The Survivors by Dan Willis

I've had this book for 4 years now and I really wish I would have picked it up sooner. It's great! I haven't read the series but it was great that I could pick this book up and not be lost. I was able to follow the story easily. I loved the religious parts to it. I loved the characters. They were each unique and I grew quite attached to them and their distinct personalities.


This is an amazing story that gets off to a great start right away. The story was moving so fast at the beginning I thought to myself what more can they do. Yet, so much happened in the story after that. I was rooting for this group of survivors and groaned every time they wouldn't listen to Bradock. Their trip would have been much easier had they just listened to him more often! He was a great leader and it helped me think about what a leader is and how hard it is to be a leader with so much responsibility.

I totally recommend this book....if you can find it!  

Here are some characters to help me to remember the story a little:

Takes place in Ironroot (A dwarf city made underground)
Bradok Axeblade--Main Character, dwarf
Sapphire--Bradok's Mother
Mirshawn Axeblade--Bradok's father who passed away (leaving his seat on the council to his son Bradox)
Much Hollowblade--friend on the council
Mayor Arbuckle-- the mayor
Rose Steelspar--a red haired hill dwarf woman, Ends up being a huge part of the story.
Argus Deephammer--called repentance to the council
Reorx--A god
Jon Bladehook--on the council.  Cross him and you'll be sorry.  Huge influence in the council and not necessarily a good influence.
Silas Weatherstone--builds a boat...sort of like Noah's ark but, underground and everyone thinks he is crazy.
Chisul--Headstrong, impulsive son of Silas.
Kellik--helps build ship, good guy
Tal--a trained doctor, from Rose's village, a hill dwarf
Disir--huge, insects attracted to sound
Perin--Human living with the Dwarfs as an apprentice
Erus--gives Bradok a polished brass device
Lyra--pregnant dwarf
Teal--small child. adored by even the hardest of hearts.
Rhizomorph--mushroom people, give off golden clouds of spores.  They try to make others like them by infecting them.

Daergar--long ago separated their clan from normal society in favor of living in the deep places of Krynn.  They were evil, untrustworthy, and hated their higher dwelling cousins.
Omer--Daergar, ex-convict, hates Wizards.  A wizard kidnapped him when he was a baby. The wizard experimented on poor Ormer.  Killed twelve armed dwarves in a tavern brawl with his bare hands.  Not quite right in the head.  EXTREMELY strong and yet acts like a child.  Later in story, he likes Teal and protects.  Corin--(full name, Corinthar Darklight) Daergar, ex-convict, he swindled a corrupt politician out of a million steel.  It was revenge for the politician bankrupting his father..
Thurl Surepath----Daergar, He was the house assassin for  a wealthy family.  When they fell on hard times, they sold himn out to save their own lives.
Hurlic Sweetwater--he killed his wife when he caught her having an affair.  (He also killed her entire family.)
Xurces Firebrand--Daergar, ex-convict, Most notorious sex fiend in the history of Darkhold City.  It is said he has fathered over one hundred children.  (Was castrated by the guards at the prison)
Jeni--Daergar, ex-convict, can't bear to have crimes repeated.  Covers her ears.  Her husband beat her and tortured her mercilessly, She went mad and killed her children.  Thinks it was just a dream.

Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

I admit.  I did not read much of this book.  I was so excited because I was one of the first at my library to get the book and I was looking forward to a great book.

I read the first chapter and it wasn't too bad but there were questionable parts.  I started the second chapter and can you say, "Sex."  I thought I can't do it if this is what the rest of the book is like so I got on Amazon and checked out the reviews and sure enough it is FULL of Sex.

I would not recommend this book.  It is not my style.  I am disappointed.  I really wanted her Adult book to be good.  I suppose when they called it an Adult book I did have my trepidations and that is why I didn't purchase it and got it from the library first.  I am so glad I don't own this book.

How I wish she would have cleaned things up!  I am much to young for this book.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

I love, love, love this series.  This series is a favorite for me.

This is a contiunuation of the book Divergent.  This sequel is every bit as good as the first book.  I couldn't keep my hands off the book.  I was going to read it slowly but I couldn't keep away from it long enough to do so.  I just LOVE this series.  I liked the Hunger Games series but I must say that this is just as good if not better.  I love the way it is written.  The characters are well written and I am very attached to them.



