Thursday, December 31, 2015

Bookish Goals Status Update: December 2015


In an effort to help keep myself on track, I am going to post monthly status updates showing where I stand for each of my 2015 Goals.

  • Read and review at least 40 books - 
    1. Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
    2. The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
    3. Splintered by A.G. Howard
    4. The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
    5. Slammed by Colleen Hoover\
    6. The Iron Trial by Holly Black & Cassandra Clare
    7. The Inventor's Secret by Andrea Cremer
    8. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
    9. Inking Him by Cora Carmack
    10. The 5th Horseman by James Patterson
    11. Alienated by Melissa Landers
    12. Spirit Bound By Richelle Mead
    13. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist - Rachel Cohn
    14. Miss. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs
    15. Sweet by Tammara Webber
    16. All Fall Down by Ally Carter
    17. Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover
    18. The Heir by Kiera Cass
    19. Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead
    20. The Fine Art of Pretending by Rachel Harris
    21. The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
    22. Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter
    23. Jesse's Girl by Miranda Kenneally
    24. The Trials by Stacey Kade
    25. Finding It by Cora Carmack
    26. The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
    27. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
    28. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
    29. Because of Anya by Margaret Peterson Haddix
    30. The Copper Gauntlet by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
    31. The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
    32. Invisibility by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan
    33. Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens
    34. Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
    35. Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
    36. Rooms by Lauren Oliver
    37. The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black
    38. Until Midnight by Melissa Landers
    39. Die Once More by Amy Plum
    40. The Queen's Army by Marissa Meyer
  • Reach Level 2 (12-23 pts) in the New to You reading challenge at Herding Cats & Burning Soup.
    1. Splintered by A.G. Howard - New Author & New Series
    2. The Signature of All Things - New Author
    3. Slammed by Colleen Hoover - New Author & New Series
    4. The Iron Trial - New Series
    5. The Inventor's Secret - New Series and New Genre (Steampunk)
    6. Alienated - New Author and New Series
    7. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - New Author & New Series
    8. All Fall Down - New Series
    9. The Fine Art of Pretending - New Author
    10. The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - New Author and New Series
    11. Jesse's Girl by Miranda Kennealy - New Author
    12. Cinder by Marissa Meyer - New Author and New Series
    13. Because of Anya by Margaret Peterson Haddix - New Author
    14. The Distance Between Us by Kasie West - New Author
    15. Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens - New Author
    16. Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins - New Author
  • Read at least 10 New Adult books
    1. Slammed by Colleen Hoover
    2. Sweet by Tammara Webber
    3. Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover
    4. Finding It by Cora Carmack
    • Read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 
      •  I FINALLY Finished reading the Harry Potter series.  
    • Finish reading at least 5 series I have already started.  (I have several trilogies with final books I still need to read.
      1. The Retribution of Mara Dyer - 3rd and final book in the Mara Dyer series
      2. Last Sacrifice - 6th and final book in the Vampire Academy series
      3. The Trials by Stacey Kade - 3rd and final book in the Project Paper Doll series
      4. Finding It by Cora Carmack - 3rd and final book in the Losing It series
      5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - 7th book in the Harry Potter series
    • Attend a book convention
      • I don't make it to a convention this year, but I'm registered for BEA in Chicago next May!!
    • Read at least 20 books from my TBR list that are not 2015 new releases for the TBR Pile Reading Challenge.
      1. The Retribution of Mara Dyer - Released 11/4/2014
      2. Splintered by A.G. Howard - Released 1/1/2013
      3. The Signature of All Things - Released 5/1/2012
      4. Slammed by Colleen Hoover- Released 1/4/2012
      5. The Iron Trial by Black & Clare - Released 9/9/2014
      6. The Inventor's Secret - Released 4/22/2014
      7. Eleanor & Park - Released 2/26/2013
      8. The 5th Horseman - Released 1/1/2006
      9. Alienated - Released 2/4/2014
      10. Spirit Bound - Released 5/18/2010
      11. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist - Released 5/23/2006
      12. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Released 6/7/2011
      13. Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover - Released May 2013
      14. Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead - Released 12/7/2010
      15. The Fine Art of Pretending by Rachel Harris - Released 9/30/2014
      16. The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - Released 11/5/2013
      17. Only the Good Spy Young - Released 6/29/2010
      18. Finding It by Cora Carmack - Released 10/15/2013
      19. The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan - Released 5/5/2007
      20. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Released 1/1/2007
      21. Cinder by Marissa Meyer - Released 1/3/2012
      22. Because of Anya by Margaret Peterson Haddix - Released 5/1/2004
      23. The Distance Between Us by Kasie West - Released 7/2/2013
      24. Invisibility by Andrea Cremer & David Levithan - Released 5/7/2013
      25. Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens - Released 2/25/2014
      26. Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins - Released 5/1/2012
      27. Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan - Released 9/9/2003
      28. Rooms by Lauren Oliver - Released 9/23/2014
      29. Until Midnight by Melissa Landers - Released 12/23/2014
      30. The Queen's Army by Marissa Meyer - Released 11/23/2012
      • Achieve an Advanced level in the Novel Heartbeat 2015 Prequel and Sequel challenge with 51-75 points. 
        1. The Retribution of Mara Dyer - 12 points for a sequel + finishing a series
        2. The 5th Horseman - 2 points for a sequel
        3. Spirit Bound - 2 points for a sequel
        4. Sweet by Tammara Webber - 2 points for a sequel
        5. Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover - 2 points for a sequel
        6. The Heir by Kiera Cass - 2 points for a sequel
        7. Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead - 2 points for sequel, 10 points for finishing a series
        8. Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter - 2 points for sequel
        9. The Trials by Stacey Kade - 2 points for sequel, 10 points for finishing a series
        10. Losing It by Cora Carmack - 2 points for a sequel, 10 points for finishing a series
        11. The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan - 2 points for a sequel
        12. Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows - 2 points for a sequel, 10 pts for finishing a series
        13. The Copper Gauntlet by Black and Clare - 2 points for a sequel
        14. Until Midnight by Melissa Landers - 2 points for a sequel
        15. Die Once More by Amy Plum - 2 points for a sequel
        16. The Queen's Army by Marissa Meyer - 2 points for a prequel
                                                          Total Points = 82
      • Complete 2 half marathons during 2015
        1. I ran the Capital City Half Marathon on May 2, 2015
        2. I started training for the Glass City Half Marathon, which is scheduled for April 2016

