REVIEW - THE MADONNAS OF ECHO PARK

This book is for 2 of my reading challenges.
Outdo Yourself Challenge(112/200)
Follow the Blub Challenge

"The Madonnas of Echo Park" by Brando Skyhorse
Product Description(Amazon.com)
We slipped into this country like thieves, onto the land that once was ours.
So begins The Madonnas of Echo Park, the 2011 Hemingway Foundation/Pen Award winning novel by Brando Skyhorse. These words, spoken by an illegal Mexican day laborer, introduce us to the unseen world of Los Angeles, following the men and women who cook the meals, clean the homes, and struggle to lose their ethnic identity in the pursuit of the American dream.
When a dozen or so girls and mothers gather on an Echo Park street corner to act out a scene from a Madonna music video, they find themselves caught in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting. In the aftermath, Aurora Esperanza grows distant from her mother, Felicia, who as a housekeeper in the Hollywood Hills establishes a unique relationship with a detached housewife.
The Esperanzas’ shifting lives connect with those of various members of their neighborhood. A day laborer trolls the streets for work with men half his age and witnesses a murder that pits his morality against his illegal status; a religious hypocrite gets her comeuppance when she meets the Virgin Mary at a bus stop on Sunset Boulevard; a typical bus route turns violent when cultures and egos collide in the night, with devastating results; and Aurora goes on a journey through her gentrified childhood neighborhood in a quest to discover her own history and her place in the land that all Mexican Americans dream of, "the land that belongs to us again."
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Free Press (February 8, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1439170843
ISBN-13: 978-1439170847

MY THOUGHTS: Brando Skyhorse has a knack for storytelling, and a deep knowledge of both his characters and the world they live in. I really enjoyed all the pop culture references from the 80s and 90s. I got a really vivid sense of what living in a ethnically diverse neighborhood of LA is like. You should really pick this book up and read it. You won't be able to put it down once you start it.

MY RATING: 5

[This is a free review book.]

HIGH SUMMER READ-A-THON MINI CHALLENGE

Laura over at Book Snob is hosting a mini challenge for the High Summer Read-A-Thon. What do we have to do?

Task: Find pictures of actual places/locations in your book or find images that relate to the time period or theme you are reading about and put in your blog post. Then describe the significance of the images you are using so we can understand it and include a picture of your book cover, in case we might want to read it later.

I've recently finished the book "Natural Blonde" by Liz Smith. Awesome book with lots of info on Liz's life. This book took me to a lot of places, but the one that stood out the most is New York. I've always wanted to visit New York and see all the sights. So I'm going to take you on a virtual tour of what I want to see. Grand Central Station, this looks really huge.

Radio City Music Hall, would love to see a show there.

And believe it or not, but I'd love to ride in one of those yellow cabs.

And of course I would have to go to Times Square. I've seen it on t.v with Dick Clark every New Year. Looks like an awesome place.

Well, that's my tour and some of the things I would like to see if....that's a really big if, I ever visited New York.

REVIEW - THE LAST UNICORN

This book is for 2 of my reading challenges.
Outdo Yourself Challenge(111/200)
Fairy Tale Challenge(Wrap Up)

"The Last Unicorn" by Peter S. Beagle
Product Description(Amazon.com)
From The Last Unicorn:
"The unicorn lived in a lilac wood, and she lived all alone. She was very old, though she did not know it, and she was no longer the careless color of sea foam, but rather the color of snow falling on a moonlit night. But her eyes were still clear and unwearied, and she still moved like a shadow on the sea..."
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Roc Trade (January 1, 1991)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451450523
ISBN-13: 978-0451450524

MY THOUGHTS: I loved reading this book. Beagle's writing took me on a magical trip. Beagle tells an amazing tale, of love and loss, of heartache and hope. This book is about magic. Joy. Sadness. Beauty. If you want to read a good fairy tale this is the book to read. Does the unicorn find more unicorns? You'll have to read the book to find out.

