Monday, December 19, 2016

COYER Challenge Sign-Up


I have been in a bit of a reading funk the last few weeks, so what better way to gear up for the new year than another COYER challenge.

For the full details and the sign-up, click on this link.

I'm not the fastest reader and I may struggle with have to stick with only eBooks under $1, but I'm going to try to post more reviews for this challenge than I did last summer.

The following is the description:

This time COYER is going to be a 12 week Blackout, where you have to dedicate yourself to reading the books YOU ALREDY have acquired for less than $1.00.  The only exception is audio books, which you must have purchased for less than $5.  They must either be eBooks or audio books.

We understand that we’re all constantly acquiring new books,  though.  So we’ve provided you a little relief (believe it or not this was all Michelle!), in the form of a generator.  Every book powers the generator up a little more.  After reading 10 books over 100 pages your generator is fully powered.  Books under 100 pages only provide half the energy… So it would take 20 books under 100 pages to power your generator.
Once your generator is powered up,  you may read ANY one book you want.  Doesn’t matter how much it cost, where you got it,  what format it is.  But your generator only has enough power for ONE book,  so use it immediately and wisely.  You can’t save it to use later,  it’s now or never!
COYER Blackout will run from December 17, 2016 – March 3, 2017. We will leave the linky open 1 extra day for you to get reviews in,  but those reviews need to be posted by the end of the day March 3rd. We will announce winners of (3) $10 gift cards to Amazon or Barnes and Noble on March 4th.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Bookish Goals Status Update: November 2016


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 2016 Goals.

Anything highlighted in gray is currently in progress, but not yet completed.

  • Read and review at least 40 books 
    1. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
    2. First Family by David Baldacci
    3. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
    4. Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan (39 Clues Book 1)
    5. I Survived Hurricane Katrina (I Survived #3)
    6. I Survived the Joplin Tornado (I Survived #12)
    7. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer 
    8. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
    9. One False Note by Gordon Korman (39 Clues #2)
    10. The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis (39 Clues #3)
    11. My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by Stephanie Perkins
    12. Shade Me by Jennifer Brown
    13. Beyond the Grave by Jude Watson (39 Clues #4)
    14. Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
    15. 738 Days by Stacey Kade
    16. Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig
    17. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
    18. The Crown by Kiera Cass
    19. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
    20. The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee
    21. Allegiant by Veronica Roth
    22. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
    23. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
    24. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
    25. The Bronze Key by Cassandra Clare & Holly Black
    26. The Partner by John Grisham
    27. Four to Score by Janet Evanovich
    28. For This Life Only by Stacey Kade
    29. All In by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
    30. The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
    31. The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater
    32. This Girl by Colleen Hoover
  • I am once again participating in the New To You Challenge hosted by Herding Cats & Burning Soup.  I'm going to aim for the "Dipping the Toes" level with 12 - 24 books that qualify. Any book over 80ish pages qualify as long as it is new to you.  New author, new genre, new series, etc. - Goal Complete
    1. Confessions of a Shopaholic  - New series
    2. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey - New author and New Series
    3. Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan - New series
    4. I Survived Hurricane Katrina - New author and New Series
    5. One False Note by Gordon Korman - New author
    6. The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis - New author
    7. Shade Me by Jennifer Brown - New series
    8. Beyond the Grave by Jude Watson (39 Clues) - New author
    9. Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig - New author
    10. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire - New author
    11. The Maze Runner by James Dashner - New author & New Series
    12. The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee - New author & Series
    13. If I Stay by Gayle Forman - New author & Series
  • Read at least 10 New Adult books (My definition of NA = protagonists are post high school, but under 30)
    1. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
    2. 738 Days by Stacey Kade
    3. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
    4. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
    5. This Girl by Colleen Hoover
    6. November 9 by Colleen Hoover
    • Last year I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which was the book that had been on my Goodreads TBR list the longest.  This year, I have 49 books that were all added on September 7, 2010 that would qualify.  I plan on reading at least 3 of them. Goal Complete
      1. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
      2. The Partner by John Grisham 
      3. Four to Score by Janet Evanovich
    • Finish reading at least 5 series I have already started.  (I have several trilogies with final books I still need to read. 
      1. The Crown by Kiera Cass - The Selection Series
      2. Allegiant by Veronica Roth - The Divergent Series
      3. The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater - The Raven Cycle Series
      4. This Girl by Colleen Hoover - The Slammed Series 
    • Attend a book convention - Goal Complete
      • I had an absolute blast at BEA this year.  I posted daily recaps with pictures and highlights in May.
    • I joined the Mount TBR Reading Challenge. My goal is to reach Mount Blanc level - Read 24  books in 2016 that I owned before January 1, 2016.  Ebooks that you own count, but you must own the book....No library books.
      1. First Family by David Baldacci
      2. Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan (39 Clues #1)
      3. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
      4. One False Note by Gordon Korman (39 Clues #2)
      5. The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis (39 Clues #3)
      6. Shade Me by Jennifer Brown
      7. Beyond the Grave by Jude Watson (39 Clues #4)
      8. Allegiant by Veronica Roth (Divergent #3)
      9. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare (Mortal Instruments #3)
      10. The Partner by John Grisham
      11. The Scorch Trials by James Dashner (Maze Runner #2)
      • Achieve a Professional level in the 2016 Prequel and Sequel challenge with 76 - 100 points.  I finished last year with 82 points, so hopefully this year will be similar.  The sign up and description can be found at Novel Heartbeat. (Link Up Quarterly)
        1. First Family - King & Maxwell #4 - 2 points for a sequel 
        2. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer - Lunar Chronicles #2 - 2 points for a sequel
        3. The Girl Who Played with Fire - Millennium series #2 - 2 points sequel
        4. One False Note by Gordon Korman (39 Clues #2) - 2 points sequel
        5. The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis (39 Clues #3) - 2 points sequel
        6. Beyond the Grave by Jude Watson (39 Clues #4) - 2 points sequel
        7. Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (The Naturals #2) - 2 points sequel
        8. The Crown by Kiera Cass (Selection Series #5) - 12 pts (finished series + sequel)
        9. Allegiant by Veronica Roth (Divergent #3) - 12 pts (finished series + sequel)
        10. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare (MI #3) - 2 points sequel
        11. The Bronze Key by Clare & Black (Magisterium #3) - 2 points sequel
        12. Four to Score by Janet Evanovich (Stephanie Plum #4) - 2 points sequel
        13. All In by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (The Naturals #3) - 2 points sequel
        14. The Scorch Trials by James Dashner (Maze Runner #2) - 2 points sequel
        15. The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater (Raven Cycle #4_ - 12 pts (finished series + sequel)
        16. This Girl by Colleen Hoover (Slammed #3) -12 pts (finished series + sequel)
                                                          Total Points = 72
      • Complete 2 half marathons during 2016 - Goal Complete
        1. I ran in the Glass City Half Marathon on April 24th and finished in 2:17:25
        2. I ran the Emerald City Quarter Marathon in 1:02:26
        3. I ran the Columbus Half Marathon on October 16th. Time 2:17:42
      • I joined the New Release Challenge hosted by Unconventional Book Views and Books, Movies, Reviews Oh My! My goal is to reach New Release Pro status with 16 new releases read/reviewed during 2016.  The minimum length for a book to qualify is 100 pages.
        1. Shade Me by Jennifer Brown - Release date 1/19/16
        2. 738 Days by Stacey Kade - Release date 6/7/16
        3. Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig - Release date 10/4/16
        4. The Crown by Kiera Cass - Release date 5/3/16
        5. The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee - Release date 8/30/16
        6. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover - Release date 8/2/16
        7. The Bronze Key by Clare & Black - Release date 8/30/2016
        8. For This Life Only by Stacey Kade - Release date 8/30/2016
        9. The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater - Release date 4/26/16
        10. I picked up a TON of new releases at BEA, so I should make serious headway towards this goal the last half of the year.

