July Reads *Day 18*

Well, it’s another month of book reviews and this time I have read three of them. I am one short of my goal, but since I’m halfway done with two books that I’m reading, I don’t really consider myself short of my goal. I’ll probably have four books to review in August or more. I’m really starting to enjoy reading again. It’s an amazing feeling and I’m finally going through my personal library of to-read books just collecting dust on my bookshelf. I’m reading on my kindle as well and I am purchasing books on that as well as I read them.

Sinful Cinderella by Anita Valle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a twisted story of Cinderella and I liked it. It is for free on Amazon right now. All of the Disney Princesses get an evil makeover. I like this more sinister side of the stories. It is similar to the Brothers Grim or the Grim Brothers, where the stories are anything but sweet. The book was a bit boring in the beginning, but it did pick up and I will be buying the next story in the series on kindle, which is Snow White. All of these books are connected in interesting ways. It was a solid read and a good start to a series. I’m hoping that the Snow White book will be a bit more interesting and not as slow. I highly recommend it.
Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Unless another book gets published, this book ends a well loved series of mine and I have successfully finished another book series. Not an easy feat, I know. There were so many surprises in this conclusion to the Sisterhood. I’m still trying to wrap my head around all of it. There might be another Sisterhood in the distant future and that makes me happy. I don’t want to say too much and spoil what the book has to offer. It made me sad for all of the characters, but I didn’t cry reading this book. It was emotional, but in a standoffish sort of way. It was a satisfying conclusion, but I wouldn’t mind a sequel to add more depth to these lovable characters. The characters changed the most in this book than in any other. They really developed and exploded into their true selves. I can relate to the sudden change that changes your life forever and I enjoyed that relate-ability.

Dollhouse by Kourtney Kardashian

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Saying this book was an utter waste of time would be an understatement. First off, this is not a stand alone novel like I first thought, but there will NEVER be a sequel. I guess, it just wasn’t as popular as the Kardashians’ thought for some reason. So, the story ends with more questions than it answers. There really is no sustenance to the story. It was boring at best and something anyone could write. This story is more about character development and relationships than action, but it even fails at that when only one character truly changes. I wouldn’t buy the sequel even if there was one. This book wasn’t terrible though. It’s not an adult book though. This reminds me of a badly written YA with no relate-able characters. Maybe, it is terrible actually.

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With Love <3

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June Reads 2016 *Day 8*

Another month has come and gone and I’ve managed to read two more books in that time. I am happy that I am still a book ahead on my Goodreads goal of reading 25 books in 2016. As I am writing this, I finished an ebook and am almost done with a book from my personal library. I am hoping to read at least four books in July and almost two books down is a good start to the month at only a week in. Here’s what I read in June:

L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this story. I feel like it is very unique and not just a celebrity endorsement. I don’t know how true this book was to her life story or TV show, but I enjoyed it. I look forward to reading the next book. I also have the first two books of the spin off series. I will definitely be reading them soon now. All of the characters are dimensional for the most part. People are complicated and Lauren Conrad got that part right. I found it to be believable that this could happen, however unlikely as it sounds. It was witty without over doing it and I cannot wait to read the next twisted web of lies and half truths.

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I absolutely LOVED this book to DEATH. It was laugh out loud funny and highly entertaining. I could really relate to all of the cringe worthy moments. I am also drowning in debt, but I don’t spend like her. My debt are all student loans and a car payment. I would never want to be in debt over a pair of Jimmy Choos! I can pay for those by saving up. Her spending was ridiculous, which was partly why this book was so fun. That being said, I found Rebecca to be petty at best and downright childish at worst.

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Now that I’ve reviewed these on Goodreads, I found out that I’m one book behind! It’s funny how in 30 minutes, I fell a book behind. Goodreads is strange. LOL. What have you been reading lately?

With Love ❤

May Reads

I have actually managed to read FOUR books this month. Well, so two of them I finished this month, but still that counts as four for May. I want to read 25 books this year. I think I might be on schedule now according to my goodreads app. I feel very accomplished, so here it goes.

The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. I found parts of it dry and wanted to skip through the boring bits. I persevered though and I enjoyed the book truly. I enjoyed the modern story more than Ira’s, but that’s just because of all the historical facts that weighted his story down. It didn’t flow as smoothly as the modern tale. Most of Sparks books I end up disliking or only mildly enjoying. This one I enjoyed more than most. I highly recommend reading this one. It is one of his better ones. I will give this one back to you D, when I see you again.