      Wednesday, December 30, 2015

      Review: The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

      The Darkest Part of the Forest

      Hazel and Ben are a brother and sister who have grown up in the unusual town of Fairfold.  The locals know all of the "rules" to keep yourself safe from the monsters that live in the forest, but it is never safe for a tourist.  The faeries prey upon the unsuspecting visitors who come to visit the prince, who has been sleeping in the forest for generations.  The local high school students routinely gather around his glass casket to party, but the prince has had an even greater impact on the lives of Hazel and Ben.  While their parents were busy working, the siblings spent hours talking to the prince and pretending to kill the monsters in the forest.

      One day, it is discovered that the prince is no longer in his casket.  Where did he go?  How did he escape? Is his disappearance related to the increase in violence in Fairfold?  

      Holly weaves a wonderful tale that connects the human world with that of the faeries.  There is a boy named Jack, who is considered to be a "changeling".  He is an immortal fairy who has grown up with a human family in Fairfold.  Through him we are able to see how life on the other side really is.  While the faeries are known for their trickery, they aren't all bad.  There is more to the mystery of the "monster" than one can imagine and his or her true identity is not as obvious as it first appears.

      The book started out a little slow for me, but it really took off about 100 pages in.  Once Hazel and Carter began working together to solve Farifold's mysteries, I simply could not put it down.  There are a couple of love stories that add an additional element of interest as well.

      I haven't read Holly's Modern Faerie Tale series, but I am definitely intrigued by it now that I have completed this book.  I have added the first book in the series to my TBR list and hope to get to it soon.  Well...that is a relative term when your TBR list contains over 300 books, but I do look forward to reading it some day.

      Thursday, December 24, 2015

      Review: Rooms by Lauren Oliver

      Rooms

      I've read Lauren Oliver's Delirium series and Panic, so I am well aware of her YA books.  I knew this was an adult book when I tried to pick up a copy at BEA a couple of years ago, but I obviously forgot in the meantime.  I downloaded the audio book and started listening to it on a road trip with my ten-year-old son and quickly discovered that it is NOT appropriate for younger readers.  After a couple of "bad words" and some content he hopefully didn't understand, I had to pull the plug for the rest of that trip.  

      Rooms is told from multiple character's points of view, which I found to be very entertaining.  Alice and Sandra are both ghosts who were former residents of the home they "haunt", for lack of a better word.  Richard Walker was the most recent owner of the home, but he recently passed away and his ex-wife, Caroline, teenage son Trenton and adult daughter Minna are there to settle his affairs.

      Trenton and Minna haven't been to their childhood home in years, so their return stirs up a number of old memories.  In addition, Trenton was involved in a car accident prior to the start of the book that nearly killed him.  He believes it was this near death experience that is causing him to hear ghosts in the house.  Caroline, Trenton, and Minna are all battling their own demons, but hearing ghosts is even a stretch for them.

      The majority of the book is an unraveling of the lives of the ghosts as well as the living.  There are a number of finely woven details that link the past with the present and several surprising revelations.  I don't think I was quite as close to the edge of my seat as I was reading Panic, but this was still an excellent ghost store and a solid debut into the world of adult fiction for Lauren.

      The only negative that I perceived was the somewhat crude language that was dispersed throughout the book.  I read a lot of YA and NA, so I'm definitely not used to it.  Some adult content and language is fine, but I thought it was excessive in places and could have been toned down.  

      Monday, December 14, 2015

      Review: Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

      Boy Meets Boy

      I have read several of Levithan's collaborations (Dash & Lily's Book of Dares, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, and Invisibility) and really enjoyed them, so I decided it was time to read one of his solo books.

      Boy Meets Boy tells the story of a high school boy named Paul who has known and embraced the fact that he is gay since kindergarten.  While I have lived in a very accepting area near Columbus, Ohio for sixteen years, which received a brief mention in this book, I don't think I have ever experienced a town or school like Paul's.  For example...the starting quarterback is a drag queen as well as the homecoming queen.  It seemed like most of the town was openly LGBT, or perhaps that is just the side of things that is presented from Paul's point-of-view.  Everyone seemed so supportive and accepting until we meet Tony's parents.  Tony is Paul's long time friend, but he is a sharp contrast to Paul.  His parents are very religious and believe Paul is the devil's influence on their son.  It was great to see how Tony slowly asserted his independence and stood up to his parents.

