For Magnus Chase: Hotel Valhalla, Guide to the Norse Worlds (Magnus Chase 1.5) By Rick Rordan

Blurb:

So you've made it to Valhalla. Now what? This "who's who" guide to the gods, goddesses, and other important figures of Norse mythology was commissioned by Helgi, who, after more than a millennium as manager of Hotel Valhalla, became fed up with answering the same questions from newly deceased heroes at check-in. The profiles provide essential stats, interviews, and personal reflections so you can identify the gods and avoid those awkward introductions. Handy facts about other beings round out this go-to tome. You'll never see Ratatosk as a cute little rodent or confuse a dwarf with an elf ever again!

My Thoughts:

If you have ever read on of Rick's book you would know that that is usually a companion book or a guide book that goes with the series. sometimes there is one or there could be more. I find this super helpful. not only does it help  you learn more about the characters in the book but if you ever forget something it is a great reference. I find if i am reading other books that have to do with mythology i can just look in one of Ricks books and i will get a brief overview of the character that i  need help with. I really enjoyed the interviews with the gods that are in this book. it was a fast read but you don't want to read this book for the series you don't have to but overall a good read.

Whatever Happened to Janie? By Caroline B. Cooney (#2 in the Janie Johnson series)

“Janie Johnson or Janie Spring? There’s enough love for everyone, but how can the two separate families live happily ever after?”

This book follows the aftermath of the ending of the first book, The Face on the Milk Carton. Janie had just called her birth parents, and now she has to live with the consequences of reaching out.

I was very uncertain about my feelings toward this book, but reading it as an adult...I can appreciate it more. Janie has an overall childish attitude about the entire situation but it makes sense, she’s a child. What got me hooked was the response of both sets of parents as well as her siblings. Being an older sister, it hit heavily upon the fear and even the thought of losing your sibling and how it would impact the family dynamic. It showed truly what the birth family, the Johnson's, went through for 12 years...and how her disappearance took a toll on everyone.

It was a good read and I will be finishing the series. Just make sure to read in order, if you’re going to pick up the second book the story won’t make much sense.

Becoming a Vincent (Wild Ones 1) by C.M.Owens

Blurb:

When you live in a place where “turbo speed” internet is a slight step above dial-up, men carry on nine-year beard-growing challenges out of stubborn pride, and your brothers do things like nail all your panties to the outside of your cabin just for funsies, you tend to be a little crazy. You can call it a "locational" hazard, if you will.

That’s Tomahawk for you.

We rank people based on just how crazy they are. And the four craziest families in town are called the Wild Ones. 
I’m on the bottom tier of those, so technically I’m not as crazy as the other Wild Ones. In fact, if it wasn’t for my brothers and their endless antics, I wouldn’t be considered a Wild One at all. Ahem. Sure. We’ll go with that.

Anyway, I have a best friend who endures it all with me. Benson Nolans is my one, constant favorite person.
Without him, I’d probably go really crazy, and not the fun kind. It’d be ridiculous, after three years of a flawless friendship, to mess that all up by falling for him.

I mean, even if we did get a little too close one night, it’d be reckless endangerment. Even if we did suddenly feel the chemistry that’s always been there and stop toeing the line, it’d be a foolish risk to take.

It’d be stupid to start hoping a really fun, but completely irrational, night with zero inhibitions might accidentally happen.
Really stupid… 

Right?

My thoughts:

C.M.Owens has done another amazing with the start of a new series. It is funny, raw, and different. Even though it is a romance book, it does not feel like one at all. There is romance in the book but so many other things going on in the book that you forget it is a romance book. That is one of the main reason why i read C.M's book. I like the feeling that you get so caught up with the characters that you feel like you are there with them. This book will keep you on your toes and you never know what will happen next. You will also laugh a lot in this book. For starting a new series, this was a hit for me and i can't wait to see what is next.

A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2) By Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2)

By Sarah J. Maas

Goodreads Blurb: Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world torn apart.

