This is How it Ends by Eva Dolan review

This Is How It Ends: The most critically acclaimed crime thriller of 2018 

I gave this book 3 stars
Ella is an activist who always seems to get into trouble. She is a squatter in a building to be converted into luxury condos. She is determined for her and her neighbors to fight it out. She held a party 1 night and there was a death. She panics and calls her neighbor Molly, who is always there for her. Together they hide the body.
As this story unfolds you get chapters of the past and the presence.
I did like Molly but did not like Ella. The storyline was a little slow and I was surprised by the ending. I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

You can buy this book here: http://amzn.to/2F2ld90

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Raven Books (January 25, 2018)

Cooler weather

Last week and the weekend was hot and humid. his chic does not like summer. I am an Autumn person. Anyway today is a high of 71 which is perfect.
I have been reading and finished Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. Very well written and thought provoking book.
I am now listening to Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines and I am enjoying that one so fat.

I babysat my grandsons Saturday and their mom is going to school and my son had tto work. But Sunday I stayed home and played Sims 4 all day. Yes I love the Sims games and I also have SimCity.

Last night I colored in ANimal Kingdom by Millie Marotta and actually finished the page. I will have to post a pic later this week.

Last night I got ready for bed and let the dog out first. I asked Justin if he had let Outsider in as he has to be in around 9pm. He had forgotten to bring him in so he is calling his name and says mom , there is an animal out here by the porch , kind of looks like a cat. So I already have an idea of what it is. Sure enough we go out and it is a Fisher. And there is my cat getting ready to pick a fight with it. My cat is 12 years old so no match at all plus Fishers like to eat cats and was eyeing mine. So Justin threw something at the fisher and brought our cat in who now has to stay in for a few days. We will let my dog out more since I have a big dog and they don't like big dogs.

So that's it for now. Today is book day so audiobook and if I finish it then to read the next book of the Abbi Glines series.

Have a great day!!!

Reading some good books

It is almost 8 pm and I am ready for bed. yesterday and Monday was hot and humid so when the boys woke up I brought them to my house since I have ac.

I guess I should tell you what has been going on since I used to blog. I worked for a forage lab from May 2007 until July 2016. 2015 and 2016 my health had pretty much shit the bed. Diabetes, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, thyroid disease, high blood pressure. So many doctor appointments and being sick a lot meant missing a lot of time at work. So they let me go. I really needed a new job anyways. They gave me 6 weeks notice so I could take time off for job interviews and such. Well my resume was sent to probably 100 places and had only 1 interview, which I did not get the job. May 29th of last year my 2nd grandson was born. Amber wanted to go back to work but they couldn't afford daycare with 2 kids. So I sat down with them and said that I would watch the boys for X amount of money. They live 6 minutes from my house. I don't drive in the snow so on those days Dylan would come pick me up and take me to his house, since it is much easier watching them at their house. In the summer I bring them to my house on hot and humid days since I have ac. It has worked out really well. My asthma is so much better being out of that lab since it was very dirty and stinky. I have not had to call in sick and can actually go there when I don't feel well. I just put TV on for them and rest. It has been a win win situation. I get at their house around 6:15am. The boys don't get up til 9 so I take my laptop and check Facebook and watch You Tube videos. Once in awhile I go back to sleep. I am done watching them at 4. Most times Dylan and Amber want me to eat dinner with them but I now only do that once a week. I need my down time too. Since Scott works nights and is sleeping during dinner time then it works for me.


Now onto the last couple of days. I have read some good books.
The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks was great. Now I need to watch the movie
Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll I gave a 4 star rating. Very good.
Yesterday I read : First Comes Love by Emily Giffin. I think I gave that 3 stars. Very dysfunctional family.

I am currently reading Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. I am halfway though it or maybe more than that. I am enjoying it as I always like her books.

Monday night I did color in Daydreams by Hanna Karlzon and I need to finish that.

When I got done babysitting today then Dylan and I took the boys and got groceries. Blake, who is 1 was miserable through the store and all the way home. I know he was hungry and we gave him a bottle but he will not hold it up and so nothing comes out of it. The little bugger.

Well I guess i bored you enough today. I just wanted to fill you in on what has been going on here for the past 2 years.

Wanting to blog again

So for the past 2 years I have stopped reading blogs. The only thing I have been doing is watching Booktube, Flosstube and coloring You Tube videos. I have also been making videos. My life was overtaken by the internet yet again. So I have unsubbed from many You Tube channels and just kept a few of my favorites.
I am getting back into reading and trying to fit in cross stitching. The only thing I had been doing this year is color. So this blog is going to be like my diary again. I am hoping to post every day again and with pics , if I have anything to share.

This weekend is a reading weekend with a Facebook group Shadow Lounge Monthly Readathon
This read a thon is the 2nd weekend of every month. No challenges. Just a way to sit and read and share what you are reading.

Then I think I am making a monthly stitching goal of one whole weekend. I haven't stitched since March. Most of that is also due to the fact that I am not enjoying what I am stitching. I have over 1/2 done on Rocky Mountain Christmas. The thing I hate is the back stitching. She has different colors and shapes for back stitching and I do back stitch as I go along but am really hating it. So I think it will take a back burner again and I am going to pull out something that I enjoy.

I am almost a year behind on watching General Hospital, even though I know what has been going on currently, just not everything.

There are tons of movies on my DVR as well.

Coloring has taken over my life and I love it but I want to fit in my other hobbies.

Right now it is hard to leave out my cross stitch stuff because of a cat that will take off with things or knock it all over. I have a room to stitch in but it became my catch all room and I don't ever sit in there during the summer because it is to hot in there.

My 27 year old son has his name in for an apartment and just waiting to hear from them. Even though we love him, he needs to move out, I have plans for his room as it is a lot bigger than my sitting room now. Way more room with 2 walls to have shelves for my cross stitch supplies and coloring supplies. It will need a new floor and ceiling as well. I have all these ideas in my head of what I want to do and my hubby agrees with me.

Today I am reading The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks and so far so good but then again I always like his books.

So if any of you still follow me what have you been up to?

