The Mistress of Abha by William Newton

I was intrigued to read this book because I've always been a fan of Lawrence of Arabia. That being said, I was disappointed in that I would have expected a little more action and adventure. I guess the action and adventure was had by our main character's father however, and some of his story is told within this story. This book is about a son's search for what happened to the man who was his father, but basically was absent from his life for most of his growing up years and consequently was larger than life. On the other side of the coin, however, as I got deeper and deeper into the story, and finally nearing the conclusion, I grew to appreciate the quiet solidity of the story. Maybe there wasn't a better way to tell it. We have a son in search of a father he barely knows but who appears to have disappeared from the face of the earth. We have a setting in a part of the world that is unknown to a number of people, and we have a story set in a time when this part of the world was in a state of change. In the end, when a book or story makes you want to go beyond and investigate some part of it further, then I think that qualifies as a good read. Once I turned the final page, I then turned to the internet to learn more about Abha. I wanted to see pictures of the area the story was set in, and learn more about the peoples that inhabit this desert land. A student of the history of the Arab nations and the Middle East might find this book even more enjoyable than someone who knows very little about this area of the world. Even so, it was still a good novel.

Flourish: Discover the Daily Joy of Abundant, Vibrant Living by Catherine Hart Weber PhD.

I have been slowly working my way through this book and find it an uplifting work. I think it is best suited to a study group, where it will inspire good discussion, or if working through it on your own, taken one chapter at a time, giving oneself time to meditate, reflect and absorb. This is not the type of book one can hurry through. Any ladies group would find definite benefit in adding this book to their studies list.

Magical Memories by Donna Fletcher

Occasionally I'm a sucker for a fluffy romance, and this book was no exception. It provided all the fluff and romance anyone could want and all wrapped up in magic! It was a feel good, love is all you need, love will heal anything type of story. The thing that might have made it an even better book would have been more detail. More historical facts, but then we do have to remember that this book is part of a "Magical Love" series and as such, it did very well. If you're one of those who wishes to believe in Witches and Warlocks, Fairies and Magical Spells, and especially Happy Ever After Endings, then you will find this an enjoyable read.

Rushed to the Altar by Jane Feather

This was an enjoyable book. A light-hearted historical romance with a slight twist. Young woman with younger brother loses her brother to dastardly weak uncle after father's death. Young woman thinks something is wrong when her letters to her brother go unanswered and she sets off to find him and bring him home. Of course enroute she bumps into (literally) a handsome Earl who then comes to her rescue in more ways than the one he thinks. Amusing and light read and I'd recommend it to fans of historical fiction.

Having never read any of James Patterson's works before, I decided to give this series a try as it only consists of two books, When the Wind Blows, followed by The Lake House. I understand it also ties into the Maximum Ride series written for young adults. Although I found the story interesting, I found the writing somewhat immature. I felt that aside from the violence, the book is ok for young adults to read. Neither the writing, or plot are very complicated. I felt that this was a storyline that could have been fleshed out so much more. That being said, the story was a quick read that mostly held my attention. It is a story developed from headlines concerning genetic manipulation and creating a "better" human. I found it enjoyable from the perspective of children who can fly, and who wouldn't want to be able to fly, but wish the science and development had been more in depth.

Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich

Another fun read from Janet Evanovich and now I'm liking this series more. Although I found the first book humorous, I found myself laughing out loud during this one. If you haven't read any of the Stephanie Plum books, give it a try. Light, fun, a little mystery, a little romance, and just a great quick read! I'm planning to take a break before getting into the next one though. Got a lot of books on the go, so will be alternating series.

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich

Janet Evanovich's series has received a lot of attention in the past few years and if you're wanting a light but interesting thriller, check out her series about an out-of-work 30-something female who turns to her cousin for a job as a Bounty Hunter! I enjoyed the first in the series, "One for the Money". Bold, well-paced, and a little bit of everything! Humour, mystery, crime, thriller, romance....these books have it all. I've already started the second in this series and plan on working my way through all. Not quite Chic-lit...not quite thriller, but something in between and definitely worth the time.