Twilight Then vs. Now - New Moon Review

“The bond forged between us was not one that could be broken by absence, distance, or time. 

And no matter how much more special or beautiful or brilliant or perfect than me he might be, he was as irreversibly altered as I was. 

As I would always belong to him, so would he always be mine.”

Summary 

When I started this blog series, I really saw it going in a different direction. I expected to read this as an adult and see all of these things wrong with it. I forgot one important thing. Movies are always different than the book. The movie portrays Bella as a suicidal overly dramatic girl that does stupid stuff to put herself in danger to see hallucinations of her ex-boyfriend. That is a true and untrue statement.

In the book, we start with it being Bella's birthday. Alice throws her a birthday party and because of a papercut, Jasper loses his mind and tries to attack Bella. Edward realizes that every day, in some way or another Bella is in danger because of him. If it isn't nomad vampires, it is his own family that could one day hurt her. He starts distancing himself from her emotionally. Then he breaks up with her by saying things that would make it easy for her to hate him so she could move on.

Bella goes into a deep depression. Edward made her feel loved and wanted. He was her everything, and she was his. He made her feel special. That is now all gone. She internalizes it, starts ignoring her friends at school, and describes herself as a zombie. She continues to get good grades and she goes to work, but she is just numb and dead inside. Anyone that has suffered from depression can totally relate to this feeling. Later in the book, we find out that Charlie has had a parenting wake-up call somewhere and actually realizes that something is wrong. He almost hospitalizes her, he calls her mom to take her back to Florida hoping a change of scenery will pull her out of it. Bella freaks out and doesn't go, but at least Charlie tries in this one. He has finally had enough and confronts her. She makes plans with friends and starts seeing hallucinations of Edward brought on by adrenaline.

Bella is still far from being okay. Edward promised that it would be as if he never existed, and in return, she promised not to do anything dangerous. Well, since Edward broke his promise, she decided she was going to. Enter Jacob Black. Bella happens to find two free motorcycles and remember Jake is good at fixing cars. Once Bella starts hanging out with Jacob, she feels the hole in her chest is starting to heal. She feels better. Jacob starts to get attached and Bella knows it. She is trying really hard not to lead him on, The motorcycles are finished, and Bella realizes the perfect combo to "see" Edward. 

Then Jake gets "sick". Bella tries to pass her alone time by trying to find Edward's meadow. Once it's found, Laurant is there waiting for her. He tells her Victoria's plan and tries to kill her. But the werewolves stop him. Jake reappears throwing all kinds of mood swings at Bella and reminds her of the time on the beach when he told her the Quileute legends. Bella puts two and two together and finds out Jake wasn't sick, he was a wolf. Together they figure out Victoria is after Bella. So now Bella hangs out with the wolves to keep herself and Charlie safe.

Jake promises to take her cliff diving but has to back out at the last second because the pack found Victoria. A storm starts to come in from the sea. Bella decides she doesn't want to wait for Jake and takes off on her own. She set out to find the lower diving spot, but the trail she is on leads straight to the top. She looks down and thinks that it will be as easy as jumping into a pool. So she jumps. She doesn't account for any complications of the storm, currents, waves until she is already in the water. She almost drowns but Jacob saves her.

Through a tangled web of misunderstandings, Edward thinks Bella is dead. Alice and Bella head to Italy to stop Edward from killing himself via. the Volturi. Aro tells them that Bella either becomes a vampire or she will die because she knows too much. Alice assures him that she will be one. Everyone heads back to Forks.

My thoughts:

The picture of Bella's depression, I don't think could have been any more spot on. The author did an amazing job of capturing how a depressed person thinks and acts. Bella is never "suicidal". She wants the pain to stop, but always thinks of Charlie any time her thoughts go that way. 

The issue of putting herself in danger for adrenaline, I can't really say that is something a normal teen wouldn't do. Cliff jumping wasn't a far fetched idea because the kids on the reservation did it all the time. Teenagers love dirt bikes/motorcycles. My point is that Bella doesn't do anything a normal teen wouldn't try. She doesn't do any of it because she is suicidal, she does it for the rush.

With the above being said, she realizes that the rush leads to her hallucinations. She enjoys them because they are of Edward. Many times throughout the book, Bella says that they are not healthy. I think any teen that reads this is going to think that it is normal/okay and start entertaining any ideas. 

My new theory is that some people may be basing their negative opinions about this series off of the movies alone. I agree that movies portray things very differently than what is in the books.

Twilight Then vs. Now - Twilight Review

~"Without the dark, we'd never see the stars."~

I just finished reading this book from an objective point of view, and I saw things in it that bugged me more than when I read it for the first time.

