Sniffing A Book

Author: Kerri Maniscalco  Read: 4/29/2018 Pages: 326 Rating: 4.5 Format: physical Response: Let me start this off with saying I'm not big on mystery books. I'm more of an action and adventure type of girl, so this was my first tumble into this genre. It was like stepping into the kiddy pool for me, as it was still very YA. Audrey Rose and Thomas Cresswell are some of my favorite characters I've read. Their dynamic is adorable and makes me stupid smile. Stalking Jack the Ripper takes place in the Victorian Era where women, especially lord's daughters, are expected to behave a certain way and like certain things. They're expected to hold tea and like pretty things. They're not supposed to enjoy running around the more shady parts of London trying to solve a murder and cutting into people to study their organs. But as Audrey says at one point, she can like both. Th

Author: Melinda Taub Read: 4/8/2018 Pages: 352 Rating: 4.5 Format: audio Response: Melinda Taub starts this story after Romeo and Juliet have killed themselves for each other. The story fallows Rosaline and the aftermath with Montagues and the Capulets. Rosaline is betrothed to Benvolio to tie the families together, but to protect the families, they work together to find out who is trying to start a war between them. . Listening to this book, I was pleasantly surprised. I couldn’t tell what the ending was going to be and it kept me on my toes the whole way. The dialog was not authentic Shakespearian, but it was more modern and easy to follow along. It's a cute book and a quick read. 

Author: Naoko Takeuchi Read: 04/06/2018 Pages: 235 Rating:  5 Format:  physical Response: It's still weird reading from right to left, from an American point of view, but this book was a solid follow up to the first book. Sailor Moon continues to meet new friends and continues to fight the bad guys with the help of her friends and Luna. I am really enjoying the entire series so far, it's a fun read that takes me back to my childhood. 

Author: Naoko Takeuchi Read: 01/11/2018 Pages: 242 Rating:  5 Format:  physical Response: My 10 year old heart was full as I read this manga. Reading from back to front, right to left is not something I do often, so that took a little getting used to. But as I read, it was like coming home from elementary school and finding Sailor Moon on Cartoon Network. The artwork is like nothing you will find today. The style is something that is very familiar of the 90s, but stands out from what is commonly used today. The storyline is cheesy, and the dialog enhances that. I would not suggest to read this unless you grew up with the manga or tv series. But if you did grow up with it, read it, enjoy it, because this is pure gold. 

Author: Sheila Keenan Read: 01/12/2018 Pages: 202 Rating: 4 Format:  physical Response: There are  3 stories in this book. I'm not a fan of the first one as there wasn't really a plot other than being in the trenches during World War II. The second story takes place in Greenland and it is my favorite. The husky and the handler best friends and protected each other and it just makes my heart warm when stories go that way. The last story was a mixture of flash backs and preset and was heartbreaking as the flashbacks took place in Vietnam. It was good quick read. 

This year has been a rough year for reading. My Goodreads goal was 40 books, but in reality, I wanted more. It's October 15th and I'm only at 16 books read. Send help... and coffee.. I'm going to start adding the new posts for the rest of the year of what I've gotten read, but be prepared to be seriously underwhelmed.

Author:  Francesca Zappia Read:  12/25/2017 Pages:  385 Rating:  5 Format:  physical Response:  Eliza And Her Monsters  is an adorable book that I highly recommend. I was hesitant with the format of the book, with the artwork, messages, and normal chapter format. It actually worked really well for this book though. The main characters were Eliza and Wallace, and neither of them are good with people and social settings. Slowly, Eliza works through some of her social anxiety until she has a major set back and experiences a panic attack and doesn't want to leave her room and her dog, which I totally get. I thought the social anxiety's were beautifully portrayed, and fit perfectly in the story without being overbearing throughout. I thought Eliza's parents were horribly naive as to Eliza's life. They saw it behind a screen and didn't bother to look deeper. I loved her brothers stepping in and showing their parents what damage they had actually ca

Author:  Rick Riordan Read:  11/27/2017 Pages: 516 Rating: 3.5 Format:  physical Response: Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes seems like it continues forever. The book is split up by each hero, and the length of Hercules alone made me want to jump off a cliff. Not that I'm biased or anything after reading the Heroes of Olympus Series. But it was well written, and most of the heroes were interesting to read about from the perspective of Percy Jackson. I loved that Riordan included the few females heroes as well, it made for a good mix in the stories. Overall, it was a decent book, and I would recommend it if you like learning about mythology with a new take on the stories. But if you don't like semi dense books, this isn't the book for you.