MY RATING: 8-12

**************************************************************

WARP UP
Fairy Tale Challenge
hosted by Tif at Tif Talks Books

I went with Fairy (level 1)

Rapunzel - Paul o. Zelinsky
Tangled(movie)
The Last Unicorn - Peter S. Beagle

I enjoyed picking out and reading my books. Loved the movie Tangled.
High Summer Read-A-Thon

REVIEW - NATURAL BLONDE

This book is for 1 of my reading challenges.
Outdo Yourself Challenge(110/200)

"Natural Blonde" by Liz Smith
Product Description(Amazon.com)
From Tallulah Bankhead to Joan Crawford to the Kennedys and Madonna, the ultimate insider, Liz Smith has hobnobbed, air-kissed, and lunched with just about everybody who's been anybody over the last half century and then rushed to tell the world all about it. Now, in this candid, down-to-earth autobiography, she tells all about herself, and does it with the kind of style and warmth that has made her one of the most widely read columnists in history. But she wasn't always famous, and in Natural Blonde she reveals how a young woman from rural Texas came to New York hell-bent on making something of her life. From her salad days as a small-time reporter, typist, and proofreader to her triumphs at the Daily News, Newsday, New York Post and her 1995 Emmy for reporting, Liz tells what it's really like to be seen and heard by millions of people every day. One of the most quoted people of our time, she offers a rare, private peek into the real person behind the witty quips and media coverage. Certainly one of the most eagerly anticipated autobiographies in years, Natural Blonde will give Liz Smith readers the item they've been waiting for the ultimate inside scoop from the "Grande Dame of Dish."
Hardcover: 464 pages
Publisher: Hyperion; First Edition edition (September 19, 2000)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0786863250
ISBN-13: 978-0786863259

MY THOUGHTS: I really liked reading about Liz Smith's life. She doesn't hold anything back. There are also pictures scattered though out the book. I didn't realize that Liz Smith was that old. To me she is the young snappy dresser that you see on the book cover. I've read her column in the newspaper and thought she was great. Liz Smith recounts her childhood in Texas and her adventures during World War II and into college. Liz's book is very entertaining and I recommended it for those who are curious about the private lives of the rich and famous.

MY RATING: 5

High Summer Read-a-Thon

HIGH SUMMER READ-A-THON MINI CHALLENGE

Michelle over at The True Book Addict is hosting the High Summer Read-a-thon. She is also having a mini challenge for some beautiful art work.

For my mini-challenge, find a painting/art work online (Google images, photobucket, flickr) that would either be a good cover for the book you're reading and/or might describe the action in the book. This should not be an image of the original cover. Also, include a short description of the book. You can do a post on your blog and leave the link in the comments.

I am reading Natural Blonde by Liz Smith. This is the painting I am using for my challenge, Times Square. To me this is the image I see when someone says New York. Fast paced and bubbling with activity.

It is an Autobiography of her life. I am about 3/4's of the way through the book. My review will be posted tomorrow. This woman is awesome! When I think of Liz Smith and her writing I think of New York and of course that's where she went to get her feet into the newspaper world.

REVIEW - THE TROUBLE WITH LACY BROWN

This book is for 2 of my reading challenges.
Outdo Yourself Challenge(109/200)
Color Coded Challenge(Brown)

"The Trouble With Lacy Brown" by Debra Clopton
Product Description(Amazon.com)
Love is in the air...and the hair -- or so wacky hairstylist Lacy Brown believes when she swoops into Mule Hollow. The town placed an ad for wives, and Lacy's salon is going to guarantee pretty ones!
The moment cattleman Clint Matlock meets the spitfire stylist, he can tell she won't last. Attractive women just don't stick around dusty cow towns; his mom certainly hadn't. But Clint never expects Tornado Lacy to set his emotions spinning. Perhaps the trouble with Lacy Brown is that her last name should be Matlock.
Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Steeple Hill (September 1, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 037387328X
ISBN-13: 978-0373873289

MY THOUGHTS: I really enjoyed reading this book. Sometimes hilarious, other times sad. The emotions coming out of this book is very provoking. Lacy is on a mission to transform Mule Hollow into a beautiful thriving town once again. It's all dusty and needs lots of paint. It also needs women for all those lonely cowboys. She has her store and sets up her hair salon. Lacy also has a best friend, Sherri along to help. Lace paints her building a shocking pink and almost has a heat stroke, because she is trying to paint the building all by herself and doesn't listen to Clint when he tells her to take a break. The sparks fly around Lacy and Clint. Romance is in the wind. But will Lacy and Clint get together? You'll have to read the book to find out.

