Top 11

I had decided to do something along these lines anyway, but was prompted by some other girl's '11' posts.

These are the top 11 books of 2011:

Why:
I love how Ms. Hartman writes. Ok, that was lame.  I really enjoyed a Christian Novel that had that small thread of romance (small, I say! Like, when I say small I mean like, small).  I love how Miss Hartman is still a young adult herself.  I love how the plot wounded, it had sadness, it had happiness, it had heart pounding moments, and heart stilling ones.  All in all, this is a 100 star novel.

Why:
This book is an allegory, I learned something no other book has ever taught me.  Not to fear the coming 'end times'. Before reading this, I was terrified about the thoughts of persecution, death and harm coming to me because I was a christian. Now, I have a bigger peace inside.  Mr. Black is amazing.

Why:
It's a classic, come on! I love ALL classics. (except Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights).  The romance was cleanly written, the Pimpernel is adore worthy, and the whole lot of it is a magical feel!

Why:
I really don't know.  Maybe it was the tear bringing humor, the strangeness. the sadness, the happiness come the end. I just really enjoyed this, strange, book!

This trilogy (I've yet to read the last) has been the reading highlight of the year! They were so clearly written, so captivating, so other wordly, I have them forever burned into my heart.
That was a bit epic, but I'm the epic reader, so I'm allowed to be exceedingly epic!

My first Fantasy, and I loved it! The fire Priests are to die for!  The plot was wonderful, and I fell head over heels in love!

 

My first fan fiction I've ever read, and I also loved it!

McCoy is hilarious.

Spock is too.

And My brother and I are not tossing quotes back'n'forth!

The book thief! Ah, this was a masterpiece! Mr. Zusak was just so creative! Having Death narrate just made the book for me!

 The whole Redwall series by Brian Jacques!  I have fallen for the Badgers and Hares. Wot Wot!

the last one:

A entirely weird, but nonetheless, amazing, novel.  I recommend it to EVERYONE!

There is my 11 in 11 list, Have you read any of theses?

Win a book box!

Lerowen over at 'Eat...Sleep...Write' is giving away a book safe/book box!

Go HERE to enter!

Alienation

:My random thoughts:

I love this book series.  I think they are engaging, well written, and packed full of excitment.  It isn't hard to believe that someday we might be invaded by the Alien race, Thule, either.  I think Mr. Lewis is an excelling writer!

:Publisher's Description:

The invasion was only the beginning . . .

After his parents were killed in a car accident, Colt McAllister was drawn into a world he thought only existed in comic books—one where mind control, jet packs, and flying motorcycles don't even scratch the surface.
Along with his best friends Oz and Danielle, Colt is now training at the secret Central Headquarters Against the Occult and Supernatural academy. But strange accidents seem to follow him. . . even with the security of the school grounds. What first seems random soon turns deadly. But who is targeting Colt?
As the alien invasions increase in frequency and force, C.H.A.O.S resources are taxed to the limit and they're forced to utilize the new recruits. In the midst of battle, Colt will discover some startling revelations . . . about himself, his friendship with Oz, and why he has been chosen to defeat this alien attack against earth.

:info to know:

Author:  Jon S. Lewis

My reccomended age:  11+

Their recomended age:  NA

Publisher:  Thomas Nelson Publishers.

 

Number of Pages: 288

• Characters:   I think Mr. Lewis did an excellent job with his Characters.  But of them all, I must say Oz feels the most real to me because I have a friend a lot like him.  Each thing he says is just so REAL, it's freaky.  I also like how Colt is, in a way, maturing.  He isn't always looking over his shoulder in fear of the Thule.  Character development is just astounding.

 Plot:

Again, bravo Mr. Lewis.  There are certain things you KNEW are going to happen, and anticipate, but some, (Rogue robot and program) that I just didn't. 

Writing Style:

Very cool.  Thats all I can say. 

Cover:

I want to give Mr. Lewis' cover artist a round of applause, he has done a stunning job!

Ending:

It tied up the novel well, while still making you itch for book 3.

