Living Dead Girl

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

Once upon a time, I was a little girl who disappeared.
Once upon a time, my name was not Alice.
Once upon a time, I didn’t know how lucky I was.

When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friends her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over.
Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but he speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she longs for. She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her.
This is Alice’s story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget.

The author does an incredible job of describing Alice's terror and confusion, as well as her eventual numbness. There are many details worked into the story that have a ring of truth, including the dull repetition of her days watching tv, the anxiety when Ray comes home, the punishments meted out for small infractions, the attempts to keep her small and childlike, Alice's lank appearance and poor circulation from lack of nutrition, etc. Most importantly, the author touches on the way abuse tends to perpetrate more abuse and the awful resignation that Alice begins to feel to her plight.

I don't understand why my shell keeps living. Breathing. Why won't it listen to me, to the little part I have that isn't Ray, to that tiny once upon a time girl who just wants to close her eyes and never wake up again?

This is not an easy book to read. While it is not explicit, the terrible things that Alice is subjected to are not glossed over. This book will move you. This book will make you mad. This book will cause you to feel something. You might not like the way it makes you feel but you will feel. It is such a haunting and unforgettable story. I think I will find that even though I have finished this book, it’s going to linger with me for some time. I think it is a cry for help for ALL children trapped in this kind of situation. It's a cry for everyone to pay attention to what is going on around them, ask questions, don't just shrug off your suspicions. People in these situations often cannot fend for themselves, or make the move to free themselves, so others need to be more proactive in watching for the signs. I would suggest that everyone above the age of 18 read this book.

Mesmerize

Mesmerize (Mystyx #4)
by Artist Arthur

Lindsey Yi is used to changing schools. This move is different though. She lost both her parents in a train accident.

Lindsey can read other people's thoughts and emotions.

On a weird note... while reading this book I read the line where the author said less then one percent of the population dreams in color and I had to stop and look that up to see if that was just something in the story world of if that is a true fact. (Yes, I know I am weird.)

It was interesting reading and figuring out how Dylan figures into things and who he is. Is he good? or bad?

Who will win the battle of good and evil?

This book is #4 of a series.

I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars. I think it is probably best for ages 10-15. A good young adult book.

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

A Discovery of Witches

A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy #1)
by Deborah Harkness

A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together.

Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.

Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series-with an extra serving of historical realism.

It took me awhile to get around to reading this book. I did not think it would be that good. I thought it would disappoint me. I was WRONG. I loved this book. I didn't want to put it down. I wanted to know what would happen next. I can hardly wait to be able to read book #2.

This book is awesome!!!

Life As I Blow It: Tales Of Love, Life & Sex

In order to comply with FTC guidelines, I want you to know that I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. I do not believe that this fact has impacted my review in any way.

Sarah Colonna is a regular on "Chelsea Lately" and also starts with Chelsea Handler and Heather MacDonald on the show "After Lately."

Sarah believes we all struggle to grow up. Sometimes we want to have fun, not take things too seriously, and have that fourth margarita. Other times we would like to get married, stay in, order Chinese food, and have a responsible, secure life.

From her formative years in small-town Arkansas to a later career of dates, drinks, and questionable day jobs, Colonna attempts to reconcile her responsible side with her fun-loving side. Sometimes this pans out, and sometimes she finds herself in Mexico handing out her phone number to anyone who calls her pretty. She moves to Los Angeles to pursue acting, but for years is forced to hone her bartending skills; she wants a serious boyfriend, but won’t give up nights at the bar with her friends. She tries to behave like an adult, but can’t seem to stop acting like a frat boy. In the end, she discovers that there doesn’t have to be just one or the other. And if there’s one thing Colonna has learned from her many missteps, it’s that hindsight is always 100 proof.

She has a way of talking about her parents divorce and her step-mom that had me laughing. Penny "the Penticostal" baby-sitter and the trip to her church reminded me of when I was 13 and my friend Amy took me to her church and everyone was falling over. :)

I had to laugh about the boy that she gave her virginity to that he had the same "our song" for all his girlfriends.

Some of the stuff that she talks about just tug on my heart and I can totally relate to some of it. Other parts of her book just make you laugh out loud.

This was a good book.

Alpha Instinct

Alpha Instinct (Moon Shifter, #1)
by Katie Reus

Fear has a scent. So does desire…

Ana Cordona has been a strong leader for the lupine shifters who survived after all the males and most of the females in her pack were mysteriously poisoned. As tough as she is, with no Alpha male, the pack is vulnerable to the devious shifter Taggart, who wants to claim both their ranch and Ana as his own. When Connor Armstrong comes back into her life, promising protection, it’s almost enough to make Ana forget how he walked out on her before—and reluctantly accept his offer to mate.

The minute Connor sees Ana again, it reawakens a raw hunger. He must have her for his bondmate—his wolf cries out for it. But his human side knows he must proceed with caution because of their complicated past. If he is to truly have her body and soul, he must go beyond his burning desire and win back her heart. Whatever it takes, he is determined not to leave her side again.

But Taggart and his rival pack are not their only enemies. A human element in town is targeting shifters. Their plan not only threatens Ana and Connor’s future, but the lives of the entire pack

The Pack were poisoned and all the males died. Ana doesn't know who poisoned them.

Sean Taggart wants to take over the pack and be the Alpha. Right away at the beginning of the book you can see how cocky he is.

