I'm not going to lie - I love a good suspense novel! I was excited to read the new novel , 206 Bones, by Kathy Reichs. Some readers may know Reichs from her previous novels (including Deja Dead and Death du Jour) which focus on the life and experiences of Temperance "Tempe" Brennan. Tempe is a forensic anthropologist (think CSI) who travels between Quebec and Louisiana. Those who haven't read Reichs' novels may recognize a younger Tempe as the central character in the television series "Bones". Reichs' latest novel, 206 Bones, recounts the latest antics of Tempe as she and her partner face numerous ordeals that begin with a missing body, lead to a potential serial killer preying on elderly women and put Tempe in fear for her life!

As I began reading 206 Bones, I was thrilled to discover that Reichs has continued to draw on her own roots as a forensic anthropologist to lend a realism to this novel. Having worked in Quebec and throughout the United States, Reichs incorporates numerous details that add to the realism of the novel. When a purse that belongs to a missing woman is found in Quebec, for example, it is found behind the dumpster at a Pharmaprix (which is a popular chain of drugstores in Quebec). These touches add a depth to the novel and make the novel, and its characters, more realistic.

The only element that may provide a challenge for a first-time reader is the history that exists between the characters. Tempe's ex-boyfriend, her ex-husband, her daughter and other characters appear within the novel and each comes with a history that has been developed in previous novels. Reichs does address the background stories and weaves them into 206 Bones so they do not outweigh the plot but provide a clear understanding for a first-time reader about the history between the characters.

Overall, I loved the novel! The characters are strong and interesting, the plot leads through many twists and turns and Reich provides many small details that make the story incredibly realistic. What I like most about this novel is that I cared about the characters and want the mystery to be solved.

I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys suspense novels or wants to try something different. You won't be disappointed!

My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult

“Most babies are accidents. Not me. I was engineered. Born to save my sister's life.”

Every now and again you read a book that really gets to you. That touches deep to the core and leaves you thinking about it long after you have finished reading it. Well for me this was one of those books. Those opening words are spoken by Anna Fitzgerald, an 11-year-old girl who was conceived in vitro as a genetic match for her leukemia-stricken older sister Kate. Whenever a part of Kate’s body fails, Anna’s parents Sara and Brian immediately offer up the needed part of Anna's body for donation. Because of this, Anna is unable to lead a normal life, as she must always “be there” for her sister. When Kate turns 13, one of her kidneys fails. This time, however, Anna is unwilling to donate the needed kidney and with the help of attorney Campbell Alexander, sues her parents for “medical emancipation,” or the rights to her own body. Kate will not survive if she does not receive the kidney.

The story examines the emotions of main characters and how they react to the situation they are faced. It also examines their past experiences and gives us more of an understanding of what they have been through and why they feel the way they do.

I am not going to go into the characters in a lot of detail as you get to know them all well in the book. However the main characters are Anna and her sister Kate. They also have a brother Jesse who has gone off the rails and their parents don't know what he is up to. Sara and Brian are the parents. Sara spends all her time looking after the children, mainly dealing with Kate's health problems and ferrying her back and forward from the hospital. Brian is a fire-fighter and although feel in control when fighting fires feels out of control at home.

Campbell is the lawyer that Anna hires, a mysterious complex character who has a "service dog" but won't divulge what is wrong with him. Finally Julia is the person appointed by the court totry to work out what they think is in Anna's best interests. She knows Campbell from the past and they appear to have had some history.

As you can probably tell from the short description above this is an emotional book. The author has chosen a very emotive subject but also one which is very topical in today's society with more so called "designer babies" being conceived. For many parents it will strike a chord making them ask to what extremes would they be willing to go to, to save their child. Would they put the health and wellbeing of one child at risk because if they don't the other will die? You can't read this book without asking yourself, what would I do in those circumstances.

I won't give any clues to the ending of the book but will say that my husband came back into the lounge and asked me if I had finished reading the book and I just burst into tears! I cry quite easily but this book certainly did get to me. Towards the end of the book you are trying to guess how it will finish but you just don't know. Jodi Picoult has said that her son read the book himself and at the end she found him crying on the sofa and he stormed up to his room unable to speak to her because he was that angry at her!

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants a gripping read about people, emotions and relationships. It's well written and will keep you reading to find out what happens. All I recommend is that you have a box of tissues ready because it's a book that gets you.

A Bend in the Road, Nicholas Sparks

I am a BIG fan of feel good romance novels and that is exactly what this book is. It is a story about a man, Miles Ryan, who lost his wife in a hit a run accident and is ready to start moving on after two years of mourning and an obsession of finding the person who got away with the murder of his wife.

Miles gets called in to meet his sons teacher, Sarah, and they start a tentative love affair that quickly grows in to something wonderful and lasting. But what they don't know is that they are bound together by a shocking secret, one that will force them to reexamine everything they believe in - including their love.

This is an easy read, a perfect romance to curl up and waste a Saturday afternoon with or if your going on vacation this winter, it is a great beach read! If you were still questioning if you should read this book, I should mention that Nicholas Sparks is the author of The Notebook, the ultimate romance novel!

Same Kind of different as Me

This is my first post! I am very excited to get this blog going!

I just finished reading Same Kind of different as Me, by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. It is an incredibly moving, true story about Deborah Hall who had faith in God, hope for a better world and her undying love that forever changed the lives of two men. Her husband Ron Hall, an international Art dealer and Denver Moore, a homeless man, who escaped a life of sharecropping and viewed living on the streets a step up from there.

The book opens with a brief background on both Denver Moore and Ron hall. It was an interesting glimpse into the contrasts of the world of sharecropping and the struggles of a black man in the southern states in the 1950's and the glamorous life of an international art dealer and all the temptations that come with that life.

When Deborah Hall read an article about the homelessness in their city she felt God calling her to better the lives of the homeless and decided to do something about it. Deborah dragged Ron to the Union Gospel Mission and started a journey that started with serving dinner once a week and ended in true friendship and a life-changing love. By Deborah's urging, Ron tries to start up a friendship with a dangerous and hard man, who she is convinced will change the city with his wisdom.

At first unable to crack Denver’s stony personality, Ron eventually prevails and they become fast friends who endure a tragedy together and who soon grow in their love, respect and admiration of each other. Each man teaches the other about life and faith. Somehow the story of the relationship these two men share offers a glimpse into two worlds that are nearly opposite and shows what happens when these worlds come into contact with each other.

This is a truly wonderful book that opened my eyes to homelessness, prejudice and forgiveness. A story of how God brought together two men from two totally different spectrums, saved them and has continued to use them to impact souls all over the world today.