Bella is a 17-year-old girl that moves from Pheonix, Arizona to Forks, Washington. Within the first chapter, I had an issue. She is talking about her mom and how much she would love and miss her (understandable). Then she tells us that before her mom remarried, Bella was the one that took care of the groceries, gas, and paying bills on time. Throughout the books there are more comments on this effect.

Then she gets to Forks. I have quite a few issues with Chief Charlie Swan. Below are just a few that stuck with me.

1. He leaves her home alone a lot. He never once offers to take her fishing with him. He never offers to go and do anything with her.
2. The first day there she does all of the cooking. Okay, so he is a single male that can't cook. But seriously Charlie, she goes to school, has homework, and cooks. I think he does the dishes once in the entire book (yes the author points out when dishes are being done). While she is cooking or cleaning up, he is sitting on the couch watching a game.
3. They live in the same house, but their interactions are very limited. It is more like they are roommates rather than father/daughter.
4. He is so clueless about what his daughter is feeling it is scary. 

Throughout the book, I also started to realize a few things about Isabella Swan that I missed the first time around.

1. She has a very low self-esteem - she avoids anything and everything because she isn't good enough, she hates the way she looks and admits several times throughout the book that she is depressed.
2. When she and Jacob are walking at First Beach, she manipulates him to get information about the Cullen family.
3. She is extremely accident-prone.
4. When she loves, she loves hard and fast.

Then there is Edward.... Oh, Edward..... watching girls sleep is creepy! So is eavesdropping in on her conversations with her friends!

With all of that being pointed out. I have to take a step back and look at the book as a whole. The target audience for this book is the Young Adult group (12 - 18). It is a love story about a human girl and an oh-so-gorgeous vampire. He is confused about what it is about her that makes him act the way he does, so he listens in on her conversations with her friends, watches her sleep, then when he still can't figure it out, tries to get to know her. 

She falls in love with him. She falls hard and fast. Edward tries to warn her away from him, but that only increases her desire (having a teen daughter this is pretty normal. Tell them they can't do something and they want to do it more). She sees his watching and listening as romantic because it showed interest in her (which from what I know about her parents at least someone is). Edward makes her feel safe, important, and like a priority. 

In the first book, I didn't see anything out of character for a teen girl with depression and low self-esteem. 

Twilight Then vs. Twilight Now - An introduction

Hello everyone! 

I first read the Twilight Saga in 2009 right after the New Moon movie came out. I only knew about this series because my little sister was OBSESSED with it. I had purchased the books for her but never read them myself. One night, we rented the New Moon movie. That ending was horrible! I couldn't believe they were going to make us wait to find out if she chose Edward (yuck) or Jacob (yum). I promptly requested her books. I started with Twilight (because the book is always different than the movie) and devoured the whole saga. I absolutely loved them. I have never been an analytical reader. I set out reading them with the intent of finding out what happened net. I wasn't part of any type of book-related social media or groups, and I missed out on all of the opinions about whether Twilight was the best thing ever or the most atrocious garbage in the world.

Fast forward to the beginning of May. Stephanie Meyer released a countdown timer with a link to Midnight Sun. I now belong to a couple of book-related social media groups, and people went wild. Some hoped it was Midnight Sun (Twilight from Edward's POV), others hoped it was a continuation of the saga involving Jacob and Renesmee. People who were not fans of the series were hoping for a sequel to The Host. The timer ran out and the announcement of the release of Midnight Sun on August 4th had people buzzing. 

All over social media sites, you had people talking about this saga. Some of it was positive, but some of it was really negative. People were posting about how the relationship between Edward and Bella was abusive, how there was pedophilia, how Bella's depression was unhealthy, Bella's parents were pretty much nonexistent, and a lot of other social issues were mentioned. There were also mentions of how the writing was really bad, the storyline was problematic there was a lack of diversity, and how the books had religious undertones.

As I admitted before, I am not an analytical reader, and I binge read these in like three days. I never noticed any of that. I am a firm believer that reading is subjective, and people have different opinions and I totally respect that. I wanted to understand where the people with these opinions were coming from and see things from their POV.

I decided to do a blog series on these books and give you an unbiased opinion on what I feel and how I see things. You may be wondering, "how can you give a non-biased review if you are a fan?" my answer to that is: I have a 14-year-old daughter, and I hardly censor what she reads. If there is something in a book, on a movie or show, or that she hears about, she knows she can come to me and talk it over. If it is a book I have read, I will tell her some of the social issues that are in the book, and let her decide if she wants to read it.

I decided now was a perfect time to re-read the entire saga, with an objective mind, to see if I could locate the issues that people were talking about. I am not going to break down the writing style (or lack of), because I have already re-read Twilight and drove myself nuts trying to write down all of the problematic things I found there. I am only going to point out things I found in the situations and with the characters.

