Secrets of Foxworth by V.C. Andrews

V.C. Andrews books are my "dirty" little secret. I am embarrassed that I read them and find them entertaining but they draw me in like a bug to light.

Secrets of Foxworth introduces new characters in the Dollanganger series (Flowers in the Attic in case you are wondering). Through a series of events the secret diary of Christopher lands in the hands of a third cousin of the Foxworths. Kristen becomes immersed in the diary and the story unravels.

Kristen knows very little of the true story and discovers through reading Chris's dairies that there is much truth to the rumor mill. The story is mainly told after the time spent in the attic. There isn't really anything new that readers will learn about, not even some of the darkest secrets that we've learned in other novels in this series makes its way into this book. Perhaps it will in the following ones?

I have mixed feelings and am not sure if I enjoyed this book or not but I do know I will be reading the following books in the series.

The Pact by Jodi Picoult

I read "The Pact" when it first came out and am rereading it again. It is amazing what you remember and how your opinion on things change.

I would have once called this a love story but now it is a story of emotional abuse and selfishness.  Two teenagers fall in love. One loves the either by leaps and bounds, the other feels trapped. One teen preys on the love of the other --- and uses that to help him take her life to form a suicide pact - damning the consequences he will be faced with.

Chris & Emily have known each other since infancy and have fallen in love. Their story is told in alternating chapters each having their own voice despite one being dead. They are tied together as schoolmates, friends, lovers and neighbors. Their love story is one that their parents wished for but it all ends tragically with an early morning phone call, one child dead, the other charged with murder.

Suicide is a difficult and sensitive subject to tackle and Picoult takes it on with finesse. The characters are well developed and the story will leaving you angry, frustrated and sad. An excellent read that will keep you turning the pages.

H2O by Virginia Bergin

The book starts of interesting and then makes a steady decline but not enough of one to make me chuck the book.

Those of use who have access to clean water take it for granted. Turning on the tap to wash your hands, cook food, cleaning clothing and drink water are habits we turn to routinely. We don't give it a second thought to stick our hands outside the window on a rainy day or stand under a steady stream of water but one seemingly normal rainfall changes these habits for the characters of H20.

A rain falls infecting and killing millions of people. The human race is doomed and the apocalypse is in full force. Ruby a teen girl is the central character and like most teens she is self centered, impulsive and naive.

The rain falls and those caught in or (or drinking water exposed to it) leave a person scratching incessantly at their skin, drawing blood and if I remember correctly chickenpox like lesions appear followed by death.

 As with the majority of apocalyptic novels survivors band together. Good vs. Evil crops up and survival of the fitness (or wise) becomes central. Ruby teams up with a odd cast of characters as they try to avoid rain and survive.

I can't give this novel a strong recommendation because I went in expecting so much more but am interested in seeing what continues to happen to this misfit character.

Mercy by Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult is no novice when it comes to tackling controversial subjects and this one deals with euthanasia. This is my second time reading this book and I enjoyed it more than the first time around.


Imagine for one moment, that your loved one (spouse, parent, sibling, partner) is young but ill. They have suffered greatly and will remain suffering until their time to pass comes to be. You see them struggling everyday as cancer eats them alive. They ask you to take their life to end it all.

You decided to take them up on their request and now you are awaiting your trial. You have been arrested by your cousin, Cameron and the small sleepy town you are in is torn apart and divides the marriage between Cameron and his wife.

Cameron and his wife, Allie's marriage is tested and their story unravels. The real story in this novel is about marriage and the trial/euthanasia is in the background.

The only character I ended up really liking is Jamie -- the man on trial. Initially I despised everyone but then I came to the realization that all of the characters are "real" and flawed just like you and me and maybe the reasons I didn't like them was because I saw pieces of myself and loved ones in the characters.

An overall good read but gives you an emotional punch to the gut.