Silent Night - Robert B. Parker - 4 stars

Chose this as my 2nd Christmas read for this month. This is book 41.5 of the Spencer series, that of which I have not yet read. After reading this one though, I decided I like Spencer as a character, as much as I like Jesse Stone. This type of character is what I describe as a laid back tough guy. They have a softer side, but look out if you cross him kind of guy.

There is not a whole lot of action in this one but it is a Christmas mystery, so I did not really expect it to be very dramatic, but it did have a good storyline that I really enjoyed. I like Spencer a lot so this may push me towards reading the whole Spencer series, all 40+ books since I like his writing style.

However, Robert B. Parker passed away in 2010 which saddens me and I can tell slight differences in the writing styles of those who carry on with his work. This one was done by Helen Brann, who was Parker's Agent and close friend. She did a great job with this one.

Comfort & Joy - Kristin Hannah - 5 stars

I just love reading books for the holiday, some how it makes them more magical that way. This was my first Christmas read for December and I have to say that I really loved it. I really do enjoy Kristin Hannah's writing a lot. The first book I read by her was Winter Garden. Also a very enjoyable read. I especially liked the characters in this book. They are very well written, they are both relatable and believable. I feel like I knew them all personally and I loved that.

There is such a great plot twist in this one, and it was one that I did not expect at all. Be prepared though and keep some tissues on hand because this one is a tear jerker. This is one of those books that you don't want to end, and when it did, it felt like a part of my life was over. I just wanted to go back and read it all again.

"It's a dangerous business...going out of your door. You step into the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." --J.R.R. Tolkien

Berserk - Tim Lebbon - 4 stars

Chose this for my third read of Spook season. This is also a first time read for me with this author. It was not really all that scary, but it was quite disturbing with our characters slow decent into insanity. I also found that the author has a very poetic style of writing which is quite odd with this type of book.

I enjoyed the characters of this story as well. It was hard though to decipher who was actually good and who was bad. The 2 main characters both has similar personalities and both went though some big changes because of the berserkers. I loved watching them yield to this insanity that the berserker was all about. You have one character trying to stop it all, and one who is more nurturing, the story goes on from there. It truly made me feel like I too was losing my mind.

I would read more by this author, mostly because of his style of writing. It was very poetic, and it easily flowed, making for a pretty quick read. Managed to finish this before spook season ended! Great choice of book I think!

Last Chance - Gregg Hurwitz - 4 stars

I received this book in exchange for a honest review. I was not aware of the fact that it was book 2. I now may have to look for book one because I enjoyed this one so much.

This a YA post apocalyptic thriller set in the small town of Cause Creek. The storyline was pretty amazing, it kind of reminded me of the Joe Ledger series with all of the bio warfare. It was written so well and it was so believable that it had me in hyper drive for most of the story, I just could not put the book down. There is a lot of great action and excitement that makes the adrenalin pump that is for sure.

Love the characters in this book. They are very well developed even though I have somehow missed the first book. Most of them are 18 years and younger and have a lot to deal with since most of their families are either dead or transformed into the very monsters that these kids have to fight against. All of them are very believable and I love the individual personalities. There are also those few who want to cause problems for the majority so it gives this a dystopian feel as well.

Overall a very good read especially if you like Post apocalyptic books. I will definitely be looking for the first book to this series and I will go out and buy a finished version of this one.

The Replacement - Brenna Yovanoff - 4 stars

At first I thought this was going to be a middle grade horror, but discovered it is more YA just because there is a small amount of language that is definitely not suitable for younger kiddos!

I picked this book up last month at our local UBS actually because of my niece Rylee. She likes to read middle grade and YA Horror so it made me start looking for it. I figured if she is a book lover and she likes middle grade or YA horror, then I was certain to as well. So I found this one and was pretty intrigued by both the cover and the synopsis. I had never read a book quite like this one before and it had me right from the start.

There are some pretty disturbing aspects to this story and for Horror, that is very important to me. I was a bit confused at the beginning as to who knew what was going on with Mackie, but it resolved itself the further I went into the story. It is not that the book was 'scary' but it was pretty creepy. I loved the setting I think the most in this book. Creepy small town with a good side and a bad side, but the creepiest part was that the good side was bad and the bad side was abominable. I LOVED THAT! I love the whole feeling of a town that had some ghosts in the closet. but everything was fine.

I also loved the characters in this book. So different but with such a sinister, ghoulish side that they could not see themselves. There are plenty of good characters, bad characters, and those detestable characters that we all love to hate. There was definitely a good mix of personalities in this one. I think IK would have to say that Mackie was my most favorite character, I love what he stood for and what he was willing to give up for the people he loved the most. Then Tate came in at a close second, she is a character who knows what's up and wont take crap from people.

Overall I enjoyed the story a lot and I wish there was a book 2 but pretty sure there is not going to be. This is definitely worth the read. So I will look for more of this author and definitely will look for more YA or MG horror!

Riptide Summer - Lisa Freeman - 4 stars

I Received this book in exchange for an honest review. A couple of months ago I had finished Honey Girl which is the first book in this series. I enjoyed this second installment so much more than the first. I feel like it was much more realistic to read and I was also much more engaged to the story this time around.

I really like Nani's character. She is very believable and realistic. She did seem quite torn and it also seems like she was pretty misunderstood most of the time, but I think that is pretty normal of the time when talking about teenagers. I really did not care for her succumbing to the way It was set up there on beach and oftentimes giving up the fight since it was so different than her home in Hawaii where it seems t hat she had more freedoms. She does however get much stronger and discovers that she has a mind of her own the further you get into the story, I loved to see her grow throughout the story.

I was kind of wishing for a little bit more of a dramatic ending, but I guess it all worked out ok and to the positive for the most part. I just think maybe it lacked the excitement I would have expected with a story such as this. I would definitely read more by this author. She has a very fluid writing style that I really enjoyed.

The Library of Souls - Richard Denney - 4

I found out that one of my book tube friends just got his book published so I went and bought it and I could hardly wait for it to arrive. I read it in a couple of days and really quite enjoyed it. There are some really great characters in this story with a really nice twist in the end. You get some creepiness, mystery and little humor too. I am super glad that I bought this.

The story is pretty creepy if you like ghost stories. I have to say that reading about these ghosts kinda made me think of the ghosts that we read about in the HP series. You don't know quite what you are gonna get when you stumble upon each of them. So there was a nice element of surprise which made me happy. Our non ghostly characters are awesome as well. I have to say my favorite is probably Simon. He is a great kid caught up in a mess of mostly angry spooks and demons and he handles it all like a champ.

This is mild enough for middle schoolers, but is also interesting enough for those of us adults who like to dabble in middle grade reads. Great job on the book Richard, I really enjoyed it! There is also a giveaway on Good Reads for this book, so be sure to join in.

25 bookish facts about me.

1. My favorite genre to read is Mystery/Horror. I think my most favorite is horror, but I read a lot of mystery and thriller books. I like Mystery so much because of my mom. She loved mystery and she passed that on to me. Some of my favorite Mystery authors would be Harlan Coben, Karin Slaughter, Lisa Jackson, and really the list goes on. My favorite Horror writers are of course Stephen King, but all Graham Masterton, Jonathan Maberry, Richard Laymon, Robert McCammon and many others.