Shadowland by Meg Cabot

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! It’s been awhile since I’ve read such a great book. I love the troubled romance and the mystery surrounding everything. I feel like this will be a great series that will keep me guessing. This book definitely did. It is unlike any Meg Cabot book that I have read before. It is different from the rest of her fluffy reads. This has a lot of sustenance to it, while still being a joy to read. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

Love Story by Erich Segal

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This was a sweet story and a rude one too. I don’t remember the movie being like this. I’ll have to watch it over again. I enjoyed the book, but I felt that it was very juvenile, even as the characters grew up. A lot of swears in this one as well. Not a book that is a priority read. It was something okay to pass the time with. I wouldn’t recommend it. I really loved the movie though. Again, I’m not sure the movie really relates to the book. There is a disconnect with my mind about it. It’s been awhile since I watched the original and the remake.

What to Expect the First Year by Heidi Murkoff

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was very informative and I can see going back to it for advise. I’m glad I own this copy, because it is great to refer back to for information. This is just the start to my childcare book collection. With books like these, I believe that it’s better to own than borrow, so you can refer back to them when you need to. This has made me a better informed parent and I feel comforted knowing that this book is only a shelf away if I need it again.
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Those are the books that I managed to finish while pumping and amongst other things. I’m looking forward to another heavy book month in June. I’m hoping I can at least read two if not more!

With Love,

 

March Reads 2016

Heya Aspiring Gurus!

Another month has come and gone. I actually finished two books this past month, which is my goal for every month. I’m happy that I met my goal this month. I will be giving a mini review of both books. It’s really informal like my movie reviews. I just don’t have the time that I used to with full time work, being a mom, and my own limited social life. And I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Bitter Demons by Sarra Cannon

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the third book in the Peachville High Demons series, now called the Shadow Demons Saga. It is a very interesting plot about witches and covens, but they are supposed to be good ones not bad ones. Even the good ones though are tied to a demon, which sometimes turns them evil or resentful. I enjoyed the first one more than the next two. I feel like this one was a bit more predictable and not as fun as the first when everything was just so dang new.

I hope the next book gets better from here, because if the series loses another star, I won’t be continuing. I like the originality, but if you keep making it predictable, it will quickly get boring and overtired. I hope it gets better, even though I liked this one. I just don’t want it to be another EVER series fail. Starting off with such promise, than takes a wrong turn into that would never happen and then predictable and boring.

The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Danielle bought me this book for Christmas and I was so excited to read it that I had to read it right away. It became the second book that I finished in March. It was quirky and fun. It was unlike anything that I have ever read before. The only thing I could relate it to is a racy Princess Diaries and even then, its not really like that series. I will read the rest of the books, because I want to know more about what kind of misadventures will happen in New York. This Carrie is refreshingly normal for a main lead and not overly pretty or smart. She’s just your average girl making her dreams come true.

Those are the two books that I got to read in March while pumping away at work. My goal is to read at least two books a month. So far, I have read 5 books, making me one book behind. Maybe, this month will be a good reading month. I’m actually half way through my April book, so I might be able to squeeze in a third. Happy reading!

With Love <3

Entertainment Weekly

Heya Aspiring Gurus!

I have a completed post for all of ya’ll today, except for a project runway, because my dvr screwed up last night. More like someone untyped my shows again. *glares at little brother* Also! It looks like September might be the month I move out into my own apartment. There is one that looks very promising and not too expensive. Here’s the post!

T.V Shows I’m Obsessing Over:

Pretty Little Liars:

Pretty Little Liars Complete Cast

Omg! I cannot believe that they tried to make it look like Ezra is A! He most definitely is not! It just doesn’t make sense! So many things just don’t add up with him being A. I mean, he got his reputation temporarily ruined and he thought that he would have to move away for his career. I don’t think A would purposefully sabotage themselves that bad just to get at the liars or their sympathy. It would be perfect if Ezra was A, but he would never hurt Aria. They are trying to make it look like Ezra would be the older guy, but I don’t think he was. Maybe he is working for the A team to protect Aria just like Toby and Mona did for the liars that they loved. Or maybe, just maybe, he followed the liars and is trying to find A to get that person to stop messing with Aria. I’d rather picture Ezra as the knight on the white horse than the killer A.

