Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson

Aw, what can I say except I absolutely LOVED this book!!!  It was so so so so so so good.  If you haven't read it, you need to!  I smiled and cried through it, stayed up until 2am to finish it, and was hooked the entire time!  I am rating this as Loved it, which I haven't done in quite some time.  Let me know what you thought of it in the upper right hand corner!

This novel begins telling the story of a woman (Katie) who just had her heart broken by the man of her dreams.  He breaks up with her as soon as she thinks he is going to propose.  She is absolutely dumbfounded by what has happened and is grieving until she comes home to find a diary he left her written by his wife (kinda-sorta), Suzanne.

The Diary is written by Suzanne for her child, Nicholas.  She writes in it how she met his father and how she got pregnant with him and really talks about how important her family is to her.  It seems as though she has the most perfect life and is so happy with her husband and her son.  Suzanne recently recovered from a heart attack which completely changes her life.  The diary talks about how her heart is not in the best of shape and how it causes complications in her life down the road.  

The end left me crying and crying because it totally shocked me!  It was such a great twist, that I never saw coming!  I am getting goosebumps just thinking about it.  After I got done reading it, I ran to Cole and hugged and kissed him all over (even though he was sleeping) and jumped into bed with Marshall and wrapped my arms and legs around him!  This novel will really make you appreciate what you have.

Go read it if you haven't already!  It is a wonderful novel!  I hope you like it!

RESULTS: 1 Vote, 100% for Loved it

The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks

I just got finished reading the novel, The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks.  I really had my hopes high for this novel because I heard from so many different people that it was really good.  It was basically a continuation of the novel, The Notebook.  It briefly talks about Noah and how he is dealing with the loss of his wife, Allie.  But it is mainly about Noah and Allie's daughter, Jane and her husband Wilson.

Wilson is the narrator and describes how he has not be the best husband over the years.  He regrets not being more attentive to Jane's needs and not being around to spend more time with his family.  He decides that he needs to change now that his children are grown and out of the house.  He becomes a much better man and husband as the story goes along, often getting advice from Noah. 

Wilson really pitches in and helps his daughter put together a wedding at the last minute which shows Jane that he is ready to change his ways.  Jane is so shocked with how much he does for the wedding.  And in so little time.

The biggest thing he does for Jane is seen at the end of the novel.  As soon as you think he made up for lost time, he does something even better.  There is a surprise, twist ending at the end which is really cool. 

I really liked the concept of the novel.  It was fun to read about an older couple that is still being romantic and still so in love with one another.  It seems like lately all the books I have read have been about young, new love.  It's nice to see two people still happy after 30 years and it gives me hope for my own marriage.

I liked the book, but it was a little slow moving for me.  I think that I like more action, suspense in the books I read.  It took me a little longer to read this one just because I wasn't as in to it as I was the others.  I'm glad I got through it because the ending was really cool.   I would rate this novel as Liked it.   Let me know what you thought about it in the top right hand corner!

RESULTS: 1 vote, 100% for Liked it

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

Like me, you have probably watched the movie.  The movie is on my all time favorite list as far as movies go.  I figured that I wouldn't read the novel because I have already seen the movie and know how the story goes.  But when I went to my sister in law's house to borrow some books she insisted that I still read the book.  And I'm glad I did because it was a little different from the movie.

This novel is about an older man named Noah who lives in a nursing home and reads from a notebook to his wife Allie who has Alzheimer's.  He reads to her in order to help her remember her past.  The notebook was written by Noah and talks about how they met and how they ended up together.

The arrangement is a little confusing in the book.  I think that it would have been hard to understand if I hadn't watched the movie.  I actually liked the movie a lot better which is never the case with me.  I did, however like that the ending was not exactly the same and neither was the arrangement of the scenes. 

This is such a unique novel because it starts out being about an older couple but as he reads the notebook and reminisces about the past it is suddenly about a couple in their twenties.  It is definitely a romance and gives you hope that even as you get older your love for your spouse does not fade.  I hope Marshall and I continue to love each other as much today as we do 50, 60 years from now. 

I also have to tell everyone if they have not seen the movie, to go and see it.  It is the only movie I have seen Marshall cry to (let's keep that between us).  It is soooo good!  And if you have read the novel, let me know what you thought of it in the upper right hand corner!

RESULTS: 2 Votes, 50% for Liked it, 50% for Loved it

Ever After by Karen Kingsbury

Ever After, which I learned after I finished reading it is a sequel to the novel Even Now.  That didn't matter though because Ever After did a good job of filling me in on all the characters lives so I wouldn't miss a beat!  I really enjoyed this novel not because it was a love story but because of how it made me feel after reading it each night.  It gave me a better connection with God and helped me to realize that God is always there to talk to and although your path in life may be rough sometimes, God does everything for a reason. 

