CITY OF BONES
Author: Cassandra Clare

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
• Pub. Date: February 2008
• ISBN-13: 9781416955078
• Sales Rank: 1,359
• Age Range: Young Adult
• 512pp
• Series: Mortal Instruments Series, #1

Synopsis

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing — not even a smear of blood — to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare’s ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

My Take:
It is rare for me to find a young adult book that I do not want to put down. This book is one of those books! I loved this book and I can’t wait to read the next one in the series. The characters are ones I actually care about and want to know what happens to them. At first, I saw how big this book was and thought it was going to take me forever to read, but I found myself so into this book that before I knew it I was done! There is not much I can say without giving away the story of this book. Everything that comes to mind is something that would spoil the plot for readers who have not read it yet. So, all I can say is go out and read the book and yes, you will see what all the hype of this series is about. Cassandra Clare has brought to life a great new world for us to enjoy!

My Rating for this book:

Outstanding Book! A definite favorite!

SHE STILL CALLS ME DADDY
Author: Robert Wolgemuth

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (May 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785221700
• ISBN-13: 978-0785221708

If you have ever had the joy of having a daughter, watching her grow up into a beautiful young lady, then this is a read that will touch your heart when the day she asks for your blessing finally arrives.

Whether you are a father or a mother, this book helps you realize the importance of how much you make in a daughters life and how your love can be shown to her. It gives you thoughtful passages and guides you through the process of your emotions in having to deal with not only letting your little girl go, but help in dealing with accepting a new son in the process.

I was excited to read this having three daughters of my own. I tried to imagine my daughters grown up and getting ready to be married. I felt the same emotions that the writer explored and he helps you realize that you aren’t losing a daughter you are gaining a son.
With touching and emotionally packed stories of what he went through, you will slowly realize that you have so much to be thankful for and the process of realizing your emotions that can sometimes be overwhelming.
A great read that not only would be great to own, but would also make a great gift for the father of the bride.