Wonder Struck - Brian Selznick

I loved "The Invention of Hugo Cabaret," written by this same author.  I really liked this one as well.  It didn't capture my attention and hold on to it like "Hugo," but it was still fun.  I absolutely love the artwork in these books.  In the first book, the artwork told the story with the words as well.  In this book, there are two stories.  One in words, one in pictures, and they come together in the end.  Fun books for older elementary age kids, and adult kids!

Pride and Popularity - Jenni James

Another fun easy read.  I really like these books from Jenni James.  I have been recommending them to my girls friends.  They are good books, clean books, and I think very relatable books.  In this book, Chloe is irritated by the "popular" boy that everyone is in love with.  She thinks he is rude, conceited, and spoiled.  He won't leave her alone though, she assumes because she doesn't fall at his feet.  This book teaches about judging wrongly, listening to gossip,  and trusting our own feelings.  I love this book.  Can't waited for Persuaded to come out!

Enduring Light - Carla Kelly

Great book.  I read the first in this series, Borrowed Light, last year. It is one of my favorite books.  LDS girl, borrowing her parents testimony most of her life, ventures out to the wilds of Wyoming.  She is forced to learn for herself, decide who she is and what she believes.  It is a heart warming story of faith and of course romance.  City girl leaves home to become the cook on a ranch in Wyoming.  A ranch where no females have had an influence in a long time.  Cowboy with a broken heart needs a cook, doesn't realize he needs love. In this second book, the testimony is there, but the struggles are just beginning.  You feel like Julia and Paul are your friends.  You cheer for them, cry with them, sometimes want to yell at them.  It is a good, clean romance, that leaves you wanting to go visit the Double Tipi Ranch!

The Widower's Wife - Prudence Bice

This was a good book.  Not great.  I had a hard time with the way it was written,  You would hear one persons side of the story, and then go back and hear it from the other persons side.  It didn't flow well for me.  The story, however, was good.  I young single woman, who has had her heart broken, answers an ad for a mail order wife.  The man is a widower, with three young children.  He is not looking for love, he fully loved his wife, he is looking for someone to love his children and help them.  Of course, he expects and unattractive woman to answer his ad, and she expects him to be an older man.  When they meet, they are immediately attracted to each other physically.  The story sweetly unfolds as she does become a mother to his children, and they get to know and care for one another.  I will read more from this author, but I hope her technique changes a little.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret - Brian Selznick

I loved this book!  The story is simple, but engaging.  The pictures are amazing!  It is a book of over 400 pages, and you can read it in a day,  Over 200 of those pages are pictures, and they pull you in and take you into the story.  I am excited to see the movie now!  Hugo is an orphan who lives in a train station and keeps all the clocks working.  He has many secrets and meets a young girl who helps him discover more! I love the way this book was put together.  It just made me happy to hold it in my hands!

With This Ring - Amanda Quick

I went into this book hesitantly.  It was for the book club I am part of.  Instead of everyone reading the same book, the host picked an author and had us choose a book that she had written.  The genre is romance novels, and I worry about the sleaze factor.  This book was very good!  There were a couple of detailed scenes that I could have done without, but it wasn't too bad.  The story revolves around some "rings" that are rumored to exsist, but no one knows for sure.  Beatrice, the heroine, is convinced that her uncle found them, and was murdered for it.  He is suppose to provide an inheritance for her cousin, so that she will have a chance of marrying well.  His death, and the discovery that he lost all his money, leads Beatrice to Leo.  Leo is a widower, who lives alone and likes it that way.  He is known as the "madmonk" on Moncrest.  He is an expert in antiquities, which is why Beatrice seeks him out.  The try to discover if the rings are real, if her uncle found them, and who the murderer was.  All of this while, of course, fighting their attraction to one another.  It had humor, mystery, and romance. I will definately try another of her books.