Twisted:

Season 1 Poster

This was an exciting season finale with fake fights and major romance. There were surprises at every turn and I cannot wait until 2014 for this show to come back on. The biggest surprise was who Jo’s mom had to call. I bet that Danny and Jo are probably half siblings. I mean, it really isn’t that farfetched.  Maybe, Danny’s dad or Jo’s mom killed Regina. Who knows? So much happened in this episode that my brain is still reeling from all of the information. Even though a lot of things happened, most of it was predictable, which is why I don’t have a lot to say about it. I do like this series and think it is very different from other series out there, but I’m not totally in love with it yet. I give it 4 stars.

Movies I Watched:

Saved:

This was a cute movie that had a lot of mature elements going on that I was not expecting. I had watched Sleep Over previously and since this movie had the same style of movie poster, I thought it would be light, fluffy fun. It wasn’t all that light and fluffy. It had some heavy topics, but it did have its funny if not perverted moments. I thought that it was very mature and would only recommend it to mature teenagers or young adults. This is thought provoking, not an escape from reality. 3/5 I give this rating just because I was not expecting it to be so deep.

This Magic Moment:

Since this was a Hallmark movie, I knew that I was in for a sweet story with a happy ending. The story was cute, but quite predictable. Sometimes though, I am in a mood for predictable with a happy ending and the happy ending to this story was a bit unexpected which I enjoyed very much. It added a fresh pop of unexpected to an otherwise predictable movie sequence, since Hallmark movies are very similar in story plot. If you want a happy movie with some comedic drama, than this movie will not disappoint you. 4/5 I give this rating, because it did have a twist to a predictable story line.

Books I’m Starting:

3 Days

This is the new book that I am reading along with a few others I am enjoying. I always read several books at the same time, because I am not always in the mood for the same book. I like to read dystopian sometimes and a fluffy romance later in the day. This book is definitely an end of days book, really bordering on a dystopian novel. I am in the beginning few chapters and really like the supernatural element that is thrown in there to make the novel more interesting and less like other books I have read. I cannot wait to finish this book and review it for you guys!

That’s it for now! What are all you guys loving or hating when it comes to entertainment? Leave a comment or request below!

With Love,

Hannahxoxoxo

Review: Spell Bound

Heya Aspiring Gurus!

I have decided to make the titles of my posts more findable, since a few of my readers suggested it. The creative titles are fun to make, but I will make it easier for you guys and write the titles more clearly of what is going to be discussed in my posts. That doesn’t mean that I cannot include what would have been the title. These will still be inclubecause I love coming up with them. Now, the final book in the Hex Hall series. I have reviewed all three books on my blog, I believe. Here are the links to the previous books: Book 2 and I actually never reviewed book 1, opps!

Just Kill Me Already

Spell Bound
By: Rachel Hawkins

3 out of 5 stars

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

1. Heroine/Hero: I likedSophie more in this book than in the last one; however, I still believe that her character could have been stronger. I loved Cal in this book! He mad the ultimate sacrifice for Sophie. She should have at least gave him a fighting chance at winning her heart. I am team Cal all the way and I bet a lot of readers are, too. I feel a bit disappointed with the rest of the characters in the book. This does not entice me to read the spin off series at all. 3 out of 5 stars

2. Evil Antagonist: By the end of Demonglass, the reader knows who the evil people are. So, that is not a surprise there. There should have been an evil surprise, but there was not. It would have made the story more exciting. 3 out of 5 stars

3. Minor Characters: I did not really like the minor characters in this book or at least, the new ones. Her mom and dad, I totally loved. heir strained love shinned through in this one. I loved the way they were portrayed. Archer was still just as charming as ever and I liked him, but I was not attached to him muchafter the first book. There was more chemistry with Cal. Jenna with her pink streak was the best friend that anyone could ask for. I really liked her in this book. She was bravier and embraced her vampirism. 3 out of 5 stars

4. Plot: There was too much waiting around for something to happen. I wish there was more action than waiting and nticipating the action. There was just too much of that going on to really enjoy the story and it did not seem like much of a story at all, but just resolving the second book. 2 out of 5 stars

5. Setting: The scenery is beautiful in this book and so descriptive. I know some people detest too many details, but I thrive on them. I really thought that Hell would have looked different or would have had creatures protecting it or something! What it really was, was unexpected and not exactly in a good way. 4 out of 5 stars

6. Dialogue: I really think that the author does a beautiful job in this department. The dialogue is so close to the dialogue on the year it was written that it makes the story believable and modern, to the point where modern teenagerscan relate to it, even though it is a work of fiction. I loved the witty comebacks and the humor in the dialogue during the story. It provided much needed comedic relief to an otherwise uneventful or drama filled scene. This made the waiting parts more bareable. 5 out of 5 stars

