Book read "Dead Ringer" by Stella Cameron
Full 90 minutes read on March 22, 2015

Lennie came back to England to visit. She's from Boston and owns a business where she buys antiques. She goes to the doctors office to see the man she loves: Dr. Simon Grant. When Lennie arrives, Simon is on call with a patient. She carries on a conversation with Mary Grant, his mother, and Simon's receptionist at the doctor's office.

Lennie had visited England before, 4 years ago to be exact. That is when she first met Simon. This visit, they decide to walk along the sea together so they can have alone time. They spend a short amount of time together and return to his office. When they arrive, Mary Grant is in a panic. Constable Hopper, the police officer, was waiting for Simon to arrive to his office for a short time. Simon was accused of stealing an item from the home of his patient.

Despite Lennie's defense, Constable took him in because Colonel Fortnum insists that Simon stole from him. He decides to press charges on Simon. After Simon is taken, Mary snapped at Lennie. She is threatened by Lennie because she feels that Lennie expects Simon to move away with her in America.

There was a myth about the bell in Under Widden (the name of the cottage in England). Miss Widden (the last of the Widden family line) won't leave the cottage until Sir Reginald Widden "rings" for her. He passed away centuries ago, but Miss Widden believed the myth to be true. If the bell rings, the people say the Widdens are returning to their former prosperity. After Simon is taken by the constable, Lennie goes to her room. She falls in and out of sleep and then...she hears the bell ringing.

In this weeks reading, I noticed a moral to the story: Life is too short to worry about what other people think about you. If you love someone, go after them. Tell them how you feel. Lennie is in love with Simon but waits for him to tell her. He obviously shows his feelings for her, but won't express how much she means to him in words. Tomorrow isn't promised.

Thanks for listening!
-Nikki

Born in Twilight by Maggie Shayne
Full 90 minutes read on March 15, 2015

Jameson was sure Angelica and Amber Lilly were dead. He heard a cry meant for him to hear. The moment he realized it must be Angelica, he turns around to go rescue her. It couldn't be a good sign...they had just found their little girl and the moment he leaves, there is trouble. When he arrives, he sees the church blow in flames. Someone had caught the church on fire. For a long while, he kneels...motionless. He felt agonizing pain as all that he thought he had lost ran through his mind. Finally, he comes to the realization that DPI couldn't have killed them. DPI's whole reason for putting him through such agony was to do research on Amber Lilly. They want to know what has come of this child being born. Is she a mortal or a vampire?

Jameson brings himself to stand and walk around this church to find any evidence that proves Angelica and Amber Lilly are still alive. Fortunately, he stumbles upon a shoe. It was familiar to him and first thing that came to his mind was that they are still alive. He observed his surroundings, looking for any other clues to reassure him. Nothing else was in sight. Upon observing, he noticed that this shoe was too far to be thrown by the impact of the explosion. It still looked brand new; no scuff marks, no burns...no destruction done to it. He knew that DPI had taken them.

Thanks to Angelica calling for other vampires to help, a large amount at that, Jameson won't make the fight alone. All of the vampires arrive to destroy DPI. They ban together and enter the building, full force. Guards were killed...anyone who stepped in their way or posed a threat was obliterated. Jameson reaches Angelica and their baby. Angelica had been drugged in order for her to cooperate with the DPI agents. They escape the building. Following, all of the other vampires came out of the building. Within seconds, DPI headquarters came up in flames. They were free!

At the end of the book, Amber Lilly is a middle school student at a dance. Angelica and Jameson volunteer to be chaperones at this dance. Amber Lilly has a fairly normal mortal life. Her parents couldn't be happier! They are just as in love with each other as they had been the moment they met.

I was sad to have suddenly reached the end of this book. Honestly, I loved the storyline. Normally, it wouldn't have been one of my first choices. The suspense left me hanging and I longed for more! From this weeks reading, I gained the understanding that all stories come to an end. In this book, things tied together nicely to the end. When reading the story in the beginning, I wasn't sure I would be interested enough to make it to the last chapter. I love how the book is fiction...I feel I need that a little more in my life. It was a great escape reading this story because it isn't reality...but there are things I drew from this book that can still be applied to my life. I have learned that every second counts. No one is guaranteed tomorrow. Love is something you have to put out there...not keep bottled up inside. Your moment to share it may never come.

I highly recommend this book if you are interested in an escape from reality. There are many things that can be learned from the struggles that Angelica and Jameson go through. Our lives could be much worse.

Until next time...with a new book : (
-Nikki

Born in Twilight by Maggie Shayne
Read 90 minutes on March 8th, 2015

Angelica had gone into a store to ask about the baby that had been taken...her baby. The guy at the counter implied the baby may be in harms way. Angelica ran rom the store. Jameson follows her. She was terrified; hurt to know her child may be harmed. It hurt Jameson to see her like this. Bells ringing led Angelica and Jameson to a church nearby. The lady and baby they'd saved were there.

