A Book Blogger's Diary

The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel The Outlander saga has captured the hearts and minds of many readers over the years. Now, in her first-ever graphic novel, Gabaldon gives readers a fresh look at the events of the original Outlander - Jamie Fraser’s side of the story, rendered by artist Hoang Nguyen. An interesting concept to be sure, but one, which in my opinion, did not live up to expectations at all.   Synopsis - After too long an absence, Jamie Fraser is coming home to Scotland—but not without great trepidation. Though his beloved godfather, Murtagh, promised Jamie’s late parents he’d watch over their brash son, making good on that vow will be no easy task. There’s already a fat bounty on the young exile’s head, courtesy of Captain Black Jack Randall, the sadistic British officer who’s crossed paths—and swords—with Jamie in the past. And in the court of the mighty MacKenzie clan, Jamie is a pawn in the power struggle between his uncles: aging chieftain Colum, who...

Our Hands help us do so many things and express our feelings. From counting, to waving to eating, to brushing to writing a letter, helping others and so much more. That's the central theme behind Max Lucado's One Hand, Two Hands . I read this book with my 3 three year old son. He actively participated in the physical part of it (wave your fingers, wiggle them etc) but when it came to how hands can help express emotions or help others, he didn't exactly get the concept. He's a year young for this book which is meant for 4-8 year olds and I'm inclined to think the latter age limit is probably better for the child to get the deeper meaning behind this seemingly simple book. The big hardcover book has plentiful, page-large illustrations to accompany the words, which are meant to rhyme, I think, but not all of them did. That did made them difficult to sing to a tune, which is what my kid and I generally like to do with rhymes. Also, Gaby Hansen's big illustrations ar...

Jennifer Crusie is one of my fave authors for romantic comedies with a core of reality. Maybe This Time (St. Martin's Press, 352p, Isbn-0312303785) is a bit different as in there is a strong ghostly element to the story and there are 2 children who are central to the storyline, in addition to the protagonists. And in her own inimitable style, Crusie crafts a spooky tale that's certain to hold readers spellbound. Ever since divorcing her husband North Archer, Andie Miller has been drifting from place to place, job to job, almost as if running from life. Even her new fiance is unable to settle her down. When Andie goes to North for closure, he sets her an intriguing challenge - to take care of 2 problematic children whose guardianship has fallen to him. They live in a haunted house, behave most erratically and have driven off multiple nannies in hysterics, and things are just starting to get worse. Telling herself she's going for the sake of the poor orphaned children, Andi...

Dying for Mercy 400p, Avon Reprint Edition, Isbn-0061286125 Synopsis - The recently renovated Pentimento, located in New York's exclusive moneyed enclave of Tuxedo Park, is no ordinary estate. Strange secrets have been ingeniously built into its fountains, frescoes, statues, and architecture—clues to a bizarre mystery that is first brought to light when the owner commits suicide during a lavish gala. Eliza Blake, co-anchor of the popular morning television show KEY to America, is present when the party is cut short by the host's sudden, macabre death—and she's the first to discover that Pentimento is a giant "puzzle house." But each piece is leading Eliza and her KEY News colleagues—producer Annabelle Murphy, cameraman B. J. D'Elia, and psychiatrist Margo Gonzalez—deeper into darkness, toward a killer who believes that some puzzles must never be solved. And it soon becomes shockingly clear that no amount of wealth or privilege can keep the residents of Tuxed...

One of the loveliest stories I've read in recent times, Mary Balogh's Seducing an Angel ( 416p, Dell, Isbn - 0440244277 ) is a heartfelt, tender story of two unlikely individuals falling in love against all odds. I can honestly say, it seduced me! Warning - Spoilers ahead Her reputation as an axe murderer preceding her, Cassandra, the recently widowed Lady Paget, arrives in London to scandalous whispers and a rapidly dwindling purse. When her only family member refuses to help her and given her violent dislike toward getting married again, a world-weary Cass decides her only option is to use her beauty and become a rich man's mistress which will gain her the funds needed to care for the motley crew of servants and pets who're her bedrock of sanity as well as a pseudo-family. She sets her eyes on Stephen, the rich, young and incredibly attractive and angelic looking Earl of Merton. A good man, inside and out, as well as being highly eligible, Stephen is enjoying being ...

