The Lost Library - A.M. Dean

Hello Bookworms!,

      I have found a book that I am absolutely in love with and I cannot wait to tell you all about it!!!! So, without further ado, let’s discuss!

Summary

      He is anything but ordinary. Dr. Arno Holmstrand is not just a professor at a small college. He’s a man who is on many countries watch list. He has the credentials to teach anywhere he wants, but he chose this college. Besides, it’s not like he needs the money.

      She is bored. Dr. Emily Wess loves her work. She pursued her doctorate in history for a reason. It means a lot to her. But her career doesn’t exactly offer excitement. A professor as at a small college, she lives her humdrum life, reveling in the tales of the past. 

      They are watching. They are waiting. They have a plan of action that will turn put an end to the constant pursuit of power, because there will be none left to pursue if they have anything to do with it.

At the heart of it all is a myth, a legend of human history. But the truth is more dangerous than fiction.

Review

      Readers, I have never read an A.M. Dean book before I picked up The Lost Library. Now, I am dying to read his next book The Keystone!! Here’s why:

      The storyline is INCREDIBLE!!!! This is the adventure I often crave but more often do not find! At about 516 pages (including the author’s note and acknowledgements) it seems like a long book but I promise it is so interesting it will fly by!!  There is an intricate, weaving storyline that challenges your brain to think a step ahead and see if you can figure it out before the characters (and I’m not ashamed to say, most of my best theories were wrong, but I was shocked, amazed, and pleased by what was really happening in the plot).

      You won’t get confused. I realize that following more than one person in a story and keeping up with the many clues of this mystery can seem daunting, but I promise you won’t be lost! A.M. Dean has the most amazing way of recapping throughout the story that won’t bore those who retain details easily but won’t lose those who forget easily. That’s not an easy balance to find, but A.M. Dean does it with a level of skill that is rarely seen.

      The imagery is wonderful! The settings in this book are historical and beautiful and A.M. Dean’s descriptions are perfect. If you have seen any of the places he describes, you will recognize and mentally picture them instantly as you read. But do not fear reading pages and pages describing each leg of each centipede on each brick. A.M. Dean writes stimulating descrptions that are usually only a paragraph each in length. Just another way that A.M. Dean’s skill as a writer is showcased.

      John Green once said:

"Sometimes you can read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book."

The Lost Library by A.M. Dean is a book that fits John Green’s description! If you haven’t read it, please do! If you have, recommend it to others! And if this book is ever made into a movie (please please PLEASE Hollywood!!) I will be first in line to see it!!

 

Get THe Lost Library on Amazon

 

 

Until next time,

            Lizzie <3

The Boscome Valley Mystery - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Hello Bookworms!,

            I have another review from the world of Sherlock Holmes. This time it’s The Boscombe Valley Mystery by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Summary:

            A young man’s father has been murdered. All the evidence points to the young man and he has been arrested. The young man and the authorities now look to Sherlock Holmes to prove whether or not the young man really could’ve killed his father. According to the evidence, it is improbable that anyone other than the young man really committed this crime. But at Sherlock says, when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains however improbable must be the truth. The question is not can Sherlock Holmes solve the mystery, its can he solve it before the young man goes to trial and is hanged for murder.

 

 

 

Review:

            I liked The Boscombe Valley Mystery because it was not only a mystery but it was a bit suspenseful. Unfortunately for me it was a tad bit slow moving in the middle even for a short story. But the ending made up for it. I would recommend the Boscombe Valley Mystery to mystery lovers everywhere.

PHOTO OF BOOK
** This is the book I am using to read the Sherlock Holmes stories. I like the layout of the book, the only drawback is that it is not a complete version of the original Sherlock Holmes works some of the short stories were not included. However, it does include the whole novel “The Hounds of Baskervilles” and the short stories are published in the same fashion as they originally were in The Strand with all the illustrations by Sidney Paget. At just $10 I recommend it to anyone who wants to become acquainted with the original Sherlock Holmes works for the first time like myself.