MY RATING: 5

The High Summer Read-A-Thon

REVIEW - JACK'S BLACK BOOK

This book is for 3of my reading challenges.
Outdo Yourself Challenge(108/200)
52 Books in 52 Weeks(Wk.30)
Color Coded Challenge(Black)

"Jack's Black Book" by Jack Gantos
Product Description(Amazon.com)
According to his new motto - A WRITER'S JOB IS TO TURN HIS WORST EXPERIENCES INTO MONEY - Jack Henry is going to be filthy rich even before he gets out of junior high, for his life is filled with the worst experiences imaginable. In the course of the few months covered in this cycle of interlinked stories, Jack is humiliated by a gorgeous synchronized swimmer, gets a tattoo the size of an ant on his big toe, flubs an IQ test and nearly fails wood shop, and has to dig up his dead dog not once but twice. And that's not the half of it. But, as The School Library Journal put it, Jack's "a survivor, an 'everyboy' whose world may be wacko but whose heart and spirit are eminently sane." Jack may not end up rolling in dough, but he, along with his humorously off-kilter family, always keeps on trying.
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1st edition (September 10, 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0374437165
ISBN-13: 978-0374437169

MY THOUGHTS: This is a new author for me and I really liked reading about Jack. There are actually 3 stories in this book. Jack's failing IQ test (he's average) starts a series of events that affects Jack's life and his dream to be a writer. Jack visit's a fortune teller. She tells him an up-side down leg will be his humiliating down fall. Jack is looking for something humiliating to write about. While Jack's at the beach one day he comes across some synchronized swimmers. And of course they are upside down in the pool. Jack goes about getting a intro to the one girl he thinks is his match. Then he finds out it was all a set up. Does Jack get his humiliating story to write? You'll have to read the book to find out.

MY RATING: 5

The High Summer Read-A-Thon

HIGH SUMMER READ-A-THON

Michelle over at The True Book Addict is hosting the High Summer Read-A-Thon. It starts today and goes until July 31. So my usual memes I do will be on hold this week.

I have a stack of books from the library I've been reading. So will try to finish those this week.

Jack's Black Book - Jack Gantos

The Last Unicorn - Peter S. Beagle

The Trouble With Lacy Brown - Debra Clopton

Natural Blonde - Liz Smith

And also catch up on Roots by Alex Haley. I'm doing this for a Read-A-Long and I'm behind 2 weeks. So I've got 200 pages to catch up on.

That's the line up for this week. We'll see how it goes. Want to join in? Head over to Michelle's place and check it out.

REVIEW - FLOWERS ON MAIN

This book is for one of my reading challenges.
Outdo Yourself Challenge(107/200)

"Flowers on Main" by Sherryl Woods
Product Description(Amazon.com)
When her last two plays are dismal failures and her relationship with her temperamental mentor falls apart, writer Bree O'Brien abandons Chicago and the regional theater where she hoped to make a name for herself to return home. Opening Flowers on Main promises to bring her a new challenge and a new kind of fulfillment.
But not all is peaceful and serene in Chesapeake Shores, with her estranged mother on the scene and her ex-lover on the warpath. Jake Collins has plenty of reasons to want Bree out of his life, but none of those are a match for the one reason he wants her to stay: he's still in love with her.
Jake might be able to get past that old hurt if he knew Bree was home to stay, but is she? The only way to know for sure is to take a dangerous leap of faith.
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Mira; 1 Original edition (May 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0778326349
ISBN-13: 978-0778326342

MY THOUGHTS: I am doing the Chesapeake Shores series by Sherryl Woods as a feature here at Just Books. You can read all about it here. This is the second book in the series. The first book introduced Abby and Jess. This one gives us Bree. Plus all the other things going on in the O' Brian family. Bree has fled home to nurse her wounds from the failures in her life. Bree is a screen writer and the last play she did got really bad reviews. Bree has decided to open a flower shop and make a go at it. But there's a little problem, Jake. Jake is the boyfriend Bree left behind when she went to Chicago. She broke Jake's heart. Now he's angry at Bree and doesn't want anything to do with her. Or does he? Since the town of Chesapeake Shores is a tiny town they keep running into each other. Do Jake and Bree get back together? Does Bree's new business work out? Does Bree ever start writing again? You'll have to read the book to find out.

