Sniffing A Book

Author : Michelle Moran Read : 7/30/2017 Pages : 429 Rating : 5/5 Format : physical Book Description : At the dawn of the Roman Empire, when tyranny ruled, a daughter of Egypt and a son of Rome found each other... Selene's legendary parents are gone. Her country taken, she has been brought to the city of Rome in chains, with only her twin brother, Alexander, to remind her of home and all she once had. Living under the watchful eyes of the ruling family, Selene and her brother must quickly learn how to be Roman - and how to be useful to Caesar. She puts her artistry to work, in the hope of staying alive and being allowed to return to Egypt. Before long, however, she is distracted by the young and handsome heir to the empire... When the elusive 'Red Eagle' starts calling for the end of slavery, Selene and Alexander are in grave danger. Will this mysterious figure bring their liberation, or their demise? Response : This book was hard for me to get

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick Read: 7/29/2017 Pages: 391 Rating: 4/5 Format: physical Book Description: Nora has never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment. After a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life. - goodreads Response: This was my book for "read a book in 1 day" and "read a

Author: Trevor Noah Read: 2/21/2017 Pages: 304 Rating: 4/5 Format: Audio Book Description: The compelling, inspiring, and comically sublime story of one man's coming-of-age, set during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed. Trevor Noah's unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of the Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison. Living proof of his parents' indiscretion, Trevor was kept mostly indoors for the earliest years of his life, bound by the extreme and often absurd measures his mother took to hide him from a government that could, at any moment, steal him away. Finally liberated by the end of the South Africa's tyrannical white rule, Trevor and his mother set forth on a grand adventure, living openly and freely and embracing the opportunities won b

Author:  Daisy Goodwin Read:  7/28/2017 Pages:  468 Rating:  1.5/5 Format: audio Book Description:  Cora Cash goes to England to find a husband. She's rich and beautiful and *falls* (literally) into a marriage with the Duke of Wareham, Ivo. However, he's withdrawn and secretive, and the English social circles hold traps and betrayals. Response:  I'm only giving this book 1.5 stars because I basically hated it, but I *did* finish it. The only reason I did, was because I was determined to cross it of my 2017 TBR List. The American Heiress  felt like it had no plot, while there were so many missed opportunities for one. While Goodwin had a "love triangle", it was poorly used and executed. The "love triangle"  between Cora, Teddy, and Ivo was not only painful to read and obvious who Cora would choose, but only really emerged the last few chapters of the book. It was a pathetic excuse for drama. The characters didn't make y

Hey everyone! This week starts BookTube-A-Thon over on YouTube, but there will also be things going on on Instagram as well. I'll be participating, and while I'm not a fast reader, I'm hoping to be able to get through 3 full books and maybe get some others knocked off my TBR list. Wouldn't that be nice haha. BookTube-A-Thon is being hosted by Ariel Bissett and there are video challenges and reading challenges (from what I've gathered). I will be participating in the reading challenges, which can be mixed together, or done separately. It starts at 12 am July 24th (whatever time zone you're in) and goes until  July 30th. Challenges: 1. Read a book with a person on the cover 2. Read a hyped book 3. Finish a book in one day (this one's going to be a hard one for me) 4. Read about a character that is different than you 5. Finish a book completely outdoors 6. Read a book you got because of the cover 7. Read 7 books I know I'm personally not goi

Author: Cassandra Clare Read: 2/20/17 Pages: 592 Rating: 5/5 Format: Physical book Book Description: To save her mother's life, Clary travels to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that by doing so she is breaking the Law, which could mean death. Even worse, Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by Shadowhunters who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight. Luckily, Clary finds an ally in the mysterious Sabastian, who holds a strange attraction for her. As Valentine musters a demon army, can Downwoulders and Shadowhunters put aside their ancient hatred and work together? And can Clary harness her newfound powers to help save them all - whatever the cost? Response: It was very good! Another book I finished in a couple of days between reading at work and at home. There was so much going on all the time there was never a dull moment. Max dying / being murdered by Sa

Author: Daisy Goodwin Read: 02/13/2017 Pages: 404 Rating: 5/5 Format: Physical book Book Description : "They think I am still a little girl who is not capable of being a Queen." Lord Melbourne turned to look at Victoria. "They are mistaken. I have not known you long, but I observe in you a natural dignity that cannot be learnt. To me, ma'am, you are every inch a Queen." In 1837, less than a month after her eighteenth birthday, Alexandrina Victoria - sheltered, small in stature, and female - became Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. Many thought it was preposterous: Alexandrina - Drina to her family - had always been tightly controlled by her mother and her household, and was surely too unprepossessing to hold the throne. Yet from the moment William IV died, the young Queen startled everyone: abandoning her hated first name in favor of Victoria; insisting, for the first time in her life, on sleeping in a room apart from her mother; r

Author: Rick Riordan Read: 01/26/2017 Pages: 521 Rating: 4/5 Format: Physical book Book Description:   Percy is confused.  When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn't know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn't ring any bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name:  Annabeth .  Hazel is supposed to be dead.  When she lived before, she didn't do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem - when the Voice took over her mother and commanded Hazel to use her "gift" for an evil purpose, Hazel couldn't say no. Now, because of her mistake, the future of th

Author: Cassandra Clare Read: 01/15/2017 Pages: 453 Rating: 4/5 Format: Physical book Book Description: Clary fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? Clary would love to spend more time with her best friend, Simon. But the Shadowhunters won't let her go - especially her handsome, infuriating newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil - and also her father. When the second of the Mortal Instruments is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor suspects Jace. Could Jace really be willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father? Response: This book had my feelings all sorts of confused. The beginning was good but as the story