When the last scene of her life flashed before her, she looked back at the footprints in the sand. She noticed that many times along the path of her life there was only one set of footprints. She also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of her life.

This really bothered her and she questioned the LORD about it. "LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."

The LORD replied, "My precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints,instead of two, it was then that I carried you."


After a short hospitalbed we got the news that she quietly passed away during a short induced sleep while docters tried their best to safe her life.

She was one of those grandma's who every one should have had the pleasure to know; loving, caring and always showed interest in everybody who was blessed to know her. Eventhough her body on many occassions gave her health problems having her confined to her wheelchair; eventhough her life sure to say hasn't always been easy, she always stayed upbeat and held a strong heart and will to live.



What I think is the one thing that I learned from her through my dad, is to - no matter what the situation is - always handle it with humor and a smile, stay positive and live life to the fullest. Needless to say that she will be greatly missed by her children, grandchildren, friends and caretakers.

Nanna, I know the light called you and you were ready to say goodbye, I and we feel peace with that, knowing you had no pain and had no long sickbed. You were and are still loved by us all. You will never be forgotten and always remain with us in our hearts!

Rest in peace, Nanna!
Your loving granddaughter,

Genre: Fantasy
Book 6 in the Harrry Potter series
ISBN: 9780439784542
Releasedate: July 1, 2005
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Format owned: HC Adult / Bloomsbury
For sale at: The Book Depository Store

Synopsis
The war against Voldemort is not going well; even Muggle governments are noticing. Ron scans the obituary pages of the Daily Prophet, looking for familiar names. Dumbledore is absent from Hogwarts for long stretches of time, and the Order of the Phoenix has already suffered losses.


And yet....

As in al wars, life goes on. Sixth-year students learn to Apparate - and lose a few eyebrows in the process. The Weaseley twins expand their business. Teenagers flirt and fight and fall in love. Classes are never straightforward, though Harry receives some extraordinary help from the mysterrious Half-Blood Prince.

So it's the home front that takes center stage in the multilayered sixth installment of the story of Harry Potter. Here at Hogwarts, Harry will search for the full and complex story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort - and thereby find what may be his only vulnerability.

REVIEW
Harry Potter enters his sixth year at Hogwarts and finds himself a great way to be an excellent student in potion making, with a little help from a book previously owned by the Halfblood Prince. This to the utter annoyance of Professor Snape, his previous teacher in Potion making.


Together with Hermoine, Ron and Ginny he tries to uncover who this Halfblood Prince is. Albus Dumbledore makes Harry his special project in working with him to further uncover the truth about the prophecy and how to eliminate he-who-shall-not-be-named!

I shamefully have to admit I never read the first 5 instalments in this series about Harry Potter, but I have faithfully seen all the movies. They were so well set in the storylines, following the books (I presume as) I found myself not missing the fact that I haven’t read them. All the information necessary was shown in the movies, so if you have seen them and not read the books you’re still good to go on in this series.

In my opinion, after reading this book, I’d say that this particular story is more likely for a 14-year-old, as some storylines are just not totally children’s-book material. A nine-year-old would not be able to understand and comprehend the inner turmoil and feelings of falling in love in the way like it is written in this novel. It is more something a teenager would be able to relate to. My advice in this series would be, when you want your children to read the books, follow the publication-releases. Let your child start at about eight/nine years of age and read a book a year.

What eased me into the story straight away was that the characters who were shown in the movies are freakishly alike to the characters as they are described in the books. So when, in example, Dumbledore came to scene, I had a clear view on what he looked like, how he would say what he said and how he acted when doing so. The same goes for all the other characters. Normally it would irritate greatly that I wouldn’t be able to let my own fantasy form a picture in my head, but this was just a brilliant cast.

Having said all that, JK Rowling has a superb writing style. It’s catchy, it’s entertaining, it’s got everything you long for in a story and more. Normally I would find it difficult to keep concentrating in a 600+ pages book, but I just kept turning the pages like no tomorrow, finding myself without noticing, that it was an hour ahead in time. I can totally understand why people are hooked onto this series and I have to say, reading the books is more intense, more satisfying even than watching the movie. So for those who haven’t read them yet I would highly recommend: go out, buy the books and read! When I grab back to my own childhood I would say this book/this series has the same impact on me as the Pitty-series of Enid Blyton had.

It is a book that is appealing to youth, teenagers, and adults, making JK Rowling one of the few admirable authors that are writing these days.

This story and the connection with the Halfblood Prince and Voldemort are giving it a nice new spin in this series. You’ll be taken back to the time when Voldemort was younger, the dotted line gets more connected and you can taste that time draws nearer to the point where the battle between Voldemort and Harry finds its completion. Harry finds himself falling for a girl who rocks his inner-emotions. Ron of course will be thrown into situations only “Roonal Wazbly” can be found in, and Hermoine is just her own unique self. She is one of those stable factors in this series that stays the same but not quite the same. She has a certain flair about herself that I find incredibly annoying and amazingly funny at the same time.