I hope you guys follow me on this journey, and please feel free to add comments and tell me what you think. The only thing I ask is that you please respect other people's opinions. Reading is subjective. There is no right or wrong way to feel about a book.

Robin Hood's Widow is coming soon! All about the series and an Author Q and A

Are you looking for something different to freshen up your quarantine reads? 

Are you looking for something available on Kindle Unlimited? 

Do you like historical fiction? 

Do you like retellings?

If you answered "Yes" to any of the above questions, keep reading!

This book caught me completely off guard. Robin Hood has been one of my favorite heroes in literature for as long as I can remember. Something about his story stuck with me. I am a sucker for a new movie or new book featuring the hero that robs from the rich and gives to the poor and saves Maid Marian. I always wished he was real. 

In The Robin Hood Trilogy by Olivia Longueville and J.C.Plummer, Robin Hood becomes real. His legend is intertwined with a historical timeline in a way that makes magic. The way the two stories have meshed together is flawless and seamless. These ladies brought my hero to life and made him a real person.

There is action, there is romance, there are tears, there is laughter (then more tears). There is a little something for everyone. My husband is one of the biggest anti book people I know. I would read him passages of the book that I found funny or I knew he would appreciate the action in, and he loved it too.

I have also had the privilege of keeping in contact with one of the authors. The story behind what it took to get Robin Hood's Widow to be born and how they never gave up is inspiring in itself. They are passionate about what they write about. They research things thoroughly. They included family trees, coat of arms, a detailed timeline, and a glossary. You can feel the passion that these ladies have for their subject matter as soon as you pick up the book and start reading. Check out the author Q and A below to see what I mean.

Sometimes, with a sequel, there isn't as much depth and richness of characters. You kind of plod through it, you can tell it's a middle, something happens but it is ramping up for the conclusion of the series. This is so not the case with Robin Hood's Widow. There is just as much attention to detail that we got in the first one. The same rich history. The same feeling of being taken there and reading about real people. 

There is more action, more tears, more laughter, and two amazing, make you shout "what the actual heck just happened" twists that left me drooling for more.  ( I know first hand about the shouting, because I did it, and scared the cat and got weird looks from the husband)

I hate being that fan, but I can't wait until the third and hope they are able to release it soon so I can devour it as well. 

If you love rich history mixed with folklore, amazing storytelling, and authors that know their stuff check out both of these books. I provided the links below.  

Check out my original post about Robin Hood's Dawn here!

Robin Hood's Dawn is out now and available on Kindle Unlimited and paperback. 

Robin Hood's Widow is available for preorder on e-book and Kindle Unlimited. The paperback will be available on the release date May 8th.

Robin Hood’s Widow (Book Two in the Robin Hood Trilogy)Author Q&A with Olivia Longueville and J.C. Plummer

Robin Hood has been featured in many books, movies, and television shows.  How is your trilogy different?

In our first book, Robin Hood’s Dawn, we re-imagined the origins of the Robin Hood legend, which included exploring his family dynamics: an aloof, selfish father, and a kind-hearted mother devoted to ministering to the poor.  One theme is how the consequences of immoral actions and secret sins can reverberate across generations.  This is part of Robin’s legacy from his father.

We cast Robin as a hero fighting against the tyranny of a lawless government official. When Robin is falsely accused of a shocking crime by the new Sheriff of Nottingham, he could have retreated to a safe place beyond the reach of the sheriff.  However, he feels a responsibility to the people because he believes in the intrinsic value of every human being.  Instead of running away, he stays to protect the people from the sheriff.  And this points to another theme: one person can make a difference by taking a stand for what is right.

The second book, Robin Hood’s Widow, picks up where the first book ends. Robin is alive and still with King Richard in the Holy Land, but Marian, the sheriff, and Guy of Gisborne have returned to England thinking that Robin Hood is dead.

Robin Hood’s Widow explores themes of grief and redemption while featuring Marian’s adventures as leader of the outlaws. Her story is interwoven with Robin’s quest to return home while fulfilling his obligations to King Richard.

In this book, we wanted to explore both the stages of grief and their non-linear nature. Experiencing loss and grief is not like climbing stairs; you don’t complete one stage, progress to the next, and eventually arrive at acceptance. The emotional turmoil of an earlier stage can reappear and reassert itself during the process.

That being said, this story is not sad or depressing; Robin Hood’s Widow is an optimistic tale of triumphing over adversity. 

You’ve emphasized how your Robin Hood story has been re-imagined.  Will fans of the traditional ballads still recognize this as a Robin Hood story?