      The remainder of the story is a love story.  Paul first meets Noah at a book store and quickly discovers he is a new student at his school.  It takes a few days for Paul to reconnect with Noah, but their relationship soon escalates until Paul manages to botch everything up.  Now he has to figure out how he can earn back Noah's trust.  

      I honestly didn't realize this book was written in 2003.  I added it to my TBR list in March 2014, so I guess I was assuming it was written shortly before then.  If that were the case, I don't think this story would have been such a far reaching piece of fiction.  With the legalization of gay marriage and other recent events, I don't think Boy Meets Boy is that far from today's reality.

      Overall, this was a short and very entertaining story that kept me engaged from start to finish.  It was a very eye opening read that I will not soon forget.

      Thursday, December 10, 2015

      Movie Review: Paper Towns

      Image result for paper towns movie

      It has been a REALLY long time since I have watched a movie before reading the book, but I was on the waiting list to get this movie from the library for quite some time.  I only had a 7 day window of opportunity to watch the movie, since renewing it was definitely not an option.  I was in the middle of two books already, so I had to make an executive decision.  

      I was expecting this movie to be the next The Fault in Our Stars....with fewer tears.  It didn't quite live up to my expectations.  

      While I could appreciate the fact that map makers created "paper towns" when making their maps, I couldn't quite correlate that to a person's feelings or a character's view of a vibrant city.  

      The story is told from Quentin's point of view.  He is a high school senior who has always been on the straight and narrow path.  He doesn't go to parties, gets good grades, wants to go to med school, etc.  I enjoyed his interactions with his good friends, Radar and Ben.  I could appreciate him wanting to revive his childhood friendship with Margo, but she wasn't exactly a likable character.  She is the exact opposite of Quentin.  She sneaks out of her house, goes to parties, and came across as very self centered and vindictive.  I really didn't think she was worth all of the trouble Quentin and his friends went through to decode Margo's clues behind her disappearance.  

      The most enjoyable part of this movie was watching Quentin experience life to the fullest for the fist time.  Perhaps that was the real message to this story, but I'm not exactly sure.  He had a night of mischief with Margo, went to his first party, took a road trip with friends, and even went to the prom...all within the last few weeks of his high school experience.  

      I am glad I waited to get this movie from the library instead of spending the money to see it in the theater.  It was entertaining enough to keep me engage for a couple of hours, but I would have been disappointed if I had shelled out theater prices for this one.  I'm actually a little leery about reading the book now.  I know...the book is always better than the movie, so I'm sure I will read it eventually, but it isn't going to miraculously reach the top of my TBR list based upon this performance.

      Sunday, November 29, 2015

      Review: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

      Sweet Evil (The Sweet Trilogy, #1)

      My goal for this year was to complete five series I had already started.  Now that I have finished the Vampire Academy, Harry Potter, Losing It, Project Paper Dolls and Mara Dyer series, I decided to start a few new series.  The Sweet Trilogy is one that has been on my TBR list for a while.  On the plus side, there is no waiting between books.  All three books are currently available and there is even a fourth book, which is more of a companion novel, told from Kaidan's point of view.  I honestly can't wait to read Kaidan's book, Sweet Temptation, but Wendy Higgins suggests reading it after the trilogy if you want to fully appreciate it.  

      Sweet Evil is about a sixteen-year-old girl named Anna who has always known she was different.  For example...What child can remember their own birth?  She also has heightened senses, which have developed over the years.  She has been living a rather normal life with her adoptive mother, Patti, until the day she meets Kaidan, the gorgeous drummer from a local band named Lascivious.  She discovers he has similar abilities to hers and there are others like them around the world.  He begins teaching her about life as a Nephilim.  They are the children of fallen angels and their lives are not really their own.  They are expected to work for their fathers and spread evil amongst the human population.  

      To complicate thing further, Anna's mother was an angel.  She is pulled not only  towards her father's vice, which is drugs and alcohol, but she is filled with good from her mother.  The majority of the book is a road trip across the country to meet Anna's father.  He is nothing like she thought he would be.  He is actually very protective of Anna compared to how the other Dukes treat their children.  

      There is a strong attraction that develops between Anna and Kaidan, but they have to distance themselves from each other because of the Dukes' views of Nephilim.  They are considered to be nothing more than their father's property and could be killed if they do not live up to their expectations. 

      I absolutely loved this book and can hardly wait to pick up a copy of the next book in the series.  I enjoyed how the Nephilim stuck together and tried to protect one another as best they could.  I really hope they are able to overcome their circumstances and can achieve happiness by the end of the series.  

      Tuesday, November 24, 2015

      Fitch Path by Todd Corley




      FITCH PATH
      A Cautionary Tale About A Moose, Millennials, 
      Leadership & Transparency
      by Todd Corley

      About the Book

      As the Millennial (Generation Y) workforce swells and iGens (Generation Z) increasingly enter the workforce, the demand for trusted, transparent and authentic leadership is reaching 'fever pitch'. Driven by social media and unfazed by privacy concerns, younger generations are forging cultural shifts that are upending traditional leadership values and practices. Resisting the call for hyper-ethical workplaces, [Baby Boomer] leaders in favor of "business as usual" find themselves and their organizations at grave risk.

      Fitch Path is a cautionary tale about how to navigate generationally-driven shifts in beliefs and values. It goes inside the iconic brand, Abercrombie & Fitch, and explores how Millennials and iGens reshaped the self-conscious symbol of American youth and coolness and forged cultural transformation.

