One Perfect Lie by Lisa Scottoline

A handsome stranger moves to the small Pennsylvania town of Central Valley, and his name is Chris Brennan. He’s applying for a job as a teacher and varsity baseball coach at the local high school, and he looks perfect, on paper. But his name is an alias, his resume is false, and everything about him is a lie. And he has a secret plan – for which he needs a pawn on the baseball team.
Susan Sematov loves her younger son Raz, the quirky and free-spirited pitcher of the team. But Raz’s adored father died only a few months ago, and the family is grief-stricken. Secretly, Raz is looking to fill the Daddy-shaped hole in his heart.
Heather Larkin is a struggling single mother who’s dedicated to her only son Justin, the quiet rookie on the team. But Justin’s shy and reserved nature renders him vulnerable to attention, including that of a new father-figure.
Mindy Kostis is the wife of a busy surgeon and the queen bee of the baseball boosters, where her super-popular son Evan is the star catcher. But she doesn’t realize that Evan’s sense of entitlement is becoming a full-blown case of affluenza, and after he gets his new BMW, it’s impossible to know where he’s going – or whom he’s spending time with.
The lives of these families revolve around the baseball team – and Chris Brennan. What does he really want? How far will he go to get it? Who among them will survive the lethal jeopardy threatening them, from the shadows?
Enthralling and suspenseful, One Perfect Lie is an emotional thriller and a suburban crime story that will keep readers riveted to the shocking end, with killer twists and characters you won’t soon forget. 

One Perfect Lie by Lisa Scottoline is one perfect novel.  It weaves lots of little lies and story threads through a compelling tale that examines both the darkness of domestic terrorism as well as the ordinary struggles of suburban life. I've read nearly every book Lisa Scottoline has written and while they're all terrific, One Perfect Lie is outstanding and her best yet. Definitely pick up your copy today and come out and meet her on her book tour, not only is she a great author, she's a really great woman to meet!  Odds are you'll get a warm hug with your signed book.  Visit her website for tour dates and additional information on her books.

Special thanks to St, Martins Press and Netgalley for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for honest review.

Lisa & I at Book Expo circa 2013

June Book Club: The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

Juliet is just trying to survive after her father disappeared amidst life-ruining scandal. Life's not easy for a sixteen year old in nineteenth century London, but she's found a job cleaning at King's College and is making a life for herself. That is until she stumbles across an experiment in the depths of the research area of King's College, finds her childhood friend, Montgomery, who just might know where her father is, and defends herself against a lecherous professor. Fleeing London, Juliet convinces Montgomery to take her to the island where her father has been hiding and continuing his work. But if things were bad in London, they're even worse on the island where a mysterious creature is killing the islanders, where her father is performing experiments she is both compelled and repulsed by, and where Montgomery becomes even more enigmatic than ever. What will it take for her to survive?

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What we thought:

Rebecca T: Having never read The Island of Doctor Moreau, I had no real idea what was going to happen (and now I want to go read it!). I really enjoyed this story though and appreciated that you didn't have to be familiar with the original to become immersed in the world. I enjoyed it so much I immediately went out and read the second book, Her Dark Curiosity, which I also thoroughly enjoyed and am now waiting for the third one!

Eileen: Really enjoyed this book! It didn't stray far from HG Wells original storyline but it was good nonetheless. Excited for the sequel and to see what happens to Juliet next!

NaomiRuth: I enjoyed it! I felt like the author had really done her research into the time period and the writing style of not only HG Wells but Robert Luis Stevenson as well. It fit that time period of penny dreadfuls and the like, I felt like. Like Eileen I'm interested to read the sequel to see what happens next!

Check back for next month's review when we talk about Kiersten White and Jim Di Bartolo's collaborative work In the Shadows.

May Book Club: Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger

Vane's past is a mystery. He knows his parents died in a category five tornado and that he has dreams of a beautiful girl, but he doesn't remember anything else. So when he wakes up and finds the girl in his bedroom he's bewildered and a little bit relieved that she's real. But Audra isn't an ordinary girl - she's a sylph, and she's been watching him for years. When she accidentally reveals their location to the man who murdered Vane's parents, she has to help Vane remember who he is and what happened to his family before everyone he loves is destroyed. As they prepare for battle they find themselves drawn together, but will it all fall apart when Vane's memories return?

