Saturday, November 30, 2013

November's Book of the Month

Hello Everyone! I chose the picture posted above because it reminds me of reading to my daughter Mareena when she was little. Every afternoon until she was about eight or nine years old, we would take one of her books that she wanted to read or that she was reading and we would curl up together on my big bed. 

We would spend an hour or so reading a chapter of her book, and then take a nap together. Her absolutely favorite author at that time was an English author named Enid Blyton. Ahh, nice memories...

My picks for 'Books of the Month' will be decidedly more adult these days, but they will be from almost any genre. November's Book of the Month is: 


 Every Last One: A Novel by Anna Quindlen
Published as: Every Last One in April 2010
Publisher: Random House



Birth Name: Anna Marie Quindlen
Born: 8 July 1952 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Canonical Name: Anna Quindlen
Pseudonyms: None

Every Last One: A Novel by Anna Quindlen was the one hundred and ninth book that I read in 2013. I have had this book on my TBR shelf since November 21, 2013 and it took me two days to read. This book is a definite keeper for me!

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Friday, November 29, 2013

Janet Dailey - Green Calder Grass

111. Green Calder Grass by Janet Dailey (2002)
The Calder Saga Book 6
Length: 345 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Started: 27 November 2013
Finished: 29 November 2013
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 2 February 2013
Why do I have it? I like contemporary fiction and Janet Dailey is a new author for me.

Headstrong and proud, with her roots planted deep in Calder soil, Jessy Niles Calder isn't the sort of woman to lead a man or be led by him. She has always known that Ty Calder was the man for her, even if she had to wait for him to leave behind his loveless marriage to glamorous, poor little rich girl, Tara. Now, as Ty's wife, Jessy finally has everything she's ever wanted - the strong bonds of family, a thriving ranch, and the long-awaited promise of a new life growing within her...proof of her love for Ty.

And then Tara returns. As manipulative as she is beautiful, Tara has never brought anything with her but trouble, so Jessy can only wonder what her agenda is this time. But when Tara's powerful father dies, she seems genuinely grief-stricken and relies on Ty and his sister, Cat, for comfort and strength. Soon, Tara's back on the land and involved in their lives, and nothing is the same.

As days give way to months, Tara's very presence there divides the ranch, replacing long-held bonds of trust between employer and employees, friends and relatives, husband and wife - with seeds of suspicion and simmering jealousies that endanger Jessy's happiness and the Calders' claim on their land.

With everything at stake - from the ranch she loves to the name she proudly calls her own - Jessy Calder is in for the fight of her life. And when the Calders fight for what they love, they fight to win. But with Tara's return, a deep-seated desire for revenge has been stirred from an old danger...a secret link to the past that will test the fabric of the Calder clan, threatening their very lives - and culminating in a loss more heartbreaking than any of them could possibly imagine.

To my knowledge, I have never read anything by Janet Dailey before, although I may have several of her books hidden away somewhere on my bookshelves downstairs. Anyway, I absolutely loved reading this book! It was extremely well-written and the plot captured and held my attention strongly until the very end. This is the sixth book in the Calder Saga, but for all intents and purposes, it can be read on its own - which is something that I very much appreciated. I give this book an A+! and am looking forward to reading more from Janet Dailey in the future.

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Giving Thanks For All Our Blessings This Thanksgiving!

Prosperity image

I hope that all my blog readers in the United States have a very happy Thanksgiving! May your Thanksgiving be filled with great food, wonderful friendship and all the family ties that you may wish for. :) I have to say that Mareena and I will not be having the usual Thanksgiving turkey today - it will be smoked ham for us all the way. After that, we will kick up our feet and read books for the entire day! :)

May all of you have a wonderfully safe and blessed Thanksgiving. Be sure to find some quiet time for yourselves and count your blessings today when and if you can. I know that I'm incredibly thankful for my continued health and happiness, my daughter's continued health and happiness, that we are both comfortable and love each other as much as we do, and that our family is as well as they are. We are also incredibly thankful for our three kitties - Ruby, Leila and Lollipop.

I also hope that everyone who is away from their families at this time, will know that they are sorely missed, truly loved and deeply appreciated by all! God bless all of you, may you have a very happy and wonderful Thanksgiving! :)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Arthur Herzog - Heat

110. Heat by Arthur Herzog (1977)
Length: 277 pages
Genre: Horror
Started: 24 November 2013
Finished: 27 November 2013
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 5 April 2001
Why do I have it? I like horror and Arthur Herzog is a new author for me.