Dewey's 24-Hour Readathon

I have joined this again. It is April 29th. 8am- Sunday April 30, 7:55 am EST

I have snacks & drinks at the ready

My first book that I want to finish asap this morning: This is the last book of the Women of the Otherworld series
13 by Kelley Armstrong

Review: Christmas Under a Starlit Sky (A Town Called Christmas #2) by Holly Martin

Christmas Romance
Published October 19th 2016 by Bookouture
My Rating: 5 Stars

My review:

 Neve found out she was pregnant but didn't think she was good enough for her gorgeous movie star boyfriend so she lied and told him it wasn't his because she didn't want to tie him down. Meanwhile the Inn is getting ready for Christmas and this author has written this town so wonderfully that you want to be there. Never really loves Oakley and does want to spend the rest of her life with him but she also doesn't want to leave her family and move to California but she also doesn't want a long term relationship. There is also another relationship happening between Adam and Ivy. Both have been hurt in the past. I received this from Net Galley for a review.

Review: Christmas Under a Cranberry Sky (A Town Called Christmas #1) by Holly Martin

Christmas Romance
Published September 22nd 2016 by Bookouture
My rating: 5 stars

My Review:

 This story takes place on Juniper Island. Piper travels for a company doing reviews on hotels/resorts. She gets sent to Stardust Lake Hotel. When she finds out Gabe owns it all her emotions come back. They were childhood friends and teenage lovers and he had broken her heart. Her mom died when she was a little girl and her dad didn't want her and told her no one did she she had a pretty crappy upbringing and trust issues. But Gabe and her see their mistakes from the past and miscommunication. How the author described places and this hotel I wanted to be there so bad. This town sounded perfect for Christmastime and I could just picture everything. The love story was great and all of Gabe's family and staff. I can't wait to read the next book. I received this from Net Galley for a review.

Review: The 24 Days of Christmas by Linda Lael Miller

Christmas Romance
Published November 8th 2016 by Lyrical Shine
My rating: 3 1/2 stars

My review:


This was a short quick read of only 50 pages. Frank and his daughter are using an old advent calendar that had brought him and Addie together when they were kids. She is now back in town, after a divorce and a much publicized backlisting as a reporter. A few days later she ends up with her ex's son. Feelings kindle again between Addie and Frank as they celebrate Christmas activities.

Review: A Very Jaguar Christmas (Heart of the Jaguar #5) by Terry Spear

Paranormal Romance
Published October 4th 2016 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
My rating: 4 stars

My Review:

 This is set at Christmastime but not very Christmassy like you would think. A little boy is lost and come to find out he is werewolf. He was dropped off at a day care center for Jaguar shifters. Neither shifters knew about the other one. The story is of a Jaguar couple who are looking for the little wolf cub/boy's family. I liked the main couple and their finding out about their true feelings for each other and trying to start a relationship while traveling and helping out the boy cub. I like paranormal so this was right up my alley. I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Review: Winter Wonderland by Elizabeth Mansfield

Regency Romance
Published October 4th 2016 by Open Road Media Romance

(first published November 1st 1993) 

My rating: 3 stars

 

My review:

 

 This is an old Regency Romance and read just like it. A nobleman had been spurned 11 years ago. When they meet again, he remembers her but she has no knowledge of who he is. She has changed a lot. Now a widow and lost her home she becomes a governess to the nobleman's family. They meet up on their way to her new job and his family and are robbed in their coach.
After a few days and their bickering she is told who he is. He just got betrothed to someone so he could forget her. Typical Regency book. I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Review: A Christmas Kiss by Elizabeth Mansfield

Christmas Romance
Published October 4th 2016 by Open Road Media Romance

(first published 1970) 

My rating: 3 stars

 

My review:

 

 Evelyn is a a governess and let go from her services because a besotted son had left her in a compromising position and the mother believed the governess had her eyes on him. The son's friends felt bad for her and took her with them on a holiday and then to get employed after the holidays. Well there was confusion on family members parts and a lot of she likes him and he likes her and a widowed sister not wanting to marry and move out of her widowed brother's house and a jealous woman who wants one man and she doesn't like being shunned. A lot of craziness but cute story that had me laughing. I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Review: Mistletoe Cottage (Harmony Harbor #1) by Debbie Mason

Christmas Romance
Published October 25th 2016 by Forever
My rating: 4 stars

My review:

 Very cute story and actually had me laughing out loud a few times. Sophia grew up in Harmony Harbor but she fleed several years ago and pregnant, with her mom. A fire destroyed her home so she came back home to be with family.Firefighter Liam has been in love with Sophia since she was a teenager and he wants a second chance with her and needs to prove to her that he is the one. After Sophia gets back she is hired as the manager to the manor. Things change to the good after that. I want to read the rest of this series and I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Review: Claude’s Christmas Adventure by Sophie Pembroke

A dog adventure
Published October 20th 2016
My rating: 4 stars

My Review:

 This was such a fun read. Claude is a french bulldog and accidently gets left behind, when his family goes away for Christmas. So the book starts with him going through a neighbor's cat door. He friends 2 neighbors and they are on the quest to find out whose dog it is. The chapter take turns telling the story from Claude's point, the neighbor's point and the owner's point. The family does everything in their power to get back home. Meanwhile neighbors all come together to celebrate Christmas. I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Review: The Mistletoe Promise (Mistletoe Collection) by Richard Paul Evans

Christmas Romance

Audiobook

Published November 18th 2014 by Simon & Schuster Audio
My rating: 5 stars

My review:

 I listened to this on audio, through my library. Elise is dreading the holidays. 3 years ago she found out her husband was cheating on her with her best friend. That resulted in a bitter divorce.
Then one November day, a stranger, Nicholas approaches her in the mall food court. Instead of being alone for holidays he propositions her for 8 weeks they pretend to be a couple and he draws up a contract with 4 simple rules. She agrees and they start spending a lot of time together but parts of her past come back to haunt her. But she finds out she isn't the only one with a haunting past. I loved how these 2 came together and a relationship formed. When I started listening to this it was how the movie started that was on Hallmark, last month. But that is where the similarities end.

