The Tournament at Gorlan by John Flanagan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Another great series to look forward from John Flanagan. It had all the excitement of the other Rangers Apprentice series but was fun to see how Halt progressed and how the Ranger Corps came back together.


Summary (from Goodreads.com):  When Halt and Crowley discover that the ambitious Morgarath has been infiltrating the Rangers in order to corrupt the Corps, the young Rangers travel north to find Prince Duncan, seeking a royal warrant to stop Morgarath before it is too late. By weakening the Rangers, the most powerful force in support of the King, Morgarath plans to steal the throne.

Yet when Halt and Crowley arrive in Gorlan, they discover just how close Morgarath’s scheme is to success. Morgarath has a plan to discredit the Prince and alienate him from his father. At the same time, the Baron of Gorlan has been conspiring to win the trust and admiration of the Council of Barons to further his plan. If the young Rangers are to prevent the coup from succeeding, they will have to tread a dangerous path, which leads them to a thrilling climax at the annual tournament at Gorlan, where a series of bitter duels must be fought and won.

I don't know what to read next!  Fortunately I have a list of titles that I have come across that I have wanted to read.

Mr. Monk Is Open For Business by Hy Conrad

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This Monk is certainly better than the last, but still lacks the humor and imagination of titles earlier in the series.  The plot was flat and dull.  There were few subplots going on, especially those clever cases where monk walks into a situation and immediately sizes it up and is able to accuse the criminal.  Conrad is getting better, but still needs some work.


Plot (from Goodreads.com):  Failing to win back his girlfriend in New Jersey, Monk returns to San Francisco where Natalie has set up an office for Monk and Teeger, Consulting Detectives. It’s time to stop bickering and get to work when Lieutenant Amy Devlin comes to them for help.

A disgruntled employee came into work and started shooting, killing three coworkers and leaving a female hostage severely wounded. After spotting the shooter through office windows, the police lost him—leaving Lieutenant Devlin with a real mess on her hands.

Visiting the bedridden survivor, Monk finds her to be helpful, cooperative…and quite charming as well. But the more he and Natalie try to track down the assailant, the more he seems to have disappeared from existence altogether....

Now I'm reading "Hangman's Revolution" by Eoin Colfer.

Within arms length by Dan Emmett

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


First thought about this book was, "Wow, does this author have a HUGE ego, or what?"  But most secret service agents probably think the same way.

Overall I enjoyed the book.  It advertised itself as a "definitive inside account of protecting the president."   I was a little disappointed it really didn't go into detail about how the secret service failed to protect the president during Clinton's administration (i.e., Monica Lewinsky).  He completely ignored that chapter of history.  Otherwise it was interesting to see how the service has evolved, got bigger, better, and more effective and how they do more than just presidential protection. 


Now I am working on Rump : the true story of Rumplestiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This was a very fun book.  Maybe it's because I work in a library and am envious of all the technology and money Mr. Lemoncello has for the new library!  the idea of having the kids figure a way out of the building based on clues they find in the library was great. 

It was a fun and entertaining book.  I'd be willing to recommend it for any good reader or those interested in books, games, libraries or technology.

It's a nominee for Utah Beehive Book Award in the children's fiction category.

Plot (from Goodreads.com): Kyle Keeley is the class clown, popular with most kids, (if not the teachers), and an ardent fan of all games: board games, word games, and particularly video games. His hero, Luigi Lemoncello, the most notorious and creative gamemaker in the world, just so happens to be the genius behind the building of the new town library.

Lucky Kyle wins a coveted spot to be one of the first 12 kids in the library for an overnight of fun, food, and lots and lots of games. But when morning comes, the doors remain locked. Kyle and the other winners must solve every clue and every secret puzzle to find the hidden escape route. And the stakes are very high.

Now I'm reading Bootlegger by Clive Cussler.

Moving Target by J.A. Jance

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


For some reason, it took me forever to get through this book.  It had a good plot, interesting characters and the such, but it was just a slow read.  I'm still trying to figure out how the two subplots related to each other, other than the characters.  I'll probably continue to read Jance's works, but may not read any more of the Ali Reynolds series.

