Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth

I've waited for a long time for Veronica Roth to come out with a new book.  I loved Divergent but by the time Allegiant came out, I felt that the story had gone horribly astray so it was with some trepidation that I read this book.  

In a world where everyone develops a currentgift - or power meant to help them achieve their destiny - Akos and Cyra receive more of a curse.  One's gift is to give and share pain while the others is to hear nothing with their gift but silence.   Akos comes from the peace loving  nation of Thuhve, while Cyra comes from a warring tribe of  Shotet.   Somehow the fates or the current bring them together.

I enjoyed reading this book thoroughly.  I loved that, like Tris,  Cyra is an extremely complex and strong character.   I love how through the course of the story she  comes to accept her gift.   Akos is very different than Four.   He is strong and capable - a good leader - but he does it in a quiet way. 

I look forward to reading the rest of the series.  I gave it four stars.

Two by Two by Nicholas Sparks

  If you have been reading my blog, then you know that I am a Sparks fan.  That said, though,  I find his books to be hit or miss.  As I see it - the hits -  The Notebook, A Walk to Remember,  The Longest Ride, Safe Haven, The Guardian,  The Last Song and The Lucky One.  The  misses -  Message in a Bottle,  See Me,  The Best of Me,  The Wedding and any others not mentioned here.   This book actually fits into neither category.

It was extremely well written.  It's a beautiful story about the relationship between a man and his daughter - great for a Father's Day book club discussion.  It also has wonderful familial relationships built into the story, particularly between Russ and his sister.   At it's core, the story is about the things we do for the people we love.

So here's my criticism, if you want to call it that.   I admired Russ but I didn't love him.   I usually read books to learn about things I'm unfamiliar with - a different time, a different place or to escape from my daily life.  This book didn't provide either.  It was just ok.

I gave it three stars.   No more - no less.

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by

  I was curious about this book because I loved Nick and Nora's Endless Playlist.  I didn't know that other, similar books had been written.  I needed a book set around Christmas for my goodreads challenge and I thought this one would be perfect.

Lily is a 16 year old girl living in New York.  She's an original.  She loves books, her grandfather, her dog walking job and intelligence.   This Christmas, her parents and grandfather are out of town, leaving Lily with her brother who is in a new relationship.   He devises the idea of leaving a notebook with a treasure hunt, if you will, in a red moleskin notebook in Lily's favorite bookstore on the Strand.

That's how Lily meets Dash.  A boy who loves books, his independence and intelligence.   They correspond through out the book mostly through the exchange of the notebook.  They go on crazy adventures and finally meet one another.

This book was fun to read and even had me laugh out loud in a couple of places.  It was a fun jaunt, perfect for a holiday read.  Not life altering just enjoyable.  I gave it four stars.