      Monday, November 14, 2016

      Review: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

      The Scorch Trials (Maze Runner, #2)

      The Scorch Trials is the second installment in the Maze Runner series.  While I really enjoyed the original book, there was something missing this time around.  The characters now realize they are part of an experiment, what they need to do to survive, and how long it should take them to complete "The Scorch Trials."  The element of surprise was completely eliminated, which removed all of the suspense.  Danger still presents itself in various forms, but I felt like the characters were simply going through the motions to reach the "safe haven."

      We have the same cast of characters, but trust becomes a major issue for Thomas.  WICKED is supposed to be good, but they keep putting them in dangerous situations for no obvious reason.  When things don't go as planned WICKED swoops in to help Thomas, but they place him back in the trials without any explanation.  In addition, Teresa was supposed to be his best friend.  She is taken away and replaced with a boy from "Group B" who can also speak telepathically with him.  The Gladers discover there was another group consisting of all girls and one boy that went through an identical maze experiment.  They are now competing against the other group in addition to simply trying to survive the trials.

      The end of the book did not provide much of a conclusion.  The "scorch trials" are complete, but it is clear there is another book in this series.  The characters aren't provided any more information than what they started with.  They have no idea what WICKED is trying to accomplish or how much longer the trials will continue.  Based on past experience, they can only believe the safe haven is a temporary reprieve and there is more to come. 

      I do not feel like I gained very much from reading this story.  We picked up some additional characters along the way, but Thomas and his friends are in basically the same situation they were in at the end of The Maze Runner.  I am hopeful The Death Cure, which is the final book in the original trilogy, will provide the EPIC conclusion I am looking for.     

      Monday, November 7, 2016

      Review: All In by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

      All In (The Naturals, #3)

      All In is the third book in the Naturals series.  For those of you who are not familiar with the series, it is a murder mystery series involving 5 teenagers recruited by the FBI for their abilities to profile, read emotions, detect lies, and analyze statistics.  Due to their individual upbringings and unusual childhoods they naturally honed these skills to exceptional levels.  