Review: Holiday in Your Heart (Caribou Crossing #7) by Susan Fox

Christmas Romance
Published September 27th 2016 by Zebra
Rated: 4 stars

My review:
 Maribeth is 39 and waiting for Mr. Right. Her biological clock is ticking so she is thinking about getting a sperm donor so she can have a child. Then she meets Mo. Mo has a troubled past and came to town to apologize to his ex wife and his son who he abandoned as a child. He has made a lot of mistakes and has regretted them all. He wants everyone to know how much he has changed. Mo meets up with Maribeth and sparks flu instantly but Mo doesn't feel he deserves her and is adamant about not having anymore kids. After a lot of time together and having an extended family that he gets to know, can he change his mind. It was good to see how someone changed their life and made it for the better. I enjoyed this story and received this from NetGalley.

Review: We Need A Little Christmas (Evergreen Lane Novels) by Sierra Donovan (

Christmas Romance
Published September 27th 2016 by Zebra
Rated: 4 stars

My review:
 This was a fun and quick Christmas romance. Liv's Grandmother has passed away so she came home to help her mom and sister to say goodbye and clean out the house. She ends up meeting up with Scotty who is the handyman of the town. As he helps them with everything she starts having feelings for him. But her home and business are back in Texas and she needs to get back to a business that she isn't sure will be there anymore. I received this from netGalley for a review.

Review: Christmas at Lilac Cottage (White Cliff Bay #1) by Holly Martin

Christmas Romance
Published September 25th 2015 by Bookouture
Rated: 5 stars

My review:
 This was a fun read and loved the story. This is set in White Cliff Bay and at Christmas time, which sounds beautiful there. Penny loves her home which is a cute cottage and twinkling fairy lights. She decides to rent out the annex of her house to a father and his teen daughter. He starts out as a grumpy person but warms up to Penny. She is an ice carver and befriends his daughter and teaches her how to ice carve. Penny and Henry end up with a strong connection and want to see where it will go. Loved the ice carving they did and the competitions. The love story was great also and shows how important communication is. I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Review: Welcome Home for Christmas (Hero's Welcome, #4) by Annie Rains

Christmas Romance short novel
 Published November 8th 2016 by Loveswept
Rating: 4 stars

My Review

 This was a quick and fun read. It's a short novel set in Seaside, North Carolina, where a military base is and the male main character is at.Allison has been single for quite a while. She seems to always date losers. Her mom is a psychiatrist, who always finds fault with all the men Allison dates. If she doesn't date then her family gives her a hard time and if she is dating then the guy is all wrong. She can't win. At a charity ball she buys a man to be her pretend boyfriend and is name is Troy and a military man. So they ave pretend dates to get to know each other and the sexual tension builds up and feelings start coming into play. This was a great story and I received it from NetGalley for a review.

Review: One Christmas in Paris by Mandy Baggott

Rated 3 stars
Published October 7th 2016 by Bookouture
Christmas Romance

My thoughts:
 This was a fun and quick read. Ava and Deb are best friends from London. They got Paris to help Ava forget about her cheating boyfriend and Deb thinks that her stepdad is cheating on her mom. They meet up with 2 frenchmen and become friends and spend the week with them. Deb and Ava do some sleuthing to find out if the stepdad is cheating. Ava's mom is a control freak and thinks she knows what her daughter should be doing with her life. Ava ends up falling for Juliene and helps him deal with missing his sister and helping him with his photography. I really enjoyed the characters. The only thing I hated in this book and the reason that I only gave this 3 stars is the character using the word Totes in about every other sentence. I thought maybe it was an expression that hey use in London but why didn't Ava ever say it, not even once. So I felt it was overused and 3/4 of the way through the book I cringed every time it was used. I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber review

Christmas Romance
Published October 4th 2016 by Ballantine Books
Rating: 5 stars

My review:
 This was a cute and fun read. Debbie Macomber wrote another great Christmas book. Julia has a neighbor who is like Ebenezer. She writes a blog and decides to do a 12 Days of Christmas challenge to kill him with kindness. He lives across the hall from her in their apartment. Every morning they leave at the same time for work and she always smiles and says hi but he is not friendly. So she goes out of her way and even buys him coffee, bakes him cookies, all of which he declines. After a while though he starts smiling and being nice. They start having feelings for each other til he finds out about the blog. Being hurt in the past he feels used again and can't seem to forgive her.
I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Do You Believe in Santa? by Sierra Donovan review

Christmas Romance
Published September 29th 2015 by Zebra
Rating: 5 stars

My Review:
 This was a quick and fun read. The ending was perfect!! Mandy Reese is a woman who believes in Santa because she saw him when she was 8 years old. She now works in a Christmas store in her home town of Tall Pines in southern California, in the mountains. Jake arrives in town to convince the town to build a Regal Hotel. He meets Mandy when he stops at the store. They start seeing each other. He eventually finds out she has seen Santa but he doesn't believe her. They fall in love but he is still skeptical. He isn't sure if they can make it work with his job and she doesn't know if she can be with someone who doesn't believe in her. I loved all the characters in the book but the ending is what made it a 5 star rating for me.

I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Snowbound At Christmas by Debbie Mason - review

 Published September 29th 2015 by Forever
Genre: Christmas Romance
 Rating: 4 stars

My Review:
  This was a quick and fun read. Cat O'Connor is an ex cop and works for her spoiled self centered sister who is an actress. Her sister treats her like a servant instead of a sister. Chloe works on a soap opera and then she gets an opportunity for an audition for a chance of a lifetime role.Cat and Chloe are twins and so they pretend to be each other and it works great until someone is trying to kill Chloe. Now Grayson is brought in under cover as a soap actor to find out what is going on. As they go to the town Christmas more things happen and is someone really after Chloe or are they after Cat. This also has a cute love story going. I received this from Net Galley for a review.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer- review

Heartless- Marissa Meyer
Genre :Fantasy/ Fairytale Retelling
Publisher:  Feiwel & Friends (November 8, 2016)
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Review:
 I did enjoy the book but I didn't LOVE it! I got bored halfway through the book and then it picked up again. Cath wants to be a baker and own her own shop but her parents forbid it and says she has to marry the king, boring. She meets Jest and falls for him instead. A lot of Alice in Wonderland in here but instead of Alice you are dealing with Cath, who is supposed to be the Queen of Hearts. I hated her mother and Margaret, who has a holier than thou attitude. The King is sooo boring I would run for the hills lol.
 Marissa Meyer is a great storyteller but I like the Lunar Chronicles a lot better.