2. If I had to choose between a paperback or hardcover I would choose paperback. For the comfort of things I have to choose paperbacks because I like to lounge in my reading chair and a paperback really makes things more comfy, and who doesn't love comfy? But on the other hand I do like the look of matching hardcover books lined up in a row on my shelves. It makes everything look great.

3. I prefer reading on my reading physical books rather than my kindle. A lot of people love their kindles, I get that. You can take 50 books with you on a vacation, you don't have to have a big area to keep all of your books, the books don't get ruined from constant handling. I know all of that is true, but there are those of us who are physical book diehards. I love to have that BIG area for my books. I love carrying my books with me when I take a vacation. I love to feel them and smell them, I love to flip through the pages of an old book that has been held and read many times. They are like my best friends and I love having them around!

4. I prefer to read books that are both character driven and plot driven. I feel it is important to have both good characters and good plots. Sometimes if a plot is not very good but the characters are fantastic, it can make for a good book, but if you have a good plot and the characters are not up to par, for me, it seldom works out. I have to like the characters no matter what the plot is like. Lets take the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith, A.K.A. J.K Rowling. I did not really like those stories at all, but the characters were brilliant, so I ended up both buying and reading all of those books.

5. I do not mind having tattered books.  I will not write in my books, there is enough words on the pages to satisfy me. I will not dog ear my pages, I use stylish books marks for that and I love going out and buying new ones. I will break the spines on my paperback books just for comfort. If I don't have to break the spines then I don't. I think tattered books can be attractive, they are well loved, some people don't think that same thing, and that is fine, but it really does not bother me if books are worn. Do I do it on purpose? No I will try and keep a book looking new forever, but if the cover would get bent or torn or creased, or my spines are broken, they are still loved and I sit them proudly on my shelves.

6. I love being on Good Reads. I love being on Good Reads whenever possible, it is a home away from home for me. But since going back to work I have not had as much time for it, and that makes me sad. I do still visit GR every day for that does of bookish knowledge. I also decided a couple of years ago, to not do the good reads challenge anymore. I read what I read, I don't feel like I need to set a record for myself anymore, especially now that I am back at work.

7. I like to have some 'quick reads' available at all times. Since I went back to work earlier this year I do not have the time I used to have for reading. So having those 'quick reads' is always helpful because I know I can get it read making it count for the month. I am used to reading 8 or 9 books a month and now I barely get 2 read. So having these books gives me that feeling of accomplishment when it comes to books read for a month.

8. I just can't do Audio books. I have tried to read audio books and I fail miserably unless, I have the physical book to follow along with the story, otherwise I get distracted by so many things when listening. Also, if I do choose an audiobook to listen to, I have to speed it at up to enjoy it. They just seem to drag when you leave the narrator on normal speed. That drives me crazy.

9. I have a library in my house. My library is my favorite room in the house. It is just a bedroom converted but it is my personal space. I love to share it with family and friends. My library has 10 book cases in it, most are full of books and I have room to add more and will. 

10. I have a Pottermore account. Yes you heard me right. I have a Pottermore account and I am a Hufflepuff. and my Patronus is a chow dog. My wand is made of Cherry wood with a dragon heartstring core, it is 12 1/2 inches. Since I love Harry Potter, I thought it would be fun to join my family on Pottermore. So there you go!

11. I enjoy stand alone books and series alike. Ok so when I talk about enjoying series, I am talking about series that have no more than 10 books to it. I feel like there are way too many series out there that have 20+ books in it. I feel like the author loses focus and the series oftentimes run dry and readers will quit on them, I know I do. Give me a series with 10 or less books and we are golden. I think that stand alone books are a breath of fresh air, especially if you have been reading a particularly long series. Stand alones are a great way to break up the monotony. 

12. I am a sucker for beautiful covers. This is definitely true for me. I have actually bought books because of beautiful covers. I can't help it really. When I see it I grab it and then yea, well I buy it. Luckily for me the first book I bought because of the cover ended up being really good. That book was Magyk, by Angie Sage. It is the Septimus Heap series and I went on to buy all of the books and have read that series twice.

13. I do not loan out my books anymore. I have a hard time loaning my books out unless it is to my oldest daughter. I trust her to love my book and take care of it. Too many times I have lent out books and did not have them returned until months, and sometimes years later and not being in the same condition they were when I first lent them out. So now I just don't do it anymore. Books are a big part of my life and I cherish them.

14. I have a nice bookmark collection. I love having lots of book marks. I also love getting book marks and giving them to friends and family. I absolutely love book mark shopping, whether it is for me or for a special friend. I was a part of a book mark swap one year and I loved it so much!

15. I always take off hardcover book's jackets before reading. I remove the dust jackets because for one they get in the way and I hate having to keep putting them back on when they slip around. I also remove them because I don't want to ruin the dust jacket, especially if I am borrowing the book from a friend or the library.

16. I love hardcover book with designs on them under the dust jacket. One thing I love about this is that oftentimes a hardback book will have the same design on the cover as the dust jacket has. I love this. If I find a book like that I generally will get the book. I love a lot of things about hardback books but this is my favorite.

17. I absolutely love deckled edges on books. I think it gives a book some personality, but there are reasons behind it. It is to show craftsmanship and also it is like a branding. Michael Vagnetti, Director, Production @SterlingBooks says Similar to wood veneers and "vintage" clothing, the deckled edge or "rough front" has remained in publishing as a cosmetic feature. It reminds us that book binding and papermaking comes out of a rich history of craftsmanship. Deckled edges are also used as a branding feature. 

18. I grew up with books. When I was a kid, we always had books available. This is one thing I will always be thankful for from my parents. We had books from encyclopedias, to fairy tales to mystery, and we loved every single one of them. I would give anything to have all of those books back now, I miss them, I miss that part of my childhood.

19. I am an emotional reader. Yep I most certainly am. If I read a book that touches me I will react to that, whether it is a tear jerker or something hysterically funny. My family has caught me often, whether it be tears or laughter. I always say, if a book moves you and makes you feel something, then the author did their job.

20. I try to give a book at least 50-100 pages before I stop reading. I used to be one of those readers who would force themselves to finish a book. I would feel guilty if I gave up on a book and never finished it. Not anymore, there are far too many books out there to enjoy for us to sit and suffer in silence over a book we are just not enjoying. Life is too short and the world had too many books to read!

21. I have not read a graphic novel. Nope I haven't or at least not that I remember. Now there have been times when I was a kid and I read a comic book. I find a distinction between comic books and graphic novels. A lot of people refer to them as the same thing. I guess maybe in context they are, but there differences, like the size of them, and the paper used in each of them. One of these days I would like to read the Saga series and also the Locke & Key series.

22. I sometimes will read a book out loud. I do this when I am really tired and I want to finish a book. Reading it out loud keeps me focused, not to mention awake as well. If I am extremely tired, reading puts me instantly asleep, or I zone out and do not even realize what I just read. So if I am reading a very good book and want to finish, but I am really tired, I will read it out loud.

