Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos

9/10 - Everything I love in a book; love family, great kids. It gave me a cozy feeling down to my bones. Some reviewers complained about predictability, but I didn't see it. I can see how her writing style might not appeal to everyone, it's a bit halting, but I liked it. I think I would have appreaciated the book more if I was a fan of old movies. This will be a great one to pass on to friends.

Fall On Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald

8/10 - I'm not one who says things like "I just couldn't put it down." when talking about books. But really, I just couldn't put it down. Someone wrote in another review that reading this book is liking driving past a grisly accident, you want to look away, but you just can't. I think that sums it up perfectly. This book contains some of the most unusual characters I've ever come across. How they end up in the same book is amazing as well. But I just could not stop reading it out of morbid curiosity if nothing else. The happy ending queen crosses over to the dark side.

One For the Money by Janet Evanovich

7/10 - Another fun, easy read with lots of likeable characters. I enjoyed it so much that I ordered the next in the series "Two For the Dough". I was really surprised that so many parts of the story line caught me by surprise. Usually, I have books like this figured out by the first chapter. I even had a "holy crap" moment when the main character did something I totally wasn't expecting. If you like series, I'm sure you've already read this, but if you haven't, you should.

Love is a Mixed Tape by Rob Sheffield

8/10 - It's amazing to hear someone talk about one of the worst times in his life with such humor. This is what Rob Sheffield does. He writes about his life with his wife, Renee, and about how music brought them together and how it helped him to heal after she died. There's music in this book for everyone, and some songs that noone has every heard before. Life Rob's rewording of "The Tigger Song" into "The Widow Song".

The terrible thing about widows,

is widows are terrible things.

Their eyes are covered with sunglasses.

Their fingers are covered with rings.

They're jumpy, dumpy, frumpy, glumpy,

dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb.

But the most terrible thing about widows

is that I'm the only one.

I'm...the only one.

Girls in Trouble by Caroline Leavitt

9/10 - This book was so much more than the cover or title would lead you to believe. The characters are so believeable and well written, that it's almost impossible to figure out who to side with. It's a very touching story about a sixteen year old girl who gets pregnant and decides to give the baby up in an open adoption. I highly recommend it.

The Alienist by Caleb Carr

8/10 - Interesting "Jack the Ripper" type mystery set in the late 1800's in New York. I thought the writing was excellent, and the story held my interest although it took me a really long time to read. I'm not a die-hard mystery lover, but if you are you'll probably love it. I thought it could have been condensed some. Oh, and don't read it if you are hungry. The detective crew has some pretty amazing meals thrown in there with the gore.