I just love the greater message in this book: “Love is bigger than (can overcome) everything…”

The fact that this is woven into a “children’s” book is what I find heart-warming. It’s not always the ‘once upon a time…a happily ever after’ with Harry Potter, it’s not always the knight in shining armor story. But in the end, it comes down to that one thing and in this book Harry is being confronted with that same thing and finally comes to understand it as well.

This is one of those rare jewels on my bookshelves that I had laying about for over a year and didn’t really feel like picking up. But now that I have done so, I entirely regret it, as this will be one of those books that I will re-read many times. Ofcourse I will read on in this series and read the first 5 instalments too! I was fairly surprised that this book grabbed me the way it did. Do not let the opportunity to read them pass you by, if it comes to you. You’ll find that JK Rowling can sway you and lead you into the wizard-realm within our realm. She’ll take you to a magical place and entice you to open yourself to the world of Harry Potter & Co.

4,5 Stars

Genre: Historical
Book 1 in the Druids Glen series
ISBN: 1-58608-832-7
Releasedate: July 2006
Format owned: eBook
For sale at: The Book Depository Store

Synopsis
Laird Connall MacInness was born to a clan that for centuries has been charged with the guarding of the sacred Druids. 'Tis a duty he has always met with a willing heart, until the day his sister, a Druid priestess, goes missing, and the very Druids he has protected refuse to help him find the last remaining member of his family. Then a 300 year old prophecy places a Druid priestess in his hands for safekeeping. 'Tis the chance at revenge that he's been waiting for, but is he willing to pay the cost his revenge will demand--the loss of his mate and the future of Scotland?

A willing lass…
Glenna MacNeil wants only to be free, to find the purpose of her life. When she is told to look for the dark laird that would free her, she eagerly goes with the powerful laird who fights her clan, not realizing she has set in motion events that will change the course of history.

REVIEW
The first novel in a new series, a new author for me and normally that means getting used to a new style in writing, new storylines to get used to but funnily enough this time around I just eased into the story straight away!

It’s a story easy to read, you pick up on moods, emotions, scenes straight away. I’ve seen the movie Mists of Avalon a few times and I had a particular feeling with that movie and whilst reading this lovely novel by Donna Grant she made me have that same feeling ~ eventhough ofcourse the storylines are very different.

Connall and Glenna are great characters. It’s nice to see how Glenna grows from a timid; scared lady to a strong powerful Druid in control. Connall I don’t see as a real me Tarzan you Jane Highlander. You can really sense his longing for a family where love leads the way. A bit thickheaded needless to say, but nonetheless loveable!

What I love most about Donna’s writing is when in scenes words were spoken by the characters, they actually had the “aye’s; nay’s ; and most important “ye’s”. I always “hear” different voices with the characters as I read a story and when a Highlander-novel is written in such a way the Scottish burrs actually come automatically. The Scottish language used by Donna is adding such a great Highlander feeling that it makes your heart flutter by just reading the sentences.

The storylines themselves were typically Druid/Highland making it for me a good novel in between my paranormal/fantasy books which are more heavyset. This series is definitely a keeper on my shelves to balance the heavy dramatic action filled novels with the lighter set A-list authors like Donna Grant.

It’s a good solid start in a new series and promises a lot for the books still to come!

3,5 stars

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Book 2 in the Drake Sister series
ISBN: 0-743-47628-X
Releasedate: December 2003
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Format owned: MMPB
For sale at: The Book Depository Store

Synopsis

Bestselling novelist Kate Drake is one of seven sisters gifted with amazing powers of witchcraft. Returning home in time for her northern California town's annual Christmas pageant, Kate catches the spirit of the season and decides to open a bookstore in a charming but run-down historic mill. Decorated former U.S. Army Ranger Matt Granite, now a local contractor, doesn't mind working in the undeniably eerie house -- not if it means getting closer to Kate. There's something about the quiet, sensual woman that powerfully attracts him.

When an earthquake cracks the mill's foundation and reveals a burial crypt, Kate senses that a centuries-old evil has been unleashed--and that it's coming after her. Though Matt vows to guard her from dusk till dawn, Kate knows she will have to summon all of her and her sisters' powers to battle the darkness threatening to destroy both Christmas and the gift of soul-searing passion her hometown hero wants her to keep forever...

REVIEW

When Matt and Kate meet again in a near accident they set things in motion. With danger luring around every corner and seem to aim to destroy everything that comes in its way they soon discover there might be more between them than the eye can see.

After hearing so much about Christine Feehan – say it due to her Carpathian-series – I decided to start reading some of her work and I was fairly surprised by this novel in her Drake Sisters series. Although I haven’t read the first one, the anthology Magic in the Wind – I don’t feel I missed an important part of the series. I do want to read Sarah and Damon’s story, but for now I’m contend with reading the next few novels!

There is something special in the way Christine was able to describe and write about the sisterly bond between the Drake Sisters. I think this is due to her being part of a big family as well. Being close to my own siblings this was a part that instantly got me hooked onto the story and felt such a homey-contendness with it. It made me snuggle up on the sofa and cuddle up with my cats while reading on.