7. Surprises: There weren’t many surprises in this book, besides one surprise near the end that was heart wrenching for me. Everything else was very predictable and I saw it coming every time. I like stories with more mystery to them. I think I am growing out of the young YA section and need to steer towards older, more mature YA novels. I find that the younger ones are more predictable, but it also might just be this book in preticular. 2 out of 5 stars

8. Climax: There was a very intense climax in this book, btit gets resolved fairly easily, whch is something that I did not particularly like. I expected an epic battle and what I got was a far cry from it. This book has let me down some what. I was expectingsomething specail ad for this series to really go out with a bang, but instead, it really just fizzled out. 2 out of 5 stars

9. Response: I had very negative, angry responses t this book that got me really upset. I also saw sweet moments that I didn’t want to end. The point is, yes, I did have a lot of emotional response to this book, which is what I loved most about it. That I was so involved with the characters that  felt angry when things didn’t turn out the way I wanted them to. Negative or not, this book gripped me in a very powerful way, not much books can do that to me. 5 out of 5 stars

10. Ending: I did not like the ending. It wasn’t what I wanted and I think that many people are with me on this one. I was upset with who Sophia ended up with, because I was hoping for her to fall into a sweet love with somone else. This someone else never hurt her, but made her feel special. Gosh! I really hate love triangles, because most times, they never end up withthe person you want them most with! 4 out of 5 stars

11. Writing: The writing is superb as always. The author really knows how to craft a book, but she let me down wit the climax of this one. She wrote such engaging fight scenes in books 1 and 2 that she should have came up wih something better. I guess, she felt rushed and didn’t want to miss her deadline. To me, this book felt like it was going to be longer and more drawn out, then halfway through all ofthese scenesget smooshed together and everything goes off at a rapid fire pace. I just wished that the author would have took her time to make the eding of the series super special, not super rushed. 3 out of 5 stars

12. Artwork: The covers are as pretty as always and this one is no exception. I just have no clue what a cat has got to do with this series. There isn’t a cat in it! 4 out of 5 stars

13. Genre: To me, this is a bit on the younger side of YA. It is for preteens or for young girls 16 and younger to really enjoy. If I was still in high school, this might have fared better than it has now. I think there should be more emphasis that this is for YOUNG readers. 4 out of 5 stars

14. Title: The title of this book, Spell Bound, totally makes sense and goes well with the whole trilogy. I find it very compelling. 5 out of 5 stars

Overall, I give this novel 3 out of 5 stars. It is a solid ending o the series, saying I thought it was okay, but I didn’t love it, but I didn’t dislike it or hated it either. As a series, I give this 4 stars, because the first and second books were definitely better and worth reading. Have you read this book or series? What did you think? Leave a comment or a request.

With Love,

Hannahxoxoxo

Demons Anyone?

Demon Glass
by Rachel Hawkins

4 out of 5 stars

FTC Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and I picked up this book from my local library.

1. Heroine/Hero: Sophie is a kickarse heroine that is also really down to earth and human. She makes mistakes and learns from them. She grows and matures. She is a very likeable character and even when you get frustrated with her, it’s more directed at the situation than her as a character. I also consider Archer a hero in this book. He was less of an arse and sweeter than I thought he could be. I still like Cal better than him though. 4 out of 5 stars

2. Evil Antagonist: You would think that it is The Eye, if you read this series, but surprise, surprise, they are not the only group to be afraid of. 5 out of 5 stars

3. Minor Characters: There are several minor characters in this book that I will only mention the most important ones. Cal is amazing and so sensitive to Sophie’s needs. I loved him in this book and I wish things would have gone differently for him. Jenna was a bit annoying in this book and I didn’t like her as much, but hopefully, things change in the third and final book. The other characters to mention would be telling. 4 out of 5 stars

4. Plot: This book is totally different from the first book and in my opinion, better than the first as a whole. There was more drama and suspense. You never knew what was really going on until the very end. I have a funny feeling that the ending of this series will be anything but a pretty happily ever after. 4 out of 5 stars

5. Setting: The book descriptions were written beautifully in this book. I am guilty of skimming some of the boring details, but most of the descriptions were interesting. The more boring parts really dragged down the pace of the novel. I wish that the author either left those parts out or made them more engaging. 3 out of 5 stars

6. Dialogue: The characters’ words were more true to who they were than the last novel. I think that the author developed the language of her characters and really tried to find the right tone and words to fit each of her characters different personalities. 5 out of 5 stars