World Building:

Bravodimo!  Lewis has made the Thule REAL.  The gateways, REAL.  And I can never look at a seemingly unimportant building without thinking, "That could be the CHAOS headquarters".

Language:

None.

Drugs and Drink:

None.

Romance and sexual content:

Colt and Lilly aren't truly boyfriend/girlfriend, but they were closer then I could comfortably be with a boy.  No kissing, hugging or holding hands happened.

Ratings:


Without a doubt, I give this a:

*I recieved this novel free of charge from BookSneeze.com.  All opinions are mine*

A Sound Among the Trees,

-My random thoughts-

This novel is a different sort then my normal genre.  I tend to prefer Adventure, Sci-fi, suspense, Fantasy or Mystery.  Romance isn't even on my radar.  Yet, for some reason, I was drawn to A Sound Among the Trees.  Probably because of the ghost mentions, and the likely hood of Susanna being a Ghost.  I wasn't truly disappointed, as I hadn't given it much expectations, I was just going to try it out, and see what it was like.  But, I wasn't thoroughly satisfied either.

-Publisher's description-

A house shrouded in time.
A line of women with a heritage of loss.

As a young bride, Susannah Page was rumored to be a Civil War spy for the North, a traitor to her Virginian roots. Her great-granddaughter Adelaide, the current matriarch of Holly Oak, doesn’t believe that Susannah’s ghost haunts the antebellum mansion looking for a pardon, but rather the house itself bears a grudge toward its tragic past.
When Marielle Bishop marries into the family and is transplanted from the arid west to her husband’s home, it isn’t long before she is led to believe that the house she just settled into brings misfortune to the women who live there.
With Adelaide’s richly peppered superstitions and deep family roots at stake, Marielle must sort out the truth about Susannah

-Info to know-

Author:  Susan Meissner

My recommended age:   13+

Their recommended age: NA

Publisher:   Waterbrook Press

Number of pages:  336

·         Characters:  I must say, they were good.  I really liked Adelheid, and the whole Confederate thing made me very happy (Would you unfollow me if I told you I was a Rebel at heart?).  None lacked dimension, every character was themselves. And Pearl...Oh, dear, silly old Pearl.  I really did like her.

·         Plot:  I had at turns thought, "Susanna is haunting Holly Oak".  Then, went to the idea that she wasn't,  It was nice, though, I wouldn't have minded if Susanna WAS a...well...I'd spoil it to say anything further.  Lets just say, yet again, I wasn't disappointed for satisfied.  the thing that pleased me the most was Caroline.  I really enjoyed that.

·         Writing:  I liked the writing.  It was easy, clear and just all around good.

·         Cover:  The cover is pretty, and I keep looking at it mainly to look at it.  And it is nice having a real picture of Holly Oak.   

·         Ending: In some ways, I was so-so about it.  But, as stated eariler, I REALLY liked how the Caroline situation was healed. 

·         World building    I live in the South, so I could picture everything as it was written, and I think Meissner did really well in describing my beloved South. 

Cons:

For me, it was a little bit boring.  Not all, just a wee bit.  and it didn't stick out and make me love it and swoon over it.  I don't truly know if that is a Con, as I just don't think it is my style of novel.

Pros:

It didn't rat out the Confederates, in fact, if anything, it made them look good.  BIG plus for me. 

It was a sweet novel, just not for me.

Language:

None.

Romance and sexual content:

Mariel and Susanna were/are married, and there is one or two comments about sleeping.  But nothing crude or distasteful, but just in a way of, "Thats what happens when people get married".  I don't really feel it was bad.  I wouldn't read it to a little kid, just because they wouldn't understand, but if the reader already knows, I see nothing wrong.

Violence:

None.

Drugs and drink:

None.

Ratings:

Hard one.  I think the book would probably be a 5 star to someone who liked reading 'romance'  (I call A Sound Among the Trees a romance, but it is deeper, more then that.  Its not a tiddly little, guy meets gal, falls in love romance.  Its a romance of Mariel to Carson, and Susanna to Nathaniel, of falling in love with your spouse.).  I didn't particular love the book, while I did enjoy reading it, I would enjoy reading the worst book ever written just to poke fun at it and the simple joy of just reading.  So it is hard to write a true rating. 