23. I can read books very fast. I have always been a fast reader. I have read books in one sitting many times as long as there are no other distractions around me which seldom happens. But if I have quiet time for myself, look out books here I come.

24. I like to read in comfort. We are talking about 'I don't care how I look when I read.' Chances are if I am home and reading a  book, I am already in my pj's sitting in my most comfy chair and enjoying a great book. All I need now is a 'Do not disturb' sign on my back.

25. I almost always have coffee or tea when I read. I always have a coffee or a tea when I read. It makes me feel comfortable, almost soothing. It just completes my whole comfort reading phase. So when hub asks me you want coffee, it is almost always "Yes please!"

Swimming to the Moon - Jeff McMahon - 5 stars

I received this book from a good friend. She thought that my grandson would love it so I started reading this with him earlier in the year. We would take some time each day to read some of the poems together and there were so many that we both loved! When summer came around I did not see him as often, but I decided I would still read these poems and finish the book, and I will urge him to do the same.

What a great poet this Author is. I feel so blessed to have been able to read this collection of poetry. He knows just how to write these poems so that children can understand and enjoy what they are reading throughout the entire book. I am sure that most kids can easily relate to a lot of these poems in this book. Very well done Mr. McMahon!

Honey Girl - Lisa Freeman - 3

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I am glad I was finally able to get to this book and I will soon also read it's sequel, Riptide Summer. I think this is the first LGBT book I have read and it was pretty enjoyable. I thought that it being set in the 70's was really fun and somewhat nostalgic. I liked the characters a lot in this story, even though some of them were annoying, it was hard to trust some of them, because I could not tell if they were being genuine to Nani or just being nice to her for their own gain, so that bugged me just a little bit. I did wish that Nani did not try so hard to fit in or to be accepted, but I do realize that was times.

I found the story to be interesting, and I was pretty engaged to it, I found that I got sucked in pretty quickly. I do have to say though that I found it maybe just a tad predictable. I could call parts of the story pretty easily, but it still was very fluid and easy to follow so I was able to enjoy it for the most part. I do look forward to getting into Riptide Summer very soon.

Hunger - Jackie Morse Kessler - 3 stars

This was another pretty quick read for me for the end of July, which was exactly the type of book I needed. This was kind of like a YA Fantasy and I did not expect it to be exactly what I read. It was such a different view of eating disorders. I have never read anything like it. Now there were of course some rushed parts, it was little predictable at times, and sometimes also pretty unrealistic, but I did really enjoy this one. It was an engaging story even though I think there could have been more to it than what I got, but for a short book it was interesting.

I liked the characters even though they were somewhat unrealistic, but I think that was the point of the story. This was to show someone what their self worth is, how there can be change only if they allow it. At least that is what I got out of it. I did hope that the ending would have been a little better, I felt a little let down at first, but it was ok. I think it was to show the growth of the character. This book is a part of a series, but different characters in each one. I believe that the purpose of these books is to bring to light, the issues that teens and YA encounter on a daily basis and our author brings it to life in a very different form. I liked that.

Skin - Rick Jasper - 3 stars

So my niece bought this book while visiting us nd she zipped through it in about a half a day if that. She left the book behind because she thought I might also like it. This is a YA good VS. Evil story and is part of a pretty long series and the book only has a little over 100 pages, so it was a very quick read. I found it to be quite interesting and I did find myself pretty engrossed by the story. It was quite different from other YA horror/thriller stories. I feel like even though it was very different, it was lacking that excitement that I expected it to have. I wanted more thriller aspects to the story. There were some intense scenes to the story, but I feel like it could have been a lot more than it was. The ending seemed too easy, or maybe it felt rushed. Either way, I do think that I will pick up other books to this series.

YAY FOR READING!

Missing my reading time

Wow I knew I would not be able to read as much when I went back to work, I just did not know it would be this bad. I seriously miss sitting in my library reading a book, or kicking back in my favorite reading chair with a book clutched to my chest. It is almost like losing a best friend. I feel completely lost without the comfort of reading. I am hoping that one day that will change and I will once again be able to spend all day with a favorite book or two.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling - 5 stars

This is a reread for me. We are reading the whole series this year in my Good Reads group. Loved this one and how our characters are growing up and developing, it makes me love them more with each book I read. All of them have been super engaging for me. I have enjoyed them more since reading more Middle grade books. It really makes you understand that reading level the more you read of them.

I was really quite engaged to this one, hard to put it down when I do finally get to read. This one has a lot more excitement, adventure and action to it. There are all the same great characters and some new faces in this one. A lot to love and hate. Umbridge is a great bad guy. She makes you seethe with anger when she is around. She is one for readers to love to hate.

The End - Lemony Snicket - 4 stars

Wow this book wrapped up the series pretty well. I have to say though that it had a rather bitter and depressing ending, but I guess it depends on how you look at it. (A clever phrase used throughout this book.) Yet I still thought it came together nicely bringing with it a whole new crew of characters, some of which I really liked, and then some not so much. Even though it did not end any more unfortunate than normal for the orphans, it was just not everything I wanted. Even through all of it, it was still a very engaging read, with a lot of questions answered and then with even more questions to now be asked.

The characters, you know, I fell in love with from the start. The orphans are so much fun to tag a long with throughout this series. Never did I get bored of any of them. They are just amazing kids who have a very rough time at life. And no matter how hard they try to make things a little better something else steps conveniently in the way.

I was thinking that I wished there was a beginning to all of it. Not the beginning to the Orphans, but the beginning to their parents. That would shed a lot of light on this whole series. Maybe in the future our author will feel inclined to write a little something about that.

The Penultimate Peril - Lemony Snicket - 4 stars

Wow this one was a pretty dramatic book as well. The orphans go through some pretty dangerous situations while trying to convince themselves that they are still good and noble. It kind of makes me sad to know that they, being as young as they are, have to even have thoughts like that. Again I was completely engaged with this story, always rooting them on and trying my best to help them find solutions, but if you know this series and you know these orphans, you will also know that they don't need much help as far as solutions go.

I really enjoyed seeing some of the older characters from other books playing a role in this one. It made it a much more fun and exciting read. Not all of those characters are enjoyable but it did add a sort of flair to the story and got it moving along pretty well. I found myself also trying to decipher who is good and who is bad. There are many characters throughout this series that were questionable and it made it hard to decide who was noble and who was not. So it made this book a bit more mysterious trying to figure out who was who.

Looking forward to getting to book 13 appropriately named 'The End', and maybe finally having some kind of closure for the orphans because they really need that, I really need that as well. I am afraid that I will be disappointed, but here's to hoping it will end on a good note. I definitely recommend this series to everyone. Even though the unfortunate events get annoying it is a very enjoyable read.

The Grim Grotto - Lemony Snicket - 4 stars

This is another great installment to A Series of Unfortunate Events. I found this one to much more dramatic than previous books. It moved along very quickly and of course I was hooked right from page one. These books also seem to get much darker with each book and I am not sure they are appropriate for Middle grade readers. I did not enjoy this one as much as the previous one, but still an enjoyable read.

