"In the early 1900s, in the elegant, isolated villa Il Piacere, the playwright Galeazzo D'Ascanio lived for Celia Sands. She was his muse and his mistress and the inspiration for his most stunning and original play. But the night before she was to take the stage in the leading role, Celia disappeared. Now, decades later, in a theatre on the grounds of Il Piacere, Alessandro D'Ascanio is preparing to stage the first performance of his grandfather's masterpiece. A promising young actress - who shares Celia Sands' name, but not her blood - has agreed to star. She is instantly drawn to the mysteries surrounding the play - and to her compelling, compassionate employer. And even though she knows she should let the past go, in the dark - in her dreams - it comes back."

I liked this book. A nice combo of mystery, thriller, history and drama and not overtaken by the romantic storyline,

Stoker's Manuscript -- "When rare-manuscript expert Joseph Barkeley is hired to authenticate and purchase the original draft and notes for Bram Stoker's Dracula, little does he know that the reclusive buyer is a member of the oldest family in Transylvania.

After delivering the manuscript to the legendary Bran Castle in Romania, Barkeley—a Romanian orphan himself—realizes to his horror that he's become a prisoner to the son of Vlad Dracul. To earn his freedom, Barkeley must decipher cryptic messages hidden in the text of the original Dracula that reveal the burial sites of certain Dracul family members. Barkeley's only hope is to ensure that he does not exhaust his usefulness to his captor until he’s able to escape. Soon he discovers secrets about his own lineage that suggest his selection for the task was more than coincidence. In this knowledge may lie Barkeley's salvation—or his doom. For now he must choose between a coward's flight and a mortal conflict against an ancient foe." -- from www.amazon.com

Not impressed with this book...it tried to be a good historical thriller but failed.

Stoker's Manuscript -- Started: Sep. 26, 2013 Finished: Oct. 9, 2013

25 Book Challenge 2013 Book #86

During the Thanksgiving holiday children could read books to score prizes.

My students at school were challenged to read and earn points using the Accelerated Reader program. If they earned it by Friday, February 15th then I would shave my hair into a Mohawk. For each week that the students had more than 1,000 points I would add on an extra day of the Mohawk - they earned a total of 3 extra days!

Mrs. Walker working on getting rid of my hair.

The winners of Niles Public Library's 2012 Reading Challenge got to ride in a limousine to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch.

"For centuries, the Furies have lived among us. Long ago they were called witches and massacred by the thousands. But they’re human just like us, except for a rare genetic mutation that they’ve hidden from the rest of the world for hundreds of years. Now, a chance encounter with a beautiful woman named Ariel has led John Rogers into the middle of a secret war among the Furies. Ariel needs John’s help in the battle between a rebellious faction of the clan and their elders. The grand prize in this war is a chance to remake the human race."

A good book with a modern fairy tale meets mystery-thriller vibe.

My students at school were challenged to read and earn points using the Accelerated Reader program. If they earned it by Friday, February 15th then I would shave my hair into a Mohawk. For each week that the students had more than 1,000 points I would add on an extra day of the Mohawk - they earned a total of 3 extra days!

I have allowed my hair to grow without a haircut since October. I have very thick hair . . . so they have their work cut out for them!

Belle -- "Belle is convinced she has the wrong name, as she lacks her sisters' awe-inspiring beauty. So she withdraws from society, devoting her time to wood carving. Secretly, Belle longs to find the fabled Heartwood Tree. If carved by the right hands, the Heartwood will reveal the face of one's true love.

During a fierce storm, Belle's father stumbles upon the mysterious Heartwood -- and encounters a terrifying and lonely Beast. Now Belle must carve the Heartwood to save her father, and learn to see not with the eyes of her mind, but with the eyes of her heart" -- from www.amazon.com

A nice version of the Beauty and the beast story...well written, interesting...a good read.

Belle -- Started: Oct. 6, 2012 Finished: Oct. 6, 2012

25 Book Challenge 2012 Book #65