2010: My Summer of Books-over the hump!

Whew! 20 books down and 18 left! I finally made it over halfway, and it feels good.

Danielle Steel's "Sisters" was book #18. It immediately appealed to me because there are four girls (and no boys) in my family, and Steel's book follows the four successful Adams sisters. Girl Power!!!!

Lawyer Sabrina, TV producer Tammy, Italy-based artist Annie, and international supermodel Candy cope with an unthinkable family tragedy by living together in New York City for a year.

Steel creates a touching story of family pulling together to create beauty out of something so heartbreaking, and I absolutely loved it!

For book #19, I read Jay Asher's "Thirteen Reasons Why," which follows good-guy Clay Jensen and tortured soul Hannah Baker, speaking from the grave.

Clay is one of 13 people to receive a mysterious package containing cassette tapes with messages from Hannah. Each person listening to the tapes is in some way, according to Hannah, responsible for her suicide.

Asher's storytelling is unique, mesmerizing and sad, and it reminds all of us of a critically important message: learn the potential warning signs a person may be suicidal and don't be afraid to act if you see them.

With book #20, I got to check out "Look Again" by Lisa Scottoline, and this one hit especially close to home for two reasons: I'm a mother of a young son, and my college degree is in print journalism.

"Look Again" focuses on Philadelphia newspaper reporter and single mom Ellen Gleeson, who gets the shock of a lifetime when she thinks she recognizes the face of her adopted son Will on a "Have You Seen This Child?" flyer she gets in the mail. The journalist and mother in Ellen won't let her ignore the flyer, so she decides to investigate.

My heart was in my throat the entire time because I cannot even imagine how horrible my life would be if I ever had my son taken away from me. Scottoline's story felt so real to me, and I can tell you that, by the end, I was practically cheering out loud.

On to book #21..."Secrets" by Danielle Steel.