      This time around there is a serial killer on the loose in Las Vegas.  So far he has killed 1 person at a different casino each day starting on January 1st.  The FBI is called in because the casino owners want to put an end to this as quickly and quietly as possible before business plummets.  To top things off, there is a huge professional poker tournament just around the corner that must go on as planned.

      The naturals struggle with the case because there doesn't seem to be a common denominator.  Different locations, different methods and no common element between the victims,  The only connection between the cases is a mysterious set of numbers found on the wrists of each victim.  

      In addition, there is a breakthrough in Cassie's Mother's murder case.  Some remains were found that are believed to be hers.  Jennifer takes this portion of the story in a direction I don't think anyone would have anticipated.  What was deemed to be solid evidence in the case isn't as solid as it appeared and everything Cassie believed to be true is far from it.  

      Sloan, the statistician, eventually discovers a pattern that links each of the cases.  The locations and dates of the murders are tied to a mathematical code or sequence that has been around for hundreds of years.  They just need to discover when and where the next murders will take place in order to catch their UNSUB. (Unknown Subject)

      If you enjoy YA and thrillers/mysteries this is definitely the series for you.  I have thoroughly enjoyed every book in this series and have been glued to each detail from start to finish.  I love all of the characters and their unique abilities as well as their individual personalities.  They are all so different, but they complement each other beautifully and have really developed into a family.  

      The final book in the series, Bad Blood, was just released last week.  I should receive it from the library within the next few days and can't wait to see how the series will conclude.  If you haven't started the series yet, now would be the perfect time. 

      Friday, October 28, 2016

      Review: For This Life Only by Stacey Kade

      For This Life Only

      For This Life Only is very different from Stacey's other books.  It doesn't contain her usual quick wit and humor that I have come to expect.  In fact, it was a bit of a tearjerker at the end, so you may want to keep that in mind if you are planning on reading this book in public.  Stacey grew up as a PK (pastor's kid), so I'm sure this book was harder for her to write than most of the others because it certainly hits closer to home than ghosts and aliens.

      Jace and his brother Eli are the twin sons of the local minister.  Their father expects everyone in the family to maintain a perfect image and to always reflect positively on the family and the church.  Their grandfather was the minister before their father took over and everyone assumes they will eventually carry on the family tradition.  For Eli, that may be a possibility, but Jace is well on his way to a baseball scholarship and plans on moving as far away as possible.  Everything changes the night Eli and Jace are involved in a car accident.  Jace injures his arm and leg and will never be able to pitch again.  Eli was even less fortunate.

      The majority of the book revolves around Jace's family struggling with the loss of Eli.  Jace always viewed Eli and the "good twin" while he was the "bad twin" or the screw up.  They were two halves of a whole and without his brother, he is only half of what he should be.  

      Jace has always been taught to believe in the afterlife, but after nearly dying and losing his brother, be begins to question his beliefs.  He can't turn to his family or the church, so he seeks guidance from Thera, who he discovers was secretly friends with Eli.  The reason for the secrecy....she is the daughter of the local psychic and the church does not approve of this profession.  The church would also like to take over her mother's property, which is located directly across the street from the church, and has been trying to force them out for years.  The more Jace gets to know Thera, the more he realizes his brother may not have been as perfect as he seemed.  

      Overall, this was a very thought provoking book.  Stacey doesn't attempt to provide the answers to Jace's questions about loss and the afterlife.  She does; however, share some research and evidence that allows readers a chance to explore their own thoughts on the subject without pressuring anyone into a certain set of beliefs.  We also get to see Jace mature and stand up for himself and the things he believes in, which provided a silver lining in this otherwise tragic story.  

      Thursday, October 27, 2016

      Review: Four to Score by Janet Evanovich

      Four to Score (Stephanie Plum, #4)

      Stephanie Plum is back in action as Trenton, New Jersey's most lovable bounty hunter.  She may not be the most talented, but she certainly is the most entertaining.  

      This time around she is looking for Maxine Nowicki, who was arrested for stealing her estranged boyfriend's car and failed to appear for her court date.  It seems strange to everyone that Maxine would run from the police for such a minor offence.  This could have all blown over by simply paying a fine and returning the car.

      Stephanie soon discovers that Maxine's good friend Margie "accidentally" cut off her finger and Maxine's mother has a nasty head injury, which was also an "accident."  In addition Maxine’s former boyfriend, Eddie Kuntz, is willing to pay Stephanie $1,000 to find Maxine, so there is clearly more to this story than meets the eye.  
      Eddie starts receiving mysterious clues from Maxine, which are in a secret code that nobody can solve.  Stephanie recruits the services of her elderly neighbor's nephew who is a pro at solving these types of puzzles.  He also happens to be one of Trenton's most famous drag queens, which really spices things up.  Add in Lula, Grandma Mazur and the other usual suspects and you have one hilarious page turner.

      In addition to the hunt for Maxine, things are beginning to heat up with Joe Morelli.  Stephanie is forced to move in with him when someone sets her apartment on fire.  She doesn't want to bring any trouble to her parents' house, so she turns to Joe for help.  They have had a love/hate relationship since Stephanie was 6 years old, but they may be moving in a more positive direction.  