There is a lot of variety in the many books and screen adaptations of the Robin Hood legend.  We wanted to create a story that was respectful towards fans of the original ballads and legends without adhering to the same storylines that have been previously written.  We hope that all Robin Hood fans will enjoy this fresh retelling of the story.

However, we felt that Marian is a character who deserves more attention.  All too often she is a background character with little to do.  With this in mind, we have focused on creating a Lady Marian who will figure more prominently in the story, especially in Robin Hood’s Widow, where she takes center stage as the leader of the outlaws. She must learn how to lead while finding clever ways to thwart the sheriff and rob those supporters of Prince John who dare enter Sherwood Forest.  We also wanted Marian to be feminine and believable as a woman of the 12th century.    

Do the first two books of the trilogy end in cliff-hangers? Are the books stand alone?  

We have structured the trilogy so that the books do not end in cliff-hangers, and we have endeavored to create a sense of completion in each of the books. 

Although we want readers to start with Robin Hood’s Dawn, we know that some might be more interested in Robin Hood’s Widow. Therefore, we have endeavored to provide enough information in the second book so that a new reader will not be lost.

Both Robin and Marian are guarding secrets that will be revealed in Robin Hood’s Widow!

How did you become interested in writing this story and working together as co-authors?

Olivia:

The story of Robin Hood’s Widow is very special to me, and I wrote the original version after I experienced a devastating personal loss. Readers might be surprised to learn that Robin Hood’s Widow was written before Robin Hood’s Dawn!

I love to tell stories with multi-dimensional characters.  I am multi-lingual, and I enjoy writing stories in different languages.  My first novel is an English-language alternate history featuring Anne Boleyn.

I met Coleen (J.C.) on the Internet, and we decided to co-author a Robin Hood Trilogy with Robin Hood’s Widow as its centerpiece.  

So, you’ve never met, you come from different countries, different cultures, and speak different languages.  How can you co-author a book?  Is it because you have similar writing styles?

Coleen:

Fortunately, Olivia is fluent in English, because that’s the only language I know!

Olivia:

We have found that we have a lot in common—especially our love of writing and of history.  We have to work hard to merge our writing styles, but we have successfully done this. 

Coleen:

That’s true.  Olivia and I have very different “voices” and writing styles.  You might even say they are nearly opposite styles.  

I write in a straightforward, expository style, with a minimum of descriptive elements and metaphorical flourishes.  I am good at explaining things, organizing ideas, and creating natural-sounding dialogue.

Olivia:

My writing is characterized by lush romanticism and passionate lyricism.  I love to create metaphors and descriptions which excite the imagination of the reader in a vivid and dramatic way.

Coleen:

In some respects, Olivia’s words are the emotional heart of the story, and my words represent the rational intellect.  Of course, it’s not quite that cut-and-dried, but it is one way to describe how two people with such different styles have come together to create Robin Hood’s Dawn and Robin Hood’s Widow. 

Valiant by Merrie Destefano

Description from Goodreads:
The Valiant was supposed to save us. Instead, it triggered the end of the world.

Earth is in shambles. Everyone, even the poorest among us, invested in the Valiant’s space mining mission in the hopes we’d be saved from ourselves. But the second the ship leaves Earth’s atmosphere, our fate is sealed. The alien invasion begins. They pour into cities around the world through time portals, possessing humans, forcing us to kill one another.

And for whatever reason, my brother is their number one target.

Now the fate of the world lies in the hands of me, a seventeen-year-old girl, but with the help of my best friend, Justin―who’s suddenly starting to feel like more―maybe if we save my brother, we can save us all… 

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I am freaking out over this book! Aliens are normally not my thing, but OMG. And then that ending. I didn't know if I wanted to cheer or throw the book. I resorted to stomping around my house because the copy I read was a personalized autographed copy that I won in a giveaway.

Sara wasn't your typical protagonist. I was relieved to see that the author didn't resort to using a cookie cutter type character for her (or any of her characters). All of the characters were relatable, believable and real. The storyline is one that I haven't seen done a thousand times. I can't even think of examples to give you an idea of what it was like.

I haven't read Sci-fi in a long time because the books are just there. I don't connect with any of the characters, and I don't feel anything when I read them. With Valiant, I laughed, cried, had a panic attack, and cheered for each small victory. It has been a while since a book has got me this excited.

Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas

Description from Amazon:
When magic has gone from the world, and a vicious king rules from his throne of glass, an assassin comes to the castle. She does not come to kill, but to win her freedom. If she can defeat twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition to find the greatest assassin in the land, she will become the king's champion and earn her freedom. Her name is Celaena Sardothien – beautiful, deadly, and destined for greatness.

But as dark forces gather on the horizon-forces which threaten to destroy her entire world-Celaena must fight to protect everything she holds dear, thrusting her into the epic, heart-stopping fantasy series that has turned #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas into a worldwide phenomenon

Review:

I am going to do something a little bit different with this one. I binge read the entire series in a week so I am going to review it as a whole.

I give the overall series 4 stars. There were a lot of repetitive phrases (she purred, a vulgar gesture made, toes curling) at times it was distracting but the overall storyline was amazing. There was also a lot of switching of partners, and there is a lot of characters with crazy names. It was hard to keep them all straight at times.

Each book in the series, I gave five stars. Each book in itself was amazing (despite the repetitive phrases). The characters had rich back stories that were worked into the story in a way that didn't bog down the story. The books were well written and edge-of-your-seat action-packed.

I read this series starting with Assassin's blade and I am glad I did. It helped me get a little bit of a grasp on some of the characters that are introduced later in the series. At first, I really didn't like the main character. I thought she was arrogant and selfish. As I continued to read, I realized that it was more of a front that she put on. Almost like emotional armor. Once I realized this, I liked her a lot more. Don't give up after the first story of Assassin's Blade! There is a lot of speculation saying that you can read it later, but I found Throne of Glass makes references to Assassin's Blade and it was nice to know what happened. Tower of Dawn kind of depressed me just because of the ending of Empire of Storms. I was anxious to find out what happened next, and Tower of Dawn runs parallel to Empire of Storms, so the story doesn't really move forward.

Kingdom of Ash was epically amazing! It was the perfect ending to this series. I cried at the end because this beautiful world was over. Luckily I found out that Sarah J Maas is going to release a book in 2019 that takes place 10 years after Kingdom of Ash. I wasn't ready for a clean break lol.

Cogheart by Peter Bunzl

Description
Thirteen-year-old Lily Harman always dreamed of adventure. A strong-willed girl, Lily felt trapped in a life of Victorian stuffiness at her prim boarding school. But after her father-a famous inventor-disappears on a routine zeppelin flight, Lily's life gets turned upside down.

Now cared for by her guardian, the heartless Madame Verdigris, Lily is quite certain that she's being watched. Mysterious, silver-eyed men are lurking in the shadows, just waiting for their chance to strike. But what could they possibly want from her?

There are rumors, Lily learns, that her father had invented the most valuable invention ever made-a perpetual motion machine. But if he made such a miraculous discovery, he certainly never told Lily. And all he left behind is a small box-with no key, no hinges.

With the help of a clockmaker's son, Robert, and her mechanimal fox, Malkin, Lily escapes London in search of the one person who might know something about her father's disappearance-and what he left behind.

Review:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love steampunk! Follow Lilly and Robert on a journey to locate Lilly's missing father. The additional cast of characters are creepy hybrid humans, a questionable housekeeper, a band of mechanical house servants and a mechanical fox was hilarious. This book was a fun, suspenseful adventure that kept me on the edge of my seat, made me laugh, and made me cry. Perfect for steampunk fans of all ages.

Pandora Reborn by John Coon

Synopsis:
Ron Olson is a reluctant newcomer to Deer Falls. Adjusting to this small Colorado town is tough for Ron, who has been torn away from his father, his friends, and his soccer team.

His situation takes a frightening turn when a mysterious woman in black is released from a chest that imprisoned her. This ancient and powerful evil descends upon Deer Falls and a series of unexplained deaths follow. No one is safe. Anyone in the town could be next.

Ron is soon targeted by the centuries-old malevolent witch as she reigns terror and death upon the town. Can Ron and his new friends find out the truth about the deaths that have plagued the town and stop the witch before more people die?

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book was AMAZING! It hooked me in from the start and kept my attention throughout. I read it in one sitting! The cast of characters was perfect for this book. I feel like Dean should have gotten a bigger part though. I am going to put this on my Halloween reads shelf!

Nobody's Sweetheart Now - Maggie Robinson

Description:
A delightful English cozy series begins in August 1924. Lady Adelaide Compton has recently (and satisfactorily) interred her husband, Major Rupert Charles Cressleigh Compton, hero of the Somme, in the family vault in the village churchyard.

Rupert died by smashing his Hispano-Suiza on a Cotswold country road while carrying a French mademoiselle in the passenger seat. With the house now Addie's, needed improvements in hand, and a weekend house party underway, how inconvenient of Rupert to turn up! Not in the flesh, but in - actually, as a - spirit. Rupert has to perform a few good deeds before becoming welcomed to heaven - or, more likely, thinks Addie, to hell.

