A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

(149 pages)



Ebenezer Scrooge is a miserly old skinflint. He hates everyone, especially children. But at Christmas three ghosts come to visit him, scare him into mending his ways, and he finds, as he celebrates with Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and their family, that geniality brings its own reward.

I love this book :) Despite all the adaptations the book is definitely the best. An absolute must read at Christmas time. A true old fashioned eye-opener!!

Meet Addy: An American Girl

(69 pages)



This is another American Girls short story, this time about Addy Walker, a nine-year-old African-American girl living in the America of 1864. Addy and her family are slaves living on a plantation in North Carolina. The North appears to be winning the war, but Addy's parents are afraid that their owner will sell part of the family, splitting them up, so they decide to run away. Disaster strikes when the master sells Addy's father and brother off before they can make good their escape. Now, it is up to Addy and her mother, and Addy will have to do things much harder than she ever contemplated!

This was my favourite of the series and gave a wonderful yet uplifting insight into slavery in 19th century America.

Meet Molly: An American Girl

(59 pages)



This American Girls Short Story is about Molly McIntire, a nine-year-old girl living on the home front during World War 2. It is 1944, and Molly and her family are learning to live with wartime shortages and the absence of their Army doctor father. With Halloween right around the corner, Molly and her friends have to come up with a set of costumes that will include all of them. (Cinderella and her two stepsisters? Yeah, but who wants to be an ugly stepsister?) However, trouble is on the horizon as Molly finds herself drawn into a small war with her brother!

Really enjoyable and fun, especially seen as the subject matter could be seen as so serious.

Meet Kirsten: An American Girl

(61 pages)



This is about Kirsten Larson, a nine-year-old girl from Sweden. In it, we meet Kirsten on the Eagle, a sailing ship bringing her and her family from Sweden to America in 1854. Leaving behind the life she knew, Kirsten sails across the wide Atlantic, takes her first ever train ride, sees several big cities, and begins her new life in frontier Minnesota. It is a journey mixing joy and grief, and fear and happiness.

Again an intrigung look at the history of America, this time through the eyes of an adorable young Immigrant girl.

Meet Samantha: An American Girl

(61 pages)



This is another in the American Girls Short Stories series about Samantha Parkington, a nine-year-old orphan girl living with her wealthy grandmother in the America of 1904. In this first book of the series, Samantha begins to learn about the world outside of her opulent house; she learns of the yawning inequalities that separate race, class and sex. Through it all, Samantha works on her needlepoint sampler that bears the simple motto “Actions speak louder than words,” and Samantha puts that motto to work.

A fabulous insight into american history from a child's perspective.

Meet Felicity: An American Girl

(69 pages)



This is about Felicity Merriman, a nine-year-old girl living in the America of 1774. In this book, Felicity is bored with her constrained "girl's" world, where her time is spent wearing cumbersome dresses and making small, uniform stitches. Excitement enters, when she meets the knacker's new horse. The knacker, Jiggy Nye, is a cruel man who mistreats the horse. Here Felicity learns that sometime you must work for what you love, and sometimes you must give it up.
The final chapter is a fascinating and highly informative look into life in 1774.

I really enjoyed this as an insight into life in the past.

Quinn's Woman by Susan Mallery

(249 pages)



Self-defence instructor DJ Monroe would do anything to keep her edge. Even if that meant asking the magnetic military expert Quinn Reynolds to instruct her! DJ didn’t date, didn’t let anyone into her world. But when she found herself falling for him, could she let go of her past and embrace a future with Quinn?
Hardened military man Quinn was knocked head over heels-literally-by a stunning brunette in camouflage. One encounter with the tough-as-nails beauty, and Quinn knew he was in trouble. His high-risk career had taught him not to get too close to anyone, but DJ made Quinn long to throw caution to the wind and lay siege to her heart.

The usual Silhoette fluff, but enjoyable none the less. Both Quinn and DJ drove me crazy at times, but it was worth the read :)

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C Moore

(40 pages)



Every Christmas Eve brings with it hushed anticipation and wonder. Here is the story of this magical night, when children around the world await the arrival of the gifts that symbolise all the warmth and love of Christmas.

This was the first time I had ever read this and it was wonderful. I am sure that I will read it every year at Christmas. It took me back to being a child and put me in a really happy Christmassy mood.