Somewhere in a secret underground laboratory, Lawrence Pick - an engineer who predicted and analyzed large-scale calamities that might affect the national security of the United States - gathers startling evidence that the world's weather may be rapidly changing, as a prelude to a fundamental alteration in global climate. They call him an alarmist - a gloomy, anxious pessimist. Lawrence resented the label, but for himself and a team of equally skilled scientists, the evidence is irrefutable.

When the evidence of a carbon dioxide buildup was first brought to his attention, the idea seemed ludicrous, too far-fetched. Until nature itself breathed life into the theory. Now, as freakish weather conditions prevail: extraordinary tornadoes and hurricanes, droughts, violent hailstorms and windstorms, as well as savage waterspouts - Lawrence's various 'over-reactive' weather predictions become a stunning reality.

"Condition Green" is no longer a theory as destruction runs rampant, but still neither the government of the United States nor the people will listen. Too late, the results of man's indifference is everywhere...with only one hope for survival.

I must say that while I ultimately ended up enjoying this book, I found reading it was a bit of a slog for me in certain places. In my opinion, the writing was too technically involved - the author used a little too much scientific jargon - and as a result, reading the story was slightly beyond me at times.

It was still a very good book, but for me, the thing that saved Heat by Arthur Herzog being rated a B+! or even a B! was that the action picked up appreciably towards the end. I give this story an A! This is certainly a book that makes you think - and worry!

A! - (90-95%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Arthur Herzog - Heat

110. Heat by Arthur Herzog (1977)
Length: 277 pages
Genre: Horror
Started: 24 November 2013
Finished: 27 November 2013
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 5 April 2001
Why do I have it? I like horror and Arthur Herzog is a new author for me. 

Somewhere in a secret underground laboratory, Lawrence Pick - an engineer who predicted and analyzed large-scale calamities that might affect the national security of the United States - gathers startling evidence that the world's weather may be rapidly changing, as a prelude to a fundamental alteration in global climate. They call him an alarmist - a gloomy, anxious pessimist. Lawrence resented the label, but for himself and a team of equally skilled scientists, the evidence is irrefutable. 

When the evidence of a carbon dioxide buildup was first brought to his attention, the idea seemed ludicrous, too far-fetched. Until nature itself breathed life into the theory. Now, as freakish weather conditions prevail: extraordinary tornadoes and hurricanes, droughts, violent hailstorms and windstorms, as well as savage waterspouts - Lawrence's various 'over-reactive' weather predictions become a stunning reality. 

"Condition Green" is no longer a theory as destruction runs rampant, but still neither the government of the United States nor the people will listen. Too late, the results of man's indifference is everywhere...with only one hope for survival. 

I must say that while I ultimately ended up enjoying this book, I found reading it was a bit of a slog for me in certain places. In my opinion, the writing was too technically involved - the author used a little too much scientific jargon - and as a result, reading the story was slightly beyond me at times. 

It was still a very good book, but for me, the thing that saved Heat by Arthur Herzog being rated a B+! or even a B! was that the action picked up appreciably towards the end. I give this story an A! This is certainly a book that makes you think - and worry!

A! - (90-95%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Anna Quindlen - Every Last One: A Novel

109. Every Last One: A Novel by Anna Quindlen (2010)
Length: 299 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Started: 22 November 2013
Finished: 24 November 2013
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 21 November 2013
Why do I have it? I like contemporary fiction and have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past.

For Mary Beth Latham, the loving mother of three children and wife of a very successful eye doctor, nothing is more important to her than her family and their well-being. She is first and foremost a mother to three teenaged children - daughter Ruby, and fraternal twin boys, Alex and Max. Her own career as a gardener and landscaper, and to a certain extent, even her marriage to her husband, Glen, tends to take a backseat to her role as a mother for Mary Beth.

Caring for her family and preserving their day-to-day happiness in life is paramount. So, when one of her sons, Max, becomes severely depressed, Mary Beth focuses on getting him the help he needs - so much so, that she is completely blindsided by a shocking act of violence - the explosive consequences of what seem to be inconsequential actions.

