After 31 years of unremarkable living, pint-sized Cornelia Brown is ready for a little drama. So, when Martin Grace, a debonair Cary Grant clone, walks into the coffee shop she manages, she embraces the winds of change that seem to blow in with him. Martin is, after all, movie star perfect. Okay, he's older, emotionally distant and not that great in bed, but Cornelia really wants to be in love with him. Before she has time to contemplate their relationship further, Martin re-enters the shop with a child in tow. A child who, in Cornelia's opinion, "[looks] fierce and furious and terrified and bottomlessly sad. No one would need to ask this girl if her heart had been broken" (97). Turns out, the girl is Clare, Martin's 11-year-old daughter. A daughter Martin has never mentioned and clearly has very little to do with. Because she so obviously needs it, Cornelia enfolds the child in her arms. Later, she learns that Clare's mother, Viviana, has deserted her daughter, flitting off to Barcelona with no explanation. Cornelia immediately takes the girl under her wing, causing the awkward Martin tremendous relief. Adding "bad father" to her growing list of reasons she can't be with Martin, Cornelia throws her efforts into healing Clare. Cornelia, along with her brother-in-law, Teo, create an unlikely "family" for the child, who comes to trust them more than her own parents. While the three are content with the arrangement, they know it can't last. And it doesn't. Tragedy strikes, leaving Clare's future in further jeopardy. Cornelia's bond with Clare is so strong, she can't bear the thought of losing the girl, a separation that is heartbreaking, but inevitable. In the end, Cornelia must decide just how far she's willing to go not only for the love of a man, but also for the love of a child.

I've already got 2 reading challenges going on, so I've been debating whether or not to do this one. Unfortunately, it's just too alluring...scary reads, giveaways, an engaging host...what's not to love? Since it's still hitting 110 degrees here, I'm hoping this will get me into the Fall/Halloween spirit. If you want to join in, check out Carl's site for all the details.

Is it just me or have you had sequels coming out your ears, too? Or more accurately, sequels overflowing your bookshelf. I love series fiction for many reasons, but mostly because the characters feel like old friends, and I've always been better at maintaining old friendships than building new ones. At any rate, my newest sequel read was Bones to Ashes by Kathy Reichs. Her Temperance Brennan series is one of my favorites.

Bones to Ashes seems more personal than Reichs' previous books, mostly because it discusses Tempe's background in more depth than before. Specifically, it examines the disappearance of her childhood friend, Evangeline Landry. Well, that and a boatload of other cases - as a forensic anthropologist working in both the U.S. and Canada, Tempe always has her hands full. While she works overtime on the Landry cold case, she has a slew of bones from more recent deaths to examine. Several of the murders seem to be linked, possibly the work of a serial killer. As if that wasn't enough, Tempe also has to deal with an extended visit from her impulsive sister, Harry, as well as her more-complicated-than-ever love life. Her estranged husband, Pete, announces his engagement to a woman 20 years his junior, while her on-again-off-again boyfriend, cop Andrew Ryan, decides to heal a relationship with his ex for the sake of their daughter. Between the rejection from two men, a missing old friend and onimous telephone and email threats, Tempe's dealing with more than she can seemingly handle. Still, she can't let the disappearances go, not the cold ones or the active ones, despite the very dangerous turns they seem to be taking.

Fast-paced and exciting, this is a page-turner of the highest order. I did think the bad guys were a little bit generic, and the ending is kind of predictable. Still, it's always fascinating to "watch" Tempe solve a case. Reichs is a master at explaining forensic science simply and understandably, without coming across as condescending. Her writing style engages with warmth and wit. The character of Tempe Brennan shines, as always. As for minor characters, Harry wins the title of Most Entertaining, as Ryan and Pete don't clock much time in this one. I love Ryan, so I'm anxious to see what happens to him and Tempe. Alas, another sequel I'll have to read...

I saw this announcement in the Book Nook section of the newest BYU Magazine: Orson Scott Card's Saints has been reissued. I've been looking for this novel about Joseph Smith and the experience of the early Saints for awhile now. Interestingly, Becky over at Becky's Book Reviews just announced she is sponsoring a new open-ended reading challenge, Cardathon. The coincidence seemed like a sign, so I ordered Saints (remember, I vowed not to buy any books after August 31) and took on the challenge. If you're interested in joining, you can get all the info on Becky's site. Here's my list (so far):

Saints - Orson Scott Card
Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
Fablehaven - Brandon Mull
Rachel & Leah - Orson Scott Card
Bridge to Terabithia - Katherine Paterson
Heart-Shaped Box - Joe Hill
Mayflower - Nathaniel Philbrick
A Storyteller in Zion - Orson Scott Card
The Watchman - Robert Crais
Because of Winn-Dixie - Kate DiCamillo
Everlost - Dale Shusterman
Einstein Never Used Flash Cards: How Our Children Really Learn - Kathy Hirsh-Pasek & Roberta Michnick Golinkoff

Alternates/Bonuses

Ella Enchanted - Gail Carson Levine
The Bone Doll's Twin - Lynn Flewelling
The Princes of Ireland - Edward Rutherford
The Rebels of Ireland - Edward Rutherford
The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C.S. Lewis - Alan Jacobs
Hidden Talents - David Lubar

Like I said, I may change it, but for now I think this is a good list.