Two Dogs and a Book

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes My rating: 5 of 5 stars The Princess Bride is my all time favourite movie!!! When I heard that Cary Elwes wrote a book on the making of this beautiful movie; I had to get a copy and read it. It was such a delight to read about the fantastic writer, William Goldman; the outstanding director, Rob Reiner; and the top notch actors and film crew. Cary covers so many wonderful stories of the before, during and after the movie. He succeeded to portrait how much fun they all had and how this movie, although not a blockbuster in the theatres, became a triumph with the introduction of VHS and it still a success to this day. The Princess Bride is more than just a movie.. it is a phenomenon. People quote this movie regularly with sentences like "As you wish" ; "Please consider me as an alternative to suicide." ; "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my...

21 Days to Change Your Body by Helen M. Ryan My rating: 5 of 5 stars I have read my fair share of diet books in my lifetime and I was sure that this would be another "Miracle" way to lose weight. Well... it was not! This book has nothing to do with miracles; it is all about common sense; about making the right changes in your life. It teaches you that making the right choices when it comes to food and exercise can be hard and that you should not fool yourself to think that this is only a temporary change... this is a life change. "Your overall goal is to learn to give your body what it needs to be healthy -- not to live by numbers and obsessions. Constantly thinking about food choices, learning better habits, and educating yourself about portion sizes are all a necessary part of learning your new lifestyle but once they are ingrained in you, then you should not have to think about things quite so hard." Helen Ryan shares her own experi...

Full Measure by T. Jefferson Parker My rating: 2 of 5 stars I won this book in a Goodreads give-away. The book was very slow and did not hold together enough for my taste. It felt like the author could have gone a bit deeper with some of the sub-stories. The end did bring it all together, but was rushed and then it was over. I was expecting more from this book... it did not deliver as expected. View all my reviews

Captivated by You by Sylvia Day My rating: 3 of 5 stars This is the fourth book in this series. I did not enjoy this book as much as the first three. That won't stop me to read the fifth one if there is one. The book lacked major events and brought nothing new to the story between Gideon and Eva. It was still an enjoyable read. View all my reviews

Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson My rating: 4 of 5 stars I discovered that there are a lot of book lovers at my workplace; so I decided to create a book club which will meet every two months. The first book we selected is "Before I Go To Sleep". This was a very quick read. I was concerned that it would be something similar to "50 First Dates" and I was glad that it was not. Then I was wondering how the author would be able to keep the readers interested, considering that the main character has no recollection of the previous days or weeks or months or years as a matter of a fact. S.J. Watson did a "tour de force" and kept me reading to know what will happen in the next page. I developed several theories as I was reading and although some proved themselves correct; some were wrong and I was surprise by the story outcome. Very clever! The only disappointment was that there are loose ends in the story and unanswered questions...

While We're Far Apart by Lynn Austin My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book is surprisingly good! It follows the recipe of a well written book. It has great characters, countless contrasts and abundant conflicts. I had some doubts before starting to read it because it is categorized as a Christian book. In my past experience with Christian books, I noticed that the story is often lost among all the preaching. It is not the case with this book. As a matter of a fact, the book has great historical facts and beautiful moral values. The story is set during World War II. I can easily tell that the author researched the period well and stayed true to the events of the time. There are many characters in the story and they come in and out of each other lives. Nevertheless, the reader does not get lost as the book is well structured and each character has an important part to play in the revealing of the story. I really enjoyed it and recommend it! View...

The Not So Secret Emails Of Coco Pinchard by Robert Bryndza My rating: 4 of 5 stars This was a fun book to read. The story is revealed through emails written by the main character. There are several lol moments, but the book is also filled with touching and sometimes frustrating moments. This is a light and fast read. View all my reviews

Defending Jacob by William Landay My rating: 5 of 5 stars It has been a while since I read a great courtroom book. "Defending Jacob" is definitely in that category. There are two stories in this book which come into a collision in the end. I was particularly interested to know more about some of the new sciences used to prove the innocence or the guiltiness of an accused. What if one day they can tell if someone will have violent or criminal tendencies just by looking at the genetic making of that person? Where would this lead? That's a scary thought! I rather believe that there goodness in everyone and that you are not what your genetic matter is... well at least I hope so. View all my reviews

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn My rating: 5 of 5 stars Wow!! What a ride!! I absolutely loved this book! This was a fantabulous and exciting read. So many twists and turns! The characters were surprising and well defined. It is always nice to read a book which has substance. "Gone Girl" not only has substance; it has texture. If "Gone Girl" is not on our To-Read list yet... you have to add it! Great great book! View all my reviews

