. Elizabeth made the cake, Elliana created the poster.

Day 14 : grass

Day 16 : what you're reading

Day 18 : something you made

- Grace, I made, and then birthed on May 31, 2006

- quilted blanket I made from wraps I used to carry Grace, made in 2008

Day 19 : a favorite place

- took photo on Day 18. Caribou Coffee is a favorite place of mine.

I do love coffee.

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A few miscellaneous photos of Elizabeth, dressed up for her 8th grade graduation dance.

Get a load of her shoes. Pretty they are, but wow...the heels.

I could not walk in these - Elizabeth managed nicely. Do note, she bought these shoes when shopping with friends - if with me, I would have firmly vetoed.

She had fun, and loved her shoes.

If I say so myself, Elizabeth is beautiful. She did a nice job choosing her dress - lovely and the price was fantastic at $15. She had great fun with her friends at the dance and afterwards at TGI Fridays. A late night, for her and for us as we chauffeured the group of 5 girls. We did not arrive home until shortly after midnight. I do not remember having an 8th grade graduation dance night such as hers, do you?

Friends

 

An Impartial Witness by Charles Todd

An Impartial Witness

A Bess Crawford Mystery, book two

by Charles Todd

copyright: 2011

publisher: HarperCollins

format: hardcover

pages: 344

source: library

Finished reading: March 18, 2012

Read for...Bess Crawford read along, for which I have not kept with the timeline.

Back Cover: Tending to the soldiers in the trenches of France during the First World War, battlefield nurse Bess Crawford can’t help but notice the photo of a young pilot’s wife every time she tends to him. But then at the railway station, in a mob of troops leaving for the front, Bess glimpses her familiar face. Back in France, Bess sees a newspaper with the woman’s face on the front page. She’d been murdered—the very day Bess saw her. Bess is soon on the search for a devious and very dangerous killer—a search that will put her own life in jeopardy.

First Sentence:

As my train pulled into London, I looked out at the early summer rain and was glad to see the dreary day had followed me from Hampshire.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed reading the first book, A Duty to the Dead, and enjoyed reading this book even more. Bess Crawford continued to be a character that I greatly like - her independance, positive character, intelligence, and demeanor. I find her to be highly likeable. Interesting secondary characters add to the story - I am keen on Simon and would like to see more of him as the series continues.

The mystery was a bit more involved this time around. Actually, I found myself thinking that the turn- of- events and Bess's ability to sort out details to be more believable. The storyline, while with faults, does smoothly move along, and does maintain curiosity. For some, the story works out a bit too readily and easily for Bess. For me, it works well. I am not looking for grit, and am quite alright with the ease for which Bess finds herself in situations. The mystery works itself out, and I am left in the dark until the end. Well, not absolutely in the dark, but I don't know the "whodunit" with certainty.

Bottom Line: Bess Crawford mysteries are simply and utterly enjoyable, and I am greatly liking them. Perfect are these stories? No. Entertaining? Definitely so. I do believe I have found myself another series to love.

 

{My Overall Thoughts and more} Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

I know what will happen if I make the wrong choice. I must be strong; I must not take the power for myself. For I have seen what will happen if I do.


Mistborn: The Final Empire, book one
by Brandon Sanderson
copyright: 2006
publisher: Tor
format: e- book
pages: 571
source: own
Finished reading: May 2, 2012

Read for... Mistborn: The Final Empire Group Read hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings

Goodreads Descritption:For a thousand years the ash fell and no flowers bloomed. For a thousand years the Skaa slaved in misery and lived in fear. For a thousand years the Lord Ruler, the "Sliver of Infinity," reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror, divinely invincible. Then, when hope was so long lost that not even its memory remained, a terribly scarred, heart-broken half-Skaa rediscovered it in the depths of the Lord Ruler's most hellish prison. Kelsier "snapped" and found in himself the powers of a Mistborn. A brilliant thief and natural leader, he turned his talents to the ultimate caper, with the Lord Ruler himself as the mark.
Kelsier recruited the underworld's elite, the smartest and most trustworthy allomancers, each of whom shares one of his many powers, and all of whom relish a high-stakes challenge. Only then does he reveal his ultimate dream, not just the greatest heist in history, but the downfall of the divine despot. But even with the best criminal crew ever assembled, Kel's plan looks more like the ultimate long shot, until luck brings a ragged girl named Vin into his life. Like him, she's a half-Skaa orphan, but she's lived a much harsher life. Vin has learned to expect betrayal from everyone she meets, and gotten it. She will have to learn to trust, if Kel is to help her master powers of which she never dreamed.


First Sentence :
Sometimes, I worry that I'm not the hero everyone thinks I am.


My Thoughts: As I come away from reading another book penned by Brandon Sanderson, one thought is firmly planted in my mind .... The man knows how to craft a story! Sanderson has a fabulous gift for storytelling - the characters are compelling, the magical system is incredibly intriguing, the plot moves with a smooth and fantastic pace, the world- building not once bores. Engaged, I was. Yes, besides the prologue, the beginning was a bit slow for me, but not once did I think of setting this book aside - the intrigue was completely there.

What I really liked - Kelsier and Vin, those two characters grabbed my attention. I liked Kelsier's take charge attitude and confidence. At times, he seemed over- confident which worried me, but let tell you, by end of book, I fully understood his confidence. He blew me away. Vin came seemingly from nothing to embracing her Mistborn gift. She showed teenage vulnerability, but also showed ability for maturity. I have great hopes for this character throughout the series. The secondary characters (if you want to call them that) complemented the story fantastically. The plot...ummm...wow. I liked the plot a whole lot. It had a gritty thieving feeling yet also embraced noble feeling without forgoing the grit. The trajectory of the story took me to places that I did not predict. I was stunned, I was shocked, I suspended belief - sometimes - and felt belief most times. I left Mistborn with a grasp on the society/political structure, the way of life for Skaa and noble. Although, I must say, I am now so very curious to where that political structure is headed - things are set to happen. The magic system, must not forget this fabulous fantasy element. Sanderson does a great job revealing the workings of Allomancy. For me, magical systems are intriguing but I usually do not find myself fully absorbed by them. Allomancy has absorbed me - I find it fascinating and while at times I struggled to keep up with the action of a Mistborn, I never felt truly confused - intrigued and a wow feeling ( and some suspension of belief) maintained me in moments of confusion.

Bottom line: I absolutely, hands down, enjoyed this book completely. I don't have any complaints. It was fantastical storytelling that really kept me engaged - never was I allowed to become set in predictable thinking. I am very much looking forward to reading the next book in the series.


Mistborn Group Read Discusion:

Welcome to the conclusion of the Mistborn Group Read discussion. Hard to believe, but we are done! I am glad that I was able to join in on the discussions even if my presence was minimal. It was great fun speculating!

The following questions and answers contain SPOILERS. This has been your warning. Do not proceed further unless you have read this book or care less about reading SPOILERS.

You have been warned!

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1. So, what do you think of Kelsier's plan now? Or his 'plan within a plan'? How do you feel the late introduction of the kandra and how it fit into Kelsier's plan?

I still feel blown away, and in disbelief. I also feel a sense of respect for him. Yes, it was a suicide mission, in a sense. In some ways, I wonder if he felt such great sorrow and emptiness that this plan suited his selfish need to escape the loneliness and pain while still inflicting revenge. But, mostly though, I am awed and feel respect for his sacrifice because regardless of any selfish reasons, he did set it up in a way to be most effective and helpful for others. The finality does disturb me. And, if I am feeling loss, I wonder how the characters will ultimately deal with their loss of Kelsier.
The late introduction of the kandra had me thinking... "Kudos to Sanderson. Kudos! Simply fantastic." Yet again, and again, Sanderson rocks my comfort zone of thinking that I have a clue of what will happen. The kandra made my mind spin a bit while trying to figure his (it's) role. And then, again...Kelsier's planning was nothing but brilliant...or at least as brilliant one can be when dealing with unknowns of future happenings. I mean, to bring in the kandra fooled everyone on the team and this reader too. Not only that, the brilliance did not leave negativity. This revelation served a purpose, and I bet there is far more in store with the element of the kandra for the total Mistborn plot. An exciting and intriguing element revealed was definitely a bonus for hooking me into the next book.


