A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin

Reading Level: Adult
(4 out of 5)

This is book one in a series called Wings of Glory. The second book A Memory Between Us is available at the library. And the third book Blue Skies Tomorrow will come out next August.

A Distant Melody revolves around Allie Miller and Lt. Walter Novak during World War II. Allie is from a wealthy family and she is longing to do more for the war effort. Walt is a B-17 bomber pilot. Allie and Walt meet on a train to a friends wedding. Walt is on leave and Allie has just graduated college. During their week together they become friends and they really understand each other. Walt likes her more than a friend but finds out Allie has a boyfriend her parents intend for her to marry. Despite that Walt asks Allies boyfriend if it is okay that Allie writes him. Baxter agrees. So Walt and Allie start corresponding and their feelings for each other grows. But of course there are many obstacles in their way. I loved this book. It's always nice reading a Faith based book. Love is so pure and the stories are always inspirational. Ms. Sundin has done an excellent job creating such a wonderful story. You can't help but fall in love with the characters and the war story is fascinating. I can't wait to read the next one. It's about Walt's brother Jack.

Eco-Craft: Recycle, Recraft, Restyle by Susan Wasinger

Reading Level: Adult non-fiction
(5 out of 5)

If you are into being green, this is the craft book for you. There are craft ideas in here that uses aluminum pop cans, glass bottles, plastic bags, take out containers, and much more. One neat one that caught my eye are sweater rugs. Hmm is that a rug made out of sweaters you ask? Yes! You use 4 to 12 wool (or mostly wool) sweaters. Quoting the book it says, "This is quite possibly the fuzziest, thickest, squishest, plushest, most huggable rug you will ever set foot on... and you make it yourself in a matter of hours." You use knitting needles. I don't really know how to knit but I think it might be time that I learned.

Another clever idea is making bags using coffee bags and duct tape. You get a functional bag that probably smells good too.

Make lunch bags using plastic shopping bags.

Cool light fixtures out of milk jugs.

The one I cringe at a little bit is using books to make angels and trees. Yes they look really cool but I mourn a little bit for the books. An alternative to books would be magazines. I have seen magazine trees before.

All in all I want to make almost every craft in here. And I'll be helping save the planet while I do it! :)

Sleepless by Cyn Balog

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)

What if I told you Sandmen were real? Every night when you go to bed your personal Sandman comes and seduces you to sleep. I would have to say I need to talk with my Sandman because most nights I toss and turn before I can get comfortable enough to sleep. In Sleepless Eron De Marchelle is a Sandman. Eron was once human and at the age of seventeen he died and was offered to either move on or become a Sandman. After 100 years of service you become human again. I would think that to some that would sound appealing. Eron is in charge of Julia and two others. He has feelings for Julia that a Sandman is forbidden to have. Even after he becomes human he is forbidden from pursuing Julia. But Eron's term of service is almost up. Will he risk everything to try and be with her?

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read.

The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

Reading Level: Young Adult
(5 out of 5)

Yes, you read that correctly. 5 out of 5. I LOVED this book. Alona Dare is the popular cheerleader everyone loves to hate. Will Killian is the troubled Goth kid. Did I forget to mention that Alona died and is now a ghost and Will can see and communicate with the dead? Once Alona figures out Will can see her and talk to her she wants answers even if that means talking to a total loser. Will doesn't want anything to do with any ghosts because they have been a pain in his butt since he was little and he especially doesn't want to help high and mighty Alona Dare. But they realize they can help each other and along the way sparks fly, sarcasm flows, and this is just a delicious read.

Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements

Reading Level: Juvenile
(4 out of 5)

Bobby Phillips is a normal teenager until one day he steps out of the shower and he can't see himself. What's a boy to do? He tells his parents, who take a little convincing and then they all agree they can't tell anyone else because Bobby would most likely be carted off and experimented on. So that means no school and no contact with the outside world. Which brings trouble from the school and from Bobby when he doesn't listen and decides to go out and explore. This was a fun read. I would only want to be invisible if I had the power to become visible again but in Bobby's case as the days go by it doesn't seem like that's going to happen.

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

Reading Level: Juvenile
(4 out of 5)

The ballad "Scarborough Fair" was the inspiration behind this book. Lucy Scarborough is seventeen when she discovers that the women of her family have been cursed through the generations, forced to attempt three seemingly impossible tasks or to fall into madness upon their child's birth (taken from the book jacket).

When Lucy was a baby she was taken in by Leo and Soledad. Her birth mother, Miranda, was the crazy homeless lady that walked around with a shopping cart shouting at people. At seventeen Lucy becomes pregnant and she finds out that the women in her family are cursed. Every woman at seventeen has become pregnant and after giving birth all have gone crazy. The only way to save themselves is to complete three impossible tasks. The women before Lucy haven't succeeded but Lucy has a great support system: Leo, Soledad, and Zach. Can Lucy complete the impossible tasks before it's too late?

This book really sucked me in. I really enjoyed it.

Stash by David Klein

Reading Level: Adult
Haven't read it yet so no rating

As you can see from above I haven't had a chance to read this book yet but it looked good. The main character Gwen has it all. She is an attractive, thirtyish stay at home mom living in a very nice neighborhood. Gwen's perfect world is about to get turned upside down. After buying a small bag of marijuana from an old boyfriend she is in a car accident that leaves her bruised but the other driver dead. When the pot is found in her car they throw the book at her. With all the drug problems at the schools the police want to set an example. This book is told from multiple perspectives and is driven by psychological suspense and an escalating plot.

My read pile is pretty large at the moment so I'm going to tuck this one away for when my read pile is smaller.