My Thoughts: I bought this book when it first came out but haven’t been able to read it until recently. Before I read ACOMAF I had to google what happened in book 1 because so much has passed since then. I remember being told that ACOTAR had some Beauty and the Beast similarities and after reading book 1 I was set on Tamlin being the Beast, Feyre is Beauty and Rhysand is Gaston. After reading ACOMAF…COMPLETE 180% I won’t give away any spoilers but once you start reading you will understand. I am completely Team Rhysand all the way I don’t think anything can change that. I have book 3 ACOWAR but I have some library books that need my attention so stay tuned!

The Beguiled by Thomas Cullinan

" A wounded union soldier is taken into a southern girls academy, and his presence sets in motion a tragedy of jealousy, hate and lust"


The review I read on Goodreads as well as other sites have shown that a majority of readers are entranced with the story...until they get to the end. That it is amazing and jaw dropping right until the ending and then its disappointing.


Well even as an avid reader of non-fiction and fiction historical novels, this was a hard book to get through. I pushed through it mainly because I was already halfway through and I was interested in seeing the recently released remake. Now having finished reading the book...I'm definitely not interested in seeing the movie.


I was hoping there would be a moment that would suck me into the storyline and keep me intrigued until the end. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. I will say that the authors writing style was incredible and I would be interested in reading other novels of his, but I just did not connect to this novel or any of the characters.


Obviously, don't just take my word for it. Read other reviews and make your own decision. I might have just been in the wrong mind frame to read the book and couldn't appreciate it.

Black and Green (Ghost bird 11) by C.L.Stone

Blurb:

From USA TODAY Bestselling Author, C. L. Stone, read Black and Green, the much-anticipated eleventh book in The Academy Ghost Bird Series.

Sang Sorenson’s father abandoned her and her sister, leaving them to fend for themselves for months. He’s returned, and finds Sang is missing. He demands she return. Right now.

Will he call the police if she doesn’t?

Her Academy team doesn’t want to risk losing her ghost status and she doesn’t want to put them in danger, so she reluctantly returns home, but is comforted that she will still be monitored by them.

But the second she opens the door, she discovers her father has made changes that will affect her entire future. His decisions will make them a normal family.

Normal is no longer what Sang wants. It would kill her Academy career before it ever started. Not to mention it would end the special, new, and still-fragile relationships with the guys.

Sang struggles with her family, her identity, and where she truly belongs. Now that the entire team knows about their romantic relationships with her, tensions are mounting, tearing the team apart from the inside.

Only, Dr. Green isn't going to lie down and roll over by playing by the rules. Not anymore. Not while Sang is at risk.

His heart can’t take leaving her in that house one more minute. He needs her. They all do.

The Academy: Worth Risking All 

My thoughts:

I am a huge fan of this series. I like that the author is stepping out of the box when it comes to relationships.This book was not my favorite in the series but it was not bad. The one major plus about this book was that we finally got to see into one of the boys heads in this book.In the past ten books we only got to see one side of the story and at the end we got to hear for one of the boys. It we a nice change of pace than the other books. I felt that we did learn a lot of new information but we also have so many unanswered ones as well.There are new characters that will be introduced that i am not sure if i like them or not. Sang is finally going to start to open up to the boys and tell them how they feel. I am so happy sang is going to speak up. Overall this book was good but i still would have like a little more.

Maximum Ride by James Patterson Book vs. Movie

Maximum Ride by James Patterson

Book vs. Movie

                                      

Goodreads Blurb on Book: Six unforgettable kids — with no families, no homes — are running for their lives. Max Ride and her best friends have the ability to fly. And that's just the beginning of their amazing powers. But they don't know where they come from, who's hunting them, why they are different from all other humans... and if they're meant to save mankind — or destroy it.

My thoughts on the book(s): I started to read the series when I saw posters and trailers for book 9 Maximum Ride Forever. I knew they were a little below my grade level but factors like that don’t bother me. I personally like the series. I thought the idea was interesting and liked that it was about kids/teens trying to co-exist with their special qualities in an adult world.

My thoughts on the Movie: I heard some mixed reviews about the movie before I watched it but I tried to keep an open mind. My honest opinion, it jumped around lot, it seemed rushed and the characters did match the book more than I thought it would but overall you can tell the movie was one a strict budget and small time window to complete the project. It reminded me of Twilight and how disappointing it was. I didn’t feel like the movie did the book justice.