Elevation - Stephen King - 5 stars

This a very small book, only 146 pages, so you can imagine it was a pretty quick read. Wow I really enjoyed this book. It made me feel like it should have been longer, I wanted more of these characters. I think it was so well written for being so short, especially since King tends to write much larger books.

I do have to say though that I was a little unsure about the storyline, but at the same time the storyline also made it very intriguing, a 'must check it out' book. I was so glad I did. There is a lot in the book, friendship, forgiveness, unimagined, and even a touch of mystery. This story will be among the favorites of mine by King.

The characters were refreshing. Well written, poignant characters. I had to wonder how they felt so well developed in such a small book. I loved that, but really I am never really surprised by how well they are developed when they are created by King. His characters are always full of life, whether they are sane or insane.

I recommend this book to all King fans, or even those who have never read King and might wanna try him out. I say 'Go for it'. Well done Stephen King, another great story.

Between the devil and the Deep Blue Sea - April Genevieve Tucholke - 5 Stars

I have had this particular book for a very long time and just never picked it up. I just recently picked up book 2 form the book store so it prompted me to pick up book 1. I gotta say, I loved this book so much. I was not sure what it was going to be like. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story as well as the romance side of things. There was also thrills and chills with this one. I am looking forward to continuing on with the story.

When you read the synopsis you are not quite sure what to expect from the story, at least I was not anyway. Isi t a horror, love story or Mystery? Is River bad or is he good. Who is he exactly? I really liked the mystery surrounding the main character in this story.

I think all of the characters were great in this one. I like their individual abilities, I have not met a character like any of them with these abilities except maybe Carrie. I think they were developed quite well and I look forward to seeing how they each turn out in the next book, Between the Spark and the Burn.

The Lost Prince - Julie Kagawa - 5 stars

Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series is one of my favorites with it's bright characters and exciting setting, and I have to say this book was also a treat to read. At first I did have reservations since it is a spin off of the original series, but wow I really enjoyed It a lot. Our author is a very gifted writer! I look forward to reading the next book in the Call of the Forgotten.

This is a very fast paced and engaging read. I have to say that I also like how the author combines the world of the fey with the normal everyday world. It adds a nice twist to the story and I appreciate the author making it clear which world the readers are entering. She paints a pretty picture no matter which court we are in. She has great imagery when writing.

The characters are as awesome as ever. You get to meet some new characters and also get to meet up with some of our favorites from the Iron Fey series, which I loved that so much! Ethan is a rough one to get used to. He is very dark, beat down, and negative. A lot of people have a hard time with Ethan because of that. The way I see it, the author makes them that way for a reason, not all characters can be sweet and docile. Then enters Kenzie, the sweet girl with an air of mystery surrounding her. She turns Ethan's world upside down, but it does not make him a puddle of goo. He is still strong and bull headed, but discovers he has a heart. I love these 2 together.

I definitely recommend this series to everyone who are fans of Julie Kagawa's writing style, and chances are, if you loved the Iron Fey series, then you're gonna love this one too. This is another read to enjoy, so jump on board and enjoy the ride to Nevernever.

B is for Burglar - Sue Grafton - 3 stars

Again, as I read this book, it felt more like cozy mystery than anything. However, it was a pretty quick read though, and that is what is keeping me involved in this series and rating this one a 3 star.

I have to say that there is a lot of mystery involved in these books, and I do enjoy the plot twists, but I find it really hard to get to know Kinsey Millhone very well. She seems kind of one dimensional, only one side to her, take it or leave it. I am still hopeful though that reading through the series will give me a more in depth look at our main character. So because of that I will carry on through the series with fingers crossed.

The Lying Game - Ruth Ware - 5 stars

Loved, loved, loved this book with it's edge of the seat tension. I did not have a good experience reading The Woman in Cabin 10, but I wanted to try something else by this author and this one was a great choice! It was so engaging, from beginning to end. The flow was great, just the right amount of nerve wracking, apprehensive, moments. I really felt like I was a part of this story and I felt everything that our characters felt, so much so that I would have to step away from the story and try to step out of it as well. The author has a way of seizing the readers attention and not letting go until the story is over.

The main characters, are just wow...very gritty, well developed, with their many flaws. They are all very relatable, and on so many levels. A nice mix of good guys and bad guys, and those who you can't quite decide on right away. I loved them all because they all felt so realistic. The author did a great job portraying these girls both as teenagers and then adults coming from a small town with a small school full of secrets that come out and begin to wreak havoc.

I can recommend this to anyone who loves mystery or thriller or if you are a Ware fan and have not yet read this one. Give it a try, you wont regret it. This is also a great place to start if you want to try something by Ruth Ware.

