Twilight (Twilight #1)

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Oh, this book is silly, but overall I don't hate it. Bella is a complete Mary Sue and I wanted to punch her most of the time, and Edward with his brooding mixed signals made me roll my eyes so hard I nearly broke something. But then I reminded myself that it is written for a 14-year-old, not a grown woman in her forties, and I was ok with it. This book has sparked scores of future lovers of the paranormal, romance or not, and I hope all of them graduate to loving Harry Dresden as much as I do. The romance is clean, fulfills a lot of young girls' budding fantasies, and gets them reading. A win all-around.

P.S. Everyone who reads this should read The Dresden Files series. Seriously. Harry is a million times better than Edward. Or Jacob. Or pretty much anyone.



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Coraline

Coraline by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Coraline. It's a children's book written for adults. It's an adult book written for children. Somehow it's both, and it's scary, and delightful. Just read it. Gaiman is a pro at creating scary worlds that suck you in until you can't bear to put the book down. Good stuff.

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Lone Wolf

Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

One of the things I enjoy most about Jodi Picoult's novels is the interesting worlds she explores. Much like Dick Francis, I leave her novels with my interests piqued about whatever topic she covers, and I want to continue learning more after I am done. In this book, she centers her family drama around wolves and wolf behavior. It wouldn't be a Jodi Picoult book without family dynamics, a medical or legal issue, and an interesting topic. I enjoyed this one. 4 stars.

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A Thousand Days in Tuscany: A Bittersweet Adventure.

A Thousand Days in Tuscany: A Bittersweet Adventure by Marlena DeBlasi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ah, Tuscany! High on my bucket list, and this book just whetted my appetite further. I can imagine living in this old farmhouse in the ancient village, creating traditions and eating good food. Delightful.

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Ready Player One

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is an 80's geek's paradise. I grew up on video games, D&D, and John Hughes movies, and I want to have this book's babies. Not everyone will appreciate this book, but 90% of the references made me squeal with delight. And I loved the plot, pacing, and even the clever dialogue. Read this book.

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The Night Circus

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

At first you think this is a story about the circus. Then you think it is about a contest between two skilled competitors. But it's about magic. And relationships. And so much more. And it's beautifully written. Don't go into this book expecting action--it's a slow start. Allow the gorgeous descriptions to fill your imagination. Delight in the details. In fact, read this book, then read it again. The seemingly loose plot threads tie together at the end and give you the beautiful present that is this book.

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Shiver (Wolves of Mercy Falls #1)

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Wolves. High school. Poor parenting. A bit like Twilight, but better written. Maggie Stiefvater wrote this series prior to the very excellent The Scorpio Races, and it shows. The dialogue is cringe-worthy at times, and the plot is loosely held together by the merest threads, but it was entertaining enough to read the next two installments. Take this young adult offering as the pleasant diversion it is, then read The Scorpio Races for beautiful prose and an engrossing storyline.

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Silos, Politics, and Turf Wars: A Leadership Fable about Destroying the Barriers That Turn Colleagues into Competitors

Silos, Politics, and Turf Wars: A Leadership Fable about Destroying the Barriers That Turn Colleagues Into Competitors by Patrick Lencioni
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Another leadership fable by Patrick Lencioni. His books are quick reads and leave you with common sense nuggets you can share with your team. This one is about breaking down silos to unite your team with a goal to rally behind. Lencioni takes common issues often experienced in the business world and breaks these problems down in a simple, relatable story. Good for teams and leaders who are looking for ways to work better together.

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Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape

Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape by Jenna Miscavige Hill
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An interesting look into one girl's life growing up in the cult of Scientology. 95% of the book was a recounting of the events in her life growing up in Sea Org, separated from her parents, and how she was indoctrinated into the world of Scientology. The final 5% is about her "escape", which wasn't so much harrowing as it was anticlimactic. Her experiences, while horrible and I wouldn't wish them on any child, were clearly not as bad as some of the others growing up around her, and I would love to read another insider perspective as well.

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Amethyst (Jewel #1)

Amethyst by Lauren Royal
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Amethyst is the first book in Lauren Royal's Jewel Trilogy. One of the things I enjoy about her books is the clever way she weaves the plot around historical events and people in early English history. Amethyst is set during the Great London Fire of 1666, and she does a nice job allowing that catastrophic event to drive her plot and her main characters together. Amy Goldsmith and Colin Chase first meet when he enters her family's jewelry shop to purchase a gift for his sister, and that chance meeting sets the rest of the book in motion. The details of the time are so well-written that I can forgive the cheesy dialogue and eye-rolling decisions from both Colin and Amy as they find their "happily ever after". Fans of historical romance should first read the Jewel Trilogy, then read her Flower Trilogy, set a bit in the future and cleverly ties in these characters as well.

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