Read Your Way Homewood

Title: You're Never Weird on the Internet (almost) by Felicia Day Pages: 272 Summary: Felicia Day, for those who don't know, is amazing. She, with the help of her friends, created a cult following with the internet based show The Guild that led to her creating her own company, Geek and Sundry and in her spare time is an actress. Her memoir fleshes out the details of who she is for her fans and is just a great read. By the time you've finished the book, you're wishing she was actually your best friend. A must read for anyone who is into gaming, the internet, sci-fi/fantasy, conventions, and reading.

Title: Dragonbane by Sherrilyn Kenyon Pages: 352 Summary: Maxius is a most wanted man who has stayed hidden for the past few centuries. Now his wife has returned asking his help to recover children he was unaware that he had.  An action packed novel filled with romance that sets the stage for the next one in the series. Slightly predictable but it is a quick read and fans of the series will enjoy this one much more than the one before it.

Title: The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand Pages: 384 Summary: It's another summer in Nantucket for best friends Madeline and Grace.  Little do they know that this summer will test and change them and their friendship and it all began with a rumor. Madeline is a modest success as an author and is feeling the pressure to come up with her next book.  On a whim, she decides to rent an apartment and make it her "writer's retreat" and when Grace's husband Eddie shows up there it starts a rumor. The rumor that Madeline and Eddie are having an affair spreads quickly through the small town but the players in the game remain unaware of it. Grace is married with sixteen year old twin girls but is in love with her gardener, Benton Coe.  This summer she plans to see where the fireworks lead her as well as create a showstopping garden that will be featured in top magazines. As Grace and Madeline handle their personal situations, their children, their

   from Barbi

  from Barbi

  from Barbi

    from Barbi

Roy Makes a Car by   Mary E. Lyons   (Author) ,  Terry Widener   (Illustrator) Tall tales are outlandish, overblown, and wild.  Well, the brilliantly written first page is about as quintessentially american tall tale as it can get!  "He can grease an axle faster than you can say 'carburetor,' and he can clean spark plugs just by looking at them hard."  HA! For fans of the outlandish style of tall tales, this is a winner with its modern twist. Some people, if they are very dogmatically religious, may take umbrage with the idea that Roy sold God a car, that God pays for with money, and that *then* God made cars just like Roy, but come on, its a tall tale. Reading this with a child will give you one set of joy, reading it alone will give you a different joy. The pictures and text have depth that enriches the surface humor. Its so wonderous, that when i finished reading it, I jumped out my bed and took a bite out of that old cheddar cheese moon fo

Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything in It by   Sundee T. Frazier Brendan, a biracial kid with a knack for science, accidentally finds his bigoted grandfather in the mall - never having met him before because, well, he's a bigot and his mother stopped speaking to him. This potentially heavy material is dealt with deftly and smartly in this book. In the voice of Brendan, we discover things about racism in modern society, the unexplainable causes, the ties that bind, and the people it affects. A really nice addition to a middle grade book shelf - regardless of racial identity. - Miss Kelly

A Quest of Heroes (Book #1 in the Sorcerer's Ring)   by   Morgan Rice   (Goodreads Author)   ZERO Libbies!! From Goodreads:  A QUEST OF HEROES (BOOK #1 IN THE SORCERER’S RING) revolves around the epic coming of age story of one special boy, a 14 year old from a small village on the outskirts of the Kingdom of the Ring. The youngest of four, the least favorite of his father, hated by his brothers, Thorgrin senses he is different from the others. When he comes of age and is forbidden by his father to try out for the King’s Legion, he refuses to take no for an answer: he journeys out on his own, determined to force his way into King’s Court and be taken seriously.  But King’s Court is rife with its own family dramas, power struggles, ambitions, jealousy, violence and betrayal. King MacGil must choose an heir from amongst his children, and the ancient Dynasty Sword, the source of all their power, still sits untouched, waiting for the chosen one to arrive.  Thorgrin comes

Title: Country by Danielle Steel Pages: 336 Summary: Danielle Steel looks at three long term marriages, each couple at a different place in their marriage and the choices that are made in fear, in compromise, and in anger. The main character of the novel is Stephanie who is married to Bill when the novel begins. All three couples are enjoying their annual ski trip when tragedy strikes.  In a matter of hours, Stephanie becomes a widow.  Now she is tasked in deciding what comes next for her, really looking at her marriage, and embracing the person she is becoming.  To add to her new situation, she finds herself falling in love with a famous country musician.  This is actually one of Danielle Steel's better novels. I enjoyed watching Stephanie find herself and challenge herself. I like that she wasn't willing to make the same mistakes in a serious relationship a second time and I liked that while predictable at certain points there was a lot of surpri

Title: Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly Pages: 352 Summary: this is the first in a promising new YA series. The basis of the story is that the descendants of Atlantis, who are mermaids, are getting ready to welcome the regina's daughter into her rightful place as the future heir to the throne.  It is during this event, that they are attacked and Serafina is forced to grow up and assume the responsibility of her people as well as a predestined fate. Accompanied by her friend, Neela, they embark on a journey to find out the meaning of this fate and their part in it.  This is actually a great book once you get passed the similarities it shares with the Little Mermaid.

Title: People I Want to Punch in the Throat by Jenn Mann Pages: 224 Summary: Jenn Mann is popular blogger who splits her time being a mother and real estate mogul. She provides a humorous look into her day to day life that anyone can relate to. She is funny, irreverent, honest, and always entertaining.

My Own Worst Frenemy  (Langdon Prep #1) by   Kimberly Reid The idea of prep school and/or boarding school has been super popular for quite a while. There is an appeal to reading about a familiar situation like school that involves something with a little more freedom - implied by the money needed for a prep or boarding school. This book combines the drama of school (they just don't like me!) with mystery (of the 'girl detective' variety) and a dash of romance (hubba hubba!) which is a recipe for success! The prep/boarding school books that have been out and popular have been fairly homogeneous (read caucasian) as if no one else in the world attends these schools. This is also, unfortunately, indicative of much of YA lite. This book reflects a far more realistic view of the world through its multi-cultural cast of characters on top of the fact that is very well written and executed. There were no false leads, but even though I guessed right as far as the bad g

Title: The Jewel by Amy Ewing Pages: 368 Summary: This YA novel is interesting.  I chose it because it was similar to the Selection series by Kiera Cass and at first thought it was going to be a complete rip off of it. It's not! The premise of this story is that the royal lineage is maintained by girls who have the genetic code required to carry royal babies.  These girls are tested when they are thirteen and if they have the right code they are removed from their families and placed in holding facilities until they are sixteen. At sixteen they are auctioned off to the royal families and become that family's surrogate.  The main character of this story, Violet Lasting, is sold to the Duchess of the Lake. The Duchess of the Lake is in need of a special surrogate that can deliver her a healthy, special baby girl so she can arrange a marriage to the Exetor (king) son.  She will stop at nothing to do it.  Violet, or Lot 197, is caught up in a situation