Halfway through the Dewey's 24-Hour readathon, checking in

I have done really well and finished 4 books
Sandman - William W. Johnstone  3 stars
Halloween Magic and Mayhem - Stella Wilkin 3 stars
Vampire Affliction - Eva Pohler 4 stars
And Then She Was Gone - Christopher Grayson 4 stars

Next up is Kinsey and Me - Sue Grafton

These are all kindle books that I have been reading. Taking a small break to charge my tablet and phone.

Dewey's 24-Hour Readathon

Starting today, Saturday October 22, at 8 am is this readathon and ends Sunday , Oct. 23 at 7:55 am. I am reading all kindle books and am going to try to read the following:
Finish Sandman by William W. Johnstone
Read:
Halloween Magic and Mayem by Stella Wilkinson
Vampire Affliction by Eva Pohler 
The Witches of Dark Root by April Aasheim.
Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I bought snacks and Dr. Pepper for the caffeine. I need to go and change to comfy clothes and am getting ready my wax warmers ready for today and my candles. Hubby is in charge of dinner. I have leftovers to make taco salad for lunch so I am good to go. 

Coloring Wednesday Recipe - Pasta Pie a La Bison

Pasta Pie a La Bison

8 oz spaghetti
2 TBSP melted butter
2 eggs, beaten
1/3 C grated parmesan cheese
16 oz. spaghetti sauce
1 C cottage or ricotta cheese
1/2 C shredded Mozzarella cheese


Preheat oven to 350
Cook spaghetti. drain
Stir butter, eggs and parmesan cheese into hot spaghetti.
Use this mixture to shape a crust in a 10" pie pan.
Spread cottage or ricotta cheese over crust and cover with suace. Bake for 20 minutes. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top and bake until cheese melts.

Coloring Wednesday's Ham and Noodle Casserole recipe

I have a You Tube channel and I do Cross Stitch Sunday and Ramblings, Coloring Wednesday & ramblings, Friday Reads. A subscriber asked me to do a recipe on Wednesdays. So here is my Ham and noodle casserole

Ham and Noodle Casserole

4 Cups noodles, uncooked
1 lb ham, chopped
1 lb shredded cheddar cheese
1 green pepper
2 can cream of celery soup
1 cup milk
2 tsp horseradish
2 tsp prepared mustard
2 cups crushed potato chips


Cook noodles according to package. Drain. Mix all ingredients except for chips. Add ingredients to noodles, stir to mix. Put in greased casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove from oven, top with chips, return to oven for 7 minutes.

The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury review

The Forbidden Wish - Jessica Khoury
standalone
YA Aladdin retelling/Fantasy
Publisher: Razorbill (February 23, 2016)
Rated 4/5 stars

 Synopsis:
When Aladdin discovers Zahra's jinni lamp, Zahra is thrust back into a world she hasn't seen in hundreds of years -- a world where magic is forbidden and Zahra's very existence is illegal. She must disguise herself to stay alive, using ancient shape-shifting magic, until her new master has selected his three wishes. 



But when the King of the Jinn offers Zahra a chance to be free of her lamp forever, she seizes the opportunity—only to discover she is falling in love with Aladdin. When saving herself means betraying him, Zahra must decide once and for all: is winning her freedom worth losing her heart?

As time unravels and her enemies close in, Zahra finds herself suspended between danger and desire in this dazzling retelling of Aladdin from acclaimed author Jessica Khoury.

My Thoughts:
This story was a little different as the jinni was female and a little darker. The Princess and Aladdin don't fall in love but he does help her fight for her throne. I enjoyed this book very much.

February 2016 Book haul featuring Rascal the cat

January 2016 BIG book haul

Salt To the Sea - Ruta Sepetys review

Salt to the Sea - Ruta Sepetys
Standalone
Young Adult Historical Fiction
 Publisher: Philomel Books (February 2, 2016)
Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis:
 World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, many with something to hide. Among them are Joana, Emilia, and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other tested with each step closer to safety.

Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. Not country, nor culture, nor status matter as all ten thousand people—adults and children alike—aboard must fight for the same thing: survival.

MY Thoughts:
Set in Winter 1945 world war II. We follow 4 teenagers with 4 secrets. The chapters alternate between the 4 teenagers point of view. Each one from a different homeland and affected by tragedy, lies and war. They all happen to show up at the same place and try to survive. This book was gripping and I had such emotions for each character. The ending was happy and sad. I started the book with low expectations of liking it as I don't always like historical fiction and figured I would get to maybe 50 pages and stop. I was surprised how much I loved this book and got sucked right in.

The Siren by Kiera Cass review

The Siren - Kiera Cass
Publisher: HarperTeen (January 26, 2016)
Genre: YA, Folklore, Fantasy
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis:
Kahlen is a Siren, bound to serve the Ocean by luring humans to watery graves with her voice, which is deadly to any human who hears it. Akinli is human—a kind, handsome boy who's everything Kahlen ever dreamed of. Falling in love puts them both in danger . . . but Kahlen can't bear to stay away. Will she risk everything to follow her heart?


My Thoughts:
I loved the story. There are 4 Sirens and one is at the end of her 100 year serving as a siren. She gets to become human and she will lose her memory of being a siren. Kahlen still has 20 years to go when she meets Akinli. I love the friendship between the 4 sirens. Also the love story between Kahlen and  Akinli. I found this a fun and fast read.

The Passenger by Alexandra Bracken review

Passenger - Alexandra Bracken
#1 in Passenger series
Time traveling fiction
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion (January 5, 2016)
Rating 4/5 stars



Synopsis:
 In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles, but years from home. And she's inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she's never heard of. Until now.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods-a powerful family in the Colonies-and the servitude he's known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can't escape and the family that won't let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, his passenger, can find. In order to protect her, Nick must ensure she brings it back to them-whether she wants to or not.
Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods' grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home forever.

My thoughts:
I loved this book and the cliffhanger was typical Alexandra Bracken and I can not wait for the 2nd book to come out.