Plot (from Goodreads.com): Lance Tucker, an incarcerated juvenile offender and talented hacker in his own right, is set on fire one night and severely burned while hanging Christmas decorations in a lockup rec room. B. Simpson, Ali Reynolds's fiancé and the man who helped put Lance in jail, feels obliged to get to the bottom of what happened. With Ali off in England to help Leland Brooks at a reunion with his long-estranged family, B. turns to someone else to help out: Ali's good friend and Taser-carrying nun, Sister Anselm.

Meanwhile, in Bournemouth, Leland's hometown, Ali begins to investigate the decades-old murder of Leland's father, which Leland himself was once suspected of committing. With unsolved murders on both sides of the Atlantic, Ali, B., and Sister Anselm are united by their search for answers and the jeopardy they get into as a result.

Now I am reading my first Utah 2014 Beehive Book Award nominee book, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's library by Chris Grabenstein.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The winner of the Utah Beehive Book Award for Children's fiction, it was the last nominee I read.  It is very popular at the library, and now that I've read it, I can see why. 

When I started to read it I grew mad, then sad, then joyful.  I don't usually cry when I read a book, but this one made me do just that.  I would highly recommend it, but to an older reader--younger children may not appreciate the central story of human kindness despite abnormalities. 

Plot (from Goodreads.com):  August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?

Now I am back to working on Moving Target, by J. A. Jance.

Be Careful What You Wish For by Jeffrey Archer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


 With the exception of his short stories, I think I have read all Archer's works, enjoying some more than others.  This was a better volume than others in the series, but I was hoping this was going to be the last in the series.  It seems that is not the case.  nevertheless, Archer remains the master of revenge.  The way he crafts his plots and weaves the characters back and forth is quite impressive. 


Plot (from Goodreads.com):  Bestselling author Jeffrey Archer's Be Careful What You Wish For opens with Harry Clifton and his wife Emma rushing to hospital to learn the fate of their son Sebastian, who has been involved in a fatal car accident. But who died, Sebastian or his best friend Bruno?

When Ross Buchanan is forced to resign as chairman of the Barrington Shipping Company, Emma Clifton wants to replace him. But Don Pedro Martinez intends to install his puppet, the egregious Major Alex Fisher, in order to destroy the Barrington family firm just as the company plans to build its new luxury liner, the MV Buckingham.

Back in London, Harry and Emma’s adopted daughter wins a scholarship to the Slade Academy of Art where she falls in love with a fellow student, Clive Bingham, who asks her to marry him. Both families are delighted until Priscilla Bingham, Jessica’s future mother-in-law, has a visit from an old friend, Lady Virginia Fenwick, who drops her particular brand of poison into the wedding chalice.

Then, without warning, Cedric Hardcastle, a bluff Yorkshireman who no one has come across before, takes his place on the board of Barringtons. This causes an upheaval that none of them could have anticipated, and will change the lives of every member of the Clifton and Barrington families. Hardcastle’s first decision is who to support to become the next chairman of the board: Emma Clifton or Major Alex Fisher? And with that decision, the story takes yet another twist that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Now I am working on Moving Target by J. A. Jance.

Standup Guy by Stuart Woods

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I felt this book was missing something.  I'm not sure if I can identify it, but it seemed to jump back and forth between scenarios and characters changing names.  The book was enjoyable, but did not read smoothly, like Woods others have. 

Hard to recommend to those that are offended by language and sex, and some violence. 

Plot (from Goodreads.com):  tone Barrington’s newest client does not seem the type to bring mayhem in his wake. A polite, well-deported gentleman, he comes to Stone seeking legal expertise on an unusual—and potentially lucrative—dilemma. Stone points him in the right direction and sends him on his way, but it’s soon clear Stone hasn’t seen the end of the case. Several people are keenly interested in this gentleman’s activities and how they may relate to a long-ago crime . . . and some of them will stop at nothing to find the information they desire. On a hunt that leads from Florida’s tropical beaches to the posh vacation homes of the Northeast, Stone finds himself walking a tightrope between ambitious authorities and seedy lowlifes who all have the same prize in their sights. In this cutthroat contest of wills, it’s winner-takes-all . . . and Stone will need every bit of his cunning and resourcefulness to be the last man standing.

