Monday, October 30, 2017

Simply Jane by Randal Licato

Synopsis

Title: Simply Jane
Author: Randal Licato
Pages: 134
Published: 2017
Genre: Young Adult/Faith
My Rating: 5/5
Add To: Goodreads

Jane lives on the brink of her imagination, where all her sorrows and joy collide in a secluded, mountainous place called, The Life Center.
Escaping her life would be an easy dream to have, if the Shadow Man would just let her go.


My Thoughts
★★★★★ Stars
I received this book in return for a honest review.

"I've been there too, but no matter what you feel or not, don't listen to the lies, for in that room, the truth is skewed to keep you lost. We all break at times, but that brokenness doesn't have to define you. We all get confused or lose hope, but even during those times, your heart is still worth being here."


Simply, Jane is such a inspirational, powerful and memorizing read.

This review is not easy to write because there are just to many things to say that I feel like my brain may backfire trying to put it all into words.

This book was so powerful! I was crying from chapter one to the very end. Not because it's sad but because it was like Randal Licato cracked open my head and made his way into my soul and found all the dark places that my fake smiles hide to show me that God is here. He is helping me even if I don't see him...

Simply Jane was wonderfully written and from the start will keep you swimming through the pages, to where you don't want to lift your eyes even for a second.

I know I keep using the words "powerful" "memorizing" and "wonderful" a lot but that is because it really is.

I wish everyone in the world would take the time to read this book. Men and women. Everyone is Jane. Read this book and I'll bet you will relate to Jane. Our stories may be different but that dark place is all the same in all of us.

This book will open a lot of eyes and hearts.

Personal Note
Personally, I cried because I'm in that dark space. I can't tell you how many times I've cried wishing God would appear and talk to me like in the books I've read.

I know people say God is always with you, read the Bible, He'll talk to you. But the Bible is hard to read for a lot of people. And we are 100% human. We might read it a million times and think "okay, God wants me to do this" but because we are human, we make mistakes. And we always have that self doubt voice talking 24/7. It'd be kinda nice if God had some one on one chats with us. Lol

I cried because this book shows hope. It shows I won't be in this dark place forever as long as I keep going. It shows I'm not alone and that battle going on within me isn't me just going crazy. It's real. And exhausting.

The part in chapter one when she's laying there and God says "Dear, lovely Jane, your heart is worthy to be known. [...]" had me squalling. It hit home. Like maybe God DOES care. That the lies the whispers I hear are just that.... Lies.

On page 89....had me sobbing with the realization that yeah, we take our hits but God takes more hits than we do. He protects us.

Page 90" I don't want to end my life; I just want to escape. " is the story if my life. Through and through.

This book is powerful. Extremely powerful.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Drops of Sunshine by Tricia Copeland

Synopsis

Title: Drops of Sunshine
Author: Tricia Copeland
Pages: 130
Published: July 13th 2015
Publisher: true bird publishing llc
Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary
My Rating: 4/5
Add To: Goodreads

With a job as a camp counselor, sixteen-year-old Nina heads to the wilderness for summer break. With her year all she wants is an escape. But some special kids can hear her thoughts and she can't hide her head in the sand like she planned. Can Nina come to terms with all her swirling emotions? Sometimes all it takes is a drop of sunshine!


My Thoughts
★★★★ Stars
I received this book in return for a honest review.

This was such a rare read for me.
I admit, I've read tons of YA books-all kinds
But nothing like this before.

I mean, sure it has the typical teenage love interest and drama.

But the camp for the blind/deaf/etc isn't really something you read about. Especially with such detail. It was beautiful to read about and I loved how they all seemed "magical" because they knew things they shouldn't. They were adorable. "down with purple!" lol

This was a warm read. You know that trusty blanket everyone has? The one you can use year round and it never get to cold or to hot in it becauae it is just perfect and it's... Well... Your favorite. Lol that's what this book is. A warm blanket.

I loved the main character of this book. She is so young but is more mature than the adults she works with. That is so rare. Lol. And kinda sad. It's sad they let that bathroom incident happen to her and did nothing to help. It makes me so mad but I guess that's what makes this real. Because it happens to women every single day. It's heart breaking.

I'm glad that in the long run he got in trouble. Sadly it was like a slap on the wrist though. Ugh!!!

Other than that idiot, I lived this book. It was a quick read that makes you dive and swim through it.