What follows afterwards is a testament to the power of a woman's love and determination, and to the invisible line of hope and healing that connects every human being, one to another. Ultimately, Every Last One: A Novel by Anna Quinlen, is about facing every last one of our deepest fears, about finding a way to navigate roads we never intended to travel, and to live a life we never dreamed we'd have to live but must be brave enough to try.

I've read only three books by Anna Quindlen in the past, but am quickly beginning to think of her as one of my favorite authors. I must say that I absolutely loved Every Last One: A Novel. The plot was enthralling - capturing my attention from page one with likeable characters and heart-stopping drama. The story was also incredibly poignant for me. In my opinion, Anna Quindlen is a terrific author, and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

I give Every Last One: A Novel by Anna Quindlen an A+! This book is a definite keeper for me, and is perhaps my favorite book of the month.

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Friday, November 22, 2013

Maeve Binchy - Circle of Friends

108. Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy (1990) 
Length: 596 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Started: 18 November 2013
Finished: 22 November 2013
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 23 January 2001
Why do I have it? I love Maeve Binchy as an author and have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past.

The circle began with Benny Hogan and Eve Malone, growing up, inseparable, in the tiny village of Knockglen. Benny - the only child, yearning to break free from her adoring parents. Eve - the orphaned offspring of a convent handyman and a rebellious blueblood, abandoned by her mother's wealthy family to be raised by the nuns. Eve and Benny - they knew the sins and secrets behind every villager's lace curtains...except their own.

The circle blossomed in Dublin, to the university where Benny and Eve met beautiful Nan Mahon and Jack Foley, the handsome son of a doctor. But heartbreak and betrayal would eventually bring the sheltered world of Knockglen and Dublin together in an explosive collision. Long-hidden lies would surface to test the meaning of love and to try the strength of bonds created within the fragile gold bands of a Circle of Friends...

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book; as I have enjoyed so many of Maeve Binchy's books that I've read in the past. I originally thought that I read it about fifteen or twenty years ago, but I was mistaken. I don't believe that I've ever read this book before. However, I do remember watching the movie starring Chris O'Donnell and Minnie Driver, when it came on television about seven months ago. 

I loved both the book and the movie, but they were each so different that I was slightly confused over whether I had actually read the book before. I give Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy an A+!  

A+! - (96-100%)
    
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Our Library Visit For November

Hello Everyone! How are you on this fine Thursday? I'm doing just fine. :) Well, today being Thursday, this is the day that I usually run my errands. I still ran my errands, but before I did, Mareena and I went to our local library and raided the library book sale! :)

It was absolutely wonderful! We spent about an hour and a half - from 11:45 A. M. to 12:30 P. M. - at the library, and had agreed before hand that this was to be our Christmas visit. The books that we bought at the library book sale would be kept as Christmas gifts for us both - we'll see how long that promise lasts! LOL!! :)

Between us, we bought 36 hardcovers, 61 paperbacks as well as 4 jigsaw puzzles . We spent a whopping $65 for a total of 97 books. A pretty good haul, if I do say so, myself. :)

At the moment, I'm reading Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy, which I started on Monday, November 18th!

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Mollie Hardwick - Upstairs, Downstairs III: The Years of Change

107. Upstairs, Downstairs III: The Years of Change by Mollie Hardwick (1974)
The Upstairs, Downstairs Series Book 3
Length: 239 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Started: 14 November 2013
Finished: 17 November 2013
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 25 July 2001
Why do I have it? I like historical fiction and Mollie Hardwick is a new author for me.

Shockwaves are felt at 165 Eaton Place as the aristocratic Bellamys' experience dangerous love, tragic loss, and shocking new liberties. From 1912 to 1914, the very foundations of the Bellamy family's splendid London mansion in Belgravia seemed to tremble when beautiful Lady Marjorie Bellamy embarked on a tragic ocean voyage...When dashing James Bellamy talked of marriage to a divorcee...When the distinguished Mr. Robert Bellamy was almost expelled from Parliament, and fell into the sensual clutches of a ravishing once-married woman...When an inexperienced servant witnessed the wrong gentleman emerging from a lady's bedchamber, and told the wrong person about it...