These Shallow Graves - Jennifer Donnelly - 5 stars

I have had this book for awhile, and I have heard many people talk about it. And now that I have read it, I have to say hands down, my favorite read of the year so far. I don't even know how this book has not reached a 4 star rating at least. I still can't believe how well written this books was, especially for readers who love mystery! Reading this book makes me wanna gobble up everything she has ever written. I will be searching for more by this amazing writer.

It has everything, mystery, history, romance, thriller. I really can't ask for more. I thought the first few chapters were a bit slow to start, but past that, it became a page turner. Imagine a girl born into a family in the 1800's who wants more than anything, to be a writer, she already has everything she could possibly need, and never really a want for anything more, well than maybe her own freedom. And then to top everything off you find out that your entire life and family is based on nothing but a lie, and the more you dig the further you're pulled into it's darkness.

There are some great twists in this tale, and some I never even saw coming. Many clues I had missed that were brought to my attention later in the story, and I would have to ask myself, "How did I miss that?" At the end of this book, I could even see a sequel come to play even though this book it said to be a stand alone. I think this author has so much talent that she could write a sequel to this story easily. Such a great flowing book! I was sorry to see it end.

AND Wow the characters in this book are amazing and so well developed! Some are flawed, others are so bright and colorful. They are so very interesting, and even more interesting as you move through the story. I can't even pick a favorite among them all. There are also some great villains to contend with. The downright dirty characters that you would rather see dead then alive. All of them so brilliantly brought to life in this story. Well Done Ms. Donnelly!

Along Came a Spider - James Patterson - 5 stars

This is a re-read for me from 2 years ago. I had forgotten that I already read it, but either way I am so glad that I am finally to get to the Alex Cross series. I enjoyed this one probably even more than the first time I read it. This is the first book to the series. I have had several of the books for awhile now. I have read plenty by James Patterson and have enjoyed just about all of it, so I expected this book to be just as good, and it really was.

The plot to this one was very fast paced, it really kept the story flowing well and kept me engaged from page one. I found nothing that was draggy or slow with the story. There were also some pretty unexpected events that took shape in this one. I loved the action and excitement that came along with this first book and I look forward to much more of that in upcoming books of the series.

I really enjoyed Alex Cross as a character right from the start. He has a good head on his shoulder, but he does have some issues which makes him flawed, and I love a good flawed character. I look forward to his development throughout the series. I also enjoyed a few of the other characters as well, such as Nana Mama, who is Cross's grandmother, and I also enjoy Sampson who is Cross's partner in crime. Both of them together really make this an enjoyable series.

I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Patterson and has not yet read this series. I also recommend this to those who just love mystery in general. There is plenty to keep anyone interested and turning the pages.

Unremembered - Jessica Brody - 4 stars

When I started reading this book, I was thinking 'ALIENS'. LOL But it was not aliens at all, but it sure did have that feel about it. It is a story that involves amnesia and the affects of that. I also really liked the pacing and the flow to this book. It was very engaging and somewhat mysterious which kept me flipping through the pages. There are also lots of great twists and turns in this story. And it makes me look forward to book 2 in the series.

I loved the characters as well. I felt like they were very relatable and realistic despite the fact that I thought Seraphina and Zen felt somewhat alien or maybe even from the past. They were what made me keep wanting to guess what the deal was, or where they came from. Their names as well seemed to be a hint of the abnormal of a far distant past. Rest assured that is not it at all. Great development with all of them, even the bad guys even though there are not may of them.

Pretty Girl 13 - Liz Coley - 3 stars

This book was really just ok for me. I initially picked it up because the synopsis said "psychological mystery". I did like how it started, I found it was very mysterious. It was a great start, but then it kind of lost that excitement factor for me. However, I do think it is a good look into mental disorders due to psychological trauma. Sadly this happens far too often in today's society.

If this had been a true story, and nothing fictitious, then I think it may have affected me differently. I did find that some of the techniques used were a bit far fetched, like erasing her personalities one at a time. She does explain in the author's note that even though this treatment is fictitious it is theoretically possible for the future.

It was like I was reading about several different characters just between her split personalities, so that gave the book a bit more life for me. So that helped immensely. I am not sure which of the personalities I liked the best, but I am sure that they are very relatable to a lot of people, therefore, possibly even helpful.

Duma Key - Stephen King - 5 stars

This was a re-read for me that I did with a couple of gals from my group. I did not remember a whole lot since it has been about 8 years since I read it. I do know that I loved it even more this time around. It was like reading the book for the first time and I enjoyed the creativity the author used for this.

This is such an enthralling and engaging journey. This story has such a wonderful plot and an amazing world where you begin to feel like you are living it and not our characters. You read through Edgar's perspective as he is telling you a story, where evil runs deep and a child becomes a tool. It also has some incredible twists and turns that is hard for us to even imagine happening.