It was a good book.  If you enjoy Romance novels with a historic twist to them, then I think it would be a 5 star for you.  If you dislike romances, and they just don't interest you at all, a 3.  I think I will meet in the middle.

I rate the book:

"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review all opinions are solely my own"

Jane Austen

Which of Jane Austen's Gentlemen Would You End up With? Your Result: Col. Brandon (The Father Figure) You are an emotionally high strung person with a wonderful gift for self expression and and intense love of life. Sometimes your enthusiasm and uncomprimising ardor can lead you to commit social faux pas or embarrass your family and friends. Lucky for you you can admit your mistakes and learn from them - earning the admiration of this most loyal, calm and long-suffering of Austen's heroes. Cheers. Men are like wine; they get better with age.
Mr. Darcy (The Aloof Prince)
Mr. Knightley (The Best Friend)
Captain Wentworth (The Soldier Boy)
Mr. Bingley (The Boy Next Door)
Henry Crawford (The Bad Boy)
Mr. Collins (The Prick)
Which of Jane Austen's Gentlemen Would You End up With? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

See who my second choice would be?? and my third? Oh, Darcy and Knightly! O love thee!!

The Encounter

 

 

 

-My random thoughts-

It was a short, yet sweet novel.  A story of forgiveness, love, and finding the truth.  It also was a powerful point of, things may not always be as you thought.

-Publisher's description-

A wealthy businessman travels to Fairbanks, Alaska, to learn why his mother abandoned him when he was a child, and in the process learns that not everything is as it appears to be.
The Encounter, the unique new book from best-selling author and counselor Stephen Arterburn, is a moving parable involving Jonathan Rush, a wealthy and famous entrepreneur, who is tortured by bitterness toward his mother who abandoned him when he was four. He travels to Alaska to find her but instead meets an enigmatic old woman known only as Mercy. Mercy has the information he needs but is strangely reluctant to talk to him. Somehow Jonathan must find a way to persuade a frightened woman to unlock the secrets of his past.
The book includes an invitation to the readers to verify the facts of their own stories, to accept the reality of their existence, especially the most painful ones, and to live in forgiveness. The end result is a healthy new way to look at life with an ability to share hope with others for the future. Healing is possible but requires truth, acceptance, and forgiveness, including of oneself.

-Info to know-

Author:  Stephen Arterburn

My recommended age:   13+

Their recommended age: NA

Publisher:   Thomas Nelson

Number of pages:  176

·         Characters:  Well, they were 'there'.  There wasn't anything to them that just struck me and made me go, "WOW", but they weren't exactly plain and boring.  Erika kinda reminded me of Sally on 'Cars', but other then that, they were ok.

·         Plot:  I knew.  I knew what was going to happen, but {cough} that might've been due to me reading the last page before the first.  Even though I did know, it didn't spoil it for me.  Just made me anticipate it all the more.

·         Writing:  The writing was interesting.  First person for Jonathan Rush, Third person for Ada.  It wasn't hard to follow along, just interesting.  I'll give that to Mr. Arterburn, he did something different.

·         Cover:  I didn't grab it for the cover, but, now that I've read the book, I like the cover a whole lot better.  Not that I didn't before, just it wasn't like 'Invasion's for me. ;-)

·         Ending: It made me happy.  But, I dunno, there was an element of, well, I think it would've taken a real life person longer then it did Jonathan to make the sudden change from hate-to-love.  Maybe it was due to Ada almost dying, I dunno.

·         World building   t gave me a bite of Alaska alright.  A cold bite, and makes me want more! :-D

Cons:

To short! I think Mr. Arterburn should've stretched the process out longer.

 

 

Pros:

It was a sweet book, and people could learn from it I guess, if they had bitterness issues.

The writing style was interesting.

 

Language:

None.

Romance and sexual content:

Jonathan has been married and divorced twice due to his bitterness problems.

Ada had a son before a husband, but it is something she regrets. 

Violence:

None.