England was being swept along in the winds of change - and in the eye of such a perilous hurricane, the Bellamys must decide whether to move with the times, or try to preserve their sacred traditions.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I used to watch 'Upstairs, Downstairs' faithfully when it was on television in the 1970's, and reading The Years of Change by Mollie Hardwick brought me right back into that time period again. It was a pleasure for me to revisit these characters. I give this book an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)   
  
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Thursday, November 14, 2013

John Saul - The Right Hand of Evil

106. The Right Hand of Evil by John Saul (1999)
Length: 427 pages
Genre: Horror
Started: 9 November 2013
Finished: 14 November 2013
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 21 November 2001
Why do I have it? I like horror and John Saul is a new author for me.

For the Conway family, moving into their ancestral home in Louisiana after the death of an estranged aunt promised a fresh start for them - a completely new beginning. Situated in the small town of St. Albans, the sprawling Victorian house seems to swallow up the sunlight. Surrounded by dense woods and a stifling sense of melancholy, the residence has sat abandoned for the last forty years. 

Deep within the cold cellar and etched into the very walls, is the long dark history of the Conway name - a grim bloodline tainted by suicide, strange disappearances, poisoned by voodoo rituals, and rumors of murders. Such a house has developed a life of its very own - an eeriness which is palpable, dwelling in the shadows and biding its time.

The Conway family knows nothing of the soul-shattering secrets that snake through generations of their past. They do not realize the terror that awaits them. For with each successive generation of Conways there ultimately comes a hellish day of reckoning...

I do have several books by John Saul on my bookshelf, but I believe that this is the first book by this author that I've read. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The book was extremely well-written, the plot captured my attention and held it all the way through the story. I will say that I found the story slightly repetitive at certain points - at least in my opinion. Overall, though, I give this book a definite A! and look forward to reading more from John Saul in the future.     

A! - (90-95%)
 
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Edna Buchanan - Miami, It's Murder

105. Miami, It's Murder by Edna Buchanan (1994)
The Britt Montero Mysteries Book 2
Length: 244 pages
Genre: Contemporary Mystery
Started: 6 November 2013
Finished: 9 November 2013
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 June 2001
Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and Edna Buchanan as an author.

Miami is a city teeming with life and with a restless energy that is undeniable. A city where the skies are always blue and life and death are seldom simple. Miami is also the home of Britt Montero, a feisty, charismatic Cuban-American crime reporter.

In Miami, It's Murder, Britt is investigating a series of bizarre deaths involving sex, electrocution, and freshly poured concrete. With a retired, terminally ill detective as her friend and source, Britt probes the unsolved rape and murder of a little girl, which ultimately may implicate the rich and powerful front-runner in the governor's race. She also follows the trail of a terrifying serial rapist who ambushes career women in the bathrooms of the gleaming downtown skyscrapers that spear the Miami skyline.

This quest takes her from the sterile and antiseptic police crime lab with its forensic experts, into the dark heart of Santeria - a blood-fueled religion linked to spells, symbols, sacrifice, and the occult. Enraged by Britt's stories, the rapist escalates his violence and focuses his obsession on her. Stalked by the shadowy rapist, on the trail of a serial killer, Britt comes ever closer to learning the shocking truth as tensions mount and the stories intersect with edge-of-the-seat suspense and an astonishing conclusion.

This may be the second or third book that I've read by Edna Buchanan and I've enjoyed them all. In my opinion, this book was very well-written, with likable characters; and an action-packed, intricate plot that led in directions that I wasn't expecting. I give this book an A+! Edna Buchanan certainly knows her stuff as an author.

A+! - (96-100%)
 
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Warren Smith - The Strange Ones

104. The Strange Ones by Warren Smith (1972)
Length: 190 pages
Genre: Horror
Started: 5 November 2013
Finished: 6 November 2013
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 21 November 2001
Why do I have it? I like horror and Warren Smith is a new author for me.

This book is filled with various true accounts of personal brushes with the unexplained: incidents of parapsychology; the paranormal, unexplained disappearances at sea, anomalies of medicine and the occult. While I certainly enjoyed reading most of these stories, I must say that this book wasn't entirely riveting to me. I found that the stories, while interesting, just weren't as detailed as I would have preferred. I give this book a B+!

B+! - (89-94%)
 
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Monday, November 4, 2013

Barbara Gowdy - Falling Angels

103. Falling Angels by Barbara Gowdy (1989)
Length: 199 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Started: 1 November 2013
Finished: 4 November 2013
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 11 September 2001
Why do I have it? I like contemporary fiction and Barbara Gowdy is a new author for me.

