This book is for fantasy/sci-fi/ and dragon lovers everywhere. I bought it on a fluke - found it online for a 99 cent download. Considering most of what I've read lately, I figured it was worth a try. This book has a very interesting premise. The children of Requiem ruled the land and sky - they were a people who could take the shape of dragons, at will. Then, one among them, born without the magic to transform turned against them. A terrible war was fought and only a few children of Requiem survive. The traitor, Dies Irae, rules over a new land with fear and a terrible might. Can Benedictus, king of Requiem, find the survivors of his people and save the land from his terrible brother? If you enjoy this genre, I recommend this book, especially for young lovers of fantasy.

Glad I wasn't born in Victorian times....

This book had been on my To Be Read list for a while. Something about it intrigued me, but still I kept putting off actually reading it. Too many other books that piqued my interest more, I guess. This book is only about 136 pages long, but it really packs a wallop. It's about a girl, born to a British family, in India. After a terrible tragedy, the family returns to their native land. The girl and her sister are raised in a very restrictive Victorian home. Esme, a rather free spirit, struggles against the constraints that her family places upon her and eventually pays a terrible price or it. My biggest complaint with the book is the speed and frequency in which the authors changes perspective from one character to another. It made me feel crazy. I was always wondering who was talking. This, of course, is done for effect and done well. I was amazed to learn that during this period of time, a man - either a husband or a father - could have a woman committed into an asylum for very little offense at all. I can only wonder what would have happened to me had I lived in this time.

Ok, I admit it....

I read the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy. I had too. There were so many women at work talking about it, so much controversy surrounding it. The last straw was a blog that I came across saying how this book set the women's movement back 50 years... blah... blah... blah. I had no idea that the book started out as Twilight fan fiction or that would have been a deal breaker for me. I hate the Twilight books. But, since I didn't know, I proceeded to read. So, let me start off by saying that this book is not something you would want to leave casually laying around where the kids might find it. This book is hot. Lots of sex of the kinky variety. (Leaving it in a place where your husband might find it, not such a bad idea...) To answer the blogger that stated she thought this set the women's movement back - I couldn't disagree more vehemently. For centuries it has been expected that men would share their deepest, darkest sexual fantasies. It was something completely proper, while women's desires have been repressed - to put it mildly. Anastasia Steele is not a mindless piece of jello as aforementioned blogger has suggested. Instead, she is a bit naive and inexperienced when the book starts; however, she becomes a strong willed woman, in touch with her own self and sexuality. She knows, by the end of the trilogy, what it is she wants and doesn't want. Further, not only does she come to terms with her own self, she helps the person she loves do the same. I hardly think that kind of self realization is such a set back. I did find the constant use of "inner goddess" to be tiring and found my eyes rolling every time I heard it. Also, I found Mr. Gray's ability to give his virginal partner an orgasm during every encounter comical. Not even Babe Ruth batted 1000. Finally, I found it ironic that Anastasia was a huge tea drinker and had phrases and words in her vernacular that were very British - odd for a character that has supposedly never left the PacWest of the US. No Shades will never win a Pulitzer, but it is an entertaining, lively beach read. If you don't like HOT, HOT, HOT... pass on by. If you are willing to explore your own fantasies and desires.... read on.

Book Challenge 2012

I am so excited! I just started a new 2012 book challenge and you all know how I feel about reading! :) While I was looking for summer recommendations to add to my reading list, I came across this book challege on a great blog called Reading with Tequila. I will update you as my challenge progresses and I encourage you to check out the challenge and join! After all, you have all summer! The challenge actually runs through the end of the year. Happy Reading!