Short and Simple Reviews: Untold & Unmade by Sarah Rees Brennan

This is a place for books that I didn't fully review.

Maybe I listed my likes and dislikes, had a little short paragraph, or a few sentences to convey my feelings on the book, but whatever the "review" is, all of them are short and simple. (hence the clever name)

Note: These books are 2 & 3 in the Lynburn Legacy Series. My full review for book one can be found here.

It's time to choose sides....

On the surface, Sorry-in-the-Vale is a sleepy English town. But Kami Glass knows the truth. Sorry-in-the-Vale is full of magic. In the old days, the Lynburn family ruled with fear, terrifying the people into submission in order to kill for blood and power. Now the Lynburns are back, and Rob Lynburn is gathering sorcerers so that the town can return to the old ways.

But Rob and his followers aren’t the only sorcerers in town. A decision must be made: pay the blood sacrifice, or fight. For Kami, this means more than just choosing between good and evil. With her link to Jared Lynburn severed, she’s now free to love anyone she chooses. But who should that be?

A darkly humorous take on Gothic romance, Sarah Rees Brennan's Lynburn Legacy weaves together the tale of a heroine desperate to protect those she loves, two boys hoping to be saved, and the magical forces that will shape their destiny.

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Review

I had to reread Unspoken before this book to refresh my memory and to be honest I did not enjoy Unspoken as much as I did the first read. I gave it 3.5 stars. I liked this book, but I liked it less than Unspoken. I'm not quite sure why exactly. I think part of it was just my changing taste and part of it was just that I wasn't in the mood. This series is getting increasingly dark and a lot happens in this book. The characters are going through a lot and my heart hurt for them. This book continues the weird juxtaposition of humor with terrible/terrifying situations. Because of how dark the series is getting, this felt odd rather than a nice comic relief. What also drove me nuts was that many of the characters were doing stupid things/not listening to each other. The romance is a lot more evident in this book, but there's a lot of random spontaneous kissing and I had trouble keeping track of who kissed whom. 

I hereby give this book

3 Stars

Meaning: I liked it

Powerful love comes with a price. Who will be the sacrifice?

Kami has lost the boy she loves, is tied to a boy she does not, and faces an enemy more powerful than ever before. With Jared missing for months and presumed dead, Kami must rely on her new magical link with Ash for the strength to face the evil spreading through her town.

Rob Lynburn is now the master of Sorry-in-the-Vale, and he demands a death. Kami will use every tool at her disposal to stop him. Together with Rusty, Angela, and Holly, she uncovers a secret that might be the key to saving the town. But with knowledge comes responsibility—and a painful choice. A choice that will risk not only Kami’s life, but also the lives of those she loves most.

This final book in the Lynburn Legacy is a wild, entertaining ride from beginning to shocking end.

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Review

It was hard for me to get into this book. I kept taking breaks from it until, only 40-something pages in, I put it aside for a couple of weeks. I was very tempted to give up on it. I wasn't feeling interested and not really in the mood. I was tired of reading about terrible things and stressing about the characters making terrible decisions. But, I really needed to finish the series, so I picked it back up. I ended up liking the rest of the book a lot more. The pace really picked up and I connected more with what was happening in the story. There was still a lot of terrifying things in the book, but I really wanted to see how the series would end. Overall, I liked this series, but I don't think it's really the type of series I go for anymore and Unspoken is still my favorite out of the series.

I hereby give this book

3 Stars

Meaning: I liked it

Short and Simple Reviews: Secret Series (Books 2-5) by Pseudonymous Bosch

This is a place for books that I didn't fully review. Maybe I listed my likes and dislikes, had a little short paragraph, or a few sentences to convey my feelings on the book, but whatever the "review" is, all of them are short and simple. (hence the clever name)

Today on Short and Simple Reviews I'm "reviewing" books 2-5 in the Secret series by Pseudonymous Bosch. I did not read book one recently at all, only the rest of the series, so those are the only ones I can remember enough to review. I really enjoyed reading this series, so if you need a fun middle-grade series to read, this series is a great option.

Dangerous secrets lie between the pages of this book.

OK, I warned you. But if you think I'll give anything away, or tell you that this is the sequel to my first literary endeavor, The Name of This Book is Secret, you're wrong.

