75 Books...More or Less! discussion

1. Hunted (The Flash Gold Chronicles #2) - Lindsay Buroker 4/5

E-Book Purchase.

"Self-taught tinkerer Kali McAlister is determined to build an airship and escape the frigid Yukon forever. Unfortunately, she’s the heir to the secrets of flash gold, an alchemical energy source that tends to make her a popular target for bandits, gangsters, and pirates.
With the help of her bounty-hunting business partner, Cedar, Kali has outwitted and eluded attackers before, and she thinks she’s prepared for anything. Then her ex-fiancé strolls into her workshop.
As if fooling her once wasn’t enough, he aims to embroil her in a fresh scheme. Meanwhile, a new nemesis is stalking her, a shrouded figure with an arsenal of deadly machines that make Kali’s inventions seem like toys. This time, it’ll take more than her ingenuity and Cedar’s combat skills to survive."

The Flash Gold Chronicles are cute little stories and even though they're less than 100 pages each, you still get to know and love the characters! Or hate them. Lol. The first one is free, the second is $1.79, and the third is $2.99 (for Kindle). I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about steampunk but I'm enjoying it so far! :)

Elyse, great comments! I'm not sure I know what the genre is all about, but it sounds interesting . . .

2. Peacemaker (Flash Gold Chronicles #3) - Lindsay Buroker 4/5

E-Book Purchase.

"Half-breed tinkerer Kali McAlister doesn’t care that the gold rush has stormed into Dawson and prospectors are flooding the north—all she wants is to finish construction of her airship, so she can escape the Yukon and see the world.
Unfortunately, the world keeps chucking wrenches into her machinery: a mysterious gambler is pumping her for information on her bounty-hunting business partner Cedar; the notorious gangster Cudgel Conrad is after Kali’s knowledge of flash gold; and a series of gruesome murders is plaguing Dawson. Someone—or something—is ruthlessly slaying tribal women, and, if Kali and Cedar can’t find the killer, she might be the next target."

Another great Kali and Cedar story! I want more of their camaraderie!

Kay, the steampunk genre is basically a sci fi sub genre that involves steam-powered machinery and alchemical magic in the 1800s and 1900s.

Elyse wrote: "Kay, the steampunk genre is basically a sci fi sub genre that involves steam-powered machinery and alchemical magic in the 1800s and 1900s...."

Wow! That does sound most interesting. Thanks for the explanation!

3. The Vespertine - Saundra Mitchell 4/5

E-Book Purchase.

"It’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him.
When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause."

Really good historical paranormal romance! I actually had no idea what it was about when I picked it up. I think it was either free or under $2.99 but I really liked it and I want to continue the series!

4. Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky #2) - Veronica Rossi 5/5

E-Book Purchase.

"It's been months since Aria learned of her mother's death.
Months since Perry became Blood Lord of the Tides, and months since Aria last saw him.
Now Aria and Perry are about to be reunited. It's a moment they've been longing for with countless expectations. And it's a moment that lives up to all of them. At least, at fi rst. Then it slips away. The Tides don't take kindly to former Dwellers like Aria. And the tribe is swirling out of Perry's control. With the Aether storms worsening every day, the only remaining hope for peace and safety is the Still Blue. But does this haven truly exist?"

I looooved this book!! It was better than #1 and #3 is so far away! :( This book is absolutely amazing. The relationships and emotions are realistic and beautiful. I don't even think I can pick a favorite character, they're so well-rounded. I'm so invested in these characters, I don't want it to ever end. Plus the titles themselves are really beautiful; Under the Never Sky, Through the Ever Night, Into the Still Blue.

5. Carnival of Souls - Melissa Marr 3/5

E-Book Purchase.

"In a city of daimons, rigid class lines separate the powerful from the power-hungry. And at the heart of The City is the Carnival of Souls, where both murder and pleasure are offered up for sale. Once in a generation, the carnival hosts a deadly competition that allows every daimon a chance to join the ruling elite. Without the competition, Aya and Kaleb would both face bleak futures—if for different reasons. For each of them, fighting to the death is the only way to try to live.
All Mallory knows of The City is that her father—and every other witch there—fled it for a life in exile in the human world. Instead of a typical teenage life full of friends and maybe even a little romance, Mallory scans quiet streets for threats, hides herself away, and trains to be lethal. She knows it's only a matter of time until a daimon finds her and her father, so she readies herself for the inevitable. While Mallory possesses little knowledge of The City, every inhabitant of The City knows of her. There are plans for Mallory, and soon she, too, will be drawn into the decadence and danger that is the Carnival of Souls."

Give me faeries over daimons, Melissa. ;) Love the Wicked Lovely series, like Carnival of Souls. It was interesting and unique but not mind blowing. Not a bad read and I'm sure I'll read the next one and the next one but I'll be waiting until they're $2.99 or less like this one was.

6. A Leaf on the Wind of All-Hallows: An Outlander novella - Diana Gabaldon 5/5

E-Book Purchase.

"Orphaned during World War II, Roger believed that his mother died during the London Blitz, and that his father, an RAF pilot, was killed in combat. But in An Echo in the Bone, Roger discovers that this may not be the whole story."

54 pages of pure gold. Amazing insight to Roger's parents. I love being in this world. Book 8 can't come fast enough.

7. The Custom of the Army: An Outlander/Lord John novella - Diana Gabaldon 3/5

E-Book Purchase.

"London, 1759. After a high society electric-eel party leads to a duel that ends badly, Lord John Grey feels the need to lie low for a while. Conveniently, before starting his new commission in His Majesty’s army, Lord John receives an urgent summons. An old friend from the military, Charlie Carruthers, is facing court-martial in Canada, and has called upon Lord John to serve as his character witness. Grey voyages to the New World—a land rife with savages (many of them on his own side) and cleft by war—where he soon finds that he must defend not only his friend’s life but his own."

Umm. I don't feel like I've been enlightened by reading this...I think I would've been 100% not ever reading it. It's basically just filler. A little boring. Not very captivating. Eh. Sorry Diana! You did not nail it on this one.

8. Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna #1) - Kendare Blake 4/5

E-Book Purchase.

"Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.
So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.
When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.
But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life."

Not what I expected at all! It was a little bit horror, a little bit romance, a lotta bit paranormal. Which I knew it was paranormal but I was surprised by the story. I'm intrigued to read the second one because honestly I have no idea where Kendare's going with this!

9. Enclave (Razorland #1) - Ann Aguirre 4/5

E-Book Purchase.

"New York City has been decimated by war and plague, and most of civilization has migrated to underground enclaves, where life expectancy is no more than the early 20's. When Deuce turns 15, she takes on her role as a Huntress, and is paired with Fade, a teenage Hunter who lived Topside as a young boy. When she and Fade discover that the neighboring enclave has been decimated by the tunnel monsters--or Freaks--who seem to be growing more organized, the elders refuse to listen to warnings. And when Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, the girl born in darkness must survive in daylight--guided by Fade's long-ago memories--in the ruins of a city whose population has dwindled to a few dangerous gangs."

Definitely an interesting read. I've been reading dystopian after dystopian lately and finding a lot of commonalities. One big one is no explanation of what happened to the world that made it post-apocalyptic. Ann Aguirre did have an Author's Note at the end to explain a tad but not sufficiently explaining the circumstances, just what things would or wouldn't last many years. I'm waiting for the book that has the history as well as the present! But I liked this book and I will pick up the second one.

I agree; I like when dystopians give a good explanation of how things got that way. Have you read the Uglies series? They don't go into a lot of detail, but you do get a bit, and it's quite interesting.

Elyse wrote: "I'm waiting for the book that has the history as well as the present!"

Yes! This always bugs me. I want to know!

And then there's The Passage, which started out in our time, but then jumps ahead 100 years. So, we get the explanation . . . but the explanation was WAY more exciting than the rest of the book. At least, it took me a long time to get into the new story.

I guess I just can't win.

Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one that's frustrated! Lol.

Lianne, the Uglies series is in my TBR pile.
Charleen, I'll have to check out The Passage.

10. Endurance (Razorland #1.5) - Ann Aguirre 5/5

E-Book Purchase.

"When rebellion destroys the underground world in which Thimble and Stone have grown up, they take Stone’s son and try to escape the chaos. Along the way, they must evade the Freaks, beings who feed on human flesh. Leaving behind the roles of Builder and Breeder which they were assigned at birth, they wander the underground tunnels, looking for safety yet afraid to go “topside” where legend has it that the light and water will burn their skin from their bones.
Their journey takes them upward to an unimagined world of tinned food, comfortable furniture, and books. Away from their regimented society for the first time, and still facing imminent danger, Thimble and Stone acknowledge the forbidden attraction which both have denied for years."

This is a wonderful addition to the Razorland series. Great Stone and Thimble story and also, more information about what happened to the world! That's what I was looking for. Just bought Outpost and am excited to begin it!

11. Outpost (Razorland #2) - Ann Aguirre 5/5

E-Book Purchase.

"Deuce’s whole world has changed. Down below, she was considered an adult. Now, topside in a town called Salvation, she’s a brat in need of training in the eyes of the townsfolk. She doesn’t fit in with the other girls: Deuce only knows how to fight.
To make matters worse, her Hunter partner, Fade, keeps Deuce at a distance. Her feelings for Fade haven’t changed, but he seems not to want her around anymore. Confused and lonely, she starts looking for a way out.
Deuce signs up to serve in the summer patrols—those who make sure the planters can work the fields without danger. It should be routine, but things have been changing on the surface, just as they did below ground. The Freaks have grown smarter. They’re watching. Waiting. Planning. The monsters don’t intend to let Salvation survive, and it may take a girl like Deuce to turn back the tide."

Probably one of the best final chapters I've read. A really great ending, though I want more! The book was great, you got to learn a little more about the Freaks and the world before the apocalypse. Love triangle's wearing a little thin though. Move on already! I want a reunion to happen in book 3!!

Just got my new Kindle Paperwhite! Weeee! My husband's getting my old Kindle Keyboard.

12. Songs of Love Lost and Found - Stories by Jo Beverley, Robin Hobb, Jacqueline Carey, Tanith Lee, and Cecilia Holland 2/5

E-Book Purchase.

"Featuring five deliciously romantic stories set in historical and high fantasy worlds.
Featuring stories by Jo Beverley, Cecelia Holland, Robin Hobb, Jacqueline Carey, and Tanith Lee, this collection of five wonderful romantic stories from five wickedly creative authors includes beautiful maids and clever minstrels, orphans destined for greatness and spies thirsting for revenge, and a pair of lovers who must struggle against the forces of magic and fate. Originally published in the anthology Songs of Love and Death (edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois)."

I liked the first story and the last story. The second was okay. The third and fourth I couldn't even finish. Sorry Jacqueline Carey and Tanith Lee, both of whom are in my TBR pile for their series...maybe not anymore.

13. H10N1 - MR Cornelius 4/5

Free E-Book.

"A deadly influenza virus rages out of control. There is no easy-fix vaccine. No eleventh-hour containment. Only death.
With no workforce, power plants are unmanned so there’s no means of communication; police and fire departments have collapsed so no one is safe; looters are scavenging everything from big-screen TVs to canned peas.
When Dr. Taeya Sanchez finds herself unceremoniously dismissed from an emergency medical facility in New York, she decides to steal the hospital’s armored van for a midnight escape.
Unfortunately, Rick DeAngelo, a driver for the hospital, has already stocked the van for his own getaway.
Thrown into an unfriendly alliance, these two must pick their way across the dangerous wasteland of America in search of a safe haven. And as the miles roll by, they discover that the living should be feared much more than the festering corpses out there."

I liked it. Reminded me of the movie, Contagion, y'know with the whole pandemic theme. lol. A little sappy at points and relationships a little rushed but I guess when people are dropping dead by the thousands, no time like the present! it was good.

14. Vanish (Firelight #2) - Sophie Jordan 3/5

Library E-Book.

"To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.
Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?"