MY RATING: 5

REVIEW - FATAL FEBRUARY

This book is for 2 of my reading challenges.
Outdo Yourself Challenge(106/200)
Romantic Suspense Challenge

"Fatal February" by Barbara Levenson
Product Description(Amazon.com)
For half Jewish, half Southern Baptist Miami criminal defense attorney Mary Magruder Katz, life starts to spin completely out of control when a minor fender bender turns out to be an unlikely shot from Cupid's bow.The other car's driver, isn't just a distracted driver; he's distracting, not to mention charming, handsome, and mysterious. Hardly before she knows what hit her, Mary breaks off her engagement, jumps into a sizzling new romance, gets fired from her former fiancé's highbrow law firm, starts her own practice, and lands her first client, Lillian Yarmouth.But Lillian isn't just any client; she's the prime suspect in what's become the Miami society murder of the year. While investigating Lillian's alleged crime of passion, Mary finds that this case, like all matters of the heart, is anything but black and white. And Mary has clearly stumbled onto something that has someone seeing red.February may be the shortest month of the year, but Mary's got some long days (and nights) ahead. This month could be a real killer.
Hardcover: 253 pages
Publisher: Oceanview Publishing; 1St Edition edition (February 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 193351552X
ISBN-13: 978-1933515526

MY THOUGHTS: Fatal February is funny, intriguing and easy reading. Ms. Levenson added just the right amount of romance without making it sappy. One thing I liked about this book was the way the legal stuff is written. Ms. Levenson explains each step of the criminal and legal proceedings in a way that is easy to understand and enjoy. And does Mary keep her lover? Does she find out who the real killer is? You'll have to read the book to find out.

MY RATING: 5

[This is a free review book.]

REVIEW - RACHAEL RAY'S BIG ORANGE BOOK

This book is for 2 of my reading challenges.
Outdo Yourself Challenge(105/200)
The Color Coded Challenge(Orange)

"Rachael Ray's Big Orange Book" by Rachael Ray
PRODUCT Description(Amazon.com)
In the 10 years since she served up her first 30-minute meal--and thousands of delectable dinners later--Rachael Ray has learned just about all there is to know about getting a great tasting meal on the table in a hurry, whether it is one of her patented 30-minute miracles or something just a tad more involved for a special gathering. Rachael’s Big Orange Book is the ultimate resource for busy cooks. Need kitchen inspiration? It’s all here and it’s all new--and bigger than ever!
Just one for dinner tonight? Forget the cold cereal. Rach has a chapter of recipes that make dining on your own a thoroughly civilized occasion, with great meals that won’t leave you with a fridge full of leftovers. Vegetarians on the guest list? No problem! Choose from dozens of meat-free meals that are every bit as satisfying as your tried-and-true standards and savory enough to please the carnivores in your crowd. Observing a Kosher menu? Check out the selection of menus just for Kosher cooks, all ready in less than, you guessed it, 30 minutes. There's even a mother lode of burger recipes for fans of the bun—so many options you could make a different burger every day for a full month!
In addition to her latest 30-minute creations, Rachael has put together an array of menus and recipes for easy entertaining, from quick snacks to serve for game night and easy hors d’oeuvres, to soup-to-nuts menus for her favorite holidays and special occasions. Whip up a pasta buffet for a special mom on Mother’s Day, please a crowd with a super-simple Oscar party menu, and give thanks for not one but four fantastic menus that keep holiday stress to a minimum by getting you out of the kitchen in record time.
Best of all, these recipes have all the huge flavors you’ve come to expect from Rachael, with something to please every taste--and every food budget. You’ll even find the treasured family recipes that Rachael and her husband, John, have enjoyed for years; see if they don’t become beloved family traditions in your home as well. Whether this is your first introduction to cooking the 30-minute way or you are a long-time convert, you’ll find irresistible new recipes here to make the most of every second you spend in the kitchen.
Paperback: 360 pages
Publisher: Clarkson Potter; First Edition edition (November 4, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780307383198
ISBN-13: 978-0307383198

MY THOUGHTS: This book has some great recipes in it. 30 minute recipes is what I was looking for. Something fast and yummy. There's lots of great recipes. I found one that I'm going to try out. Pork Chops in Tangy Fire-Roasted Tomato Sauce, I'll have to adjust the recipe, haven't got some of the stuff, but I think it will be alright. If you get a chance pick this book up. Well worth the read.

