List of Books: 2013

 This past year I have had the urge for reading novels again. Yes, I do frequent fan fiction (although you do have to sift through a lot to find a good story, but thats a whole other topic) but recently I have had the yearning to pick up a good book and read through the night. In 2013 I decided to try my hand at reading more books that I had never experienced, instead of just re-reading my favorites. Here are the books I newly read throughout last year:

1. The Wettest County in the World (Matt Bondurant)

2. One for the Money (Janet Evanovich - Stephanie Plum Series)

3. Two for the Dough

4. Three to Get Deadly

5. Four to Score

6. High Five

7. Hot Six

8. Seven Up

9. Hard Eight

10. To the Nines

11. Ten Big Ones

12. The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald)

13. The Girl Who Chased the Moon (Sarah Addison Allen)

14. The Summer We Read Gatsby (Danielle Ganek)

15. The Time Traveler’s Wife (Audrey Niefenegger)

16. Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (Cassandra Claire)

17. The Girl on the Cliff (Lucinda Riley)

18. Princess Ka’iulani (Sharon Linnea)

19. The Host (Stephenie Meyer)

20. Garden Spells (Sarah Addison Allen)

 Looking back, a lot of these books I read were brought to my attention by movies that had been released (i.e. Great Gatsby, The Wettest County, etc). I found  enjoyed both counterparts - the movie and the book. The Stephanie Plum series, a quick but amusing series, was a great find - and yes, I loved the movie.

 I was most surprised by The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I had rented the movie first but a family situation occurred while it was in my possession so I rushed through the movie. Then I forgot I had requested it from the lib ray. Three months later the book appeared in my mailbox. On one of my days off from work, I sat down to read it…and I didn’t stop. I was completely engrossed in the plot and the characters. I even had a book hangover when I finished and even after I had recuperated from the self imposed hangover, I re-read it again. 

 This year I have decided that, along with new books I have not yet read, I would also try to re-read some of my favorite series (i.e. Amelia Peabody Series, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, etc…) and see how many I could do.

 Wish me luck!

PS: From the list I would recommend reading: Stephanie Plum series, The Girl Who Chased the Moon and, of course, The Great Gatsby…these were my favorites!

Book Review

 After the death of her sister, Eva Ward returns to her childhood home, an enormous cliff facing cottage in England named Trelowarth. There to scatter her sister's ashes, Eva soon finds herself being transported back on time to 1715 and into the lives of the Butler brothers. 

 I have always loved stories where the character(s) travel back through time and must learn to assimilate to the time. I must confess it did take me a while to get into the book and once it caught, I did not want to stop reading it. 

 However, that being said, I felt this book lacked full explanations of details within the plot. Jumps through the plot line, with significant purpose to the plot yet little explanation haunted this book. I would have like more explanation on details even if it would have made the book longer. 

 Even without a lot of explanation I did enjoy the book. It was quick, easy, and enjoyable for what the topic was. If I rated it I would give it 3.5 out of 5. 

Aloha Maui! May 2013

Originally I had planned on writing a whole post about my trip- a day to day sort of thing. When I had down time while on vacation I did write down what my family had been doing. And I do think its a good idea to journal while on vacation. But in retrospect I think sharing photos will be the best way to share my trip to Maui this past spring. I hope you enjoy the photos - if you have any questions please leave them in the comment section and I will respond shortly. 

Luana Kai. Our view from our condo

 (Maui oceanic center)

Pineapple! Maiu's Tropical Plantation. 

Iao valley. 

Getting ready for my cousins wedding. Kihei, Maui, HI

Makena cove - a beautiful location for a beach wedding at sunset. In fact, two other wedding parties were at Makena cove while my cousin got married!

On top of Haleakala volcano - about 10,000 feet elevation. 

Last meal in Maui. Fresh pineapple, papaya, and avacado. 

Aloha Maui, mahalo!

