The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

This is the second book in Stieg Larsson's trilogy and this may be the first time I can actually say that the second book is better than the first! There was much less government conspiracy issues in this book. The main characters, Mikael and Lisbeth are back in this book, however they are not together. It begins with the magazine wanting to issue articles about Sweden's sex trafficking business as well as publish a book on the topic in more detail. However, the couple that had been researching the "johns" in the trading were found dead in their apartment. Salander's fingerprints are found on the murder weapon, which is the gun of her sick and twisted guardian, who is also found dead. The police are trying to hunt Lisbeth down, while Blomkvist tries to clear her name and find out what really happened. Throughout the book you find out more about Lisbeth's life and what happened in her youth that has turned her into the unique individual she is. The ending is a shocker and you just can't wait to pick up the next book!



The Total Money Makeover Workbook by Dave Ramsey

My grandmother gave me this book because she thought I could learn a lot about handling money. Now, this is the first book that haven't totally completed that I included for my list. I did like some of the ideas he had, like paying in cash, and his step by step program. I am trying to put those steps to use, and come back to the later ones when I'm ready. You start off with having $1000 in an emergency fund, then you pay off debts excluding your mortgage (I also like his Snowball Effect Idea) and then you go back to your emergency fund until it has enough for 6 months of your pay in case something would happen to your job. To me, this will take a loooong time, and then I was just lost after the fact with all the talk of retirement money and saving for your children. I know I will be concerned about it later but not now. I also wish it would go more in depth because I am a rookie when it comes to a lot of money issues like investments and assets. 

Sold by Patricia McCormick

This was a quick Young Adult read that was written in free verse on a very controversial topic. In Nepal, there is a 13-year-old girl named Lakshmi that lives the life of my girls where she lives. Here days are spent going to school and thinking about the boy she has been told she will marry. ife in Nepal, going to school and thinking of the boy she is to marry. Then her gambling-addicted stepfather sells her into prostitution in India, but tells her that she will be a house maid. Once she figures out what is going on and why she is in nice clothes instead of cleaning, she chooses to be beaten and starved before letting her guard down. She has been told that once she works off her family's debt she can leave, but soon realizes with all the expenses of food, clothes, bills, and medicine this may be an impossible feat. Along the way a young boy teaches her how to read, and another brings her tea and other small gifts. Once Americans come into the picture, she gets hopeful that she will get home to her mom and brother soon. Although it is horrifying and sometimes difficult to read into what the young girl has to say, I am thankful that it is not very detailed during the harsh times. Sadly, these types of stories are not very far from the truth. Through the interviews, research, and traveling of the author she tells the reader in an author's note that twelve thousand girls are sold purposefully, as well as unknowingly, into prostitution each year by their families. 

The 6th Target by James Patterson

Officially over halfway through with the Women's Murder Club after finishing this book. Another lady from the club is struck personally by a killer that Lindsay Boxer must fight to find and put behind bars. An insane man all of a sudden shoots a handful of people on a ferry, including Claire the coroner from the group. The killer blames it all on voices in his head. At the same time, Lindsay is trying to find the kidnapper who is plucking children with their nannies off the street. But for some reason they aren't demanding any ransom. They figure out that there is a connection to the nanny service and the people who run the business. Of course there is Lindsay's personal life too. She is still involved and in love with Joe, but finds herself attracted ot her parter. Five more in this series to go!

The Fame Game by Lauren Conrad

This is Lauren Conrad's newest book in her series that seems very familiar, almost like her own life. The couple of the characters from the series move on from the show L.A. Candy after some drama boiling over. They become the stars of a similar reality show called The Fame Game that focuses on trying to find a name for themselves in Hollywood. Madison thinks that she will be the star of the new show with no questions asked. However, with some good old fashion family drama with her dad coming out of the wood work. To make it even more difficult, one of the new cast members is an aspring actress, Carmen Price. She is also the daughter of Hollywood royalty. It was a super easy, breezy read as always and from what I can tell by the ending there should be another installment in this series to come.

Black Notice by Patricia Cornwell

Another Kay Scarpetta novel that seemed to drag on a little bit, but still a good read by the end of it. This book is about the murders commited by a French serial killer or "Loup-Garou," a werewolf. He actually has the hereditary condition of where he has long hair all over his body, making him looking like a werewolf. The mutilation killings in Virginia are connected to international killings. Both Kay and Marino are being set up by their new boss, who is also dirty, to be forced out of their jobs. That is, until their boss is murdered by the killer as well. Once again Kay comes face to face with the murderer, and prevails. Of course throughout the book there is more drama with Lucy and her new partner Jo, as well as a new love interest while Kay still deals with the heartbreak of losing Benton. I have a feeling the new guy will be carried over to the next book. I have finally made it half-way through this series (10 books), seeing as she will be releasing a new one later this year. I can do this... on to the next.

The 5th Horseman by James Patterson

This is the 5th book in the Women's Murder Club series. The newest member, attorney Yuki Castellano, loses her mother to the killer within the Municipal Hospital. Lieutenant Boxer and the rest of the Club come together to try and solve the mystery of the death of many ER patients. They find buttons on the dead patients' eyes that have the medical symbol on them. These small pieces of evidence have been hidden from the press, but soon help to link the murders to a person who works at the hospital. Of course there are other murders intertwined in the story, called the Car Girls. Young escorts are murdered and placed in fancy clothing within even more luxurious cars. Somehow they solve them all. This wasn't the best of his books but it goes right along with the series. I'm about halfway done with the series!

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

This Young Adult novel was a very good read with an even better message. Caitlin is a fifth grader that has Asperger's, and everything is black and white to her. She takes everything very literal and does not understand emotions at all. Her brother Devon has just been killed in a shooting a middle school in Virginia. Devon had helped her to understand other people and was always supportive of her. Her father is also a widower whose grief takes over his life. Caitlin's school counselor is trying to help her with social skills and find "closure" with the death of Devon. This book is very enlightening in the way it lets you inside the head of a person with Asperger's. I think it would be a great way to help kids understand how people can be different.