      Author Todd Corley, former Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) Senior Vice President & Global Chief Diversity Officer and liaison to the A&F Board of Directors’ Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, witnessed first-hand the impact of Millennials and rising iGens during his ten years at Abercrombie & Fitch from his office at the World Headquarters located on Fitch Path in New Albany, Ohio (2004 – 2014). His tenure at Abercrombie & Fitch overlapped several high profile discrimination cases including Gonzalez v. Abercrombie, which was at the epicenter of a $50M class-action settlement mandating his position be created and EEOC v. Abercrombie, which was argued
      in front of- and decided by-the U.S. Supreme Court fifteen months after he decided to leave the company. In that case, the U.S. Supreme Court rendered an 8 – 1 decision on June 1st, 2015 in favor of a Muslim woman who wore a hijab to her job interview.

      In Fitch Path, he examines the needs, wants and expectations of the emerging workforce majority recognizing that by 2020, Millennials and iGens will represent nearly 60% of the US workforce and offers solutions to help prepare today's leaders and organizations for the inevitable reality: transparency is the new normal.

      Fitch Path serves as a generational marker, recognizing current challenges, signaling approaching opportunities and helping us all understand the coming shifts. It outlines four guiding principles – transparency, authenticity, persistence & optimism – and offers battle tested strategies for managing today’s workplace. The lessons learned are transferable and applicable across industry and sector (public vs. private).

      Links to Purchase


      Coyer Challenge Signup - Challenge runs Dec 19th - March 4th

      hosted by Berls, Michelle and Stormi!
      hosted by Berls, Michelle and Stormi!
      I participated in my first ever COYER challenge last summer and LOVED it, so I couldn't wait for the winter sign up.  

      My goal is going to be to read 1 book per week for the challenge, which will clear out 11 books from my eReader.  I have a ton on physical books to read as well as read alongs that I have to complete for Book Nerds Across America, so 11 will actually be a pretty big challenge.

      After a quick glance at the files currently on my nook and kindle apps, I anticipate reading the following books as part of the winter challenge.  Of course, this is subject to change.  I will mark the books as read throughout the challenge and revise the list as necessary.
      1. Until Midnight by Melissa Landers - Completed 12/29/2015
      2. Die Once More by Amy Plum - Completed 12/30/2015
      3. The Queen's Army by Marissa Meyer - Completed 12/30/2015
      4. The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black - Completed 12/25/2015
      5. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
      6. First Family by David Baldacci
      7. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
      8. Never Never by Colleen Hoover
      9. Bitter Pill by Stacey Kade
      10. Love Show by Audrey Bell
      11. The Academy - First Days by C.L. Stone
      12. All Lined Up by Cora Carmack
      Challenge Description:

      Have you been a little over eager with your mouse when browsing Kindle Freebies? Or maybe those books on Netgalley were just too hard to resist? Are your free reads sitting in your E-reader, neglected, just waiting for when you have time to get to them? Well now is the time with the “Clean Out Your E-reads Challenge”
      That’s right we are Going Back to Basics this winter! For 3 months we are going old school. If you have been with us since the beginning you already know the rules – the only thing we added is Audiobooks. If you are new to COYER then welcome!  You can find a complete list of the rules in Because of Reading's signup post.
      The challenge will take place December 19th to March 4th and will be hosted by Fantasy is More FunBecause Reading & Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My! 

      Monday, November 23, 2015

      Review: Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens

      Faking Normal

      Faking Normal is a YA contemporary about a high school junior named Alexi.  She is struggling emotionally after an assault that took place a couple of months prior to the start of the book.  She has been hiding her pain from her family and friends, but she can’t fool Bodee. 

      Bodee and Alexi have known each other since childhood, but they were nothing more than acquaintances until the death of Bodee’s mother.  They are both concealing their secrets as best they can, but they can see through each other's pain.  As their friendship builds, they begin to confide in one another.  They help each other cope in healthier ways than they resorted to on their own.  Together, they regain their strength and confidence.  

      I don’t want to give away too much of the story, so I will simply say this was an exceptional book.  I have to thank Amy Plum, author of the Revenants series, for sharing it with me.  Amy tweeted about it a while back, but that is probably the only time I have heard of this book.  I added it to my to-be-read list and I am thankful that I did.

      The story was very well written and presented a difficult subject matter in a way that readers can learn and benefit from.  The only thing I can compare it to is Bitter End by Jennifer Brown, which I also loved.  I never would have picked up either of these books based solely on the descriptions due to the heavy topics, but they left a lasting impression that I will not soon forget. 

      I would highly recommend Faking Normal to every YA reader.  This is the type of book I would have loved to have read as part of an English class growing up.  The story is gripping and the characters are engaging.  Students would enjoy reading this book while learning in the process.  

      Wednesday, November 11, 2015

      Review: Invisibility by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan

      Invisibility

      Invisibility is about a boy named Stephen who has been invisible his entire life.  His grandfather is a cursecaster and placed the curse on his mother well before he was conceived.  Nobody has ever been able to see him until Elizabeth moves into his building.  He starts to get his hopes up that the curse may be wearing off, but he quickly discovers that others are still not able to see him.  But why can Elizabeth see him? That is the BIG unanswered question.