The lady explains that she had seen an angel, who had told her to keep another baby safe until she had found her mother. The other baby was Amber Lilly. Jameson had left to get revenge on DPI. He heard cries from Angelica. The church building caught on fire with Angelica and Amber Lilly inside.

One thing I learned from my reading this week is that love can get you through anything. During this time, Angelica and Jameson bonded during their time searching for their daughter. They go through many trials together and by doing so, they find that they have a connection. They love each other and finally come to terms with it.

Another thing I gained from my reading experience is that tomorrow isn't guaranteed. Angelica and the baby were in a fire. The pain that Jameson felt at the moment he realized they were inside was almost too much for him to bare. He should have told Angelica exactly how he felt for her before it was too late. He doesn't know if they are alive still or dead. He may have lost his chance.

Until next time!
-Nikki

Born in Twilight by Maggie Shayne
Full 90 minutes read on March 1st, 2015

Angelica, Jameson and their vampire friends were in a cave hiding from the sunlight. Angelica was on watch outside, on watch for any DPI agents. Jameson woke up and she wasn't in sight. Out of worry, he was upset that she went out alone. Although he doesn't like to admit it, he is concerned about her safety and well being.

Rhiannon mentions the connection the vampires can sense between Angelica and Jameson. Jameson denies that it's love, although all the other vampires think otherwise. Upon returning to the cave, Angelica overhears Jameson explaining that he doesn't love her (although his thoughts contradict that idea) and that he is focused purely on finding Amber Lilly. There is anger between the two of them because of this.

All of the vampires leave together on their journey to White Plains, where they hear Amber Lilly is located. They look around for a vehicle to steal in order to get to their destination. When they find a car, they all get in and head out of Petersville. Outside of town, cars are being stopped by DPI agents. They are on a lookout for the baby. To avoid an encounter with DPI, they pull into a driveway that leads to a house that's under construction. With no other choice left, they all get out (since it's dark outside) and head into the house. In order to hide, the other vampires (all except Angelica and Jameson) decide to stake out at this house for the time being.

The moral I got from this reading session is "better safe than sorry." It's difficult in our time of need to have patience. Angelica and Jameson are in a state of fear and longing for their child. No matter the devastation or incompleteness they may be feeling, they hold themselves together and attempt to make the best out of their current situation. They hide and use caution when searching for Amber Lilly. Time is precious but at the same time, the proper steps need to be taken in order to reassure that there is security and safety. They long to have their child in their arms but care enough to think about her safety first.

Thanks for listening! Until next time...
-Nikki

"Born in Twilight" by Maggie Shayne
90 minutes read on February 22, 2015

Hilary ran with the baby but in the process, was being chased by DPI agents through the woods. A DPI agent shot her and she fell to the ground with the baby. The DPI agents took the baby and left Hilary there to die.

Jameson, Roland, Eric, Tamara and Rhiannon were trapped inside a circular pit underground. The ceiling was made of glass, which led them all to come to terms with dying in the pit. Soon, the sun would rise!

Angelica found Hilary lying on the ground in the woods. Hilary informed Angelica of the vampires whereabouts. She also told Angelica she heard the DPI agents say they were taking the baby to a place called White Plains. Angelica stayed with Hilary, for she was near death. Hilary apologized and asked for forgiveness. Angelica was more than grateful for all she has done for her. To show her gratitude, she buried Hilary underground and placed stones over it as her headstone.

The two DPI agents (who took the baby from Hilary) witnessed an angel take the baby from their car after they stopped on the side of the road. Thanks to Hilary, Angelica finds the pit and fights off the guards. The last guard was snatched by Angelica. With him in her arms, she dropped to the bottom of the pit to help the vampires escape. After she questioned him, she locked the DPI agent up in cuffs and they left. Angelica led the other vampires to the cave where she and Jameson had stayed to escape the sunlight. They go there for safety.

The moral I got from this reading session was loyalty. Staying true to your friends and family should be a high priority for everyone. The loyalty Angelica shows is breathtaking; she goes to lengths to save her friends, Jameson and her daughter. We all want friends and family to do that for us! Angelica is a remarkable person for doing all she does; risking her life to rescue those closest to her. Even when she is faced with Hilary and her injuries, she remains calm and appreciates all that Hilary has done to keep her daughter safe.

Hilary is also very loyal to Angelica. She promised to keep Angelica's baby safe. Even when her life is coming to an end, she insists that she will make sure her baby is safe. Despite the DPI agents chasing after her--and in the end killing her-- she is still determined to save the baby from them. Hilary seems to care deeply for Angelica and her baby. That is something we all should be for our family, friends, and even people we don't know very well.