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What we thought:



Rebecca T: I loved it. It was a great fantasy YA novel with a very different mythology. No vampires, zombies, or mermaids here. But you will find intriguing characters, two very different (and saucy) protagonists, fascinating twists, and really good story telling. Can't wait to dive into the second book!

NaomiRuth: I really enjoyed this book. I love Shannon Messenger's writing style. I liked having the perspective change between the two characters. I want to read more!

Jenn N.: Like Naomi, I also enjoyed the perspective change. I especially liked Vane's point of view. His snarkiness really cracked me up. At times I found Audra a tad melodramatic but given what she was up against, I guess it was natural. Fortunately Vane's perspective of her softened her. I also liked the whole aspect of sylphs. I had never heard of them before and found it to be unique to fantasy YA which seems to be flooded with vampires. (Not that I don't love vampires). While some elements of the story were predictable I was a little shocked by the ending and can't wait to see where the sequel goes.

April Book Club: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Cath has spent a good part of her life living in the world of Simon Snow. She and her sister, Wren, are not only fans, but also fanfiction writers. And Cath feels comfortable in the world they've created. But now they're headed to college and Wren has told Cath she doesn't want to be her roommate. So Cath is left to fend for herself in the scary and unpredictable world of new roommates, class schedules, and cafeteria food. She can handle writing thousands of words for her Simon Snow fanfiction, but can she handle writing assignments for her fiction writing class? And she might be deft at dealing with the relationship between Simon Snow and Baz, but can she figure out her feelings for Nick and Levi? And when real life drama threatens to derail her life can Cath manage to work out her own happy ending?

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What we thought:

NaomiRuth: Overall I really enjoyed Fangirl. It was easy to read and written in a very fluid manner. I liked that while some of the story was about Cath's first relationship, it was more than just a love story. It was about family and relationship dynamics and exploring the changes that occur when someone moves from an in-home place to an on-school place. I liked the exploration of fanfic. But that's also where I was a little uncomfortable. I still have a difficult time with fanfic. Sometimes I felt like there was a little too much of Cath's fanfic included. I understand this was a large part of her life, and I doubt many other people (if any) had the same kind of problems I did with the included fanfic. I was just more interested in her life, her real life, and sometimes got annoyed that I had to wade through so much un-real life. But I'm sure that's just because fanfic in general makes me queasy. So I was glad to read this book, because it helped me understand where people who enjoy fanfic are coming from.

Jenn N: Like Naomi, I liked that Fangirl was a new adult novel that didn't revolve solely around a romantic relationship. My favorite parts of the novel were the parts that dealt with Cath's relationship with her father and sister. I didn't find the fanfic sections excessive. I thought they showcased both Cath's passion for Simon Snow and need to escape while also demonstrating her growth and talent as a writer. While I don't write fanfic, I do create elaborate daydreams in my head about my fictional life in Port Charles (the city where General Hospital is set). So I could relate to Cath immersing herself in a fictional world to escape reality. I don't want to spoil anything, but while I appreciated that Wren's drinking issues were addressed, I think they were resolved a little too quickly. Overall though, I think Fangirl was a realistic portrayal of both the exhilarating and overwhelming highs and lows that one experiences when first leaving home for college.

Rebecca T: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought it was a great exploration of that move from high school to college, particularly for a main character who is a bit socially awkward. The stress Cath deals with in the changes of this period of her life make this a true New Adult book that grapples with solid New Adult issues. I loved the development of the characters and the overall arc of the story. Like Naomi I felt there was a bit too much Simon Snow stuff. Some of it from the fictional books and some of it from Cath's fanfic, but a lot of times it felt superfluous to the actual plot. I understand trying to establish its presence (since Simon Snow isn't a real series), but I would have liked to see less of that and more of Cath and Wren and Levi and Reagan.