      I enjoyed seeing how Stephen's life changed once he could actually engage with the world.  While it was a shock to Elizabeth when she found out he was invisible, it allowed Stephen to become friends with her brother Laurie, who is the go-getter in the group.  If it weren't for Laurie, the book probably would have come to an abrupt halt less than halfway through.  Laurie decides that they need to set out on a quest to uncover the truth behind Stephen's curse with the hopes of finding a cure.

      The rest of the book is a whirlwind of bad magic.  Stephen's grandfather arrives in New York and there are evil curses showing up everywhere.  Not just the petty curses the spellseekers are used to seeing in New York, but much bigger things that rival Stephen's curse.  Elizabeth meets an older woman with abilities similar to hers, but not nearly as powerful.  The woman teaches her the history of spellseekers and cursecasters while helping her hone her skills.  

      The book culminates with an epic battle, but the ending was a huge disappointment.  After everything Elizabeth, Stephen, and Laurie went through, I was expecting a certain ending.  The authors left a sense of hope for the future, but in this case, I think they needed to spell it out.  

      I debated between 2 and 3 stars and decided to go with 3 simply because it wasn't as disappointing as the other books I have already given 2 stars.  On the other hand...it wasn't nearly as good as some of the books I have given 3 stars.  I really wish Goodreads would allow 1/2 stars because this book is definitely more of a 2.5 than a 3.

      Monday, October 26, 2015

      Review: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

      The Distance Between Us

      The Distance Between Us is about a seventeen year old girl named Caymen Meyers.  Her mother became pregnant with her at a young age and her parents essentially disowned her.  Her father fled before she was born and his wealthy parents paid her mother to keep quiet.  As a result, her mother is the only family she has ever known.  

      Her mother used the money to open a doll store, which has been their life ever since.  They live above the store and Caymen helps out whenever she isn't in school.  She has learned from her mother's experience and years of warnings to never trust the rich.  This is why she was immediately put off when the charming, attractive, and obviously rich Xander Spence entered her store.  As their relationship begins to build, she is constantly doubting his motives.  

      As the story progresses, Caymen begins to realize her mother has been keeping things from her.  She begins to question everything she was taught and finally allows herself to live her own life and make her own decisions.

      First of all...how could anyone not love Xander Spence?  He started out a bit conceited and sure of himself, but underneath the pretty exterior he is very thoughtful and sweet.  Caymen, on the other hand, is sarcastic and snarky.  While it was funny at times, I felt like she was masking her own insecurities and shortcomings by lashing out at others.  Her misguided stereotypes prevented her from opening up to others and expanding her horizons.

      I enjoyed the story, but I felt like the fact that Xander is very wealthy and Caymen is poor was a forced subject in the book.  Rather than focusing on the feelings, relationships, and events of the story the reader is constantly reminded of the fact that he is rich....and the rich can't be trusted.  Caymen constantly feels like she is playing Cinderella and eventually the coach will turn into a pumpkin and it will all come to an end, even though Xander never gives her a reason to believe that is the case.

      This is the first book by Kasie West that I have read. Overall, I enjoyed the story and characters and thought the dialog was well written.  As her writing evolves, I hope she will give her readers a little more credit and allow them to interpret things for themselves.  Not everything has to be spelled out in black and white and certainly not multiple times.

      Pivot Point is the next book by Kasie West that I plan on reading.  I have read some decent reviews and would love to hear your thoughts on that series.

      Monday, October 12, 2015

      Review: The Copper Gauntlet by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

      The Copper Gauntlet (Magisterium, #2)


      The Copper Gauntlet is the second book in the Magisterium series.  While I thoroughly enjoyed the Iron Trial, I felt like there were a lot of similarities with the Harry Potter series.  This book, however, took the series into a direction completely its own.  Instead of focusing on Callum's second year at the Magisterium, the story follows the characters as they set out on a mission to find a stolen magical object.  This object could cause significant harm to two of the characters, but they put their own safety aside for the greater good.

      Good vs. Evil is an important theme.  Callum discovered the real reason his father didn't want him to attend the Magistarium at the end of the Iron Trial.  He has been processing this information, but he is not willing to share this knowledge with even his closest friends.  Instead, he keeps an internal log of all of his good and evil thoughts and actions in the hopes that he can prove his father wrong.  His internal dialog is absolutely hilarious and helps to lighten an otherwise serious situation.  

      I often struggle with finding books my ten-year-old son will enjoy.  He likes the Percy Jackson series, but he was a little overwhelmed by the size of the Harry Potter books once he was further along in the series.  This series is fast paced, action packed and should easily capture the attention of young girls and boys alike.  It will not intimidate young readers and is a great introduction to fantasy worlds.  I will definitely recommend it to him.  Hopefully we will be able to read the third book together!!

      Friday, October 9, 2015

      Review: Because of Anya by Margaret Peterson Haddix

      Because of Anya

      Because of Anya is a short story that my fifth grade son's teacher read to the class.  My son was in and out of school for the better part of a week and ultimately spent four days in the hospital before we got him back on track.  He is doing great now, but he was behind on this assignment and needed to catch up, so we read this book together.

      The story is told from both Anya and Keely's point of view.  The girls are in fourth grade and have been in the same class since kindergarten.  They aren't close friends, but they have played together at school for almost five years.  One day, Keely's friends notice that Anya is wearing a wig and assume she must have cancer.  They are concerned about her, but don't know how to handle the situation.

      We discover that Anya actually has a condition known as alopecia areata, which is an allergic reaction to her own hair.  We see how Anya and her family cope with the situation and the fears they experience.