      I'm still very early in this series, which currently has 23 novels plus some holiday stories.  I'm not sure how long Evanovich can keep up this all luck / no skill bounty hunter routine while still keeping the series funny and fresh, but so far so good.  I gave Four to Score 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads and will definitely continue onto book five.

      Monday, October 17, 2016

      Marathon Monday: Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Half Marathon


      Sunday October 16th was the Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Half and Full Marathon.  It was 60 degrees while we waited at the start and warmed up to the mid 70's for those full marathon runners that took a little longer to finish. It was probably only in the high 60's by the time I finished a little before 10:00 A.M., so I couldn't have asked for a better day.

      Here I am with half of my cheering section prior to the race.


      The start of the Columbus race is always exciting with fireworks and music to send off the runners.


      I saw my "fan club" a couple of miles into the race and again at the 7 mile point.



      They were also at the finish, which was quite impressive compared to the last time I ran this race when I never saw anyone until well after I finished.  

      Here are my official results:


      And of course you have to get the customary post race celebration picture.

      Friday, October 14, 2016

      Review: The Partner by John Grisham

      The Partner

      I was a huge fan of John Grisham's legal thrillers back in high school, but I haven't read many since.  I decided to pick up where I left off and read his 8th book, The Partner, which was released in 1997.  I've heard that some of his never books aren't as good as the originals, but he certainly had his A game when he wrote this novel.

      The Partner is about a young attorney in Biloxi, Mississippi named Patrick Lanigan who faked his death to start his life over.  He was in a bad marriage and discovered the partners in his firm were planning on firing him before he could cash in on their corrupt scheme.  He carefully gathered the evidence he needed before staging a car accident and sailing off into the sunset.  The partners of the firm put on a good show at the time of his funeral, but were secretly grateful for their good fortune.  

      When the 90 million dollar settlement was wired into the firm's account it immediately went missing.  The firm was supposed to receive 1/3 of the amount (30 million dollars) with the remainder being transferred to their client.  Everyone began to question the circumstances surrounding Patrick's death and the search soon began.

      When Patrick is found in Brazil four years later everyone thought he would finally be brought to justice and their stolen money wold be returned.  Little did they know the depths of the research and planning he had done the year before he left as well as while he was on the run.  

      I was absolutely amazed by the level of detail.  Everything is woven together seamlessly and I couldn't help but root for Patrick to come out unscathed.  While his actions appeared to be inexcusable on the surface, he managed to have an explanation for everything.  There was always a bigger fish in the sea with regards to every accusation and Patrick had every detail covered.

      I was highly entertained and would definitely recommend this book.  There was a shocking twist at the very end that I never would have anticipated.  I guess Grisham didn't want to leave readers with a too good to be true feeling and decided to drop a bomb in the last chapter.  Now I'm curious if there is more to Patrick's story in one of his future novels of if he truly was left hanging in the balance.

      Tuesday, October 11, 2016

      Review: The Bronze Key by Cassandra Clare & Holly Black

      The Bronze Key (Magisterium,  #3)

      The Bronze Key is the third book in the Magisterium series.  Call, Aaron and Tamara are on a quest to uncover who the "spy" is within the Magisterium and why he or she is targeting Call.  The most obvious reason is the fact that he is a Maker, which is someone who specializes in chaos magic.  There are very few Makers in each generation and very little is knows about their form of magic.  As a result, many people are afraid of them or perhaps want to be them.  The students don't believe that is the reason for the threats on Call's life because Aaron is also a Maker and he hasn't been threatened.

      Call does have a secret that only his father and closest friends are aware of, which is most likely the reason for the attacks.  They can't share this information with anyone.  Call, Aaron, Tamara and Jasper must work together to solve this mystery on their own.

      The conclusion of this book was not at all what I was expecting.  This is a middle grade series, but Holly and Cassandra certainly aren't coddling these characters or their readers.  There is an epic battle as one would expect and the fallout was more than a little shocking.  I have no idea what direction they will take the series next, but it probably leans more to the "Evil Overlord" side of the spectrum.

      Overall, this book wasn't as fast paced and gripping as the first two books in the series, but that is often the case with middle books in a series.  Hopefully things will pick up again with book four or I'm afraid they will lose their appeal to younger readers.  I have a sixth grade son that probably would enjoy the first two books in the series, but he would likely struggle to get through this one.  


      Thursday, September 29, 2016

      Review: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

      It Ends with Us

      Lily Bloom is a high school student who has grown up in an abusive home.  Her father never touched her, but his drinking lead to a number of incidents involving her mother over the years.  As a way of working through her thoughts and feelings, she wrote letters to Ellen DeGeneres in a journal.  I've only watched Ellen's show a few times, but I loved how Lily wrote as if she were actually sending the letters to Ellen.  It was such an original way for Colleen to share with the readers what was going on in Lily's head.