MY RATING: 5

I'm also linking up with Beth over at Beth Fish Reads for Weekend Cooking. Go over and check it out. You could find supper tonight.

FRIDAY FAVORITES

Freda over at Freda's Voice is the host for The Friday 56 and Katy over at A Few More Pages is the host for Book Beginnings. Head over and check them out.

Both of mine come from an ARC I'm reading, Fatal February by Barbara Levenson

The Friday 56

P. 56
Beverly stopped and looked past me. She looked frightened. I turned around and saw a tall, balding man glaring at her.

Book Beginnings

Lillian Yarmouth murdered her husband. She stabbed him with her grandmother's antique silver letter opener. Right in the heart.

Since I'm a great fan of murder mysteries this really grabbed me. I want to know why Lillian killed her husband. Or could someone else have done it and Lillian is getting blamed for it?

REVIEW - PERSUASION

This book is for 1 of my reading challenges.
Outdo Yourself Challenge(104/200)

"Persuasion" by Jane Austen
Product Description(Amazon.com)
Written during Jane Austen's race against failing health, Persuasion tells the story of Anne Elliot, a woman who-at twenty-seven-is no longer young and has few romantic prospects. Eight years ago, she was persuaded by her friend Lady Russell to break off her engagement to Frederick Wentworth, a handsome naval captain with neither fortune nor rank. When Anne and Frederick meet again, he has acquired both, but still feels the sting of her rejection. A brilliant satire of vanity and pretension, Austen's last completed novel is also a movingly told love story tinged with the heartache of missed opportunities.
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Penguin Classics; De Luxe edition edition (June 28, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0143106287
ISBN-13: 978-0143106289

MY THOUGHTS: This is my book clubs pick for July. I'm not really a fan of Jane Austen's books. I love watching the movie adaptations. I have a really hard time reading classic books. I don't know why that is, but I do. So I have to make myself sit and read them. This book was pretty good, although sometimes I got lost in all the characters, who was who and keeping them all straight. Does Ann and Fredrick get together all so long? You'll have to read the book to find out.

MY RATING: 2

THEME THURSDAY

Kavyen over at Reading Between Pages is the host for Themed Thursdays. Here's a little info that may help.

* A theme will be posted each week (on Thursday’s)
* Select a conversation/snippet/sentence from the current book you are reading
* Mention the author and the title of the book along with your post
* It is important that the theme is conveyed in the sentence (you don’t necessarily need to have the word)
Ex: If the theme is KISS; your sentence can have “They kissed so gently” or “Their lips touched each other” or “The smooch was so passionate”

The Theme this week:
SMILE (Laugh, Grin, Giggle, Guffaw, etc)

My Thursday Theme is from:
Flowers on Main - Sherryl Woods

Bree smiled, though it was clearly forced. "You can bring it back to me. I doubt I'd be able to choke it down as long as I'm worrying about everything we have left to do."

REVIEW - RAPUNZEL

This book is for 3 of my reading challenges.
Outdo Yourself Challenge(103/200)
52 Books in 52 Weeks(Wk.29)
Fairy Tale Challenge

"Rapunzel" by Paul O. Zelinsky
Product Description(Amazon.com)
Trapped in a tower with no door, Rapunzel is allowed to see no one but the sorceress who has imprisoned her-until the day a young prince hears her singing to the forest birds. . . . The timeless tale of Rapunzel is vividly and magnificently brought to life through Paul O. Zelinsky's powerful sense of narrative and his stunning oil paintings.
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 48 pages
Publisher: Puffin; 08 edition (October 14, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0142301930
ISBN-13: 978-0590386029

MY THOUGHTS: This book has some wonderful pictures. The story, is told in modern language, but still holds it's old world classic touch. Any child would love hearing the story and looking at the pictures. I really enjoyed reading this book to my grandbabies, Bella and Luke, although they are only 1 year old. They really liked looking at the pictures.

MY RATING: 5

IT'S MONDAY, WHAT ARE YOU READING?

I am joining Sheila over at Book Journey for It's Monday, What Are You Reading? Hop over and check it out. You might find your next book there.