7. Surprises: There were many events and information that I never saw coming. There were a few of them, but not overwhelming where there was too much information. I do think that I would have liked a bit more information when certain surprises happened in order for it to be less confusing and more informing. 3 out of 5 stars

8. Climax: There is a major fight scene that is the climax of most action-packed books; however, the reader does not get to see much h of this fight, just that one is occurring. Everything leading up to this point has been intense, but I believe that the author could have built up the excitement a bit more before the book abruptly ends. The climax is still a worthy one though. 4 out of 5 stars

9. Response: This is a largely fantasy novel, so I didn’t get emotionally involved with tears or anything. I just felt the intensity of the moments as I read. Other novels even fantasy, usually has me in tears at times, but I was numb through this one. Not exactly sure why, but it could just be me and my moods. 1 out of 5 stars

10. Ending: The end of the novel is pretty erupt. There is not much of a solid ending. It just ends with a major cliff hanger that you are not expecting. You expect for there to be another page or chapter, but there isn’t. It is sort of disappointing, but all good things must come to an end, I guess. 2 out of 5 stars

11. Writing: The author is a terrific writer and I love her witty style. This book is just as great as the last. There was nothing really to improve in the writing, except adding some more meat here and there. Really, there is just small things that I pick at that not a lot of people have a problem with. 4 out of 5 stars 12. Artwork: The cover is pretty, but not the most gorgeous cover on earth. 3 out of 5 stars

13. Genre: This is fantasy, YA, and romance. It makes for a very fun read. 5 out of 5 stars

14. Title: The title truly does fit the book perfectly. 5 out of 5 stars

Overall, I give this book 3.7 out of 5 stars. I am currently reading the last book in the series. Be on the lookout for a review on the third book next week or so.

What a Jerk!

The Jerk Magnet
by: Melody Carlson

4 out of 5 stars

FTC Disclaimer: All opinions are my own. I purchased this book for free on amazon.

1. Heroine/Hero: Chelsea is the main character of the story and I find her humorous and charming. She was never annoying, but highly entertaining and clueless. I really loved her as a main character, which is a rare thing for me to say about any book. There was nothing about her that I did not like. She is the type of person that one would love to be friends with and have in your corner. I also feel that Chelsea’s stepmother Kate is a heroine of the story as well, because she sparked Chelsea’s transformation and really is the fairy godmother of the story, if this was a Cinderella Story (ah-mazing movie, btw.). 5 out of 5 stars

2. Evil Antagonist: I do not feel like there really is a “bad guy” to this story character wise, but theme wise the antagonist is the act of being a teenager and going through those years in high school. It creates rumors and hormones are running high and out of control. It’s those years of insecurity and low self-esteem. The years of discovering who you are and what morals or rules you are not willing to break. An invisible societal evil, but evil nonetheless. 3 out of 5 stars

3. Minor Characters: Of course, Chelsea’s dad is going to be a minor character, since he wa not a strong presence throughout the book. This is about teenagers, though. So, I do not mind her not having her dad around that much. Makes for more character freedom. Janelle becomes Chelsea’s first friend. I did not like her as much as I liked Chelsea, who seems to be the only real nice girl in the book. Chase was a foolish guy, who was a hopeless romantic. I liked him, but also thought he was a jerk for only looking at pretty girls. Dayton is a charmer, but I never figured him to be what he was and to have a temper. Nicholas was really the only guy that I liked in the book. He wasn’t attracted to looks, but who a person really is. Although he let beauty cloud his judgement, he made amends for it and realized that he was wrong to act the way he did/does. He was just a real of a character to me as Chelsea, not perfect but not annoyingly faulty either. 3 out of 5 stars

4. Plot: It is the ultimate high school beauty story where the unpopular, unattractive girl gets a makeover and becomes popular overnight, but realizes that being popular and pretty does not make your life any easier. I really enjoyed the story and didn’t really feel like it was clichéd. There were certain aspects that made the plot seem unique, rather than a rewrite of yet another transformation novel. 5 out of 5 stars

Setting: The novel definitely satisfied my need for descriptive scenery and massive amounts of detail. I am a sucker for details in a novel that really allows me to immerse myself into the novel and really experience the story. This book had the perfect balance of details. I didn’t skim any pages, because of too much information, which can make a novel drag on unnecessarily. 5 out of 5 stars

