Griffin Speaker

Rain is an orphan living with her Aunt who keeps and trains animals for others.  Rain has one rule to follow, do not go into the barn, of course she does and finds a griffin, a wild griffin which no one has seen in many generations and thought to be extinct.  The griffin bonds with Rain and when the high up officials find out they set out to capture the griffin and do the unthinkable to Rain make her start to take the meds.  There is only one thing that can save them both and that is if they can get to the academy and make it past the trial set before them then even as an orphan she will be provided the education of the academy and hopefully become a griffin rider.

So much action and suspense right from the start and continuing on until the very end, however now I can’t wait to see what the pair will get up to next.  These characters each and everyone are well thought out and the story is just wonderful.  I really loved it and hope to see more of the duo as they move along the ranks.

 

Wombat Waiting

First of all, Wombat isn’t really a Wombat but a dog, one that has been on the street’s way to long.  But the day everything seemed wrong to Wombat and he wanted to run away from all the strange smells and sights a voice told him to go the other way, “the wrong way is the right way”.  Wombat follows the voices directions and his heart tells him what it wants only it is driving off in a blue car.  Wombat’s voice tells him to wait, he does for a very long time.  But he isn’t much used to people and the ones he’s been around have not been nice so the people feed him but think he is dangerous so they stay away.  But as Wombat talks to animals he starts to warm up to the people but the one he really wants is the one he is waiting for the one scared some of dogs.

My heart broke for Wombat through each section of the book, and it did bring back the smells I have smelled many times while living in California.  I love how Wombat helped others while trying to find what he is looking for.  Wombat turned out to be a unofficial therapy dog to those in need, and without being taught, he just knew, and that is very special.  Even though it was clear to all that Wombat was waiting for something no one knew what it was, but the kindness in the humans even when they thought he was not friendly was to make him comfortable too.  There was just so much kindness and love in this book it should be a testament to all in how to be even when you are losing everything.  I loved this book it is a true Applegate book.

 

In the Spirit of French Murder

Since Tabitha has moved to Paris to be with Grand Pere and Oncle she has tripped in to murder investigations over and over again, and this time it is none different.  Someone is killing off the nine bluets, and Tabitha is trying hard to stay out of Inspecteur Merveille way, but she has to keep her Messieurs safe, a task she takes very seriously.

I have loved this series since I got to read the first book, and to throw in Julia Child as Tabitha’s partner in crime (and Tabitha’s cooking is sometimes a crime).  These have been really good and I have to say (no spoilers) Tabitha and Julia’s trip to see the medium was really cool and insightful.  The characters are believable and the plots fun.  Despite the action and all the suspense the story is a great 3^rd book in this wonderful series.

 

The Mountains We Call Home

Cussy and her family are back.  This book picks up a bit after the beginning of the Book Women’s Daughter because it seems Cussy is new to the women’s prison and she is still sporting a broken arm.  We have heard what happened to Cussy’s daughter Honey during this time period, now it is time to hear Cussy’s story.  Cussy finds out the prison librarian has gone and she puts in for the job, Cussy shows she has no fear and she will deliver book to sections no one else did like the death row inmates.  But what the inmates want most is to hear Cussy read books to them and soon it is very apparent to the guards and there fore the warden is how the inmates are calmed.  The warden allows Cussy to start a program to teach the inmates to read (this has also become a requirement of parole) as lon as she does her regular book keeping in the dinning hall (food is much better when she is there).  The program is so good the warden of the men’s prison asks and is granted to have some of the men to come as well.  Word gets out and a Louisville Librarian asks the governor to allow Cussy to come to her library for a length a time to set up the program there.  This is were the story gets interesting, and Cussy finds her champion in her fight for release. 

This is such a wonderful book.  I can attest that the places the author mentions are very real as I now don’t live far from the women’s prison in Pewee Valley and pass the men’s penitentiary in Buckner on my way to work.  I have a friend that worked at the Western branch of the Louisville free public library (LFPL).  My kin still live on the Virginia side of the Appalachian and are right next to Letcher County.  Growing up I had heard stories of the Blues, but never knew of the awful laws imposed on them in the past, like the horrible mass sterilization of all the women that get into trouble. I love the characters and everything about this awesome book it is so real and heart breaking at the same time.  If you have read the other books in this series or maybe you just want to read a wonderful nostalgic book set in Kentucky that is unlike any you have read before, I think you will love this brief trip back in time to a historic place with fictional characters and the stories they have to tell.

PS we still have a picture of a packhorse librarian at my library.

Gladesbale Grove

Shawn works a job he really doesn’t like; he always wanted to be a park ranger, or in a watch tower protecting the forest, but that is never in his cards.  Until the day the strange woman with a cool sword and wolfish ears tells him his soul belongs to her.  When he dies right there, working at his desk, he is transported into a ritual of planting a seed.  Then the wolf lady, Mint, explains to him his duties as caretaker of the sacred tree and the grove around it, and everything just evolves from there.  Soon their band of three, Mint, the Guardian of the grove, Shawn, who is now the caretaker druid, Rud, and the sacred tree, becomes more as they help others get back on their feet, or those who need to have a purpose. All the while, the tree grows in height and mass, but also helps Rud grow himself.

I really like this book, and the characters it encompasses, my favorite being Dean.  Dean does a lot of things that he doesn’t really like to do, but knows it is in everyone's best interest, so he relents.  I was lucky enough to be able to listen to the audio version, with a wonderful voice actor, Garrett Michael Brown, who will transport your mind right into the story like you are part of the group helping.  This is not exactly a fastest-paced story, but it is cozy for now, at least.  There is action, and there is suspense at times, but really this is a nice get comfy in a nice chair with a warm blanket with some tea, see what I did there, read or listen to the book, and you will.

 

Beta Testing the Apocalypse

Imagine sitting at your desk, everyone else has gone home for the night, but you have a few things to finish up. You see a little glowing thing, and it is a countdown timer. Your choices are to die or play.  You find out it is like a game that he is beta testing, well, that’s not hard, as he does work with these things.  He spends a lot of time going back and forth from his world and buying stuff to help him in the beta world, you know, guns, O2 tanks, body armor, type stuff.  Sending back bug reports to the makers for a world that you have to fight for your life each time you go in makes some bugs are very tempting to leave if in his favor, but a bug none the least, but Dex is always hoping the makers will bless him with a lot of essence for his reports as essence is what helps you to fight and stay alive in this new world.

I absolutely loved this audio. If you are a gamer or just like fun, you will love this action-packed, fast-paced, awesome audio narrated by Ryan H Reid. Mr. Reid really grasped the essence of the book, and it really showed in the audio. I loved the characters in this book, and I really connected with Dex as we share many neurodiversities, and in a time when we still seem not to always fit in, it is awesome to lose yourself in a game, or an audio about a guy who does, and maybe even saves the world while doing what he loves.  

 

The Silent Blades

Tricia has worked hard for the last 15 years to ascend to the highest rank of Pureblades, a mysterious society that protects their city from the monsters and other such abominations that run the streets at night.  But she soon finds that it has its own set of new problems, and when the one she trusts most betrays her, what is left to do but fight.

I really connected with this audio that was narrated by Jessica Threet.  It spoke to me, oh ok we have the same name, and that was kind of cool.  The book was action-packed, very fast-paced, mysterious, dark at times, romantic, but a wonderful listen.  The author has mixed a lot of different elements you would not normally see together it really works well in this book.  The author pulled all of the elements together and came out with a really good audio/book.  I can’t wait for more.