I don't know. I read Firelight 2 years ago and really liked it. Very creative, interesting. I borrowed Vanish from the e-library. I liked it but...I didn't like it. I kind of just grew annoying and then it was over. Lol. I'm still going to read Hidden (3rd in line) but not going into it with the same gusto as I did for this book. Will. Cassian. Will. Cassian. Get over yourself. Lol. IDK, I'd pick Cassian. ;)

15. Sharp Objects - Gillian Flynn 3/5

Library E-Book.

"WICKED above her hipbone, GIRL across her heart
Words are like a road map to reporter Camille Preaker’s troubled past. Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, Camille’s first assignment from the second-rate daily paper where she works brings her reluctantly back to her hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls.
NASTY on her kneecap, BABYDOLL on her leg
Since she left town eight years ago, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed again in her family’s Victorian mansion, Camille is haunted by the childhood tragedy she has spent her whole life trying to cut from her memory.
HARMFUL on her wrist, WHORE on her ankle
As Camille works to uncover the truth about these violent crimes, she finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Clues keep leading to dead ends, forcing Camille to unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past to get at the story. Dogged by her own demons, Camille will have to confront what happened to her years before if she wants to survive this homecoming."

Written well, interesting, but incredibly disturbing. Not really my cup of tea plot-wise. Mystery, I like. Everything else involved, I don't. Gillian Flynn wrote it well but it was hard to read. I have Dark Places checked out from the e-library but I'm reading something else to lighten the mood before I dig into another hard book.

16. Her Mad Hatter (Kingdom Series #1) - Marie Hall 2/5

E-Book Purchase.

"Alice is all grown up. Running the Mad Hatter's Cupcakery and Tea Shoppe is a delicious job, until fate--and a fairy godmother with a weakness for bad boys--throws her a curveball. Now, Alice is the newest resident of Wonderland, where the Mad Hatter fuels her fantasies and thrills her body with his dark touch.
The Mad Hatter may have a voice and a body made for sex, but he takes no lovers. Ever. But a determined fairy godmother has forced Alice into Wonderland--and his arms. Now, as desire and madness converge, the Hatter must decide if he will fight the fairy godmother's mating--or fight for Alice."

IDK, it was pretty cheesy. I don't even really know how to explain what I did and didn't like about this book. I love fairytale retellings and this just wasn't up to par. And I didn't realize it would have erotica in it. Just a little silly. "Liquid heat" LMAO. I have the next 2 in the series. At least I know not to expect much.

17. Dark Places - Gillian Flynn 4/5

Library E-Book.

"Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas.” As her family lay dying, little Libby fled their tiny farmhouse into the freezing January snow. She lost some fingers and toes, but she survived–and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, Ben sits in prison, and troubled Libby lives off the dregs of a trust created by well-wishers who’ve long forgotten her.
The Kill Club is a macabre secret society obsessed with notorious crimes. When they locate Libby and pump her for details–proof they hope may free Ben–Libby hatches a plan to profit off her tragic history. For a fee, she’ll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club...and maybe she’ll admit her testimony wasn’t so solid after all.
As Libby’s search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the narrative flashes back to January 2, 1985. The events of that day are relayed through the eyes of Libby’s doomed family members–including Ben, a loner whose rage over his shiftless father and their failing farm have driven him into a disturbing friendship with the new girl in town. Piece by piece, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started–on the run from a killer."

So I read this book in less than a day. And when I finished, I had to just sit and collect my thoughts which were ping ponging all around in my head. Wow. It was as captivating as Gone Girl, which I also devoured but was left with a different feeling. Anyways, this book is probably the one I like best out of the 3 Gillian Flynn novels. She really is a very skilled writer. Even when I don't like the book itself, I still have to give props for being so well-written. Which isn't the case with Dark Places. I really liked it. And out of the 3, it had the best ending, IMO. The most closure, I guess. But what a messed up, surprising ride it was. I did have to skip over the loogie scene and the bull scene. Anything involving loogies turns my stomach, even writing this, *gag* and the bull scene, I just couldn't. The murder stuff, no problem, I don't know. Lol. This book will keep you on your toes! It's a sad, disturbing, rollercoaster where you think you've got it figured out and really, you just don't. It's got twists and turns, backflips and somersaults. Libby, girl, you've seen it all.

18. Gerard's Beauty (Kingdom Series #2) - Marie Hall 4/5

E-Book Purchase.

"A not so classic retelling of Beauty and the Beast, as seen through the eyes of the villain...
Betty Hart has had it with men. Jilted in love, her life now consists of shelving books by day, watching too much Anime by night, and occasionally dressing up like a superhero on the weekends with her fellow 'Bleeding Heart' nerds. Men are not welcome and very much unwanted. Especially the sexy Frenchman who saunters into her library reeking of alcohol and looking like he went one too many rounds in the ring.
Gerard Caron is in trouble. Again. Caught with his pants down (literally) he's forced to seek asylum on Earth while his fairy godmother tries to keep Prince Charming from going all 'Off with his head'. Maybe, messing around with the King's daughter hadn't been such a great idea after all, not that Gerard knew the silly redhead was a princess. But his fairy godmother knows the only way to save his life is to finally pair Gerard with his perfect mate, whether he's willing or not.
From the moment Gerard lays eyes on the nerdy librarian he knows he must have her, but Betty is unlike any woman he's ever known. He thought Betty would come as willingly to his bed as every other woman before her, but she is a woman who demands respect and even... horror of all horrors... love. Is it possible for a self-proclaimed Casanova to change his ways?"

This one I liked better than Her Mad Hatter.

19. Red and Her Wolf (Kingdom Series #3) - Marie Hall 3/5

E-Book Purchase.

"Long ago there lived a beautiful child. Her name was Violet. Fair of skin, with blonde hair and large blue eyes. Born of wild magic, she was a woman with a child's heart. Innocent and lovely, but not at all what she seemed--you see Violet went by another name: The Heartsong.
She was the child of fairy magic, the physical manifestation of all fae kinds unbridled power. Cosseted and pampered, she grew up in isolation, never knowing who she really was, or why there were those who'd seek to harm her.
Ewan of the Blackfoot Clan is a wolf with a problem. He's been sent to kill the Heartsong, but the moment he lays eyes on the blonde beauty he knows he'll defy the evil fae he works for to claim Violet as his own.
This is the tale of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, as it really happened..."

