August Update-13 books!

I've read a bunch of wonderful books in August!  I had minor surgery to remove a cyst and have spent a lot of time resting and reading!  Look at all the fun stuff I read this month!  Links are for my reviews.  Some toward the end of the list are still waiting for their own review and some I probably won't review at all.

1. Where She Went by Gayle Forman - RF- I liked If I Stay better yet it was interesting hearing his voice. These two could win cutest musical couple award!

2. Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly -HF- Top Author of the Month!  I loved depressed teen Andi mixed with Alex's fight to save the prince during the French Revolution.  It was, well, revolutionary!

3. The Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter -Modern Fantasy-The Hardscrabble kids are tough and show us just how kids feel about being ostracized.

4. Gemma by Meg Tilly - RF- Wow.  Brutally honest abusive/pedophile story.  Made me want to hold my children very close.  Tilly has this creepy guy written just right.

5. In The Green Kitchen by Alice Waters -Cookbook-Simple start-off recipes to help you accomplish bigger tasks.  I loved the pantry list.  I showed it to my mother while she was visiting and loved it when she laughed and said..."Oh, I bought this for you!  Can you wait until Christmas to get it?"  So typical.  And yes, I can wait.

6. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly -HF-It's 1906 and this is Mattie's coming-of-age story where she figures it all out after her mother dies.  Luckily, she takes the road less traveled.

7. Countdown by Deborah Wiles - HF-It's the 60's and everyone is worried about the Russian's and Cuba, students learn how to duck and cover to stay safe and Franny figures out why her Uncle Otts is so important.

8. How To Buy a Love Of Reading by Tanya Egan Gibson -RF-Drunken, super rich children figure out they do have something to say at the last minute.  Carley-I grew to like and Hunter-made me want to go to AA.

9. The Penderwicks; A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall- RF- Sweet, summer tale with a charming cottage and lots of room to play.  Mrs. Tipton figured out her parenting skills at the last second-thankfully!  I'm interested in the rest of this series.

10. True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet by Lola Douglass -RF- too-young-party-girl falls off the face of the earth and lands in Indiana.  She's startled to find real characters in the Midwest.  Never too off for me-too much nap dropping.

11. The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas -Fantasy-Lovely magical tale about Oliver Twist-ish character who saves the magic and helps Nevery.  I plan to read more of this series and was excited to see Prineas is an Iowa writer!

12. Matched by Allie Condie-Dystopian-Cassia has two loves on her post-warming world matched card and she must find a way to deal with her feelings for the unsanctioned Ky.  This was a fast read and kept me reading even though I hated this overly organized world.

13.. The Love Season by Elin Hildenbrand - RF -Love the Nantucket setting, and the culinary experience of listening to Margo put together food-ohhhh!  Did not enjoy Cade and his family or Miles.  Loved Action's character-could she have a spin-off book!

I am sad to say goodbye to summer.  I always am.  I'm a summer girl.  I like to be warm.  I like going to the pool.  I like margaritas.  Fall has it's good points though and I've already made an Autumn dish and I especially like going into an Indian Summer September like we seem to be.  My girl's birthday comes up in September also!

Hope everyone has a blissful Labor Day Weekend.  I will be celebrating my anniversary all weekend-we were married in Galena, IL and had all kinds of activities from golf outings to wine tastings for our guests to participate in.  I'm sure we'll find some fun this weekend even if I'm still healing.