Chapter 2 and onwards

Good evening readers -
Although I am proud of this story, I must confess it may not be my best. It was my first honest attempt into mystery - the type of stories I enjoy the most. And although it may be predictable and glamorous - in the best way described - I did enjoy it.
I have decided to just post the rest of the story - I am pretty sure I am the only one who has ever read it so it probably does not matter. But, in the sake of finishing something (a must for any upcoming New Year's Eve Revolution list) I should do it.
So, after 3 glasses of wine, and a horrible work week, I am posting, via my live journal account (only ever made for the story - my advice: if you ever want to let things let loose - write it on paper, in a journal, so that - should something happen- you could always burn it), here are the last chapters of Camas Valley.
Thank you to Jennifer, who - although extremely busy with finishing her masters degree - was able to proof read. Thank you a billion!

Camas Valley: Chapter One

Here is the link to a livejounal account where the chapter's for Camas Valley can be viewed. Every time I update the account, I will let you know via this blog and my twitter account. Please bare with me when posting......I'm still getting the hang of it!

Let me know if the link does not work - if not, I will post it under the comment section.

Prologue: A Beautiful Night's Sky

The shortening of breath was making it difficult to concentrate as Professor Slidell, of North Western Oregon University, lay in the brush, bleeding to death. A pool of blood soaked through her clothes as she stared up to the clear night’s sky, as she reminisced of her imminent death.

It was a normal summery day and she had been invited to lecture at Camas Valley’s City Hall about the town’s history and of Joseph Keaton, the town’s first wealthy bachelor who had disappeared in the 1890s. Grateful to share her knowledge of the town’s history, Professor Slidell foolishly agreed.

Instead of the warm welcome she had imagined, the professor was met with hostility, especially from the Bryton family, the ancestors of the original settlers of Camas Valley. It had not helped that she felt that the Bryton family ancestors were responsible for the disappearance of Joseph Keaton and had announced it at the end of the first nights lecture. It was only suppose to draw the crowd in for the next days lecture. Instead, the crowd erupted into a shouting match – the Bryton family was none too pleased with her deduction. The Sheriff and his deputies only showed their presence when other crowd members began yelling insults back at the Bryton family members. On accident, Professor Slidell had started another battle between the Camas Valley residents.

Thinking back, as Professor Slidell’s vision blurred and here eyelids felt so heavy, all she could think of was the fact that now no one would ever discover the Keaton treasure.

A creak in the woods let the dying professor know she was not alone. And all she could do was watch her killer come closer, the footsteps heavy on the ground.

The footsteps stopped by her head, and the shadow of a hand drew to her mouth.

Metal pressed into her throat.

The last thought of Professor Slidell was of the beautiful night' sky over Camas Valley.

The Beginnings of a Story

On the 7th of June, 2010, I was at work, bored as usual, and began to plot a story. It had no structure, and really no where to go. Normally, that is how a story ends for me: I grow bored with the idea and get rid of it. I began an outline and then wrote a couple of paragraphs for a story about settlers and treasure. And, as predicted, after that day I thought nothing of it.

Then, on July 16th, while at home, I came up with an idea for that little story plot I had began in June. Using the names from a show I had been watching (i.e. Supernatural), I started writing again. But instead of becoming bored, page after page began emerging. At work, when it was not busy, I took out my little journal and began writing. Between the 16th and the 26th, I wrote an entire story plot. For once, I was actually excited to write.

I must add that the last time I became this interested in writing I wrote a 30 page story which will never come into the light again. The plot of that particular story was from various movies that I had used; all in all, it was crap because I wanted it to be. A high school teacher refused to let me do a project alone so in response, I wrote an incredibly long and horrible story.

So, when I found myself with an entire outline that was not too bad, I was curious. This story is the first one I have ever written in present time; no going back to the past or to a distant land. It was also the first time I had written a full story in the 3rd person. Also, it was more of an adventure and treasure story. I was excited for the challenge.

Two years later, after 3 drafts written, I have finally decided to put it up for friends to read.

This is a warning!

Do not read this story as if it were a masterpiece of literature. Because it certainly is not! Enjoy the experience of a treasure hunt that has mystery and mayhem.

Thank you Jennifer, for your ideas and the corrections! I could not have finished this without your help!