I Can Do It Too!: Handprint Books By Karen Baicker Illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max 18 pp ; board book, full color throughout, ages 2-4 ISBN 9780811875608 This heartwarming story reminds us how satisfying it is to grow up surrounded by love. I Can Do It Too! affirms a little girl's growing independence as she, too, can begin to do all the things she sees her parents, relatives and neighbors do: pouring juice at breakfast, strumming a guitar, and even riding a bike! The simple cadence of text and direct-to-the-heart art result in a book as warm and generous as its message, providing reading pleasure for toddlers, older siblings, and the grown-ups who love them. My kid is in this exact same stage of life and believes himself capable of doing everything he sees us doing. He and I had fun reading this book. And naturally, everything the little girl in the book does, my son proclaimed he could do too. What warmed my heart was that he really can do all that stuff. Except the baking ...

Sizzling Sixteen (Stephanie Plum) St. Martin's Press, 320p, Isbn-0312383304 I generally always look forward to getting a good laugh with a Plum book in my hand. But the last few ones ( excluding 15 which I missed reading for some mysterious reason?! I'll be reading and blogging it soon, btw, thanks to St.Martins who shot over a copy as soon as they realized I'd missed it - Thanks!! ) barely coaxed a few smiles from me. However the long lasting effect of the initial books in this series (laugh out loud, rolling on the floor kind) are such that to date I pick up a Plum book with an anticipatory grin. Thank the good lord, this one does not disappoint - not entirely. If you've not read this book, then don't read ahead as I'm revealing some of the plot in my detailed review below. Suffice to say that the book had moments that had me howling with laughter. And that too with my sleeping baby not far from where I was reading. Now I normally never make a sound in fear of...

My Dangerous Duke Avon, Isbn - 0061733970; 400p I'll begin by saying that although Ms Foley's historical romances frequently list among my favorites, I won't be adding this book to that list. Reason - I just didn't like how the characters behaved, especially towards the end. Let me start from the beginning - WARNING - Spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk... The story gets off to a great start when heroine Kate Madsen is kidnapped from her isolated home on the edge of the moors and delivered as a peace offering to the infamous Duke of Warrington, notorious for his debauchery . That's sets an exciting premise - the furious but doped heroine, the hero pretending to be a bad man etc. They meet, set off sexual sparks, and then the conspiracy takes over. About the conspiracy - simply put, She is descended from bad men whom He and his ancestors have been fighting for ages and still do (I gather this is part of an ongoing background for some of Foley's recent books)....

Still haunted by the death of her only brother, James, in the Great War, Evelyn Gifford is completely unprepared when a young nurse and her six-year-old son appear on the Giffords' doorstep one night. The child, the nurse claims, is James', conceived in a battlefield hospital. The grief-stricken Giffords take them both in; but Evelyn, a struggling attorney, must now support her entire family-at a time when work for women lawyers is almost nonexistent. Suddenly a new case falls in Evelyn's lap: Seemingly hopeless, it's been abandoned by her male coworkers. The accused-a veteran charged with murdering his young wife- is almost certain to die on the gallows. And yet, Evelyn believes he is truly innocent, just as she suspects there may be more to the story of her "nephew" than meets the eye. My thoughts - The Crimson Rooms is an exciting and thought provoking story of a woman struggling to change both herself and society, and all the while attempt to...

About the Book - Jack Carstares, an Earl turned highwayman, and his enemy, the enigmatic Duke of Andover, engage in an intense rivalry over the beautiful Diana Beauleigh. Seven years before the story opens, Carstares protected his brother by allowing himself to be disgraced for cheating at cards. His brother, suffering intense guilt, isn't aware that they played right into the hands of the Duke of Andover. The disgraced Earl now roams the countryside until a confrontation with his rival thwarts the attempt to kidnap the lovely Diana. But now the Duke is more determined than ever to have Diana for his own, and the two men will meet at sword point before the Earl's name can be cleared and he can claim his fair lady. My Thoughts - As regulars of this blog know, I love Heyer's books. She has a style of writing that just flows. The energy never dulls. The stories might not be perfect, but I can never quite fault Heyer's execution of them. The Black Moth ( 368 p, ...