talk about mysterious.

You gotta love a little bitchassness in a series, throw some mystery in there and you've got yourself "Deadly Charm" by Claudia Mair Burney. This book number three in the Amanda Bell Brown Mysteries series.

Forensic psychologist, Amanda Bell Brown, affectionately known as Bell, soon realizes after her marriage to Detective Jazz, she was emotionally and spiritually unprepared for marriage and this caused a strain in their relationship. Jazz left her when he found out she ran to the place she always felt safe; her ex-lover, Rocky. However, they remain madly in love with each other. Rocky invites Bell to attend a revival conference featuring the flamboyant and charming former television evangelist, Ezekial Thunder. Because of Thunder's checkered past, Bell reluctantly agrees to attend. When a horrible accident happens in the Thunder household, Bell suspects Ezekial's young wife, Nikki. Bell investigates to prove her suspicion is true. However, her suspicions don't stop there, she also suspects Nikki of being attracted to her husband. DRAMMMMAAAA.

Author Claudia Mair Burney is technically a Christian Fiction Author, but she doesn't preach, she keeps her morals, yet still has a good time. Love, murder, and healthy dose of G-O-D? I kid you not, take a look see into this series!

childrens books sure have changed since i was little...

In this day and age, people of every shape and color are procreating. Authors of children's books have finally come out with stories that kids in interracial families can relate too. "I'm Your Peanut Butter Big Brother" by Selina Alko, is rather adorable actually.

As a young boy awaits the latest addition to his family, he wonders aloud what the new baby will look like. Coming from a “semisweet dark Daddy chocolate bar” and “strawberry cream mama’s milk,” will the little one be more “pure coal black” or like a “mocha cloud”? Regardless, the new sibling will enter an adoring world, filled with a sweetness that is described in edible terms, all illustrated in the funky, fun gouache and mixed-media illustrations: a pair of lips are shaped like jelly beans; the sunshine is “lemon meringue.” The text is full of literary wordplay, but the food conceit creates a one-note show and the constant comparisons may grow tiresome. Still, this is refreshingly non didactic story about prenatal anticipation in an interracial home, and it will make a good choice for sharing one-on-one or reading aloud to a group, whose members may want to come up with their own food metaphors for their families.

The story appeals on all levels; the illustrations are gorgeous, the text poetic and musical. Alko artfully captures the excitement and curiosity of a young child awaiting a younger sibling. What's nice is that this child has no one pre-determined picture of the sibling-to-be; through masterful artwork and spoken-word style text, the book explores a range of possible images of his future sibling. Written from the child's perspective, the book celebrates the lineage of interracial families, while joyously affirming kids and parents of all colors.

Whether you're white chocolate, milk chocolate or dark chocolate, this book is a delight!

CONTEST!

For a chance to win a copy of MAXIMUM RIDE. E-Mail your name and address to jenileerose@yahoo.com!!

Patterson, back in action.

A lot of people have told me that they HATED the fourth book of this series, "The Final Warning." Whatever, you know, it happens. But I have heard nothing but great things about James Patterson's newest, "Maximum Ride."

The story is focused around Max, Fang and Angel. Some of the other characters, such as Iggy and the Gasman were almost ignored. The flock seems to have a change in personality. Before they were kids trying to survive, no they are pretty bratty. The flock is still sarcastic and funny, but they were mean to almost all of the adults in the book. Which I think is a little funny, but that's just me. There is definitely more romance in this book. I wont spoil anything, but I can assure you that romance lovers will not be disappointed.

Give our man Patterson another go people.

we're easy, spread the word.

Easy as in, easy reads. What's not to like? Something light, not too deep. That is exactly what the novel, "Secrets to Happiness" by Sarah Dunn offers to readers. 

Our main character, Holly compatriots consist of lifelong friends of great meaning anad accidental acquaintances whose dating exploits domino effect each others storylines. While Dunn succeeds in presenting some truly empathic observations about city living and 21st century relationships. 

Dunn makes you smile while turning the pages as she tells a typical New York story and succeeds to a degree although what she offers seems a tad too fashioned like Sex and the City. Nonetheless she has some spirited insights that are a joy to read and contemplate. Sex and the City is over, so lets wipe our tears and start anew. Give it a shot ladies.

science fiction.

Normally I am not hugely into the science fiction situation. But ever since the Twilight Saga came out, and I fell in love with a vampire, I have been branching out a little in that aspect of the reading world. "Starclimber" is the sequel to Kenneth Oppel's "Airborn" and "Skybreaker" books, and I have to admit it was a fantastic science fiction book for young adults.

Having explored the far reachers of the skies, Matt Cruse is about to fly beyond them. Into the unknown expanse of space. Yeah, space, whatever no big deal. Oppel's airship trilogy takes a distinctly sci-fi turn in the final volume, "Starclimber." It is focused on the wondrous expanses outside Earth's, and the dangers that go with its first pioneers. Matt's romantic woes take over a bit too much of the story, but Oppel does a truly brilliant job mingling sci-fi, adventure and a sense of lyrical wonder. 

The book is packed with nail-biting adventures that are bound to keep readers' interest. It was a fabulous story, and I would suggest it to any young person who likes to read about worlds, not too unlike their own, and other young people who are accomplishing what seems like the impossible. Oh baby.

MUST READ BIO.

Flannery O'Connor, as Brad Gooch's new biography makes clear, was one of a kind. His descriptions of Depression era Georgia remind us just how far the rural South, where she grew up, was from the American mainstream, and how rich the minefield for eccentric characters.

An only child, born to landed Irish Catholics in Savannah, Flannery O’Conner developed an early liking for domestic fowl and became famous for teaching a chicken to walk backwards. If you're a fan of her work, and I am, the only thing startling about the story is that when the chicken balked she didn't attack to Pathe newsmen come to record this feat. In a milieu where girls of her social class were expected to be well-mannered and lady-like above all, O'Connor struggled to be herself. Largely, she succeeded, but she realized her need to get away to develop what some people recognized early on as artistic genius.

FIVE STARS across the boards for the biography of Flannery O’Conner. When the book is finished the reader truly understands the subject of the book in a way he or she did not before. AND HELLO? That’s exactly what a biography should do. BONUS: her story is actually interesting. Kudos to Gooch and O'Conner too, for being born.

***IF YOU'D LIKE A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK. E-MAIL ME AT jenileerose@yahoo.com