 

Links to Buy:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Original-Illustrated-Sherlock-Holmes/dp/0890090572/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380123962&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Original+Illustrated+Sherlock+Holmes

 

Until Next Time,

        Lizzie <3

The Lightkeeper's Daughter by Colleen Coble

Hello Bookworms,

        I have a review of a wonderful piece of inspirational historical fiction for you today. It is a work that I very much enjoyed reading and I cannot wait to read more by this author. Today’s review is of The Lightkeeper’s Daughter (A Mercy Falls Novel) by Colleen Coble!

 

Summary:

          Addie Sullivan grew up living and working at her parents’ lighthouse. When her father passed away of consumption, life got significantly harder. Addie’s mother, Josephine Sullivan, is much too hard on now 25 year old Addie. However, the faith that Addie’s father passed on to her keeps her strong. When a strange man is hurt and nursed back to health at the lighthouse, he delivers life changing news: Addie’s father and mother are not her real father and mother and Addie is actually the daughter of a very rich man. As Addie learns more about her real family, things aren’t adding up. Who can she trust? And who is in on a plot to stop her happy reunion with her father?  Things are taking a violent turn and Addie must find the truth before it is too late.

 

Review:

        I had seen and heard of Colleen Coble and her writing but I had never read any of it. So when I found one of her books in a local dollar store (I’m all about supplying myself with good books at the cheapest possible prices) I couldn’t pass it up. I’m glad I didn’t pass it up! Mrs. Coble’s story was fast paced, interesting, suspenseful, and fun. Every character is a wonderful addition to the plot of the story even Addie’s dear, gifted dog, Gideon. After reading this book by Colleen Coble, I am ready to get my hands on more of her books. There are at least two other books that revolve around lighthouses ( a personal favorite setting for me) but for those who enjoy different setting, Mrs. Coble has written books set in other places including her Rock Harbor series, Aloha Reef Series, and books set in Alaska, the Lonestar state (Texas area), and more. I think Mrs. Coble has something more almost everyone! I highly recommend “The Lightkeeper’s Daughter” by Colleen Coble! I also recommend everyone to check out Mrs. Coble’s other works as well! J

 

Links To Buy:

http://www.amazon.com/Lightkeepers-Daughter-Mercy-Falls-Series/dp/1595542671/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382383842&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Lightkeepers+Daughter+Colleen+Coble

 

Already read “The Lightkeeper’s Daughter”? Interested in Checking out author Colleen Coble’s other works? Here are some links to other books by Colleen Coble!

Links to More Colleen Coble Books:
The Lightkeeper’s Bride:

http://www.amazon.com/Lightkeepers-Bride-Mercy-Falls-Series/dp/1595542663/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382384576&sr=8-1&keywords=Mercy+Falls+Colleen+Coble

The Lightkeeper’s Ball:

http://www.amazon.com/Lightkeepers-Ball-Mercy-Falls-Novel/dp/159554268X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1382384762&sr=8-2&keywords=Mercy+Falls+Colleen+Coble

The Mercy Falls Collection: 3 in 1 Volume:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Mercy-Falls-Collection-Lightkeepers/dp/1401689493/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1382384834&sr=8-4&keywords=Mercy+Falls+Colleen+Coble

The Aloha Reef  Series:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=The+Aloha+Reef+Series+Colleen+Coble&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3AThe+Aloha+Reef+Series+Colleen+Coble

Until Next Time,
                   Lizzie <3

And Only To Decieve by Tasha Alexander

Hello  Bookworms!!,

          I did a LOT of reading over this past summer and today I have a brand new review for you!  This suspense novel is sure to keep you guessing! Its “And Only To Deceive” by Tasha Alexander!

