Unnatural Exposure by Patricia Cornwell

This is the new book in the Kay Scarpetta series and I did enjoy it better than the last. I have always been fascinated with viruses and the stories behind exposures, much like the book Hot Zone. It begins the book with Kay in a foreign country trying to solve the international case of a murder who decapitates all limbs, and just leaves the trunk of a body to be found. In a landfill in Virginia the trunk of an old woman is found, but there are inconsistencies that make the detectives think that her murderer was just making it look like the previous murders. Even more shocking, the body is infected with some sort of smallpox. Then comes the web of events that people are becoming exposed to the deadly epidemic that the FBI must help to control. With the help of her niece Lucy, they try to track down the killer that has been corresponding with Kay via chat room and e-mail under the screen name "deadoc." Kay also deals with the emotions of Benton Wesley wanted to marry her, and still being hung up on her dead lover Mark, who she finds out devastating information about at the end of the book. Can't wait to see what happens next!

The Ten Best Days of My Life by Adena Halpern

I have enjoyed all of Adena Halpern's books and this is her first novel. This was another quick and enjoyable read. At first the main character was so superficial that it was annoying but throughout the course of events she grows into a more likable character. In the book 29-year-old Alex and her dog, Peaches, are ran over by a MINI Cooper and wind up at the gates of heaven. All your dreams literally do come true, at least if you are in Seventh Heaven, the top plane of heaven. And to top everything of she is reunited with her grandparents and uncle and even meets a dreamy guy. Then comes the problem: In order to stay in the seventh plane of Heaven she must pass an essay exam about the 10 best days of her life. If she fails she will be demoted to the fourth level where she would have to live in a condo, have old clothes, lose her dog and her new love interest. With the essay she has to prove she led a worthwhile, purposeful, and fulfilling life. It was a very cutesy chick-lit read and looks like there may be a movie in the works, we shall see.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

This is the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy. It was just as shocking as the first one, but as usual I probably would say the first one is better. The last fourth of the book was a little confusing and I felt like maybe I was missing something, but the gaps were filled in the last three pages. I don't want to say too much and give the whole series away... but here goes: The Hunger Games continues for the 75th year, and each 25 year anniversary is called the Quarter Quell. Each Quarter Quell has a twist in the rules. For example, the previous one sent in twice as many people into the arena to fight to the death. And the change for the third Quarter Quell is both shocking and devastating to the main characters we have come to love. It seems as though President Snow and the Capitol are trying to take control over Katniss and her act of rebellion at the end of the last novel, especially when Districts are now starting an uprising. Not only is there the epic battle in the arena, but Katniss struggles with her loyalty to Peeta and her love for Gale. Can't wait to see what the third installment has in store!

The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon

It took me a while to get into this book, but by the end of it I was totally hook and involved with the characters and their love and loss journeys. It starts in 1968 where Lynnie, a young white woman with a developmental disability, and Homan, an African American deaf man, are locked away in an institution, the School for the Incurable and Feebleminded. They have been long forgotten by their families. But they have fallen in love and manage to escape the school. They find refuge in the farmhouse of Martha, a retired schoolteacher and widow. But the couple is not alone, Lynnie has just had a baby girl. The baby is not Homan's but a result from a horrible night caused by School officials. The police have caught up with them, Lynnie is caught and Homan goes on the run. Before leaving Lynnie manages to get out the words, "Hide her." So this is exactly what Martha does. The rest of the book is a 40-year journey of Lynnie, Homan, Martha, and baby Julia to figure out where the paths of love and loss cross.

A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron

This was my second audio book, which was very enjoyable. It had you giggling one minute and tearing up the next as it told the story of a dog that essential reincarnated until he had fully served his purpose. It is the dog that tells the story and in his first life he is named Toby. He was rescued by a woman that did not have a license so sadly he is taken away by animal control. In his second life he is a golden retriever from a puppy mill. After he is rescued he is named Bailey and falls in love with his boy, Ethan. Even though he thinks he has served his purpose with Ethan, he is born yet again as a female German shepherd named Ellie. After getting used to the idea of being a girl she is used as a police search and rescue dog. Once again he feels he has done his job, so is very surprised to be reborn again as a black lab named Buddy. It is in this life he finds his true purpose when he is able to connect to the one person he truly loved. By the end of this book I was a blubbering mess, and I would recommend it to any animal lover.

White Girl Problems by Babe Walker

I added this book to my book list because it had some great reviews for being a new release. I have to agree that it was a humorous read, but it kind of dragged on for me. It went on and on about her diet problems, and spending problems, and fashion problems.... aka White Girl Problems. It was funny at first, but then it was over the top annoying at times too. It was this way especially during parts about fashion designers that I am not familiar with, and have no desire to be either. I doubt that this is actually a memoir as it states, but if it is they definitely have problems because they spent over $250,000 during a meltdown in Barneys. I would say this is GossipGirl, meets Celebrity Rehab, meets Chelsea Handler... so if you're into that kind of thing, go for it.

P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

I have read other books by Cecelia Ahern and this was by far the best one yet. Her other books have more of a fantasy feel mixed in with the romantic plot. I read this book because it has been on my shelf for a while, and I also LOVED the movie. Unlike most movie and books, I can't really say one is better than the other because they have some big differences. The movie has obviously been Americanized as both of the characters are from the Europe in the book. The main characters are still Holly and Gerry and it's a story of their love. Gerry gets a fatal brain tumor and leaves 10 notes for Holly to read throughout the rest of the year, all signed "PS, I Love You." She goes on a roller coaster ride of emotions as her friends continue on with life and she struggles to live her own with out Gerry by her side. I loved this book, and it makes you wonder if we all have a guardian angel guiding us through life.