Last week was pretty good as far as reading. The weather even cooperated, unlike this week. Here is what I read:

The Source of All Things - Tracy Ross
N or M? - Agatha Christie
Jenna's Dilemma - Melissa J. Morgan
Z Car: A legend in it's own time - Ben Millspaugh
The Inn at Eagle Point - Sherryl Woods
Gulliver's Travels - Jonathan Swift

I made a trip to the library so have a whole new stack of books. This is what I'm reading this week.

Flowers on Main - Sherryl Woods(This is a serial feature I am doing, it's on my sidebar.)

When her last two plays are dismal failures and her relationship with her temperamental mentor falls apart, writer Bree O'Brien abandons Chicago and the regional theater where she hoped to make a name for herself to return home. Opening Flowers on Main promises to bring her a new challenge and a new kind of fulfillment.
But not all is peaceful and serene in Chesapeake Shores, with her estranged mother on the scene and her ex-lover on the warpath. Jake Collins has plenty of reasons to want Bree out of his life, but none of those are a match for the one reason he wants her to stay: he's still in love with her.
Jake might be able to get past that old hurt if he knew Bree was home to stay, but is she? The only way to know for sure is to take a dangerous leap of faith.

Jack's Black Book - Jack Gantos

According to his new motto - A WRITER'S JOB IS TO TURN HIS WORST EXPERIENCES INTO MONEY - Jack Henry is going to be filty rich even before he gets out of junior high, for his life is filled with the worst experiences imaginable. In the course of the few months covered in this cycle of interlinked stories, Jack is humiliated by a gorgeous syncronized swimmer, gets a tattoo the size of an ant on his big toe, flubs an IQ test and nearly fails wood shop, and has to dig up his dead dog not once but twice. And that's not the half of it. But, as The School Library Journal put it, Jack's "a survivor, an 'everyboy' whose world may be wacko but whose heart and spirit are eminently sane." Jack may not end up rolling in dough, but he, along with his humorously off-kilter familly, always keeps on trying.

Natural Blonde - Liz Smith

From Tallulah Bankhead to Joan Crawford to the Kennedys and Madonna, the ultimate insider, Liz Smith has hobnobbed, air-kissed, and lunched with just about everybody who's been anybody over the last half century and then rushed to tell the world all about it. Now, in this candid, down-to-earth autobiography, she tells all about herself, and does it with the kind of style and warmth that has made her one of the most widely read columnists in history. But she wasn't always famous, and in Natural Blonde she reveals how a young woman from rural Texas came to New York hell-bent on making something of her life. From her salad days as a small-time reporter, typist, and proofreader to her triumphs at the Daily News, Newsday, New York Post and her 1995 Emmy for reporting, Liz tells what it's really like to be seen and heard by millions of people every day. One of the most quoted people of our time, she offers a rare, private peek into the real person behind the witty quips and media coverage. Certainly one of the most eagerly anticipated autobiographies in years, Natural Blonde will give Liz Smith readers the item they've been waiting for the ultimate inside scoop from the "Grande Dame of Dish."

REVIEW - THE SOURCE OF ALL THINGS

This book is for 2 of my reading challenges.
Outdo Yourself Challenge(102/200)
The 50 States Challenge(Idaho)

"The Source of All Things" by Tracy Ross
Product Description(Amazon.com)
Tracy Ross never knew her biological father, who died after a brain aneurysm when she was still an infant. So when her mother married Donnie, a gregarious man with an all-wheel-drive jeep and a love of hiking, four-year-old Tracy was ecstatic to have a father figure in her life. A loving and devoted step-father, Donnie introduced Tracy’s family to the joys of fishing, deer hunting, camping, and hiking among the most pristine mountains of rural Idaho. Donnie was everything Tracy dreamed a dad would be—protective, brave, and kind. But when his dependence on his eight-year-old daughter’s companionship went too far, everything changed.
Once Donnie’s nighttime visits began, Tracy’s childhood became a confusing blend of normal little girl moments and the sickening, secret invasion of her safety. Tormented by this profound betrayal, Tracy struggled to reconcile deeply conflicting feelings about her stepfather: on the one hand, fear and loathing, on the other hand, the love any daughter would have for her father. It was not until she ran away from home as a teenager that her family was forced to confront the abuse—and it tore them apart.
At sixteen, realizing that she must take control of her own future, Tracy sent herself to boarding school and began the long slow process of recovery. There, in the woods of Northern Michigan, Tracy felt called back to the natural world she had loved as a child. Over the next twenty years, the mountains and rivers of North America provided Tracy with strength, confidence, comfort, and inspiration. From trekking through the glaciers of Alaska to guiding teenagers through the deserts of Utah, Tracy pushed herself to the physical limit on her way to becoming whole again. Yet, as she came into her own, found love, and even started a family, Tracy realized that in order to truly heal she had to confront her stepfather about the demons from the past haunting them both. The Source of All Things is a stunning, unforgettable story about a wounded daughter, her stepfather, and a mistake that has taken thirty years and thousands of miles of raw wilderness to reconcile. Only Tracy can know if Donnie is forgivable. But one thing is for certain: In no other story of abuse does a survivor have as much strength, compassion, bravery, and spirit as Tracy displays in The Source of All Things
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Free Press (March 8, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1439172978
ASIN: B0054U5CB8