It was okay. Better than Her Mad Hatter. Not as good as Gerard's Beauty. Interesting plot but I got a little bored. Weirdly, it got very convoluted. The 4th one is $2.99 when I bought the first 3 for 99 cents. Not interested.

20. Warm Bodies - Isaac Marion 4/5

E-Book Purchase.

"R is a young man with an existential crisis--he is a zombie. He shuffles through an America destroyed by war, social collapse, and the mindless hunger of his undead comrades, but he craves something more than blood and brains. He can speak just a few grunted syllables, but his inner life is deep, full of wonder and longing. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he has dreams.
After experiencing a teenage boy's memories while consuming his brain, R makes an unexpected choice that begins a tense, awkward, and stragely sweet relationship with the victim's human girlfriend. Julie is a blast of color in the otherwise dreary and gray landscape that surrounds R. His decision to protect her will transform not only R, but his fellow Dead, and perhaps their whole lifeless world."

I saw the movie last weekend and had to pick up the e-book because it was only $8 and I liked the movie. Well, I liked the book too! There were some changes, obviously, but the innocence and naïveté were there along with the humor and poignancy. The movie was funnier and sometimes the book got a little tedious but they're both great! I like the book's ending better than the movie's, even though the movie's was happier. I felt that the book ending was the right thing to happen. It was necessary.

21. Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles #1) - Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl 4/5

E-Book Purchase.

"Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.
Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.
In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything."

Took just a smidgen to get into, but once I was in it, I was a goner. Really good! Very interesting. Not super, crazy, annoyingly sappy. Just a tad. ;) The end though makes me worried that book 2 will be a reprisal of book 1...I hope I'm wrong! Still not interested in seeing the movie anytime soon. Lol. Reading the book actually makes me want to see the movie less!

22. Hidden (Firelight #3) - Sophie Jordan 3/5

Library E-Book.

"In the climactic finale to the steamy Firelight series, Jacinda must fight to save her life, her love, and all of her kind.
If Jacinda were to follow the wishes of her community, she'd happily settle down with Cassian, the prince of her pride. But she just can't. She's in love with Will, a human boy who comes from a family of hunters. Their relationship breaks the most sacred rule and endangers everyone she cares about. Now Jacinda, Will, and Cassian fight back against the hunters and their shadowy allies who would destroy them all..."

I think it was better than Vanish but not as good as Firelight. And I'm kinda glad it's over... Lol.

23. Beautiful Darkness (Caster Chronicles #2) - Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl 3/5

E-Book Purchase.

"Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.
Sometimes life-ending.
Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems."

This one wasn't as good as the 1st one. It was kind of annoying actually. And I'm already sick of Sixteen Moons...Seventeen Moons...etc. WTH. Is it just going to go on forever? I guess I'll see.

24. Beautiful Chaos (Caster Chronicles #3) - Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl 3/5

E-Book Purchase.

"Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strange and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What - or who - will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin?
For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He's being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself - forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why, and most days he's too afraid to ask.
Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending."

Ermmmm...I'm actually liking the series less as I read more... :/ There's just so much repetition. From the actual plot, so sick of the Moons, to lines like "Amma's the only mother I have left." Which was said at least 6 times. I'm just not digging it anymore. And then what happens at the end...I just don't see the justification for it. Maybe it's in Book 4...

25. Beautiful Redemption (Beautiful Creatures #4) - Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl 3/5

E-Book Purchase.

"Ethan Wate has spent most of his life longing to escape the stiflingly small Southern town of Gatlin. He never thought he would meet the girl of his dreams, Lena Duchannes, who unveiled a secretive, powerful, and cursed side of Gatlin, hidden in plain sight. And he never could have expected that he would be forced to leave behind everyone and everything he cares about. So when Ethan awakes after the chilling events of the Eighteenth Moon, he has only one goal: to find a way to return to Lena and the ones he loves.
Back in Gatlin, Lena is making her own bargains for Ethan's return, vowing to do whatever it takes -- even if that means trusting old enemies or risking the lives of the family and friends Ethan left to protect.
Worlds apart, Ethan and Lena must once again work together to rewrite their fate, in this stunning finale to the Beautiful Creatures series."

Boy am I glad that's over. Book 1 started out so good but it was just downhill after that. :/ I got less and less interested as the books went on. The storyline got really repetitive throughout the book and then this book, I had no connection with. Fail series. :(

26. Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason - Helen Fielding 1/5

Bookshelf Paperback.

"Lurching from the cappuccino bars of Notting Hill to the blissed-out shores of Thailand, everyone's favorite Singleton Bridget Jones begins her search for The Truth in spite of pathetically unevolved men, insane dating theories, and Smug Married advice. She experiences a zeitgeist-esque Spiritual Epiphany somewhere between the pages of How to Find the Love You Want Without Seeking It (can self-help books really help self?), protective custody, and a lightly chilled Chardonnay."

I made it through Bridget Jones's Diary a few years ago. Wasn't impressed. Reminded me of the Georgia Nicholson books by Louise Rennison, just later in life. Which I read before Bridget because they were YA when I was a YA though they came out a few years after Bridget. Anyways, Edge of Reason verdict: still not impressed. Not funny. Just sad and pathetic. Meh. Only read it because it was a free paperback and I needed a quick read. It wasn't quick enough. I did get a chuckle out of Colin Firth playing Mark Darcy in the first movie and then the Colin Firth obsession in the second book. Ha.

27. Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) - Tahereh Mafi 3/5

E-Book Purchase.

"No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon.
But Juliette has plans of her own.
After a lifetime without freedom, she's finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time—and to find a future with the one boy she thought she'd lost forever."