      Atlas is a senior at her high school who also comes from a broken home.  His mother kicks him out of the house when he turns 18 and he ends up living in an abandoned house behind Lily's.  She discovers his situation and starts helping him.  She gives him food, blankets, invites him over to use their shower when her parents aren't home, etc.  They slowly develop a strong friendship and begin watching Ellen together after school.  

      Lily and Atlas dream about eventually moving to Boston where "everything would be better."  When Lily graduates from college she does in fact move to Boston and starts a career in marketing, but she has always loved gardening and dreams of owning her own flower shop.  She also wonders what ever happened to Atlas and why he never came back for her.  

      Ryle is a neurosurgeon completing his residency at Mass. General.  He is ambitious and can be extremely loving and caring, but there is a dark side to him.  He has an uncontrollable temper that seems to come out of nowhere.  Lily and Ryle meet and eventually start a relationship about a year later.  Everything appears to be perfect until Ryle's temper starts creeping up.

      Lily loves Ryle, but she refuses to end up like her mother.  She swore to herself she would never allow something like that to happen to her, but when it does...it isn't as easy as she thought it would be to walk away from the person she loves.

      Overall, Colleen did a remarkable job of creating characters you couldn't help but love.  Ryle was even fictional boyfriend material the majority of the time, so I was as conflicted as Lily was when various situations arose.  In the end, I think she made the right decision and I was extremely happy with how things turned out in the epilogue.

      This book was based upon real events in Colleen Hoover's life and brings up a difficult topic most people don't want to talk about.  So many people judge others without understanding the full pictures, but Colleen allows the reader to see the situation from all sides.  It certainly isn't as black and white as outsiders often believe it is.

      Much like Jennifer Brown's novels, this book is very thought provoking and is not something readers will soon forget.  I have yet to read a Colleen Hoover novel that I haven't enjoyed and this is no exception.  

      Monday, September 26, 2016

      Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

      If I Stay (If I Stay, #1)

      If I Stay has been on my TBR list since September 2011.  I read a number of great reviews, but I always seemed to overlook it whenever I needed to select my next book.  Perhaps it was the vague description?  I think that was a huge part of it.  I really had no idea what this book was about until I started reading it.  I don't want to give too much away, but I was immediately concerned this was going to turn into another The Fault in Our Stars, which required an abundance of tissues.  I am happy to say that was not the case.

      Mia is a high school senior who is waiting to hear if she will be accepted at a prestigious music school in New York.  While this is an amazing opportunity for her, she is conflicted because the school is on the opposite side of the country.  She will miss her family and her boyfriend Adam, who is an accomplished musician in his own right.  He is a member of a band that has been gaining popularity and was recently signed by a record label.  They are in the process of recording an album in Oregon and touring the west coast.  They barely have time to see each other while living in the same state, so moving across the country seems like an insurmountable challenge.

      If I Stay quickly brings life into perspective.  The petty concerns in one's daily life, which seem like the end of the world at the time, are nothing in the grand scheme of things.  Everything can change in the blink of an eye.  

      If I Stay is only 200 pages long and was a very fast read.  We learn about Mia and her family through a series of flashbacks with the occasional glimpse at the present.  As Mia processes the life changing events that have taken place, she needs to decide "if she should stay."  Gayle did a remarkable job of telling this story without the "John Green effect."  Anyone who has read TFIOS knows what I am talking about.  She incorporates several light and happy stories from the past to offset the gloomy aspects of the present.  The mix of emotions allowed me to keep my emotions in check and softened the tragic aspects of the story, which I greatly appreciated.

      I would definitely recommend this book and gave it 5 stars on Goodreads.  

      Monday, September 19, 2016

      Review: City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

      City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments, #3)


      City of Glass is the third book in the Mortal Instruments series.  It is my understanding it was originally a trilogy, which Cassandra decided to expand into a 6 book series.  The ending definitely felt like the conclusion of the series.  Everything comes together nicely and I was very content with how she left each of the characters. 

      From what I have heard, that isn't the feeling readers have had that continued reading books 4 through 6.  For that reason, I am going to consider this series complete for the time being and move onto Cassandra’s Infernal Devices series, which numerous people have told me I HAVE to read.

      I love the Shadowhunter world Cassandra has created.  The battles against Valentine and his demons added the necessary danger and excitement to keep the pages turning.  I also enjoyed watching the characters grow though out the series.  Simon gains a tremendous amount of confidence in this installment as he comes to terms with being a vampire and embraces his new talents.  I also enjoyed seeing Alec open up about his relationship with Magnus.  Perhaps the greatest revelation was discovering who Sebastian really is and how that news impacts the rest of the Shadowhunters. 

      What I enjoyed the most about City of Glass is that it brought the Shadowhunters and Downworlders together to fight for a common cause.  They all have unique abilities, so it always surprised me that the Shadowhunters looked down upon the vampires, warlocks, fae, and werewolves.  If only they would have aligned themselves sooner, a great deal of death and evil likely could have been prevented.  The alliance also makes it possible for all of our favorite characters to live together peacefully, which definitely contributes to the warm and fuzzy ending to this trilogy.

