by Constance M. Foland

Dodie used to have fun with her brother Peter, but since he went to junior high school he changed a lot from her best friend to a boring brother. Her parents have separated too, which made matters worse. And if things couldn't get any better than that, she doesn't have real friends at school.

So when a new neighbor moves in, she's curious to know if there is any kid. And surely there is - a boy named Jeffrey. But Jeffrey isn't like any other kid who can run around and go chase Dodie. There is something that hinders him from doing so. Dodie is curious about it and soon she finds out that Jeffrey has muscular dystrophy, a type of disorder wherein he can't use his legs because they are severely weak.

When I picked up this book, I knew it would be good - for one, it's about friendship and two, anything that concerns disease is my type of read. A story of hope, trust and kindness, A Song for Jeffrey narrates Dodie's effort to befriend Jeff. At first she almost failed but as her father tells her to count on the saying, "persistence wears down resistance", they soon became best friends.

I laughed and cried with this book (yes, even if it was meant for young people I managed to put my heart into reading it). You will find yourself with familiar characters; there is huge role of sympathy, reminiscence and faith in this story. Looking into Dodie's point of view, I understand her worries and her curiosity, as Peter there is part of me that can't blame him to be a bit cold with Dodie especially that he's got peers of his age, and for Jeffrey I can feel his positivity all-throughout and at times, his sadness with regards to his condition.

I recommend this book not only because it's about Jeffrey's muscular dystrophy; this book for younger readers will encourage them to look at things on a brighter side, learn to turn to prayers and seek assistance and guidance from God. This book also heightens awareness, sensitivity and proper response to such medical disorders.

Rating: 3 1/2 stars - I finished this book in just a span of 1 1/2 days.

by Nicholas Sparks

Another novel from the bestselling author Nicholas Sparks (A Walk to Remember, The Notebook) who knows how to tug heartstrings, Nights in Rodanthe is a story that showcases unbelievable faith and romance.

Adrienne Willis has been a divorcee for over 3 years after her husband Jack had abandoned her for another younger woman and since then, her perspective about finding a new love has been changed. She loses confidence in herself and only focused her attention to her kids. Until she tends an inn for a friend in Rodanthe, North Carolina for the weekend and meets Dr. Paul Flanner, her whole life has gone through a wonderful whirlwind that she will surely remember for a lifetime.

Similar to other Nicholas Sparks books, Nights in Rodanthe is a very good read. Predictable, yes (I've already read Message In A Bottle and A Walk to Remember before this one), but it has gave me another love story to remember. The time frame in which the climax of the love affair happens is very short (it was only a weekend), but you can't tell during the course of the reading.

There are many points of this book that I liked. Say for example, is the appreciation for the elderly and treasuring the family relationship.

The thickness of the book might get you underestimating it, but Nights in Rodanthe could be slower to read at some points. However, all in all, I've got nothing against this but my ability to predict the ending (yet still experiencing surprises here and there). I did not even sleep just to finish this book and even if I thought I wouldn't shed a tear, it managed to break my heart especially in the coming of the last chapters. I'm sure if you've enjoyed other works of the author, you will enjoy this one too.

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

by Gemma Townley

A very encouraging book to read. It makes you want to explore more of Rome and its culture. By the time the scenario switches to the characters flying off to Rome I can't wait to get myself there and be in St. Peter's Square, go to a coffee shop and buy a nice, warm croissant.

The characters are believable though Georgie seems to be very vulnerable and gullible (I guess she was meant to be that way, otherwise the story won't have a plot) when it comes to Mike, and the whole concept overall is a nice catch for chick-lit readers. I started the book quite slow but once things get interesting in Rome, it paces up and I can't help but to know what's the deal.

I have predicted a handful of mysteries (Candy's situation to be exact) but the ending still took my breath away. Thumbs up. No wonder Sophie Kinsella enjoyed this one!

Rating: 3 1/2 stars

by Caroline B. Cooney

I liked the story, it fascinated me. Although the ending was a bit short, probably because it leads to the companion book. Anyway, the story seemed to focus on the whirl of Janie's doubts if she was really kidnapped. I enjoyed reading it but I think the author should have condensed the whole story into one book instead of indicating that the others are just companions. Some people can't tell immediately what number from the series is the book they're reading.

To be able to grasp the whole idea, I suggest readers take on the companions to this book such as Whatever Happened to Janie? and The Voice on the Radio.

