Book Review of A Discovery of Witches

Discovery of Witches is a great story about two highly educated professors finding an old book and trying to find its meaning. Throwing the paranormal into the mix you have a very exciting tale. Diana is a witch, but since the death of her parents as a young child she has refused to embrace that lifestyle. No matter how much she pushes her witch skills aside it's very clear that her powers are special. When she is the only one who can open an important document it attracts all kinds of creatures. A very interested and sexy vampire, Matthew, who’s an Oxford professor, witches, and daemons all start coming out of the woodwork to see what Diana does. These creatures live among us with careers and are aware of each other but the one cardinal rule is they don’t mix with each other romantically. When Matthew brings it upon himself to protect Diana she quickly falls in love. The two can’t be together because it’s upsets the Congregation which is a council set up of vampires, witches, and daemons.

I enjoyed the love story and became Team Matthew! Diana is very interesting because she’s honest and straight forward. I love when they go to France to protect Diana from her own kind, the witches who are out to get her. I loved the castle they stay in, Matthew’s mom, their servant, and the horses they ride. It was all magical and lovely.  The relationship between Matthew and Diana grow quickly. The Congregation comes to put a stop to their growing relationship and threatens the lives of those they love.

Diana goes to spend time with her Aunts in New York to  better understand her kind. Her Aunt's house is alive and very temperamental with ghostly ancestors living there too. With some very exciting events the book ends with everyone having to go different ways. I look forward to finding out what happens in  book two, Shadow of Night, which will mix my two favorite genres, historical and paranormal. Deborah is an excellent writer and I think everyone who loves a good story will enjoy the series. 

Book Review of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? 
   As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

My review: You've seen the headlines and news feeds that do just what is happening in this story. A wife goes missing and we all suspect the husband. This story shows us the inside story of what it's like for those going through this horrific experience. The media will post a picture completely out of context and try to lead the viewers to judge before all the information is out. Guilty or not, you really feel for Nick as his life is turned upside down when his beautiful, intelligent wife Amy goes missing on their 5th anniversary. Nick and Amy's parents have plenty of possible suspects because people are always so obsessed with Amy. She brings that out in others, they just wanted to be her friend or worse, be her. Nick has many secrets that he keeps from the police which doesn't help his case. His lack of being able to show feelings in public and his Chester-cat-grin doesn't help his situation at all. This story keeps you reading on the edge and nothing is what it seems. The story feels vaguely familiar like it was based off of A True Crime story, and really opened my eyes to the truth behind the headline. Gillian is a brilliant writer and knows how to keep you in suspense.