This was a novella – and with that the story was in my opinion cut a bit short. I feel that more could have been putt into the story to make it a bit more flowing. At some point I found it a bit rushed through all they had to go through. This is a series about witches and with that it automatically falls into the paranormal genre. However what touched me more was the contemporary romance that was developed in the line of events. Having said that, the Drake Sisters charmed their way into my heart.

It’s like your reading along with a special part of life, like you’re allowed a glance in what they experience along the way.

This is one of those series you can just read the next novel striaght after the previous one without it getting boring or too much if you know what I mean. So I’m straight away diving into Oceans of Fire – Abigail’s story. I can’t wait to read about her and the Dolphins!

3,5 stars

Genre: Paranormal
Book 1 in The Magic Knot Fairies series
ISBN: 0-505-52796-0
Releasedate: January 27, 2009
Publisher: Dorchester Publishing
Format owned: MPB
For sale at: The Book Depository Store

Synopsis
When Rose discovers she is the Cornish pisky queen and her father is a dark druid who has imprisoned her people in portraits, the race is on to discover the fairy lore needed to release her people before her father destroys the piskies forever.

She seeks help from the sinfully sexy Irish fairy twins, the O’Connor brothers. Niall’s faint air of menace flutters dark thrills of anticipation through her, but does he want to kiss her or kill her when she accidentally touches his Magic Knot and forges a mystical lovers’ bond with him? And can she resist the seductive glamour of his mischievous brother Michael?

With the survival of the Cornish piskies in her hands, Rose must escape from a vampiric, winged fairy, outwit The Queen of Nightmares and surrender her mind, body and spirit to Niall to release her hidden inner fairy. The Tarot cards warn he will stab her in the back, but when she’s in his arms, the last thing on her mind is death.

REVIEW
When you start a job checking someone’s accounts you don’t expect being thrown in a world where leprechaun’s and fae exist but that is exactly where Rose is headed when she sets foot in an Inn in Cornwall, owned by the flirtatious Michael O’Connor and watched over by his twin Naill O’Connor.

After doing her job she was determined to go search for her father. However, events throw her into a world she never before knew existed, and into the arms of the Irish man with a brogue in his speech and a stubborn attitude that is hard to pierce!

The blurb to this novel got me hooked straight away. Knowing myself, and my love for Ireland, I just knew from the start this book would intrigue me, captivate me and lure me into the magical world of Irish lore. My feelings were correct. I picked up this book, started to read and didn’t stop till I read the last page, closing it with a sigh of pure ecstatic, heart-warming bliss.

With this debut-novel Helen Scott Taylor knows how to enthral you and keep your mind focussed on the two absolutely gorgeous Irish twins. Often with twins you see they complete the perfect package and Michael and Naill do precisely that.

Michael is the flirtatious one, the light hearted one, the one to make you grin shyly and blush heavily each time he speaks to you – every time he comes to pas in a scene, your heart starts fluttering with desire and want for a man like him in your life, uncomplicated and making you feel special in your own uniqueness.

Naill on the other hand is the more serious one, the one with the responsibility complex and control factor. Dark, brooding and dangerous he is the one whom you have to dig deep into to reach (extremely stubborn as well). He’s the one you have to work for but once you have him, he won’t let go.

Rosewyn “Rose” is this sweet girl, who has gone through quite a lot in her life, had to work herself up to where she is now – only to find out that what she thought was her life – is in fact not her true self. A bit insecure about her own strength, but in the end taking a stand in her new “me” and accepting what she knows in her heart to be true.

The secondary characters in this novel are there for world building and explaining the plotlines. Quite a few come to pass but it does not take from the story. Their background is briefly mentioned and explored, but the storylines concerning them leave enough open to make this world into a series and have a completion enough for those readers who seek an ending to each novel in a series.I’m intrigued by a few and would love to see their lives unfold in a full-length as well. Therefore I am so pleased with the knowledge that a follow up to this one is currently being written with Michael in the lead!

There is a lot of sensuality in this novel, the heat between the characters sparkle off the pages. It is not the main focus in this novel, but in all fairness I did not miss that at all. The storyline is about Rose, finding out who she is, what the magic knot stands for and the truth about her tarot-cards are such a strong plotline that it is indeed what should get the main focus. There are in fact scenes that are really steamy and make me long for more of those in the coming novels especially concerning two specific characters, which I’ll leave unnamed to not spoil the good stuff! Because The Magic Knot is such an easy read to get into, you get hooked on the story fast and it stays with you for the remainder of time.

Helen Scott Taylor is able to make her characters come of the pages and become alive in your mind. She’s able to make them touch your emotions. You instantly like the ones with good intentions and absolutely dislike the one’s you know who are there to spoil the fun! It reads like a spiced up fairytale. A stunning debut for an author who instantly became a permanent addition to my bookshelves!

4,5 Stars