      I would definitely recommend this series to any YA fan.  If you have read the last three books in the series, I would love to hear your thoughts.  Should I read them or not?

      Tuesday, September 13, 2016

      Review: Allegiant by Veronica Roth


      I loved Divergent and gave it 5 stars.  There were some things I didn't really care for in Insurgent, so I gave it 3 stars and was REALLY hoping the series would end on a solid note the way it started.  I pre-ordered Allegiant, but was reluctant to read it after so many readers gave it mixed reviews.  People seemed to either love it or hate it, with the majority of my friends being on the latter end of the spectrum.  

      As part of the COYER (clean out your e-reader) challenge, I decided it was time to finally complete this series.  I managed to avoid spoilers with one not so minor exception.  I did hear that someone significant dies, I just didn't know who it would be until I actually read the book.  All in all, that is pretty remarkable since the book was released almost 3 years ago and sparked a ton of conversation and debate in the blogging world.

      I'm not going to give a synopsis like I usually do because I honestly don't feel like I have anything to say.  At just over half way through this book, I sent a message to Book Nerd Flo and said "Literally nothing has happened so far."  She said she felt the same way when she read the book.  Until the last 75 pages or so I felt like I gained next to nothing from the time I had invested.  Then there is a major twist that nobody would have seen coming, which is what lead to all of the debate.  I personally did not care for how the series ended and would not recommend reading beyond the first book in the series.  

      I think Veronica could have wrapped things up in two books instead of three.  Readers could have saved their time and money and the majority of people would be able to look back on the series in a far more positive light. 

      Monday, August 29, 2016

      Marathon Monday: Emerald City Quarter Marathon


      August 28th was a beautiful morning for the Emerald City Quarter Marathon in Dublin, Ohio.  This is the second time I have participated in the event as a training run for the fall Columbus Half Marathon and I really enjoy this well organized, but local event.  The weather was a little warm for a 7:00 AM start, but it was manageable.  I'm really looking forward to some cooler fall temperatures as I continue to ramp up my training. 

      I am shooting for a 2 hour half marathon this fall, so I will need to pick up my pace a little over the next several weeks.  The following are my official results.


      The paparazzi were out on the course...AKA my husband and son, so here are a couple of pictures from the event.



      Thursday, August 18, 2016

      Review: The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee


      I received an ARC of Katharine McGee's debut novel, The Thousandth Floor, at BEA.  The August 30th release date is less than two weeks away, so you will not have to wait long if you don't already have a copy.

      The story is set in New York City in the year 2118.  The majority of the city has been taken over by a MASSIVE tower that is 1000 stories tall. There is transportation within the tower, schools, restaurants, businesses, etc.  The more affluent you are the higher you live in the tower, which brings me to an introduction of the characters.

      Avery and Atlas Fuller live on the 1000th floor.  They are siblings by adoption and have just about everything they could ever want.  They are extremely wealthy, attractive, and popular, but there is one think they can't have that could destroy them both.

      Eris Dodd-Radson lives on the 985th floor.  She is a social butterfly and is Avery's oldest friend.  Life as she has always known it is threatened by a secret that is revealed early on in the story.

      Leda Cole lives on the 962 floor and is Avery's best friend.  They have never had any secrets between them until Leda returns from her summer away from the tower.  The secrets compound throughout the story and neither girl can trust the other by the end.

      Cord Anderton lives on the 967th floor.  His parents died in a plane crash, so he lives by himself in the massive apartment until his older brother shows up unexpectedly.  

      Watt Bakradi lives on the 294th floor and is a computer genius.  He developed a quantum computer that can hack into just about any system, which allows him to generate some additional income.  His "online services" brings him into contact with some of the upper floor kids previously mentioned.

      Rylin Myers lives on the 32nd floor.  She had to quit school to support herself and her younger sister and takes a job working as Cord Anderton's maid.  Their relationship becomes more complicated as they begin to develop feelings for each other, but Rylin still has unresolved "issues" with her not quite ex-boyfriend.

      Throughout the book we discover that everyone within  the tower has a secret.  There is a very delicate balancing act that must be maintained or everyone will come crashing to the bottom.  If they do not play their cards perfectly their secret may become exposed and life as they know it will cease to exist.

      Katharine told the story from a number of the characters' points of view.  This allowed the reader the opportunity to witness all of the drama as it unfolded from just about every possible angle. If you think the Real Housewives have drama, you haven't seen anything like this.  I can't wait to see how everything will play out in the next book in this series.  

      Monday, August 1, 2016

      Bookish Goals Status Update: July 2016


      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 2016 Goals.