What I love the most about these books are the characters. They are developed so well and even though the stories are pretty far fetched and have so many annoying and unfortunate events, they make the stories seem very real and I love that. From our sweet and innocent Orphans to the villainous villains, they all play such great roles in the story. Plenty to both love and hate.

The Slippery Slope - Lemony Snicket - 5 stars

This is book 10 of A series of Unfortunate Events and I feel like they just get better with each book. I do not find it quite as annoying with all the unfortunate events because I feel like now they are handling these situations better. There are still some pretty silly situations, but also some pretty serious ones as well. I still think that this series is more YA than middle grade. This is probably a favorite for me now. It was a very engaging read for me as always, which makes them go much to quickly.

The characters develop more as we go through the series, you learn each of the Baudelaire's personalities and their differences from one to the other. I really enjoy all of them and can't really choose a favorite between them. I think they are all written very well. The band of evil doers is growing and the orphans are quite outnumbered, but there is a surprising addition to their team in this one that I really enjoyed.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of fire - 5 stars

This is book #4 in the Harry Potter series and Wow it is hard to believe that the first time I only rated this book a 3? What was wrong with me? So far I think this was my favorite of the series. I can't believe how much I have ventured out in the world of books making myself better understand different genres. This book is brilliant really. I love Rowling's writing style a lot. This book was so engaging for me that it was super hard to have to put it down when I had to go adulting with work. I felt as though I crawled inside of the book and lived there. Loved the adventure and excitement.

If people don't like the characters of this series then they are nuts! The characters have such great personality, so great that you feel like they really do exist, outside of the book. Like they could be your friends, family and in some cases your real enemies as well. I think the characters are probably my favorite part of the series because Rowling makes them feel so real, even though we journey into a make believe realm of magic. I can think of no other place I would rather exist among such a wide array of characters, protagonist and antagonists alike.

I can't help but recommend this book and the whole series to other readers. Especially if maybe you read it already and did not really care for it. Pick them back up and start the adventure again, you may discover that you quite enjoy joining in on all the magic again. I know I did!

The Carnivorous Carnival - Lemony Snicket - 4 stars

This is book 9 in A series of Unfortunate Events. I think that these books get a bit more adventurous the further you go through the series. This one seems a lot darker than the other books and I really do not see it being appropriate for middle grade readers. I found it to be somewhat violent as well. Reading through Adult eyes is much different. I feel like for a middle grader it could be somewhat disturbing and a little scary as well. I must say though that I did enjoy the carnival setting in this one, although there is really not much about the carnival in it. Regardless it did give the story some flair.

The unfortunate events seem to have escalated a bit more in this book. Yes it is still annoying too, but now readers come to expect it so it is not quite as overwhelming I don't think. I have been seeing some good things happen in previous books, but in this one it all seems to be doom and gloom which could maybe turn readers off. I don't actually mind the dark and disturbing aspects of the story because I am holding on to the hope that maybe something good will come about in the last book simply titled 'The End'. Because of that, I just keep plowing through these so I can reach this possible happy ending.

Not much more to say about our characters that I have not already mentioned. We of course have some great protagonists which of course are the Baudelaire children. There are of course some pretty villainous bad guys as well, like Olaf and Esme. I find that Sunny is beginning to speak better so that is a nice addition too.

Dead City - Joe McKinney - 4 stars

I have had this series for quite awhile and finally got to this one. I read this book as part of a buddy read with a friend and I am so glad I finally read it.

This book was non stop action, from one page top the next. I also found it to be very engaging. It is probably one of the best Zombie books I have ever read. The flow of the book was awesome and I love the author's writing style as well. There really was never a dull moment in this one. The author had me from page one. I like how the zombie problem is a viral one, and not some ridiculous, unbelievable one. I did actually one small problem with it really and that was that the ending was rather abrupt, almost rushed, like there was not really a wrap up from one point to the end, it just kinda happened if that makes any sense. I do look forward to moving on to the next book in the series.

I think the characters were pretty well developed, and I am sure they will develop even more over the course of the series. There was not an over abundance of characters either, which was really nice. I really enjoy Eddie's character a lot. He is pretty flawed, and I like that, He has some issues but he overcomes them.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves Zombie stories, because this one is certainly a treat. Be advised though, this is not one of those cutesy zombie stories. There is quite a bit of gore going on in this one. If you can handle that, then you are gonna love this one.

The Hostile Hospital - Lemony Snicket - 4 stars

This is book #8 in The Series of Unfortunate Events. It was a great read to keep me from getting into a reading slump after a very trying book.

The Orphans Get themselves mixed up in some more pretty shady business with Count Olaf and his thugs in eager pursuit in this installment. One of things I like the most about these stories is how engaging they are, despite the fact that they are somewhat annoying because of all these unfortunate events. I also enjoy the resourcefulness of the Orphans even though that resourcefulness is pretty improbable and unrealistic. The stories have a great flow about them, so they move along at a very fast pace. This one has a lot of action and adventure going on and I love it! It is true that there is a lot of annoying misfortune in this series, but there is something good that usually happens in the mix. It just depends on how you look at things.

The Orphans are so likeable that readers can't help but root for them. I know that there has been a lot of times I wished that I could be there to help them out myself. It does get annoying when they have to deal with so many unfortunate events, one right after the other, but really that is what the story is about. I think my favorite character is probably Violet, who is the inventor of the three. Even though the inventions are a little out there I still like the thought that is behind them. As far as antagonists go, there is plenty of them to hate. Of course Count Olaf would be the top of the list for me.

I recommend this series to those who don't mind dark, sad and unfortunate stories with children involved. If that sort of thing bothers you then you would probably be better off avoiding this series. (I am starting to sound like Lemony Snicket.) If that sort of story does not bother you, then give this series a shot, you might just enjoy it.

Blaze - Stephen King - 3 stars

I read this book as a buddy read with a friend. This was the only Bachman book I had not read by King, so I thought I would give it a shot. Was this a masterpiece? No. not even close, but I did find it somewhat entertaining and it does seem to fit in with the Bachman books. If you read King or you are a fan, you learn his writing style pretty quickly and you can tell that this is one of his earlier novels. Even though, I still thought that the book moved along with a decent pace and with the mix of dark, dry humor, it kept me engaged in the story.

Our characters are rather eccentric, and I think they were wrote this way on purpose, kind of like the good cop, bad cop routine. George, the evil go getter who thinks he is entitled to everything, and then there is Blaze, who is not very bright to start, due to beatings he received as a child, becomes a small time delinquent throughout his life, meets George and now worships the ground he walks on and would do anything he says. Blaze is wrote in a way that readers will feel bad for him at one point, and then angry at him the next, so they end up on a fence, do I like him or do I not? You get a decent amount of backstory on Blaze, but next to nothing on George, which is ok since Blaze is our main character.

I still would recommend this book to others who like King just because it is was the 'lost' Bachman book. I also think this really allows us to see the growth in King's writing. This is probably not for everyone, but king fans will definitely appreciate it.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling - 5 stars

I am reading this book for our read along in my 'Bookworm Buddies' group here on Good Reads. I have actually read this whole series before, but it was really a very long time ago. And when I read it the first time, I don't believe I appreciated it as much as I do now. Reading it now feels like a whole new experience for me and it makes me really glad to have joined in on this read along.

