3 More Down

It seems I'm always playing catch-up here. I have read three more books since I last posted. The first was So Much of Life Ahead by Dean Hughes. This was the last book in the Hearts of the Children series. I have laughed and cried throughout this series. It was wonderful. Mr. Hughes really knows how to create characters that you really care about.
The second book was Rick Riordan's book two of the Kane Chronicles, The Throne of Fire. Carter and Sadie Kane are brother and sister magicians. They follow the paths of the ancient Greek gods. In this book, the god of chaos, Apophis, is about to break free of his prison and destroy the world. It is up to Carter and Sadie to awaken Ra and save the world. But it is a perilous journey. They must first find the three sections of the Book of Ra, hidden throughout the world. Then they must take the book and descend into the Duat, the underworld, to find Ra and read the spell that will awaken him. On the way, they come across other magicians trying to stop them along with more gods and demons who are bound to kill them before they can get to Ra. Carter and Sadie must also decide if awakening Ra is the right thing to do. And if they decide to do it, will Ra be the God he used to be?
The third book I read was Princess Academy by Shannon Hale. Miri and her family live on the slopes of Mount Eskel. Her father and sister work in the quarry, but Miri isn't allowed to. She thinks it's because she's so small. One day, word comes from the lowlands that the king's priests have announced the Prince's bride will come from Mount Eskel. So a princess academy is set up for the eligible girls to instruct them on proper lowlander etiquette. Miri and the other girls don't like it very much at first. Olana, the tutor, isn't nice at all and gives out punishments for the smallest things. Then the girls turn the tables on her when Miri finds a secret about Olana. Olana changes her ways and the girls thrive on learning at the academy. After a year, it is time for the Prince to come and choose his bride. The night of his arrival, he is not very friendly. He is stiff and formal and leaves the next morning without choosing his bride. Unfortunately, as soon as the Prince's caravan leaves, bandits invade the academy and demand to know whom the Prince has chosen. They do not believe it when they are told the Prince didn't choose. A big snow storm comes and threatens to leave them stranded at the academy for the rest of the winter. Miri has to find a way to save herself and all the other girls before the bandits can take them away and/or kill them. Can she sing to the quarry rocks and make her father hear her? Will he understand she and the other girls are in danger? Will he be in time to save them? When will the Prince return and who will he choose as his bride? This was a good book and one I hope my daughters will read.

Can't believe I forgot!

I forgot about the book I just finished last night! I read Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. What a wonderful book. I don't usually read books after they come out in the movie theater, but this one intrigued me.
I have only read one or two books based during the Great Depression so I wasn't too sure about this one. With the circus backdrop, I was excited to read it. I found the character of Jacob Jankowski wonderfully written, both as the young man thrown into the circus life through sad events in his life to the old man in the nursing home waiting to see the circus with his family.
I laughed, cried and got really mad while reading this novel. I think I will have to pick up her other three books, Ape House, Riding Lessons, and Flying Colors.
Let me know if you have read any of these and what you thought of them.

Now..... where was I?

Take Me Home was great.
Gene was injured during the war twice. The second time got him sent home. He is happy to be back with Emily and Danny, but there is a lot of anger in him and he doesn't know how to handle it.
Diane's marriage is falling apart. Greg is gone al the time despite his promises to Diane to be home more. His temper flares at the slightest word. Can Diane handle it, or should she leave him for good?
Kathy is learning a lot in the Phillipines. Should she stay in the Church, or is she just too different to be accepted? Her last year is going to change her life for good.
Hans is given more freedom. But is he being set up by the Stasi? Will he end up back in prison? Is Rainer really his friend, or a spy for the Stasi?
This was such a good book. Diane's situation really hit home for me and I had tears in my eyes and slipping down my cheeks.

As for Vixen 03 by Clive Cussler, I enjoyed it as usual. There were a few twists I didn't expect and lots of action that I did. I think this was one of his better books of the older ones.

Now, I am reading the final installment of the Hearts of the Children series by Dean Hughes, So Much of Life Ahead. I'll let you know how it goes.

Oh! I forgot one! I also read Mary Higgins Clark's newest book, I'll Walk Alone.
Alexandra "Zan" Moreland lost her son two years ago when he was kidnapped in Central Park. Now, someone is trying to destroy her and her interior design business. To make matters worse, someone is impersonating her. They have stolen her identity, used her bank account to buy things.
Now the police think she kidnapped her own son and possibly murdered him. Will anyone believe her that she didn't do any of those things? Will Alvirah Meehan be able to help her, or is she one of those that don't trust Zan? This book held my attention to the very end.
Thank you Mary Higgins Clark for another wonderful book and another installment in the Alvirah Meehan series!!!