The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman review

1. The Dark Days Club - Alison Goodman
2. #1 Lady Helen series
3. Fantasy/ paranormal
4. Published  Viking Books for Young Readers (January 26, 2016)
5. Rating: 5/5 stars

 Synopsis:

 London, 1812. Eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Wrexhall is on the eve of her debut presentation at the royal court of George III. Her life should revolve around gowns, dancing, and securing a suitable marriage. Instead, when one of her family’s maids disappears, she is drawn into the shadows of Regency London.
            There, she meets Lord Carlston, one of the few able to stop the perpetrators: a cabal of demons that has infiltrated all levels of society. Carlston is not a man she should be anywhere near, especially with the taint of scandal that surrounds him. Yet he offers her help and the possibility of finally discovering the truth about the mysterious deaths of her parents.
            Soon the two of them are investigating a terrifying conspiracy that threatens to plunge the newly Enlightened world back into darkness. But can Helen trust a man whose own life is built on lies? And does she have the strength to face the dangers of this hidden world and her family’s legacy?    
           Set in the glittering social world of the Regency upper-crust, the Dark Days Club is a supernatural adventure that introduces New York Times best-selling author Alison Goodman’s Lady Helen Wrexhall—another heroine whom, like Eona, readers can take to their hearts.

My thoughts:

You never know who to trust and not trust in this book. I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. Helen is being raised by her aunt and uncle and I can not stand her uncle. He is the type that just waits for her to do one little thing wrong. I can't wait for the next book.

review: Creation In Death by J. D. Robb

Creation In Death - J. D. Robb
Book #25 In Death series
Suspense
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons (November 6, 2007)
Rated : 4/5 stars

Synopsis:
 NYPSD Lieutenant Eve Dallas keeps the streets of a near-future New York City safe in this extraordinary series. But even she makes mistakes, and is haunted by those she couldn't save-and the killers she couldn't capture. When the body of a young brunette is found in East River Park, artfully positioned and marked by signs of prolonged and painful torture, Eve is catapulted back to a case nine years earlier. The city was on edge from a killing spree that took the lives of four women in fifteen days, courtesy of a man the media tagged "The Groom"-because he put silver rings on the fingers of his victims.
When it turns out that the young brunette was employed by Eve's billionaire husband, Roarke, she brings him in on the case-a move that proves fitting when it becomes chillingly clear that the killer has made his attack personal. The victim was washed in products from a store Roarke owns, and laid out on a sheet his company manufactures.
With the Groom's monstrous return, Eve is determined to finish him once and for all. Familiar with his methods, Eve knows that he has already grabbed his next victim. Time is running out on another woman's life.
And chances are he's working up to the biggest challenge of his illustrious career-abducting a woman who will test his skills and who promises to give him days and days of pleasure before she dies: Eve.

My Thoughts:
 Book #25 of the In Death series. Detective Eve needs to find the man who is murdering women. It started years ago and then stopped and started again. Then to find out she is to be his last victim. Will she find out who he is on time? Read it if you want to know :)

November Book haul

Review: Inncocent In Death by J. D. Robb

Innocent in Death - J.D. Robb
In Death series book #24
Mystery
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons; First Edition edition (February 20, 2007)
Rated: 4/5 stars

Synopsis:
 The phenomenal series set in a future New York City returns as NYPSD Lt. Eve Dallas hunts for the killer of a seemingly ordinary history teacher-and uncovers some extraordinary surprises. Craig Foster's death devastated his young wife, who'd sent him to work that day with a lovingly packed lunch. It shocked his colleagues at the private school, too, and as for the ten-year-old girls who found him in his classroom in a pool of bodily fluids-they may have been traumatized for life.
Eve soon determines that Foster's homemade lunch was tainted with deadly ricin, and that Mr. Foster's colleagues have some startling secrets of their own. It's Eve's job to sort it out- and discover why someone would have done this to a man who seemed so inoffensive, so pleasant . . . so innocent.
Now Magdalena Percell . . . there's someone Eve can picture as a murder victim. Possibly at Eve's own hands. The slinky blonde-an old flame of her billionaire husband, Roarke-has arrived in New York, and she's anything but innocent. Roarke seems blind to Magdalena's manipulation, and he insists that the occasional lunch or business meeting with her is nothing to worry about . . . and none of Eve's business. Eve's so unnerved by the situation that she finds it hard to focus on her case. Still, she'll have to put aside her feelings, for a while at least-because another man has just turned up dead.
Eve knows all too well that innocence can be a facade. Keeping that in mind may help her solve this case at last. But it may also tear apart her marriage.


My Thoughts:
  I just finished this book. Eve Dallas has 2 murders on her hands to solve. I kind of had an idea who did it and I was right. While this is going on Eve's husband has a woman from his past show up to cause trouble in their marriage. Will it work? Read to find out Haha.

Review: Devil's Chair by Roy A. Teel Jr.

Devil's Chair by Roy A. Teel, Jr.
The Iron Eagle Series Book #6
Hard Boiled Suspense
Publisher: Narroway Press (August 11, 2015)
Rated 4/5 stars

Synopsis:
 Rollins Industries is one of the nation’s largest distributors of organic food products, but Adam Osborn, a highly successful sales manager and the head of their sales department, has disappeared. Amelia Farrell, the head of human resources and Osborn’s love interest, has just terminated Gaston Reed, a senior salesman with a less than stable personality, after he made threats against Osborn and others in the company. What begins as a routine missing persons report quickly turns into anything but as LA County Sheriff Jim O’Brian and FBI Special Agents John Swenson and Steve Hoffman are drawn into the investigation when the Osborn investigation reveals that he was brutally murdered. Reed tops everyone’s list as the prime suspect; however, a deeper mystery begins to unfold as bodies pile up, and an unseen force is suspected of pulling the strings. Just when the men think they are closing in on the killer, a stunning development sends them careening into an unforgiving world of cruelty and torture — a world so depraved that only the Iron Eagle dare tread.