X-Men much? Overall, I have to say I did like it. But man was it spot-on X-Men at the end, super amazingly sappy, and a little to perfectly set up happy happy things worked out! And how many ways can you say "I blushed." Ask Tahereh. A lot. I didn't count them but one that stuck out was a metaphor about being red paint dripping down a ladder? Yeah. As did I mention sappy? Soooooo sappy. Sickeningly. I didn't see a whole lot of love, but I saw a ginormous amount of lust. Just bang already. Get some of that sexin' out. Eesh. And Juliette is not a very good female heroine. She's pretty weak besides her powers. A bit of a pansy. I hope she grows some balls in the next book. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series, if only to find out how close to X-Men we get. I half-expected a thank you to Stan Lee and Marvel in the acknowledgements. And I'm so glad for Juliette that every male she sees is so damn sexy and there are -no- other women -anywhere-. Because we never do actually meet Benny. Oh and Warner is a man-child throwing a temper tantrum trying to impress/live up to Daddy. But, I repeat, overall I did like it.

28. Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs 4/5

Library E-Book.

"A mysterious island.

 An abandoned orphanage.

 A strange collection of very curious photographs.


It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive. 

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows."

What a mysterious, intriguing book. The story was really good and the photos were creepy! I can't wait for the second book!

29. Let the Sky Fall - Shannon Messenger 4/5

Read for free from Simon & Schuster's pulseit.com!

"Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that killed his parents. And he has no idea if the beautiful, dark-haired girl who’s swept through his dreams every night since the storm is real. But he hopes she is.
Seventeen-year-old Audra is a sylph, an air elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and can even coax it into a weapon with a simple string of commands. She’s also a guardian—Vane’s guardian—and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life.
When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra’s forced to help Vane remember who he is. He has a power to claim—the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra needs him to forget. And their greatest danger is not the warriors coming to destroy them—but the forbidden romance that’s grown between them."

What a refreshing story! Read it in less than 24 hours. It was really interesting and captivating. I've never learned so much about the wind. :) The characters were well-developed and the plot was new and exciting. Sylphs are badass! I want more!

I enjoyed Miss P. and cannot wait for the sequel. Its in the making. More photos!

30. Shards and Ashes - Stories by Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine, Kami Garcia, Nancy Holder, Melissa Marr, Beth Revis, Veronica Roth, Carrie Ryan, and Margaret Stohl 4/5

Library E-Book.

"The world is gone, destroyed by human, ecological, or supernatural causes. Survivors dodge chemical warfare and cruel gods; they travel the reaches of space and inhabit underground caverns. Their enemies are disease, corrupt corporations, and one another; their resources are few and their courage is tested.
Powerful original dystopian tales from nine bestselling authors offer bleak insight, prophetic visions, and precious glimmers of light among the shards and ashes of a ruined world."

I've read novels by Kelley Armstrong, Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl, Melissa Marr, and Veronica Roth. I can't really say I loved any of them, short stories just don't have enough time to stand out for me. I remember bits and pieces of each but couldn't really tell you character names, story titles, or even which author wrote what. As a collection, it was good and interesting and I did want more story out of some of them! Of the authors I haven't read novels of, they have been in my TBR pile before this collection came out and still are! Except Rachel Caine. I have no interest in reading the Morganville Vampires series.

31. Level 2 [or The Memory of After] (The Memory Chronicles #1) - Lenore Appelhans 4/5

Read for free from Simon & Schuster's pulseit.com!

"Since her untimely death the day before her eighteenth birthday, Felicia Ward has been trapped in Level 2, a stark white afterlife located between our world and the next. Along with her fellow drones, Felicia passes the endless hours reliving memories of her time on Earth and mourning what she’s lost—family, friends, and Neil, the boy she loved.
Then a girl in a neighboring chamber is found dead, and nobody but Felicia recalls that she existed in the first place. When Julian—a dangerously charming guy Felicia knew in life—comes to offer Felicia a way out, Felicia learns the truth: If she joins the rebellion to overthrow the Morati, the angel guardians of Level 2, she can be with Neil again.
Suspended between Heaven and Earth, Felicia finds herself at the center of an age-old struggle between good and evil. As memories from her life come back to haunt her, and as the Morati hunt her down, Felicia will discover it’s not just her own redemption at stake… but the salvation of all mankind."

I liked this for the most part. Interesting take on the afterlife. Pretty cool with angels and Morati and rebels. At some points my attention waned but overall, I liked the story and the characters. A couple of good plot twists. Definitely interested in the second book.did not like unresolved Autumn part. :/ Too many questions!

32. The Yellow Wallpaper - Charlotte Perkins Gilman 5/5

Free E-Book.

"Based on the author’s own experiences, The Yellow Wallpaper is the chilling tale of a woman driven to the brink of insanity by the "rest cure" prescribed after the birth of her child. Isolated in a crumbling colonial mansion, in a room with bars on the windows, the tortuous pattern of the yellow wallpaper winds its way into the recesses of her mind."

Love love! One of my all-time favorites short stories. There's not a thing wrong with The Yellow Wallpaper. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was an amazing writers. This story has so much wit and sass wrapped up in its few pages. To think of the times in which she lived, awful. I wrote a paper on this story in college and it's the best paper I've ever written and was the most fun writing. This is a beloved classic short story that I will read many more times before my days are done.

33. Alice in Deadland - Mainak Dhar 2/5

Free E-Book.

"Civilization as we know it ended more than fifteen years ago, leaving as it's legacy barren wastelands called the Deadland and a new terror for the humans who survived- hordes of undead Biters.
Fifteen year-old Alice has spent her entire life in the Deadland, her education consisting of how best to use guns and knives in the ongoing war for survival against the Biters. One day, Alice spots a Biter disappearing into a hole in the ground and follows it, in search of fabled underground Biter bases.
What Alice discovers there propels her into an action-packed adventure that changes her life and that of all humans in the Deadland forever. An adventure where she learns the terrible conspiracy behind the ruin of humanity, the truth behind the origin of the Biters, and the prophecy the mysterious Biter Queen believes Alice is destined to fulfill.
A prophecy based on the charred remains of the last book in the Deadland- a book called Alice in Wonderland."

Umm thought it would be interesting to say the least. Just another in the number of revised to zombies/vampires classics. It was free, what can I say. Trying to plow through these free BookBubs e-books. I have an addiction. Lol. Anyways, it wasn't very good. The writing was repetitive and bland. You didn't get to know any other character besides Alice. Everyone else was pretty meaningless. The plot kind of faded away halfway through, lost, and then finally re-emerged at the end, like the author just forgot what he was doing. I won't be reading the rest of the series.

