Book Review- When She Flew

I just finished reading When She Flew by Jennie Shortridge.

From the back cover:

Police officer Jessica Villareal has always played by the book and tried to do the right thing. She's worked hard at her job and even harder at her family.  Despite all that, she finds herself approaching midlife divorced, estranged from her daughter, alone,... and completely unhappy. And she's wondering if she ever made a right choice in her life.


But then Jess discovers an Iraq vet and his young daughter living off the radar in the Oregon woods, avoiding the comforts-and curses-of modern life. Her colleagues on the force are determined to uproot and separate Lindy and her father, but Jess knows the damage of losing those you love and believes the pair is safer and happier together.


Jess recognizes her chance to make a difference by doing something she's never dared. Because even though she's used to playing by the rules, there are times when they need to be broken...

This book is definitely a story about doing what you think is right, even when it goes against everything you were taught to believe.  And it really pulled me in and made me think.  I find myself going back and forth about whether or not Jess did what was right.  There is the teacher side of me that thinks that Lindy needs to be in the "real world", at least as far as the education is concerned and that they need a real shelter.  But there is another part of me, that thinks that if her father is protecting her, and taking care of her (providing food, protecting her, teaching her), then maybe she isn't so bad sheltered from the some of the horrors of the "real world".  And the story makes me wonder what would happen to Lindy when she grew up--she wanted to live in the real world and if she stayed in the forest with her father, I wonder how she would adjust to such a different life at an older age.

I enjoyed all the characters in this story.  I really liked Jess and how she did what she thought was right.  And it pulled at my heartstrings how much she wanted to be close to her older teenage daughter (who was herself a mother of a three year-old).  And I liked both Lindy and her father.  I wanted Lindy to be happy and feel safe and secure and I felt bad for her dad and his struggles in life after he got back from the war.  He  just wanted to keep his daughter safe, but couldn't find a job so had to find alternative means of keeping his daughter with him.  And I also liked Chris, AKA dogman.  I thought he seemed like a genuine nice guy and would have liked to see him and Jess end up together.

This was an engrossing, thought-provoking read and I know I will thinking about this story for a while to come!

I gave this book a rating of 4/5.

*FTC Disclosure: I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for an honest review.

The Sunday Salon- December 20, 2009

The Sunday Salon

This week was extrememly busy and stressful at school.  The kids were wild and excited about break and the week seemed like it would never end.  But on Friday, after the kids were gone, my friend and I were talking about how quick Christmas seemed to come this year and we couldn't believe there was only one week left.  Kory and I spent the weekend finishing up our Christmas shopping.  I'm almost done!

I finished and reviewed the following books this week:

Swoon by Nina Malkin

Nanny Returns by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

The Next Thing on My List by Jill Smolinski

I fulfilled items in the following challenges this week:

Paranormal 999 Challenge: Ghosts

What's In A Name Challenge: Profession

I finished the following challenges this week:
What's In A Name Challenge


I am currently reading How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier and up next is Barbie and the Beast by Linda Thomas Sundstrom.

Book Review- The Next Thing on My List

I just finished reading The Next Thing on My List by Jill Smolinski.

From the back cover:

After a car accident in which her passenger, Marissa, dies, June Parker finds herself in possession of a list Marissa has written: "20 Things to Do by My 25th Birthday." The tasks range from inspiring (run a 5K) to daring (go braless) to near-impossible (change someone's life). To assuage her guilt, June races to achieve each goal herself before the deadline, learning more about her own life than she ever bargained for.

This was a cute chick-lit story.  I really enjoyed all of the characters.  I really felt for June.  I can't imagine trying to help Marissa, a stranger, out (by giving her a ride home) and then being in a car accident in which she died.  And I love how June wanted to take on the list that Marissa made to honor her.  I loved and felt for Deedee, the fourteen year-old honor student that made one mistake that would forever change her life.  And I really liked Troy, Marissa's older brother.  He seemed so sweet and caring and understanding.

This book made me think about the things that I want to accomplish in my life- both big and small.  And even though its just a fiction story, it makes me realize that I need to put myself out there and do the things that are important to me, even if it seems challenging or like it will never happen. A great, heart-warming read.

I gave this book a rating of 4/5.