***Content Warning: While the Iron Eagle Series can be read out of order as a stand-alone book the reader should be advised that backgrounds and details of the characters may be confusing if readers choose to do so. The Iron Eagle Crime novel series contains mature subject matter, graphic violence, sexual content, language, torture and other scenes that may be disturbing to sensitive readers. This series is not intended for anyone under the age of eighteen, reader discretion is advised.***

My Thoughts:
I received this from NetGalley for an honest review. I had not read any of the other books in this series and it might have helped me with the main characters. All I can say is WOW! What an intense and graphic book. Great detail even though it is very gory. The Iron Eagle deals with the bad guys in his own way and leaves a signature for the FBI when done. I would like to read the rest of the books from the beginning,

Review: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Dregs series book 1
Dystopian/Fantasy
 Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (September 29, 2015)
Rated 4/5 stars

Synopsis:

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price--and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...
A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.
Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction―if they don't kill each other first.

My Thoughts:
 Loved this book. At first I was lost with all the characters and things going on but then I couldn't put it down. Loved all the characters and how we were told their backgrounds on who and what they were and how they got to where they are now. Glad that I bought this book now as the page edges are black.

Review: Born in Death by J.D. Robb

Born in Death - J.D. Robb
#23 In Death series
Suspense
Thorndike Press (November 2006)
Rated: 4/5 stars

Synopsis:
  Eve Dallas has a grisly double homicide to solve when two young lovers—both employees of the same prestigious accounting firm—are brutally killed on the same night. It doesn't leave Eve a lot of leftover time to put together a baby shower for her buddy Mavis, but that's supposedly what friends are for.

Now Mavis needs another favor. Tandy Willowby, one of the moms-to-be in Mavis's birthing class, didn't show up for the shower. A recent emigrant from London, Tandy has few friends in New York, and no family—and she was really looking forward to the party. And when Eve enters Tandy's apartment and finds a gift for Mavis's shower wrapped and ready on the table—and a packed bag for the hospital still on the floor next to it—tingling runs up and down her spine.

Normally, such a case would be turned over to Missing Persons. But Mavis wants no one else on the job but Eve—and Eve can't say no. She'll have to track Tandy down while simultaneously unearthing the deals and double-crosses hidden in the files of some of the city's richest and most secretive citizens, in a race against this particularly vicious killer. Luckily, her multimillionaire husband Roarke's expertise comes in handy with the number crunching. But as he mines the crucial data that will break the case wide open, Eve faces an all too real danger in the world of flesh and blood.

My Thoughts:
 
Eve has to find a killer, a missing pregnant woman and throw a baby shower for her best friend and be a birthing coach for her friend. She does it all with sarcasm.

Review: Winter - Marissa Meyer

Winter - Marissa Meyer
#4 The Lunar Chronicles
Science Fiction/ Fairytale Retelling
Feiwel & Friends (November 10, 2015)
Rated: 5/5 stars

Synopsis:
 Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend—the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be and she’s been undermining her stepmother’s wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?

My Thoughts:
 
The last book of this series and so hard to put down. I just finished it and have so many emotions right now. This books was sooo good. All the characters from the past books all come together to defeat Levana.

Review - Blue Moon - Laurell K. Hamilton

Blue Moon - Laurell K. Hamilton
#8 Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series
Paranormal Fiction
first published November 1st 1998
Rated: 4/5 stars

Synopsis:
 When she chose master vampire Jean-Claude over her ex-fiancé, alpha werewolf Richard Zeeman, Anita learned that sometimes love is not enough. But though she and Richard won’t be walking down any aisles, she can’t turn her back on him when he’s arrested on a rape charge in Tennessee. Anita knows firsthand that Richard has the morals of a saint—or at least a boy scout. But his guilt or innocence is not the issue. He’s behind bars, and in five days a full moon will rise…

My Thoughts:
 
Wow, Lots of violence and sex scenes. I have always been a big fan of Anita with Richard but sometimes he gets her into bad predictaments. I didn't miss Jean Claude as I am not a big fan of his. Some scenes were really eerie with the were packs and how they show their love for each other but the writing was all there in detail so you didn't miss out on anything.

Reviews: The One and The Heir by Kiera Cass

The One - Kiera Cass
#3 of The Selection series
YA fantasy/science fiction
Published May 6th 2014 by HarperTeen
Rated 5/5 stars

Synopsis:
 The time has come for one winner to be crowned.

When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

My Thoughts: 
This book is my favorite so far. I laughed and cried. I watched America grow up and realize what her feelings really were and Maxon coming to the realization of his feelings. 

 The Heir - Kiera Cass
#4 The Selection series
YA Fantasy/Science Fiction
Published May 5th 2015 by HarperTeen
Rated 4/5 stars


 Synopsis: 
Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.

But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.

Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought.

My Thoughts:
  Princess Eadlyn is nothing like her mom or dad. She is very independent and does not think she needs anyone in her life but her parents and her brothers. She has a lot of growing up to do. Having the selection for her has been nothing like it was for her dad. At the end she realized her mistake and you know there will be another book.

Review: The Bronte Plot - Katherine Reay

The Bronte Plot - Katherine Raey
standalone
Contemporary
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (November 3, 2015)
rated: 4/5 stars

Synopsis:

When Lucy’s secret is unearthed, her world begins to crumble. But it may be the best thing that has ever happened to her.
Lucy Alling makes a living selling rare books, often taking suspicious liberties to reach her goals. When her unorthodox methods are discovered, Lucy’s secret ruins her relationship with her boss and her boyfriend, James—leaving Lucy in a heap of hurt and trouble. Something has to change; she has to change.
In a sudden turn of events, James’s wealthy grandmother, Helen, hires Lucy as a consultant for a London literary and antiques excursion. Lucy reluctantly agrees and soon discovers Helen holds secrets of her own. In fact, Helen understands Lucy’s predicament better than anyone else.
As the two travel across England, Lucy benefits from Helen’s wisdom as Helen confronts ghosts from her own past. Everything comes to a head at Haworth, home of the Brontë sisters, where Lucy is reminded of the sisters’ beloved heroines who, with tenacity and resolution, endured—even in the midst of impossible circumstances.
Now Lucy must face her past in order to move forward. And while it may hold mistakes and regrets, she will prevail—if only she can step into the life that’s been waiting for her all along.