For now, this is it! Until next time...
-Nikki

"Born in Twilight" Maggie Shayne
90 minutes read on February 15, 2015

Angelica admits to Rhiannon (and Jameson's other vampire friends) that she had killed the vampire that turned her over. Jameson's vampire friends actually like Angelica after meeting her in person. Angelica is informed by Rhiannon an Tamara that she is just as powerful as Jameson, if not, more. Jameson and Angelica head to Petersville, where they sense Hilary is, along with their daughter. When they arrive to Petersville, they pull up to an abandoned house that is two stories tall. They decide they will stay in the basement to avoid the sunlight from the day time.

Jameson and Angelica come across a wrecked car, with a baby still trapped inside. The mother asks them to save her child. Jameson crawls in to rescue the infant. While doing so, he gets burns on his body. When he gets the child out, he passes her to Angelica. She then hands the baby to her mother, who was frightened her child would not survive the wreck. After this, Angelica and Jameson leave the scene.

 Angelica and Jameson hurry back to try to avoid the sunset. They don't make it back to the abandoned house in time. Instead, Angelica helps him by bringing him into a small cave, carved in the side of a hill. During the day, they sleep. When night comes again, they awake. Conversation takes place. They both share some things from their past. They begin trusting and being comfortable with each other. A giddiness arose in Angelica that was unfamiliar to Jameson. She explains to him that she senses the baby is near and is doing well. They both are grateful and excited about this revelation.

Both Angelica and Jameson went to the house they'd believed to be the house Hilary was protecting their daughter in. DPI agents take Rhiannon, Tamara, Eric and Roland (all of Jameson's vampire friends) and hold them hostage, after tranquilizing them. Jameson tells Angelica to run (telepathically, so DPI agents didn't hear). So she does.

What I drew from this week's reading is that instinct can do so much for a mother. Although Angelica's senses are mostly due to her being a vampire, mother instinct is something most mothers should have. I have experienced many times where I'd hear a child cry or in pain and I would rush around to try to soothe them. Angelica longs to comfort this child who experienced a traumatic event. The car wreck could have ended this child's life, but thanks to her help, the child survived. She was devastated to hold that child and see it longing for it's mother. This stirred up her emotions, as she had missed and worried for her child's safety. As a mother, I know how heart-wrenching it can be to see any child suffer or come so close to danger. It's both heartbreaking and comforting at the same time to experience having these instincts.

Until next time,
Nikki

"Born in Twilight" by Maggie Shayne
90 minutes read on February 8, 2015

Angelica and Jameson discuss how their daughter needs a name. Angelica shares names she had thought about naming her while she was pregnant and being hold as a prisoner (basically). Both Angelica and Jameson agree on Amber Lily.

They plan to go to Hilary Garner's (a GPI agent who helped Angelica while she was held there) apartment to hopefully get some answers on where their baby girl is. When they arrive, they find nothing but a destroyed house; broken items, messes everywhere, as if someone had been there to search the place before they arrived. A DPI agent shows up and threatens their lives. This agent, a man, believes Jameson took the child. Jameson cannot convince this agent that he doesn't know where she is. He knocks the DPI agent out. Then, they escape the building by jumping from roof top to roof top. At last, they drive away in Jameson's car. As they pull off, they are shot at by DPI agents guarding the area surrounding the apartment building.

Angelica arrives, with Jameson as an unconscious passenger, to the hide-out house they are staying at. When they get inside, Angelica sews up Jameson's wound from the gunshot. She cleans him up; wiping the blood off his body and changing his clothes. While doing so, "sinful" thoughts run through her mind. She comes to the realization that Jameson needs blood before he dies from his previous blood loss. To cure him of his thirst, she leads his mouth to her neck where he feeds off her. One thing leads to another and they connect in a way Angelica never thought she would experience in her lifetime. Afterward, she feels guilty since she was previously about to become a nun.

Jameson's friends meet Angelica and they know right then that she is something special to Jameson. They even mention it in front of Jameson to see his reaction. He confirmed his feelings for Angelica.

What I drew from this reading session was that when you love someone, you would risk your life for them. Angelica and Jameson both risk their lives for their daughter. Additionally, they do many things for each other that could have easily led to the other's death. Even though they try to fight their feelings for each other, they prove that they love each other by what they do for each other on a daily basis. This is true loyalty and selflessness, some things I would like to improve on (in my own life). We get so caught up in the chaos and stresses of life, we forget what's really important--family; the people we love.

Until next time : )
-Nikki

Book: "Born in Twilight" by Maggie Shayne
90 minutes read on February 1, 2015

Angelica was locked in a coffin-like box in a room much like a prison cell. Her daughter was taken off somewhere else...to an unknown place outside the walls of the building she was being held in. Jameson shows up at the facility, disguised as a lab technician at DPI. He is on a mission to find his daughter...whom he wasn't aware is Angelica's child too. Jameson finds Angelica locked in a box within the room of which he was directed to. The lady he asked had directed him there when he asked where the "new mother" was residing.