 

Drugs and drink:

Jonathan drinks wine with Ada in the end, but it isn't in a drunk, but dinner, way.

 

Ratings:

Well, it was a nice book, but, not popping, stunning and magnificent.  There wasn't anything to make me go, "I LOVE THIS BOOK!!".  It was just a sweet, mosing read.  So, I'm kinda torn.  I guess, in the end, I'm going to give it a:

 It isnt' 'bad' or 3 star worthy, but not truly 5 stunning stars.  So 4 it will have to be.

Invasion

-My random thoughts-

Can I say, WOW.  I was thrilled from cover to cover.  It held me spellbound, and made me stay up till dark hours, reading. And, -I wish to express this to the world- I am know on the lookout for people with glowing red eyes.  Beware, People of earth, they are among us!

-Publisher's description-

Colt McAlister is drawn into a war against things he thought only existed in comic books.
After a car wreck takes the lives of his parents, Colt moves to Arizona to stay with his grandfather. There, an informant tells him that his parents were actually murdered because his mom, a journalist, was getting ready to write a story exposing Trident Industries.

Along with Oz and Danielle, his new comrades at Chandler High, Colt vows to uncover the truth. But the more they learn, the more bizarre reality becomes. Mind control, jet packs, and flying motorcycles only scratch the surface of what they discover.

Colt is recruited by a secret organization called the Central Headquarters Against the Occult and Supernatural. But the battle isn't just against an out-of-control giant corporation. A gateway to another world is opening, and the invasion has already begun.

-Info to know-

Author:  Jon S. Lewis

My recommended age:   11+

Their recommended age: 11+

Publisher:   Thomas Nelson

Number of pages:  336

·         Characters:  Mr. Lewis did really well.  Well, he did on EVERYTHING.  Characters included.  I don't think they were any boring or cookie cutter characters in the bunch.  All were their own selves, unique, amazing, and true to life.  Plus, I have some favorites...Lt. Lohr is cool, Colt is, amazing, Dani is wonderful, and Oz just can't be beat.  Plus, I know some one in real life who is a lot like Oz, so that gets him a brownie point.

·         Plot:  I had no idea that what happened in the end would, but, the ending was, was, I'm running out of adjectives here! Ok, let me put it bluntly, this book is so freaking awesome, I want you to go to Amazon right now, and buy it out of stock.  No, I'm not getting paid for this.

·         Writing:  From what I've already said, do you think I'm gonna have anything bad to say?

·         Cover:  Amazing, like the rest of the book.

·         Ending: It gave my happy thrills.  I mean, it was beyond amazing.  Plus, I love the Phantom Flyer's appearance!! (oops...spoiler!)

·         World building   Earth, which is already built, but the other worlds, which we didn't get into much, were well constucted.  This isn't as flaming and heartfelt, but I'm running out of unused adjectives here, peoples...I used them all up at the beginning.

Cons:

None.

Pros:

Are you kidding?  The whole book is one big pro!

Language:

None.

Romance and sexual content:

Colt gets a crush on this girl, but he is very, well, he doesn't do anything.  Nothing happens, no kissing, and a friend-to-friend hug is given, but I didn't get any red flags. 

Violence:

Colt's parents are assassinated.
There is an Alien race trying to destroy earth by controlling our minds.
And the controlled people kill on command.

 

Drugs and drink:

None.

Ratings:

This, my friends, is the hard part.  Oh, I am going to give it as high a rating as I can go, but, sadly, 5 is the highest.   Bully for me and for Invasion.  I'm giving this as high as possible, a 5, but, I'mm giving it a 100% approval!

Do you read Sci-fi?

