Tales of the Shadow Market

A series of short stories that fill in gaps and spots of the multiple series written by  Cassandra Clare.  all of the stories focus on Jem, aka James Carstairs, Brother Zachariah, parabarti of Will  Herrondale, husband of Tessa Gray, Shadowhunter, Silent Brother, and something in between those two.

Good reading.  I like Jem very much which helps I am sure.

Nine From the 9 Worlds by Rick Riordan

A tale from each of the nine worlds with Thor appearing in each, at least briefly, as he takes a run through the worlds so he can appear on a talk show.

This is a book that could be read aloud with pleasure.  Funny jokes, middle school crude moments and a few times you want to Clorox your brain.  Just picture Thor in Daisy Dukes, leather ones, running around, you get the need for bleach. :)

Back Story by Robert B. Parker

Spenser, Susan, Hawk, old murder, sarcasm, witting comments, just the right amount of violence and implied sex, what more could you ask for?  

Twenty-eight year old murder that Spenser is investigating for the high pay of six Krispy Kreme donuts.  A few old hippies, some gangster types and a client that gets cold feet does nothing to stop Spenser in his search for the truth.

Such a good read from a favorite author.

Map of Days by Ransom Riggs

Being Peculiar is difficult, it is even more difficult when you are new at it.  Jacob, Emma and some of their crew go off to find an uncontacted Peculiar using clues left by Jacob's Grandfather Abe, Emma's long lost love.  Yeah that gets a bit weird at times.

Peculiars in the United States run by a different system which causes a few problems and then a great big major one.  Basically it is a travel book from Florida, to Portal, Georgia (I have People from there myself which was neat), to New York City.

At times I lost interest and put it down for a few days as it felt like parts were just there to be a place holder.  It could be me so don't pass on that but if you feel the same let me know

The Dream Gatherer bu Kristen Britain

This installment in the Green Rider series is a novella with a short story to start with.  A rider that is washed ashore a mysterious island learns that gifts are just that, not good or bad, but the way in which they are used.

The main portion of the book contains the Berry Sister, Bay and Bunch.  They have returned home to Seven Chimneys after having had a ship contained in a magic bottle make landfall in the middle of it after being broken by a follower of Second Empire several books ago.

Marking the 20th anniversary of the first Green Rider book it is a delectable snack while we wait upon the main course of the next novel.

The Burning Maze by Rick Riordan, Trials of Apollo

In the third installment of following Apollo, currently known as Lester Papadopoulos, I actually like him!  I also am pulling for him, not just his companions that are being forced to help him or die a terrible death.

At least now we know why California has been on fire the past few years.   Along with the heartache there is also a tremendous amount of hope that is laced throughout the novel.  Thankfully, the ending leads to the beginning of another episode in the life of Lester/Apollo.

All I Needed To Know I Learned in Kindergarten

By Robert Fulghum

The best part about this book is it makes you think.  You don't have to agree with all the author writes to enjoy it, always a good thing to have in a book.  I read it when it came out but got more from it at a later reading than before.  Another top quality in a book. 
A series of essays and observations about life.  Much is about social order and how to be a part of life with people that are not exactly like you. I believe I will use a few selections in my classroom for reflection and class discussions.

Banker by Dick Francis

There is so much more to racing than the day of the horse race.   There is health care, trades, favors, enormous amounts of money and quite often some shading dealings.

Tim Ekaterin is a young banker, in a family firm that must prove his worth as the road he came by to arrive there involved an alcoholic father and a mother with a gambling obsession that cost the family all that they had.  Naturally there are some there that believe he will follow the road of his parents and take the bank with him in the process.

An opportunity arises for a large investment in a top racehorse that will be put to stud.  The potential money is astounding by 1982 standards, the year of publication.

Many twist and turns with deceit and intrigue.  Highly recommend.

Murder in Three Acts by Agatha Christie

A vicar is murdered, by poison, during a cocktail party.  Then months later another murder occurs with some of the same people present.  The third act of the murder stars Hercule Poriot and once he enters the stage things get interesting.

If you pay attention on this one you can figure it out before the end, an usual feature in a Christie novel.  Very enjoyable read.

The jShadowhunters Codex by Cassandra Claire and Joshua Lewis

If you are a new Shadowhunter and had just Ascended then this might be the book you need.  Basic information for the new Shadowhunter with little sidebars written by Simon Lewis, Clary Fairchild and of course Jace.

The main thing is the sidebars by Simon are funny. Plenty of drawings by Clary and Jace is just a little to serious at times.   Enjoyable read that gives some background information.  At times your realize how hidebound the Clave is but at least they admit it, kind of, maybe, sorta......