My thoughts:
 I received this from NetGalley for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it refreshing after reading the same kind of genre for awhile. Lucy had made some mistakes in her personal life and in her career. After losing the man she was seeing and then meeting his grandmother. Lucy and Helen go on an adventure to right their wrongs. I loved both of these strong women and the people that they encountered.

October Book Haul

I had to get the new Harry Potter Illustrated Edition and the big brown book is Grimm's complete Fairy Takes, that I have always wanted.

Review: The Elite - Kiera Cass

The Elite - Kiera Cass
Book #2 of The Selection series
Dystopian/YA Romance
HarperTeen; Reprint edition (May 6, 2014)
4 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
 The Selection began with thirty-five girls.
Now with the group narrowed down to the six Elite, the competition to win Prince Maxon's heart is fiercer than ever—and America is still struggling to decide where her heart truly lies. Is it with Maxon, who could make her life a fairy tale? Or with her first love, Aspen?

America is desperate for more time. But the rest of the Elite know exactly what they want—and America's chance to choose is about to slip away.

My Thoughts:

I loved this book. The only thing that drives me crazy is America's fickleness. Does she want the Prince or not. Does she really have feelings for him or does she want a life with Aspen? I think she loves both of them and is confused. But I can't wait to see how the rest of the series works out.

Some book reviews

NOS4A2 - Joe Hill
standalone
thriller
Published 2013
4 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
Victoria McQueen has a secret gift for finding things: a misplaced bracelet, a missing photograph, answers to unanswerable questions. On her Raleigh Tuff Burner bike, she makes her way to a rickety covered bridge that, within moments, takes her wherever she needs to go, whether it’s across Massachusetts or across the country.

Charles Talent Manx has a way with children. He likes to take them for rides in his 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith with the NOS4A2 vanity plate. With his old car, he can slip right out of the everyday world, and onto the hidden roads that transport them to an astonishing – and terrifying – playground of amusements he calls “Christmasland.”

Then, one day, Vic goes looking for trouble—and finds Manx. That was a lifetime ago. Now Vic, the only kid to ever escape Manx’s unmitigated evil, is all grown up and desperate to forget. But Charlie Manx never stopped thinking about Victoria McQueen. He’s on the road again and he’s picked up a new passenger: Vic’s own son.

My Thoughts:
This is Stephen King's son and writes just like him. Wow, what a great book. I could not put this book down. What a great author and I had to go and buy another one of his books.

 H2O - Virginia Bergin
First book in series
Science Fiction
 Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire (October 7, 2014)
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
 They don't believe it at first. Crowded in Zach's kitchen, Ruby and the rest of the partygoers laugh at Zach's parents' frenzied push to get them all inside as it starts to drizzle. But then the radio comes on with the warning, "It's in the rain! It's fatal, it's contagious, and there's no cure."

Two weeks later, Ruby is alone. Anyone who's been touched by rain or washed their hands with tap water is dead. The only drinkable water is quickly running out. Ruby's only chance for survival is a treacherous hike across the country to find her father-if he's even still alive.

My Thoughts:
 
I read this book while in SC during the rain but a few days after the flood. Finished it in Myrtle Beach and this book was creepy and made being in the rain scary. Very well written and makes you think a lot.

 The Storm - Virginia Bergin
2nd book of series
Science Fiction
5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Ninety-seven percent of the population is dead. And the killer rain keeps falling. Ruby's not sure she can make it on her own much longer. So when a chance encounter leads her to a camp with the last boy she may ever kiss (it's not easy to date during an apocalypse), Ruby gratefully accepts the army's protection.
But safety comes with a price: If Ruby wants to stay, she must keep her eyes-and her mouth-shut.
Except Ruby stumbles across a secret she can't possibly keep. Horrified, she flips out and fights back-only to make the most shocking discovery of all...

My Thoughts:
 I received this ebook for a review, from NetGalley.
I loved this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I would yell at the character, Ruby. Loved her relationship with Princess and Darius. The way that her father treated her though wasn't quite as believable and no one told her where another family member was.

September 2015 Book Haul

These are the books that I bought in the month of September.

Review: Candy Corn Murder by Leslie Meier

Candy Corn Murder by Leslie Meier
Lucy Stone series #22
Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Kensington (August 25, 2015)
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
 Halloween is coming to Tinker’s Cove, Maine, and local reporter Lucy Stone is covering the town’s annual Giant Pumpkin Fest for the Pennysaver. There’s the pumpkin-boat regatta, the children’s Halloween party, the pumpkin weigh-in…even a contest where home-built catapults hurl pumpkins at an old Dodge! But not everything goes quite as planned…Lucy’s getting very annoyed that her husband Bill and his friend Evan have been working seemingly nonstop on their potentially prize-winning pumpkin catapult. But when the day of the big contest arrives, Evan is nowhere to be found…until a catapulted pumpkin busts open the trunk of the Dodge. Amid the pumpkin gore is a very deceased Evan, bashed in the head and placed in the trunk by someone long before the contest started.

Bill is on the hook for the Halloween homicide—he was the last one to see Evan—so Lucy knows she’s got some serious sleuthing to do. The crime’s trail seems to always circle back to Country Cousins, the town’s once-quaint general store that’s now become a big Internet player. Though the store’s founder, Old Sam Miller, is long gone, his son Tom and grandson Trey now run the hugely successful company. But whispered rumors say things aren’t going well, and Lucy finds that this case may have something to do with an unsolved, decades-old Miller family mystery…

With each new lead pointing her in a different direction, Lucy sees that time is quickly running out. If she wants to spook the real killer, she’ll have to step into an old ghost story…

My Thoughts:
I have read half of this series and read this for a review through NetGalley. I have liked the rest of the series so far and I enjoyed this one. Getting to know Lucy and her family again was fun. I could not stand one person in this book and that was the woman who was in charge of a daycare. I really wanted to slap her.  

Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection by Kiera Cass
The Selection (Book 1)
Dystopian
 HarperTeen (April 24, 2012)
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
 For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

My thoughts:
I liked getting to know America and her relationship with Prince Maxon. Also her relationship with Aspen and what it means to her and what her future is and what she wants. A couple of the girls were catty but most of them were nice and tried to be friends through this.