There aren't many books that I hate, I try to read books I know I'm going to like since I buy a lot of the books I read. Here I'll list my top 4 books I hate. From least (maybe I just disliked a certain part), to most hated.  I'm going to start this with Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling. This was not a bad book by any means. Personally, I haven't been able to get through it, fully, more than once. It's a love hate relationship. The only reason it is on this list is because it's just full of scenes that cause so many feels that it's hard for me to read. Seeing James and Sirius be dicks to Snape? No thanks. Umbridge? Screw her. Sirius dying? Like come on, I didn't need that in my life. The Crown by Kiera Cass wasn't a bad book either, it just could've been better. I honestly think that it should've been combined into The Heir and it wouldn't have felt so lacking. I get that the plot was to really buck

Author:  Sarah J Maas Read:  12/21/2017 Pages:  699 Rating:  5 Format:  physical Response:  A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas picks up with Feyre in Spring Court with Tamlin. There, she plays the perfect lady that Tamlin wanted her to be. Because of his "love" for her, he's blind to her destroying his court from the inside until it's too late. Feyre returns to Night Court, with Lucien, as the High Lady she is. Together, the Night Court and Lucien look for a way to win the war. They end up making unlikely alliances, and even more unlikely bargains. The war brings together old friends, and old beings. Though there were no *main* character deaths, the story wrapped up nicely and felt complete for the time being. The best part of the book for me was as all of the armies came together to save Prythian. As much as I love Rhysand and Feyre, their story felt complete at the end of A Court of Mist and Fury,  so I wasn't as invested in the n

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas would make a good book club book because it has a little bit for everyone. There’s romance, action and a little bit of mystery thrown in. Plot: Feyre is a poor girl just trying to feed her family when she crosses path with a High Fae. Through her hatred, she ends up living amongst fae who have been cursed. She has to figure out how to save them and the entire fae world. Feyre faces off with someone who hates humans more than she hated fae, who makes her prove herself before she can save those she loves. Characters: Feyre: Human girl who hunts to feed her two sisters, Nesta and Elaine, and their father. She ends up on the fae side of the Wall in the Spring Court when she kills a high fae while hunting. As she learns more and more about fae, she starts to fall in love with Tamlin, who gives her the time and safety to paint. When Rhysand, High Lord of Night Court, appears, Tamlin sends Feyre back to the human side of the Wall to

Author:  Sarah J Maas Read:  12/11/2017 Pages:  626 Rating:  5 Format:  physical Response: A Court of Mist and Fury was a beautiful sequel to a A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas. In it Feyre is coping, though not well, with the events that happened Under the Mountain. They way Tamlin sheltered and excluded Feyre from everything that wasn't planning parties and hosting high fae, dressing in ridiculous (ie "beautiful") dresses, or planning their wedding. Rhysand saving the day gave me life, even if he did it under the pretense of being a dick. The relationship Feyre and Rhys cultivate is perfect. He helps bring her out of a shell she's built around herself after the trauma of Under the Mountain. Rhys and his family help her to grow to be strong all on her own. Maas did wonderful at evolving the relationships throughout, making the ending satisfying, though a little heartbreaking, the general sense of triumph remains. I would recommend th

The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman Cloaked in Shadow by Ben Alderson Bitten by Kelly Armstrong War Storm by Victoria Aveyard out 5/15/2018 Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake The Selection by Kiera Case The Elite by Kiera Case The One by Kiera Case Scent of the Missing by Susannah Charleson City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare This is Our Story by Ashley Eston Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo Ruin & Rising by Leigh Bardugo Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon Written in my Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon Norse Mythology by Neil Gaima

Author:  Sarah J Maas Read:  11/29/2017 Pages:  416 Rating:  5 Format:  physical Response: After reading  A Court of Thorns and Roses  by Sarah J Maas, I kind of hate everyone that recommended this book, and Maas for writing it. I breezed through it in 3 days between work and home, I enjoyed it so much. Feyre and Tamlin are adorable, but I can see issues happening in the future. The bickering between Feyre and Rhysand gave me life, and I'm looking forward to reading it in the next book. I have suspicions as to why he stumbled at the end, but I need to know. Sarah J Maas beautifully wrote a stunning and disgusting world that has complex characters that are entertaining to read. Feyre is a fighter I needed in my life. While she does have her weaknesses, she's probably the strongest of all the characters.

Through 2017, I did a good job of knocking off a lot of my TBR. I didn't end up getting through everything, but I did read additional books that weren't on my list. I'm going to be updating the TBR for 2018 once I have my list made.  I ended up finishing 52% of my list with 25/48. But I surpassed my reading goal of 20 by reading 38 books.  Books finished from TBR file: Cursed Child by John Tiffany, Jack Thorne, J.K. Rowling Scrappy Little Nobody  by Anna Kendrick Talking as Fast as I Can  by Lauren Graham City of Ashes  by Cassandra Clare City of Glass by Cassandra Clare City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare The Son of Neptune  by Rick Riordan The Mark of Athena  by Rick Riordan The House of Hades  by Rick Riordan The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard Hush, hush by Becca Fitzpatr