The Scottish Prisioner by Diana Galbadon

As Mrs. Galbadon states on her website, this is one of the "little" book in between the "great big books".  If you have read the Outlander series this story fills in a few things, if not it is a stand alone novel.
Lord John Grey needs the help of Jamie Fraser, aka Alex Mackenzie, to investigate part of the evidence of a court martial.  Things are never quite that simple of course but it does get the story rolling.
Filled with intrigue, plots, counterplots, spies, a sprinkling of Jacobites and several ah-ha moments.
Very enjoyable read which I highly recommend.

Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare

 A very enjoyable book that brings several themes to the forefront.  Even if you are a descendent of an angel you are not always a good and righteous person.  Love does not solve all problems, at times it creates larger ones.  Prejudice at some level is always present, be it the conditions of a person's birth, mental state, choice of life partner.  The bonds of family can be so strong that logical thinking is impaired.   There is a reason that young people need adults around to temper emotions.
My only fault is it just ended.  Ms. Clare had best be working hard on the next installment.

The Unguet Grave by Sharyn McCrumb

Based upon the tale of the Greenbrier Ghost of West Virginia the tale focuses on the murder or a young newlywed woman from the point of view of her mother and an attorney that helped with the defense.  An excellent meshing of different times, people of a variety of social classes, economics and race relations.

As always well written with a nice little twist at the end which will change your entire view of the way the murder was discovered.

Magnus Chase - The Ship of the Dead

Book Three featuring Magnus Chase finds him basically killing himself over and over at the behest of Percy Jackson.  Luckily for Magnus, the pain is only for a bit until he wakes up again in Valhalla whole and complete.  Unfortunately, he will not have that option once he takes off on his quest to stop the Ship of the Dead.

Loki is trying to free the Ship of the Dead so he can go ahead and get started with destroying the Nine Worlds.  It is up to Magnus and his favorite Valkyrie, Dwarf, Elf and his einjerjar buddies to stop him before it is all to late and Ragnarok  begins.

Filled with Nordic mythology, a bit of mystery and plenty of adventure.   There is a little surprise relationship that develops that is very unique and made me stop and think but I really like the twist and am interested in where it will go.

A Spell for Chameleon by Piers Anthony

The first Xanth novel introduces the reader to a land filled with magic and puns.  Bink has no obvious magic and so must leave Xanth and go to live in Mundania.
One thing after another just barely saves him from a series for terrible magical incidents, from slightly painful incidents that cause a little physical discomfort to some that cause acute embarrassment. 
Into Mundania he goes, followed quickly by the smartest yet ugliest woman ever!  They are both captured by Evil Magician Trent, who was exiled many years previously.  Somehow they end up back in Xanth and from there you just have to go and have a magical adventure.

Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan

Percy goes through the twelve major Greek gods and goddesses in a gossip filled way.  Everything is not all brightness and nectar by any means.  In-fighting, back stabbing, cheating, love, abandonment and lots and lots of jealousy.

A fun read with plenty of sarcasm to keep things moving along.  It is not necessary to know about Percy and his history, he just serves as a narrator.

Sleep LIke A Baby by Charlaine Harris

Aurora Teagarden and her mystery writing husband have been blessed with a daughter.  The adjustments of a new baby along with a fairly new marriage have both a little stressed but nothing to bad.  When Robin is set to receive an award Roe sends him off with her blessing even though she knows she is getting sick.  Thankfully Robin hires a lady to help at night that had been a blessing when Sophie had first been born.
Unfortunately the sickness is the flu and one night Roe wakes to with the baby monitor in hand to a very upset baby, a missing caretaker and a dead woman in the back yard.  Then things get interesting.
This was the best of the series to date.  Very well done and leaving me wanting another one soon.

A Cast of Corbies by Mercedes Lackey & Josepha Sherman

In this Bardic Choices novel a group of musicians team up with a theater company to put on a play.  A series of "accidents" lend that little bit of mystery and intrigue.
A touch of magic, commoner and noble love story, evil group in the church, light, fun reading.

Fatal Fortune by Victoria Laurie

Abby gets a call in the middle of the night from Candice, her BFF, telling her to retrieve a file and tell no one.  The next morning she sees a video that appears to be Candice making a hit on a doctor from Vegas.  Believing that Candice would only do such a thing for a very good reason Abby begins to investigate.
The overall story line is good but I admit the lying gets on my everlasting nerves! Why Dutch puts up with her I have no idea. I would have kicked her to the curb long ago.

Nightseer by Laurell K. Hamilton

The first novel written by the author of the Anita Blake series is really good at the end, at the start, not so much.  I kept thinking I had missed something important but going back I saw I had not.  It read like a sequel but after checking several times I am convinced it was the first one she wrote. 
Not bad, just to many characters that really had no part in moving the story forward.