Hyde and Seek (Angel Paws) - Jordan Taylor

My Kindle Unlimited title for the month is this short story from the Angel Paws series.  It's only about 23 pages, so this is the only way I'd read it.  I wouldn't pay for something this short.

Catherine ends up with a German Shepherd puppy and quickly changes her mind from taking him to the shelter to making him part of her family.  Their strolls through the English countryside compel her to push Hyde's abilities and see what they're capable of together.

I can't really tell you more about the plot, it's seriously short.  I find that interesting, because the author has a good way with words and had the potential to make this story longer.  There's a lot of these little stories, even some with holiday themes.  Overall, it was a cute read, just not long enough!  Good story!

A Cry from the Dust (Gwen Marcey #1) - Carrie Stuart Parks

Well, here's my first book of the year for my 2015 challenge.  I saw this book recommended on a blog post by one of the authors I follow.  It had said that if you like the TV show Bones, you'll like this book.  Bones is one of my favorite shows, so I decided to give this book a shot.

Gwen has had a rough year.  And by rough, I mean awful.  She's gone through a nasty divorce, her daughter hates her, she's fought against cancer (and is still fighting its lingering effects) and now she's finding dead bodies.  She's a forensic artist, so she's taken a job using the skulls of victims of the Mountain Meadows Massacre and recreating their faces.  Unfortunately, there's a lot of controversy surrounding the event and it spills over to her work.

When the bodies begin piling up, Gwen knows that someone's after her.  She's just not sure why.  She's going to have to use all the skills she has to keep her family safe and solve the mystery.  Everything isn't what it seems, and determining who to trust is going to be important.

This was a complex plot with lots of details and twists.  I think the author did a good job walking the line between just enough information and information overload.  At the end of the book, she mentions that she could have added a lot more facts in the story but held back.  Good choice.

I read this book in about 3 sittings.  I read the second half of the book in one.  The tension just kept building until I just couldn't put it down.

If I had to complain about one thing, it would be the cover.  I know I shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but if I saw it in a bookstore, I'd keep walking.  It's just weird and kinda creepy.  I'm glad that I heard about this book, because it was well written and inventive. The next book in this series, The Bones Will Speak, is due out August 11, 2015 and I'll be looking forward to it.  According to the author, the next two books will continue the story but will be able to stand alone.  On a side note, the book doesn't have much in common with Bones, but I can see why the book would appeal to fans of the show.  Good Book!

By the Light of the Silvery Moon - Tricia Goyer

I hesitate to pick up a book like this.  Knowing ahead of time that this book takes place on the Titanic, I couldn't help but wonder if I was going to enjoy the book or end up in tears. But since I've read a few of Goyer's books in the past and liked them, I decided to give this one a shot.

Amelia has a heart for others.  She's not wealthy, but there's a man across the Atlantic waiting to see if they can build a relationship.  When Amelia sees the opportunity to help a ragged man board the Titanic, she doesn't hesitate.  She sees something in his eyes that tells her there's much more to his story than the poor, dirty man who was trying to sneak on board the great ship.

Quentin is the prodigal son whose poor decisions in life have led him to the place where he's beaten and dragged off the Titanic.  When he was young, his mother died tragically, and he feels the blame is his.  He's been on the run since then, taking his inheritance before his father dies and trying to make his own way in the world. When everything is taken from him, he sinks down to the point where he tries to sneak onto the Titanic.

Amelia and Quentin are intrigued by each other, but when Amelia finds out that Quentin's father and brother are on board, she realizes that it's the hand of God.  Quentin wants to just hide, but Amelia pushes him to face things he's avoided for years.  He tries to keep his distance from her initially, he feels that he will only ruin her life, but he can't help but be drawn to the woman who doesn't only make him rethink his life but also has her own internal beauty.

While I was satisfied at the ending, I did have my moments of sadness.  I mean, it is the story of the Titanic, and the author does a nice job describing the event.  The anticipation was horrible for me.  I kept noting which day I was reading and knowing I was getting closer and closer to that fateful night.  Thankfully it was close to the end and didn't take up so much of the book that you end up dwelling on that sadness for much of the book.  In the end, you get a bittersweet happy ending, but I believe overall it was a well written book that's definitely worth reading.  Good Book!

The Princess Spy - Melanie Dickerson

In this book, the houses of Hagenheim and Glynval come together.  This book connects with the other fairy tales this author has written.  To break it down:

Glynval, England is the home of the le Wyse family.  Colin is part of the le Wyse family as is Lord Ranulf from The Merchant's Daughter.

Hagenheim, Germany is the home of the Gerstenberg family.  Wilhelm and Rose (The Healer's Apprentice) are the parents of Valten (The Captive Bride), Gabe (The Fairest Beauty) and Margaretha.