2. The final section of the book was very Vin-centric. How do you feel about the choices she made and did you have any worries/fears about what might happen to her before everything was resolved?

I must say, I thought Vin to be rather rash in her rush to the palace. Yes, I worried about her. And, I thought her doomed...well, no not really cause I know she is in the next book. But, this would be the part that I suspended belief in order to be okay with her amazing rescue. With all that said though, this part did allow me peace in my prior belief that Vin has great potential for not only as a Mistborn but as an important role of leading the way for change. I think she has intelligence and as she matures ( which she seems to have matured greatly in this last part), I think she will be a force to reckon with.


3. After all that we find out that the Lord Ruler wasn't the prophesied one after all. Surprised? Had you figured it out? What thoughts do you have about the big reveal, including how it tied into Sazed's people?

Surprised? Yes, I was. I mean, the part before this one convinced me that he had far greater power than in actuality. But then, it was somewhat satisfying to know that I was not far off with my original assumption. But, I never saw it coming that he was Rashek and not the actual hero, rather an imposter, and a Terrisman at that. I thought the Lord Ruler as a Feruchemist and an Allomancer was quite a believable way to explain his power and longevity. I was glad for that because I hate when a plot takes a turn and in order to explain that turn something far fetched is thrown in ignoring other rules set in place.

While talking of surprises, I was happily surprised to see Marsh still alive. I am not sure how I feel about his change into an Inquisitor, but ultimately I am glad to see him still with us. His plot twist adds another element to the story and makes me curious as to his role in the next book. Exciting, the possibilities.


4. There was some back and forth about Elend throughout the story and we finally got to see him take a greater stand. Any predictions about what might happen in book two with Elend taking on leadership duties?

Elend has a come a long way, but still has a way to go. His noble arrogance shined through as he weaved himself through Kelsier's battle with the demand of knowing where Valette was while believing himself her rescuer. While I found that to be laughable arrogance, I could not help but also feel a bit like cheering him on. That moment signified Elend's ability to take action and lead down a path which goes against his noble culture. This gives me hope that he will have the character needed to do the hard work of fighting against the oppressive system even if he will pay a price. I think Elend will play an important leadership role. I think he has character strength potential that will be revealed much in the next book.


5. Lastly, provide a little wrap up of your experience with the book. What do you think Sanderson's strengths are? How does this book stack up against other fantasies you've read?

Sanderson has a great sense of balancing world- building, character and plot development. He really does a great job with all three. Yet again, I leave a book of his with not only being pleased with the character development, but also liking the world and plot greatly. That is huge for me, because typically a plot and world - while important - is secondary to the importance of characters. For me, with Sandseson's writing, it seems he gives me all three - an overall storyteller he is. This, the balance of all three, is what sets him apart - so far - from most other fantasy books I have read...few achieve balance.

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Note Worthy Quote:

Belief isn't simply a thing for fair times and bright days, I think. What is belief - what is faith - if you don't continue in it after failure? p.510 e- book

 

Photo A Day: May...Days 1-6

This challenge is exactly what I need to get myself back into the action of using my camera - on a daily basis. I have not purposefully used my camera in a while, used it with intent to pay attention to details. I hope my composition and exposure skills improve.

Photo A Day is brought to us by Fat Mum Slim, every month she gives us a list of daily prompts- fun! Thanks to Kelly at The Written World for bringing ts challenge to my attention - made my day. :)

For more details, make sure to check out May Photo A Day List.