A Star In Winter by Anita Stansfield

(186 pages)



Shayne Brynner has tried everything to make his marriage work. His wife, Margie, only feels well enough to shop incessantly and go to lunch with her friends. Buckling under Margie’s extreme credit-card debt, Shayne is forced to sell their home and move the family into an apartment. Mortified and enraged, Margie leaves the family.
Eight-year-old Scotty Brynner is having a noticeably difficult time coping with the problems at home. When he misses school, Helen Starkey, Scotty's caring and sensitive school teacher, decides to visit the apartment. When she learns of the family's plight and the father's demanding job, she offers to watch the children after school. Shayne is grateful for the help, and a close bond develops quickly between Helen and the children.
When his marriage ends, Shayne’s feelings toward Helen deepen beyond gratitude. Happiness seems certain, but matters of the heart are never as simple as they seem . . .
With an appropriate balance of faith and romance, Anita Stansfield weaves a thoroughly engaging and satisfying tale that will stay with you long after the final page is read.

Despite the fact that it was rather predictable, this story was beautifully written and a true joy to read. It was nice to read a sweet and believable romance without sex scenes!!!
I really enjoyed it, and thought that the way the heart of faith and belief was woven into it was truly fabulous. I certainly will not forget it, and during the holiday season it made me feel as though miracles can and do happen.

Loving Ways by Irene Brand

(256 pages)



He had been her first and only love. Yet when Lorene Harvey met Perry Saunders again after twenty years, she was amazed by the emotions sweeping through her. She wanted desperately for them to have a second chance, bot Lorene had a secret . . . one she feared Perry would never forgive.
She was the love of his life. Or so Perry had thought in college. And when Lorene had suddnely disappeared, he had vowed to never love agian. Now he knew his feelings had never died. But would he ever convince her that his forgiveness and love were hers for the asking?

I enjoyed this quite a lot :)
nice and sweet romance with a spiritual air... thanks for sharing.

In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner

(400 pages)



Rose Feller is thirty years old, a high-powered attorney, with a secret passion for romance novels, and dreams of a man who will tell her that she's beautiful. Meet Rose's sister Maggie. Twenty-eight years old, drop-dead gorgeous and only occasionally employed, Maggie dreams of fame and fortune - and of getting her dowdy big sister to stick to a skin-care regime. These two women are about to learn that their family is more different than they ever imagined, and that they're more alike than they'd ever believe

I did enjoy this, though not as much as "good in bed". After reading it I wanted to see the movie... desperately!!!

Good In Bed by Jennifer Weiner

(400 pages)



Cannie Shapiro never wanted to be famous. The smart, sharp, plus-sized reporter was perfectly happy writing about other people's lives for her local newspaper. She loves her job, her friends, her dog and her life. She has made a tenuous peace with her body and she even felt okay about ending her relationship with Bruce. But now this...'Loving a larger woman is an act of courage in our world,' Bruce has written in a national woman's magazine. And Cannie is plunged into misery, and the most amazing year of her life.

This was a really great read, I could identify with Cannie and the 'doctor' was adorable... a real feel good story :)

Christmas Treasures of the Heart by Cheri Fuller

(160 pages)



Open before Christmas
Like a heap of brightly wrapped presents piled beneath the most lavish Christmas tree, this extravagant collection has something for everyone. Heartwarming, nostalgic, and merry - this is sure to become your favorite holiday reading, year after year!
* You'll catch the genuine Christmas spirit of love and selfless giving through a wonderful collection of stories -some are personal memories, others are dramatic fiction accounts or poetic experts.
* You'll be inspired to make you own memories with dozens of family activities - festive traditions to share, beloved carols and hymns to sing together, fun and easy hoilday recipes to enjoy, and much more!
* Best of all, you'll be drawn back to the real meaning of Christmas!
If you cherish the sights and sounds, the moments and memories, of the best Yuletide celebrations past and present, then you'll want to make reading this timeless book your newest holiday tradition.

