River Readers

This was another fun book challenge. I have always wanted to visit Alcatraz and the idea of solving what happened to someone who successfully escaped was a good challenge. I just know I would have been great friends with Emily and James because they are living my childhood dream.

This was an amazing book to listen to mainly because the guy reading had the most sexy British accent that it was easy to picture Monty the rogue. The story is very much how I imagine life in Europe during this very prim and proper time would look and sound like. I had to laugh when they encountered the "pirates" who were much nicer than most of the courtly people they had met. I am now ready to follow Felicity's adventures in the next book.

This was a nice pair of short stories that gave more insight into a couple of the main character from this group. Sean is trying to be a better person and wants his to brother to have a perfect wedding. Unfortunately the weather throws the whole bridal part for a loop. Success comes with a lot of help, but all ends well. Rory ran away from home, but is now trying to make amends. However, this includes confronting Max which opens old wounds for them both. Getting snowed in for a time allows them to both be honest. In the end, love blooms and family is reunited.

This is an interesting story. I have never been a zombie fan, but this is really a story about a mother and daughter. It is a intriguing view of New York City and I liked the places Molly visits. It is definitely not a job I would want to undertake, but it will be an adventure.

A Daring Rescue Emma Paulsen is a geneticist driven by science. But she's also a psychic, so when a dark, good-hearted vampire frees her from the clutches of the evil Kurjans, she realizes he must be the man who's been haunting her dreams. But with a virus threatening vampires' mates, Emma may discover a whole new meaning of "lovesick".

A Deadly Decision As King of the Realm, Dage Kayrs has learned to practice diplomacy. Still, it's taken three hundred years to find his mate, so he'll stop at nothing to protect her—even if it means turning his back on his own kind... Goodreads

Cara Paulsen does not give up easily. A scientist and a single mother, she's used to fighting for what she wants, keeping a cool head, and doing whatever it takes to protect her daughter Janie. But "whatever it takes" has never before included a shotgun wedding to a dangerous-looking stranger with an attitude problem.

Or Else! Sure, the mysterious Talen says that he's there to protect Cara and Janie. He also says that he's a three-hundred-year-old vampire. Of course, the way he touches her, Cara might actually believe he's had that long to practice. . . Goodreads

MEET THE BLUE-EYED DEVIL - His name is Hardy Cates. He's a self-made millionaire who comes from the wrong side of the tracks. He's made enemies in the rough-and-tumble ride to the top of Houston's oil industry. He's got hot blood in his veins. And vengeance on his mind.

In this sequel to The Witch Boy, Aster and his family are adjusting to his unconventional talent for witchery; unlike the other boys in his family, he isn't a shapeshifter. He's taking classes with his grandmother and helping to keep an eye on his great-uncle whose corrupted magic wreaked havoc on the family.

Alice isn't happy to leave Ohio and move to Rainbow, Georgia to help take care of her ailing grandmother. It doesn't help that when they get there grandma is worse than they thought she was. Alice just wants her absentee dad to come and take them back home. She wants her brother Eddie to be back in Ohio where he can go to the school for the deaf and not public school. She meets her grandma's neighbor Miss Millie and starts walking her dog Clarence. Unfortunately, Clarence won't walk with anyone other than Miss Millie, so Alice actually walks Clarence and Miss Millie.

Joplin never knew her grandfather but when he dies she and her mom still have to clean out his house. Her grandfather was a famous author and all her mom wants are his papers, but she does let Joplin have one keepsake. Joplin takes a broken platter in a tin. When she gets it home her mom's friend Jen helps her get it restored. The first person they take it to is Lucius Doyle who creeps them both out. Once the platter is repaired Joplin notices the young girl on it and wishes she had a friend like that. The next day the girl in in the garden waiting for her.

Jax isn't happy that his mama dropped him off with an old lady he has never met. And then it turns out Ma is a witch and has a bag of dragons to deliver to a magical dimension. While Jax agrees to work with Ma as her assistant for the day, things don't go exactly as planned. First they don't make it to the magical world but to the past in the time of dinosaurs instead! And then Ma and Jax get separated and Jax is left on his own with the dragons. He gets help and eventually finds Ma again, but of course things still don't go to plan.

Alec wants to spend all of his time reading books. Unfortunately there are things like school and homework and parents who don't appreciate his love of books. His parents and principal give him an ultimatum. Either he quit reading all the time and pay attention in class or he spends the summer in class. He also has to go to after school care every day. Alec assumes that after school care will be a great time to just sit and read for three hours, but the program director has other plans. He has to join the activities or the clubs or do homework.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is based on the true story of Lale and Gita and their survival of Auschwitz and Buchenau. Lale was given the job of tattooing numbers on the arms of the people being held in the camps. It is a job that gives him certain privileges. He is able to get money and jewels from the people who work in the Canada and purchase extra food to smuggle in to the other prisoners. One day he meets Gita when he tattoos her arm. It is love at first site, but how do you fall in love in a concentration camp when every day could be your last? It is a harrowing tale of death and love.

Fagan sketches the journey of Neanderthals and Cro-Magnon (his term for anatomically modern humans) out of Africa and shows how the severe ice age likely brought about the demise of Neanderthals. He really sticks to the data when discussing the climate changes and archaeological evidence. However, he postulates wildly in other areas, particularly when it comes to gender differences and how Cro-Magnon's might perceive Neanderthals.

A heartfelt tribute. Braitman explores the depth of emotions animals, how they suffer (often from human mistreatment), and how relationships with other animals, as well as humans can heal them.