MY THOUGHTS: This was a very hard book to read as I saw what was happening to Tracy. It was also a very moving book. Traveling the path to recovery with Tracy. The confrontation of her father is very hard but Tracy does it to get her healing started. Few survivors are able to find the support and the courage to heal. But Tracy does that beautifully with this book. There were some times when I was reading this book that I wanted to cry and other times when I smiled. Tracy takes you along with her as she finds the way to her recovery. Does she recover? Does she get all her questions answered? You'll have to read the book to find out.

MY RATING: 8-12

[This is a free review book.]

REVIEW - N OR M?

This book is for 3 of my reading challenges.
Outdo Yourself Challenge(101/200)
Vintage Mystery Challenge
A - Z Challenge(Title)(N)Wrap-Up

"N or M?" by Agatha Christie
Product Description(Amazon.com)
It is World War II, and while the RAF struggles to keep the Luftwaffe at bay, Britain faces an even more sinister threat from 'the enemy within' -- Nazis posing as ordinary citizens. With pressure mounting, the Intelligence service appoints two unlikely spies, Tommy and Tuppence Beresford. Their mission: to seek out a man and a woman from among the colourful guests at Sans Souci, a seaside hotel. But this assignment is no stroll along the promenade. After all, N and M have just murdered Britain's finest agent!
Hardcover
Publisher: HarperCollins (December 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 000721264X
ISBN-13: 978-0007212644

MY THOUGHTS: First let me say, I'm not a fan of the Tommy and Tuppence mysteries. This is only about the second or third book I've read of the pair. I'm not sure what it is I don't like because the books are classic Agatha Christie. Tommy and Tuppence are trying to help find a spy. They aren't together put seperate people staying at the Inn. So that makes it harder on them to communicate to each other. But they have struck up a kind of romance for the Inn folks. There are several likely suspects and Tommy and Tuppence must narrow the field down. Do they find N or M? Who is this culprit? You'll have to read the book to find out.

RATING: 5

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A - Z Challenge Wrap-Up

I did mine by Titles. Much easier finding titles than authors. Becky is the host for this challenge. You can see the review for all of them here.

My list of books.
A. At The Crossroads of Terror - Lenny Emanuelli
B. Bloodroot - Amy Greene
C. The Christmas Train - David Baldacci
D. Don't Sweat The Small Stuff - Don Bruns
E. The Inn At Eagle Point - Sherryl Woods
F. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
G. The Grand Delusion - Heath Sommer
H. The Hound of the Baskervilles - Arthur Conan Doyle
I. I, Tina: my life story - Tina Turner
J. Jenna's Dilemma - Melissa J. Morgan
K. To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
L. The Luxe - Anna Godbersen
M. Murder on The Orient Express - Agatha Chrisite
N. N or M? - Agatha Christie
O. Our Town - Cynthia Carr
P. A Pizza the Size of the Sun - Jack Prelutsky
Q. Quilts - Marie D. Webster
R. The Red Badge of Courage - Stephen Crane
S. Sunrise - Jacquelyn Cook
T. Tourist Season - Carl Hiaasen
U. Un Lun Dun - China Mieville
V. Goodbye, Vietnam - Gloria Whelan
W. When No One is Watching - Joseph Hayes
X. 7 X 9 = Trouble - Claudia Mills
Y. Behind The Yellow Tape - Jarrett Hallcox
Z. Z Car - Ben Millspaugh