Before Addie can convince herself she's not completely lost her mind, a murder disrupts her careful seating arrangement. Which of her twelve houseguests is a killer? Her mother, the formidable Dowager Marchioness of Broughton? Her sister Cecilia, the born-again vegetarian? Her childhood friend and potential lover, Lord Lucas Waring? Rupert has a solid alibi as a ghost and an urge to detect.

Enter Inspector Devenand Hunter from the Yard, an Anglo-Indian who is not going to let some barmy society beauty witnessed talking to herself derail his investigation. Something very peculiar is afoot at Compton Court and he's going to get to the bottom of it - or go as mad as its mistress trying.

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I am a huge fan of characters like Phryne Fisher, Agatha Raisin, and anything by Agatha Christy. This book is right up there with these fabulous authors and characters. I loved Addy's character. She was well developed and her look on society norms (women fainting) often made me laugh. Her husband's ghost also provided some laugh out loud moments. This book is going to join all of my other cozy mysteries and get read on a regular basis.

The Girl's Guide to Conquering Middle School by Erica and Jonathan Catherman

Description
The transition from elementary school to middle school skirts the borders of traumatic for many girls. Their bodies are changing, their moods are shifting, their friendships are tested, and boys can become a big distraction. Girls may begin to struggle with grades, behavior, and relationships with family and friends. How do they know what to do and what not to do in this new environment with new expectations?

Erica and Jonathan Catherman offer girls ages ten to twelve the practical help they need to make the move to middle school as painless as possible. The "do this, not that" format covers a hundred relevant topics and situations middle school girls will face, including the first day, bullies, test taking, cell phone use, homework, gossip, leadership, respect, sports, PDA, and many more. 

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Middle school is tough. Not only is a girl's body going through changes, but there is social scenarios, appropriate responses, and behaviors that can either create friends or make enemies. How is a girl fresh out of elementary supposed to cope with this new environment with unspoke rules? The Girls' Guide to Conquering Middle School has the answers. The book has alphabetical listings for everything from the 1st day to Zombies. The topics are covered in ways that are relatable to middle school girls. Each topic also includes a fun fact, a brief true story, quotes or jokes. Each topic includes examples of what to do and what not to do. I would highly recommend this book to every young girl making the monumental transition from elementary to middle school; from the world of a little girl to young lady.

Bah! Humbug! - By Michael Rosen Illustrated by Tony Ross

Description
A timely retelling of A Christmas Carol for the whole family about a smartphone-obsessed dad.

This Christmas, join Michael Rosen and Tony Ross with their unforgettable retelling of Charles Dickens's beloved holiday classic. Harry Gruber plays the role of Scrooge in his school's production of "A Christmas Carol," and he is extra nervous about tonight's performance because his father is in the audience — not away for business, as usual. Will the story's message of Christmas cheer and the redemptive power of love reach his father's distracted Scrooge heart?


Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Harry gets to play Scrooge for his school play. His dad, however, grumbled and complained about having to go see it. During the play, Dad gets a phone call and leaves for business matters. As Harry does an outstanding performance, Dad slowly starts to realize what is most important.  This was a super cute retelling of A Christmas Carol. I loved the characters, the humor, and the writing. This book is going to get added to my Christmas reading rotation.  My 10-year-old stole my kindle and finished it before I could and she said to make sure everyone knew how good it was and it deserved 50 stars. I have to agree. The illustrations were cute, and I loved the style.

The Hollow of Fear - Sherry Thomas

Description:
Under the cover of “Sherlock Holmes, consulting detective,” Charlotte Holmes puts her extraordinary powers of deduction to good use. Aided by the capable Mrs. Watson, Charlotte draws those in need to her and makes it her business to know what other people don’t.

Moriarty’s shadow looms large. First, Charlotte’s half brother disappears. Then, Lady Ingram, the estranged wife of Charlotte’s close friend Lord Ingram, turns up dead on his estate. And all signs point to Lord Ingram as the murderer.

With Scotland Yard closing in, Charlotte goes under disguise to seek out the truth. But uncovering the truth could mean getting too close to Lord Ingram—and a number of malevolent forces…

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received this book free from Edelweiss books in exchange for a review.

I love this series. Charlotte, Livia and Mrs. Watson try to prove the innocense of Lord Ingrahm's innocense when his wife is found dead in the ice house.

Follow these characters on a well thought out plot full of twists and turns. The cast of characters are well developed and interact in a believable way. I love this author's writing style and how she makes it almost impossible to guess who did it or what will happen next.

The Au Pair by Emma Rous

Description:
A grand estate, terrible secrets, and a young woman who bears witness to it all. If V. C. Andrews and Kate Morton had a literary love child, Emma Rous’ The Au Pair would be it.