      I was not aware of this condition prior to reading the book.  The story is very informative and a great way to broach the subjects of illness, empathy, and compassion with young readers.  My son could easily relate to the story since the characters are close to his age.  He understood how something like this could happen to him or one of his friends and the importance of supporting one another.  

      I was originally concerned that it would be sad and depressing, but it wasn't.   I would definitely recommend sharing and discussing this book with middle grade children.

      Tuesday, September 15, 2015

      Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

      Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1)

      With the upcoming release of the final book in this series, Winter, I decided to join the Lunar Chronicles Read Along hosted by The Book Addict's Guide.

      Cinder is a unique twist on the traditional Cinderella story.  Cinder is a cyborg, which is someone who is part human and part machine.  Her step-father died from an illness shortly after her arrival and her step-mother blames her for no apparent reason.  There are of course two step-sisters to keep with the original story.

      Rather than having to scrub the floors and clean the house, Cinder is one of the best mechanics in the area.  She can repair just about any mechanical device, but all of the money she earns goes to her step-mother.  As a cyborg, she is technically the property of her step-mother and is not considered a free citizen.

      The story is set well into the future in New Beijing, which is one of the rebuilt cities after the fourth world war.  Earth has been trying to establish a treaty with the Lunar people for over a decade, but the Lunar Queen's demands have been unreasonable.  The Lunar Queen hopes that the newly crowned Emperor of New Beijing will finally be her chance to control Earth as well as the moon.  With a plague spreading across Earth, the Queen may have something to offer that the Emperor will not be able to refuse.

      Overall, I found this book to be very entertaining.  I loved "prince charming" (Emperor Kai) and can't wait to see how things unfold her him and his people in the next book in the series.  He is in a very difficult spot with the manipulative queen, but I feel like he will have some leverage as this series progresses.  There is also hope for Cinder.  She is more valuable than she ever imagined and may finally be able to gain her independence and more.  I wish there had been a little more to this love story, but hopefully that will escalate throughout the series.    

      Thursday, September 3, 2015

      Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

      Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, #7)

      This series has been on my reading bucket list for a LONG time.  I read the first three books when they were released, books 4 and 5 in 2010, and book 6 in 2012.  I planned on reading book 7 as part of my "bookish goals" for the past two years, but I never get around to it.  Thanks to the COYER scavenger hunt I had to read the oldest book on my TBR list, so Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows finally made it to the top of the list.

      I don't think I need to provide a lengthy description of this book since I am probably the last person on the planet to read it.  Voldomort is controlling the wizarding world and he is on a quest to track down and kill Harry.  Prior to Dumbeldore's death, he gave Harry one final mission.  He must find and destroy all of the Horcruxes.  (Horcruxes are magical objects containing a portion of Voldemort's soul.  He can't be killed as long as the Hurcruxes exist.)  As part of his will, Dumbledore left a couple of items to Harry and something for both Ron and Hermione.  None of them could understand why the gifts were left to them, but they eventually discover their meaning.  We also learn what the Deathly Hallows are and why the are important.

      My favorite part of this book was the final 100 pages.  I really enjoyed seeing some of Snape's memories and discovering how the relationship between Dumbledore and Snape evolved.  I was just as shocked as Harry by some of the conversations and events we were able to observe.  There is far more to Snape than I ever gave him credit for.  On the other hand, Dumbledore and his intentions were not always as noble as I had thought.

      As the stakes and violence increase, so do the number of deaths on both sides.  I managed to avoid spoilers all of these years and couldn't believe some of the characters that J.K. Rowling killed off throughout this book.  As if Harry hadn't experience enough loss in his 17 years, everything culminates in at EPIC battle at Hogwarts.

      To soften the ending, Rowling added a nice epilogue set nineteen years in the future.

      I have only watched the first four movies in this series, but I plan on watching all of them from the beginning now that I have completed the series.

      I also can't wait to go to the Harry Potter park in Orlando over spring break this year.  I've been wanting to go for years, but I refused to go before completing the series.  This actually worked to my advantage since my son is now reading the series and is old enough to appreciate the experience as well.

      Friday, August 21, 2015

      Review: The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

      The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #3)

      The Titan's Curse is the third book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.  In this installment, the Hero's and Hunters need to work together to save Artemis, the Goddess of the Hunters, and Annabeth, who went missing early on in this book.  The Oracle informs one of the hunters, Zoe Nightshade, that... 

      "Five shall go west to the goddess in chains, 
      One shall be lost in the land without rain, 
      The bane of Olympus shows the trail,
      Campers and Hunters combined prevail,
      The Titan's curse must one withstand,
      And one shall perish by a parent's hand."

      Percy, Thalia, Grover, Zoe and Bianca must rescue Artemis and Annabeth prior to the winter solstice, which is when the Council of the Gods is scheduled to take place.  To add to the excitement, Luke and Kronos are still trying to conquer the Olympians.  They will stop at nothing in their attempts to prevent the hunters and heroes from completing their quest.

      I really enjoy seeing how Rick Riordan twists Greek mythology into these stories.  We meet several Gods and Goddesses including Apollo, the son of Zeus and the twin brother of Artemis, who offers the heroes a ride in his sun chariot.  The hero's also receive assistance from Annabeth's mother Aphrodite...the goddess of love and beauty.  We discover that the "Titan's Curse" has to do with Atlas bearing the weight of the heavens on his shoulders.  