I think while revisiting HP, I have discovered that this one is a favorite so far. I found it much more exciting, enjoyed the pacing of it and all that adventure. It is a funny thing, all those things you had forgotten from the first time, come rushing back to you a sweeping you off of your feet. I found this to just be an amazing read this time. So very engaging that it feels as though you transported to another world, this world full of magic, witches and wizards. The author is so good with imagery that you can almost begin to believe that this is a place that really does exists. I just loved every second of it and hated for it to end.

One thing that I cling to is that Hagrid really is my favorite character in this series, and I do not doubt that he will continue to be. He has so many likable qualities about him. One of the main ones is the fact that he is no where near perfect, but if anything was to threaten Harry, Hermione. or Ron, he would be there in an instant to protect them. I also love his love for animals, no matter what type of make believe or real animal it is. Of course I like a lot of the characters in the book, I like the fact that you know about them, who they are, where they have been, they all have many sides and you learn them all.

I really do like to recommend this series to EVERYONE, because I really think there is something for everyone in this series, both young and old. So don't be put off in the fact that this is a middle grade read, it does advance, the characters advance as well. I am super glad that I decided to join in this read along and revisit one of the most magical places ever found in a book. It can certainly carry you away and keep you engaged through out.

In Cold Blood - Truman Capote - 1 star

I chose this book to cover one of the challenges in the 52 book challenge that I am participating in. (Reread a book that you once read in school.) I read this book back in my senior year of high school and could not remember anything about it, now I can see why. This book has horrible pacing, overly descriptive narrative and no real anticipation at all. It also lacks one thing that I love in books, dialogue. There is next to no dialogue in this book. Therefore I did not find the book exciting at all, and it really threw the flow off, not to mention how it bounced around all over the place, so I found it hard to follow as well.

I have to say though that there was one thing good to say about this book, this book is not a tome,(thank Goodness!) because I am sure that I would never have finished it, I would have DNFed after the first 50 pages. Maybe I have just discovered that true crime is not for me? Makes me wonder if all true crime is like that. Maybe I will just stick to my normal mysteries/thrillers.

Now for our characters. I hated them, easily said enough, I guess though, that is a good thing in a book like this, in a true crime novel, when we are talking about two men who are vile, filthy, scumbags who really felt no remorse and seemed to think everything was a big joke. There was some pretty good backstory written about our antagonists I must say, I appreciated that, I got to know who they were, but it was not quite enough for me to change my mind about the rest of it.

The Vile Villiage - Lemony Snicket - 4 stars

This is book #7 of the series and I enjoyed it a lot, They get better with each book, even though there are so many unfortunate events going on in the Baudelaire's lives, with each of these books. My niece told me that when she was in the 4th grade, her teacher told the students that they should never read this series because her own older daughter got depressed from it. It is true, it is a very dark series, maybe too dark for younger children, but rather than seeing depression, I see strength within the lines of these books. I love how fast paced the books are, there is NEVER a dull moment in these stories and that is one reason why I enjoy them. They move so quickly and before you know it you have finished it.

I won't lie, it does get annoying at times because there are so many unfortunate events that these orphans have to deal with, but I keep reading them anyway, and it is because I just keeping looking for that light at the end of the tunnel for the orphans themselves. It is like I am on a mission now, forever searching for this light to rescue these orphans. One other thing that is kind of annoying is that no one ever wants to believe the Orphans. It is like everyone is blinded to the truth that stands right before them. But this too I am sure is all a part of the 'unfortunate events'. I have however discovered that one thing to take away from reading these books is that even though unfortunate things happen to the orphans, there are good things that happen as well, things that are woven between the lines, and depending on how you look at things determines if you can see these good things as well. It is how each reader perceives the story.

The characters in these stories are very well developed. You definitely grow with both the protagonists and the antagonists. Readers will fall in love with these orphans, I know I have. They show so much strength, intelligence and simply the will to keep going no matter what. I know this is just a made up series of children's books. A made up world consisting of unfortunate events and horrors and all that jazz, but seriously people could learn a thing or two from these orphans. As for Count Olaf, I just want to rip his head off, and that is putting it mildly. He is one of those great villains that we can all hate. Dare I say that I hope by the end of this series, he gets what is coming to him.

I do recommend these books to anyone. I think it is all about how the story will be perceived by individuals who partake in the story to determine whether or not they will enjoy them. So take a chance on them. They really do not take much time to read since they move very quickly. You really have nothing to lose and I guarantee you will something.

The Red Cobra - Rob Sinclair - 4 stars

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This is not the first time I have read a book by this author which is the main reason why I chose to review this one for him. However this is not really the type of book I would normally read because it involves, the mafia, the mob, and assassins and I am just not into that type of thing.

This is however a thriller which helps the story along a lot. I find them quite exciting and adventurous, and I have to say that the pacing of the book is very fast so the book moves along pretty quickly, and I enjoy that very much. I found the plot to be very engaging despite the Mafia/mob elements in the story. I do have to warn though, that this is a pretty graphic story, no holds barred for sure and I am a bit squeamish with that sort of thing. There are a lot of twists and surprises in this book and one HUGE cliffhanger at the end.

The characters in this book, I found to be very well developed. I had a hard time disliking the main 'bad guy', in this case, a girl, The Red Cobra. I feel like she got handed the wrong end of the deal, kind of a child of circumstance if you will. I have to say that she really grew on me hard core. There are other characters in here who are more vile than Satan himself and you will love to hate them.

If you don't mind graphic situations, blood and gore, but you love Thrillers or even Mafia based novels than you will for sure enjoy this one. Even for those of us who don't necessarily enjoy Mobbish based books or the blood and gore part of things, can enjoy the fast paced, adrenalin pumping action in this one.

The Ersatz Elevator - Lemony Snickett - 4 stars

This is book 6 to The Series of Unfortunate Events. One of things I like best about these books is the pacing. They are so fluid and there is also never a dull moment with these orphans. Readers get whisked away on some pretty unfortunate adventures. I do still get somewhat annoyed at the amount of misfortune that these kiddos endure, but I am getting used to the fact that is what is going to happen, and there is no changing it. I was told by my niece that her teacher told them, when she was in the 4th grade, that they should not read this series because it caused her own daughter to become depressed. I know the series is pretty dark, but I never thought it was so dark as to cause depression in someone. Then again people handle things differently so I guess it is a possibility.

I fell in love with these characters (the orphans), pretty much right from the start of the first book. It is as though they are my own kids even though they have some pretty unrealistic talents. They are still very fun characters. Count Olaf is a great example of those characters we all love to hate. He is evil, underhanded, and pretty callous. I still hand onto the possibility of him reaching his demise in this series and I am hopeful that the author will not let me down on that. Our caregivers to the orphans this time were a bit suspicious. I did not like Mrs. Squallor at all. She was quite eccentric as well, and not at all equipped to be a guardian.