The Debtor's planet

Author:  W.R Thompson

My recommended age: 11+ (or any true trekkie)

Their recommended age: NA

Publisher:  Simon and Schuster

Number of pages: 274

Publisher’s description:

When a Vulcan space probe reports that the Ferengi are advancing the people of the planet Megara from a primitive agricultural state to a sophisticated technological society, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the Starship Enterprise? are ordered to transport an unlikely passenger to the system, a ruthless twentieth-century businessman who is now a Fed...  more »eration ambassador.
The Ferengi have been changing Megaran culture, turning a hard working and honorable people into vicious xenophobic killers. But the Ferengi are only hired hands. They have hidden masters, with plans to use the Magaran people as a powerful weapon against the Federation.
Now Picard must find a way to use the talents of this new ambassador to free the Megarans. But the ambassador is hiding a deadly secret of his own -- a secret that could unleash an unstoppable destructive force on the Federation.

My thoughts:

·         Characters:  LOVE them.  I simply fell for Offenhouse.  Wesley was great, as normal.  Picard was true-to-movie.  Pretty much all the characters were superb.  The only problem I had was with Riker.  He kinda seemed, different then the shows, a bit more Klingon loving then he should be.  I think Thompson took more poetic license then was needed, but I'm not angry.  It was ok.

·         Plot:  Great!!  It had you thinking you'd gotten it all figured out, then, changed who was REALLY at the roots.  Plus, it kept with the normal Gene Roddenberry style.  Which is a 5 thumbs up for me!

·         Writing: Like I said in plot, it kept with Gene Roddenberry's movie style, and was quick flowing.  You just didn't want to put it down! Which meant, for me, staying up till almost 2 on a school night.

·         Cover:  I really liked it.  Picard looks real, Worf looks real, Offenhouse is, well, dramatized.  He looks a lot younger then he should, but thats ok, for me.

·         Ending:  ♥♥♥  If I try to tell, I'll give it ALL away.

·         World building  Perfectly perfect.  Sci-fi can be hard to bulid worlds on, but Thompson does it wonderfully.

Cons:

Uh, there is some drinking.  Mostly the harmless synthinol.  Thats it. 

Pros:

All of it is one big 'pro'.

Language:

None, oh, wait, Work curses in Klingon, but you can't understand whatever he is saying, cuz it is in Klingon.

Romance and sexual content:

There is a Ferangi that is said to have raped (no details, just small talk)

Violence:

There is a battle.
multiple phaser scenes.
There is an Alien named SHiv that attacks Holograms on the holodeck with a knife.  It is part of her culture.

Drugs and drink:
Synthinol is used a lot.  But, (for non Trekkies) it is completely harmless.  Much like drinking alcohol flavored water.


Ambassador Offenhouse accidentally gets  Diana drunk.  All on accident, mind you.  He had no idea what a bit of Vodka would do to her. 


So, you all want to know what my rating is, right?  At least, I hope you do...

5 shining stars!!  I loved this book 101%.  I think EVERY trekkie should gobble it down as I did.  Or, if you're not a trekkie yet, maybe you should give it a try!  I did, and look at me now!  Can't tell where the trekkie stars, and the star wars fan ends!



What are you?  Trekkie or Star warsi?

Sunrise on the Battery

Author:  Beth Webb Hart

My recommended age: 12+

Their recommended age: NA

Publisher:  Thomas Nelson

Number of pages: 320

Publisher’s description:

Now that she’s arrived at the ultimate address, can Mary Lynn’s view of the harbor – and success – satisfy the deeper longings of her heart?
After decades of carefully working their way up the social ladder, Mary Lynn and Jackson Scoville are living their dream: a life of luxury and ease in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina. Jackson made a small fortune selling low country real estate, so now the couple is determined to provide for their three daughters the life they both longed for as kids.
But lately the long-forgotten God of Mary Lynn’s childhood has been trying to get her attention in ways so unusual that she can no longer deny His presence. When she prays for Jackson to open his heart to God, something radical happens. Jackson has a dramatic conversion that leads to street witnessing, giving away money, and inviting less-than-reputable people into their home.
Starring out into the harbor, Mary Lynn ponders whether or not she is willing to give up her life of luxury to join Jackson in his new-found faith. What would it look like to go “all out” for God…to allow Him to lead their family regardless of the cost? Just when Mary Lynn felt she had all the desires of her heart – she finds herself being called into a much bigger story of true faith and love.