34. And All the Stars - Andrea K Höst 3/5

Free E-Book.

"Madeleine Cost is working to become the youngest person ever to win the Archibald Prize for portraiture. Her elusive cousin Tyler is the perfect subject: androgynous, beautiful, and famous. All she needs to do is pin him down for the sittings.
None of her plans factored in the Spires: featureless, impossible, spearing into the hearts of cities across the world - and spraying clouds of sparkling dust into the wind.
Is it an alien invasion? Germ warfare? They are questions everyone on Earth would like answered, but Madeleine has a more immediate problem. At Ground Zero of the Sydney Spire, beneath the collapsed ruin of St James Station, she must make it to the surface before she can hope to find out if the world is ending."

Another free e-book. Took me a long time to get interested in. I wasn't sure what it was about but the cover drew my attention. It's a post-apocalyptic/alien invasion book. I was bored for awhile. The story meandered. At the end, when I stepped back, I kind of liked it. Not what I was expecting. A change of pace in alien invasion books, not that I've read too many so far. The background was actually really good and informative, which a lot of post-apocalyptic books are missing. There was a back story on the aliens. It was creative.

Elyse, I loved the Yellow Wallpaper too. I should reread it, it's been a long time.

35. After Eden - Katherine Pine 1/5

Free E-Book.

"Devi knows she shouldn't trust the new employee at her favorite used bookstore. Sure, he's funny, smart and hands down the sexiest guy she's ever met, but something dark lurks behind his unassuming smile and sinful green eyes.
Still, a girl can't always afford to be picky. When an angel abducts your twin brother it should come as no surprise that the one person who can help you get him back is a demon--and only if you're willing to pay his price."

This was awful. The plot never went anywhere, the writing was horrible, everything about it was just bad. And I tried really hard to like it. I wanted to abandon it several times but I had hopes. Unfortunately, my hopes were dashed.

36. The Vow - Kim & Krickitt Carpenter 4/5

E-Book Purchase.

"Life as Kim and Krickitt Carpenter knew it was shattered beyond recognition on November 24, 1993. Two months after their marriage, a devastating car wreck left Krickitt with a massive head injury and in a coma for weeks.
When she finally awoke, she had no idea who Kim was. With no recollection of their relationship and while Krickitt experienced personality changes common to those who suffer head injuries, Kim realized the woman he had married essentially died in the accident.
And yet, against all odds, but through the common faith in Christ that sustained them, Kim and Krickitt fell in love all over again. Even though Kim stood by Krickitt through the darkest times a husband can ever imagine, he insists, “I’m no hero. I made a vow.”"

I liked the movie but thought the end was a little lacking. Just picked up the e-book because it was only $3.79. I really liked it, what a powerful story! I do wish there was some Krickitt POV and not all Kim. I'd be really interested in hearing her side and not just snippets from journal entries. I'm so glad it all worked out for them but I would've liked a little more detail when they started re-dating. The book ended rather abruptly after they got remarried. I'm not a religious person but their faith was amazing. And I can't believe they completely took out that factor in the movie, when Kim stressed in the articles and shows how much their faith was a part of the process. That's too bad.

Andrea, The Yellow Wallpaper is awesome! Such a quick, fun read. I love going back to it.

37. Across the Universe (Across the Universe #1) - Beth Revis 5/5

Library E-Book.

"Amy is a cryogenically frozen passenger aboard the spaceship Godspeed. She has left her boyfriend, friends--and planet--behind to join her parents as a member of Project Ark Ship. Amy and her parents believe they will wake on a new planet, Centauri-Earth, three hundred years in the future. But fifty years before Godspeed's scheduled landing, cryo chamber 42 is mysteriously unplugged, and Amy is violently woken from her frozen slumber.
Someone tried to murder her.
Now, Amy is caught inside an enclosed world where nothing makes sense. Godspeed's 2,312 passengers have forfeited all control to Eldest, a tyrannical and frightening leader. And Elder, Eldest's rebellious teenage heir, is both fascinated with Amy and eager to discover whether he has what it takes to lead.
Amy desperately wants to trust Elder. But should she put her faith in a boy who has never seen life outside the ship's cold metal walls? All Amy knows is that she and Elder must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets before whoever woke her tries to kill again."

Fabulous book! Great story, great depth, great background info. I really enjoyed this book and am willing to buy books 2 and 3! This was an e-book library loan. There was a lot of inner turmoil. I liked the Elder/Amy POV every other chapter. A lot of things were done right with this book. I couldn't stop reading it!

38. Destroy Me (Shatter Me #1.5) - Tahereh Mafi 5/5

Library E-Book.

"Back at the base and recovering from his near-fatal wound, Warner must do everything in his power to keep his soldiers in check and suppress any mention of a rebellion in the sector. Still as obsessed with Juliette as ever, his first priority is to find her, bring her back, and dispose of Adam and Kenji, the two traitors who helped her escape. But when Warner's father, the Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment, arrives to correct his son's mistakes, it's clear that he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner simply cannot allow."

Wow. Really great insight to Warner. He's almost human! Good job making the reader sympathetic towards the enemy who, in fact, isn't the true enemy. This is a necessary read in the series. Not just an off-hand novella, this is important to the story. I really enjoyed it. Moreso than Shatter Me actually. Time to read Unravel Me!

39. Chantress (Chantress #1) - Amy Butler Greenfield 4/5

Read for free on Simon & Schuster's pulseit.com!

"“Sing, and the darkness will find you.” This warning has haunted fifteen-year-old Lucy ever since she was eight and shipwrecked on a lonely island. Lucy’s guardian, Norrie, has lots of rules, but the most important is that Lucy must never sing. Not ever. Now it is 1667, Lucy is fifteen, and on All Hallows’ Eve, Lucy hears a tantalizing melody on the wind. She can’t help but sing—and she is swept into darkness.
When she awakes in England, Lucy hears powerful men discussing Chantresses—women who can sing magic into the world. They are hunting her, but she escapes and finds sanctuary with the Invisible College, an organization plotting to overthrow the nefarious Lord Protector. The only person powerful enough to bring about his downfall is a Chantress. And Lucy is the last one in England.
Lucy struggles to master the song-spells and harness her power, but the Lord Protector is moving quickly. And her feelings for Nat, an Invisible College apprentice and scientist who deeply distrusts her magic, only add to her confusion…
Time is running out, and the fate of England hangs in the balance in this entrancing novel that is atmospheric and lyrical, dangerous and romantic."

I really liked it. Singers who do magic through singing. That's cool. I wish Nat and Lucy had a better relationship earlier but the end was good. Left you wanting a second book! Which I'm sure is coming.

40. The Awakening and Selected Stories - Kate Chopin 4/5

Free E-Book.

I hadn't read The Awakening since college and had never read anything else by Kate Chopin. The Awakening wasn't exactly how I remembered it. Weird. But still good. Oh the constraints on women in the olden days! I couldn't have survived it. I enjoyed the other stories as well, especially The Locket. Desiree's Baby got me mad, that asshole husband!

41. Panic - Sharon Draper 3/5

Read for free on Simon & Schuster's pulseit.com!

"Diamond knows not to get into a car with a stranger.
But what if the stranger is well-dressed and handsome? On his way to meet his wife and daughter? And casting a movie that very night—a movie in need of a star dancer? What then?
Then Diamond might make the wrong decision.
It’s a nightmare come true: Diamond Landers has been kidnapped. She was at the mall with a friend, alone for only a few brief minutes—and now she’s being held captive, forced to endure horrors beyond what she ever could have dreamed, while her family and friends experience their own torments and wait desperately for any bit of news."

Started reading it and was bored. Hoping it wasn't just a book about dancing and Hollywood. When Diamond met Thane I had a random thought, "Oh I hope she gets kidnapped!" Decide to pull up the summary on Amazon. She does! yes! Book immediately gets better knowing this. Lol. But, in the end, it was okay. I didn't really like the back and forth on perspectives, from Diamond in captivity to the mundane lives of Justin, Layla, and Mercedes but kind of interesting to see both sides, what was happening to Diamond while the outside world was trying to find her. Not my favorite book but it wasn't bad.

42. The Madman's Daughter - Megan Shepherd 4/5

Library E-Book.

"Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.
Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood."

So I had no idea it was based on The Island of Dr. Moreau. Telling you this, you can see that I haven't read The Island of Dr. Moreau! I was explaining how cool a book this was to my husband, wherein he said, "Sounds like The Island of Dr. Moreau" and I said "What?! The doctor's name is Moreau!" *gasp* 92% through and I finally find out. lol. He hasn't read the book either but he saw the Brando/Kilmer remake from the '90s. Naturally, I have the book because it's a free Kindle classic. So I have begun reading The Island of Dr. Moreau, for comparison, curiosity, and just general wanting to read the book and finally getting around to it. Anyways, back to The Madman's Daughter. This was a really good book. Gruesome at times, but not for no reason. It fit. The major reason for not having a 5-star review, as multiple other reviewers have said, is the love triangle. Aren't we done with love triangles? I'd much rather have read more of the gruesome, intriguing parts than so much love triangle. meh. Juliet's not the best heroine but I've encountered worse. Megan Shepherd portrays a pretty accurate 16-year-old. Flighty, can't make up her mind, sometimes materialistic and vain then other times not, thinks everything is LOVE. That's what being 16 is all about! I enjoyed the book but after finding out about The Island of Dr. Moreau, IDK, I feel like she just took that story and threw in a daughter.

43. Unravel Me - Tahereh Mafi 4/5

Library E-Book.

"Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.
She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.
Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.
In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life."

Hmm. I really like the stream-of-consciousness vibe, it's very raw. Tahereh is the queen of similes and metaphors. Is there some sort of thesaurus for them? I swear she has one. Some of them are really amazing and you kind of go "Wow, she's right, it IS like that!" and some of them make you go "What?" Lol. But they're really creative. I don't believe that you can love two people at the same time in the same way. I feel like Juliette "loves" Warner and Adam. I don't like that. I love to hate this series. I want more characters, more people and conversations, more war, and less love triangleeeeeee. Please. Just pick one and stick with it. You're not the center of the universe, Juliette. Except your own. She annoys me at times but I like the story. Throw us a curveball and pick Kenji! ;)

44. The Island of Dr. Moreau - HG Wells 5/5

Free E-Book.

"Shipwrecked, Edward Prendick is rescued by a passing boat bound for the island of Doctor Moreau. After a fight with the vessel s captain, Prendick is forced to go ashore on the island, where his curiosity compels him to seek the truth about Doctor Moreau s gruesome experiments. This gripping science fiction novel by H. G. Wells explores themes of cruelty, morality, and man s abuse of nature."

Ingenious. Creative. Surprising. Really enjoyed it! "Purchased" it the day I got my Kindle for Christmas 2011. I say "purchased" because it is indeed a free classic. Finally got around to reading it because I just finished reading The Madman's Daughter, which 92% through found out it was based on The Island of Dr. Moreau. I like Madman's Daughter but I liked this better, even though I knew most of the story! Was he crazy or not, is the unanswerable question!

45. The Program - Suzanne Young 4/5

Read for free on Simon & Schuster's pulseit.com!

"Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.
Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them."

First of all, I hate androgynous names. Anyways, this book has left me a mess. One million questions running through my head!!!! My head and my heart are just...I don't know how to feel. Maybe I've gone through The Program too and they erased that! *gasp* Not personally knowing anyone that has committed suicide, this book was still hard for me to read. What a difficult topic to write about. And the fear of The Program vs Death! I felt it. Really good book. Sad and quite emotional and you're left with quite a huge question at the end.

46. Winger - Andrew Smith 4/5

Read for free on Simon & Schuster's pulseit.com!

"A teen at boarding school grapples with life, love, and rugby in a heartbreakingly funny novel.
Ryan Dean West is a fourteen-year-old junior at a boarding school for rich kids. He’s living in Opportunity Hall, the dorm for troublemakers, and rooming with the biggest bully on the rugby team. And he’s madly in love with his best friend Annie, who thinks of him as a little boy.
With the help of his sense of humor, rugby buddies, and his penchant for doodling comics, Ryan Dean manages to survive life’s complications and even find some happiness along the way. But when the unthinkable happens, he has to figure out how to hold on to what’s important, even when it feels like everything has fallen apart."

I laughed. I cried. I rolled my eyes. This was a roller coaster of a story. The whole book you're going along, nothing serious, just a fourteen-year-old boy's perverted thoughts. Very lighthearted and carefree and the embodiment of being in high school. Fights, first loves, friendships new and old, that's what being young is all about. I was thrown a curveball by the end. It was like being punched in the face, or I assume, getting your balls stepped on by Seanie. Lighthearted and carefree turned into very serious and upsetting and learning that bad things happen to good people and life just isn't fair. Really good book.

47. Reached (Matched #3) - Ally Condie 4/5

E-Book Purchase.

"Cassia’s journey began with an error, a momentary glitch in the otherwise perfect façade of the Society. After crossing canyons to break free, she waits, silk and paper smuggled against her skin, ready for the final chapter.
The wait is over.
One young woman has raged against those who threaten to keep away what matters most—family, love, choice. Her quiet revolution is about to explode into full-scale rebellion."

It's actually been 2 weeks since I finished this. Not the best when writing a review! So, the conclusion to the Matched series. I was expecting more. More what? More everything. More romance, more answers, more war! I guess the more war part was kind of answered towards the end but I was unsatisfied with it. The Society dropped the ball big time. It felt like Ally Condie took the easy way out. As a whole, I really liked this trilogy. And I am happy for Xander. Love triangles are tough. Lol

48. The Whole Stupid Way We Are - N. Griffin 3/5

Read for free on Simon & Schuster's pulseit.com!

"It’s Maine. It’s winter. And it’s FREEZING STINKIN’ COLD! Dinah is wildly worried about her best friend, Skint. He won’t wear a coat. Refuses to wear a coat. It’s twelve degrees out, and he won’t wear a coat. So Dinah’s going to figure out how to help. That’s what Dinah does—she helps. But she’s too busy trying to help to notice that sometimes, she’s doing more harm than good. Seeing the trees instead of the forest? That’s Dinah.
And Skint isn’t going to be the one to tell her. He’s a helper guy too. He’s worried about a little boy whose dad won’t let him visit his mom. He’s worried about an elderly couple in a too-cold house down the street.
But the wedge between what drives Dinah and what concerns Skint is wide enough for a big old slab of ice. Because Skint’s own father is in trouble. Because Skint’s mother refuses to ask for help even though she’s at her breaking point. And because Dinah might just decide to…help. She thinks she’s cracking through a sheet of ice, but what’s actually there is an entire iceberg."

Third person present tense writing is different. And awkward. I much prefer first person. I'd rather be inside someone's head, or multiple, than watching everything from the outside. I feel like something is missing when I'm just reading about it and not living it through the character(s). It was an alright book with an alright story. I wasn't overly fond of the ending because it wasn't really an ending. And I doubt it's because there's going to be a sequel. It just didn't capture me.

49. Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro 2/5

Library E-Book.

"As children Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy were students at Hailsham, an exclusive boarding school secluded in the English countryside. It was a place of mercurial cliques and mysterious rules where teachers were constantly reminding their charges of how special they were.
Now, years later, Kathy is a young woman. Ruth and Tommy have reentered her life. And for the first time she is beginning to look back at their shared past and understand just what it is that makes them special–and how that gift will shape the rest of their time together."

I saw the movie a couple of years ago. It was weird. Interesting concept but I was bored. It felt really long and meandering. I finished it two days ago and I can't even remember how it ended. Nothing really stuck with me. Unimpressed.

50. Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades #1) - EL James 1.5/5

Library E-Book.

"When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.
Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires."

I don't understand people. Fifty Shades is neither the first nor the last erotic novel to be written. If you've never read an erotic novel, you won't like it and you'll be appalled. You knew what it was about, so why did you read it? If erotic novels aren't your cup of tea, don't freakin' read it! If you didn't like Fifty Shades' BDSM, which in book 1 barely go anywhere, don't go near AN Roquelaure aka Anne Rice's Sleeping Beauty trilogy. And if you need this series in order to be with your husband or partner, you've got bigger problems.

That being said, it was weak. Laurell K. Hamilton and Anne Rice do it better. And I believe Ana is schizophrenic. How many voices are in her head?! There's herself, her subconscious, and her inner goddess. And somewhere, her inner submissive. Girl needs help. I'm actually a little disappointed. Not as shocking as I was led to believe. And what are we 12? "Down there." *eye roll* And Ana is wayyyyyy to innocent to be believable. 1.5 out of 5 because I'm actually a little interested in the story, like why Christian is so effed up, thus the extra half a point/star.

51. Golden - Jessi Kirby 5/5

Read for free on Simon & Schuster's pulseit.com!

"Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a clue in her lap—one that might be the key to unraveling a town mystery—she decides to take a chance.
Julianna Farnetti and Shane Cruz are remembered as the golden couple of Summit Lakes High—perfect in every way, meant to be together forever. But Julianna’s journal tells a different story—one of doubts about Shane and a forbidden romance with an older, artistic guy. These are the secrets that were swept away with her the night that Shane’s jeep plunged into an icy river, leaving behind a grieving town and no bodies to bury.
Reading Julianna’s journal gives Parker the courage to start to really live—and it also gives her reasons to question what really happened the night of the accident. Armed with clues from the past, Parker enlists the help of her best friend, Kat, and Trevor, her longtime crush, to track down some leads. The mystery ends up taking Parker places that she never could have imagined. And she soon finds that taking the road less traveled makes all the difference."

I loved it. I loved it so much. There wasn't anything new or different about the story but it was perfect. I enjoyed reading it so much. I laughed, I cried, I got angry. And I cried again. The hopeless romantic in me is just like Parker. I needed it to be perfect as much as she did! It was predictable but awesome in its predictability. Left me with such a good feeling. Can't wait to check out Jessi Kirby's other books!