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?