Now I am reading Checking Out by Clair Poulson.

Mr. Monk Gets on Board by Hy Conrad

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Conrad really needs to step up his game if he wants to maintain the creativity and humor the previous books in this series.  This book was good, but it could have been so much better.  Reading the preface helps me understand that this was supposed to be a script for a episode, so he has presented us with recycled material.  Novelists need to be so much better than script writers and he fails in this effort.

The plot (from Goodreads.com): Of all the things that make Adrian Monk uneasy, change ranks high on the list. So when Natalie completes her P.I. license—and technically becomes Monk’s boss—it’s not easy for him to accept. Nor can he accept Natalie attending a business seminar at sea without him, even if it means spending a week with her on a cruise ship.

Between choppy waters and obnoxious kids, Monk finds himself in a perfect storm of anxiety. Luckily, Mariah, the cruise director, is always able to smooth things over…until someone pulls the man overboard alarm, the ship drops anchor—and the crew fishes Mariah’s dead body out of the water.

Finding alcohol in Mariah’s system, the ship’s doctor declares her death an accident, but Monk isn’t convinced. He knows that Mariah and the captain were having an affair. Could someone have pushed her overboard?

When the captain hires Monk and Natalie to look into a mysterious rash of vandalism onboard, Monk steers the investigation toward murder….

Now I am reading  Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo, the 2014 Newbery Award winner.

Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was another enjoyable book.  It's one of the nominees for Utah's Beehive Book Awards for children' fiction.  It was very imaginative and moved along at a good pace.  The story drew me in and kept my interest, something I appreciate in a good book.  This would be appropriate for any reader, especially those interested in strong female characters and a little fantasy.  Even boys might be interested in the running of the castle and the events leading up to this story.

The plot (as provided by Goodreads.com): Tuesdays at Castle Glower are Princess Celie's favorite days. That's because on Tuesdays the castle adds a new room, a turret, or sometimes even an entire wing. No one ever knows what the castle will do next, and no one-other than Celie, that is-takes the time to map out the new additions. But when King and Queen Glower are ambushed and their fate is unknown, it's up to Celie, with her secret knowledge of the castle's never-ending twists and turns, to protect their home and save their kingdom. This delightful book from a fan- and bookseller-favorite kicks off a brand-new series sure to become a modern classic.


Now I am reading Mr. Monk Gets on Board by Hy Conrad.

The Royal Ranger by John Flanagan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Another great read, but too bad it's the last in the series.  Or is it?  I could see this continuing with one of the new characters.  This was a hard book to put down, always a good sign for me.

The plot (from Goodreads.com):  After a senseless tragedy destroys his life, Will is obsessed with punishing those responsible - even if it means leaving the Ranger Corps. His worried friends must find a way to stop him taking such a dark path. It is Halt who suggests the solution: Will must take an apprentice. The candidate Halt has in mind surprises everyone - and it's a request Will cannot refuse.  Training a rebellious, unwilling apprentice is hard enough. But when a routine mission uncovers a shocking web of crime, Will must decide where his priorities lie - finishing his quest for revenge, or saving innocent lives?

Now I am reading Mr. Monk Helps Himself by Hy Conrad.

Mirage by Clive Cussler

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Cussler's books are usually very predictable, but this breaks that mold.  It's exciting and gripping.  I have enjoyed all the Oregon novels and this is no exception.

The plot (from Goodreads.com):  In October 1943, a U.S. destroyer sailed out of Philadelphia and supposedly vanished, the result of a Navy experiment with electromagnetic radiation. The story was considered a hoax—but now Juan Cabrillo and his Oregon colleagues aren’t so sure.

There is talk of a new weapon soon to be auctioned, something very dangerous to America’s interests, and the rumors link it to the great inventor Nikola Tesla, who was
working with the Navy when he died in 1943. Was he responsible for the experiment? Are his notes in the hands of enemies? As Cabrillo races to find the truth, he discovers there is even more at stake than he could have imagined—but by the time he realizes it, he may already be too late.

