Ranger's Apprentice 4: The Battle For Skandia

By John Flanagan

Far from home after escaping slavery in Skandia, Will and Evanlyn’s plans to return are spoiled when Evanlyn is taken captive. Will employs his Ranger training to locate his friend, but soon finds himself fatally outnumbered-until Halt and Horace make a daring, last-minute rescue. But their reunion is cut short by the discovery that Skandia’s borders have been breached by the Temujai army-and Araluen is next in their sights. Only an unlikely union can save the two kingdoms, but can it hold long enough to vanquish a ruthless new enemy?

Have I mentioned that I really really love this series? Mr Flanagan, you are a great story-teller! I am captivated with the twists and turns, the military tactics, and the good old fashioned comradery and friendships. Each character is so well developed and just darn likable (or in some cases unlikeable) that it makes me smile and cringe when the plot takes unlikely turns. There were so many laugh-out-loud moments, that I was in a thoroughly good mood when I finished. I’ve enjoyed Skandia- the fictional mirror of Norway and the Vikings. It’s just fun and completely action-packed. I can’t wait to find out what happens next! If you like fiction at all, if you enjoy knights, swords, bows, and spies, you will adore Flanagan’s series. If I had Jedi mind powers I would wave my hands and say, “you will start reading it now, and you will love it as much as I do." :D

Recovering Charles

By Jason F. Wright

Luke Millward is a man who does not know he is lost. His career in Manhattan is going well; he has the love of close friends; and a future that he looks forward to every day. Only when the past revels its twisted smile in a phone call and the disconnected voice asks him to come find his estranged father in a post-Katrina New Orleans is Luke compelled to find out what kind of man he truly is; and who the man is that his father has become.
Luke’s story is one of finding true love and one’s true self. It will resonate with readers long after the last page. Recovering Charles is for every family who has had their share o rough times; for anyone who regrets the things never said; for everyone who needs to know their life has a second verse.


So when I picked this book up at the bargain sales corner I had no idea what it was about. I’d just heard good things and I knew that Jason Wright was a great writer having read The Wednesday Letters. This book is set in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina and the devastation it caused to the people not only in New Orleans, but along the coast. I remember consciously not watching the news coverage when Katrina hit. It was too much for me at the time and I just didn’t want to know. Reading this book opened my eyes to a lot of the things that happened that I had previously closed my eyes to. Along with the disaster that Katrina brought, is the story of a man who lost his mother to depression and suicide, and his father to alcohol. This book is all about changing and the possibility of recovering from all walks of life we might find ourselves in. It was beautiful, if haunting. I loved Charles song at the end: Love me if you can. It seemed to summarize everything wonderfully for anyone who has ever gotten off the right path and had to struggle to find their way back. Beautiful.

The Girl Who Could Fly

By Victoria Forester

Piper McCloud lives with her normal ma and pa on a normal farm in normal Lowland County. But Piper isn’t your normal girl. Ever since Piper was a baby, she’s been able to hover a few feet off the ground, and if the people of Lowland County knew she could fly, they would have something to say about it. So, it only seems best that Piper be sent away to I.N.S.A.N.E, the top secret school for children with extraordinary abilities like hers. Her new friends have powers like telekinesis, x-ray vision, and the ability to create their own weather. Piper likes her new life at school, but soon, she realizes things aren’t as they seem. Now, the school she was sent to for her own protection might be the most dangerous place she’s ever been.

I’ve been wanting to read this book for months now, and when I glanced it at the local elementary school’s bookfair, I couldn’t resist buying the little paperback. I fell in love with this book. It’s the book for everyone who has ever felt like they were different and had to fight to just be themselves. It’s a sweet story of a farm girl with extraordinary abilities and a fire-cracker personality. There are so many quotable passages in this book; you wouldn’t really expect it, but his story is more than it seems. Piper’s loyal and naïve voice is beautiful and poignant. I think everyone should read this book just for it’s simplicity and message underneath. All around, I just can’t say enough how much I loved this story and hope for more from Ms. Forester.

Lemon Tart

By Josi S. Kilpack

A recipe for murder!

5 families living on Peregrine Circle
1 flowered curtain tieback
1 missing child
1 body in the field

Mix with a long list of suspects and top with two very different detectives. Increase heat until only the truth remains.