There wasn't much suspicion that got in the way of Jameson reaching Angelica. When he arrived, he didn't know who the woman was that had given birth to his child. When he broke the lock on the box in which Angelica was locked in, he was shocked to find that it was...her. This was the very same woman who had turned him into a vampire.

Angelica couldn't believe that Jameson was the father. She despised him...to the point she couldn't trust him. Ironic she was the one with trust issues isn't it? Despite the lack of trust she has for him, she had no other choice than to go with him and escape from the facility. Angelica was weak...almost to the point of death. Jameson lets her feed off him for energy and recharging. They take off on the road and arrive at a house the vampires owned; it's main purpose, for hiding. Jameson and Angelica get to know more about each other and learn to get along for the sake of finding their daughter.

I learned by this week's reading that trust is something that is hard to find...to keep. Even when we do horrible things to a person, it's that very person we struggle to find trust in. The reason could be that we have guilt built up inside that mirrors onto the very person we deceived. Trusting someone isn't easy but if you don't at least give them a chance, then how do you know they aren't worth trusting? Often times we fear the pain and consequences of trusting another person. Maybe that is why we build up a wall. Everyone has a time when trust is hesitant. For certain instances, that may be a positive thing. In this case, whether it's optional or not, it should at least be tested before jumping to conclusions.

Until next time,
Nikki

Book read: "Born in Twilight" by Maggie Shayne
Total 90 minutes read on January 23, 2015

When Jameson came to Angelica's rescue, he thought he could trust her. He knew the state she was in...starvation. After looking in her eyes, he knew she was a vampire. He offered help to her! She betrayed him by piercing his neck, creating a monster of him too. She left him there while he was near death. Jameson was then rescued by his friends, who were vampires...ones he could really trust. They save his life by performing a blood transfusion.

Angelica turns herself in to DPI (an agency who does research on "monsters" such as herself), thinking they would help her. They locked her up and doped her up on meds while they did "research". After months of not knowing what exactly was going on, she realizes she was pregnant. The tests that were being performed on her were actually insemination appointments. Directly after the child is born (a girl), the DPI agents take her from Angelica.

DPI had (earlier) done "tests" on Jameson. Jameson realizes that the agents were taking samples from him in order to later create a child that is half vampire/half mortal. He was told by one of his vampire friends (who has connections to DPI) that they in fact put it to the test...by impregnating Angelica with the samples. He now knows that Angelica's child is his. Jameson wants to find his newborn daughter before DPI does something harmful to her.

Although the story is a little more paranormal than I had anticipated, I still drew something that I could apply to my life. I would go through lengths to protect my daughter, just as Jameson begins planning for. A child completely changes the way you live, think, and act. I realize the changes I have made for myself in order to be a good mother to my own daughter. Just within five years, I have grown into a completely different person than I was before she was brought into this world. She has truly created a light at the end of the tunnel for me in my life. I have never been more determined and motivated in my career and life in general than I am now. She truly is the one I can thank for that. I think about the characters Angelica and Jameson and wonder what kind of changes will occur in their lives and personalities after being parents. Will they get together and become a family? Will their little girl be okay? Until next time....

-Nikki

Book read: "Born in Twilight" by Maggie Shayne
The full 90 minutes read on January 19th, 2015

Angelica, the main character, was abandoned by her mother in a Cathedral when she was only 9 years old. She decided to strive to do better due to her abandonment. Because of her mother leaving her (and never coming back for her), she felt she wasn't good enough. She was raised by the Sisters of the church. Angelica, as a young adult, has grown to be curious and rebellious. She begins doubting her ability to live as a nun. Her curiosity leads her to be snatched by a vampire in a dark alley. From that point on, she was no longer mortal.

A man, Jameson, finds her in an old abandoned building where she is on the verge of starvation. He knows it's not a good idea to be near her in such a fragile state. Jameson can recognize her eyes and notices that she is in fact a vampire. Despite his doubts of whether he should assist her or not, he continues on with helping her.

Although this book was not what I expected, I have drawn a few things from the story line. Angelica starts out as a soon-to-be nun but is introduced to a new outlook in life, as well as lifestyle. Upon reading this story, I realized that life can change within the blink of an eye. One decision (just as the one Angelica made in walking the street alone) can make a large impact on a person's life. It could change every aspect of your life, creating a completely different path than anticipated.

Additionally, I have been reminded that the worst things happen to people with good intentions. Angelica has a good heart. She only wanted to help people. Although she made one decision that she will face the consequences for, I believe she will find a way to continue doing good things.

-Nikki