House of Wolves

Where has the summer gone? I can't believe that school is starting in less than two weeks. Molly's putting in over 20 hours a week in cheerleading practice, and Doogie is spending all of his spare time fixing up his car and getting it ready for the daily drive into town. Mia asks me almost every day if school starts tomorrow. She has her nap mat (Strawberry Shortcake) and most of her supplies; we'll pick up a new backpack on Friday.

It will be a major transition with Mia being in school all day, every day. But the change that's hitting me the hardest is Doogie being a senior. He's having his pictures taken on Sunday. I can't help but think this is the last time I'll register him for high school. This is the last school shopping, the last registration fees, the last pair of gym shoes, etc. I think by the time graduation rolls around in June, I'll have driven him completely crazy with the occasional tears and extra hugs.

House of Wolves by Matt Bronleewe is the second book in the August Adams series, coming after The Illuminated. August, a rare books dealer, is back along with ex-wife April and their son Charlie. August's father has mailed him, what he assumes to be, a copy of The Gospels of Henry the Lion. But August's assumptions quickly shatter when he and Charlie are attacked and on the run for their lives from a mysterious group that calls themselves The Black Vehm and will stop at nothing to obtain the book. April, who has recently become engaged to another man, is soon caught up in the madness as well. The race to uncover the secrets of this book lead them to Antarctica and a lost Nazi stronghold. Bronleewe takes all of the best parts of The DaVinci Code: suspense, strange groups with their roots in truth, mysterious manuscripts and loses the not-so-good stuff: shaky theology and bad dialogue to create another terrific thriller. I love how Bronleewe places his books in a specific time frame. The first book took place during a plane flight, this one during a New York City blackout. It both grounds the story and makes the action fly. August and April's relationship continues to change and grow, and Charlie is a precocious joy. My one complaint about the book was a plot device that seemed to come out of left field (involving the sudden appearance of a previously unknown family member). I hope that Bronleewe works out that kink in the next book. Otherwise, it's a fun, fast-paced book.

Today's pic is my mom, stepdad Jeff, and little bro Jake. It's the last day of camping, can you tell everyone is exhausted?