Colin has come to find Lord Claybrook, a villain who has killed his sister's friend, and now he's responsible for the death of his best friend and a brutal beating.  When he awakens, he finds himself at the home of a healer surrounded by people who can't understand his English.  He meets Margaretha, who actually knows English, and Colin becomes friends with her.  Unwilling to reveal his identity and thus put Margaretha in danger, he tries to get an audience with her father, the Duke.  When he's finally able to convey the danger she could be in, she discovers that Lord Claybrook is planning to take over her family's home.

Margaretha isn't your normal damsel in distress.  She holds her own against the enemy with her wits and a well hidden candlestick.  She's determined to escape the castle and find her father and brother before Lord Claybrook's men find them and kill them.  Along the way, she starts falling for Colin.  She doesn't think he has any feelings for her at all, and he believes that Margaretha would never leave her family, making it impossible for them to get married and make a life in England.

I really liked this book.  I've never seen the word "flibbertigibbet" that much but really liked the strength of Margaretha.  Colin struggles with his inability to control every situation and feels a great deal of guilt over his friend's death.  Overall, this was a great read.  While these stories are connected, you can read any of them out of order and you'll get a complete story.  Even though these are listed as teen/young adult books, I've enjoyed them and recommend them for a classic "happily ever after" story.  Good Book!

Colleen Coble's Journey of the Heart series

I was looking at the available titles on NetGalley and saw a few books by Colleen Coble that are due to come out in May and beyond.  The titles didn't ring a bell, but when I read a description of the story, I was sure I'd read it before.  Doing a little research, I figured out what's going on.

Colleen Coble wrote a series years ago that is out of print, but you can read them on your ereader.  The Wyoming series consists of Where the Heart Leads, Plains of Promise, The Heart Answers, and To Love a Stranger.

Reading through the summaries of the six books coming out, it seems like they're taking the first two books in the series that tell Sarah and Emmie's stories and breaking them into smaller novels.  The first six titles in the Journey of the Heart series are: A Heart's Disguise, A Heart's Obsession, A Heart's Danger, A Heart's Betrayal, A Heart's Promise and A Heart's Home.

I don't know if the titles have been rewritten, but the general story line is the same.  If you're thinking about watching/buying these and you've read the Wyoming series, I'm not sure you'll get your money's worth.  I would hate for fans of Coble to be disappointed getting something they already have under a new name.

The Priest's Graveyard - Ted Dekker

Being a fan of Ted Dekker, I have to admit that there are a few of his books that are so dark, I'm wary about reading them.  The Bride Collector and Boneman's Daughters are the others.  I had a feeling that this one was going to be really dark as well and it took me a while to pick it up.

Danny's life was changed the minute his mother and sisters were murdered.  Now, he's a priest, but he's also a vigilante that takes the law into his own hands by finding and neutralizing the worst of humanity.  He feels a moral obligation to right the wrongs the law won't fix and feels completely justified in his choices.

Renee is a heroin addict whose life is in danger when she's saved by a man named Lamont.  He becomes her 'husband' and savior.  He warns her that he knows too much about a powerful man and if something happens to him, she'll know who was responsible. When Lamont doesn't come home, Renee's new mission in life is to find the man who took her husband and kill him.  She meets Danny and the two find common ground.  As the two proceed as teacher and pupil, more secrets are going to surface and the truth will strain the relationship they're building.

This book was really dark with descriptions of killings, body disposal and revenge throughout.  It's a story of what happens when we judge and what can happen when revenge is consuming.  It's the first time I can remember hoping a serial killer would get away with murder.  The end is as serious as the beginning and, in some ways, unsatisfying.  Overall, though, it was a well written book with a worthwhile message.  It's just really dark.  Good Book!

My 2015 Reading Challenge

Happy New Year!  I'm not a person that makes resolutions, but I did decide to try something new this year...

You've seen them before - the challenges encouraging you to read certain books throughout the year.  I was tempted to participate in one until I realized I would never finish it.  There were some strange categories on there as well as things I knew I wouldn't get to.  I love to read, but I can't remember the last time I read a 500+ page book.  So, I decided to come up with my own and see how it turns out.

5 New Authors
This one shouldn't be too bad for me.  Since I can borrow books through amazon, it won't be a major problem.

Read a book I loved in the past and haven't read for years
I have plenty to choose from for this one, but I think I know which one I'll be reading for it!

Read a book recommended by my kids
I've got two daughters, and I think it will be interesting to read something they really enjoy.

Read a nonfiction book
Wow, this one is probably going to be the hardest one for me.  I don't like nonfiction, but I know there are great ones out there.

Read a book that takes place in my state
I took this one from another challenge.  I'm tracking a certain one that I want to read, but I'll have to see if it'll drop in price.

And finally:
Read a classic
It's been a while since I've picked up a classic and I thought it might be neat to dust one off and see what I thought.  I watch a lot of movies that are based on classics, but it'll be interesting to see what I think about reading one.

All things considered, I'm excited to start this challenge.  I picked things that wouldn't be too difficult on purpose.  Setting myself up for failure just wasn't something I was willing to do.  If you participate in a challenge or have a New Year's resolution, I hope that you'll do well.