      I have been reading this series with my ten-year-old son and he has really enjoyed learning about the Greek Gods and Goddesses.  Unless a student decides to study Latin, which I did in high school, I don't believe kids are exposed to these ancient stories.  Riordan does an excellent job of weaving the myths into an action packed and entertaining story that people of all ages can enjoy and appreciate.  I would definitely recommend sharing this series with elementary and middle school children as well as reading it for your own enjoyment.

      Monday, August 17, 2015

      Review: Finding It by Cora Carmack

      Finding It (Losing It, #3)

      Finding It is the third book in the Losing It series.  While I would definitely recommend reading all three books in order, Finding It can be read as a stand-alone.  I did not feel like that was the case with the second book in the series, Faking It, which carried over quite a bit of content and tension from the previous book.

      This book  focuses on one of the secondary characters in Losing It, Kelsey Summers.  She recently graduated from college with a degree in acting and decides to travel across Europe before settling into real life back in the states.  She is from a wealthy family, but contrary to her father's belief, money can't buy happiness.  She has had a difficult past and is trying to cope in not the most positive of ways.

      Kelsey meets Jackson Hunt in a bar and is VERY interested in him.  He doesn't seem to show the same level of interest, but we quickly learn that he is battling his own demons stemming from his time in the military.  We don't learn much more about him or the events that caused him to take some time off to find himself, but these two lost soles seem to gravitate to each other.  They spend a week traveling and are having the time of their lives until something is revealed that could tear them apart forever.

      I don't think this book was nearly as good as the first two in the series, but I did enjoy the story.  The characters were interesting, but I wish Cora would have revealed more about Hunt earlier in the story.  I would have liked to have connected with his character a little more.  I also couldn't relate to the way Kelsey was trying to drink and party her problems away.  It must be nice to have your parent's credit card to travel Europe for as long as you want, but it didn't seem realistic to me.

      By the end of the book, Kelsey did change considerably.  She began to take responsibility for her life and became an independent character one could actually admire.  I felt like Jackson and Kelsey were a great source of support for each other and brought some much needed light back into each other's lives.

      I ended up giving this book 3 stars and used it for my COYER Scavenger hunt entry for topic 75 - "Step out of your comfort zone and read a book in a genre you have read less than 5 times this year."  This is my 4th New Adult book of the year.

      Tuesday, July 21, 2015

      Review: The Trials by Stacey Kade

      The Trials (Project Paper Doll, #3)

      The Trials is the third and final book in the Project Paper Doll series and resumes pretty much where the previous book left off.  Zane is missing and Ariane is back in her quarters at GTX after being captured by her creator, Dr. Jacobs.  She believes Zane  is dead and feels she has nothing further to lose in the trials.  She is willing to sacrifice herself to ensure that no future alien/human hybrids are produced.  She continues to hone her skills while devising a plan to wipe out all of the major players in the trials.

      Everything is going as planned until she discovers that Zane is alive and is now a part of the trials.  What???  How can a human become part of this competition?  You will need to read the book if you want to find out :)

      The majority of the book focuses on the trials, which are held in Chicago.  My step-sister lives in Chicago, so I have had the chance to tour and see many of the landmarks, museums, etc. that are mentioned throughout the book.  Using real locations helps to more accurately visualize the setting.  It also allowed Stacey to focus on the plot and character development, which is definitely a plus.

      The pace and action continued to escalate as the stakes increased throughout the trials.  The contestants realize not everyone is going to come out of this competition alive, but there is more on the line than they ever imagined.  They will need to work together if any of them wants to walk away from this alive.

      Overall, this was an excellent conclusion to the series.  There were several surprises and a few new characters to keep the story interesting.  The relationship development between Zane and Ariane was very believable and the characters remained true to themselves.  I also loved the tie in between the the first book and the conclusion.  While "The Rules" may have changed, there will always be rules to follow as long as GTX and similar corporations are in existence.

      I would like to give Stacey a HUGE thank you for mentioning my blog in the acknowledgements.  I actually finished the book an hour into a five hour flight and desperately wanted to tweet her as soon as I saw it.  My husband and son were both asleep, so I couldn't even share my excitement with them until just prior to landing.  I thoroughly enjoyed both her Project Paper Doll and Ghost and the Goth series and would definitely recommend them to any YA fan.

      COYER Scavenger Hunt Entry #74: The last book in a series.

      Monday, July 6, 2015

      Review: Jesse's Girl by Miranda Kenneally

      Jesse's Girl (Hundred Oaks)

      This is the first book by Miranda Kenneally that I have read and I absolutely loved it.  Jesse is an eighteen year old country music star and Maya is a high school senior who is an aspiring musician.  Her musical taste is more towards the 80's, so getting paired with Jesse for a job shadowing assignment by her principal was not nearly as appealing as it would have been for most girls her age. 

      Jesse and Maya have a very awkward first encounter, but their day of shadowing turned out to be one of the best days of either of their lives.  Picture Ferris Bueller's Day Off... Nashville style.  Maya realizes how talented Jesse is and begins to really appreciate the musical advice he gives her.  For Jesse...Maya is a breath of fresh air that he has desperately been needing.  Life in the music business has caused him to isolate himself from everyone except his immediate family and managers.  He has been burned so many times by his supposed "friends" that he has a hard time trusting anyone.  Maya manages to show him that he can still have a life while maintaining his career.