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

{Review} The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich

Synopsis
Title: The Dead House
Author: Dawn Kurtagich
Pages: 400
Published: September 15th 2015
Publisher: Little, Brown Books
Genre: Young Adult/Horror/Mystery/Paranormal
My Rating: 3/5
Add To: Goodreads

Three students: dead.
Carly Johnson: vanished without a trace.

Two decades have passed since an inferno swept through Elmbridge High, claiming the lives of three teenagers and causing one student, Carly Johnson, to disappear. The main suspect: Kaitlyn, "the girl of nowhere."
Kaitlyn's diary, discovered in the ruins of Elmbridge High, reveals the thoughts of a disturbed mind. Its charred pages tell a sinister version of events that took place that tragic night, and the girl of nowhere is caught in the center of it all. But many claim Kaitlyn doesn't exist, and in a way, she doesn't - because she is the alter ego of Carly Johnson.
Carly gets the day. Kaitlyn has the night. It's during the night that a mystery surrounding the Dead House unravels and a dark, twisted magic ruins the lives of each student that dares touch it.
Debut author Dawn Kurtagich masterfully weaves together a thrilling and terrifying story using psychiatric reports, witness testimonials, video footage, and the discovered diary - and as the mystery grows, the horrifying truth about what happened that night unfolds.

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

State of Emergency by Mary Hallberg

Synopsis

Title: State of Emergency
Author: Mary Hallberg
Pages: 158
Published: August 5th 2017
Publisher: Createspace
Genre: Young Adult/Horror/Zombies
My Rating: 4/5
Add To: Goodreads

17-year-old Dallas Langdon is fighting off zombies with a pizza cutter.

Dallas has always loved zombie movies. But when she catches a real live (erm, dead) musician eating a man’s intestines backstage after the show, she knows her movies have become a reality. And what do characters in zombie movies do? Seek shelter. Fortunately, Dallas's eccentric uncle owns a farmhouse in Chattanooga, an eight hour drive from New Orleans. It’s on top of a steep mountain, surrounded by electric fences, and cut off from the worlds of the living and the dead.

Dallas’s parents, still safe at home, laugh at her idea over the phone. Her friends only agree to join her because it’s fall break and they could use a mini vacation anyway.

But then Dallas’s best friend is killed by a zombie horde when they’re attracted to her ringing cell phone. Civilians think their reanimated loved ones simply have the flu, leaving them alive (well, undead) and rapidly increasing the zombies ranks. And since minors can’t buy guns, Dallas’s only weapon is a giant industrial pizza cutter she swipes from a gas station. George A. Romero never mentioned anything like this. With one friend dead and no zombie survival guides to help her, Dallas and her friends must get to Chattanooga before joining the ranks of the undead themselves.
My Thoughts
★★★★ Stars
I received this book in return for a honest review.

New Orleans? Zombies?
How can you possibly go wrong? You can't! 

I just want to put it out there that when I read "17-year-old Dallas Langdon is fighting off zombies with a pizza cutter."
I didn't read anything after that because I was already sold. I HAD to read this book and find out just how that would go down. Lol

Though the pizza cutter I thought of were the round home hand held ones with the handles.... Now I'm pretty sure it's those fancy curved ones. Lol my bad!!! 

I have never read a zombie book quiet like this before. Other books, when zombies attack, no one knows what they are or even uses the word "zombie" most of the time.

The main character (Dallas) knows everything and anything about zombies and wastes no time becoming the "kill first, ask questions later" girl. Even though she's still a teenager, she seems really mature for her age. Which is rare these days. Lol.

I loved the diversity of the zombies. Walkers, runners, even things being zombies you wouldn't have thought possible. Lol

I really enjoyed this book and will probably reread it 100 more times. Lol

But it did have a few issues. There were a few times things would be going smoothly and it suddenly jumps to something else. Leaves me feeling like I missed something.

The other thing is... It left me with a lot of questions but the main one us how do the zombies still have human qualities like the ones at the "office".

I really wish there was a book two but book one ended so well, I don't want that happy bubble to burst. Lol.

Friday, October 13, 2017

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Synopsis

Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #1
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Pages: 416
Published: May 5th 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Genre: New Adult/Fantasy/Mature YA
My Rating: 5/5
Add To: Goodreads

Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price ...

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.

My Thoughts
★★★★★ Stars

I actually finished this day's ago but still am unable to write a complete review because my soul still hasn't returned and my brain is stuck on single words.

Amazing. Yaassss. Yummy. Tamlin. Lucien. Yaassss. Love. Need. Mine. Yaassss. Omg.