I couldnt resist reading this as soon as I got it and I am so glad about that :)
It is an adorable little book, with tips and tricks for a smooth Christmas, alongside well placed reminders about the true meaning of the holidy... the celebration of the Birth of Christ. There are a few Bible passages along with suggestions fro havin a "Happy Birthday Jesus" party and creating a manger of your own. *<:o)

The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks

(464 pages)



Twelve Hawks's much anticipated novel is powerful, mainstream fiction built on a foundation of cutting-edge technology laced with fantasy and the chilling specter of an all-too-possible social and political reality. The time is roughly the present, and the U.S. is part of the Vast Machine, a society overseen by the Tabula, a secret organization bent on establishing a perfectly controlled populace. Allied against the Tabula are the Travelers and their sword-carrying protectors, the Harlequins. The Travelers, now almost extinct, can project their spirit into other worlds where they receive wisdom to bring back to earth—wisdom that threatens the Tabula's power. Maya, a reluctant Harlequin, finds herself compelled to protect two naïve Travelers, Michael and Gabriel Corrigan. Michael dabbles in shady real estate deals, while Gabriel prefers to live "off the Grid," eschewing any documentation—credit cards, bank accounts—that the Vast Machine could use to track him. Because the Tabula has engineered a way to use the Travelers for its own purposes, Maya must not only keep the brothers alive, but out of the hands of these evil puppet-masters. She succeeds, but she also fails, and therein lies the tale. By the end of this exciting volume, the first in a trilogy, the stage is set for a world-rending clash between good and evil.

This was awesome. The characters were really easy to follow.. like or dislike, and i was desperate to find out what happened next. there is something for everyone in this, a lot of violence, possible romance, sci-fi, thriller and conspiracies.I too cannot wait for the next one... ij ust have to know what happens next!!!!

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

(227 pages)



John Grisham turns a satirical eye on the overblown ritual of the festive holiday season, and the result is Skipping Christmas, a modest but funny novel about the tyranny of December 25. Grisham's story revolves around a typical middle-aged American couple, Luther and Nora Krank. On the first Sunday after Thanksgiving they wave their daughter Blair off to Peru to work for the Peace Corps, and they suddenly realize that "for the first time in her young and sheltered life Blair would spend Christmas away from home."
Luther Krank sees his daughter's Christmas absence as an opportunity. He estimates that "a year earlier, the Luther Krank family had spent $6,100 on Christmas," and have "precious little to show for it." So he makes an executive decision, telling his wife, friends, and neighbors that "we won't do Christmas." Instead, Luther books a 10-day Caribbean cruise. But things start to turn nasty when horrified neighbors get wind of the Krank's subversive scheme and besiege the couple with questions about their decision.
Grisham builds up a funny but increasingly terrifying picture of how this tight-knit community turns on the Kranks, who find themselves under increasing pressure to conform. As the tension mounts, readers may wonder whether they will manage to board their plane on Christmas day. Skipping Christmas is Grisham-lite, with none of the serious action or drama of his legal thrillers, but a funny poke at the craziness of Christmas.

This was a really good read that made me remember all the bad and good parts of Christmas. I thought the ending was sweet but a wee bit sickly, but still enjoyed Luther's last minute escapades. I am so glad I dont have to put Frosty on my roof every year. It was a real change from Joh Grisham's usual style, but was fabulous fun, especially in the lead up to the Holiday Season!!

Specks in the Sky by Ben Rice

(57 pages)



In a remote American location, on a derelict property where Ryder Jarvis lives with her mother and sister, bizarre things happen. Out of the sky comes a team of elite parachutists, super specimens of new-age (but tough) manhood, led by a Commander who talks in gung-ho clichés. They cannot reveal their top-secret mission but they take over the property, repair everything, clean everything up, cook gourmet meals, discuss literature and charm Ryder's mother and sister. Ryder is impressed but sceptical. She suspects that the men are fakes...

I didn't enjoy this as much as Pobby and Dingan. It was rather surreal with a very strange ending....good fun, but lacked the intense emotion of Pobby and Dingan.

Pobby and Dingan by Ben Rice

(90 pages)



Ashmol Williamson has had enough of his younger sister Kellyanne and her best friends Pobby and Dingan. Only Kellyanne can see the imaginary pair, but much to Ashmol's dismay, many in the small Australian mining town treat Pobby and Dingan as if they were real. Ashmol's dad has established a reputation as the town drunk, and one day, while on a walk with Pobby and Dingan, he loses the two friends, and Kellyanne becomes despondent. Realizing that finding Pobby and Dingan is the only way to bring his sister out of her severe depression and ease the minds of his parents, Ashmol sets out to enlist the people of Lightning Ridge in a search to bring the pair back to Kellyanne.

I absolutely adored this story...who said that seeing is believing? sometimes you have to believe to see. It was really heartwarming and sweet, with a wonderfully sad shock (for me at least) at the end.