      • Read and review at least 45 books 
        1. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
        2. First Family by David Baldacci
        3. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
        4. Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan (39 Clues Book 1)
        5. I Survived Hurricane Katrina (I Survived #3)
        6. I Survived the Joplin Tornado (I Survived #12)
        7. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer 
        8. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
        9. One False Note by Gordon Korman (39 Clues #2)
        10. The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis (39 Clues #3)
        11. My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by Stephanie Perkins
        12. Shade Me by Jennifer Brown
        13. Beyond the Grave by Jude Watson (39 Clues #4)
        14. Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
        15. 738 Days by Stacey Kade
        16. Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig
        17. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
        18. The Crown by Kiera Cass
        19. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
        20. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
        21. The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee
      • I am once again participating in the New To You Challenge hosted by Herding Cats & Burning Soup.  I'm going to aim for the "Dipping the Toes" level with 12 - 24 books that qualify. Any book over 80ish pages qualify as long as it is new to you.  New author, new genre, new series, etc.
        1. Confessions of a Shopaholic  - New series
        2. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey - New author and New Series
        3. Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan - New series
        4. I Survived Hurricane Katrina - New author and New Series
        5. One False Note by Gordon Korman - New author
        6. The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis - New author
        7. Shade Me by Jennifer Brown - New series
        8. Beyond the Grave by Jude Watson (39 Clues) - New author
        9. Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig - New author
        10. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire - New author
        11. The Maze Runner by James Dashner - New author & New Series
        12. The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee - New author & Series
      • Read at least 10 New Adult books (My definition of NA = protagonists are post high school, but under 30)
        1. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
        2. 738 Days by Stacey Kade
        3. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
        • Last year I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which was the book that had been on my Goodreads TBR list the longest.  This year, I have 49 books that were all added on September 7, 2010 that would qualify.  I plan on reading at least 3 of them.
          1. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
        • Finish reading at least 5 series I have already started.  (I have several trilogies with final books I still need to read.
          1. The Crown by Kiera Cass - The Selection Series
        • Attend a book convention
          • I had an absolute blast at BEA this year.  I posted daily recaps with pictures and highlights in May.
        • I joined the Mount TBR Reading Challenge. My goal is to reach Mount Blanc level - Read 24 books in 2016 that I owned before January 1, 2016.  Ebooks that you own count, but you must own the book....No library books.
          1. First Family by David Baldacci
          2. Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan (39 Clues #1)
          3. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
          4. One False Note by Gordon Korman (39 Clues #2)
          5. The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis (39 Clues #3)
          6. Shade Me by Jennifer Brown
          7. Beyond the Grave by Jude Watson (39 Clues #4)
          8. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare (Mortal Instruments #3)
          • Achieve a Professional level in the 2016 Prequel and Sequel challenge with 76 - 100 points.  I finished last year with 82 points, so hopefully this year will be similar.  The sign up and description can be found at Novel Heartbeat. (Link Up Quarterly)
            1. First Family - King & Maxwell #4 - 2 points for a sequel 
            2. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer - Lunar Chronicles #2 - 2 points for a sequel
            3. The Girl Who Played with Fire - Millennium series #2 - 2 points sequel
            4. One False Note by Gordon Korman (39 Clues #2) - 2 points sequel
            5. The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis (39 Clues #3) - 2 points sequel
            6. Beyond the Grave by Jude Watson (39 Clues #4) - 2 points sequel
            7. Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (The Naturals #2) - 2 points sequel
            8. The Crown by Kiera Cass (Selection Series #5) - 12 pts (finished series + sequel)
            9. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare (MI #3) - 2 points sequel
                                                              Total Points = 28
          • Complete 2 half marathons during 2016
            1. I ran in the Glass City Half Marathon on April 24th and finished in 2:17:25
            2. I'm registered by the Emerald City Quarter Marathon August 28th
            3. I'm registered for the Columbus Half Marathon October 16th
          • I joined the New Release Challenge hosted by Unconventional Book Views and Books, Movies, Reviews Oh My! My goal is to reach New Release Pro status with 16 new releases read/reviewed during 2016.  The minimum length for a book to qualify is 100 pages.
            1. Shade Me by Jennifer Brown - Release date 1/19/16
            2. 738 Days by Stacey Kade - Release date 6/7/16
            3. Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig - Release date 10/4/16
            4. The Crown by Kiera Cass - Release date 5/3/16
            5. The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee - Release date 8/30/16
            6. I picked up a TON of new releases at BEA, so I should make serious headway towards this goal the last half of the year.

          Wednesday, July 20, 2016

          Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

          The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, #1)

          The Maze Runner has been on my TBR list since 2011.  I think I added it because of all of the hype, but I never really read what it was about.  The story is set in a dystopian society that consists of only young boys.  For two years the boys have been living in the Glade, which is an open area surrounded by the maze walls, while trying to discover a way out of the maze.  Each month the creators send a new boy to live with them along with weekly shipments of supplies.  Their memories are erased prior to their arrival at the Glade, so they can't remember specifics about their past.  For example, they know what a movie is, but they can't think of a specific one.  They know they had parents, but they can't remember their names or what they looked like.  

          Shortly after Thomas's arrives at the Glade it becomes clear to just about everyone that there is something different about him.  While most "greenies" are scared to death and cry for weeks, he feels a connection with the place.  It is almost as if he has been here before.  To top things off, the Creators send a girl (Teresa) the following day with a note saying that she will be their final new member and that things are going to change.  While Thomas can't remember who she is or how he knows her, she looks familiar.  