Now I am reading Royal Ranger by John Flanagan.

The Justice Game by Randy Singer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The author, described as the "Christian John Grisham" writes a pretty clean and interesting book.  There are definitely undertones about pro-gun rights in the book while balancing the rights of gun violence victims.  Singer walks the line pretty well.  There is a lot of faith-based material in the book, which does not add to the plot at all (kind of like other authors who use sex but has nothing to do with the plot).  Overall, an interesting read.

The plot (from Goodreads.com): After the target of an investigative report storms a Virginia Beach television station, he kills one of the anchors before the SWAT team takes him down. Following the victim's funeral, her family files a lawsuit against the gun company who manufactured the killer's weapon of choice. The lawyers for the plaintiff and defendant--Kelly Starling and Jason Noble--are young, charismatic, and successful. They're also easy blackmail targets, both harboring a personal secret so devastating it could destroy their careers. Millions of dollars--and more than a few lives--are at stake. But as Kelly and Jason battle each other, they discover that the real fight is with unseen forces intent on controlling them both.


Now I'm listening to Inferno by Dan Brown.

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another nominee for the Utah Beehive Book Award for children's fiction. 

A great book about community togetherness, family, friendship, and mystery. It's a good book for those that like strong and spunky female characters.  Great humor, nothing really offensive in the book.

Plot (from Goodreads.com):  Rising sixth grader Miss Moses LoBeau lives in the small town of Tupelo Landing, NC, where everyone's business is fair game and no secret is sacred. She washed ashore in a hurricane eleven years ago, and she's been making waves ever since. Although Mo hopes someday to find her "upstream mother," she's found a home with the Colonel--a café owner with a forgotten past of his own--and Miss Lana, the fabulous café hostess. She will protect those she loves with every bit of her strong will and tough attitude. So when a lawman comes to town asking about a murder, Mo and her best friend, Dale Earnhardt Johnson III, set out to uncover the truth in hopes of saving the only family Mo has ever known.

Now I am reading Mirage by Clive Cussler.

The Butler: A Witness to History by Wil Haygood

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


I was looking forward to reading about the butler that had served in the White House for so many years, but instead treated to a story about how the movie cam to be and very few anecdotes about the butler himself.  I was very disappointed.  What a waste of time.

The plot (from Goodreads.com): With a foreword by the Academy Award nominated director Lee Daniels, The Butler not only explores Allen's life and service to eight American Presidents, from Truman to Reagan, but also includes an essay, in the vein of James Baldwin’s jewel The Devil Finds Work, that explores the history of black images on celluloid and in Hollywood, and fifty-seven pictures of Eugene Allen, his family, the presidents he served, and the remarkable cast of the movie.

Now I am listening to Doing Hard Time by Stuart Woods.

Dick Francis's Refusal by Felix Francis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


It has been a while since I read a Dick Francis book, but this was a good read.  it's typical Francis, playing the jockey and horse racing angle, but with a great plot and storyline.  It really kept my interest and was something I looked forward to reading (or in my case, listening).

Plot (from Goodreads.com):  Six years ago, investigator Sid Halley retired for good. He’d been harassed, beaten, shot, even lost a hand to his investigating business, and enough was enough. For the sake of his wife and new daughter he gave up that life of danger and uncertainty, and he thought nothing would ever lure him back into the game.

He thought wrong. Sir Richard Stewart, chairman of the racing authority, begs Sid to investigate a series of dodgy races. Sid adamantly refuses, but the following day, Sir Richard is found dead under suspicious circumstances. And then a man with an Irish accent contacts Sid, telling him to deliver a whitewashed report about the suspected race-fixing . . . or else.

At first Sid ignores these warnings, knowing that once he submits to this criminal bully, he will forever be under his control. But as the intimidation tactics escalate—and Sid’s own family comes under threat—Sid realizes he must meet his enemy head-on . . . or he might pay the ultimate price for his refusal.