My thoughts:

·         Characters:  Excelling!  The only problem is, I felt Jackson's change was a bit, unreal.  NO one, except Pual, had such a conversion, and I think Paul had some baggage from being who he was before.  It seems slightly unreal for a person to have such a conversion, and NO baggage or past temptations from the way they were before.

·         Plot:  It was good, but kinda meh.

·         Writing:  Beth Webb Hart's writing style is really good, she pulled you into the character's life's, and really makes you think, "What would it be like, if we completely tuned into God, and forsook the world's idea of us?"

·         Cover:  Cute.  I liked it a lot.

·         Ending:  It was a happy ending, but I rather wanted a slightly different ending.  But, that was an unrealistic one I wished for.  The one that took place, was more to real life, than fancy wishing.

·         World building Charleston is a real place, and Ms. Hart's descriptions made it even more real.  It was like I was THERE, in Charleston society, not just a random viewer.

Cons:

 The plot is rather expected.  It carried almost no surprises.

Pros:

It made you think about your Christian life.

The Characters were mostly ok.

Ms. Hart's ability to pull you in was wonderful.

Language:

None.

Romance and sexual content:

None.

Violence:

None.

 Drugs and drink:

Mary Lynn and Jackson's oldest daughter gets into taking medicines as drugs.  After making her self sick and probably coming close to killing herself, she flushes the habit, and pills, down the toilet.

Wine is drank often.  And one of their neighbor's sons drinks Vodka against his parents wishes.

Ratings:

It was a good read, I really liked it, even though the plot was pretty normal.  The plot isn't what mattered. The book made you think about your own Christian walk.  Are you a Mary Lynn?  Or a Jackson?  Or, are you a Bev?  What are we, and how to do show the world we are who we say we are?  Do we carry God in our pocket, or on our head like a crown?

I give this book a:

  Yeah, ok, the plot was so-so.  The depth made up for it, though.

The Crossing

Author:  Serita Jakes

My recommended age: 13+ If not even older.

Their recommended age: NA

Publisher:  Waterbrook press.

Number of pages: 304

Publisher’s description:

Imprisoned by memories, Claudia Campbell lives each day in the shadow of a ten-year-old murder. Who can set her free?
On the way home from a football game, a decade earlier, a masked gunman opened fi re on a Texas school bus.  Cheerleading coach B.J. Remington was killed, but her murderer was never found. Claudia, who had a close friendship with the young, spirited teacher, constantly relives the anguish of that day, caught in one moment in time. When her husband, the assistant district attorney, becomes determined to uncover the mystery of that tragedy, the secrets buried over the years threaten to tear their family apart.

Officer Casio Hightower will never forget the day his dreams were destroyed. A star quarterback with a promising future, Casio was on top of the world—until one bullet changed everything. He is eager to help Victor Campbell find B.J.’s killer, the man who shot him. Maybe solving the case will help silence the demons driving Casio to hurt the woman he loves.

As the Campbells and Casio teeter on the brink of losing everything, will they be able to discover that what begins at the crossing ends at the cross?

My thoughts:

·         Characters:  Superb.  They each had their own life, set of difficulties and ghosts from the past.  Instead of being a make believe murder case, this could be straight from the newspapers, the people were so real.

·         Plot:  Like I said about the characters, straight from the paper, it was so real.  It had the twists and turns that kept me trying to plot out the mystery as any good mystery novel should.

·         Writing:  Jakes' writing style was very good.  She was very clear, and painted the picture perfectly.

·         Cover:  I think the lady if B.J...but I can't be positive.  I like it.

·         Ending:  A little sad over Casio...but rejoicing over the Campbell's triumph and Claudia's new found hope.

·         World building I don't remember if it named a town, but I could picture every location perfectly, even though Jakes gave little in depth detail. 

Cons:

 This book was a GREAT mystery.  I loved the turns and twists, the never knowing, but one thing ruined it for me.  

The Adult content.  

There was so much immodesty in it, I nearly cried.  What is the point of putting it in there?  Yes, it is a part of this world, and ungodly people's lives...but please.  This was supposed to be a Christian novel, published by a Christian publisher.  Why?