I recommend this to anyone, but if you have young children, then maybe hold off for a few years before allowing them to read this, it is closer to YA than it is middle grade. Like I said it is a pretty dark series and younger readers may not understand some parts to these books. If you are an adult, however, read read read. I think you may enjoy it. Really looking forward to continuing with this series and finishing up this year.

Prototype - M.D. Waters - 4 stars

This is book 2 to the Archetype duology. I was not going to read the 2nd right after the first but I could not help myself. I must say though that I am kinda glad that she stopped with just 2 books. I think this could be a story that would get mundane or tiresome if it were to continue past this point. I really enjoyed the plot of this story. I found it quite intriguing and very original. I really like the authors writing style, it has a great pacing which keeps the book very fluid and interesting. The author also uses great twists to keep reader's on their toes.

I really like the characters in this story. I find them to be pretty well developed even with just the 2 books. I find them to be quite compelling, especially Emma. I also find that the antagonists are also quite interesting. They are wrote pretty well, although one of them I expected to be a bit more villainous than he was. So that was a little disappointing for me. He had all the qualifications to be an evil, sadistic monster and he only grazed just the outer layer of that.

I recommend this duology to anyone who likes Sci-fi, fantasy, thriller and the like. It will keep these readers entertained for sure.

Archetpye - M.D. Waters - 5 stars

Wow is really all I can say about this book. At first I found it a bit confusing but quickly it settled down and I understood hat was going on. I do have to say it sucked me in right away. I really like the Author's writing style, it was pretty fast paced and that made it very enjoyable. There is also a lot of awesome twists as well. That epilogue was something else, and not what I expected at all which made me decide to stop my TBR and pick up the sequel to read now rather than later.

There is a nice mix of characters in the book which I am sure I will see more of in the sequel and I really look forward to seeing how Emma evolves in this next book. There are a lot of characters to hate in the story as well and I am excited to see how they develop in this next book. Who stays and who goes and by that epilogue I know one of my favorites to hate will be greeting us again.

I have to recommend this book to everyone. There is something for everyone with this one, got some sci fi, fantasy, mystery, thriller, romance, what more could readers ask for. It has a great storyline sure to pull y'all in on. So give it a shot and I am sure you won't be disappointed.

Go Ask Alice - Beatrice Sparks - 3 stars

This book has been around for a very long time and I am just now reading it. WHAT?! This book has also been censored/banned do the explicit nature of sex and drug addiction.

I found this book on the sales rack and decided that now would be the time. This is set back in the 70's when drug were predominant in society. Despite what has been said about this book, it is however, not a true story. It was not based on the diary of a 15 year old girl. So reading it as a fiction book, it is entertaining. I enjoyed reading it because it was pretty fast paced which really kept the pages turning for me. If you read this as a 'true account' of a young teenage girl then that changes things dramatically, because the story itself is not very realistic.

Our main character in this story, who is never named, is also not a very realistic character, however I did find her likable. She did not annoy me or irritate me, but her outlook on life was a little on the nonrealistic side. She goes through a lot in the story, and seems to learn a little from it at one point and then on the other side she doesn't learn from it. So it is like she does actually learn things from the mistakes, but has the attitude of 'oh well we will still make these mistakes anyway because it is more fun while I am doing it' therefore disregarding the consequences of the actions.

So don't pick this book up and read it with the idea that this a true story because I don't feel like you will really enjoy it that way. Look at it as a piece of fiction and read away. It can be better appreciated that way.

The Bargaining - Carly Anne West - 4 stars

I picked this one up on a whim because I was mostly drawn to the cover and then of course the synopsis. I liked the pacing of the book which kept it moving and I loved the creepiness of the story which kept me engaged. I found that there seemed to be a lot more to the story than the synopsis tells us and I was pleased by that. The ending of the book was not what I expected, but on the other hand it would be expected to happen the way it did, if that makes sense.

In this story we have Penny who has many issues that she needs to deal with. When she finds out that she is going on a realty adventure with her stepmom, she was less than thrilled. Unexplained creepy things begin happening once they arrive at their destination. April her stepmom is drawn to the beauty of the Carver house in which she will be renovating, while Penny feels quite differently about the house and the woods that surround them.

I really enjoyed Penny, I found her to be quite smart and also very headstrong. Even though she is flawed, which I love, she is also very strong, but the one thing that I found to be a little annoying was the fact that she would really trust no one. I do find that she was well developed though, and I am sure the trust issues stem from the flawed life the author created her from. There are several other characters to like and many other to hate and some that I was even on the fence about. I did love how some of them were secretive and had a somewhat dark aura about them. I thought brought a lot to the story.

I recommend this to anyone who likes a good, creepy story. Also those who enjoy paranormal horror will like this one as well.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K Rowling - 4 stars

Read this for our HP read along this year in my group. I am enjoying these earlier books much more this time around since I have read a lot more middle grade books, Doing that gives me a much better understanding of middle grade and allows me to enjoy them more. I feel like I enjoyed this one more than the first one, and I know they will get better for me with each book.

I love to see these characters grow and develop through the season. J.K. Rowling has a very good pacing to her writing which keeps the story moving with excitement. I think this is why so many adults can enjoy the series. New characters to enjoy in this book that will leave a lasting impression on readers.

I recommend this series to everyone even to those who do not read middle grade. I think there is a little something for everyone to enjoy in this magical, fun and exciting world. Just give it a shot and check it out.

The Fiery Cross - Diana Gabaldon - 4 stars

When I first started reading this book it was back in October-November and I could not get into it for some reason, but I am pretty sure that it was because I was distracted by other books I had lined up to read. So I decided to get back into this year so I can finish the series and finally have questions answered that I have had bottled up in my head for quite some time now. I expected when I started, that it would end up with a much lower rating, but lo and behold it did not.

The pacing of this book is a bit slower to start, therefore harder to get into, but gradually it picks up and gets pretty exciting the further you go as the pacing gets much better. No it is not a favorite of the series but it was still a necessary read I think for the series. There were parts in it that I thought could have been excluded but overall it was still enjoyable and I am glad that I got it finished.

Of course we have the favorite characters that we all love, and a few new ones who change things up a bit. I think the author is very good with her character development. They are written so brilliantly and they are very relatable even though they come from a very different time. One of the things I love most about Claire is the fact that she adapts well, and she makes the best of everything and passes that on to others.

The Kept Woman - Karin Slaughter - 5 stars

Wow, this was great! This was a buddy read with a couple of friends, but I jumped the gun because the book was staring at me and I had to pick it up. This is book 8 to the Will Trent series. Not sure how much further she is going with this series, but I felt like this one was a good place to stop.

As normal, the plotline was amazing in this book. It was intense, gripping and very engaging right from the prologue all the way to the end. I found that it was pretty hard to put the book down. It has great pacing that keeps readers turning the pages. I think that is what I like the most about Slaughter's writing. She knows how to keep readers engaged.

The characters throughout this series continue to develop. They are realistic, relatable and very believable. Some will have you swooning while others will have you seething with hatred for them. I love the strength of the characters, but also I love how they are flawed at the same time, makes for so great multi dimensional characters.