March Book Club: Jim Henson the Biography by Brian Jay Jones

Jim Henson: experimental film maker, puppeteer, father, variety show performer, friend, creative innovator, director, actor, inspiration. From his earliest work with puppets in high school to his final negotiations to sell a now world-famous company to Disney, Jim Henson never settled for anything less than his best and he brought out the best in others as well. Whether it was making commercials for coffee, collaborating with Brian Froud on The Dark Crystal or Labyrinth, or becoming Kermit Jim continually pushed the boundaries of what TV and Film could do. This biography traces Jim's life and, inevitably, becomes almost a biography of the Muppets as well. Jones weaves the story of a man who will never be forgotten in a well-written, engaging, and fascinating style.

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Rebecca T: I loved this biography so much. I got it on audio knowing I would have limited time to read and the narration is phenomenal. I highly recommend it. The book itself is fascinating. I grew up with the Muppets so learning more about their inception and development was very interesting. I also really enjoyed learning more about Jim's other projects and his innovative film-making side. Over and over he would look at the way technology was developing and want to do something that wouldn't be feasible for 10-15 years. He was always looking ahead and pushing boundaries. Reading this also made me want to go watch every Jim Henson related film or tv show. I've since watched The Dark Crystal, the first season of The Muppet Show, and Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas. After reading the biography I felt like watching the credits of these shows was like seeing a list of friends. You feel like you really get to know them because Jim was so close to the people he worked with. If you like biographies, are a fan of any of Jim's work, or just want to read a fascinating book you will love this.

February Book Club: Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

After deciding to stay with the other peculiar children at the end of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Jacob is faced with a whole new set of problems. Miss Peregrine is still trapped in bird form, many of the peculiars have died in the battle with the hollowgasts, and they have to leave the island to try to find someone who can help them survive. As he and Emma grow closer together other challenges arise as well leaving Jacob scrambling to keep everyone alive in a world he's just starting to understand himself. Friendship, betrayal, and more peculiars await them all as the hollows begin to close in and threaten the world as they know it.

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What we thought:

Rebecca T: Although I thought there were a couple of rough patches, overall I thoroughly enjoyed this installment in the Peculiar's lives. There is a lot of danger and a lot of travelling, making this kind of a bridge book between the introduction we get in the first book and what will most likely be the major climax and battle in the third. Although is was terrible that they lost so many of the peculiar children, it was really nice to focus in on a handful of them and get to know them all better as they traveled together. I felt like the images were not as well integrated as in the first book, but that was to be expected since there are certain expectations on a second book that are not placed on the first. The twists that erupted at the end of the novel were astounding and definitely have me waiting for the next book.

Eileen: Ransom Riggs does a great job of making a story around a group of vintage photos in Hollow City. I loved learning more about the origins of the wights and Miss Peregrine. Their discoveries about the history of peculiars from the story book Miss Peregrince used to read to them also piqued my curiosity. I'm hoping for a book of those stories at some point from Ransom as well.

Jenn N: I really enjoyed Hollow City. The premise of building a story around the photos Ransom Riggs found is incredible in itself. You'll be wondering what the true origins of the photos are. On top of that, the story of Jacob's and the Peculiar's quest to save their beloved Miss Peregrine is thrilling and intriguing. My favorite part of the story was when they encountered the Peculiar animals. I also appreciated that Jacob still reflected on his family and questioned whether running off with Emma and the others was really the best thing for him. Jacob is a very thoughtful and relate-able protagonist.

For March we decided to tackle Jim Henson's biography so look ahead to a review of that. In the meantime, did you read Hollow City? What did you think? We'd love to hear from you!

January Book Club: The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

Renee has spent her life trying to be what everyone expects her to be. She is the stereotypical Paris concierge with her abrupt and coarse-ish manners, constant blaring of the television, and blank expression... at least on the outside. Inside she lives a rich life of philosophical ponderings, reading, and enjoying Japanese cinema. Other than her best friend, no one knows the real her and she's worked hard to keep it that way.
In her building lives the twelve year old genius, Paloma. A girl with a brilliant mind, but a child's longing for connection and purpose, Paloma has determined to kill herself and burn down her family's apartment on her thirteenth birthday unless she can find something in the world that would make her continued existence worthwhile.
Enter the Japanese gentleman Ozu who connects with both Renee and Paloma, sees through their facades, and brings them together in unusual ways ensuring that all of their lives will never be the same.