6. Dialogue: I believe that what characters say is just as important as what they do. I felt that the dialogue was stilted at times anda bit dry; however, I still enjoyed the conversations. They were just as awkward or romantic as in real life and I felt that they were real. The author knows how teenagers speak, not many authors do. 4 out of 5 stars

7. Surprises: This is a strong element in this novel. You never know what to expect and the secrets you learn about the people around Chelsea. In almost every chapter, I have experienced an “OMG” moment, where what happened was unexpected and not even hinted at before. I love the surprises that you never see coming. Move over foreshadowing, surprises are the new thing. 5 out of 5 stars

8. Climax: There definitely was a climatic moment in this novel, but I did not think that it was a really high moment in the novel. I kind of wish that there was more of a build up and dramatic cliff before everything gets resolved. I did not like how cookie cutter perfect this climax was. I still liked it. I just wish that there was more pop and flair to it. 2 out of 5 stars

9. Responses: The novel was a nice fun read. Aside from the surprises, I did not really have any emotional responses to the story. In this case, it is a good thing, because it made the story fluffy and light instead of overly dramatic and dark. I believe the author could have easily gone that way with this story. I just wish that I could have had some teary moments. It would have made me even more invested into the story and characters, 3 out of 5 stars

10. Ending: I didn’t believe that it was much of an ending. There really wasn’t any cliff hangers that made you impatient or excited for the next book in the series. I wish the ending wasn’t so tidy and wrapped up. Yes, there is still intrigue to see where the rest of Chelsea’s story goes, but it would have been better to surround it with a bit of a mystery and uncertainty. 3 out of 5 stars

11. Writing: I found that the author writes the story very well and found an editor that did a really good job as well. I wasn’t distracted by errors, which allowed me to focus fully on the story and the writing. The author wrote in a style that agreed with the story and sounded like an authentic teenager and her thoughts and feelings. I really enjoyed te writing style. 5 out of 5 stars

12. Artwork: The cover is quirky and eye-catching. Do I think it is knockdown gorgeous? No, but it did intrigue me enough to get this book for a free download. I like how the model is dressed on the cover as well as the brightness of the cover. 3 out of 5 stars

13. Genre: The book is advertised as a young adult romance story, but it also has a Christian element as well. I enjoyed the story more because of the religious element to it. It made the story refreshing with the view that Christians are not perfect and that everyone makes mistakes. 5 out of 5 stars

14. Title: The title goes with the cover and the story. I like how the title is mentioned in the dialogue. So, it really ties the title into the story and how pretty things attract jerks of every variety. The title is perfect, but I would have liked the series name to have been different. 4 out of 5 stars

Overall, I give this novel 3.9 out of 5 stars. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading the next book in the series. It is refreshing when you are in the mood for a light fun read. Have you read this book? Your thoughts?

It’s Hard Being New

The New Girl: A Webster Grove Novella
By: Tracie Puckett

3 out of 5 Stars

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own. I purchased this for free on Amazon.

This book is a novella series, so it is a short book. There are six of them, I believe and they are all under a 2 US dollars. I believe that the quality of this book would be worth that price.

1. Heroine/Hero: Steph or more specifically Abcdef, yeah I know. What a weird name to have. She is at times slightly annoying, but I could really relate to he character. Falling in love with an older man is always hard, never easy. You have all these doubts going through your head and it’s even harder in high school. You think that you are not mature enough for him. Steph does a fabulous job trying to juggle her teenage life and fight her attraction. I think that I have to add Alex into this category, the older man. He is not a minor character, since he is either present or talked about most of the time. He is sweet and charming. He is everything a good guy should be and I liked him a lot. He reminded me of my own boyfriend. I thought of Ezra from Pretty Little Liars when I read this. 5 out of 5 stars

2. Evil Antagonist: I found the math teacher to be an evil-ish role in this story. More importantly though, the situation is the real killer here. The problem is that Steph is still a minor and in high school, something Alex doesn’t seem to care about all that much. I remember feeling a bit out-of-place in high school, because my boyfriend was older. I know that situations like these are hard. 4 out of 5 stars

3. Minor Characters: There really is only three minor characters that I care to mention in my review. Steph’s mom is one of those characters. She is very annoying to me and not sensible to Steph at all. I do not even think her mom cares about anyone besides herself, plus she is slightly psychotic. Steph’s wo friends at school are also the comedic relief of the drama in the story. There is a bit more to the story about the two of them, but then, that would be telling. 3 out of 5 stars