Rating: 3 stars

by Iris Johansen

This is my first hardbound experience of an Iris Johansen book. I haven't read any of her novels before, but this turned out pretty boring. I love forensics - I'm allured by it and its concepts but this was a letdown.

For one, the plot was simply weaved to tell a story. It did not really excite me except the fact that I have been quite a fan of Jane and Trevor's love story. I completely forgot that Jane was seventeen and Trevor was around more or less in his thirties, but he was always described as handsome (for a con man and a sleuth) so I bit the bait. At some point before halfway reading, I had an idea to dump it and read another book instead, but I wanted to finish the story as to satisfy my curiosity and leave no room for regret. Alas, I wasted my time because the ending had been so easy and fast-moving. It was hard at first to get myself to pace reading hardbounds (I think I have a weak link for them) but when I got near Blind Alley's half it seemed so easy and light.

There had been confusions in the story. Jane is too much to decide as an adult for a seventeen-year-old girl. I understand her relation to the nightmare and Cira story but it seems her parents are always at bay and she does things independently with Trevor most of the time, as if proving she can do on her own.

I did not like the over-all part: everything seemed to be too perfect and everyone seemed to be so skilled that it falls flat for a forensic mystery, but this had made me laugh, worry and feel smitten a bit. It really shouldn't be called an Eve Duncan Forensics Thriller but a Jane Duncan one. I think I wanted to read Countdown, but I'm hesitant about it. Blind Alley truly left me lost in blindness. The conclusion did not make up for what the narration lacked, in my opinion.

Rating: 2 stars

by Kelly Easton

Honestly, I bought the book because I was enticed with its cover - it seemed so mysterious and vague so I thought might like it. The story revolves around Adam who lost his parents in a tragic car accident on the way home to Rhode Island from a peace rally in Seattle. You would certainly feel Adam's sorrow as he recalls what has happened to them that resulted to his parent's death.

What I didn't understand is that how come he left his parents there lying on the pavement to cross the country by just walking away? I would certainly not do that to my parents, unless I would call for help (which Adam did not do apparently; I did not get whether he was just disoriented so he didn't do that but then again, if I was in his shoes whether disoriented or not I would STILL call for help).

On the other hand, this book teaches some values learned from Adam's experiences as he journeys along - the people he met, the places he's explored and the impressions they leave on him. However, there are good and bad points in Aftershock: it worked on the story by means of flashback although some of the way it was presented was drastic, the reader could not distinguish whether Adam was in reality or was he recalling a memory. But I guess it's just the nature of Adam's experience: shocking and mind-swifting. I think even though he has been weary, he enjoyed the journey as he struggles to get home because he has certainly learned a lot from it.

A very good example is this line that I loved from the book, "People separate themselves from each other by so many things: race, gender, religion, class. But on my travels, I learned to distinguish people by the only thing that really matters: kindness."

Rating: 3 stars

by Nicholas Sparks

Have you ever once lost faith in the power of love? Nicholas Sparks proves to you that love conquers all in this spectacular love story after his bestselling novel, The Notebook. Theresa Osbourne is a Boston Times writer and the type of woman who believes that once hurt you'll be more likely to get hurt again. She's a single mother, divorced and has a 12-year-old son named Kevin whom her other dates tend to take for granted. But Theresa never took another risky leap for love because no one had ever gave her serious chances. That is until she finds the bottle.

Washed up along the Cape Cod beach while jogging, a mysterious bottle sticking out of the seashore caught Theresa's attention. She takes it, only to find a heart-gripping letter addressed to Catherine, written by someone whose name is Garrett. Having read this and after finding two more letters in bottles washed up along beaches somewhere, Theresa is determined to find Garrett in search of also something which she hopes to revive her lost belief in romance.

She intended only to meet and greet the wonderful author of the mysterious love letters. But little did Theresa know that the letters would be the keys to her journey to love.

I could say that this book took my heart away. This was one book you couldn't put down - unless you really have to go to the bathroom. But even though, I still took this book to the bathroom because the story is heartwarming that even if you think that it is likely to be predictable, you would still find yourself holding the book till the end, determined to finish it. The plot is greatly arranged and small details weren't left out. However, the tempo of the story seemed to be a bit fast especially at the point where Garrett and Theresa fell in love with each other. You couldn't believe how fast the events were given that Garrett was a husband who just lost his wife to some accident three years ago.

Given the characters and over-all score, this book gets two thumbs up! The characters were well-casted and the story tickles the human interest for bottles travelling the ocean. You will even see yourself believing Sparks' narration about bottles.

Rating: 4 1/2 stars