Review: The Nightingale by Hannah Kristin

The Nightingale by Hannah Kristin
standalone
Fiction
St. Martin's Press; First Edition edition (February 3, 2015)
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
 In love we find out who we want to be.
In war we find out who we are.

FRANCE, 1939

In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the Nazis will invade France...but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When France is overrun, Vianne is forced to take an enemy into her house, and suddenly her every move is watched; her life and her child’s life is at constant risk. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates around her, she must make one terrible choice after another.

Vianne’s sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old girl, searching for purpose with all the reckless passion of youth. While thousands of Parisians march into the unknown terrors of war, she meets the compelling and mysterious Gäetan, a partisan who believes the French can fight the Nazis from within France, and she falls in love as only the young can...completely. When he betrays her, Isabelle races headlong into danger and joins the Resistance, never looking back or giving a thought to the real--and deadly--consequences.

With courage, grace and powerful insight, bestselling author Kristin Hannah takes her talented pen to the epic panorama of WWII and illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women’s war. The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France--a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women. It is a novel for everyone, a novel for a lifetime.

My Thoughts:
I loved getting to know Vianne and Isabelle and how they survived the war and what they had to do to survive and save their family and friends. Very well written and I listened to this on audiobook.

Review: Son by Lois Lowry

Son - Lois Lowry
Book #4 of The Giver Quartet
YA Fantasy
HMH Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (October 2, 2012)
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
 They called her Water Claire. When she washed up on their shore, no one knew that she came from a society where emotions and colors didn’t exist. That she had become a Vessel at age thirteen. That she had carried a Product at age fourteen. That it had been stolen from her body. Claire had a son. But what became of him she never knew. What was his name? Was he even alive? She was supposed to forget him, but that was impossible. Now Claire will stop at nothing to find her child, even if it means making an unimaginable sacrifice.
Son thrusts readers once again into the chilling world of the Newbery Medal winning book, The Giver,　as well as Gathering Blue and Messenger where a new hero emerges. In this thrilling series finale, the startling and long-awaited conclusion to Lois Lowry’s epic tale culminates in a final clash between good and evil.

My Thoughts:
  A clash between good and evil is the final book. Claire was a Birthmother to Gabe and they are in this book along with Jonas to tie up the books. I loved how she tied up the series.

Review: Four A Divergent Collection by Veronica Roth

Four A Divergent Collection - Veronica Roth
Novella from Divergent series
YA Dystopian
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books; 1st edition (July 8, 2014)
My Rating 4 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
 Two years before Beatrice Prior made her choice, the sixteen-year-old son of Abnegation’s faction leader did the same. Tobias’s transfer to Dauntless is a chance to begin again. Here, he will not be called the name his parents gave him. Here, he will not let fear turn him into a cowering child.

Newly christened “Four,” he discovers during initiation that he will succeed in Dauntless. Initiation is only the beginning, though; Four must claim his place in the Dauntless hierarchy. His decisions will affect future initiates as well as uncover secrets that could threaten his own future—and the future of the entire faction system.

Two years later, Four is poised to take action, but the course is still unclear. The first new initiate who jumps into the net might change all that. With her, the way to righting their world might become clear. With her, it might become possible to be Tobias once again.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth comes a companion volume to the worldwide bestselling DIVERGENT series, told from the per-spective of the immensely popular character Tobias. The four pieces included here—THE TRANSFER, THE INITIATE, THE SON, and THE TRAITOR—plus three additional exclusive scenes, give readers an electrifying glimpse into the history and heart of Tobias, and set the stage for the epic saga of the DIVERGENT trilogy.

My thoughts:
 
I liked this novella and got to know Four(Tobias) much better and what he did and why?He found out his mother was alive and his reaction. He confronted his father for the first time.

Review Allegiant by Veronica Roth

                                                                                  Allegiant by Veronica Roth
 Divergent Trilogy Book #3
YA Fantasy/SciFi
Published October 22nd 2013 by Katherine Tegen Books
My Rating: 4out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered - fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris's new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningliess. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend to complexities of human nature - and of herself - while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.


My Thoughts:
 
I liked how each chapter was based on either Tris or Tobias's point of view. The ending did not come out the way I thought it would but it ended the way the characters should have. 

The first book was my favorite and then this book. I wasn't to fond of the second book.

Reviews: Beach Town by Mary Kay Andrews

Beach Town by Mary Kay Andrews

Contemporary Women

Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1st edition (May 19, 2015)

My rating: 4/5 stars

 

Synopsis:

 Greer Hennessy needs palm trees.

As a movie location scout, picture-perfect is the name of the game. But her last project literally went up in flames, and her career is on the verge of flaming out. Greer has been given one more chance, if she can find the perfect undiscovered beach hideaway for a big-budget movie. She zeroes in on a sleepy Florida panhandle town called Cypress Key. There's one motel, a marina, a long stretch of pristine beach and an old fishing pier with a community casino-which will be perfect for the film's explosive climax.

There's just one problem. Eben Thibadeaux, the town mayor, completely objects to Greer's plan. A lifelong resident of Cypress Key, Eben wants the town to be revitalized, not commercialized. After a toxic paper plant closed, the bay has only recently been reborn, and Eb has no intention of letting anybody screw with his town again. But Greer has a way of making things happen, regardless of obstacles. And Greer and Eb are way too attracted to each other for either of them to see reason.

Between an ambitious director and his entourage-including a spoiled "It Boy" lead actor-who parachute into town, a conniving local ex-socialite, and a cast of local fangirls and opportunists who catch the movie bug, nothing is going to be the same in Cypress Key. Now Greer is forced to make some hard choices: about the people and the town she's come to care about, and about her own life. True love is only for the movies, right? Can Greer find a way to be the heroine in her own life story? Told with inimitable heart and humor, Mary Kay Andrews' Beach Town is the perfect summer destination.

 

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book and want to go visit Cypress Key. Sounds like a small town where everyone knows each other and watches out for each other. Greer Really didn't trust her feelings and neither did Eb but they also had reasons to feel the way they did. Kregg is a spoiled young singer who is a diva.  Greeg learning to accept her father and bringing him into her life was big on her part and I was happy for the ending.