I of course recommend this book to all Slaughter fans, and also to fans of the mystery or thriller genre. So much to love about her writing I just can't say enough. If she decides to write yet another to this series, then I will of course pick that one up too.

The Marvel - Brian Selznick - 4 stars

Another brilliantly written and illustrated story. I just love how he can create 2 different stories and bring them together to tell such a beautiful tale. I also love the fact that the author does all of his own illustrations and book covers for each of his books. He is a very talented writer and artist.

In this one the story starts in 1766 with a family called the Marvels who were a family of actors in theatre. The whole first half of the story is told in marvelous and fascinating illustrations. I found that the illustrations told the story very well, it was really easy to follow it. I also think the illustrations give the story that dramatic affect and also make the story so very magical. The second part of this book continues in 1990 with a boy who is trying to figure out his family and ancestry. Both stories come together in an alluring tale that anyone will enjoy.

The characters are very colorful and of course amazing as they always are in Selznick's writing. My two favorite characters would have to be Joseph and Frankie. Both are stubborn and a force to be reckoned with for young children who are on a mission. They make you like them, they make you feel for them and understand them. I felt as though I knew them all and wanted to know them even better. They are all just beautifully done.

Of course I recommend this book to everyone, even if you don't read middle grade. Selznick's story telling should be appreciated by everyone because it is so very magical in every sense of the word. So pick it up and just try it out. If you don't like it then you just move on to something else without really losing anything at all, that is better than missing out completely.

P.S. I Love You - Cecelia Ahern - 5 stars

I read this book as a buddy read with a friend. I was lucky to find this one on sale at our UBS. I have owned several of Ahern's books for awhile but this is the first time I picked one up and I am so glad I did. It makes me look forward to the other books that I have by her, and will be sure to get to them this year at some point.

When I first read the synopsis of this book I knew I had to read it as soon as I could. I feel like her writing reminds me a bit of Liane Moriarty and that is a good thing. I absolutely loved how great the pacing was for this book. It just kept moving and it made it hard for me to put the book down. I was made to feel so many different things during the course of the book. I was written so well and if you read it, you will feel something.

The characters are developed so well it is as though they were my friends, and my enemies. They are wrote so beautifully and they feel so realistic. Readers will cry with them, laugh with them, and even fight with them. I found that Holly was so relatable, especially while dealing with loss and trying to move on with life. It is not always an easy task and I could feel every moment of her sadness. It hits ya right where it hurts the most.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good realistic, contemporary. There is so much feeling in this book it needs to be read and shared with others. I look forward to reading more by this author since this is a first time read.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling - 4 stars

I Just did a reread of this book with my group and could not believe how much more I enjoyed it this time around. I have experienced a lot more middle grade reads since reading this book the first time, 3 years ago, and I think that has played a big role in it along with eventually reading the whole series and growing with the characters. I found it to be very engaging for me and I love the pacing of the story. Also this time I discovered that this can be a very magical world for children and adults alike and I am glad I vested a bit more time and understanding into the story with this reread. I felt swept away pretty much this time around.

The characters, to me, have always been great even if I did not always enjoy these first few books. I like the antagonists and protagonists alike because they are written so well. I also love the fact that readers get to watch them grow up and get to do what the characters are doing at whatever point they are in the story. They are developed pretty well just in this first book, but definitely get increasingly better with each one of the books. I have to say though that one of my favorite characters has always been Hagrid. I find him to be very loyal and someone I would definitely want on my side for sure. He brings so much to the story.

I can recommend this even if you are an adult. Middle grade reads can be magical and are a nice break from our adult books and adult life as well. I certainly look forward to rereading the rest of this series with my group.

Along Came a Spider - James Patterson - 4 stars.

So glad that I am finally to get to the Alex Cross series. 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.

Fifty Shades Freed - E.L. James - 3 stars

I think that this book wrapped up the trilogy well enough, but there were still issues. The writing did improve over the course of reading the three books. I have no interest in reading Grey or the short story Meet Fifty Shades, nor will I probably ever read this trilogy again.

The one thing that annoyed me most was the over the top sex scenes. Once you read the first book and get into the second book it is not as much about the domination/submission aspects anymore, so I had hoped that the sexy times would be at a minimal. To my horror I was wrong. LOL I did find that the story was more about loyalty and trust than it was about the domination, although Christian remains controlling in other areas. I do think there is a good story here, you just have to fight through the rest of the mess to get down to the main plot of the story.

Lets just talk about these characters. Christian, who is a grown man acts more like a toddler on a power trip. It also always seemed like it was 'all about Christian' about how Christian feels, or how hurt Christian is. And it is that way because of our other character Anastasia, who lets Christian treat her anyway he wants and she submits to it and coddles Christians ego. I wanted to strangle Ana for being so weak all of the time. I wished wholeheartedly that she would be more like I am woman hear me roar, rather than oh I am meek and mild and you are right and I am wrong and I should be stroking your ego instead. ACK! She had a moment though that I think I actually stood up and cheered, but just this one moment is just not enough. I like strong characters.

The reason this one is getting the 3 stars is because there was some good thrillerish excitement in it, otherwise it would have been a 2. I found that I could tolerate the 2nd book better than this one. There was more emotional parts to this one and that was good. More parts to make you feel something besides nausea, so that was also plus for me. So all I can say is just try it if you want to. It wont make or break your reading experience just form your own opinion.

Pretty Girls - Karin Slaughter - 4 stars

Another great book by Karin Slaughter. I knew I would enjoy this one since she is one of my favorite Authors. A great psychological thriller for sure.

Two estranged sisters with one who was murdered years back with a body that was never found. The story unfolds with a recent disappearance of a young woman and sucks the readers into a dark, disturbing story of love, hate, trust, lies and some very dangerous secrets.

I myself have 4 sisters, so this one really touched home a lot. I also really liked how dark she told this, I thought it was a great element for the story. I was super engaged to the story from the start. I did find though, that I could guess ahead of time as to what was going to happen, so maybe a little predictable, but then again maybe that is they way the author intended for it to be. It had really great pacing which is another of Slaughter's great assets. She knows how to keep a story moving. I don't feel like it is her best, but it was still great, plenty of 'edge of your seat' moments and very worth the read for anyone who is a fan.

The characters were so amazing. Very well developed and very realistic. I found there to be plenty of backstory on them. This allowed me to really get to know who they were, and why they were. I also found the characters to have those flaws that I like to see. I really dislike 'perfect' characters and you won't find those with Slaughter's books. There are plenty of protagonists, antagonists, protagonist that are better antagonists. LOL The bad guys are amazing to hate. The ones that just make you seethe with hatred for them. I was seething near the end of the book because of a situation that was pretty much looked like it was out of the control of the protagonist.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves Mystery, Psychological thrillers, or you are just a fan of this author's writing and have not yet read this one. It is definitely a thrill ride for all who read this one.

Fifty Shades Darker - E.L. James - 3.5 stars

This is book 2 in the Fifty Shades trilogy. I read book 1 last year and found it to be so so. The writing was not great, but I did that there was a worthy story there, so I decided to finally get to the second book.