I find it interesting that the shifters in the book have such a long lifespan. Also shifters aren't the only think living among the human. When the shifters came out to the public the vampires did too.

Not only is ana dealing with Sean Taggart, there is also Connor who wants to be the Alpha of the pack and there is the person who poisoned the pack and there is also the Antiparanormal League.

It almost seemed like there was too much going on in one book. There were so many things going on at once. One conflict would have been enough.

The book was good and I will most likely read book two when it comes out.


This book is in stores 2/7 and I suggest that if you like books about shifters that you read this book.

I received this book before release date for free through Goodreads First Reads.

Does this look violet soft black to you?????

Ok, I dyed my hair. I was trying to decide on a color. I was thinking red but then I saw Loreal Feria violet soft black.

I decided to go with that. It sounded like a great color and one that I hadn't done before. I had done black and blue black before but never violet soft black.

I ended up with this...

Now this is not violet soft black! I do like the color and I like the way it looks. It is not the color I was expecting but I like it. Reading the reviews online, I have read a lot of angry reviews of people, who like me, did not end up with violet soft black hair. Luckily I am happy with the results and really like it but I can see why people would be really mad.

Thoughts?

You can save lives

Register with your state donor registry.
Designate your decision on your driver’s license. Do this when you obtain or renew your license.
Sign and carry a donor card. Cards are available from OrganDonor.gov
Talk to your family now about your donation decision. Help your family understand your wish to be an organ and tissue donor before a crisis occurs. Then they will be prepared to serve as your advocate for donation.

Each day, 78 Americans receive a life-saving organ transplant, thanks to ordinary people who took a few minutes out from their busy lives to declare their intention to become donors.

But more than 100,000 people are still waiting for an organ.

More than 100 people die every week while on the national transplant list waiting for an organ

Anyone can be a potential donor regardless of age, race, or medical history.

There is no cost to the donor or their family for organ or tissue donation.

90% of Americans say they support donation, but only 30% take the steps to be a donor.



Tracy has spent the last two years changing diapers, bathing and feeding her son and enjoying the moments of a baby's progress-the first smile, crawl and step.

Being a first-time parent is a thrill for most couples, but for Tracy, the experience is beyond anything she could have dreamed. Diagnosed with an enlarged heart, she had been incapable of walking even 10 feet. Then, at age 29, Tracy received a heart transplant.

Not three months later, she got news she never thought possible: she was pregnant. Today, if Tracy is tired, it's from running after son Trent.



Myth: If I agree to donate my organs, the hospital staff won't work as hard to save my life.
Fact: When you go to the hospital for treatment, doctors focus on saving your life — not somebody else's. You'll be seen by a doctor whose specialty most closely matches your particular emergency. The doctor in charge of your care has nothing to do with transplantation.

Myth: Maybe I won't really be dead when they sign my death certificate.
Fact: Although it's a popular topic in the tabloids, in reality, people don't start to wiggle their toes after they're declared dead. In fact, people who have agreed to organ donation are given more tests (at no charge to their families) to determine that they're truly dead than are those who haven't agreed to organ donation.

Myth: Organ donation is against my religion.
Fact: Organ donation is consistent with the beliefs of most religions. This includes Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam and most branches of Judaism. If you're unsure of or uncomfortable with your faith's position on donation, ask a member of your clergy. Another option is to check the federal Web site OrganDonor.gov, which provides religious views on organ donation and transplantation by denomination.

Myth: I'm under age 18. I'm too young to make this decision.
Fact: That's true, in a legal sense. But your parents can authorize this decision. You can express to your parents your wish to donate, and your parents can give their consent knowing that it's what you wanted. Children, too, are in need of organ transplants, and they usually need organs smaller than those an adult can provide.

Myth: An open-casket funeral isn't an option for people who have donated organs or tissues.
Fact: Organ and tissue donation doesn't interfere with having an open-casket funeral. The donor's body is clothed for burial, so there are no visible signs of organ or tissue donation. For bone donation, a rod is inserted where bone is removed. With skin donation, a very thin layer of skin similar to a sunburn peel is taken from the donor's back. Because the donor is clothed and lying on his or her back in the casket, no one can see any difference.

Myth: My family will be charged if I donate my organs.
Fact: The organ donor's family is never charged for donating. The family is charged for the cost of all final efforts to save your life, and those costs are sometimes misinterpreted as costs related to organ donation. Costs for organ removal go to the transplant recipient.



Each person who decides to become an organ and tissue donor has the potential of saving and enhancing more than 50 lives and taking up to eight people off the organ transplant waiting list.

One donor can:

Donate kidneys to free two people from dialysis treatments needed to sustain life.

Save the lives of patients awaiting heart, liver, lung or pancreas transplants.

Give sight to two people through the donation of corneas.

Donate bone to help repair injured joints or to help save an arm or leg threatened by cancer.

Help burn victims heal more quickly through the donation of skin.

Provide healthy heart valves for someone whose life is threatened by malfunctioning or diseased valves.

Over half of the Americans on the national transplant waiting list will die before they get a transplant. Most of these deaths are needless. Americans bury or cremate about 20,000 transplantable organs every year. Over 9,000 of our neighbors suffer and die needlessly every year as a result.

Please, Help save lives. Become an organ donor.

Thank you.