Update: 10/13/17

I'm ready to take a shot at putting together full sentences for the love of this book. 

I remember starting this book around the time it came out.... and wanting to put my head through a wall because I hated it. To be fair, it was on kindle - so I think that had a lot to do with it... maybe.

*Fast-forward to a few months ago and hearing non-stop hype over this book* I tried to read it again with audiotape.... Got a headache from hell. 

I decided to try it ONE more time because one of my friends was just head over heels in love and assured me that after the slow beginning, the promise of a magical experience would happen.. okay maybe she didn't use those "EXACT" words - but I am using them because they are freaking true! 

I read the start enough times to know what happened so I skipped to chapter 5, and am so glad I did. I sat down with this beautiful paperback and devoured it like my soul depended on it. 

I still have so many emotions on this book that are so hard to put into words. But I am surely trying. Lol. I thought the writing was magic. Maas has a way of pulling you in and making you feel every ounce of of this story. I admit even the pain of the start, it was boring but you still feel everything. From the hunger to the bitter cold seeping into your bones. 

I loved the diverse characters yet they reminded me so much of something ... or someone but I can't remember what. I fell in love with Lucien and Tam. Couldn't help it. I love Spring Court. and that is saying a lot because I naturally hate spring. Lol I hate Rhy though. But again, I was told when I read book 2, I will love him just as much. But we shall see, won't we. 


If you have read this book - tried to, I mean - After chapter 5,  it starts to pick up and get interesting. 

I love this book and hope I love the rest just as much. 


May or may not add more to this later.

{Review} Hotel for the Lost by Suzanne Young

Synopsis
Title: Hotel for the Lost
Original Title: Hotel Ruby
Author: Suzanne Young
Pages: 304
Published: October 4th 2016(first published November 3rd 2015)
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Genre: Young Adult/Horror
My Rating: 3/5
Add To: Goodreads

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Program comes a haunting, romantic, and suspenseful story about one girl’s search for healing in a grand and mysterious hotel full of secrets.
Stay tonight. Stay forever.
When Audrey Casella arrives for an unplanned stay at the grand Hotel Ruby, she’s grateful for the detour. Just months after their mother’s death, Audrey and her brother, Daniel, are on their way to live with their grandmother, dumped on the doorstep of a DNA-matched stranger because their father is drowning in his grief.
Audrey and her family only plan to stay the night, but life in the Ruby can be intoxicating, extending their stay as it provides endless distractions—including handsome guest Elias Lange, who sends Audrey’s pulse racing. However, the hotel proves to be as strange as it is beautiful. Nightly fancy affairs in the ballroom are invitation only, and Audrey seems to be the one guest who doesn’t have an invite. Instead, she joins the hotel staff on the rooftop, catching whispers about the hotel’s dark past.
The more Audrey learns about the new people she’s met, the more her curiosity grows. She’s torn in different directions—the pull of her past with its overwhelming loss, the promise of a future that holds little joy, and an in-between in a place that is so much more than it seems…
And the 13th chapter will only add to the mystery behind the 13th floor of Hotel Ruby...and ultimately, what it means for Audrey.
Welcome to the Ruby.

{Review} MARY: The Summoning by Hillary Monahan

Synopsis
Title: MARY: The Summoning
Series: Bloody Mary #1
Author: Hillary Monahan
Pages: 245
Published: September 2nd 2014
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Genre: Young Adult/Horror
My Rating: 3/5
Add To: Goodreads

There is a right way and a wrong way to summon her.
Jess had done the research. Success requires precision: a dark room, a mirror, a candle, salt, and four teenage girls. Each of them--Jess, Shauna, Kitty, and Anna--must link hands, follow the rules . . . and never let go.
A thrilling fear spins around the room the first time Jess calls her name: "Bloody Mary. Bloody Mary. BLOODY MARY." A ripple of terror follows when a shadowy silhouette emerges through the fog, a specter trapped behind the mirror.
Once is not enough, though--at least not for Jess. Mary is called again. And again. But when their summoning circle is broken, Bloody Mary slips through the glass with a taste for revenge on her lips. As the girls struggle to escape Mary's wrath, loyalties are questioned, friendships are torn apart, and lives are forever altered.
A haunting trail of clues leads Shauna on a desperate search to uncover the legacy of Mary Worth. What she finds will change everything, but will it be enough to stop Mary--and Jess--before it's too late?

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