      I haven't given a book 5 stars in a while, but this one was definitely worthy.  I was completely engaged and actually finished the entire book during my lengthy travel day with my family.  My husband even commented that I needed to get my head out of the book.  Once I was finished...I still couldn't put it down.  I was flipping back through to reread some of my favorite scenes and quotes.  

      I have to give Flo a big THANK YOU for sending an ARC of Jesse's Girl to me.

      Wednesday, July 1, 2015

      Review: Only The Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

      Only the Good Spy Young (Gallagher Girls, #4)

      The Gallagher Girls series is really heating up with the fourth installment in the series.  The story starts out with Cammie and Bex on vacation in London.  This trip, however, isn't all fun and games for the girls.  The Circle is still after Cammie and Bex's parents are part of her security detail.  Things take a serious turn when the girls discover who the CIA and MI6 consider the prime suspect.

      When Cammie and Bex return to the Gallagher Academy it is far from business as usual.  They have a new teacher for Covert Operations (CoveOps), Cammie's mother (the headmistress) is nowhere to be found, and Sublevel Two is on lock down.  Cammie, Bex, Liz, and Macey make it their mission to discover what is in the Sublevels that warrants this level of security.  They also need to find out where Cammie's mother and their CoveOps teacher (Mr. Solomon) disappeared to and why they were detained.

      Of course there are a few encounters with Cammie's love interest, Zach, which adds a little spice to the story.  The girls discover more about his past and what life at the Blackthorne Institute for Boys is REALLY like.  Even though their new CoveOps teacher leaves much to be desired, there are still a couple of unofficial CoveOps missions that teach the girls the importance of writing thorough CoveOps reports.

      I was completely shocked with how Ally ended the book and the direction she appears to be taking with the series.  I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I seriously hope one of the spies doesn't take part in a "mission" without backup.

      This is definitely my favorite book in the series so far.  It was a fast read with just enough action to keep the pages turning.  Ally continues to add depth to the story by revealing more about the characters, the history of the Gallagher Academy and Blackthorne Institute, and the history of the Circle.

      I used this book at part of the Summer COYER scavenger hunt.  It qualifies for item #53 - Read a book with half a face on the cover.

      Friday, June 26, 2015

      Review: The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

      The Naturals (The Naturals, #1)

      The Naturals is one of those books that I noticed on several Stacking the Shelves posts a couple of years ago.  I picked up a copy, but it wasn't really at the top of my TBR pile until now.  I'm participating in the COYER scavenger hunt and needed to read a book written by an author with three names.  I scanned all of my unread books and this one practically jumped out at me.

      I can't believe I didn't start this series sooner.  I have been reading the Stephanie Plum, Women's Murder Club, King & Maxwell, and Kay Scarpetta murder mystery series for years, but this is the first time I have come across a YA version.

      Cassie is a seventeen-year-old girl with a natural ability to read people.  Her mother was murdered five years ago and her father is overseas in the military.  When she is asked to join an FBI program for teens with various natural abilities, she jumped at the opportunity.  The program is supposed to sharpen their skills while helping the FBI solve cold cases.

      Dean is the only member of the group who is a natural profiler like Cassie.  Michael is a natural at reading emotions, Leah is a walking lie detector, and Sloane is an encyclopedia who can spit out facts and statistics on just about anything.  One day, The Naturals stumble upon an active murder investigation their supervisors are working on.  Cassie is immediately drawn to it because of the similarities with her mother's case.  They begin working the case and are pulled further into the killer's world than any of them could have imagined was possible.  I was completely shocked when I discovered who the killer was and couldn't believe the lengths he/she went to.

      Overall, this was an excellent start to the series.  I was completely captivated throughout the book and I loved the characters.  I gave the book 4 stars and I can't wait to see what happens next in Killer Instinct.

      Thursday, June 18, 2015

      Review: The Fine Art of Pretending by Rachel Harris

      The Fine Art of Pretending (The Fine Art of Pretending, #1)

      Aly is the one person Brandon connected with after his father died three years prior to the start of this book.  Since then, they have become best friends, but dating has been out of the question.  He is the star of the baseball team and is part of their school's A-list.  He isn't interested in a serious relationship and chooses to casually date a variety of girls.

      Aly is friends with some of the elite, but doesn't consider herself part of that group.  With only her senior year remaining, she decides it is time to get noticed.  She buys all new clothes and makeup, gets a new hair style, and begins to step out of her comfort zone with one goal in mind.  She wants to land a date to homecoming with the hottest guy in the school, who is none other than Brandon's friend Justin.  What better way to get Justin's attention than to pretend to be dating Brandon...Right?  WRONG!!! Aly and Brandon's entire plan backfires when they begin to realize there may be more to their relationship than either of them is willing to admit.

      This was a cute and entertaining story, but I felt like the drama dragged on a lot longer than it should have.  The reader, as well as all of Aly and Brandon's friends, could see what was going on, but Aly and Brandon were too stubborn or afraid to propel the story forward.  I felt like I was stuck in a rut for the longest time, but when I finally broke free....it was over.  The ending was what I expected, but after all of the drama there should have been a few more chapters to cap things off.  Perhaps that is part of Rachel's plan with the companion novel that is scheduled to be released in 2016.  It will focus on Justin, but hopefully there will be some updates on Aly and Brandon to provide some sense of closure to their story.

      I ended up giving this book 3 out of 5 stars.