TBR Pile Challenge

http://evie-bookish.blogspot.com/2013/10/2014-tbr-pile-reading-challenge-sign-ups.html

I am choosing to enter this challenge for 2014.  The link to sign up for the challenge is above.

1-10- A Firm Handshake*  Here is where I want to start.  I am not sure which books I want to read.
11-20 - A Friendly Hug
21-30 - First Kiss
31-40 - Sweet Summer Fling
41-50 - Could this be love?
50+ - Married With Children

The Vow

This book was a free read from Pulseit on October 21, 2013. The Vow by Jessica Martinez is the story of Annie (Annabelle) Bernier and Mohanned Ibrahim Hussein who is known as Mo.
Mo and Annie have been best friends since they were 10 which is shortly after the Husseins came to America from Jordon.

When Mr. Hussein losses his job at ReichartTek the Husseins decide to move back to Jordon.  Annie does not want to see her best friend leave, so she decides to marry him as she is 18. Mo is only 17 and he asks his mother to grant permission that he needs to wed. The three of them go to the courhouse where the couple is wed..  After, his family leaves, the couple consult a law student who tells them more about the law.  They could be felons if they do not live together and follow other rules.  It might be possible for him to get a student visa if they get an annulment.  Since they have decided not to have marital relations this would be possible.

Annie was working at Twister before they married.  She had gone out with Reed and he had kissed her.  She breaks up with him and quits her job before the couple move in together.

Reed and Annie meet later in the book and Annie realizes she is in love with him and explains to him that she had not sleep with Mo.  The couple decide to get an annulment and Mo leaves for Jordon.

I really liked this story and finished it in one night.  Pulseit has books available for free for a week at a time.  I would recommend this to young adults and their parents.

Freedom

Freedom! (Miss Annie) by Frank Le Gall  was read as a Graphic Novel for the Literary Exploration Challenge and as F for A-Z.

This book is the story of a kitten wanting to see the outside world.  She is considered too young.  One day she does get out and meets new friends and she makes it safely home.  It is meant for young adults but will be enjoyed by those who are more mature.

As the owner of a cat who likes to go outside, I really enjoyed this book.

Seed No Evil

 




Seed No Evil by Kate Collins is my S book for the A-Z challenge.  The diretor of Protecting Animal Rights is murdered.  Abby's mother is the chief suspect.  But, Abby is scheduled to get married in two weeks and Marco seems to have his own secrets.  Will the wedding take place?  Will Seedy find a home?  Will the shelter stay as a No Kill shelter?

Seedy is a three legged dog who was the mother of Seedling - a puppy that Tara (Abby's niece) wants to adopt.  Seedy took to Abby immediately.  Abby is able to convince Tara's parents to let her work at the shelter and eventually to adopt Seedling. The sister of the murdered head of the shelter says she never wanted to change the shelter.

Of course, the murder is not the only problem.  The Gazebo in the park where Abby wanted to be married is destroyed and it will not be re-built in time for the wedding.  Abby lets her future mother-in-law help her find an alternative.

I must admit that I cried at the wedding.  Marco had secretly built a small gazebo for them to be married in.  A surprise ring bearer turns out to be Seedy who Marco had adopted.  How could I not cry.  Seedy found a home, the wedding happens and the shelter does not change and most of all - Abby's mother was cleared.
As to who actually committed the murder - you will have to read the book and decide for yourself.

Kiss of Fire

 



This book satisfies a few challenges.  It was a free e-book acquired from Amazon, it fits Fantasy as it deals with magic creatures and it has fire in the title so it fits What's in a Name 6.

Joclyn and Ryland have known each other for a long as they can remember.  Joclyn's mother works for Ryland's father.  There is one thing that Joclyn keeps hidden and that is a dragon on her neck - she keeps it covered.  She does not know that it is the symbol of the Chosen One until the day her whole world changes.

Wyn is a friend from school and it turns out that Wyn, Joclyn and Ryland are all paranormal creatures who can use magic.  Joclyn has to be taught how to use it by Ilyan who turns out to be Ryland's brother.  Unfortunately, Ryland's father has been stripping his memory.  The "good" magic bunch attempt to rescue Ryland but are unable to do so.  This is the first book in a series.

The book was intended for the YA age group but I did enjoy it.  There is some romance and great descriptions.  I certainly say that I believe there is such a thing as magic and like Joclyn we might not all know how to use it for good.

What's in a Name 6 Finished

1. A book with up or down (or equivalent) in the title:The Top-Flight fully-Automated Junior High School Girl Detective by E. W. Hildick
2. A book with something you'd find in your kitchen in the title:  Buttons and Bones by Monica Ferris
3. A book with a party or celebration in the title: One Hex of a Wedding by Yasmine Galenorn
4. A book with fire (or equivalent) in the title: Kiss of Fire by Rebecca Ethington
5. A book with an emotion in the title: Cat Spitting Mad by Shirley Rousseau Murphy
6. A book with lost or found (or equivalent) in the title: How to Lose a Tooth by E. C. Stilson

I finally finished my six books for this year.

One Hex of a Wedding

One Hex of a Wedding fits What's in a Name 6 because a wedding is a celebration.

Emerald O'Brien is about to marry her fiance, Joe.  But, events keep happening that it seems that the wedding will not occur.  First, Joe is wounded by a gunshot and Emerald's ex becomes the prime suspect.  Then her gown is found in tatters and the band cancels.  Everytime she puts on a necklace that her sister sent her, she gets this weird feeling.  When she finally researches the history of the necklace, she finds there was a ancient curse on it that a friend removes by putting the item in holy water.  By investigating, Emerald finds that Joe was not the prime target, their friend was and her maid of honor is also in danger.  Maeve not only gives Emerald the perfect dress, but she makes sure the wedding does occur.

I was familiar with sage being used to cleanse by American Indians as I had a class where we studied different cultures.  Emerald is in touch with the spirit world and used her powers for good.  I enjoyed reading this paranormal mystery and would recommend it to others.  It is the fifth book in a series but does well as a stand-alone.  I had not read the other books and could enjoy this one.