Children of the Lamp : Eye of the Forest

by P. B Kerr

Continuing the marvelous adventure in this 5th installment, twin djinn, Philippa and John Gaunt, find themselves in the midst of a new adventure! Along with their Uncle Nimrod and his unhappy butler, the twins must go deep into the Amazon on the trail of the greedy wizard Virgil Mccreedy in search of the eye of the forest, a fabled gateway to the lost Inca City of Gold.

But all is not what it seems. Clues suggested that the way to the city is booby-trapped or false trails have been left by the Incas and what about that prophecy that twin djinns will destroy the world?

Part of my 100+ reading challenge

Horse Soldiers by Doug Stanton

Horse Soldiers is the extraordinary account of a small group of Special Forces soldiers who secretly enter Afghanistan after 9/11 and rode to war on horses to fight the Taliban. Way out numbered, they pursued the enemy across mountainous terrain and, after intense battles, captured the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, which was essential if they were to defeat the Taliban.

Deeply researched, the book reads like an adventure novel. It is full of unforgettable characters – the soldiers and the wives they left at home, the CIA operatives, the afghan warlords and the Afghan people themselves. Especially unforgettable is Mike Spann, the CIA paramilitary officer from Alabama who was killed during the Taliban prisoner uprising.

Horse Soldiers gives a vivid picture of war in a primitive land and a new appreciation of what these soldiers went through to protect freedom. I highly recommend it.

By Phyllis Kelly

The Picture of Dorian Gray

by Oscar Wilde

This scandalous supernatural classic by the moralistic author, tells the tale of the vain, beautiful young man, Dorian Gray. After having his portrait made he becomes infatuated with the idea of eternal youth and beauty and makes a foolish wish that he would stay young and fresh forever, while the portrait grew old. A wish that comes true.

Encouraged by Lord Henry (Harry)Wotton, Dorian follows many sinful and sensual exploits, which leave no mark upon him, but changes the face of painting into a hideous mask of evil and corruption. Hiding the painting away, Dorian believes himself free to live as he likes, but his unchanged face does not go unnoticed and his dangerous and attractive lifestyle leaves death and destruction in his wake.

Wilde's tale from the 1890s is filled with his characteristic observations of human nature and dry humour. A more difficult and complicated read than many of his other books, with long periods philosophical discussion which, though interesting, stop the flow of the story.

Of course, the book scandalized the Victorians and it was even used against him when he was on trial that resulted in imprisonment due to homosexuality!

Part of my 100+ reading challenge

The Last Apprentice : Revenge of the Witch

by Joseph Delaney

This deliciously creepy book begins the chronicles of 12 year old Tom Ward. Tom is the seventh son of a seventh son, a mysterious combination that means he hears all the dangerous things that go bump in the night. Apprenticed to the local Spook, Mr. Gregory, who takes care of the dangerous boggarts, witches and other nasties, Tom is warned to beware of girls with pointed shoes. Think the Spook meant well, Tom ignores the warning and befriends Alice, a girl from the local witch family who traps him with a dangerous promise.

Too late to stop it, Tom realizes he has released a hideous witch. With the Spook away it is up to Tom to stop the witch before she is able to feed on the blood of the innocent to regain her strength and begin terrorizing the neighborhood again. Not yet trained to defeat witches Tom makes a dangerous mistake, a mistake that puts the lives of his family in grave danger.

A tale of terror and magic that will enthrall and bewitch young readers and send shivers up the spines of even the most hardened adult!


Part of my 100+ reading challenge

Howl's Moving Castle

by Diane Wynn Jones

In the land of Ingary where magic runs rife a prince has been taken captive by the evil witch of the waste and the talented king’s wizard, who has tried to rescue him has reportable been slain. A dangerous, heart-eating wizard by the name of Howl is reported to be on the move.

But all of this is inconsequential to Sophie Hatter. Afraid that her position as eldest of three sisters means she is doomed to failure if she tries to seek her fortune elsewhere, Sophie works in the her tedious family’s hat shop in Market Chipping. That is until her fate takes a turn and brings Sophie to the attention of the evil Witch of the Waste, who casts a spell, turning Sophie into an old lady unable to tell anyone what has happened.

So, Sophie runs away from home, right into the strange and frantic world of Howl, his apprentice Michael and the fire demon, Calcifer where her only hope of reversing the spell lies in untangling and breaking the bizarre contract between Howl and his demon before the witch of the waste catches up with them.

With a wonderful combination of outrageous humor and great sincerity, this tale of magic and finding one’s true purpose will enchant readers of any age.

Part of my 100 + reading challenge

Kentucky Sunrise

by Fern Michaels

Nealy Clay was very content with her new husband, lawyer Hatch Littletree, but she was never satisfied with horses.  Nealy was a trainer and not even her daughter, Emmie, could measure up to her standards.

When Nealy returns to Blue Diamond Farms for a family reunion she finds that her daughter has let the farm slide, and that she is planning to send a colt to the Kentucky Derby.

Nealy gets back into the game, taking on the colt as her personal project.  She is determined not to let her daughter's bad judgement cloud the reputation she has built.  Her relationship with her daughter may be ruined, as Emmie fights a battle with a life threatening illness, and could lose custody of her child.

A serious rivalry occurs, and both women engage in a battle of wills.  Both are determined to win no matter what the cost.

Written by Lisa Keith

CRY MERCY

ANN NOLAN, A CALIFORNIA COP, ADOPTS A LITTLE GIRL FORM A WOMAN WHO IS IN JAIL STRUNG OUT ON DRUGS AND THE FATHER IS A DANGEROUS DRUG TRAFFICKER. AS IT TURNS OUT, THE FATHER NEVER HAS ANOTHER CHILD AND HE VOWS TO FIND HIS DAUGHTER TO TAKE HER BACK.

ANN MOVES, CHANGES HER NAME, AND GETS A JOB AT A MISSING PERSONS ORGANIZATION AS A DETECTIVE. SHE AND HER DAUGHTER MAKE FRIENDS AND EVENTUALLY Y EVEN FEEL LIKE FAMILY WITH THE PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH THE ORGANIZATION. TAKING ON HER FIRST CASE, ANN SEARCHES FOR A MAN'S NIECE WHO HAS DISAPPEARED FROM COLLEGE.

"CRY MERCY" BY, MARIAH STEWART, IS AN EXTREMELY INTERESTING, AND SUSPENSEFUL MYSTERY. IT HAS A TOUCH OF ROMANCE, AND EVEN SOME DEGREE OF CHRISTIANITY. THE CHARACTERS ARE REALISTIC AND INTERESTING AND BY THE END OF THE BOOK, I FELT AS IF I KNEW THE CHARACTERS. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE
NEXT BOOK!!