Summary:

          Lady Emily Ashton was only married for a few months when her husband Lord Phillip Ashton died on a hunting trip in Africa. Suddenly confronted with new freedom and now in possession of the huge Ashton fortune, Emily hardly knows what to do with herself. After all, she only married Phillip to escape her overly critical mother. Now she must mourn a man that she barely knew and pretend to all his family and friends that they were the happiest and most intimate of couples. As Lady Ashton explores the diaries of her late husband, she falls in love with the man he was. But was Phillip Ashton really the man he made himself out to be in his journals? Something isn’t right. And how many of his friends know the truth?  Lady Ashton’s quest for the truth will take her all over the world, from the highest circles of society to the darkest depths of society’s seedy underbelly.

 

Review:

                I must admit that I was concerned when I picked up this book. I had found it pretty cheap in a used book store and I didn’t know anything about author Tasha Alexander’s writing. This was my first experience reading her writing. I was amazed! From the first few words, I was completely hooked on the story of Lady Emily Ashton! And it just got better and better as I continued to read! All of Mrs. Alexander’s colorful characters and the masterful way she weaves a story of intrigue and suspense will capture your attention. This is a book that you can expect to pick up and say “I’ll take a few minutes and read a page or two” and realize hours later that you’ve read several chapters! It’s just that good! I don’t want to say anything else about the plot or the story because there are so many twists and important details throughout the book from beginning to end that I’m afraid I’ll give something away! So I’ll just end with this: I highly recommend this book to everyone! You will love it! Go out and get a copy, give a copy as a gift, recommend it to your friends! It’s that good!

 

Link  to  buy:

http://www.amazon.com/And-Only-Deceive-Lady-Emily/dp/006114844X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378581603&sr=8-1&keywords=And+Only+To+Decieve+Tasha+Alexander


Until Next Time,
               Lizzie <3

The Flight of the Falcon - Daphne Du Maurier

Hello Bookworms!

            It’s time for a new review. This book is full of suspense a twisting tale of truth and lies, family secrets and neighborhood scandals. It is The Flight of the Falcon by Daphne Du Maurier.

Summary:
            Armino Fabbio is a courier with the Sunshine Tours out of Genoa, Italy. His life’s work consists of betting his driver on how long it will take to get from one city to another and showing gawking tourists all the beauty Italy has to offer. He enjoys his job but he’s restless. Then the murder occurs. What’s worse is Armino is almost sure it’s his fault. Worse than that, he is almost sure he knew the woman. Armino is the only member of his family left (after his father died in a prison camp, his brother was shot down in the war, and his mother passed away of illness) but he must go back to his old hometown of Ruffano to hopefully find some of the people who lived there when he was a boy and find out about this woman who was murdered. What Armino will find when he reaches Ruffano will be more than he believed could even be possible.

Review:

            Okay readers, I really enjoyed the overall story. If you are a Daphne Du Maurier fan, you will definitely want to make sure that you read this book. The twists and turns are shocking and the fine line between genius and insanity is blurred beyond recognition. However, there are a few things that you’ll want to know before you start reading.

            First, there is the little matter of confusion. You will have to pay attention to what is happening in the book because from time to time it gets a little confusing. There were times that I really wasn’t sure how certain details fit or where we were going with what I was reading.

            Second, there are the parts that are inappropriate to younger readers. There are places throughout the book where sex is the topic of focus. There is a lot of conversation about an affair between two of the characters. Also, the character Carla Raspa (a major player throughout the book) has several partners including several attempts to seduce the main hero, Armino Fabbio. These topics are not suitable for younger readers and parents should exercise caution when deciding whether to let their child read this book.

            Third and finally, is the issue with religion. The characters in this book have hostility towards God and express it many times in the book. At one point one character decides that God does not exist. Mature readers will be able to deal with it but I do not recommend it for less mature readers (it is at this point that I must say that maturity is not tied to age so parents please use discretion when allowing children tweens and teens to read this book or when recommending it to your adult friends and family).

            I recommend this book for mature, adult fans of Daphne Du Maurier. I do not recommend this book for immature adults, or young people because of the consistent themes of hostility towards God and sex.

Until Next Time!,

               Lizzie <3