The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan

10/10 - One of my favorite reads of the year so far. It had just the right amount of romance, history, and action. I never lost interest. The author gave enough detail that you didn't feel like you missed anything, but no too much so you wished she'd move on already. I really enjoyed the love story, and the backdrop of Niagara Falls was perfect.

High Five by Janet Evanovich

10/10 - Damn you Janet Evanovich! You sucked me right in didn't you. This is my favorite of the Stephanie Plum series so far. Now I'm all hot for Morelli and Ranger. Grandma Mazur is hilarious! Etc, etc... the stuff everyone else will tell you if they've read these.

Storm Front by Jim Butcher

8/10 - I really enjoyed the first book in this series and have already ordered the second. It's like a cross between the Sookie Stackhouse series and the Stephanie Plum series. I really liked Harry, and his little quips. Sometimes the explanations of how the magic works is a bit lame. Lots of talk about energy, but whatever. It's an entertaining read, lets not overthink it.

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates

2/10 - Holy cow! I hate these people. And I mean all of them. What a bunch of self-centered, stuck up, holier than thou jerk-offs. I can't believe I even finished this whole book, I cared so little for what happened to them. I actually started wishing someone would die to liven the thing up a bit. Not a single action in this book was motivated by anything other than self absorption. I'm so glad it's done.

Perfect Life by Jessica Shattuck

6/10 - I thought it was an okay book. I didn't really care for any of the characters, or what happened to them really. They all seemed so shallow and material. I did like the common gene/DNA thread that ran through the book, and the story line was enough to keep me interested. However, it wasn't a book that I got excited about.

Some People, Some Other Place by J. California Cooper

5/10 - A friend lent me this book, and she loved it and was very excited about it. I wish I could say the same. At first, I didn't think it was even going to make it past the 100 page rule, but then I kinda got into the story. I really didn't like the writing style at all, and her preachy pauses were making me insane. I liked some of the characters, but there were way too many! I'd much rather get really into a few characters than read a little about 20 some different ones. The author's main point was that love was more important than money, but then at the end of the story the main character uses money to buy love for her friend. WTF! I gave it a 5 because I thought the story was okay, but I won't be reading anything else by this author.

The Mercy of Thin Air by Ronlyn Domingue

8/10 - More of a love story than a ghost story. I loved Razi's character, I would totally like to hang out with her. The interwoven story of Amy and Scott really added to the story also, I just wish there had been a little more follow up. I wanted to check up with them, see how things were going.

The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett

8/10 - Hard to discribe my feelings about this book. It really puts you in the main character, Sabine's, head, so that it became hard for me to separate myself from her. That's what made it so engrossing. The plot alone would not have held my interest. At any rate, it did inspire me to investigate some of Patchett's other books.

The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani

10/10 - Best book I've read this year! Excellent mix of cultural history and story telling. I'm just fascinated by the middle east, and I loved the learning about the art of rug making. I found it interesting that I never realized that the author never told you the main characters name until I was looking over an interview in the back of the book. If you liked Beneath a Marble Sky, then I think you would really like this one.

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

7/10 - I know my knowledge of the classics is lacking, but this book made it even more obvious. Still, the managed to be fast moving and entertaining, if not extremely bizarre. I'm sure if you were a big Dickens and Bronte fan you would be head over heels in love with it. I'm just not sure if it's my kind of thing. I do feel more compelled to read Jane Eyre now.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

7/10 - About half way through this book, I was ready to shoot myself. It was so ungodly depressing, and although the ending is so satisfying that its worth dragging yourself back from the brink of suicide, I find it hard to give the book the rave reviews everyone else did. I was not a pleasure to read, it was agony. It is however extremely well written, and the voice of the narrator, Enzo the dog, is very unique. Just make sure there are no firearms, sharp poiny things, or potent medicinals about when you read it.

Looking For Alaska by John Green

8/10 - At the risk of sounding pompous, I'd say this is a very realistic portrayal of teenage relationships. The pompous part coming from the fact that I do realize I am no longer a teenager. Honestly, it doesn't feel like it was that long ago. Great characters, and it doesn't overdo the teenage angst part, which many other have a tendency to do.

B-mother by Maureen O'Brien

9/10 - A really well-written book about adoption. This is a topic I'm always interested in, because I'm a labor and delivery nurse. I really thought she did a wonderful job of character development which is important to me. My only gripe was the relatively anticlimatic ending. Overall, a really good read that I finished in two days. I was always looking forward to reading more.

Lost on Planet China by J. Maarten Troost

9/10 - Troost has just a great sense of humor. This is the second book I've read by him, and I find myself laughing out loud and trying to find someone to read a passage. Lost on Planet China is a travelogue sort of book, but unlike most travelogues, it's not going to make you want to travel to China. While his assessment is not entirely negative, it's not going to inspire you to visit. So if you have a soft spot for China, or are a travel snob, this is not the book for you. But I love his totally un-PC approach.

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

9/10 - Really good. I was liking it, and then I got to the last 70 pages and I was loving it. I was really surprised by the ending. I thought she was headed in one direction and I was going to be okay with that, but then she went in a totally different direction which I thought was so much better and different. I wish I could elaborate, but don't want to spoil it for those who want to read this book.

The Greatest White Trash Love Story Ever Told by Rhett Ellis

3/10 - Unfortunately, the best part of this book is the title. With a title like that, I'm expecting something witty, humorous. This is actually not a novel, but really a collection of 3 short stories, which in my opinion reads like it was written by a high schooler of modest talent. If you're interested it's only 105 pages long and takes no time to read, but I don't know if you'd want to waste the money.

Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood

7/10 - I don't get Margaret Atwood. I always finish her books feeling like she's trying to impart some pearl of wisdom to me, but I'm too dense to understand it. I like her writing well enough, I just don't get it. I know this will sorely dissappoint Denise, as she is an avid Atwood fan.

The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

7/10 - A female friendship book along the lines of Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons, although I liked that one better. I felt like this one lacked depth, and I didn't really care for the ending. It was an okay book, and I liked the romantic relationships that were sprinkled through out the book. I just didn't feel like the writer really fleshed out the relationships within the club.

Home to Harmony by Phillip Gulley

8/10 - Wholesome, heartwarming with a sense of humor you wouldn't expect from a Quaker minister. It was just what I needed after the last book. It's a simple quick read. Gulley's writing style is very easy to like, as is his personality which shines through it.

Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum

8/10 - Well, this book was really not what I thought it would be. I mean, I didn't expect it to be uplifting, but I didn't expect it to be so disturbing either. Of course the events of World War II are disturbing, but this was more than that. It became very personal somehow and I wished the author hadn't felt the need to go into such great detail. It actually got to the point that I had a hard time sleeping after reading it. I was so hoping for a different resolution, not a happy ending exactly, but something more satisfying. Boy, do I need something light now.