*FTC Disclosure:  I traded this book with a friend

Friday Firsts- December 18, 2009

The first line can make or break a reader’s interest. Just how well did the author pull you in to the story with their first sentence? To participate in this weekly book meme is extremely easy.

~Grab the book you are currently reading and open to the first page.

~Write down the first sentence in the first paragraph.

~Create a blog post with this information. (Make sure to include the title & author of the book you are using. Even an ISBN helps!)

"Next on the list: Kiss a stranger."

~The Next Thing on My List by Jill Smolinski (ISBN 978-0-307-351296)

Friday Fill-In- December 19, 2009

Here is my fill-in

1. No, we will NOT have to wait in long lines at the Post Office, at least I hope not!
2. Even when I was a little kid, I would sit at the old kitchen table with a snack and a book after school.
3. I watched the steam rising from the hot cup of coffee (or tea) and thought: I need to wait a couple of minutes or I will burn my tongue, like always.
4. Now that its a break from school, it's all going to be okay.
5. I'll take one of everything, please.
6. It's going to be freezing early next week, at least from my point of view.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing, tomorrow my plans include going to our friends' holiday party and Sunday, I want to read!

Friday Finds- December 18, 2009

Here are my finds for the week:

Insatiable- Meg Cabot

A modern sequel to Bram Stoker's Dracula
by Meg Cabot.

Sick of hearing about vampires? So is Meena Harper.

But her boss is making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn't believe in them.

Not that Meena isn't familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you're going to die (not that you're going to believe her. No one ever does).

But not even Meena's precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets — then makes the mistake of falling in love with — Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side...a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire-hunters, would prefer to see him dead for.

The problem is, Lucien's already dead. Maybe that's why he's the first guy Meena's ever met that she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena's always been able to see everyone else's future, she's never been able look into her own.

And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare.

Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future...

If she even has one. (From Meg Cabot's website)

Kiss of Death- Rachel Caine

(I can find an excerpt, but not a summary)

Passing Strange- Daniel Waters

Karen DeSonne always passed as a normal teenager; with her friends, with her family, and at school. Passing cost her the love of her life. And now that Karen’s dead, she’s still passing—this time, as alive . Meanwhile, Karen’s dead friends have been fingered in a high-profile murder, causing a new round of antizombie regulations that have forced them into hiding. Karen soon learns that the “murder” was a hoax, staged by Pete Martinsburg and his bioist zealots. Obtaining enough evidence to expose the fraud and prove her friends’ innocence means doing the unthinkable: becoming Pete’s girlfriend. Karen’s only hope is that the enemy never realizes who she really is—because the consequences would be worse than death. (From Amazon.com)

Contests- December 14- December 21

Steph Su Reads is giving away a copy of The Maze Runner by James Dashner.  The contest ends on December 29.

Class of 2k10 is giving away several books to celebrate the graduation of the 2k09 class!  The contest ends on December 19.

Ellz Readz is hosting the 12 Days of Christmas-Day 5 Giveaway!  There are 5 winners!

Lori's Reading Corner is giving away a copy of House Rules by Jodi Picoult.  The contest ends on December 30.

Drey's Library is giving away a copy of The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gray.  The contest ends on December 30.

The Book Rat is giving 5 winners their choice from over 50 books!  The contest ends at the end of the year.

3 Great Book Trailers

Wednesday Wordle- December 16, 2009

Here is a screen shot of my Wordle for the week (Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from words that is seen on my blog)

Waiting on Wednesday- December 16, 2009

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Voices of Dragons
by Carrie Vaughn
Publication Release Date: March 16, 2010

From Goodreads.com:

On one side of the border lies the modern world: the internet, homecoming dances, cell phones. On the other side dwell the ancient monsters who spark humanity’s deepest fears: dragons.

Seventeen-year-old Kay Wyatt knows she’s breaking the law by rock climbing near the border, but she’d rather have an adventure than follow the rules. When the dragon Artegal unexpectedly saves her life, a secret friendship grows between them—even though the fragile truce that has maintained peace between their two species is unraveling around them. As tensions mount and battles begin, Kay and Artegal are caught in the middle. Can their friendship change the course of a war?

In her young adult debut, New York Times bestselling author Carrie Vaughn presents a modern tale of myths and machines and an alliance that crosses a seemingly unbridgeable divide.