The Keeping - Nicky Charles

The Keeping is the second instalment in The Laws of the Lycans. This one revolves around Ryne Taylor, who we met in The Mating.

Ryne has made peace with his brother, but has decided to start his own pack. They move to Stump River, Ontario, Canada (from her description it's near Timmons... may have to check it out at some point). Melody Greene has been hired to write an article on him. Of course, him being a werewolf means he won't talk.

I love Ryne. He's very different from his half brother Kane. He's snarky, egotistical and slightly mean. Oh and, apparently, hot! I do wonder how he can be an Alpha based on some of his judgements. He almost causes the death of those he loves.

The ending reminds you that this is a trilogy. Nicky Charles brings back a familiar character, and your mouth drops. You knew she'd be back, but you forgot, didn't you!

Time to read the third one!

Carrot Pie

Last Thursday, Ethan's mate came over after school.

They asked if they could make carrot pie.

Ethan has a recipe.

I don't think so.

Convinced them we could make strawberry milkshakes instead.

On Friday, Ethan wanted carrot pie for dinner.

We made pizza instead.

On Saturday, we went to pick up Scott from the airport.

Ethan thought it would be a great idea to make Daddy some carrot pie for dinner.

He fell asleep on the way home.

On Sunday, Ethan and I baked cookies. 

Double chocolate chip cookies.

Ethan, however, wanted to make carrot pie.

The cookies were a good distraction.

Yesterday Ethan forgot about carrot pie.

I thought we were safe.

I was wrong.

Today, Ethan insists on carrot pie.

I've managed to stall until tomorrow.

Tomorrow, I will think of another distraction.

Why? you ask

Why won't I make Ethan carrot pie?

It does sound healthy after all.

Right?

Wrong!

Carrot pie is Ethan's invention.

Here are the ingredients:

milk

eggs

carrots

pineapple

apples

According to Ethan, this is how we make carrot pie.

Crack the eggs.

Mix it with milk.

Put in the chopped carrots and apples.

Cut pineapple in half.

Pour milk/egg/carrot/apple mixture into pineapple.

Put it in the oven.

This is carrot pie!

If you want to try it, please do!

We, however, shall find something else to make.....

52 Weeks of Happiness - Week 7

School starts at 7:10. Teachers are asked to be at school by 6:50. Ethan and I usually get to school earlier than that. Since I can't really take him to his class, he hangs out in my classroom. He's always got something to do. Sometimes he gets on the computer, other times he cons one of my students into reading him a book, sometimes he even colours. Then there are the days he gets creative.

Happiness is seeing the wonderful creations Ethan makes.

The Mating - Nicky Charles

I had a wonderful weekend filled with books. This one caught me by surprise. One of my fellow BDB lovers introduced me to this one. And, surprise, surprise, it's not a vampire book! (It's a werewolf book)

Elise, daughter of her pack's Alpha, comes home one afternoon after a run with her boyfriend, and is introduced to Kane, and Alpha from a district pack. Within minutes, she is told she will be mated to Kane, that evening. Yes mated, not married, as wolves mate! ;)  The following day, she leaves behind her home, and enters as a new member of her mate's pack.

In her new pack, Elise struggles to find her place, where she belongs, what her role as the Alpha's mate entails. And then there are problems. Another female is after her mate. There's an oil company wanting their land. Traps are being set up around, and pack members are being injured.

Elise is not like other heroines we've come across. She's 19, and acts like a 19 year old. She has the emotions of a 19 year old, taken away from her family and friends, and put into a new situation. She is unsure, yet determined to succeed.

And there's a mystery. The whole time reading it, I knew who the villain was. Then, I wasn't really sure. And then, OMG! I was caught off guard! Don't you love it when that happens?

Where She Went - Gayle Forman

Back in February, I read Gayle Forman's If I Stay. I felt bad for not liking it. The book had a good conclusion, and I would never have guessed there would be a sequel. But there is.

Where She Went is Adam's story. It takes place 3 years after Mia wakes up from her coma. She's a rising cellist, and Adam's a rock star with his band, Shooting Star.

In If I Stay, Adam wants Mia to live. He tells her, while she's in her coma; If you stay, I’ll do whatever you want. I’ll quit the band; go with you to New York. But if you need me to go away, I’ll do that too. .. And that would suck, but I’ll do it. I can lose you like that, if I don’t lose you today. I’ll let you go. If you stay. Well she heard him. And she takes me up on his promise. The problem is, he doesn't know this. 


Mia goes off to New York and Julliard. Adam is in LA. At first they keep in touch, but suddenly Mia cuts Adam out of her life. Where She Went shows how this affected Adam. He's devastated. He spent 5 months helping her get better, and she leaves him, with no explanation.


Where She Went begins with Adam going to New York. It's the day before he's due to leave for London and his band's European tour. You can see how he's changed over the past 3 years. He exists, he doesn't live. As fate would have it, he runs into Mia. They spend the evening together exploring New York, not once discussing the past, until he cannot hold it in any longer and lashes out at her, and the pain she caused.


Like it's predecessor, the book bounces from the present to the past. We see the changes Adam went through over the years. So I didn't cry in this one either, but it touched me more than Mia's story. I found this one to be more real. (Ok, the teacher in me hates that last sentence, more real, but I can't think of a better way to express it)


If you liked the first book, grab this one. If you're like me and didn't like the first one, forget what you know and take a chance. You'll enjoy this one, and by the end of the book, you'll appreciate Mia. She's grown. And if you've never read the 1st book, don't worry. Where She Went is written in such a way, that although it's a sequel, you don't have to have read it's predecessor to be able to follow this one. I'm glad I decided to read this one, it made me appreciate Adam and Mia and brought a sense of closure. I'm still not crazy about If I Stay, but I appreciate the story.

Magic in the Wind - Christine Feehan

I found myself a non-vampire new series! This one's about the Drake sisters, who are not vampires, but witches! (Oh please, like you're at all surprised by that!)

Magic in the Wind was a very short book. Like 100 some odd pages. It introduces Sarah, the eldest of the Drake sisters, and Damon, a troubled soul who has moved to Sea Haven. There are 7 sisters. I love their relationship. They love each other, protect each other, and tease the heck out of each other.

There is a prophecy, in the Drake family, that the gates will bring the destiny of the eldest sister. The sisters enjoy their independence, so they padlock the gates. However, Damon find the gates wide open, as if inviting him in. Damon and Sarah compliment each other. And, I like how he's older, and tarnished. Not the perfect guy. A real guy.

What I loved about this book was the house. The house is a character. Oh yes it is! The house understands the sisters, protects the sisters, and invites Damon into their lives.

I really look forward to move of these intriguing sisters.

Foto Friday - Looking up

This has been a week full of rain. Most shots, looking up to the sky, would be of grey clouds. And while I'm sure I could find something cool, I thought this, older, shot would be great to share.

Gotta love it, when you walk in a forest, look up to find a little boy making silly faces at you!