          The comfortable lifestyle the boys had established over the past two year quickly turns to chaos.  Their supplies are cut off and the walls that closed every night like clockwork to protect them from the monsters that live in the maze suddenly stop closing.  One of them will die every night until they solve the maze.  

          Overall, I thought this was an excellent start to the series.  The boys have their own language of sorts, which took a little getting used to, but I found it humorous the more I read.  They were very intelligent and resourceful and you couldn't help but root for them.  There is quite a bit of action and violence towards the end and I quickly realized there wasn't going to be a happily ever after sort of ending.  This is only the beginning of what appears to be a series of tests and only the best of the best will survive.

          I have a few other books that I need to read for Book Nerds read alongs, but I am anxious to read The Scorch Trials.  Hopefully I will be able to get to it next month.  

          Friday, July 15, 2016

          Review: The Crown by Kiera Cass

          The Crown (The Selection, #5)

          The Crown is the fifth and final book in the Selection series.  If you aren't familiar with the series, just think of a season of The Bachelorette with the winner marrying the future queen. The field is down to the elite and Eadlyn isn't any closer to finding true love.  I don't think she even knows what she is looking for.

          I felt like Kile and Hale were the obvious front runners and I was rooting for Kile most of the book.  I was happy to see Eadlyn progress from the spoiled snob she was in The Heir to an approachable leader who actually cares about her people.  She was very compassionate and understanding in a few situations while interacting with the Elite, which was a huge step in the right direction.  I felt like she made lasting friendships, which she never would have been capable of doing prior to the selection.  

          I was happy to see that Maxon, Eadlyn's father, had a larger presence in this book.  I loved his character in the original 3 book series and was disappointed when he had such a limited role in The Heir.  There is a wonderful scene at the end of the book between Eadlyn and Maxon that any fan of this series will love.  

          Overall, this was an excellent conclusion to the series.  Eadlyn made the right choice for herself and did not allow public opinion to sway her decision.  She never thought it would be possible, but she finds a connection with someone that may rival the love her parents found during the last selection.  This fairy tale really did have a happily ever after and I was satisfied with how the series ended.

          Sunday, July 10, 2016

          Review: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

          Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1)

          Beautiful Disaster has been on my TBR list for a long time and I needed an NA book for a challenge, so I decided it was time to give it a try.

          Abby Abernathy heads off to college with her best friend America.  Her hope is to start over and leave her past behind her.  Shortly after her arrival she meets Travis Maddox.  He certainly isn't the type of boy Abby ever would have seen herself with, but there is a connection between the two that is undeniable.  Every time she tries to distance herself from Travis she makes them both miserable.  

          Travis is known on campus for his one-night stands and complete lack of respect for women.  He has a shaved head, tattoos, and is putting himself through college by participating in underground fighting.  When he meets Abby he wants to be the type of person she deserves, but he makes a lot of mistakes along the way.

          Overall I thought this book was okay.  Travis isn't the most lovable character and I had a hard time relating to many of the events that took place in this book.  His language and aggressive behavior was offensive at times and seemed completely out of line given the circumstances.  I've read a number of reviews and it seems like people either loved or hated this book.  I wouldn't recommend this book to others, but I can't say that I hated it either.  It has an interesting story line, but it isn't the type of book I typically read. 

          Thursday, July 7, 2016

          Review: Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig

          Last Seen Leaving


          I received an ARC of Last Seen Leaving at the Fierce Reads blogger event at BEA and had an opportunity to meet the author.  He was absolutely hilarious, so I decided this would be one of the first books I read from BEA.


          Flynn is a high school sophomore whose ex-girlfriend, January, is reported missing.  The breakup was a relatively recent turn of events, so he becomes a prime suspect.  In an effort to discover the truth, and clear his name, he uncovers a number of discrepancies.  January had been lying to him and just about everyone he "interviews" about her disappearance.

          We don't have the opportunity to meet January before her disappearance, but there are several flashbacks to Flynn's encounters and conversations with her.  Her mother recently married a wealthy politician and her life was turned upside down.  She was forced to transfer to a private school, her home life was a disaster, and she was distancing herself from all of her friends.  She was under a considerable amount of pressure from her step-father and his campaign manager, but all of these factors combined don't seem like enough to make her run away.  

          In addition to the mystery, the book focuses on Flynn coming to terms with who he is as an individual.  I loved his personality and sense of humor from the beginning, but admitting the truth allowed him the chance to finally be himself.  He was essentially forced to come out and wasn't prepared, but I felt like Roehrig did an excellent job of portraying Flynn's feelings and experiences in a very realistic manner.  Everything wasn't champagne and roses and I certainly wouldn't expect it to be. 

          There were several twists that I did not see coming, including the ending.  I felt like the story wrapped up nicely, but there is still the possibility for a second book in the series. 

          I gave this book 5 stars and will definitely add whatever Caleb releases next to my TBR list.  This book was very well written and is highly entertaining.