Seraphine Mayes and her twin brother Danny were born in the middle of summer at their family’s estate on the Norfolk coast. Within hours of their birth, their mother threw herself from the cliffs, the au pair fled, and the village thrilled with whispers of dark cloaks, changelings, and the aloof couple who drew a young nanny into their inner circle.

Now an adult, Seraphine mourns the recent death of her father. While going through his belongings, she uncovers a family photograph that raises dangerous questions. It was taken on the day the twins were born, and in the photo, their mother, surrounded by her husband and her young son, is beautifully dressed, smiling serenely, and holding just one baby.

Who is the child and what really happened that day?

One person knows the truth, if only Seraphine can find her.

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
There is no way to adequately describe this book without giving it all away. But I am going to do my best. Seraphine always felt that there was something different about her family, but she could never quite figure out what it was. After he father's death, she finds a photo of her mother holding a newborn baby. The catch is that Seraphine is a twin. This starts her on a journey to discover the truth. Through the twist and turns, she could never have imagined what that truth actually was.

This book was AMAZING. The first chapter is really choppy and you are just kind of thrown into the story. The characters are pretty much introduced as the story goes along. There are a couple of things that happened that were never mentioned again (a mirror scene). The book was beautifully written and the plot was well thought out.

This Dark Endeavor - Kenneth Oppel

Description:
Victor Frankenstein leads a charmed life. He and his twin brother, Konrad, and their beautiful cousin Elizabeth take lessons at home and spend their spare time fencing and horseback riding. Along with their friend Henry, they have explored all the hidden passageways and secret rooms of the palatial Frankenstein chateau. Except one.

The Dark Library contains ancient tomes written in strange languages and filled with forbidden knowledge. Their father makes them promise never to visit the library, but when Konrad becomes deathly ill, Victor knows he must find the book that contains the recipe for the legendary Elixir of Life.

The elixir needs only three ingredients. But impossible odds, dangerous alchemy and a bitter love triangle threaten their quest at every turn.

Victor knows he must not fail. Yet his success depends on how far he is willing to push the boundaries of nature, science and love—and how much he is willing to sacrifice.

Synopsis: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The author gave a fresh voice to the Frankenstein story. I loved the adventures and the mysteriousness of the dark library. I feel that the author did an amazing job capturing what a young Victor would have been like. Henry and Elizabeth were awesome supporting characters. I can't wait to read the next one!

Thresher: A Deep Sea Thriller - Michael Cole

Description:
In the aftermath of a hurricane, a series of strange events plague the coastal waters off Florida. People go into the water and never return. Corpses of killer whales drift ashore, ravaged from enormous bite marks. A fishing trawler is found adrift, with a mysterious gash in its hull. Transferred to the coastal town of Merit, police officer Leonard Riker uncovers the horrible reality of an enormous Thresher shark lurking off the coast. Forty feet in length, it has taken a territorial claim to the waters near the town harbor. Armed with three-inch teeth, a scythe-like caudal fin, and unmatched aggression, the beast seeks to kill anything sharing the waters.

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When I first saw this book, I expected something close to Jaws. I loved Jaws and have always loved sharks. While this book is similar to Jaws, it is equally unique.

I love the fact that the author chose a shark that was naturally aggressive. He didn't create a new "rogue shark" theory or come up with a storyline that was so far-fetched that you couldn't imagine it. The way that he worked in the twists and reasoning behind his plot was amazing. I couldn't find any holes and didn't have any questions left unanswered. This situation could possibly happen.

The characters were well created and well rounded. Each had their own backstory that made them seem real. The ending was perfect. I think that if it ended any differently, I would have been upset. 


Please, someone in the movie industry, get this book and make a movie. Just make sure to stick to the book because it is perfect!

The House with a Clock in it's Walls - John Bellairs

Description
When Lewis Barnavelt, an orphan. comes to stay with his uncle Jonathan, he expects to meet an ordinary person. But he is wrong. Uncle Jonathan and his next-door neighbor, Mrs. Zimmermann, are both magicians! Lewis is thrilled. At first, watchng magic is enough. Then Lewis experiments with magic himself and unknowingly resurrects the former owner of the house: a woman named Serenna Izard. It seems that Serenna and her husband built a timepiece into the walls--a clock that could obliterate humankind. And only the Barnavelts can stop it!

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I really enjoyed this magical adventure. I got the Walmart exclusive copy that had movie photos in it. I am afraid that they may not follow the book too closely :(. This book was funny and adventurous. I loved it and will probably get the rest of the series.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Description
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

Review:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is one of those books that you get so wrapped up in the world the author created that you are actually sad when it is over. I loved the imagination and the magic of the circus. The dynamics of the challenge and what the players create within the circus is amazing. I normally don't read books more than once or if I do it is years apart. This is one of the select few that may have to be read at least once a year.