Pros:

 It was a excellent mystery, and if the adult content wasn't in there, it might've been moved up to my favorites list.  It was hard to put it down. 

Language:

God's name was wrongly used at some parts.

Romance and sexual content:

Ok, there was A LOT of this.  Sadly.  It was the only bad thing I saw in this book.  But, sadly, it isn't a small thing.  Sexual content is NOT something I take lightly in books.  I try to steer away from novels with such in them. 

Violence:

It is a murder mystery.

One of the main characters commits suicide after killing someone else.

 Drugs and drink:

A vast part of the novel are in a bar.  Nothing bad or immoral happens there.

Random Preview:

 No matter that the train had come and gone, still she sat, staring at the bare metal tracks. Her body shook all over. Vehicles sped around her, blaring their horns. People glared at her, some even shouting obscenities at her, but it was no use. She’d become paralyzed. She didn’t know how many minutes she sat there while the world swept by her, a still body in a raging storm.
   A dull tap registered in her brain. She turned toward the sound and tried to focus on the man outside her window. He reached out and made another clipped, three-rap knock on the glass. Finally, recognition flashed, trying to convince her that everything was okay. She pressed the button and lowered the window for the waiting police officer.
   “Claudia?” His voice sent a shiver down her spine. Images sped through her mind, blurring her focus. “Is there something wrong with your car?”
   His voice was a little deeper now than it had been ten years ago, but she could still hear it screaming, “Leave her alone!” And then the gunshot. She could feel herself fading again…
   “Claude!” He reached in through the window and shook her shoulder. “Come on, girl. I know what this is. I’ve been there too. But snap out of it. You’re in the middle of the street.”
   She felt herself slowly ascending, as though swimming from the bottom of a deep lake. At the surface, a ragged, cold breath filled her lungs. “Casio.” Tears filled her eyes.
   “It’s okay, baby,” he said, his voice soft, taking her back to the days when he was quarterback, she was cheerleader, and everyone said they’d be America’s sweethearts. “Can you drive the car into the parking lot?” He pointed to the right where a mom-and-pop café sat practically empty.
   She nodded.
   “I’ll be right behind you.”
   It took every ounce of willpower to slide the Tahoe into gear and drive toward the parking lot. Once she stopped, her lungs screamed and she could feel the breath-stealing, muscle-seizing horror of hyperventilation coming on. Casio appeared at the passenger side door. Clutching her chest, she pointed toward the glove box. “Bag,” she managed to gasp.
   “What?”
   “A bag. In there!”
   “Oh! Okay! Are you okay?” Hang on.” Casio opened the glove box and pulled out a paper bag, then brought it to her mouth. “Breathe. In-out-in-out.”
   She did. Her lungs felt like they might burst as the panic spiked. “Oh, God. It’s just like that night.” A scream vibrated in her throat, and she squelched it before it could pierce the air inside the Tahoe.
   “No.” Casio’s hand pressed against her clammy neck. “Now, listen, Claude. Keep breathing.” His smooth-as-silk tone calmed her and evened out her breath. She tried to focus on his tone. “This isn’t like that night on the bus. No one is after you. The person with a gun was after BJ. No one else. It wasn’t a random act or I wouldn’t have just been shot in the arm. Right? If that man was on a killing spree, we’d all be dead right now.”
   His voice was beginning to soothe her, and slowly, the words sank into her muddled brain. She set the bag in her lap and filled her lungs with a cleansing breath. “Thanks, Casio,” she whispered and tried to smile. “You’re a hero.”
   His jaw clenched as he inhaled from a freshly lit cigarette and then passed it to her. “Yep, that’s what I am.” He expelled a stream of smoke. “A real hero.”
   At the sarcasm in his tone, Claudia regretted her choice of words. She reached across the seat and took his hand. “We did what we could.”
   “Too bad that doesn’t make the dreams go away.”

Ratings:

I really liked the mystery, but because all the Adult content, I'm going to have to give it a:

The only thing that saved it from becoming a 2 star is the GREAT mystery.

Please, Ms. Jakes, just stick to mystery.  You'd ace it.