4. Plot: Well, this story is about a girl who falls in love with an older man, but really the story is a lot sweeter than that. It is less drama filled and light. I liked that about the story, but really that is the plot besides a little side story about Steph liking to design clothes. I wish that part was bigger and less of a side. If the novella was longer, the plot would be better developed. 3 out of 5 stars

5. Setting: With a novella, there is not much room to have a lot of details about the scenery and I felt that the story was lacking a little sparkle. If she is a fabulous designer, shouldn’t the reader get an idea of her designs and descriptions about the dresses that she creates? I kept waiting for more details that never came. It was very disappointing for me, since I love the little details. 2 out of 5 stars

6. Dialogue: I felt that the dialogue ran smoothly and people sounded the way they should. I didn’t think that conversations were stiff or awkward. The author made the whole story flow together seamlessly. This novella was filled with conversations, so it is very important to note that the author got it right. 5 out of 5 stars

7. Surprises: There were really only two surprises, which isn’t that surprising since it is a novella. They were meant to be short. The surprises were epically huge that you never see coming and I loved that about this book. I won’t spoil it for the rest of you, but they were really great shocking moments that made my eyes go round. 5 out of 5 stars

8. Climax: There really wasn’t much of a high point, since the book was so short. I think that there might have been one, but the fact that I cannot remember is telling. I don’t think there was a climax and I think even a novella should have that. 1 ou of 5 stars

9. Response: The only parts I really responded to were the surprising ones and anytime the two lovebirds were together. The love was a sweet one, but I really wanted some passion. It would have made the story better. As is, it was just sweet and cute. 2 out of 5 stars

10. Ending: There was a surprise at the end of the book that made up for the lack of a climax or a very poor one at best. It was cliffhanger ending that made me want to read the next book. I thought it was a sweet ending to a sweet book. 4 out of 5 stars

11. Writing: The author writes the story marvelously with really great perspective. I wouldn’t be surprised if the author is writing about her own personal experiences that is how real the story is. I cannot base the author’s writing though on this little story. I would have to read more to judge it more accurately. 4 out of 5 stars

12. Artwork: The cover is soft and sweet. It totally reflects the feel of the book itself. It is a dreamy cover, but I would have liked to have seen something a bit different. Still, it reflects the nature of the novella. 4 out of 5 stars

13. Genre: The genre is definitely YA romance. There is really not much else going on to label this any different. It is chick-lit that is read just for fun. I just wish it was a little more substantial. 4 out of 5 stars

14. Title: The New Girl does not really capture what this book is really about. I wish the author would have chosen a different title to be sure. This book is so much more than being the new girl in town. 2 out of 5 stars

Overall, I give this novella 3.4 stars out of 5. I will be reading the next installment, as soon as I have some Amazon credit to spend. I recommend reading this fluffy novella. Drop me a comment or a request anytime.

A Beautiful Concept

The Stone Protector by Melissa F. Hart

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I promise to be brutally honest with my opinion, but it should not be taken as fact. Any reader should read it for themselves, before they decide if this book has any merit or not. Do not judge this book biased solely on my opinion. If you do, you might miss out on a great read. You never know. It could happen. My review may contain spoilers, but I really strive to be spoiler-free. I downloaded this book for free on Amazon.com. This book was not suggested nor “gifted” to me by the author. I have no affiliation with the author or his/her publisher. This book is more of a novella than a novel. It is very short; therefore, do not expect to be reading this more than a couple of hours. I finished this story in two hours. I am a fast reader, so a slower reader may have a longer read.

For a limited time, this book is free on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Stone-Protector-Keepers-Flame-ebook/dp/B00BKKHSIQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372440516&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Stone+Protector

1. Strong Main Character/ Female Heroine: Luanne is a really sarcastic little girl, who has not grown up much. The reader learns why she is the way she is, but it is still not satisfying that she falls in love in the end. It seems too clichéd for her and I expected more for her, especially in light of what happened to her in the past. I like the person that she becomes in the end, but she is so confused that I do not think that she sees that she is stronger than Dylan and does not need him to save her. 3 out of 5 stars

2. Strong Main Character / Male Hero: Dylan is the male hero of our story, but I quite like the fact that he does not save our heroine in the end. It made his character a lot more bearable, because I feel like he is a bit of a narcissist that can be very vulnerable at times. His softness seems a bit out of character. 4 out of 5 stars

3. Strong Main Character / Evil Antagonist: The evil mastermind would have to be Lord Morrison, but the reader does not know about him until the end and then, he does not really matter anyways. I felt like this character could have been anyone. 2 out of 5 stars

