Go on, Marc, get him before he runs. Let’s strip him and throw him in the dung heap, that’s where dirty Ells belong.” Marc, a full head taller than Yani, reached out to grab Yani’s hair. Last night the dream message had changed. “Today is your fourteenth birthday, now your powers awaken and you can begin to fight.” ~ excerpt from Tomorrow’s Children Legend of the Ells by J.T. Wheeling. We meet Yani on his fourteenth birthday and his life changes that day. First, his good friend Mika dies. Then, he begins a journey with his faithful dog, Bob, across 25th century Spain. Not only that, but Yani discovers that he can somehow make fire fly out of a broomhandle! Along Yani’s journey, he makes the first friends his own age. He’s been a stable boy his whole life and has only known bullies. He tells his new friends about his life. He also tells them how he was forced to work for the town bullies and was constantly called a ‘dirty Ell.’ But he doesn’t know what an Ell is. He is convinced that it’s something bad. Will his new friends tell him what an Ell is? His friends are heading for a town called Altania. They tell Yani that he will find out everything he wants to know. But they have no idea who they have just befriended or of the adventures they’re in for! When Yani and his friends reach Altania, he is sent to The Tower. He is told that he must go now. There’s no time to lose! What is The Tower and what happens there? Is it some sort of punishment for running away from the bullies he worked for? When the evil Count Aranda learns of Yani, Lord Zandor disappears along with one of Yani’s new friends. Their dangerous adventures never stop! They escape many more cruel bullies on their journey. Yani and his friends even have to battle raging rivers, fight gorrats with his staff and even rescue a damsel in distress! One question remains for Yani. Who is he? Tomorrow’s Children The Legends of the Ells is the first book of a trilogy. I highly recommend this science fiction/fantasy. This page turner had me this reviewer enthralled. There are so many twists and turns I found this book so hard to put down. I can’t wait to read the next book! To learn more about the author please visit his website at: http://jtwheeling.com/page_id=2. You can purchase your copy of Tomorrow’s Children Legends of the Ells at the author’s website or at http://www.amazon.com or http://www.amazon.co.uk.

A very well-written story about a teenage girl who witnessed her stepfather murder her mother and her mother's new boyfriend. The girl obviously has a lot of angst and this story is how she works through it. The characters are well-described and well-developed -- once you start reading, you'll want to discover the outcome.

This book is 366 pages and published by Europa Editions. For more information or to purchase from Amazon, click the cover below.

An okay book. The story fluctuates between present day, where Violet Hetherington, the main character, is on a cruise meeting several new people, and the past thirty or so years as Violet reminisces about previous relationships in her life. I did finish the book (something I don't always do), but I would not rank it as a "must read".

This book is 272 pages and published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. For more information or to purchase from Amazon, click the cover below.

Ah, the power of woman (as long as one doesn't make a mistake). I liked this story about a young twenty-something who works as an executive assistant at a movie studio. By paying attention to her environment, working hard, and using her brains, she can earn that longed-for promotion. Or can she? Good chick-lit!

Good'bye to All That is published by Touchstone and is 320 pages. For more information or to purchase from Amazon, click the link below.

Idella and Avis are sisters who have a rough upbringing in Canada. Their mother dies during the birth of their sister, leaving their dad to raise them and their older brother. This story follows the two girls through the next seven decades. I didn't find the book riveting, but I did finish it in order to discover how the girls' lives ended.

The Sisters from Hardscrabble Bay is 320 pages and published by Viking Adult. For more information or to purchase from Amazon, click the cover below.

The murder-suicide of an abusive husband and his wife is the subject of this novel by a New York Times bestselling author. Read how these deaths affect the local pastor, the couple's daughter, the prosecutor (perhaps it wasn't murder-suicide??) and an involved author/acquaintance whose parents also died in a murder-suicide. Very well written story that will capture your attention.

Secrets of Eden is 384 pages and published by Crown. For more information or to purchase from Amazon, click the link below.

A lot of people could relate to this story about two young couples, each with two children. Job concerns, marriage concerns, and extended family concerns affect their daily lives. Luckily, the two families live in a duplex and rely on each other greatly to get through the myriad of issues that not only these characters, but many of us readers, face. 
 
This book is 324 pages and published by Five Star. For more information or to purchase from Amazon, click the link below.

This is a "can't put it down" book. The story is about a couple, Tim and Kate, who have two young sons and a terrific marriage. However, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and, perhaps, their marriage falls into that category. You'll be rooting for this couple as they wend their way through a difficult patch in their relationship.

The Heights is 304 pages and published by Dutton Adult.

Thank you to an anonymous user for this review!

The Morganville series is a well thought out story that keeps the readers guessing and wanting more. But the books seem to keep repeating itself, humans being trapped in a town filled with blood thristy vampires who treat the humans like slaves while controlling them through fear. There should more to the story like vampires outside of Morganville that no one knew about, vengeful spirts, shapeshifters, witches or were creatures.

There are currently eight books in this series, with two more scheduled. To view the latest book, click the cover below. For information on the whole series, click the Morganville Series link.

Thank you Laurie M. for this review!

I enjoyed this story about a newscaster who tries to sees life from others' points of view as he goes through his daily routine. These people include his deceased father, his mom, his wife and daughter, his coworkers, his predecessor and a couple of mere acquaintances. Somewhat lighthearted reading, but with a definite purpose. A good book.

This book is 272 pages and published by Holt Paperbacks. For more information or to purchase from Amazon, click the link below.