I'm not going to remind you of how we last left our heroes, Cass and Max-Ernest, as they awaited intiation into the mysterious Terces Society, or the ongoing fight against the evil Dr. L and Ms. Mauvais. I certainly won't be telling you about how the kids stumble upon the Museum of Magic, where they finally meet the amazing Pietro!

Oh, blast! I've done it again. Well, at least I didn't tell you about the missing Sound Prism, the nefarious Lord Pharaoh, or the mysterious creature born in a bottle over 500 years ago, the key to the biggest secret of all.

I really can't help myself, now can I? Let's face it - if you're reading this, it's too late. 

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Review

When I read The Name of This Book Is Secret I thought it was fantastic! For some odd reason though, I did not get around to continuing the series until now, almost seven years after reading the first book. I think I tried to check this book out from the library, but it wasn't available so it was forgotten. This book does a great job of catching the reader up on previous events with little footnotes and summaries for those like me who couldn't remember the first book. I actually got into this book fairly quickly and I immensely enjoyed it. This is such an odd series and I love it for that! Some elements in the book feel so random, but everything is still so thought out! I really love how the book is narrated and how Bosch engages the reader, the book written as if talking to the reader, and all the measures Bosch goes through to keep the secret hidden! Overall, even though it has been a while, I was still able to enjoy this book and my feelings towards the series remain positive. I also made sure to check the next book out of the library immediately so the same mistake wouldn't happen again.

I hereby give this book

4 Stars

Meaning: Amazing!

Between the pages of this book lies the secret to the best-tasting chocolate in all the world. I promise, your taste buds will tingle. Your palette will sing! Oh no, have I accidentally tempted you to read this book? I will warn you, however, the most delicious things are never good for you...and this story is particularly scrumptious!

In this tooth-rotting adventure, Cass's mom has been kidnapped by the evil dessert chef and chocolatier, Señor Hugo! The ransom...the legendary tuning fork. Can Cass and Max-Ernest find the magical instrument before it's too late? Will they discover the evil secret ingredient to Señor Hugo's chocolate success?

If you're tempted, take a taste, but just remember...this book is not good for you. 

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Review

The Secret series continues and just like the last book, I found this one to be enjoyable. There is a lot of oddities going on in this book, just like the last one, and I found it amusing keeping track of all the weird situations that Cass and Max-Ernest end up in. I felt bad for Cass because her mother had been kidnapped and she couldn't tell anyone else what was happening. There is a lot of chocolate in this book, which is why it's not good for you! I thought the uses for the chocolate were interesting although some parts in this book made me want to not eat chocolate. Same goes for the tuning fork. I thought it was really interesting, but putting an unwashed, hundreds of years old object in food and drink drove my OCD a bit crazy. The narrator continues to interrupt the story in interesting ways. As this book drew to a close, the reader gets a lot more information (a lot more than the narrator likely intended!) and ended in a very suspenseful way!

I hereby give this book

4 Stars

Meaning: Amazing!

The Secret Series continues in this dangerous and daring fourth adventure.

Cass finds herself alone and disoriented, a stranger in a dream-like, medieval world. Where is she? Who is she? With the help of a long-lost relative, she begins to uncover clues and secrets--piecing together her family's history as she fights her way back to the present world.

Meanwhile, back home, Cass is at the hospital in a deep coma. Max-Ernest knows she ate Time Travel Chocolate--and he's determined to find a cure. Can our expert hypochondriac diagnose Cass's condition before it's too late? And will he have what it takes to save the survivalist? 

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Review

Other reviewers found this one to be lacking compared to the other books. I can see why because Cass is wondering in time, but unconscious in our time. Meanwhile, Max-Ernest is trying to figure out how to save her. This does sound a bit boring, but I actually really liked this one. It was actually my favorite one so far. I love time travel, so I liked seeing that come into play. It was also interesting seeing the history of the Midnight Sun and the Terces Society. The book also touches on how written history is not always accurate. Cass's character is really strong in this one, in fact, she becomes a stronger character with every book. The Secret is, of course, still secret, but Cass is close to figuring it out. Again, the narrator is fantastic, just like the last books in the series.

I hereby give this book

4 Stars

Meaning: Amazing!

The finale to the New York Times bestselling Secret Series!
I always feared this day would come. A secret is meant to stay secret, after all. And now we've come to this: the fifth and final (I swear!) book in my saga of secrets.
A class trip to the local natural history museum turns dangerous, or perhaps deadly--and I don't mean in the bored-to-death way--when Cass accidentally breaks a finger off a priceless mummy. Forced to atone for this "crime" of vandalism, Cass and her friends Max-Ernest and Yo-Yoji go to work for the mummy exhibit's curator, only to be blamed when tragedy strikes. To clear their names--and, they hope, to discover the Secret--the trio must travel deep into a land of majestic pyramids, dusty tombs, mysterious hieroglyphs, and the walking dead. Egypt? Or somewhere much stranger . . .

In the midst of it all, the Secret still lurks. You're out there, reading and talking about it, and now my life--and chocolate supply--is in the greatest danger yet. So please, with a cherry on top, I'm begging you: you have to stop this!

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Review

So the Secret series has come to an end and the Secret is out. No, I'm not going to tell you the Secret. One thing I can say is that opinion on the Secret is divided. Some folks were disappointed with the Secret, others weren't. I'm of the latter. Honestly, I fully expected to never get the Secret. I fully expected the Secret to having been ripped out of the book by Bosch. I also read A Series of Unfortunate Events and was extremely let down by the fact that I got absolutely no answers, just a lead-up to answers. So, I was already on guard and you know what? I am satisfied. I actually think it's kind of funny and completely fits the tone of the series. Also, there were many other things that were answered that had nothing to do with the big Secret because there were other things that were more important. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this series and maybe one day I'll have to reread them when I want to read some fun middle-grade books. I don't know if I'll read the author's other series because I'm not sure how he will translate to another series, but maybe I'll pick it up one day.

I hereby give this book

4 Stars

Meaning: Amazing!

Short and Simple Reviews: Fury's Fire & The Eternal War

This is a place for books that I didn't fully review.

Maybe I listed my likes and dislikes, had a little short paragraph, or a few sentences to convey my feelings on the book, but whatever the "review" is, all of them are short and simple. (hence the clever name)

At the end of Siren's Storm, the Sirens were defeated, and now the town of Walfang is once again a peaceful beach community.

Or is it? Gretchen and Will are still haunted by the memories of the night the Sirens were destroyed—Gretchen because she can't remember what happened and Will because he doesn't know how to tell Gretchen what he saw. He doesn't even understand what he saw, but he does know now that Gretchen is more than what she seems, more than a human girl. And at the same time, he is more in love with her than ever.

Gretchen knows there's something wrong, too. She feels like an alien in her own body, but she doesn't know why. And she feels a presence stalking her at every turn. Have the Sirens returned to Walfang? Or has some other force come to claim her?

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Review

I was wary of picking up this book because I originally read the first book, Siren's Storm, eight years ago in 2011. To be honest, I had no recollection of anything that happened in that book, just that it had something to do with sirens (and I probably got that idea from the title). Thankfully, it was not incredibly difficult to get into this book. The book does remind the reader of the events of the last book on multiple occasions. Part of this was because Gretchen did not recall the events from the end of Siren's Storm, so she is trying to remember things. Some details were still foggy for me, but I knew enough to follow the story and understand the characters. 

While this book was dual POV, there was a stronger focus on Gretchen in this book as she is trying to understand what exactly she did at the end of the last book and she has a threat against her. There is a lot more transformation for her character, which I can't go too far into detail because of spoilers. Overall, I don't have strong feelings for this book. When I finished the book all I felt was glad that I got a book off of my TBR instead of any emotions attached to the book. It was an okay read and I can say this series is complete, but there wasn't really anything more there for me. 

I hereby give this book

2.5 Stars

Meaning: It was okay

Liam O’Connor should have died at sea in 1912.
Maddy Carter should have died on a plane in 2010.
Sal Vikram should have died in a fire in 2026.

But all three have been given a second chance—to work for an agency that no one knows exists. Its purpose: to prevent time travel destroying history...

A time wave has struck that alters the entire history of the American Civil War. Abraham Lincoln has followed Liam into the present from 1831and now the world is in a dangerous state of limbo...

If the TimeRiders can’t return Lincoln to the past, the Civil War will never end. Can Maddy persuade two colonels on either side of no man’s land to cease fire long enough to save the future?

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Review

This is yet another book where it's been a few years since I've read the previous books in the series. This series does a really great job of catching the reader up since most of the books have a contained story. I love time travel and I find the entire concept of this series fascinating, so I was glad to get back into this world and see these characters again. I'm not sure exactly how I feel about this book though. In the beginning, I was very entertained by this book. The Time Riders find out that Abraham Lincoln has died before he was supposed to. They go back to save him, but Lincoln overhears them when they think he's unconscious and he follows them to the year 2001. I found this entire part interesting and seeing the effect this had on the time was also interesting because what would the world look without Abraham Lincon? But as the book continued the story felt a bit slow. The characters were mostly either trying to fix the time machine or traveling to get back to the time machine. Overall, I did like this book even though I felt like I had to push through the second half of the book. I would like to continue this series, but it looks like this is the last book at any library near me. It seems the rest of the series was not published in America so I may have to order the next book online if I wish to continue.

3 Stars

Meaning: I liked it

SHORT & SIMPLE REVIEWS: Lovestruck & Light Of A Thousand Stars

 

This is a place for books that I didn't fully review.

Maybe I listed my likes and dislikes, had a little short paragraph, or a few sentences to convey my feelings on the book, but whatever the "review" is, all of them are short and simple. (hence the clever name)

 I received an ecopy of these books in exchange for an honest review.

NOTICE: THESE ARE PREQUELS OF THE TRUE CALLING SERIES.  BE AWARE OF SPOILERS. 

Review of Book One/ Review of Book Two

Special note from the author:
This short story is narrated solely from Cal Remus’ point of view, and it depicts the events leading up to the introduction of ‘The Calling.’ That is; the events that pre-date True Calling, Book 1 in the series. This can be read as a stand-alone story. However, if you are planning on reading the True Calling series, I recommend that you read the titles in the following sequence: 

True Calling – Book 1 
Lovestruck – Short Story 
Beyond Reach – Book 2 
Light of a Thousand Stars – Novella 
Destiny Rising – Book 3.

Everything changed the moment he found her…

Cal Remus is in love.

But the object of his affection barely acknowledges his existence. Worse: She acts like he’s the dirt sticking to the bottom of her shoe. Weaker men might give up. But not Cal. Hell no, he loves a good challenge and Ariana Skyee has made this the most intriguing challenge of all.

Having read his father’s confidential military files, Cal should be concerned about the seemingly fragile new world order on Planet Novo and the events back on Earth. But he’s distracted.

Securing Arianas love is his number one priority.

He’s going to win her heart, or die trying.

      Goodreads / Amazon 

Review

This was a really short ebook and I breezed through it very quickly. I admit that I did want to get a look into Cal's mind, mostly during the events of Beyond Reach. I kind of liked Cal in the series, though I'm more on Team Zane. This book only pushed me more on Team Zane. Cal is a bit stalkerish and really obsessed with Ari. Keep in mind that this book takes place before The Calling. Though I thought he was a wee bit obsessed, I did like getting this look into Cal's mind and seeing how he felt about Ari. It actually makes how Cal feels for Ari more real.
That being said, this novella isn't necessary to the series, but it's a great look on Cal's character. It's an easy read though and I recommend it to fans of the series.

I hereby give this book

3 Wheels

Meaning: I liked it

Ariana Skyee has been the center of Zane Anders’ world for years. They got together as a couple ten months ago, so Zane finally has the girl of his dreams. Life should be peachy.

But it isn’t.

Haunted by a shared secret that threatens to destroy their relationship and claim their sanity, Zane is on a one-man mission to prevent Ari from falling apart.

Then Commander Skyee drops the biggest bombshell of all, and everything Zane has taken for granted about the future is shattered overnight.

Always and Forever: That’s what Zane has promised Ari.

Keeping that promise is about to become the hardest thing he will ever do.

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Review

After reading this novella, I am definitely on Team Zane! 
This was such a sweet, but sad novella. We get full insight on Zane & Ari's relationship before the memory wipe and the move to planet Novo. I loved their relationship! Like I said, it's sweet, but you can also tell that they really love each other and plan to be together in the future. This is what makes the novella so sad! You know that Ari is going to be moving to planet Novo, get her memory wiped, and end up with another man! 
Overall, this is a quick read and very nice inclusion to the series! I loved the look into Ari and Zane's relationship, as well as their lives before the move. If you love this series and want more, I strongly recommend this novella! It's not necessary, but it's such a great read and I can't wait for more of this series!

I hereby give this book

4 Wheels!

Meaning: It was amazing!

Short & Simple Reviews: Every Day & Red Rising

This is a place for books that I didn't fully review.

Maybe I listed my likes and dislikes, had a little short paragraph, or a few sentences to convey my feelings on the book, but whatever the "review" is, all of them are short and simple. (hence the clever name)

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl. There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.
 It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day

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Review

This is such an interesting, new, and unique book! I've never really read magical realism books before and I now know that this will not be the last time. This book is very well written and it is full of meaning! I definitely recommend this book to everyone!

I hereby give this book

4 Stars!

Meaning: It was amazing!

The Earth is dying. Darrow is a Red, a miner in the interior of Mars. His mission is to extract enough precious elements to one day tame the surface of the planet and allow humans to live on it. The Reds are humanity's last hope.
Or so it appears, until the day Darrow discovers it's all a lie. That Mars has been habitable - and inhabited - for generations, by a class of people calling themselves the Golds. A class of people who look down on Darrow and his fellows as slave labour, to be exploited and worked to death without a second thought.
Until the day that Darrow, with the help of a mysterious group of rebels, disguises himself as a Gold and infiltrates their command school, intent on taking down his oppressors from the inside. But the command school is a battlefield - and Darrow isn't the only student with an agenda.

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Review

It took me a while to get into this book, but once I did, I found such an amazing, new dystopian! This book is dark and disturbing, but this book is also brilliant and exciting! I definitely recommend this book!

I hereby give this book

5 Stars!

Meaning: A new favorite!

Short & Simple Reviews: Don't Look Back & Illusive

This is a place for books that I didn't fully review.

Maybe I listed my likes and dislikes, had a little short paragraph, or a few sentences to convey my feelings on the book, but whatever the "review" is, all of them are short and simple. (hence the clever name)

Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend.
 Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.
 But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?

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Review

I've loved Jennifer L. Armentrout's other books, so it wasn't that surprised that I loved this book too.
Oddly enough, when I first saw this book around the interweb, I wasn't that inclined to pick it up. It just didn't sound like my kind of book and I'm usually not big on mysteries.
But I actually really enjoyed reading this book! I liked seeing Sam trying to remember who she was and uncover what happened. I was so into this book, desperately wanting to know what happened, that it was hard for me to put it down.
I don't know what prevented me from giving it a 5/5. I think the romance fell a little flat, but everything else was absolutely amazing!

I hereby give this book

4.5 Stars!

Meaning: Almost a new favorite!

The X-Men meets Ocean's Eleven in this edge-of-your-seat sci-fi adventure about a band of "super" criminals. When the MK virus swept across the planet, a vaccine was created to stop the epidemic, but it came with some unexpected side effects. A small percentage of the population developed superhero-like powers. Seventeen-year-old Ciere Giba has the handy ability to change her appearance at will. She's what's known as an illusionist...She's also a thief.
 After a robbery goes awry, Ciere must team up with a group of fellow super-powered criminals on another job that most would consider too reckless. The formula for the vaccine that gave them their abilities was supposedly destroyed years ago. But what if it wasn't?
 The lines between good and bad, us and them, and freedom and entrapment are blurred as Ciere and the rest of her crew become embroiled in a deadly race against the government that could cost them their lives.

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Review

I always love to read books on superheroes and this book was no exception.
The concept was interesting, the characters were real, and overall, it was a very entertaining book.
My only issue is that the beginning is a bit draggy and slow.
Other than that, this was a fun read.

4 Stars!

Meaning:I loved it!

Short & Simple Reviews: Jellicoe Road & Preordained

This is a place for books that I didn't fully review.

Maybe I listed my likes and dislikes, had a little short paragraph, or a few sentences to convey my feelings on the book, but whatever the "review" is, all of them are short and simple. (hence the clever name)

I'm dreaming of the boy in the tree. I tell him stories. About the Jellicoe School and the Townies and the Cadets from a school in Sydney. I tell him about the war between us for territory. And I tell him about Hannah, who lives in the unfinished house by the river. Hannah, who is too young to be hiding away from the world. Hannah, who found me on the Jellicoe Road six years ago. Taylor is leader of the boarders at the Jellicoe School. She has to keep the upper hand in the territory wars and deal with Jonah Griggs - the enigmatic leader of the cadets, and someone she thought she would never see again.
 And now Hannah, the person Taylor had come to rely on, has disappeared. Taylor's only clue is a manuscript about five kids who lived in Jellicoe eighteen years ago. She needs to find out more, but this means confronting her own story, making sense of her strange, recurring dream, and finding her mother - who abandoned her on the Jellicoe Road.
 The moving, joyous and brilliantly compelling new novel from the best-selling, multi-award-winning author of Looking for Alibrandi and Saving Francesca.

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Review

It took me awhile to get into this book.
In the beginning the book is very confusing and hard to piece together.
Things do eventually come together and I was treated with an amazing book!

Although, I MUST warn you!
This book made me very emotional!
Be prepared to cry!

I hereby give this book

5 Wheels!

Meaning: A new favorite!

There are two new boys on campus, and their sexy and scintillating looks have drawn all the girls' attention. However, Kort and Seth have a secret...
 Faith is a shy girl who's withdrawn from the happy-go-lucky social settings of typical college life--still grieving the recent loss of her somewhat crazy father--when she's pulled from her mournful daze by the attention she keeps getting from the two hotties on campus.
 A strange encounter with Kort and Seth reveals their secret..., an otherworldly truth beyond Faith's wildest dreams, and she's left with startling questions about the death of her father, her family's bloodline, and a destiny she never imagined possible.

   Goodreads

Review

It took me awhile to get into this book. The pacing in the beginning is very slow, you don't really get to the main point of the story until about halfway through. When the two hot guys showed up, I honestly kept putting the book down. What irked me about them was that every time they showed up there would be all these words to describe how hot they were, because you obviously need to be reminded more than once. This did eventually stop, thankfully, around the time that the book picked up the pace.

At this point I was getting much more interested in the book. Sure, some things seemed a little too religious to me, but I still found it interesting, even though I'm not extremely religious.

This book did disappoint me, but I did eventually get some of what I was looking for. 

I hereby give this book

2 Wheels

Meaning: It was okay.

Short & Simple Reviews: Wonder & #scandal

This is a place for books that I didn't fully review.

Maybe I listed my likes and dislikes, had a little short paragraph, or a few sentences to convey my feelings on the book, but whatever the "review" is, all of them are short and simple. (hence the clever name)

I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse. August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?
 R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.

 Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Review

This was such a beautiful book and by the end of it I was crying. 
I wasn't crying tears of sadness, but tears of joy. 
I can't stress this enough, how beautiful and life-changing this book is.
This might be a middle-grade book, but this book is for ALL ages. Everyone needs to read this book. It will change how you look at people and make you a better person.

I hereby give this book

5 Wheels!

Meaning: A new favorite!

Lucy’s learned some important lessons from tabloid darling Jayla Heart’s all-too-public blunders: Avoid the spotlight, don’t feed the Internet trolls, and keep your secrets secret. The policy has served Lucy well all through high school, so when her best friend Ellie gets sick before prom and begs her to step in as Cole’s date, she accepts with a smile, silencing about ten different reservations. Like the one where she’d rather stay home shredding online zombies. And the one where she hates playing dress-up. And especially the one where she’s been secretly in love with Cole since the dawn of time.
 When Cole surprises her at the after party with a kiss under the stars, it’s everything Lucy has ever dreamed of… and the biggest BFF deal-breaker ever. Despite Cole’s lingering sweetness, Lucy knows they’ll have to ’fess up to Ellie. But before they get the chance, Lucy’s own Facebook profile mysteriously explodes with compromising pics of her and Cole, along with tons of other students’ party indiscretions. Tagged. Liked. And furiously viral.
 By Monday morning, Lucy’s been branded a slut, a backstabber, and a narc, mired in a tabloid-worthy scandal just weeks before graduation.
 Lucy’s been battling undead masses online long enough to know there’s only one way to survive a disaster of this magnitude: Stand up and fight. Game plan? Uncover and expose the Facebook hacker, win back her best friend’s trust, and graduate with a clean slate.
 There’s just one snag—Cole. Turns out Lucy’s not the only one who’s been harboring unrequited love...

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Review

I was originally not intending to read this book. It just screams that this would be a drama-filled book. But I liked Sarah Ockler's other books and it was a free read on Pulse-it, so decided to give it a go.

I actually ended up enjoying it, in a way. I felt for Lucy and I was glued to the pages because I really wanted to know who was the one behind all this.

My issue with this book mainly has to do with my own preferences. I'm not a fan of books with high-school dramas, mostly because they make me so angry.

Overall, I did like this book, even though I was very angry throughout it because of how Lucy was treated. And this book made me very glad that I'm done with high-school!

I hereby give this book

3 Wheels

Meaning: I liked it.

Short & Simple Reviews: Reborn & Etiquette and Espionage

This is a place for books that I didn't fully review.

Maybe I listed my likes and dislikes, had a little short paragraph, or a few sentences to convey my feelings on the book, but whatever the "review" is, all of them are short and simple. (hence the clever name)

Return to the beloved world of Shadow Falls, a camp that teaches supernatural teens to harness their powers—and where a vampire named Della will discover who she’s meant to be. For Della Tsang, Shadow Falls isn't just a camp: it's home. As a vampire who's never fit in with her human family, it's the one place she can truly be herself. But when a mysterious new guy arrives at camp, Della’s whole world is thrown into turmoil. Chase is a vampire with secrets, who knows more than he’s telling. But the more time she spends with him, the more she begins to trust this attractive stranger—and feel drawn to him. But romance is the last thing she wants—as she keeps telling Steve, the hunky shapeshifter who won’t stop trying to win her heart. And if Della isn't careful, he just might succeed.　 When a new case puts everyone she cares about in danger, Della’s determined to do everything she can to save them . . . even if it means teaming up with Steve and Chase, who leave her more confused than ever. With their lives on the line, will Della and her friends survive—with their hearts intact?

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Review

I LOVED the Shadow Falls series, so I, of course, was excited when I found out about this book! I enjoyed coming back to Shadow Falls and seeing all of my favorite characters again! While I did kind of miss reading from Kylie's perspective, I loved hearing from Della! It was completely different reading from Della's perspective, as she is has a different sense of humor and pulls off a complete badass vibe.
My point in all this blabbing: This is a really great new spin-off series! If you love the Shadow Falls series, you really need to check this out! If you haven't read the Shadow Falls series, what are you waiting for?

I hereby give this book

5 Wheels!

Meaning: A new favorite!

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is the bane of her mother's existence. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper etiquette at tea--and god forbid anyone see her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. She enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.
 But little do Sophronia or her mother know that this is a school where ingenious young girls learn to finish, all right--but it's a different kind of finishing. Mademoiselle Geraldine's certainly trains young ladies in the finer arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but also in the other kinds of finishing: the fine arts of death, diversion, deceit, espionage, and the modern weaponries. Sophronia and her friends are going to have a rousing first year at school.

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Review

This book was not what I expected.
Honestly, if I were to describe this book I would say it's a steampunk Harry Potter. The special school and the characters reminded me of the Harry Potter world. What I wasn't expecting about this book was how it was much more light and fun than I was lead to believe. Not that it's a bad thing, but this book had more of an overall middle grade vibe.
I liked this book. I liked all of these things. My issue with this book was mostly that the book was slow-paced and I had difficulty connecting with the characters.
Overall, this book was a fun steampunk and I will be continuing the series. I will also be checking out the author's adult books.

I hereby give this book

3.5 Wheels

Meaning: I liked it, but it wasn't quite amazing!