The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima

Goodreads Description:  Han Alister thought he had already lost everyone he loved. But when he finds his friend Rebecca Morley near death in the Spirit Mountains, Han knows that nothing matters more than saving her. The costs of his efforts are steep, but nothing can prepare him for what he soon discovers: the beautiful, mysterious girl he knew as Rebecca is none other than Raisa ana’Marianna, heir to the Queendom of the Fells. Han is hurt and betrayed. He knows he has no future with a blueblood. And, as far as he’s concerned, the princess’s family killed his own mother and sister. But if Han is to fulfill his end of an old bargain, he must do everything in his power to see Raisa crowned queen.

Meanwhile, some people will stop at nothing to prevent Raisa from ascending. With each attempt on her life, she wonders how long it will be before her enemies succeed. Her heart tells her that the thief-turned-wizard Han Alister can be trusted. She wants to believe it—he’s saved her life more than once. But with danger coming at her from every direction, Raisa can only rely on her wits and her iron-hard will to survive—and even that might not be enough.

The Gray Wolf Throne is an epic tale of fierce loyalty, unbearable sacrifice, and the heartless hand of fate.

My review:  Ok, what can I possible say about this series?!  I love it!  This has got to be one of my favorite series of all times, right up there with Harry Potter and Twilight.

Ms. Chima's writing just grabs me right into the story.  I love the characters:  Raisa is such a strong young woman, yet has a real vulnerable, human side, I love Dancer and Cat, I didn't see enough of Amon in this book (but guess that that's part of where his and Raisa's relationship is right now), and I can't say enough about Han!  Oh, and then there's the Bayars...  There are so many parts to this story that are just amazing, and so much detail!  There are all the social classes with their dialects, all of the policitics and intrigue going on, and then there's the magic and the romance.

I'll have to say that I had a really hard time finishing the book.  Not for reasons that you might think, but because I know that this book hasn't even come out in the bookstores, and I don't know when the next one is coming out!!  Argh!! 

Her Good Name by Josi S. Kilpack

Goodreads Description:  Chrissy is having an identity crisis. As a single women and convert to the Church, she has always managed to find her place in life- at least until someone else begins using her credit cards, her bank account, and, most important, her name. Now the real Chrissy must prove her innocence against a growing pile of collection notices and unpaid bills. But with no job, no money, a warrant for her arrest, and a closet full of high-heeled shoes, a girl can only get so far.

When Chrissy meets Micah Heet, the other half of a blind date gone bad, the two discover they are facing the same battle and join forces to find the perpetrators. Little do they know that the small semblance of life they have left will be put on the line in the process.

My Review:  A great book! I read it in one day on my day-trip up to Idaho! (Sorry Jana...) Another hit from Josi Kilpack! This was a scary tale about identity theft! It was also a wonderful story about holding on to your faith, even through the hardest trials you could go through! Chrissy was such a fun character, and I just loved, loved, LOVED MMmmmmm. Hahaha, I just loved that. These characters that Josi writes about have so much more courage than I do, it's fun to see what situations they get themselves into. Thanks Josi!!

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Goodreads Description:  In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

My review:  WoW!! I loved this book! I really want to start it over right away and read it again so I can digest more of it! I can't believe all the hard things that Tris had to go through! It's interesting that they would divide into factions like they did. It seemed that that caused more problems than if they had recognized that they had a little of each faction in each of them. Ooohh, what about Tris's mom?

Once Upon a Read-a-Thon Day 2 - Key Lime Pie by Josi Kilpack

Goodreads Description: 
When Sadie Hoffmiller's new friend, Eric Burton, receives word that his missing daughter's body may have been found in Florida, he immediately packs his bags. Sadie is determined to stay home and prove to everyone that she is not a busybody. But when she senses Eric is hiding something, Sadie is compelled to take action. Before she knows it, she's in the heart of Miami, trying to piece together a trail that might just give Eric the answers he's so desperately searching for. In the process, Sadie finds herself in the company of some colorful characters and some good ol' southern cooking. But despite the drama and intrigue, all Sadie really wants is to go home ... as soon as she does just one more thing.
 
Includes eight new mouthwatering recipes, tested and approved by the official bakers of Sadie's Test Kitchen

My review:  I loved this book! Of course, I love all of Josi Kilpack's culinary mysteries. Sadie has done it again! For some reason, Sadie's adventures scared me a little more in this book than some of the others have. I know that I am not that curious/brave. Thanks Josi for another great book!

I borrowed this book from a friend.

Once Upon a Book-a-thon 2nd book

Only my 2nd book read for this read-a-thon!!  Better get reading more!  Another cute middle-school book that my daughter won.

Once Upon a Read-a-Thon Day 2 Mini-Challenge

Ok, I'm participating today in the mini-challenge posted on http://thebookishtype.blogspot.com/.  I'm supposed to make up a false synopsis based on a book cover.  The book cover I am basing it on is Divergent by Veronica Roth.  I'm going to be reading this today, so thought it would be fun!!  Here goes:



It is Summer 2012.  A sweltering day in Chicago, IL.  The residents all of a sudden notice a huge ring of fire hovering over the city.  Aliens?  The end of the world?  There are no airplanes or spaceships coming out of the fire, it just stays there.  What should they do?  The military is called in, and they tentatively try firing some of their weapons at it.  Nothing changes.  In a small community outside of Chicago lives an unassuming 14-year-old girl, Talula Boyd.  Without any of her friends knowing, Lulu has been involved in archery for the past 3 years.  She is actually an Olympic hopeful!  Lulu's father happens to work at a company that develops flame retardant products.  With the help of her father, she puts together a compound that will stay on her arrows.  All she has to do is to hit the middle ball of fire.  Will Lulu be able to save Chicago?

Hehehe, this was fun!!

Once Upon a Read-a-Thon Day 1 - Entwined by Heather Dixon

Goodreads Description: 
Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away. All of it.
The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.
Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.
But there is a cost.
The Keeper likes to keep things.
Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.

My review:  Beautiful cover and story!  I've had the children's book, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, for many years, and it was fun to read a little more grown-up version of the story.
This is another book I got with my Amazon giftcard that I won.