I find that I liked the plot better in this one, yes the plot does get better and does change. This story is not just about dominate and submissive lifestyles. This is a story about learning to trust and learning to accept others and not judge others without first knowing who they are. There are also some added elements to this one such as mystery and thriller. It adds a more intense moments to the story. I did find the end of this a bit predictable but I do look forward to how it will be incorporated into the final book. I could do without all the sex in this book. It does taper off in the beginning, but then seems to get over the top as the story goes on. I also thought that the writing itself has improved some. There are still the use of some lines or words that get annoying, but it has improved.

The characters are pretty good since I like those flawed, gritty characters. I do have to say though that Christian was bordering on very annoying several times in this one, but I do realize it is part of his character and part of who he is so I deal with that. Ana also gets herself in those situation where I expect her to react one way but ends up responding in a totally different way, and not always smart choices. I would like for her to stand up for herself more than she does. I think this would make her appear a lot stronger.

I am going to give this book a 3,5 star rating. I believe that to be a half star more than I gave the first book. Just give it try before you judge the story. I do think these books are worth reading and recommend them to anyone who likes romance and to those who can look past the sexy times.

The Austere Academy - Lemony Snicket - 4 stars

Another great book in The Series of Unfortunate Events. This is book #5 to the series, and I look forward to continuing on with this one.
Synopsis
Dear Reader,
If you are looking for a story about cheerful youngsters spending a jolly time at boarding school, look elsewhere. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are intelligent and resourceful children, and you might expect that they would do very well at school. Don't. For the Baudelaires, school turns out to be another miserable episode in their unlucky lives.

Truth be told, within the chapters that make up this dreadful story, the children will face snapping crabs, strict punishments, dripping fungus, comprehensive exams, violin recitals, S.O.R.E., and the metric system.

It is my solemn duty to stay up all night researching and writing the history of these three hapless youngsters, but you may be more comfortable getting a good night's sleep. In that case, you should probably choose some other book.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

Again this was very engaging. I found it to be very fast paced and a very quick read. I really have been enjoying the plots of these stories, but also sometimes find them to be so ridiculous that they can become annoying as well. LOL However, I do find that they are very entertaining, so I am able to look past some of the more ridiculous parts of the story.

Again we run in to Count Olaf who really is a great character for us to all 'love to hate'. I only hope that by the end of this series he gets his just rewards. I love the Orphans just because they are both smart and funny, but I have to wonder why they just don't run away. I ask myself why they stick around. I guess that is because they are smart and no they are better off being around other people who know about Count Olaf.

I can not recommend this series enough to friends. I think anyone can enjoy them just as much as I do. So I urge you to pick up the first one, try it out and see if you what you think.

Robert B. Parker's Damned if You Do - Michael Brandman - 4 stars

This is book #12 in the Jesse Stone series. I have really enjoyed this series a lot. I look forward to the last 2 books and hopefully I will get to those soon.
Synopsis

The woman on the bed was barely out of her teens. She wasn’t exactly beautiful, but she’d tried to make the most of her looks. And now, alone in a seedy beachfront motel, she was dead.

Paradise Police Chief Jesse Stone doesn’t know her name. Whoever she is, she didn’t deserve to die. Jesse starts digging, only to find himself caught in the crosshairs of a bitter turf war between two ruthless pimps. And more blood will spill before it’s over.

This one had 2 separate stories running at the same time as do a lot of these books in this series. I again enjoyed the plot to the story. I always find them engaging even though this series is a pretty laid bac series. There is not a lot of action in them but still very enjoyable. They are very quick, fluid reads and I believe that to be due to the use of so much dialogue. It keeps the stories moving pretty good.

I really enjoy the characters in this series. There are so many to enjoy. I can however tell a bit of a difference with the characters now that they are written by Michael Brandman instead of Robert Parker. I find that Jesse is much more bold, which I enjoy that part, but I find that the conversations there are between Jesse and Molly or Jesse and Dix seem a bit strained now, not as easy going as before, so that feels kinda wrong. Other than that though I really enjoy all of the characters.

A Time to Kill - John Grisham - 5 stars

I don't normally read books like this one, but a good friend recommended it so I decided to give it a shot. Now I am glad that I did, it make me view court room dramas in a whole different light. This is also a first time read for me with this author.
Synopsis
In this searing courtroom drama, best-selling author John Grisham probes the savage depths of racial violence...as he delivers a compelling tale of uncertain justice in a small southern town...Clanton, Mississippi.

The life of a ten-year-old girl is shattered by two drunken and remorseless young men. The mostly white town reacts with shock and horror at the inhuman crime. Until her black father acquires an assault rifle and takes matters into his hands.

For ten days, as burning crosses and the crack of sniper fire spread through the streets of Clanton, the nation sits spellbound as young defense attorney Jake Brigance struggles to save his client's life...and then his own.

I have to be honest and say I was not sure about this book at all. The more I read though, the more I was intrigued. I really enjoyed the writing style a lot. The story was very engaging and was pretty quick paced. I also found this story to be very thought provoking as was a young adult in the year that this book was written. I did not think much about how thick the racism was in the 80's. Reading this book brought that to the forefront for me. It also made me think about what I would have done if this was to happen to me, if my child had been raped, beaten and left for dead. What would I have done? How would I have reacted? This book really makes reader's think about it.

I absolutely loved the characters in this book, well most of them anyway. They were developed very well. Of course my favorite would be Jake, but I also really enjoyed Ellen even though she came into the story relatively late. I would have loved to have had her a bit sooner into the story and maybe learned a bit more about her. I could relate to the characters very well because they felt so real and down to earth most of the time. I also found them to be very likeable for the most part.

Since I was recommended this book, I must recommend it as well, even for those who do not like courtroom dramas like me. I think this book could change your mind. I look forward to experiencing more of this author in the future.

The Diviners - Libba Bray - 3.5 stars

I just recently got this book for Christmas. I have heard a lot of mixed reviews for it but decided to finally get this one read. I did get stuck on what to rate the book, either a 3 or a 4, so I decided to go in the middle and settled on a 3.5.

Synopsis
Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult.

Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer.

As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened.

I found this plot to be quite intriguing, although I did not find quite as exciting as I expected it to be. It is pretty engaging for the most part, however there are also those parts that are rather draggy and boring. Take those parts out and add a bit more excitement and it would be a 5 star for me. I guess I just wanted it to be a little faster paced than it was, It took awhile to get to those main points and then the end seemed more rushed. Overall though, the book was entertaining and had me engaged to the story for the most part.

I did enjoy the characters, I think they were pretty well developed. I enjoyed most of them but I did find Sam to be quite annoying most of the time though. I don't really think he needed to even be a part of the story, but that is just me. I don't see that he contributed all the much. Evie was probably my favorite character, she is quite bossy and outspoken. The perfect teen right there.

I will be getting the sequel because there was plenty to the story to push me forward on it. I recommend this book to those who like Historical fantasy paranormal type stories and to have all three in one book was a pretty good mix. I think this is why I found it to be so intriguing. Such unlikely elements to be combined to make a great story. Again the rating for this book is a 3.5 star.