I actually cried through about a 1/3 of this book!  It is a really emotional story but has a good ending!  I would describe this novel as having two main stories.  The first is about a couple named Lauren and Shane, who reconnect after many years apart and who never stopped loving each other.  They first met in high school but were forced apart after Lauren became pregnant.  After Lauren delivered the baby she was told that their daughter did not survive.  They find out later that the baby did in fact survive and her name is Emily.  

The novel describes how after being seperated from each other, Shane joined the Navy and Lauren is a writer for the magazine, Time.  Since they have lived apart for so long their lives are not the same as they were when they were in high school.  Therefore, they both formed different opinions about the war in the Middle East.  Lauren reports the war as being irresponsible, totally avoidable, and a waste.  Shane supports the war and believes that our troops should be over there in order to protect our country from another event like 9/11 and to restore peace to their nations.  This one difference causes them to seperate and really ask God to help each other see the other person's views.  The novel shows how God answers their questions and helps them to sort through their opinions. 

The second story in the novel is about their daughter, Emily.  Emily is now in college and decides to do an internship for school.  During her internship she meets Justin and they fall madly in love.  Just a few months after they meet Justin is told he has to go to Iraq.  The novel then describes how their faith in God gives them strength to get through being apart and the tragedies that happen along the way. 

Now looking back on this novel, I am so glad that I read it.  It opened my eyes on just how awesome our Lord is.  He is always there for you to talk to and he loves us all so much.  Even through heartache and tradegy the Lord is always there to pick you up.  I recommend everyone read this book.  But if you do, you should probably read Even Now first and Ever After second!!  Not like what I did! 

Tell me what you thought about this book to the right!

Results of Poll: 1 vote, 100% for Liked it

Love Overboard

Love Overboard written by Janet Evanovich was a very, very quick and easy read.  I think that I finished this book quicker than any other book I have read for my reading blog.  I would classify this book as a romance, without a doubt. 

It is about a man and woman who meet on a boat and eventually fall in love.  It is not long into the book before you realize that the story is going to revolve around these two characters and the lust they have for one another.  The book briefly talks about their pasts but it mainly focuses on their relationship and it starts out as lust and forms into love. 

It is a sweet romance novel but really didn't do that much for me.  It wasn't really thought provoking, it was just sweet.  That's all I can really say about it.  If you are into romance, this book is for you.  If not, I don't recommend this one!

Results: 2 votes, 50% for liked it, 50% for loved it

Remember Me?

Remember Me?  is written by Sophie Kinsella (the same author as the shopaholic series).  I really really liked this book.  It was an easy read and was really funny.  I found myself laughing out loud several times throughout the book. 

The main character, Lexi gets in a car accident, bumps her head and wakes up with amnesia.  Before the accident she basically had nothing going for her.  She was nicknamed Snaggletooth because her teeth were not straight, she was a little overweight, and was just passed up on getting a bonus at her job.  She was even dating a guy they all called Loser Dave.  So you can just imagine what kind of life she was living. 

When she woke up with amnesia, she learned that she was  no longer 'snaggletooth', with pretty veneers, thin tummy and waist, married, and was now the boss at her old job!  She found out that her personality and life had completed changed during the last 4 years. 

Lexi leaves the hospital and goes back to her new home with her new husband and tries to piece together the last 4 years.  She learns a lot about who she has become and doesn't like it.  Eventually she finds out why she changed so drastically. 

I recommend that everyone read this book.  It was a nice change to read something funny and carefree! 

RESULTS: 1 vote, 100% for Liked it

The Guardian

I Just finished reading The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks. If I could describe this novel in one word, I would say Creepy.  This novel was very suspenseful and gave me goosebumps because although it is fictional, the events could definitely happen in real life.  It is based on a woman, Julie, in her twenties whose husband dies.  After a few years of grieving she decides to begin dating again.  One of the men that she dates, Richard, turns out to be a stalker and becomes obsessed with her.  After she breaks up with him you learn more about his past and the awful things he has done.

Julie instead falls in love with a close friend, Mike, who tries to protect Julie from Richard throughout the novel.  Mike and Julie have to put up with a whole bunch of crap from Richard.  He basically makes them scared to death to leave the house or be alone. 

I liked the book, but can honestly say that it was just not my thing.  After reading it every night I would be scared that someone is stalking me and going to break in!  I am definitely more into the romance novels.  But if you like thrillers, I recommend you read this book!

Oh, and if you are a dog lover, it will make you cry!  That's all I am going to say about that.  You have to read it to find out what I am talking about!  Hope you like it! 

RESULTS: 4 votes, 100% for Liked it.