The Thorn Queen by Elise Holland

Description:
Welcome to Glendoch! Hidden to most, this glacial world once crackled with alchemy. Now it waits for war—divided and bound by strict rules. So when twelve-year-old Meylyne falls from a tree onto Glendoch’s sickly prince, she must flee or face imprisonment in the Shadow-Cellars. The only way she may return home is with a cure for the prince’s peculiar disease.

Convinced she will perish, Meylyne and her companions embark on their journey—and before they know it, they are knee-deep in a plot to sink Glendoch into shadow, like other worlds before it. Poisoned guardians, cursed wizards, and cunning witch-spirits bound into wands are just some of the dangers that dot the way of their travels.

And behind it all is the Thorn Queen. Mysteriously magnetic (or murderously vengeful, depending on whose side you’re on), she is always one step ahead of them . . .

Review:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
For starters: what an amazing cover! It is so beautiful
I didn't want this book to end! I love the world that Elise Holland created. She created species of magical beings, landscapes, rules, and customs seamlessly worked into an amazing tale. Meylyne was the perfect protagonist finding things out about herself and learning to deal with them while trying to complete a quest and save the day. For as much that goes on in this book, it could have easily become a very cumbersome read. However, it was beautiful, fun, and had surprises around every corner. It sounds almost as if there might be a second one, but the ending leaves you satisfied. There is a slight cliffhanger, but nothing torturous lol.

Naughty on Ice by Maia Chance

Description
Naughty on Ice is the latest in Maia Chance’s dazzlingly fun Prohibition-era caper series featuring society matron Lola Woodby and her stalwart Swedish cook, Berta.

The Discreet Retrieval Agency is doing a brisk holiday business of retrieving lost parcels, grandmas, and stolen wreaths. But with their main squeezes Ralph and Jimmy once more on the back burner, both Lola and Berta pine for a holiday out of New York City. So when they receive a mysterious Christmas card requesting that they retrieve an antique ring at a family gathering in Maple Hill, Vermont, they jump at the chance. Sure, the card is signed Anonymous and it’s vaguely threatening, but it’s Vermont.

In Maple Hill, several estranged members of the wealthy Goddard family gather. And no sooner do Lola and Berta recover the ring—from Great-Aunt Cressida Goddard’s arthritic finger—than Mrs. Goddard goes toes-up, poisoned by her Negroni cocktail on ice. When the police arrive, Lola and Berta are caught-red-handed with the ring, and it becomes clear that they were in fact hired not for their cracker-jack retrieving abilities, but to be scapegoats for murder.

With no choice but to unmask the killer or be thrown in the slammer, Lola and Berta’s investigations lead them deep into the secrets of Maple Hill. In a breathless pursuit along a snowy ridge, with a lovelorn Norwegian ski instructor and country bumpkin hooch smugglers hot on their heels, Lola and Berta must find out once and for all who’s nice...and who’s naughty.

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was an amazing cozy mystery. Follow Mrs. Woodby and Berta as they solve a mystery they didn't intend to. Thinking they were there to find out who took a ring, mysterious murders begin to happen. Their lives are in danger, they discover a bootlegging operation, and almost get arrested. The plot kept me guessing until the very end.

The Dead Ringer - M.C. Beaton

Synopsis:
The church of St. Ethelred in the village of Thirk Magna is renowned for its team of bell-ringers, the troupe led by identical twins Mavis and Millicent Dupin. Mavis and Millicent are lifelong residents of the remote village—or were, until their home is broken into one night, and Millicent is murdered. But who’s the killer? Is it one of their co-workers, sick of being bullied to practice for a big performance? Or perhaps Joseph Kennell, a retired lawyer who was heard yelling at the sisters that he felt like strangling them? Kennell swears his innocence, and hires the ever-trusty (if often tipsy) Agatha Raisin to clear his name. Only she can find the killer—and hopefully a handsome man to buy her dinner while she’s at it.

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

So, before we get into the review let me just say M.C. Beaton is my all time favorite author. I have every one of the Agatha Raisin series and Hamish Macbeth. They are my favorite books to read after I read a heavy book. I call them my palate cleansers. She always has great storylines, plot twists and her books keep me guessing. Her characters come to life and make me laugh and one book even made me cry (Highland Christmas). She is the first author I recommend.

Okay enough gushing about her. Here is the review :)

I love the Agatha Raisin series and this one didn't disappoint. Follow along as Agatha tries to solve murders and fall in love. The investigation kept me guessing until the very end (I didn't guess right either). I can't wait for the next one!