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!!