The year is 1969, and somewhere in an Ontario suburb, the Field family's fragile domestic peace is slowly coming to an end. The three Field sisters - Norma, Lou and Sandy - are each just trying to find their own place within their very eccentric, often miserable, sometimes hilarious family. However, the looming shadow over all of their lives is the tragically suspicious death of the family's first-born son - a secret which is never spoken of, but is nonetheless pervasive.

The Field household is ruled by Jim Field - a philandering, heavy-drinking used car salesman - who is keen on the militaristic discipline of his children, and on keeping up appearances for the neighbors. Despite his poor treatment of his wife, he is still oddly protective of her, insisting that his daughters watch her all the time.

His severely depressed wife Mary - a one-time dancer - has escaped into apathy and alcoholism a long time ago. Whenever her coffee cup is empty, her daughters rush to fill it with whiskey, for they realize she is living precariously in the wake of what happened to her baby son. 

Each of the teenage daughters has her own way of coping with her dysfunctional family. They try to make their own experiences while struggling with their family duties and concern for their mother. The eldest daughter Norma is the most responsible member of the family; quiet, subdued and selfless, she overburdens herself with domestic tasks and responsibilities, patiently putting up with her father's antics. She is also the only one intent on keeping the memory of her brother bright, determined to discover the secrets surrounding his death.

The middle daughter Lou is the polar opposite of Norma. Lou fights for her autonomy within the family. She is the tough-talking, rebellious wild child; standing up to her father and loving her mother, even as she despises Mary's weaknesses.

The youngest daughter Sandy is not as responsible as Norma, nor as rebellious as Lou. Sweet-looking Sandy devotes herself to becoming a perfect woman; with her own naive sense of femininity and sexuality. 

Each sister goes through her own rite of passage. They turn to drugs, sex, and schmaltzy fantasy - but repeatedly to one another. And, even after her death, the sisters still turn to their mother, and to the unusual love they discover their father still holds for her.

I must say that while this book dealt with some seriously dark issues, I found that there was a thread of humor running throughout the story that I could totally appreciate. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book - the story was well-written, easy to follow and the characters were sympathetically drawn. I give this book an A+! and look forward to perhaps reading more from Barbara Gowdy in the future.

A+! - (96-100%)         
    
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Friday, November 1, 2013

David Bell - Cemetery Girl

102. Cemetery Girl by David Bell (2011)
Length: 389 pages
Genre: Contemporary Mystery
Started: 29 October 2013
Finished: 1 November 2013
Where did it come from? From Paperback Swap
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 28 October 2013
Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and have read and enjoyed The Hiding Place by the same author in the past.

Tom and Abby Stuart thought they had everything: a perfect marriage, successful careers, and a sweet, beautiful twelve-year-old daughter named Caitlin. Then one day Caitlin vanished without a trace. For a while they grasped at every false hope and followed every empty lead, hoping that Caitlin would be found safe. But the tragedy ultimately ended up changing their lives, overwhelming them with guilt and dread, and shattering their marriage. 

Four years later, Caitlin is found alive - dirty and disheveled yet eerily calm. She won't discuss where she was or what happened. And she is fundamentally changed by the ordeal. 

When the police arrest a suspect connected to Caitlin's disappearance, she refuses to testify against him. So the Stuarts are faced with a devastating choice: Let the man who may be responsible for destroying their lives walk away, or take matters into their own hands. And when Tom decides to try to uncover the truth for himself, he finds that nothing that has happened can possibly prepare him for what he is about to discover. 

In my opinion, this book was absolutely excellent! The story was extremely intriguing and captured my attention right from the beginning. It was a poignant book for me to read as well - fast-paced and well-written, holding my attention throughout the entire book. I give David Bell's debut novel a definite A+! 

A+! - (96-100%)
 
Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Reading Wrap-up For October at Moonshine and Rosefire


Hello everyone out there and I hope that you all had a terrific reading month for yourselves. I am known as Rosefire around the Internet and this is my new personal reading blog. I originally posted my reviews over at my daughter's blog, Emeraldfire's Bookmark but am now in the process of transferring them all over to my own blog. My daughter makes blogging look like so much fun that I thought that I would try it out for myself! :)

Anyway, I started out October with 753 unread books lying around the house and ended the month with 744 books unread. All the books that I acquired this month came from Paperback Swap, Amazon, Bookmooch and an author.