Tris has just had a tramatic experience in the last book of seeing many die.  In this continuation she finds that the Erudite faction is up to no good.  She had to figure out what that is and use her resources to do something about it.  She is physically, emotionally, and socially tested in everyway in this book.  I LOVE it!!!! 

I had to remember a few things before I picked up this book.



This book is about a Dystopian Society.  In this society there are 5 Different Factions:

1. Candor (the Honest)
2. Abnegation (the Selfless)
3. Dauntless (the Brave)
4. Amity (the Peaceful)
5. Erudite (the Intelligent)

I also had to remember some of the characters that I had forgotten since reading Divergent:  (if you haven't finished Divergent, I would recommend not reading the character descriptions because there could be spoilers for you but I think it will help me when I read the next book in the series to review these names.)

1.  Beatrice Prior (later shortens her name to Tris)
2.  Will (part of the Dauntless faction--she has a lot of guilt concerning him which is in residual of the last book.  They were very close in the last book)
3.  Tobias--you think that I'd remember him!  It starts out talking about him and I couldn't remember if he was the brother or what.  Tobias is the guy Beatrice was trained by.  He has another name that most know him by and that name is FOUR. 
4.  Caleb--her brother that had to choose which faction to go to at the same time she did in the last book.
5.  Marcus--Tobias' father.
6.  Peter--part of the dauntless.  Tris and Peter do not get along.
7.  Johanna Reyes, representative of Amity.
8.  Edith Prior--Tris' mom.
9.  Evelyn--Tobias' mom (factionless society leader)
10.  Tori--tattoo artist.
11.  Christina--Tris' great friend from Dauntless
12.  Lynn--another Dauntless
13.  Shauna--Dauntless.
14.  Hector--Dauntless.
15.  Uriah--Dauntless. (I like this character a lot.  Light hearted amidst much going on).
16.  Jeanine--Erudite Leader

This is a thick book but it goes quickly.  I would love to read both of these books again and I am anxious for the next in the series)

The Princess and the Horse by Mette Ivie Harrison

This is only currently available as an eBook.  I enjoyed reading it this way.

The story is about Fierce.  Fierce is a hound and runs in a pack that doesn't really accept her very well.  Her mom has abandoned her to become human and she has hard feelings toward humans.  She is quite alone but stays with her pack because that is all she has known.  Then she meets the Princess with her wild magic.  Her life changes from that point on.

The thing I love about he The Princess and the Horse is that once again there are wonderful characters and a great tale with twists and turns.  I love this princess.  She is spunky and full of wild magic.  I love Fierce too.  The characters seem so real to me and I enjoy looking into their hearts and knowing more about them. 

Great enjoyable story that I will read again I am sure.

Potevka's Gifts by Mike Ramsdell

I read this thinking this book was going to be a continuation of  "A Train to Potevka"  but almost immediately in reading the book he mentions that it is not.  He does say that a continuation will come out called, "Russia: Rags and Riches--Spies and Lies."  He will put that out after the movie of  "A Traini to Potevka" comes out. 

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the short stories in this book.  His stories were great.  I learned much from reading them and was intrigued by them. 

He also had a question answering section.  That was enlightening.  For example, did you know that Potevka is not a real place.  He is not allowed to identify the place with a safe house because that would be breaking security.  He says he named it after the character in one of his favorite musicals, "Fiddler on the Roof." 

There are many questions answered and funny stories shared.  I was very grateful to have read this book.

Beyond the Blackboard by Stacey Bess

"Beyond the Blackboard" is full of stories from teaching at the "School With No Name."  This is a school offered to homeless children in Salt Lake City, UT.  The author gives touching story after touching story of teaching, homelessness, love, family, poverty, and sometimes even miracles.  This book helps get a glimpse of this aspect of society that no one really wants to think about or talk about because it requires a look at the reality of real troubles in society.  It's a book that will probably come to one's mind even after the book is closed.

Uneasy Fortunes by Mandi Ellsworth

Pete has had a rough life.  He shows up at the Betteridge Ranch ready to work.  He is a hard worker but doesn’t say much. 

June has also had a rough life.  When Pete shows up she thinks of him as just another hired hand.  She is hard to get to know because her defenses are up and keeps to herself. 

Pete starts to quietly do things for June which seems to make her upset. 

This book has so much in it to captivate one’s attention.  There are so many parts to the story, so many twists in plot. 

I really enjoyed reading this book.  It was really fun.  There were parts that I found a tear escaping my eye without even realizing it at first.  This is one of those books I will probably read more than once.