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Rebecca T: I enjoyed the overall story. I fell in love with Paloma's voice and I wanted so much more of her. I really liked the conversations between Ozu and Renee. However, I did feel that the translation did not do this book justice. I listened to it on audio and I think that this really helped. If a new translation of this was produced I would probably read it again as I felt like I missed a lot from some of the density of the language. The story was really enjoyable and the characters were wonderful.



For February we are reading Ransom Riggs' second book Hollow City so read along and check back next month for our reviews!

December Book Club: Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano

 Morgan lives in Internment - a part of the earth that was exiled to the sky. Everyone has a place and a responsibility and lives in peace with each other. Until a girl Morgan's age is found murdered on the train tracks. As the authorities try to find the killer, Morgan's life slowly begins to unravel and she worries that she will be drawn to the edge of Internment like her older brother who was blinded as a result of his curiosity. When the girl's betrothed is named as the murderer, Morgan finds herself unable to believe that Judas could really have done it. She clings to her best friend Pen and her own betrothed, Basil, and tries to make sense of the swirling mysteries building around her. Can she find the truth or will she lose everything she cares about?

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What we thought:
Rebecca T. - I liked the way that it wasn't a real dystopian society. As the story progresses we get more of the negative things that are going on, but overall this is a pleasant place to live. Overall, people are happy with their lives, their jobs, and their families. This was a welcome break from some of the darker dystopians that have been so popular (not that I don't love the darker ones too). I appreciated the lack of a love triangle as well. I also really liked the inclusion of religion as an aspect of society. Too often in books (especially YA) there is absolutely no mention of religion. Looking at earth's history, it is highly unlikely that religion would disappear from society, so I always appreciate it when an author weaves it in well as DeStefano does here. I was not as happy about the ending as it felt more like a chapter break than the end of the book, but I am very curious to see what will transpire in the second book.


Jenn N. - I enjoyed DeStefano's previous work with the Chemical Garden trilogy, but I loved Perfect Ruin!! I thought it was clever how this dystopian trilogy went against the cookie cutter oppressive society that dominates the genre and went against type with a seeming idyllic community. Of course, as the novel progresses, cracks start to develop in Internment's perfect reputation, and you're pulled into Morgan's investigation into the mysterious society. I also loved Morgan's relationship with Basil. For once we have a heroine who at this time seems to have no romantic conflict. She seems more than content with Basil, and I hope that doesn't change in subsequent installments. Although this is the first book in a trilogy I found that the book ended rather abruptly, but it certainly served as a great cliffhanger because I'll be reading the second installment as soon as it's available. I also have to add a side comment that Lauren DeStefano is the owner of the world's cutest cats. Check her out on Instagram and see what I mean.

For January we are reading The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, so check back to see what we thought!

November Book Club: Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Since one of our very first book club selections was Divergent we have always had a special place in our hearts for this trilogy. We reviewed Insurgent last year and decided to round off the trilogy with our November book club.

Tris, Four, and her friends have risked everything and lost much. Now they hold some of the truth and it's only fed their desire to know more. And the answers they want only exist outside. But what they find there will shake them all to the core and raise even more questions about who they are and where they belong. As Tris and Four seek for the truth and try to grapple with how things have changed their perceptions of each other can they fight their way to a happy ending or will everything crumble around them?

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Allegiant was certainly a doozy of a trilogy ender and we've decided to depart from our usual spoiler free reviews because the ending is just too big not to talk about. So if you don't want to be spoiled about the end of the book, then read no further!

Grammy T: The ending was awful! I mean it was good, in that it made sense for her character and for ending the book, but it was just awful. I can't believe it happened. It was an interesting ending to the series.

Jenn N: I thought this was a fantastic but very surprising and shocking conclusion to the trilogy. I loved learning more about the experiment and the aftermath. I often worry that our society's apparent obsession with perfectionism will one day lead to a crazy dystopia like the one Roth has created in this trilogy. So, the horrors Tris and her friends face is terrifyingly possible to me. What really shocked me was - spoiler alert - that Tris dies!! I thought this was a really bold move but true to the realism that I love in this series. Tris sacrificed herself to save her friends, family, and society as a whole. This was an act that was totally true to her Dauntless nature and Abnegation roots.

Rebecca T: This book got off on a bit of a rocky start for me. The writing felt choppier and less polished and things were a little scattered. It did improve as the book progressed and the ending blew me away. I did like learning more about the world and the reasoning behind the factions. As well as learning about the other experiments going on across the country! I wanted more about the reasons behind everything, but I understand that there's only so much that can fit into one book. I thought the choice to alternate between Four and Tris was a good one and it played out fairly well. I just wish the two of them had spent less time fighting and more time together. I felt a little cheated out of their relationship, particularly considering the end. The end. It was actually my favorite part of the book. It was totally true to Tris' personality and the journey she'd gone through to get there. There was literally no other way for her to end. She is not designed to live in this world and her sacrifice, to me, was more fitting than any other ending to the book. I've heard people complain about the book having too many unnecessary deaths, but I thought Roth handled this aspect well, building in the appropriate amount of chaos and destruction to stay true to the turmoil of the society. Overall I was satisfied with this conclusion to the trilogy.

So what did you think? Love it? Hate it? Mixed feelings?

This month we're reading Lauren DeStefano's new book Perfect Ruin for a totally different spin on utopian/dystopian societies. So read along and chime in on our next book club post!

October Book Club: Cinders & Sapphires by Leila Rasheed

As the Averley's return from Lord Averley's appointment in India, Somerton is in an uproar. Not only do they have to prepare for the family, but at the last minute the servants also discover that Lord Averley is bringing home a new wife and her children along with his own daughters. Rose, a house maid who grew up with Lady Ada and Lady Georgiana, the Lord's daughters, suddenly finds herself promoted to lady's maid and thrust into the intrigue and challenges of the upstairs world. Lady Ada misses India, but her dreams of attending Oxford and maybe meeting the charming Ravi again, the young man from India she met by chance on the trip home and with whom she shares a daring secret, keep her going. As the newly formed family tries to settle in and figure out how to live together, marriage proposals, scandals, and secrets swirl around them, threatening to cause everything to fall apart. With the sweeping, intricate feel of Downton Abbey, a touch of the Cinderella story, and the salacious tone of Kate Brian's Private series, this first installment of Rasheed's At Somerton series pulls you into the two worlds of the early 20th century and holds onto you until the last page.

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What we thought:


Rebecca T: I really enjoyed this book. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, but somehow they all weave together and it wasn't as hard to follow as I thought from looking at the family tree on the inside cover. I had pretty much guessed the big reveal, but I don't think it was supposed to be a secret for the reader so much as something we were supposed to watch each of the character's slowly discover. I liked how there were so many different story lines developing and the way they wove together throughout the course of the book. An entertaining read that left me wondering what will happen next.


Grammy T: I thought it was a good book. As soon as I finished it I wanted to know if the second one had come out yet, because I need to know what happens! I think that watching Downton Abbey helped me get a better picture of the way the house was run and how the upstairs and downstairs worlds worked. There were a lot of characters and I found it hard to keep track of them sometimes, but I was still able to follow the story. Overall I really enjoyed it.

Eileen: In spite of this book being rather predictable and overly dramatic at times, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The setting in opulent but turbulent pre WWI England is well described. I will definitely be reading the next book in the hopes of seeing things more from Rose's perspective. And hopefully we will not have heard the last of Ravi and the story of Indian independence either.

Melanie: Cinders & Sapphires is a wonderful tale that combines our love for drama with our love of history. I love a book that is not only entertaining but reminds us of those who came before us and the struggles they faces not only socially but also politically. The story weaves in and out of the romantic and dramatic lives of its characters faster than a motorcyclist in traffic, and as I was reading, I couldn't help but be reminded of the play La Ronde by Arthure Schnitzler. That being said, I would argue that there were one too many characters to keep track of. The author might think to put a list of characters at the beginning of the book [to supplement the family tree inside the front cover] so we as readers don't forget who is who. Otherwise, this is a delightful novel that anyone would enjoy and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.


Jenn N: I loved the premise of Cinders & Sapphires. I loved the similarities to Downton twisted with YA melodrama. I also appreciated the fact that the problems with Ava and Ravi's forbidden relationship were caused by not just money but by clashing political views as well. I suspected the secret of Rose's heritage from the beginning; I would've liked it if the author did a better job of keeping that under wraps, and at times it was hard to keep all the characters straight. However, Cinders & Sapphires was a fun and interesting period piece, and the ending sets up for what should be one awesome sequel. I will definitely be picking up the next installment.

September Book Club: While We Were Watching Downton Abbey by Wendy Wax

 Samantha Davis was saved from poverty and disgrace when Jonathan married her after her father all but destroyed the business he had owned with Jonathan's father. Now she finds herself filled with gratitude, but is that enough to keep their marriage going? And now her younger siblings have crossed the line in taking advantage of Jonathan's good will leaving her with no choice but to finally put her foot down.
Claire Walker has spent her life defined by being a single mother to her daughter Hailey. Now Hailey is off at college and Claire has a year to write her next book. The problem is, she can't put two words together on the page. As her money goes faster than she anticipated and her agent starts to question her commitment, Claire gets more worried and more blocked. Can she break free before it's too late?
Brooke MacKenzie finds herself suddenly alone with two young girls. She's having a hard enough time balancing everything on her own and it doesn't help when her ex-husband keeps blowing off his responsibilities. But when he moves into the building with his new girlfriend, it definitely isn't any better. How can she do the best thing by her girls when she's struggling just to make it through the day?
Edward Parker owns the Alexander, a renovated apartment building in the middle of Atlanta, and runs Private Butler, a company designed to meet its clients needs in a proper British fashion. He wants to keep the memory of his father alive and do right by his own personal standards. But when someone sweeps it all out from under his feet will he be able to recover?

These four vastly different people all live in the Alexander, but it isn't until Edward starts hosting weekly viewings of the first two seasons of Downton Abbey that they find themselves drawn together - first by their growing love for the period drama, but then by their growing friendship. But are they willing to really open up with each other and find the support they all need?

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What we thought:

Rebecca T: I was intrigued by this ever since I saw it because I'm an avid Downton Abbey watcher myself. I was expecting a fairly fluffy read, but I found something so much more. I absolutely fell in love with each of the characters. Although it's actually nothing like Downton Abbey (a fact I appreciated) it somehow has the same sort of feel. I think it's because of the way that the four main characters' lives intertwine with each other but also develop their own distinct story lines as well. I loved the organic way that the friendship developed between the three women and how they grew to rely on each other. I also really enjoyed the way the secondary characters came to life, especially the other members of the screening parties. A lovely book I look forward to reading again.

Jenn N: I really enjoyed this book. I was pleasantly surprised by the richness of it. When I first heard the title, I thought it was just a gimmick to ride the wave of success that Downton is having. However, that's not the case at all. The way the different characters came to the screenings and ultimately became friends seemed very natural and not forced. With most novels you always find one favorite character, but I loved these 3 ladies and Edward. I rooted for all of them to succeed. The characters' growth throughout the novel was also realistic. I especially liked Claire's commentary on the publishing industry. I wish I could've crashed one of the screening parties! They had great snacks and drinks.

For October we are reading Cinders & Sapphires by Leila Rasheed. Join us for scandals and surprises in the early 1900s.

August Book Club: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Since the movie was releasing in August we thought it would be fun to read the book and then possibly even review both if we'd had a chance to see the movie by now.

Clary just wants to have a normal life, spend time with her best friend Simon, and get her overprotective mother to let her go out once in a while without freaking out. But when she sees someone murdered in the middle of a crowded club and no one else even notices she finds herself caught up in an avalanche of events that she is powerless to stop. With her mother now missing, her life in danger, and a strange boy telling her she's not even human, Clary has to navigate a world of shadows, secrets, and magic to discover who she really is.

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What we thought:
Jess B: From someone who loves all things supernatural when I saw City of Bones I was all for it. But I will say this: I had shelved countless copies of it at Borders but never gave it a chance until I saw the trailer and my jaw dropped. The book was fantastic! Multidimensional with just the right amount of drama to keep you hooked! I fell instantly in love with Magnus Bane. Kinda wanted to be his bffer...hahahahaha!!! Now for the movie... I loved it! I understood when they needed to take artistic license and where they went with it. There are two things I hated, but they are small. Madame Dorothea and the lack of Alicante. But I even brought Sean with me and he thought it was amazing as well!

Rebecca T: I had tried reading this a while ago and couldn't get through the first chapter, but this time when I started reading I didn't want to stop. I thought that the book was nicely layered with enough intersecting storylines and mysteries to really keep things complex without being too confusing. I thought the characters were very well drawn and I do really want to read the next one. I also loved the movie. I thought they kept the main feel of the book even with the many changes and adaptations. There were 2 significant things from the ending, however, that really confused me. If you have read the book highlight the next blank space with your cursor and you'll see my questions. 1. What about the cup? In the book Valentine takes it, but in the movie Clary still has it. 2. In the book it's pretty straightforward that Clary and Jace are brother and sister, but in the movie they very overtly make you question whether that is so. Perhaps I don't know since I haven't read the other books, but I didn't like that. Overall I thought they did a great job adapting the book and I look forward to the next installment!

Jenn N: I really enjoyed the book. I haven't had a chance to see the movie yet, but I hope to soon. I'm curious to see how the film handles the complex relationships between Clary, her family, and Jace. I thought the world building was very clever. I loved the juxtaposition on modern day NYC against the secret dark underworld. I also appreciated that Clary's powers and skills developed over time and the way she dealt with the weight of her new life seemed realistic. I was quite surprised by the total game-changing revelation that came in the book's close. I can't wait to see how it's handled in subsequent books and the film as the revelation is a total doozy that had me questioning and ranting for days.

In September we decided to have an Emmy party and to keep with that theme we're reading While We Were Watching Downton Abbey by Wendy Wax. Also follow along with us on Twitter on Sunday the 22nd as we'll be live tweeting our Emmy joys, disappointments, and, as always, Snark.

July Book Club: Happy Birthday, Harry!

Since our book club meeting was fairly close to Harry Potter's birthday we decided to dress up, bring some magical food, and dip into a little Hogwarts fan-fiction for July.

This is going to be a little different from our normal book club posts so get ready for some pictures!

But first things first - The book we chose was James Potter and the Hall of Elders Crossing by G. Norman Lippert. This is the first in a 4 book (so far) series of fan-fiction about Harry's oldest son. We all agreed that it was well-written and evoked that wonderful sense of the magical world that we'd been missing since the last Harry Potter book was released. And this is no short story fan-fiction either. We're talking 400 wonderful pages of Hogwarts, James, his friends, and enemies. And, the best part is they're free.
If you want to read it yourself check out the James Potter Series Website. Oh - and in case you're wondering? He actually got permission from J.K. Rowling to distribute these. True story.

James Potter is off to his first year at Hogwarts and the thing he's most worried about is living up to his famous father's reputation. What if he's not a Gryffindor? What if he doesn't make the Quidditch team? What if he can't handle the class work? But as the school year begins James discovers he has much larger problems to deal with. First there's the new group of people who don't believe Harry was as big a hero as everyone has claimed and that he's in league with the Ministry to cover up the truth about who Voldemort really was. Then there are the visiting teachers from the American school of magic. While it might be exciting to meet Benjamin Franklyn, a few of the teachers seem to be hiding something - and it doesn't look good. James and his two best friends find themselves tangled up in all of the intrigue and James has to figure out how to forge his own path - and still manage to pass his classes.

So go download, read, enjoy!

Now for the pictures! Yeah!

Butterbeer! Grammy T found
the recipe HERE
There are a ton of butterbeer recipes
out there, but this one
was the easiest we found.
And scrumptious too.

Jenn N enjoying some Butterbeer
mmmmmmm

Rebecca T made pumpkin pasties
(btw it's pronounced with a short a - rhyming with "last")
The recipe can be found HERE
De-li-cious

This wasn't directly Harry Potter
related, but we forgave Eileen
because chocolate and strawberries

Rebecca T, Jenn N, NaomiRuth, Grammy T, Eileen
You know, just chilling out :D

 It's so much fun being book friends!


And for August we decided to dive into City of Bones by Cassandra Clare because the movie came out in August too. See you soon with our August book club reviews!