Let me try to break down the influx for you:

Changes to the TBR pile

Read from my TBR pile (Yes! I am a reading machine :))
- The Sands of Time by Sidney Sheldon 
- The Resort by Bentley Little 
- Summer House: A Novel by Nancy Thayer  
- The House by Bentley Little 
- The Hiding Place by David Bell 
- An Act of Love by Nancy Thayer
- Belonging: A Novel by Nancy Thayer 
- The Hanging Tree: A Novella by Michael Phillip Cash
- Going All the Way by Dan Wakefield

Added to my TBR pile (oh well, you win some and you lose some! Not too bad though, I suppose:))
- Penny Press/Dell Variety Puzzles Magazine: 24 Pack by Penny Press/Dell Magazine Publications
- The Works of Edgar Allan Poe Volume 1
by Edgar Allan Poe
- The Works of Edgar Allan Poe Volume 3
by Edgar Allan Poe
- Superb Crosswords Magazine Jumbo Issue: Volume 125
by Kappa Press
- Penny Press On the Go Sudoku Magazine: October 2013
by Penny Press
- The Works of Edgar Allan Poe Volume 4
by Edgar Allan Poe
- The Works of Edgar Allan Poe Volume 5
by Edgar Allan Poe
- Edgar Allan Poe: Complete Tales and Poems
by Edgar Allan Poe
- Edgar Allan Poe's Complete Poetical Works
by Edgar Allan Poe
- The Yellow Wallpaper
by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- Raising Demons
by Shirley Jackson
- The Haunted
by Bentley Little
- The Island: A Novel of Terror by Will Overby
- Me and Emma by Elizabeth Flock
- Freddy's House by David Jester
- Welcome to Moon Hill by Anthony J. Rapino
- Tortured Memory by Lawrence Gold
- Five, Six...Grab Your Crucifix by Willow Rose
- The Spook House by Paul Emil
- The Darkness of Shadows by Chris Little
- The Druggist by Todd Croak-Falen
- Great Kitchen Secrets: As Seen on TV by Chef Tony Notaro
- The Park by Shane Jeffery
- Where the Teddy Bears Have Their Picnic by C. M. Adams
- No Cure For Murder by Lawrence Gold
- Ghosts by John Banville
- Cemetery Girl by David Bell
- Chain of Souls: Salem VI by Jack Heath and John Thompson
- The Demon Signet by Shawn Hopkins
- The White Door by G. J. Owens
- Scars on the Face of God: The Devil's Bible by C. G. Bauer
- They Only Come Out at Night by F. Kearney
- Bad Apple by Clay Held

Taken off my TBR pile and sent to a new home (Yay! Happy Dance! :)) 
- The Five People You Meet in Heaven
by Mitch Albom
- Cypress Point by Diane Chamberlain
- Over the Edge
by Jonathan Kellerman
- Point of Origin
by Patricia Cornwell
- Comes the Blind Fury
by John Saul
- Everything Must Go
by Elizabeth Flock
- A Rose For Virtue: The Very Private Life of Hortense, Stepdaughter of Napoleon I, Mother of Napoleon III
by Norah Lofts
- Ghost Story
by Peter Straub
- The Resort
by Bentley Little
- Blood Brother: 33 Reasons my Brother Scott Peterson is Guilty
by Anne Bird
- Blind Faith
by Joe McGinniss
- Down to a Sunless Sea
by David Poyer
- The House
by Bentley Little (2 copies)
- Lightning by Danielle Steel
- Best Friends Forever: A Novel by Jennifer Weiner 
- The Hiding Place by David Bell 
- From a Buick 8: A Novel by Stephen King 
- The Search For the Girl With the Blue Eyes: An Unforgettable Venture Into the Shadowy World of Reincarnation by Jess Stearns
- A Little Death by Laura Wilson

Well, there it is...the breakdown! All in all, a very good reading month for me. Here's a further breakdown:

Books Read: 9
Pages Read: 3,091
Grade Range: A+! to B+!