The Mayan Secrets by Clive Cussler

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Using a different set of heroes. Cussler writes another great adventure, this time (as the title implies) they discover secrets to the Mayan culture and history.

There was plenty of action in the book, the plot moved along quickly and it kept my interest.  I'm glad to see Cussler writing something a little different from his typical underwater adventures.

plot (from Goodreads.com):  Husband-and-wife team Sam and Remi Fargo are in Mexico, when they come upon a remarkable discovery—the skeleton of a man clutching an ancient sealed pot, and within the pot, a Mayan book, larger than anyone has ever seen. The book contains astonishing information about the Mayans, about their cities, and about mankind itself. The secrets are so powerful that some people would do anything to possess them—as the Fargos are about to find out.

Before their adventure is done, many men and women will die for that book—and Sam and Remi may just be among them.

Now I am reading  Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage.

Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I don't normally read graphic novels (comic books) but this was good.  The illustrations were very good as was the story line.  This is definitely a series so if you want to find out what happens to Zita, you have to read the subsequent volumes.

This would be a good book for reluctant readers, as it is told in comic format.  The pages turn fast and the reader could get through this book very quickly.  And they would want to read the next book in the series!

It's another children's fiction nominee for the Utah Beehive Book Award.

The plot (from Goodreades.com): When her best friend is abducted by an alien doomsday cult, Zita leaps to the rescue and finds herself a stranger on a strange planet. Humanoid chickens and neurotic robots are shocking enough as new experiences go, but Zita is even more surprised to find herself taking on the role of intergalactic hero. Before long, aliens in all shapes and sizes don’t even phase her. Neither do ancient prophecies, doomed planets, or even a friendly con man who takes a mysterious interest in Zita’s quest.

Zita the Spacegirl is a fun, captivating tale of friendship and redemption from Flight veteran Ben Hatke. It also has more whimsical, eye-catching, Miyazaki-esque monsters than you can shake a stick at.

Now I am reading The Mayan Secrets by Clive Cussler.

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


When I saw this book was told in prose format, I thought I was going to hate it.  But I didn't.  It was a good story, told in prose format.  I have to give a lot of credit to the author for telling a compelling story in that format. 

This would be an excellent book for a reader reluctant to read poetry.  It's beautifully written yet told in a way that is interesting and makes you want to read the whole story.  It could be read in one sitting very easily.

This was another nominee for the Utah Beehive Book Award for Children's Fiction.

Plot (from Goodreads.com): For all the ten years of her life, Hà has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, the warmth of her friends close by . . . and the beauty of her very own papaya tree.

But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope. In America, Hà discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of its strangers, the dullness of its food, the strange shape of its landscape . . . and the strength of her very own family.

This is the moving story of one girl's year of change, dreams, grief, and healing as she journeys from one country to another, one life to the next.

Now I am reading Zita, the Spacegirl, Book one.

Malcolm at Midnight by W.H. Beck

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I do not usually like talking animal stories.  This goes back to my days in school when my teacher told me I had to read something.  I didn't like being forced to do so then any more than I do now.  So I have never enjoyed that particular genre.  But this story was actually pretty good.  Yes, it was pretty predictable, but there were enough twists in the plot to keep it entertaining.  The author substitutes other words for swear words, like "scraps" that could have been left out to still make the story perfectly fine.  It could have been 50 pages shorter, as the plot was slow to develop and seemed to drag on, but other than those very minor problems, I enjoyed it.

It's a nominee for best Children's Fiction in the Utah Beehive Award, and a worthy nominee.

Plot (from Goodreads.com):  When Malcolm the rat arrives as the pet at McKenna School, he revels in the attention. He also meets the Midnight Academy, a secret society of classroom pets that keeps the nutters (kids) safe. There’s just one problem…rats have a terrible reputation! So when the Academy’s iguana leader is kidnapped, Malcolm must prove his innocence—and that even rats can be good guys. Illustrated by Brian Lies of Bats at the Beach, this engaging middle-grade novel will have readers rooting for Malcolm as they try to solve the mystery alongside him.

Now I am reading Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai.