Friday 30 December 2016

Review: Series of Unfortunate Events 7 & 8

 Series of Unfortunate Events
 Lemony Snicket

*Beware how sad the unfortunate events are.
and the unfortunate incident that occurs when one reads spoilers*

The Vile Village

Have you ever heard the phrase "it takes a village to raise a child"? Well, that's the case for the children now.

They are being sent to a program where villages have agreed to raise orphan children. Mr. Poe gives the children a list of Villages to pick from ... and one stands out to them: The Village of V.F.D

*insert dramatic music here*

Figuring that this may be another clue, the children are excited to be going to this village... until they get there. The villagers are quite unique, have thousands of rules (most of which contradict themselves), and they allow their day to be dictated by the murder of crows that never seem to leave.

While Violet, Klaus and Sunny are technically being taken of by the whole Village, no one in the community is willing to take them in, so they are forced to go live with the handy man, Hector. Luckily, Hector is quite nice, even if he is quite shy.

The children feel comfortable with Hector and open up to him about why the decided to pick the Village of V.F.D (which doesn't stand for what they thought it did) and about their friends who are still missing. Isadora, the poet and Duncan, the journalist.

At the mention of Isadora the poet, Hector remembers he found a piece of paper that morning, in his backyard, by the big tree with the crows, that had a poem on it.

and the hunt begins ...

Then a man comes to town who is happy to see the children as he has a message about their parents.


The Hostile Hospital 

After running away from the Village of V.F.D, the children find themselves in the middle of nowhere.

and then they find a General Store.

They have also found out that they are wanted for the murder of Count Olaf, which we all know is untrue. But now that it is in the newspaper, they must be careful in public.

So, they are on the run. and while running, they come across a group of folk singers that are called the V.F.D and so they join them and end up at a hospital, as these V.F.D are Volunteers Fighting Diseases by singing to those who are sick.  They also hand out balloons.

Of course, when they get to the hospital, the children realize they need to hide. They manage to find a job in the Hall of Records... but nothing with them is ever good for long.

When there is a new director in charge, told by a voice that the children will never (and could never) forget, they realize they are now in danger.

More so than before.

In an effort to save her siblings, Violet makes a choice ... and it puts her right in Olaf's slimy hands.

Now it's up to Klaus and Sunny to save their big sister.

Before she is decapitated.

When the hospital goes up in flames, the children have only one place that is safe for escape ... the trunk of Olaf's car.



More clues about what V.F.D really is - or could be -, the Snicket file that only contained page 13 which Klaus managed to stick in his pocket before escaping the hospital, and the prospect of more danger lurking ahead! What page turners.

The events get more and more unfortunate as you go along. If your wee hearts cannot take anymore, I do not blame you.

No one could.

Unfortunately for the children, we have the option to put the book down (or bury them in the backyard and may they rest in peace) but the children still must go through these events and Lemony Snicket still must record them.  At least he tells it with wit and does some side tracking of happy stories when it gets too sad... or when he wants to give us readers perspective of fortunate vs unfortunate events in the world.

It is sad to report that the more unfortunate the events get, the faster you want the story to happen ... 1) to see what happens, and 2) to hurry and get the children out of whatever mess they are in at that specific moment. We are getting into a deeper story, with many many secrets to be unfolded. The only way to go in forward, since it is impossible to read backwards when you have already read the story up until now.

You could also stop altogether, but where is the fun in that?

 

Thursday 29 December 2016

Review: Series of Unfortunate Events 5 & 6

Series of Unfortunate Events
Lemony Snicket


The Austere Academy 

True to his word, as the Mill situation did not work out, Mr. Poe sends the children off to boarding school.

While the children are excited to be going to school: the thought of a library, of a workshop class or two, the chance at other children to talk to and make friends with .... they then see their school.

Prufrock Preparatory School looks more like a prison, than a school - lack of colour, tow shaped buildings and a domineering headmaster who is atrocious at playing the violin (but he clearly doesn't hear himself).

However, the children manage to find a shimmer of hope in this gloom and doom part of their life: Two-thirds of the Quagmire triplets, Duncan and Isadora

However, since this is the 5th time the children have been moved around since the unfortunate event that took them from their life, they have gotten smarter. This time, when Olaf shows up in one of his many disguises, Violet lets him get away it. (of course, he hasn't really fooled them. The children are much too smart for that).

This time, Olaf's plan is quite convoluted - a word here meaning complicated and tricky to figure out - but the children, along with their new friends, figure it out just in time.

Unfortunately, Olaf figures out their plan in time too and pulls another trick - he kidnaps the Quagmire Triplets.

Not before Klaus hears Duncan yell "If anything should go wrong...[...] V.F.D"

In the hubbub of all of this, the children are suspended.



The Ersatz Elevator 


Even though the children are terribly worried about their friends, whom Mr. Poe promises he is searching for, they are still happy to be out of that school.

The new guardians they are sent to live with are an interesting couple, who live in a community that is obsessed with what is "in" and what is "out" at that very moment.

This list ranges from Pinstripe suites, Parsley soda, tools, elevators, dark/light, decor items ... I could go on but what is the point? Lists are probably out.

The wife, Esme, is in the charge of this year's "In Auction". She invites the auctioneer, Gunther, over to plan it all one night and ... you guessed it, Gunther is just a disguise.

The children and the husband, Jerome, are sent out to dinner. When they arrive back, the doorman tells them they are not allowed to go back upstairs (literally, up the stairs. to the penthouse. as the elevator has been disabled until it is "in" again) until Esme's guest has left.

Since it is quite late, Jerome ignores this rule and takes the children up anyways... to which Esme responds with "he left hours ago".  Suspicious, no?

The children have a mystery on their hands. Violet ties back her hair, Klaus goes in search of a book and Sunny ...well, her teeth come in handy later on.

When the children solve the mystery of the mysterious disappearing guest, they discover a deeper mystery and more clues leading to Duncan's clue of "V.F.D".



Some of you, myself included, may have been getting very sad over how many unfortunate things have happened to these children. I am happy to report that it is now the beginning of a more in-depth plot. Beatrice, who Snicket dedicates his stories to, the fire in which claimed the children's parents, and the mystery link that connects all these unheard of relatives before now will all come to pass.

Of course, that is not before many many many many more unfortunate things do happen. It is a series of events, after all, and one must read the whole story to understand it all.

We are about half way through the books at the end of 6 (well, half way through 7 if you wish to be specific but I do not) and they just get better and better as you go on.

They also get thicker as you go on, and therefore take longer to read, but the writing is the same all the way through. The style that Snicket has is very unique and is very mature for a "children's story" (which I find offence to - these stories are made for those of any age. Not just children. Just because they are about children does not mean they are for children. My word, whoever is in charge of marketing should be fired. but that would be unfortunate and I think we've had enough of those kind of events)

As we get into a deeper plot, you seriously want to just build a blanket fort and not leave your house until all of them are finished and you are left in a pool of unfortunate feelings. Possibly tears but I am not one to cry over these things (although I do feel quite sad for those the children have lost in a short amount of time).

 


Review; Series of Unfortunate Events 3 & 4

Series of Unfortunate Events
Lemony Snicket


The Wide Window 

Yet again, the Baudelaire children are with Mr. Poe as he finds them another guardian. Still missing their uncle Monty, they are introduced to their Aunt Josephine.

Aunt Josephine lives on Lake Lachrymose, even though she is afraid of it.
(Well, she is really afraid of everything so does it really matter where she lives? Probably not.)

The lake is where her late husband, Ike, had perished. Eaten alive by the leaches since Ike did not wait not long enough after eating to go swimming. Poor Ike.

Aunt Josephine's priority in life is Grammar. She makes it her personal mission to help everyone she meets with their grammar (to the point of annoyance, really) but this does include the children - Sunny, especially.

And the delightful Captain Sham that she meets in town one day.

The children, however, do not think he is so delightful, and recognize what a "sham" he really is.



The Miserable Mill 

Since living with Aunt Josephine did not work out (may she rest in peace), it is off to their last chance before Poe sends them off to boarding school.

Eek.

The children are brought to Paltryville to work in a lumbermill. Can you imagine? Children made to work in a lumbermill? Even baby Sunny? But yes, it is true.

Beside the lumber mill is an Optician's office... shaped suspiciously like Olaf's ankle tattoo.

There is no breakfast, one stick of gum for lunch, and some kind of casserole for dinner.
They are to share one bedroom again.
Payment is in coupons.

Sounds terrif, right? Well, it is not. It is actually very unfortunate, and this is just the beginning.

The boss, who's name no one can pronounce, is rude and crude but his assistant is quite nice.

One day, however, Klaus is tripped - on purpose no doubt - and his glasses break. Off he goes to the suspiciously shaped building.

Hours later, he comes back but Violet can tell something is different.

and then the accident happens.




It is unfortunate that Snicket is burdened with capturing all the terrible things that happen to these children, but he does warn you over and over that if you cannot take any more sadness, do stop reading, as things only get worse for these poor children.

Snicket's writing is as witty and cute and, yes, the events are very sad and very unfortunate but the children are very smart and crafty and while very unlucky - they seem to have some luck on their side.
You don't want to put the stories down, as sad as they are, because you know that the children will make it through (we hope) but it's the how that keeps you glued to your seat and the next books close by.

 



Wednesday 28 December 2016

Review: Series of Unfortunate Events 1 & 2

 Lemony Snicket
 Series of Unfortunate Events

Yes, I've decided to do the Netflix challenge and reread the books before I binge on the new show.
with 13 books, and being easy reads (easy as in the writing. these books are not easy - they are very sad) I get through them very quick so my reviews may feature 1 or 2 at a time.



Book the First: The Bad Beginning 

In which we meet thBaudelaire children: Violet, Klaus and Sunny. They have just been told that a fire has destroyed their home, and their parents have perished in the fire as well. 

As per their parents wishes, they are to live with relatives until Violet becomes of age and can take claim to the family fortune.


The only relative that lives close by is a distant uncle of sorts, a Count Olaf.
He is a terrible man.

He is an actor, who's friends are equally ugly and terrible (both in personality and in acting skills).

Throughout the story the children encounter many unfortunate things: the fire, to start, itchy clothes, rude children, one bedroom to share, disgusting food, belittlement from Olaf and his friends, a bird cage, and an inappropriate marriage proposal.

The children are creative though.

Violet is an inventor. You can tell she is inventing when she pulls her hair back with a red ribbon.
Klaus is the brains, and is always reading everything and anything.
Sunny, being only a baby, has marvelous teeth that bite.

The children manage to escape from Olaf's wandering eye for now...




Book the Second: The Reptile Room 


If you thought the first book was sad, please do not continue. Snicket does warn us enough that these children do not get to find happiness. 

With Olaf on the run, Mr Poe who is the Baudelaire's family executor, is in charge of finding the next closest relative. 

That would be Montgomery Montgomery, or Uncle Monty as he prefers. 

He is on his way to Peru, and is happy to take the children along with him. His reason? Snakes. 
With his new assistant starting next week, Uncle Monty sees no reason why this trip should not go according to plan. 

However, if you'll remember that this is not a happy story. 



Snicket's writing is absolutely amazing. He is quick witted, explains his vocabulary through his writing and tells a story so beautifully that as much as your heart aches for these children, you cannot help but read on. 

Who knows, maybe we're all just masochists? 

The best thing about these stories are the things that he gets away with that are absolutely brilliant. Such as a whole page of saying "ever" to explain that you never ever, ever, ever should do what Violet is about to do. 
Unless you know how. 
or are her. 

As someone who has read them before, I will tell you that they just get better as you go along.
But of course, the events that unfold are very unfortunate. 



     

Tuesday 27 December 2016

Review: Carrie Fisher Autobiographies


Carrie Fisher passed away today.
I admit I cried; she was a beautiful person and her work and words will stay with us forever.
May she finally be at peace.


Wishful Drinking 

I've looked for this book everywhere - I finally find it, sit down to read it... and a day later, she has a heart attack. It's been a rough week thinking about her ...

I knew very little about her to begin with.
Yes, I've seen Star Wars, but I am not one to google "10 things you didn't know about.." or "the making of..." articles since I prefer to keep the magic real.

I went to this with an open mind, knowing that as she got older, she had some struggles and dealt with them in her own way.

Reading this book though, I felt like I met a small part of her.

She writes about her childhood, her famous parents, the marriages her parents went through, how she dealt with everything, random childhood/young adult memories.... but she just come across very real (as opposed to some autobios I've read that read like a script)

and she is hilarious.

She's just writing. She writes how she feels and what she is thinking in that moment.
Or how she remembering that moment in her life.

She writes about how this all came to be; how Star Wars changed her life (who knew that was going to happen?!) and what that dam hologram speech would do to her.  She opens her heart and mind to us fans and, while it's the most poetic thing ever written, it's absolutely beautiful.

This book is also an one woman show.

Shockaholic 
*language warning*

I've had this book on my shelf for years, thinking I had to read Wishful Drinking first. I didn't. I'm glad I waited to read them both together, but they aren't exactly written with a timeline in mind, so you can technically read them in any order. You do see a difference in her writing pre/post ECT.
Or maybe she just didn't care. That sounds like her too. 


Her second autobiography, memoir, diary, random thoughts ... whatever you want to call it... felt deeper to me. 

She talks a lot about her father. and their relationship; how it evolved over time.

She opens up about ECT treatments, and what her being diagnosed as manic and depressed meant for her and those around her.

She opens up about her relationship with Michael Jackson - not that I knew much about him, but it was an interesting chapter, nonetheless. 

and her time with a senator. 

She continues to talk about her mother, and her daughter, whom she loves very much.

 This book, as a whole, is definitely more focused in terms of chapters and about her father. 

She has lost memories from her ECT so she can only share so much with us, but her realness is constant. 

Her humor is constant. 

She may be "Princess Leia" and "General Organa" but in reality, she was just Carrie. 

and she is fucking amazing.

She didn't want her life to imitate art, she wanted it to be art. and it was. 

and I like to think she is up there now, partying it up with her father, catching up on these last few years apart. 




She will be missed. 




   


It's not the end... only the beginning


Hello lovelies! 

2016 has been quite the year :) 

I've been blogging on my sister site for about 2 years now, and I was getting tired of reading a lot of ...well, stuff that wasn't so great.

Not to say that I didn't find a few gems, because I did. 

But I wanted to read my personal TBR pile too and talk about those too. So I did. 
This past summer I started my own lil blog here, and it's been going alright for the past 6 months. 

My first few posts were books that I didn't even need to reread I knew so well, such as Harry Potter and Pendragon but I wanted them out of my head and onto my blog. As the year went on, I found more and more series that I fell in love with through books that were sitting on my shelves (for AGES) and some were new recommendations. 

TOP FAVES OF 2016: 

- Lunar Chronicles - I had Cinder, Scarlet,& Cress for so long but when I finally picked them up I kicked myself for having waiting for long. However, if I had read them when I bought them I'd have been waiting for the sequels. So really... what's worse? 

- Iron Fey - I don't remember who or how I found out about this series, but I went out and bought the whole series... which took a while because no store had *all* of them, so I drove around Ontario hitting all the stores until I found them all - and in decent condition. Kagawa's world drew me in and I never wanted to leave. 

- my Maddox boys... *swoon* McGuire's Maddox boys will never cease to amaze me. I've had a few that I found locally, and reread them quite a bit, but then I got the rest of them and Beautiful Funeral came out... Needless to say, I'm STILL crying. 

- Splintered - this creepy twist on Alice in Wonderland kept me up at night. I read the first two last year, but the final one came out in paperback this year (and the novella collection, but I caved and got that in HC) and I devoured them. This one left me in feels for days as well. 

That's about it for "series" - there were a lot of single books that I loved, such as Me Before You, Scrappy little Nobody, HP and the Cursed Child (IT'S CANON! Deal with it),  and Holding up the Universe that all made my year a fantastic one as far as books go. I lot of rereads happened with V.C. Andrews books, as I co-run a facebook fan page for her. 

As of right this moment, I've read 91 personal books, and 87 books for my sister site.

178 books with 5 days left in the year isn't too shabby, if I do say so myself. 

(To compare, 2015 personal books were 42, and TDC Book Reviews was about 12 or 13 - when I only did 1/month)

For those wondering how the heck I know this, I keep a "Book notebook" - what I have on my shelves, what I want, what I've read etc. Can you say "Nerd"? I'm so proud of it though.



2017 Goals

Number wise, who knows what'll happen. Life is always changing. 

Personal Book goals: 

- Red Queen series - I've read Red Queen but couldn't get into Glass Sword at the time. So I'll give it another go, especially with King's Cage coming out soon. 

- Dorothy Must Die series - I've been reading this all the way along, but the final one comes out in March so *squeee* It's time for a series reread. 

- With Netflix making their own Series of Unfortunate Events I'm going to do the reread challenge once this blog is all written up. I read them years ago when I got them and loved them, so they'll be nice easy reads to wrap up 2016 and open up 2017.  

- R.L Stine has a few new Fear Street books that I recently bought that I'd like to catch up on. He's so amazing. 

- I'd like to reread The Mortal Instruments. I got Lady Midnight earlier this year, but have yet to read it. (I KNOW, I KNOW!) but it deserves the time and commitment.... and it's just an excuse to reread that whole fantastic series again. 

- I don't feel like I've read enough "Classics" so some of those on my list, like A Christmas Carol, Adventures of Huck Finn, Scarlet Letter... Make me feel like a more "well-rounded" reader, ya'know?                                                               

Yesterday was Boxing Day here in Canada (USA Black Friday equivalent, but black friday is usually better deals...) and I went a bit crazy ordering books online. 16 new ones ordered, plus I ordered 9 last week, so that should keep me busy for a month or so *big nerdy grin*


As far as my blog goes, I'll keep doing what I'm doing. I'm always open to new opportunities, but ARCs and the like go through my sister site: http://www.tdcbookreviews.com/  
Come check us out and submit a request for reviews/ARCs there if you wish. I go by "Canadian Rebel" over there. 


I've made some fun contacts through doing this, and I'm hopeful for a fun, book-filled 2017. 


<3  
Alex 



a sample shot of my book notebook and my TBR/want lists in colour format :)


Saturday 24 December 2016

Review: Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass 3)

 Sarah J Maas
 Heir of Fire
 Throne of Glass - Book 3


This one has a lot going on all at once.

Since Celaena has left the castle, and the men who love her and want her protected, behind, she is now on the hunt for Maeve for answers only she can give.

Unfortunately, Maeve has stuck with Celaena with the goal of being "worthy" before she will give her answers. If she can get trained in her magic, with the help of Rowan - the mysterious magical creature who is a soldier of Maeve's - then she will get her answers.

and then some.

So, Celaena is stuck in this limbo city of sorts while she is forced to go through training and chores yet again

Just by a different hand  *looks Rowan up and down slowly, with wiggly eyebrows*

Meanwhile, Chaol and Dorian have a mutual acquaintance they are trying to handle. Aedion, who was a General in the Army and is technically a prince - as well as a relative of Celaena. We see their relationship between the boys come to head, with secrets, lies, a history and the promise of a future ...

...until the King we all know and love (yeah, right) gets wind of what is going on.

There is also a third storyline going on about some witches fighting and taking on some giant creatures. These chapters confused me to no end and either I missed something along the way or am just oblivious;

Both are totally possible, let's be honest here.

Maas's writing is just as creative and enthralling as ever. She pulls you in deeper and deeper into this world with each page (mind the weird witch plot but hey...)  and then it all comes to a stunning conclusion - for a book - and you are left sitting in a pool of your tears and scrambling for the next book right away because WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN ?!

(which of course I ordered a few days ago and am still waiting for so over Christmas I will have to distract my brain with other options from this towering TBR pile. Gives me some time to stop crying, no?)




Friday 23 December 2016

Review: A Beautiful Funeral (Maddox Brothers)

 Jamie McGuire
 A Beautiful Funeral


I struggle to even write this review without bawling my eyes out all over again. It took me about 2 hours to finish, and I cried the rest of the day. Hubby was worried something was wrong with me, and I do not promise to not cry while I write this.

Everything that has been building up comes to head in this stunning conclusion (although I use that term loosely since the author has stated this isn't the end...). The secrets that each brother and wife have kept from one another for the last 10 years is finally unveiled and you will be at a loss for words the whole time.

Each chapter is from someone else's perspective, which is wonderful. For a book so intricate, it's quite small though. There are moments and conversations where I wish we got the other side's POV on it (like when Abby calls out Cami. My goodness).

but the word "beautiful" in the title is not strong enough to describe what this book is.

The Maddox family is under attack.
Thomas and Travis will do anything to keep their family safe.
Unfortunately, it means keeping them in oblivion, burning them, making sacrifices ... and trying to find some redemption in the disaster they have created.

The family has grown substantially over the years, with Jim now having 10 grandkids. We see how the couples have evolved over time, how relationships have grown, how they have been strained but most of all, we see that this family is one that no one should mess with. Ever.

In a plot to rip the Maddox family apart, the most powerful people in Vegas will come to realize that they've messed with the wrong family.

and here I am, crying again.

This book will rip at your soul as we read how the characters we've fallen in love with over time will be pushed to the brink of everything they can handle, and still hold on to the bonds of family.


Thursday 22 December 2016

Review: Maddox Brothers -Tyler and Ellie

 Jamie McGuire
 Beautiful Burn


I had to double check that I was reading a Maddox brother book when I started reading this. Ellie is not the kind of girl that I pictured with a Maddox guy... but let's start at the beginning.

Ellie Edson is the typical spoiled rich girl that hates her life. She drinks, parties, trashes everything she owns and everyone she knows just to get the attention of her parents and sister. She meets Tyler Maddox at a house party she is throwing one night, pulls a "Travis Maddox" with him and sends him on his way.

but now, they are in each other's heads.

She finally pushed the limits with her parents and she's told to learn how to get on her feet by herself - Sober up, get a job, pay your way.  So she heads out for a job interview and is hired on the spot as the assistant on the local newspaper since no one else has applied for it in a year.  When they find out she is also good with a camera, she gets the gig of following the local firefighters around and capturing the nit and grit of what they do and who they are.

And who they are includes Tyler Maddox.

Unfortunately, Ellie is a big train wreck. She's struggling to control her addiction habits and she puts Tyler through hellfire. The question is how much they want to burn each other.


This is the least favourite of all the books. I don't understand how Tyler could put up with Ellie; (high five to anyone who can handle their struggles and come out clean, it's definitely not easy) but to do what she did to Tyler didn't sit well with me. I felt like he could've done better, but at the same time - this was real life. You cannot control who you fall in love with. Of course, when a Maddox boy falls in love, he fights tooth and nail for her so I can't hold it against the poor boy.

The writing is just as fantastic as the other books; McGuire's writing is so powerful and so emotional throughout all her books, and it doesn't stop here. For some reason, Ellie bugged me and I wanted more of Tyler's perspective rather than hers.

This is the final of the brother's stories; everything comes together in the next book! You've been warned.




Tuesday 20 December 2016

Review: Maddox Brothers - Taylor and Falyn

 Jamie McGuire
 Beautiful Sacrifice

This is the first of the twin's story - Taylor. Taylor is not someone we get much of in this book, as it is told from Falyn's perspective, but he is definitely all Maddox.

Falyn Fairchild is running from her past. She is running from a life of being controlled. She is running for a chance to be free. For a chance to be herself.

With her life calming down as she waits tables at a local cafe in a touristy area, and gets to live in the small apartment upstairs, she slowly works towards her goal of getting closure. If you can call it that. Scars like this never heal completely, but they can get better.

In walks Taylor Maddox one day, with a few local firefighter buddies to grab some lunch. Falyn has spent much too long throwing up walls to let her defences drop over some cute dimples and gorgeous eyes though.

Unfortunately for those defences, Maddox boys do not give up when they know what they want.
and what Taylor wants, even though she drives him crazy, is Falyn.

Being pushed and pulled in every which way, these two are so not right for each other, that they are perfect together.

Falyn needs to be sure though. Once Taylor knows her secrets, she needs to know if he still can love her. If he still can need her.  Doing what she thinks is best for him might be the thing that ends up burning both of them. Sacrifices will be made. Some sacrifices are worth it though.


This story is going 8 different ways to Sunday. There is a lot going on, a lot is revealed, and I was surprised at how McGuire took their story (and kind of ticked off). Life is messy though, and messes come in all shapes and sizes.  People make mistakes but mistakes are subjective.  Falyn is sharp and just as much of a smart ass as any Maddox boy needs, but she's less intense than the others. There was a different feel to this one that I can't describe - not to say it's bad compared to the others by any means, but their story (and her story) reads differently than the rest. We don't see as much Taylor as I'd have liked, but that's circumstantial. Their story teaches us how love can survive over distance. If you want something, you work for it. You jump, or hop, and you hold on to it. You make the sacrifices you need to make.

and even some you don't want to.





Monday 19 December 2016

Review: Maddox Brothers - Thomas and Liis

 Jamie McGuire
 Beautiful Redemption

The next brother we meet is Thomas. He is the oldest of the boys, and is the one who the brothers see the least of. Being away for work keeps him pretty busy, and to keep the family at peace, he just avoids them as much as he can.

When Liis Lindy is transferred from Chicago to San Diego on request of Thomas Maddox, she knows she's in for it. She's heard of his reputation and knows he's a hardass. To her, this is just one step toward her ultimate goal up the food chain to Quantico. She can handle it.

What she can't handle is being a second choice for a Maddox man. What they thought was a fun, one-night stand turns into an awkward first day of work... and things snowball from there.

With Thomas working on a top-secret case that could cause his whole world to go up in flames, he finds himself trusting his heart one more time to not let him down. He knows he screwed up before; he remembers what heartbreak feels like. No one wants to see Thomas go through that again (he's kind of a hardass boss when he's heartbroken) so Liis must decide if it's worth it to see whether or not a Maddox boy is more important than everything she has ever worked towards.

The feels just keeps getting stabbed over and over again; McGuire does not give us fans a break with these boys and the ladies they fall in love with. Told from only Liis's perspective, we see one third of a very sad  triangle. No girl wants to feel like she's the second choice... especially when what seems like Thomas's first choice is always going to be around. The family drama comes to a boiling point in this one, and Thomas must go against everything his gut tells him to .. do what his gut tells him.

Remember back in Travis and Abby's story I told you to pay attention to a few key scenes? The who, how, and what is revealed with Thomas's story so brace yourself. You're in for quite a ride.


Saturday 17 December 2016

Review: Maddox Brothers - Trenton and Cami

 Jamie McGuire
 Beautiful Oblivion


Trenton Maddox has been in love with Camille "Cami" Camlin since... forever.
but he has never done anything about it.

Cami is holding on for dear life to her independance. She has moved out, she has a job, she has her friends, she keeps her brothers at bay... which keeps her parents at bay.

Working at the Red Door bar, she busies herself with work and the small drama that goes on between the patrons and her best friend Raegan. She also has her own drama with boyfriend T.J living all the way in California for his super distracting and demanding job.

When Trenton Maddox starts hanging around more, she pays no attention to it. She can be friends with a Maddox brother; no big deal.

Except Maddox boys don't give their hearts easy, and they are not as tough as everyone thinks. When they fall, they fall hard. No amount of tattoos is going to be able to cover up the heartbreak that Cami could cause if she plays her cards wrong.


Yet again, McGuire has given us a perfect boy who's in love with the only woman he could be. Told only from Cami's perspective, we see both sides of her heart battle it out between what she thinks she wants, and what she knows she has.  Just as real and smart-assy as Travis and Abby's story, McGuire tells a story of the power of true love and how fragile it can be. It's possible to love more than one person, but how you love them can never be the same. Cami's story teaches us to follow your heart, consequences be damned (to some extent - don't be heartless now) while Trent shows us how important that first love can be.



Friday 16 December 2016

Review: Maddox Brothers - Travis and Abby

 Jamie McGuire
 Beautiful Disaster Series

*Spoilers

Beautiful Disaster


I remember the first time I saw this book. The cover caught my eye, and the summary on the back caught my attention. It was finished that day.

Abby Abernathy is trying to start again. She left her hometown, best friend in tow, to start college far away from her past. She's trying to be the good girl now. The girl no one knows. The girl only known as Abby.

When America, her best friend, drags her out to see the secret Circle put on their local fight - she is not impressed when her cardigan is the splash zone for the losing opponent's blood. However, when she looks up, Travis Maddox is standing in front of her and her whole world is about to change.

Travis Maddox is definitely the school slut. If he carves any more notches into his bedpost, the bed is going to collapse. Not that anyone has ever been in his bed, the girls don't make it past the couch. Classy, right? but there is something about Abby that he is so intoxicating that he cannot get enough of her.

They become best friends, and Abby is insistent they stay only friends. On the night of one of Travis' fights, he bets her that if he can go the whole fight without getting hit once then she will have to live with him for one month. If he gets hit, he has to be abstinent for one month.

Travis doesn't get hit.

Spoiler alert, they fall in love. They both have issues to deal with though and Abby's past cannot stay hidden for long, and trying to get through those together, or apart, is difficult on both of them.


Walking Disaster


This book is Beautiful Disaster told through Travis's' eyes. It is just as beautiful a story as it is through Abby's. I can never choose which one I love more. We see a lot more interaction between Travis and Shepley (America's boyfriend and Travis' cousin), as well as his dad and brothers which is very sweet. Some scenes in Abby's story end when she falls asleep, but we see the scene continue since Travis is still awake which is fun.   Definitely read Abby's story first; fall in love with Travis through her eyes before you fall in love with him through his.

Trust me, you're going to fall in love with him.

We get a glimpse into their future, about a decade down the line.
This becomes important so read carefully.

Beautiful Wedding


Spoiler alert, they get married.

The how, what, why I will leave for you to find out. This short novella gives us 2 stories, technically.  The first is their elopement on the infamous night (this night pops up in every book to follow so pay attention to it) and it goes between both their perspectives.

However, America is royally pissed off that she didn't get to be a witness, nevermind Abby's maid of honour, so she is allowed to plan their vow renewal on their one year anniversary that we get to see as well. It's all very sweet and all ties together - this overlaps in every book to follow too, so pay extra attention to this one.


McGuire's writing never faults for a second. The characters she has written are so perfect and tragic and their stories will be ripping you to shreds again and again. Travis and Abby are my favourite of the couples, and not just because they were my first (but partly because we get both sides to their story). The way they feel about each other and even after all they go through, Abby is right when she says most girls dream about a guy like Travis - at least in how he treats her. What girl doesn't want to be treated like they are the most precious thing in the world to their partner? If you're lucky, you find one.
These two are ones I come visit often and I laugh and cry at the same parts each time. They really are a beautiful disaster, but it works.
and it's awesome.

You will not be able to put these Maddox boys down.
1 down, 4 to go.


   
                     







Wednesday 14 December 2016

Review: The fault in our stars

 John Green
 The Fault in Our Stars


This is one of those few books that I watched the movie to first (I KNOW! don't give me that look) but I knew it was going to be sad and at the time, I was too lazy to read it - don't ask me what I was doing... I should be smacked for this one.

Anyways, I bawled my eyes out on the movie - duh -  and when I went to find my hubby for a hug he thought my grandpa had died because I was such a mess and his response was "Why else would you be crying so much?" to which I started crying more with "IT WAS SO SAD!" and he rolled his eyes but hugged me anyways.

but I digress...


The book was better, of course. Now, I don't know all the medical stuff so forgive me ...

Hazel Grace Lancaster is dying of thyroid cancer. It has spread into her lungs as well so she struggles to breathe at any given time.  She's 16.   Her parents are very concerned with the side effects of cancer. Such as depression. (even though it's more of a side effect of dying, really) so they try and encourage her to get out and enjoy the time she has.

One day, she decides to go to the support group at the local church. This is where she meets a boy named Isaac. Isaac lost an eye to a type of eye cancer.
The next time she goes, Issac brings a friend for support... as now Isaac is losing his second eye.

This friend is Augustus Waters.

Augustus Waters is NEC for over a year now (No Evidence of Cancer) He lost part of his leg to a type of bone cancer.   How to describe Augustus Waters is like trying to describe a colour to someone. (Not Isaac obviously*.

*That's not insensitive. Well, it is. but, it goes with the book. just read it okay?!)  <- totally typed on accident! No pun, promise.

Anyways, Gus used to be the basketball star. He's tall and gorgeous and witty and smart and all this awesomeness rolled into a 17yr old with 1.5 legs.

Augustus and Hazel fall in love.
They become inseparable, of sorts, but not in a corny, bella-edward way. More of a Romeo and Juliet way...

So there is this book that Hazel is in love with. She rereads it all the time. She gets Gus in love with it. and he uses it as a way to be utterly romantic with her until the end of time. (Honestly, John Green is a genius - he created a book within a book, and fans want this book too! crazy smart!) It's called 'An Imperial Affliction' and there are quotes and characters that are used throughout to explain Hazel and Gus' feelings at any given moment. It's all very sweet.  I'm clearly not doing very well with explaining this part but just trust me.

Anyways, John Green basically stabs us fans right in the heart over and over. You are drowning in your tears halfway through the book, and you pretty much don't stop until a few hours after you're finished with it. (If that). In something I read in just a few hours, he (re)introduced me to these 2 beautiful people who are dealt a very shitty hand in life and still find an infinity together. They fall in love so hard, and so perfectly .... sigh, it's just tragically beautiful. The timing, the how, the what, the where, and everything else going on with Isaac and Hazel's parents and the author from AIA will have you looking for your own infinity in whatever way you can get it.

Some infinities may be smaller than others, but it doesn't make them any less beautiful.
or perfect.

Give it a few years in between crying jags and you'll want to revisit Hazel and Gus in their infinity and see the beauty in their world.



Friday 9 December 2016

Review: Scrappy Little Nobody

 Anna Kendrick
 Scrappy Little Nobody


How could you not love this chick? Right from the introduction, you are already laughing at how awesome and funny she is.

This really is more of a fangirl rant rather than a review. I loved everything about this book.

Well, except when she hated on Canadian TV. Us Canadian's aren't really that bad.... but we apologize profusely for the ones who give us a bad rep.
Sorry.

Her life seemed pretty cool. Growing up in a small town in Maine may not have been all glamorous as a child, but it sounds cool to someone who grew up just outside of the big, scary city that is Toronto. (even at 26 I still think it's scary. have you ever tried to drive Toronto in rush hour? I rest my case.) and then she got to do all these kinds of crazy fun things with theatre people, and in NY and LA. As someone who's idea of an awesome time is netflix and crocheting or reading (because I've yet to master them simultaneously) that all seems pretty freakin' cool to me.

She writes like one would talk, which is fantastic. It's not stuffy and it's real. I devoured the book in 2 sittings, only because work got in the way and I like to eat so I got off my comfy couch and out of the sweatpants. (Which, if by some miracle Anna is reading this - I have harry potter sweatpants, They're pretty rad. come on over and let's do a HP movie marathon. just saying.... i'd be down. You seem like the mix of a hufflepuff and gryffindor to me. I'm a ravenclaw.)

Other points I made note of throughout:
- your twilight premiere dress was awesome. yay for LBDs.
- I named my car too. Paul, after my husband's middle name - because he hates it and i like to bug him.
- Zach Morris all the way! <3
- 'squirrely little weirdo' would have also been a good name for this book *nods wisdomly*
- ikea is the devil. but you gotta love it. *tosses some candle holders and a bookshelf in the cart*
- I agree about Christmas.
- You're my idol because you sneak away from parties to read.
- My brother is named Mike too. he's ridiculous but he's awesome. he doesn't play magic,but my weirdo hubby does. men are strange.
- That Tori chick totally did it!!!!

To those reading this, but have yet to read the book, those are just some of the awesome points that you will come across while reading this fantastic book.

I'm serious.
It's awesome.

There is also a reading guide at the end.
I made the post-it.
find it on one of my twitter posts, because for cereal, every part is my favourite.

Go read the book. You'll thank me later.

This is one of those biographies that I will reread. because she is just that funny.
and awesome.

Have I mentioned it's awesome?



Tuesday 6 December 2016

Review: Stars Above (Lunar Chronicles 6)

 Marissa Meyer
 Stars Above
 Lunar Chronicles - Book 6


In the final installment of the Lunar Chronicles, we get 9 different stories. A mix of prequels, sequels and one unique twist on another classic if it was set in this beautiful world (or is it universe?) that you will come to love.

The stories are:

The Keeper: How Michelle Benoit came to help Princess Selene.

Glitches: Prequel to Cinder.

The Queen's Army: How Wolf came to be ... well, Wolf.

Carswell's Guide to being lucky: A short story about Thorne's childhood.

After Sunshine passes by: Prequel to Cress.

The Princess and the Guard: Winter and Jacin's childhood.  

The Little Android: A take on "The Little Mermaid" by H.C. Anderson

The Mechanic: Kai and Cinder's first meeting, through Kai's eyes.

Something Old, Something New: Epilogue to Winter. (Grab the kleenex for this one!)


They read quick, and they explain a lot. It makes me want to go back and reread the whole series over again with this new information (well, not new but with the help of these explanations).
Of course, it's really just an excuse to go and reread the series over again. The characters are a group that will stick with you forever; the lessons they teach, the twist on the fairy tales we (in 2016 earth) have grown up with... It's pure magic. You will be wanting more and more.

Meyer's writing is witty and inspiring. She puts you in the middle of her stories as you watch the events unfold before your eyes with her clear and sharp descriptions, and of course the witty dialogue. This, for me, is a world I will be revisiting as often as a potterhead does Hogwarts.



Monday 5 December 2016

Review: Skipping Christmas

 John Grisham
 Skipping Christmas

First (big) snow of the year is a good excuse to stay home and read a christmas book.
Especially when you love the movie adaptation.
My mom is a big Grisham fan, so I borrowed this from her last time I went to visit.

If you've seen the movie "Christmas with the Kranks", with Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis, then you've basically read the book. To be honest, I think we got more from the movie.

But I digress...

When their only daughter decides to join the Peace Corps, and will be a gone until next Christmas, Luther Krank decides to do some math.

The Kranks spent $6, 100 on Christmas last year. Since they will be alone this year, why not take half of that and go on a 10-day cruise instead? As long as Luther agrees to still donate to the local charities, Nora is in.

They will skip Christmas.

Of course, living in a community that is Christmas-crazy, word gets out fast.
And the neighbours are not impressed.
No tree? but the money supports the local boy scouts.
No Frosty on the roof? but the whole street does it.
No Christmas eve party? but what will everyone do if there is no infamous Krank Christmas Eve bash.

Then, their daughter calls Christmas Eve morning with a surprise: She's engaged!
And she is bringing home her fiance.
Tonight.

A very cute story that will have you giggling your way through this short novel - I personally read it in one sitting while hubby was at my feet netflix bingeing some show I didn't pay attention to.

I've heard a mix of things about Grisham's writing, and I get them all now. This book was kind of monotone - nothing really dramatic happened, but it was difficult to get the movie out of my head. It was less funny than the movie, that's for sure.  If you like feel good, silly, fluffy, christmas stories then definitely give it a go. Just try to get Tim Allen out of your head; he may be a great Santa, but he's not the Luther Krank that's in this book.







Sunday 4 December 2016

Review: Holding up the Universe

 Jennifer Niven
 Holding up the Universe


This was not picked up because I heard about it, or because I read her other books (although now I'm going to be), but more because I saw a lot of people were reading it, and I was intrigued by the title.

Well.

Let me tell you that it was read it one sitting, on a Saturday night - because that's how I party - and I only stopped to switch laundry around and let the dog outside... and even those I was late on because I was so enthralled by this story I did not want to put it down for a second.

In this story we are shown two perspectives:  Libby and Jack.

Libby is well known around town for one of the worst moments of her life: the day she had to be rescued from her own home. because she was to fat to get out the door on her own.  She has lost a lot of the weight, and is now trying to start again. To start again in a town that knows her by one of her worst moments. She is still going to try.

Jack is ... well, he's kind of the Jake Ryan of the world. (Sixteen Candles. Anyone? OMG if you do not know this reference, please please please go watch this movie.)  He's on-again/off-again with the popular girl, He's well known and liked by pretty much everyone, He's got a good group of friends (but they are kind of jerks...) Jack has a secret though. and his secret is one that gets him into trouble.

A stupid game with his friends ends up making these two unlikely of people come together. and what blossoms between with them is more magical than anything Castiel can do.  ps. the supernatural references are ridiculously amazing; who doesn't dream that they are dating the 3 of them?

This book will hit you in very feel you possibly have. You can hard-core relate to both characters, all the way along. and I love*love*love when authors give us different perspectives.

This is one of those books that will change your life.
It will change your outlook on life.

It had me wanting to go back in time to change some of the things I've done to the Libbys in my life.  It will have you wanting to be a better person. No one is perfect, of course, but we all know that there are things we do not know about a person; their experiences, their struggles, their home life, their personal stories, making that Golden Rule something we all need to think about before acting.

Yet at the same time, it really makes you think of those little moments that change your life. or another person's life. Sometimes they are good moments. Sometimes they are bad moments. Sometimes the moments are filled with awkwardness. Sometimes you have all the swagger because you are a bad ass mo-fo.

Whatever you are, and whoever you are, know this: you are you. you are allowed to be that you.

and you are wanted.



Saturday 3 December 2016

Review: Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass 2)

 Sarah J. Maas
 Crown of Midnight
 Throne of Glass - Book 2


The hits just keep coming with this series.

The King's Champion is given a name, with the order to bring back their head. 

While Celaena Sardothien is an infamous assassin, she frowns upon killing the innocent "just because". This girl makes up her own rules, all the while playing the part of the good little hired hand. So long as the King does not find out, she will be fine... she hopes. 

Meanwhile, there are things going on in the castle and the city that cannot be explained. Too many players are involved and Celaena has very few people she can trust, yet she must find out who is behind it all before she loses everything, and everyone, she has come to love.

We get a lot more background info in this and ... of, well, everything else too.  Murder, betrayal, magic, love triangles, friendships and choices that will domino effect everyone around Celaena, who must keep the secrets, or die trying. 

Maas' writing never falters. She spins a tale of secrets, of suspense, of hope...

...and then yells "Plot Twist" and you're left there stunned, in tears and turning the page as fast as possible. Watch your eyes in this one, mine kept glancing over the pages and hello, major plot points! 
Your heart breaks a few times throughout this one, so have the kleenex nearby if you're a big crier like I am.  and it's only book two, sheesh. 

One night changes everything. 
Blood is all that matters. 
Trust no one. 
Do not be afraid. 




Wednesday 30 November 2016

#booktag Book Sacrifice

The Sacrifice Book Tag
(thanks to Ariel: http://bit.ly/2gSUKPG) 


This one seems fun! End of the world type scenarios, let's see what kind of damage I can do to the precious!  (I'm a writer, not a video-er so here I go!)



Situation #1-  Zombie Apocalypse. The Military has found that Zombies hate overhyped books. So you run and grab...


The Hunger Games.
I know, I know but honestly, they weren't as fantastic as everyone says.
(and don't get me started on the movies)

Well, the first one was amazing, but they got worst as you went along. Bye bye. 



Situation #2- Torrential Downpour; Before your hair gets ruined, you grab a sequel to use as an umbrella:


Glass Sword.
I could not get into this book! Red Queen was good (albeit not a new concept)
and then Glass Sword started off sooooo sllloowwww. So I stopped.
Haven't gone back... but it's been following me around the room
like the Mona Lisa lately, so it'll be on the 2017 list with King's whatever it is. 



Situation #3- Sitting in an English Lecture, where the prof won't stop rambling about this Classic that is amazing but you disagree so you throw this book at him:



PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
I hate Jane Austen.
Carry on :) 


Situation #4- Global Warming! Oh no. The world is now a wasteland. How to survive? Stay in the library (where you're hanging out) and burn whatever you can find, so have no guilt about burning....


There are so many I don't care for:
-Most of John Green's stuff (I liked TFIOS)
- Anything by Jane Austen
- To Kill a Mockingbird
- OH OH Secret Brother by VC Andrews - HE DIED MR NEIDERMAN! Leave him DEAD!
- The Giver
- A great and terrible beauty trilogy

I'd have myself a toasty lil fire *adjusts halo*


That was fun.
Poor books.
Not.
Let me know what you think! 




Monday 28 November 2016

#booktag Gilmore Girls!

So, I've been seeing these #booktags around the community, and I am very intrigued!
After watching the Gilmore Girls revival this weekend, I figured I'd start with this one and see what happens. (Thanks to ReadbyJess for the tags) 





1. "I just got hit by a deer" - character having the worst day ever.


This one is really difficult! I read mostly YA dystopian stuff where all our young maiden's are having crappy lives until they realize they are the key to saving the planet. 

jacob black had some rough days...

Bilbo Baggins had a birthday he'd rather soon not remember (Even though he had an awesome adventure)

*Spoiler Alert for Assassin's Blade* but the day she loses Sam was a horrible one!

Bryce Loski in Flipped made some terrible choices one day and ended up almost ruining the best thing that ever happened to him.

so, days suck, but their lives turned out pretty good. 



2. Stars Hollow - wildly eccentric cast.


Hands down, The Lunar Chronicles. Take your everyday fairy tales (as we know them), and make them all kinds of crazy. and cyborgs. and in love with each other, naturally but in the middle of a war between Earth and the Moon. Just Fantastic.
*i dont own the pic. the artist signed it in the corner ... found on pinterest




3. COFFEE - a book/character you're addicted to.


The Maddox boys, because no one can really just pick one. Jamie McGuire's series about these brothers and the women they are in love with is just too perfect for words. You never want the story to end. 


4. Kim's Antiques - a world you'd be afraid to enter.


Literally? Sheesh, where to start? Hunger Games, Divergent, Game of Thrones, the Maze Runner. I'll pass on those invites.

If you mean a book I'm afraid to read? Well, none that I've come across. 


5. Luke's Diner - A comfort read.


Harry Potter, wands down.




6. Emily - the HBIC (Head Bitch In Charge)

Dorothy from "Dorothy Must die".
Man, she is a lot different than Judy Garland 



7. Lorelai and Rory - best character dynamic.


Honestly, this goes back to the Lunar Chronicles.
Thorne and Cinder, or Iko and Cinder, or Thorne and himself...

Or Jas and Georgia from
Confessions of Georgia Nicolson. Friendship goals right there; Trust me, you won't be disappointed. 

8. "I pushed him in a lake" - book you'd chuck in a lake.

I read *A LOT* of bad things for my sister site review blog.

From my personal choices, I'd have to go with
"me before you" or "
ensnared" by a.g howard
because I was drowning in my tears from both. 



9. Kirk - the weirdest book you've ever read.


I also read *A LOT* of weird things for my sister site review blog.

From my personal collection, I'd have to go with
The Neverending Story


or
Magic Kingdom for sale - Sold by Terry Brooks.

I love them both but strange, strange, strange. 



10. "It's a lifestyle, it's a religion" - a book that means more to you than any other.


Again, I'm going to have to go with Harry Potter. It's a potterhead thing, we can't help it. 

But Georgia Nicolson's books are just as lifestyle basing as they can be. If you haven't read them, I don't care how old you are, go do it. She is just amazing. Louise Rennison (bless her cotton socks, may she rest peacefully) had the most amazing story come to life in my head. and my friends who also read it just absorbed the personality coming off the pages. We learned french from her (even though french was in our school because, eh canada) but Georgia did it better. It's truly a lifestyle. and a religion. and praise Buddha and baby Jesus for her. 



Alrighty that's it for now! If you agree (or disagree) let me know in the comments

(mmmmmmmmmmmmm, books <3)