So, there you go! The reading month that was October. I hope that you all had an equally good reading month; if not a little better. :) See you all next month! :)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Reading Wrap-up For October at Moonshine and Rosefire


Hello everyone out there and I hope that you all had a terrific reading month for yourselves. I am known as Rosefire around the Internet and this is my new personal reading blog. I originally posted my reviews over at my daughter's blog, Emeraldfire's Bookmark but am now in the process of transferring them all over to my own blog. My daughter makes blogging look like so much fun that I thought that I would try it out for myself! :)

Anyway, I started out October with 788 unread books lying around the house and ended the month with 779 books unread. All the books that I acquired this month came from Paperback Swap, Amazon, Bookmooch and an author.


Let me try to break down the influx for you:

Changes to the TBR pile

Read from my TBR pile (Yes! I am a reading machine :))
- The Sands of Time by Sidney Sheldon 
- The Resort by Bentley Little 
- Summer House: A Novel by Nancy Thayer  
- The House by Bentley Little 
- The Hiding Place by David Bell 
- An Act of Love by Nancy Thayer
- Belonging: A Novel by Nancy Thayer 
- The Hanging Tree: A Novella by Michael Phillip Cash
- Going All the Way by Dan Wakefield

Added to my TBR pile (oh well, you win some and you lose some! Not too bad though, I suppose:))
- Penny Press/Dell Variety Puzzles Magazine: 24 Pack by Penny Press/Dell Magazine Publications
- The Works of Edgar Allan Poe Volume 1
by Edgar Allan Poe
- The Works of Edgar Allan Poe Volume 3
by Edgar Allan Poe
- Superb Crosswords Magazine Jumbo Issue: Volume 125
by Kappa Press
- Penny Press On the Go Sudoku Magazine: October 2013
by Penny Press
- The Works of Edgar Allan Poe Volume 4
by Edgar Allan Poe
- The Works of Edgar Allan Poe Volume 5
by Edgar Allan Poe
- Edgar Allan Poe: Complete Tales and Poems
by Edgar Allan Poe
- Edgar Allan Poe's Complete Poetical Works
by Edgar Allan Poe
- The Yellow Wallpaper
by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- Raising Demons
by Shirley Jackson
- The Haunted
by Bentley Little
- Me and Emma by
Elizabeth Flock
- Freddy's House by David Jester
- Welcome to Moon Hill by Anthony J. Rapino
- Five, Six...Grab Your Crucifix by Willow Rose
- The Spook House by Paul Emil
- The Darkness of Shadows by Chris Little
- The Druggist by Todd Croak-Falen
- Great Kitchen Secrets: As Seen on TV by Chef Tony Notaro
- Ghosts by John Banville
- Cemetery Girl by David Bell
- Chain of Souls: Salem VI by Jack Heath and John Thompson
- The Demon Signet by Shawn Hopkins
- The White Door by G. J. Owens
- Scars on the Face of God: The Devil's Bible by C. G. Bauer
- They Only Come Out at Night by F. Kearney
- Bad Apple by Clay Held

Taken off my TBR pile and sent to a new home (Yay! Happy Dance! :)) 
- The Five People You Meet in Heaven
by Mitch Albom
- Cypress Point by Diane Chamberlain
- Over the Edge
by Jonathan Kellerman
- Point of Origin
by Patricia Cornwell
- Comes the Blind Fury
by John Saul
- Everything Must Go
by Elizabeth Flock
- A Rose For Virtue: The Very Private Life of Hortense, Stepdaughter of Napoleon I, Mother of Napoleon III
by Norah Lofts
- Ghost Story
by Peter Straub
- The Resort
by Bentley Little
- Blood Brother: 33 Reasons my Brother Scott Peterson is Guilty
by Anne Bird
- Blind Faith
by Joe McGinniss
- Down to a Sunless Sea
by David Poyer
- The House
by Bentley Little (2 copies)
- Lightning by Danielle Steel
- Best Friends Forever: A Novel by Jennifer Weiner 
- The Hiding Place by David Bell 
- From a Buick 8: A Novel by Stephen King 
- The Search For the Girl With the Blue Eyes: An Unforgettable Venture Into the Shadowy World of Reincarnation by Jess Stearns
- A Little Death by Laura Wilson

Well, there it is...the breakdown! All in all, a very good reading month for me. Here's a further breakdown:

Books Read: 9
Pages Read: 3,091
Grade Range: A+! to B+!

So, there you go! The reading month that was October. I hope that you all had an equally good reading month; if not a little better. :) See you all next month! :)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight