ReadingFanatic

Title: The Lucky One
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0-446-57993-9
Pages: 326
Rating: Worth the Read
Series/Anthology: No.
Dates: 5/10 - 5/24

About this book:
When U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds a photograph of a smiling young woman half-buried in the dirt during his third tour of duty in Iraq, his first instinct is to toss it aside. Instead, he brings it back to the base for someone to claim, but when no one doesn, he finds himself always carrying the photo in his pocket. Soon Thibault experiences a sudden streak of luck, winning poker games and even surviving deadly combat that kills two of his closest buddies. Only his b est friend, Bictor, seems to have an explanation for his good fortune: the photograph - his lucky charm.
Back home in Colorado, Thibault can't seem to get the photo - and the woman in it - out of his mind. Believing that she somehow holds the key to his destiny, he sets out on a journey across the country to find her, never expecting the strong but vulnerable woman he encounters in Hampton, North Carolina - Elizabeth, a divorced mother with a young son - to be the girl he's been waiting his whole life to meet.
Caught off guard by the attraction he feels, Thibault keeps the story of the photo, and his luck, a secret. As he and Elizabeth embark upon a passionate and all-consuming love affair, the secret he is keeping will soon threaten to tear them apart - destroying not only their love, but always their lives.

My thoughts:
Starts out a little slow because of the author explaining what happened to the main character in Iraq, but turned out to be a great story. I would definitely recommend this book to someone that likes fiction stories or likes Nicholas Sparks in general. However it is not one of his better books.

( Recap...Spoilers... )

So all in all, it was a good book. I was surprised by the ending because normally Sparks books end kinda sad but this one wasn't too bad so I was happy with it.

Amy

Pages read YTD: 6,988

Next book to read: Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward

Title: Unfinished Symphony
Author: V.C. Andrews
Genre: Horror
ISBN: 0-671-53473-4
Pages:344
Rating: Must Have
Series/Anthology 3rd in the Logan Family series.
Dates: 5/3 - 5/6

About this book:
Melody had always believed her mother, Haille, and dear stepdaddy had died in tragic accidents - that's why she'd come to stay with her secretive Logan relatives on Cape Cod. But then a friend recognized Haille's pictures in a catalog and kindled Melody's hopes. Maybe her mother hadn't perished in a fire in California after all, but was in some desperate trouble that kept her out of reach...

Melody's dream of finding her mother seemed as flimsy as the scrap of paper that was her only clue. And despite the pampered life Melody was offered as a guest in a Beverly Hills mansion, nothing could soften the blow of the moment she stood face-to-face with her mother and saw her eyes turn dark and cold as stones. Melody knew there must be a reason why her mother pretended at first not recognize her - and why she'd even faked her own death. Though Melody's beloved Cary beckoned from Cape Cod, she felt in her heart that her mother needed her now more than ever. And beneath her mother's unkept promises and tattered fantasies, Melody hoped to unearth the truth about her own past, and find her way to a safer, better place...where she could embrace a bright new future of her own.

My thoughts:
I didn't like the beginning of this book because it starts off rather slow. I was quite bored with it and it doesn't help that I have read it before. However, I did stick with it because there were things that I didn't quite remember from way back when. You know, one thing that I can't stand about these first 3 books, is that Melody calls her mom and dad, mommy and daddy and she's 19. When I think of someone calling their parents Mommy and Daddy, I think of a little girl. I don't know. Anyways, I still enjoyed this book after getting through the boring parts. Here's the recap...

( Recap....Spoilers... )

The next book is Laura's book but I'm not sure I want to read that. At least not right away. I'm not sure yet. I remember the first 3 books in the series being my favorite but maybe I should read the other 2 since it has been so long.

Amy

Pages read YTD: 6,662

Next book to read: Either.... Music in the Night by V.C. Andrews OR The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

Title: Melody
Author: V.C. Andrews
Genre: Horror
ISBN: 0-671-53471-8
Pages: 373
Rating: Must Have
Series/Anthology: First in the Logan Family series.
Dates: 4/18 - 4/25

About this book:
Melody Logan knew her beautiful mother, Haille, was unhappy in their hardscrabble mining town...but with her wonderful father's unwavering love, Melody always felt safe - until a dreadful mine accident ripped her from her family's moorings.

She was still devastated by her father's death when she left West Virginia with Haille to follow her mother's dream of becoming a model or actress. But first they stopped in Cape Cod to visit her father's family at last.

Melody knew only that her grandparents had disowned their son when he married Haille - just because she was an orphan, her mother said. Yet moments after Melody first laid eyes on dour, Bible-spouting Uncle Jacob, nervous Aunt Sara and her cousins - handsome Cary, whose twin, Laura, had been killed recently in a sailing accident, and sweet, deaf little May - Haille announced that Melody was to live with them.

Sleeping in Laura's old room, Melody was awash in a sea of grief and confusion, with only her beloved fiddle to comfort her. Then Cary revealed the truth he'd gleaned about her parents - a sad, shocking story that only puzzled her more. Melody knew nothing of the dark deceptions that would soon surface...the devastating betrayals she would face before she glimpsed the faint, beckoning lights of a safe harbor...

My thoughts:
I love this book/series from V.C. Andrews. It's my favorite out of all her books. To be honest, I don't even know why. I think it's the relationship between Melody and Cary. Even though they are semi related, I still love the relationship that they have. It doesn't really mention it too much in this book but you know there is something growing towards the end. I love all the characters even though a lot of them make me mad because they are narrow-minded and look down on Melody for her parents mistakes. It sucks.

( Recap...Spoilers... )

I know it may not sound like the best book but I just love it. The 2nd book is way better but I still love this series!

Amy

Pages read YTD: 5,940

Next book to read: Heart Song by V.C. Andrews

Title: Dark Angel (Story in Night World: Volume 2)
Author: L.J. Smith
Genre: Young Adult - Fantasy
ISBN: 1-4169-7451-2
Pages: 209
Rating: Good but nothing special.
Dates: 2/21 - 2/23
Series/Anthology: 4th in the Night World series.

About this book:
In Dark Angel, Gillian is saved from drowning by her guardian angel. Only visible to Gillian, Angel will fulfill her heart's every desire. But when Angel starts making strange and sinister requests, Gillian must question who he truly is and where he came from.

My thoughts:
This story started out a little strange for me. I actually started this book a few months ago but I couldn't get into it because of how weird it was. Anyways, I'm glad that I did pick it back up because it was a good story and made perfect sense. It kinda reminded me of that TV show, Ghost Whisperer. So if anybody likes that show, then this story of L.J. Smith's would be something that you'd enjoy and you don't have to read the whole series to understand it either. The characters were a little....odd. I don't think they were truly believable characters but I think they did have potential.

( Recap....Major Spoilers... )

Amy

Page read YTD: 3,597

Next book to read: The Chosen by L.J. Smith

Title: Shades of Moonlight
Author: Angie Ray
Genre: Romance - Paranormal
ISBN: 0-425-16571-X
Pages: 80
Rating: 5/5
Series/Anthology: In the anthology, "Moonglow"

About this book:
After the death of a Regency rake, a lovely lady unexpectedly inherits his house...and finds it occupied by his seductive ghost. Solving the mystery surrounding his death will free his troubled spirit, but it may also break her heart.

My thoughts:
This story was surprisingly good. I thought the beginning kinda stupid to be honest because this ghost in the house that this woman inherits is almost like a real man. I don't understand the concept of being a ghost but looking real and he can hold a glass of whiskey and drink it but he can't he can't touch this woman. I thought that was crazy but like I said, it turned out to be quite enjoyable. I liked the ending of the story, it had a bit of a twist of magic and superstitions to it. Of course this is one of those storiest that you can figure out the ending before it even happens.

Amy

Pages read YTD: 15,185

Next book/story to read: The Wolf Keeper by Katherine Sutcliffe

Title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Author: J.K. Rowling
Genre: Young Adult
ISBN: 0-545-01022-5
Pages: 759
Rating: 4.5/5

About this book:
The last and final story of the epic tale of Harry Potter.

My thoughts:
Well, I must say that this book was fantastic!!! I thought Rowling wrote this very well although I was a little confused with some of the parts. I found myself saying "what is that?", "where did that come from", "what is she talking about", and those sorts of things. I had to reread some sections where she was explaining things such as the Deathly Hallows cause I didn't feel she explained them good enough. But all in all, it was great. I'm totally sad to see that the story has ended. I really thought that this wasn't going to be the last book. However, I'm wondering if the story will continue in another's point of view. ( Spoilers.... ) I must say that although I'm sad that there will be no more Harry Potter books, I'm glad that Rowling made this book all worth while. I'm satisfied with the ending and really enjoyed reading this book.

Amy

Books read YTD: 39
Pages read YTD: 12,959