My plan - to post photos taken once a week here on my blog. I may not accomplish everyday due to work (12 hour shifts) or life (forgot), but I do hope to only miss 2 days max per week. Not only will I post here, I will also post my photos to my Flickr account and shared in the Photo a day group.

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Day 1: Peace

Day 2: Skyline

Day 3: Something You Wore Today

Day 4: Fun!

Day 6: You

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Yes, day 5 was skipped. I worked yesterday, and I forgot. I tried today to capture a bird, but had no luck.

What's On Your Nightstand? April Recap - May List

I am over a week late to the What's On Your Nightstand? hosted by 5 Minutes for Books. But I figure, better late than not at all.

I will use my What's On Your Nightstand? post to recap what I read the month prior, and to list my plans for current month.

April was a decent reading month. Did I accomplish all reading I set out for in my last Nightstand post? Nope, but that is definitely ok. I read a fabulous book and then completed a favorite read. I also read a fairly good book and another book that was disappointing. I read about 2,226 pages. Can you guess which book read had the most pages?

Books Read: April

The House of Tyneford by Natasha Solomoms
Read for...Books and Movies April Read-Along

Description: It’s the spring of 1938 and no longer safe to be a Jew in Vienna. Nineteen-year-old Elise Landau is forced to leave her glittering life of parties and champagne to become a parlor maid in England. She arrives at Tyneford, the great house on the bay, where servants polish silver and serve drinks on the lawn. But war is coming, and the world is changing. When the master of Tyneford’s young son, Kit, returns home, he and Elise strike up an unlikely friendship that will transform Tyneford – and Elise – forever

- Such a good, good read and somber look into the lives of those who lost during the war. Much hope and love did exude throughout. Natasha Solomons crafted a beautiful, heartfelt story. My full "review" is linked to the title.

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
Read for....Re-Read. I am very much in the mood for THIS book and for Jamie and Claire. I will finish Outlander re-read before jumping into this one. yes, I am skipping the second book, but that is okay and the beauty of a re-read.

My past Voyager Review: Voyager

- I love this book, greatly. A reread, yet, new things stood out to me. What stood out to me the most was the reunion. I did not care much for it upon my first read which now I have no idea as to why I had that opinion.

Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble
Read for... My Book Manifesto, Nook book in my e-reader

GoodReads Description: Anastasia Romanov thought she would never feel more alone than when the gunfire started and her family began to fall around her. Surely the bullets would come for her next. But they didn't. Instead, two gnarled old hands reached for her. When she wakes up she discovers that she is in the ancient hut of the witch Baba Yaga, and that some things are worse than being dead. In modern-day Chicago, Anne doesn't know much about Russian history. She is more concerned about getting into a good college until the dreams start. She is somewhere else. She is someone else. And she is sharing a small room with a very old woman. The vivid dreams startle her, but not until a handsome stranger offers to explain them does she realize her life is going to change forever. She is the only one who can save Anastasia. But, Anastasia is having her own dreams.

- I had high hopes for this book, and I was somewhat disappointed. I cannot say that I liked this book,but then again, I cannot say I did not like it. It has a GREAT premise, but it fell flat for me. I will admit, I am tough on YA books as I do have a terrible time of it if the characters are too teenagerish, and if the plot takes a turn into the land of unbelievability. Both of those things occured for me. Too many unbelievable factors, and far too many convenient plot turns and luck for the characters. Beyond that, I wish there was a bit more history woven into the story because my curiosity for the Romanovs has now been piqued. The characters, I never really felt connected, again, too much teenager fluff, and not very dimensional at that. YET, the book sucked me in. I read it in about two days, and really never had any thoughts of setting it aside incomplete. I will, these days, set a book aside if the book bores or does not grab me quickly. The fact that I had desire to read this book fully with no thoughts of leaving it unfinished does speak positively for the story. Overall, I am just meh about the book. I am glad I read it, but I have no urge to go forward with the series. I am curious if my daughters ( age 12 and 14) would like it. I think that they may. This was my "review". :)

Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley
Read for....My Book Manifesto, Kindle book in my e-reader app

GoodReads Description: When Eva's film star sister Katrina dies, she leaves California and returns to Cornwall, where they spent their childhood summers, to scatter Katrina's ashes and in doing so return her to the place where she belongs. But Eva must also confront the ghosts from her own past, as well as those from a time long before her own. For the house where she so often stayed as a child is home not only to her old friends the Halletts, but also to the people who had lived there in the eighteenth century. When Eva finally accepts that she is able to slip between centuries and see and talk to the inhabitants from hundreds of years ago, she soon finds herself falling for Daniel Butler, a man who lived--and died--long before she herself was born. Eva begins to question her place in the present, and in laying her sister to rest, comes to realise that she too must decide where she really belongs, choosing between the life she knows and the past she feels so drawn towards.

- I really enjoyed this story, and I certainly could not put it down, but I did not love it. The Winter Sea utterly enthralled, this one - not so much. Would I recommend it? Yes, I would but not as highly as I recommend The Winter Sea. I will post my full "review" at a later date.

Books in Progress: May

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson.
Reading for... Mistborn: The Final Empire Group Read hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings
Our final week if discussion is this coming week. The next book in the series is scheduled for a June group read.

GoodReads Description: What if the hero of prophecy fails? What kind of world results when the Dark Lord is in charge? The answer will be found in the Mistborn Trilogy, a saga of surprises and magical martial-arts action that begins in Mistborn. For a thousand years the ash fell and no flowers bloomed. For a thousand years the Skaa slaved in misery and lived in fear. For a thousand years the Lord Ruler, the "Sliver of Infinity," reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror, divinely invincible. Then, when hope was so long lost that not even its memory remained, a terribly scarred, heart-broken half-Skaa rediscovered it in the depths of the Lord Ruler's most hellish prison. Kelsier "snapped" and found in himself the powers of a Mistborn. A brilliant thief and natural leader, he turned his talents to the ultimate caper, with the Lord Ruler himself as the mark.

The Fire Lord's Lover by Kathryne Kennedy
Reading for...My Book Manifesto, Nook book in my e-reader

GoodReads Description: In a magical land ruled by ruthless Elven lords, the Fire Lord's son, Dominic Raikes, plays a deadly game to conceal his growing might from his malevolent father—until his arranged bride awakens in him passions he thought he had buried forever. Lady Cassandra has been raised in outward purity and innocence, while secretly being trained as an assassin. Her mission is to bring down the Elven Lord and his champion son. But when she gets to court, she discovers that nothing is what it seems, least of all the man she married. But beneath the gilded castles lies an unspeakable evil, greater than either Dominic or Cassandra had ever fathomed, and without each other they may not survive.

Books to Read: May

A Bitter Truthby Charles Todd
Reading for... Bess Crawford Read Along

GoodReads Description: World War One battlefield nurse Bess Crawford is featured for a third time in A Bitter Truth. Bess reaches out to help an abused and frightened young woman, only to discover that no good deed ever goes unpunished when the good Samaritan nurse finds herself falsely accused of murder.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Reading for.... The Neverwhere Read Along hosted by Stainless Steel Droppings. The read along starts on May 13th, so, you have time to sign up and join. For further details, please visit The Neverwhere Read Along post.

GoodReads Description: Richard Mayhew is a plain man with a good heart and an ordinary life that is changed forever on a day he stops to help a girl he finds bleeding on a London sidewalk. From that moment forward he is propelled into a world he never dreamed existed a dark subculture flourishing in abandoned subway stations and sewer tunnels below the city a world far stranger and more dangerous than the only one he has ever known...

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Reading for....Netgalley e- book

GoodReads Description: Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high. Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

- I have a feeling that May will be a difficult reading month, so I am going to leave my list at three books. If I manage more than three then it will be a bonus, but frankly, I will be surprised if I finish two. The books in progress are done, but I left them in progress as they were not complete until we were already in May.

Do you have any book reading plans for May?