4. Strong Minor Characters: The grandmother, Katrina, is really the only minor character in this story and she is a very important one. I felt like I liked her the best in this book out of all of the characters. She took things seriously and was not afraid to die to do what she believed was right. I did not feel that the other characters had these qualities or were as enduring to the reader. 5 out of 5 stars

5. The Plot: The concept of the plot was very interesting and I become very excited about it. The author horribly executed the writing, but I still thought that the plot was worth it. I have never read anything quite like this book and not because of the writing. I feel like the concept has never been done quite like in this way. 4 out of 5 stars

6. The Setting: Not much of a setting, but yet again, there was not much to this story. Still, I would have liked to see more descriptions of the house and the rooms that the characters went through. I feel like there could have been more. I am not one to gloss over descriptions. I drink them up. 2 out of 5 stars

7. The Dialogue: The most natural part of this book has to be the dialogue. It really was about the only part of the writing that was done right, without adding confusion into the plot. I feel like everyone was talking the way they should due to their background. No one’s voice sounded out of place with their character. 5 out of 5 stars

8. Engaging Surprises: There were a couple of surprises for such a short book, but I did not really feel like they were surprises more like what the hell just happened and then confusion. Surprises are supposed to shock you and make you more invested into the story. These surprises were more confusing than shocking, because there was never any background on the surprises that made you understand what exactly was going on. 2 out of 5 stars

9. Climax: At least in this novella that I read, there was a massive fight scene that was very satisfying, despite the writing issues. I do think that it was resolved too neatly though and the reader never fully grasped what really happened with Luanne, since it is really glossed over. I wish there was more of an effort put into this scene to make it last longer, but also give some clarity to the reader to get them to invest more of their time into the story. 3 out of 5 stars

10. Emotional Response: I literally had no melty response to this novella. I was frustrated, confused, and angry or indifferent to how the characters would end up. I enjoyed the plot, but was not invested in the story due to a writing style that left more to be desired. 2 out of 5 stars

11. Ending: The ending of the novella was very satisfying and tied up neatly into a pretty little bow. Although, personally I would prefer a less tidy ending, it made the book worth the read in my opinion. Did I cry? No, but I was glad that it ended the way it did…although very predictable. 3 out of 5 stars

12. The Writing: I have to say that although I love the unique plot, I am not a fan of this author’s writing. The writing is all over the place. This author switches from third person narration to first person from Luanne’s perspective, then to Dylan’s perspective in the first person, and back and forth through all of these styles of narration and without any warning do we go. I would have liked to see some type of break like Dylan’s POV or something similar to that. All the switching of writing styles left me confused and irritable. I did get it after a while, but it lessened my enjoyment of the book and I really do not want to read the seconds book. I am afraid that it will be just like this one and that would ruin the story for me….although, I do want to continue…I don’t want to risk my money on it. I am not saying that writing like this is necessarily bad. I did enjoy a book called Turned that switched up POVs, but not in the middle of a chapter and it was very limited with how many chapters were a different POV from the main character and they were relatively short. I just think that the author could have done a much better job at writing this story. 1 out of 5 stars

13. The Artwork: I love, love, love the cover to this novella!!! Although looking through the series as a whole it is the same model with slightly different facial expressions and looks like one photo shoot where the author chose the first three pictures, the model is very beautiful and flawless. I love attractive covers, so I am a bit biased. The only criticism of this cove is that the model looks stiff in her shot, but it sort of fits the character, especially in this book. 5 out of 5 stars

14. Genre: The genre of this book is definitely a paranormal romance. There is a strong supernatural element and the romance comes later in this short book. It is a very fitting YA genre, but I question if it would not turn into more romance and less paranormal elements present. I really hope the author keeps the novel strongly paranormal with the romance to just sweeten the deal. 5 out of 5 stars

15. Title: I have to say that the title says it all. I really enjoy the title. The only title that would be a better fit than this one would be if it said “The Stone Keeper”. Keeping the title the way it is adds more mystery to the plot, but I still think that it would be a small sacrifice. This new title does not give the story away, until the reader figures it out. I really enjoy titles that describe the book perfectly and although this title is not perfect, it is very close. 4 out of 5 stars

Overall, I give the novella 3.3 out of 5 stars. So, I would have to give it three stars. I feel like this book is average and that some people might enjoy it, but the writing really deters me. If you agree with me in the writing section, then I would advise you not to read this book, because you will be disappointed. If my review does not faze you, then go ahead and read it. I hope you enjoy it.

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