In this debut volume, cooking aficionado-turned-amateur detective, Sadie Hoffmiller, tries to solve the murder of Anne Lemmon, her beautiful young neighbor-a single mother who was mysteriously killed while a lemon tart was baking in her oven. At the heart of Sadie’s search is Anne’s missing two-year-old son, Trevor. Whoever took the child must be the murderer, but Sadie is certain that the police are looking at all the wrong suspects-including her! Armed with a handful of her very best culinary masterpieces, Sadie is determined to bake her way to proving her innocence, resucing Trevor, and finding out exactly who had a motive for murder.


I hadn’t read a murder mystery in probably oh 5 years when I picked this culinary cozy up. To be honest, I used to be addicted to mysteries, but got really sick of them after a major overdose as a teenager. This book was fun for a mystery, having an older lady as the sleuth. I also really enjoyed the recipes scattered throughout the novel and was actually pretty excited to try a few of them out. As for the story and the mystery, I think lots of mystery lovers would really enjoy this new spin on the genre. There are currently 3 books in this little series; the next being English Trifle, and Devil’s Food. As for me, I didn’t much care for it. That was mostly the result of the depressing nature of murder mysteries because they contain, well, murder among other nasty things that I’d rather not dwell on. To me, mysteries seem to pull out the worst things that humanity is capable of and flaunting them so people think it is ingenious how others pull the wool over their eyes and “get away with it”. Yikes. That’s just my opinion though. If you like mysteries and have no problems with them, then absolutely and definitely read Lemon Tart.

Ranger's Apprentice 3: The Icebound Land

By John Flanagan

Help can arrive from the most unexpected places.

Will and Evanlyn are bound for Skandia as the captives of the fearsome Skandian wolfship captain, Erak. Halt has sworn to rescue Will, and he will do anything to keep his promise—even defy his King. Expelled from the Rangers, Halt is joined by Horace as he travels through Gallica towards Skandia. On their way, they are constantly challenged by freelance knights—otherwise known as thieving thugs. But Horace knows a thing or two about combat, and he soon begins to attract the attention of knights and warlords for miles around with his uncanny skill. But will they be in time to rescue Will from a life of slavery?


Bah! This book just about killed me. I finally got my hands on the 3rd Ranger’s Apprentice series and I honestly was ready to just break down and cry through the whole book. This is the continuation of the story of Will and Evanlyn’s capture on the jarl Erak’s wolfship. They are sold as slaves, and have to rely on each other heavily. While Will makes it his task to keep Evanlyn’s spirits up, when they get to the capital of Skandia, they are both sold as slaves. Evanlyn to the kitchen, and Will to the frozen yard…where no boy has yet survived long. Without giving anything away, this book was absolutely wonderful. This series is fast becoming a favorite. If you haven’t read it, pick it up and I guarantee you will become as addicted as I have!

God Wants a Powerful People

By Sheri Dew

“In this great latter-day battle, the Lord needs every true follower to step forward-in every part of His kingdom-to draw upon and use every gift we’ve been given. There isn’t a week, a day, an hour to lose.”

Sheri Dew’s book is all about becoming a better and more powerful people; with chapters ranging from drawing upon heaven’s power, to the difference between making a mistake and committing a sin. This book has a well deserved title. It is powerful. I’ve always enjoyed reading her books simply because she is so down-to-earth and explains things plainly. She uses scriptures freely and points out all the time that we mortals aren’t perfect and never will be in this life, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be a powerful force for good on this earth while we’re here. To me, the best part of this book was the last chapter about becoming a true follower of Jesus Christ. If you’ve read Sheri’s other books, you’re sure to like this one.

Pendragon 10: The Soldiers of Halla

By D.J. MacHale

It has all been leading to this. Every victory. Every loss. All the thrills and sadness; the hope and despair. Bobby Pendragon’s heart-pounding journey through time and space has brought him to this epic moment. He and his fellow Travelers must join forces for one last desperate battle against Saint Dane. At stake is not only the tenth and final territory, but all that ever was or will be. Everywhere.

This is the war for Halla.

Every question is answered. Every truth is revealed.

The final battle has begun.



I finally know it all. The mystery of the travelers, and the secrets of the universe that is the Pendgragon books. I was surprised to find that you find out pretty much everything within the first 60 pages or so. You know everything, except how it will all turn out. And I also admit, I’m still slightly confused at the mechanics of the ending (Which was happy). Wow. Longest series I’ve ever read; interesting, but not good enough to own in my opinion. If you find it in the library and like world-hopping adventures, go ahead and read Bobby’s journals. All in all, I give it a 6/10.