I finally finished a couple more books! Sad to say I'm definitely NOT going to reach my goal of reading 25 by the end of the year. Maybe next year! If you have some book recommendations for the lazy winter months, leave 'em in the comments section below. I love hearing from you all! The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. This was an entertaining, light read (albeit a mystery), which was what I needed at the time because I was in the middle of crazy, busy, fall wedding season. The story transitions between three different time periods told from different perspectives, but all revolving around one big mystery: how a little girl ends up alone at a boat port with no name and no known past. The whole thing was a little too unrealistic for me, although it kept my attention. For that, I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

The Dive from Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer. Ohhh, I have a love-hate relationship with this book. It opens at a lake on Memorial Day. A guy dives into the lake as his friends and fiancée look on ... and emerges unconscious and paralyzed because of shallow water. The story is told from his fiancée's perspective, a character I just can't seem to sympathize with. Before the accident she was thinking of leaving the relationship, but after it seems impossible to do. This novel examines strength and weakness, forgiveness and blame. The story was fascinating to me because I just couldn't relate at all, and then I'd turn the page and I could. Definitely 4 out of 5 stars!