There are plenty of heartwrenching moments where you can feel each of the characters emotional pain and triumphs. I have to say though that I was a little annoyed with King's use of hints and little spoilers throughout the story, that gives readers a heads up that something is going to happen. I can understand why it is done since Edgar is pretty much telling us a story that he has already lived, but I still did not care for it.

The characters yet again are my favorite part of the story, as it always seems, they definitely complimented the storyline very well. I can imagine the people in the story being the people I would want in my corner if I was trying to conquer something. Very well written characters. So very glad that I read it...A must read for any Stephen King fans.

North Child - Edith Pattou - 5 stars

Another great YA fantasy, not anything like I thought it would be. I love everything about it. It reads like a fairy tale love story. It has loves of twists and turns full of mystery, thriller and love. I also loved how engaging and poetic the story is. The writing flowed very well.

I loved the plot of the story. There is enough mystery to reel readers in and then pulls readers in the rest of the way for quite a ride. The use of the bear was fantastic and became one of my favorite characters. I love everything about him. I look forward to reading the nex book in the series.

Off the Page - Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer - 5 stars

This mother and daughter duo have a great gift of writing because this continuing story is pretty amazing. The first book seemed geared more to younger crowds, where this one is geared more towards older teen to young adult. It is a true to life fairy tale that you will want to live I forever.

I really loved this continuing story. I feel like the story is so magical, and it is nice to live in a world like that for a bit. The story flows so very well and is so engaging that I felt as though I was being swept away. Very poetic writing that just urges readers to continue turning the pages. I loved that.

The characters are graceful and relatable, and feel real life even though it is just a fairy tale. I loved everyone of them. Oliver and Delilah seem to fit very well together even though they are from 2 different worlds. They just click.

This duology is so worth the read, especially when you need something light in your life. The pages in this book will take you exactly where you want to go, especially if you like fairy tales.

A is For Alibi - Sue Grafton - 3 stars

This one to me, read more like a cozy mystery, even though she was a detective. This is pretty quick read and is somewhat engaging, I would wish for just a bit more excitement and mystery though, but I like it well enough to continue with the series. I did find this story to be somewhat predictable, so I hope for that to get better with time as well.

The characters are ok, more 1 dimensional than anything. I like Kinsey well enough, I just think I need to learn more about her to enjoy her character more and I think I will get that the further I get into the series. I think readers will have a lot to learn about her.

I can recommend this book for maybe first time mystery readers, or for those who just need a quick fix or a quick read. I do look forward to continuing with the series.

Scribbler of Dreams - Mary E. Pearson - 3 stars

One of things I enjoyed the most about this story was how poetic is was written. I feel like the author has a knack for that. I also felt like the story flowed well and for the most part it was engaging to me, but I also felt like it was missing something that I can't quite put my finger on. There is a murder, deception, mystery all in this story which is what drew my attention to the story in the first place. I felt that for that part of the story it felt a little inadequate. I guess I was just expecting more.

I did enjoy the characters for the most part, but I felt like Kaitlin was fighting a losing battle, trying to get these 2 families together, and also I felt a little weird about the romantic aspect of the story considering the 2 involved were related even though it was not a close relation. So the romantic side of things was a little off. I also felt like the end was a little rush and incomplete.

Even so I am glad I read it. I feel like it was pretty light reading and I can dive into her other books knowing she does have a pretty decent writing style, so I do look forward to reading her other series.

Ghost Road Blues - Jonathan Maberry - 4 stars

Jonathan Maberry is one of my favorite writers, but this 1st book to the trilogy seemed to start very slow for me. I loved meeting the characters and learning about the small town of Pine Deep, but it seemed like there was just too much build up. I found it hard to get into the story, but I kept on with it and finally it took off and it became very engaging. I just wished it would have picked up sooner.

The story itself is pretty skittish to start with, and I was not sure what was going on or who exactly the bad guys were, or what they were, or even where they came from, but all of that fell into place once the story started to take off. Things began to become very clear, and it was an adrenalin rush from then on.

Loved, loved, loved the characters in this first installment. All of them were great. So well developed, so raw and scarred. I love that in characters because you get to see inside of them, you get to see what makes them tick. My favorite by far was Crow. I loved his personality, I loved the fact that he was gritty and never played it safe. There are also some great 'bad' guys as well. These types are the ones you want to see suffer at some point, to lose out and not prevail even though that does not always happen.

I feel like I can recommend this book to any Maberry fans that may not have read it yet. It has a lot of action packed moments, and a lot of excitement, which makes this book a definite page turner. I look forward to continuing on with this story.