Twenty-Eight and Half Wishes by Denise Grover Swank

★★★★☆  

Rose is a woman to love.  She is innocent and craves adventure.  She gets both when her mother is murdered.  Rose will make you giggle and be happy there are just plain ol' good people out there as she works her way through her mystery.

Written In Blood by Nathan Bush

★★★★☆   I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

I read the Prologue again after I read the book and realized it is a succinct summary of the book.  I will not summarize the book because I can’t possibly write a better summary than the author.  If you don’t like the Prologue, you will not like the book.  I like the Prologue and enjoyed the book very much.

I found it interesting that the name of the character speaking (Ken or Eddie) was at the top of the page in each chapter.  I became fond of the characters as they were well established.  Even some of the more minor characters felt human to me and added depth to the story.

The book gives you twists and turns and keeps you guessing.  I didn’t figure out who the killer was prior to being told and that is rare for me.  I will read more of Mr. Bush’s books.

Initiated to Kill by Sharlene Almond

★★★☆☆  I was sent a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

First off, some general rambling.  I love the cover of this book.  It is intriguing and I found myself going back to the cover to look at it again and again.  I think missing the covers of books is the biggest downfall to using eReaders.  Anyway, on to the review.

The book is surrounded by a mystery of Jack the Ripper, the Freemasons and a deaf woman, Anabella.  Anabella’s roommate, Celestina, disappears after a night out of partying and becomes involved with the case due to her supreme ability to read people’s body language.  The police, the teachers at Anabella’s school, Celestina’s co-workers, Annbella’s Aunt and Uncle all bring their own interesting stories to the book.  The “feeling” of the book as I read it was dark and beautiful simultaneously.  The symbolism is throughout the novel and I was glad to read the book.

The prologue begins to describe a scene that includes the Freemasons, which is always an interesting topic for mystery.  As I read the first several pages of the book I was lost.  I didn’t know who story teller was.  It changes from a character calling for “Mummy”, to descriptions of Easter celebration in Seville.   This and the editorial issues with the book were a bit frustrating but do not despair and keep reading! 

I have added Sharlene's Journey in Little Paradise to my "To Read" shelf on Goodreads.

Back In the Saddle!

I'm going to start blogging again and to get started I reengaged my Goodreads Authors/Readers Group.  I have some great books coming up to read and review.

Initiated to Kill  by Sharlene Almond

Written in Blood (The Foley Chronicles:  Files from the 8th District Book 1) by Nathan Bush

Her Valentine Family (Claremont, Alabama, #1) by Renee Andrews - If you haven't read Cake Icing, Butt Budder & Tea Lids then you should.  It is on my Favorites shelf.

A Cold War by Alan Russel - Loved the Gideon and Sirius series starting with Burning Man

To my Sunshine

You show the light in so many ways

Your goodness, you simply say

I will help all I can

To make your life better

It is who I am

Your look of beauty; the way you see the world

Your kindness and love

It is unheard

People like you will save humanity

We have something to learn

From the young -- it is uncanny

Your view of loveliness in mankind

How I wish we all could see

Martin Luther King, Ghandi and you

See something I wish that I knew

You are so special in the way that you see

I've learned so much raising you to be who you are to be

I am proud and grateful to have you as mine 

I love you so much; you are my sunshine

To my Seester, on her birthday

The one that sticks up for me when others do not

The one that loves me when I think others cannot

The one that shows me what love can do

Oh how I wish that I knew

The one that repeats that I am worth a lot

Though I fight it with all I've got

She is the the right way, the way God has said

I should have listened way before when

My life was troubled and in need of a mend

I love my Seester more than I can say

She is the reason that I am what I am today

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

4 1/2 stars

Cheryl Strayed is a woman trying to find her way.  There are several books about other women doing the same thing for example, “Saturday Night Widows” by Becky Aickman and “A Homemade Life” by Molly Wizenberg, to name a couple.  I am glad to say that this book delighted me just as much as the two I mentioned.   Cheryl is a likeable person, with faults, insecurities and a drive to move forward.  Women do this at different times in their lives.  Divorce, death, break ups, heart break, empty nest syndrome…life changing events.

Cheryl begins a trek on a journey that she is not only not prepared for, but doesn’t know what she is really searching for.  She starts the adventure to find herself, her true self which seems to be a common mystery to women.  She keeps going though she is ill prepared and finds friendship and help along the way.  She conquers fears because she doesn’t have a choice and comes out a stronger, more fulfilled woman. 

I love her; not only for her bravery, but for writing it down so I could read it and feel that even though I cannot take on the Pacific Crest Trail, I may be able to conquer other fears and become stronger by facing myself.