30 Days of Relaxation: Fun Meditations for a Stress Free Life by Inbar Shahar My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is a fantastic short book on meditation and relaxation. I enjoyed the way the author structured the book by using the four elements and the beautiful imagery she described every day. I wish I had the book in an audio form; it would be easier to listen to it than to read it and try to remember the beautiful words while meditating. "30 Days of Relaxation: Fun Meditations for a Stress Free Life" is a great book and I recommend it to whomever would like to try meditation for the first time and to those who are expert at it and are looking at new ways to meditate. View all my reviews

Build a Brand Create Products and Earn Passive Income by Rob Cubbon My rating: 3 of 5 stars I want to Thank Rob for giving me a copy if his book in exchange for an honest review. Wow! A lot to digest after I read this book. Rob gives you great insight on how to make it on the Web. I always wanted to know how some people are so successful at selling their trades or ideas on the world wide Web. I now have the tools and need to apply them to do the same. I really enjoyed this short book and I recommend it to anyone who would like to know how to market yourself on the Web and make money. The book is filled with great tools and tips. Worth reading! View all my reviews

Lose Your Inches Without Losing Your Mind by Justine SanFilippo My rating: 3 of 5 stars I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. "Lose Your Inches Without Losing Your Mind" is a great step by step book on making healthy choices and lose inches... not weight. The book contains many well knows facts and introduces new ones. What I liked about this book is the way it is organised. It makes it easy for the reader to follow a plan and be successful in their journey to look the way they would like to. The book is filled with great tips and has a fantastic positive tone which makes it very pleasant to read and be encouraged to apply its principles. The author proposed that the reader should read one chapter a week to develop the healthy habits described in the chapter. I read the book in a few days and I concur with the author that the one chapter a week would be more effective. Great book overall; very positive and encouraging too. ...

This Doesn't Happen In The Movies by Renee Pawlish My rating: 3 of 5 stars I always loved the old detective film noir. This book has that flavour with a modern twist. I enjoyed the story and the characters. I particularly enjoyed the grand finale which was worthy of a Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep ending. This was a fun story filled with action and surprising twists. Great read! View all my reviews

The Color of Heaven by Julianne MacLean My rating: 4 of 5 stars I got this book for free on Amazon.com. I was not sure what to expect, but since it was free I thought I had nothing to loose. I would read the first 20 pages and if it did not capture my attention; I would simply drop it. I did not realise I passed the 20th page until I was way into the book. I was taken by the story of hardship and the lives of so many beautiful characters. This is a story of true love and unbreakable friendship. It was captivating and as the chapters went by, the story bloomed into an account of perseverance, hope and joy. I am so glad I read it! View all my reviews

The World Before Us by Aislinn Hunter My rating: 2 of 5 stars I received this book from Random House in exchange for an honest review. They say never judge a book by its cover. If I was to judge this book by its cover; I would think that this would be an enchanted story with a wonderful ending. It was not that at all! The story was not enchanted and the ending was just an ordinary opened ending with no purpose. There was no substance to this book. The story is incomplete and boring most of the time. I finished the book and was left with so many unanswered question. That is frustrating and I could only give it two stars for that reason. View all my reviews

Night Film by Marisha Pessl My rating: 5 of 5 stars I received a copy of this book from Random House of Canada in exchange for an honest review. Night Film is an extraordinary book. I enjoyed it from the beginning to the end. The suspense, the twists and turns were well plotted and the author kept me perched on the edge of my seat throughout the story. I was caught in the madness and delirium of the main character and in the end I had my own doubts as to what was real and unreal. There are many characters in this book, each well defined and playing essential roles in the development of the story. The extra material in the book showing parts of websites, photos and news clips was ingenious and added so much to this awesome story. I recommend it to all my friends who enjoy a good thriller. This one should be made into a movie! View all my reviews

Raw Energy in a Glass: 125 Nutrition-Packed Smoothies, Green Drinks, and Other Satisfying Raw Beverages to Boost Your Well-Being by Stephanie L Tourles My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the first book on juicing I read. I was amazed at the amount of information I got from one book. The author provided important health tips and set you up for success on your juicing journey. I particularly enjoyed getting to know more about the benefits of all the possible ingredients and the recipes I tried were absolutely delicious. I did not know the difference between using a juicer or a blender and which one was best for your health. This book helped me purchase the right equipment to my juices healthy for me and taste divine. I had the misconception that juicing was not going to fill me up enough and that I would be hungry very quickly. That is not the case; which is a very positive aspect...

Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes by Denise Grover Swank My rating: 5 of 5 stars It has been a while since I enjoyed a book as much as I enjoyed this one. This was a fun light story filled with action and lots of trouble. The main character, Rose, was an unusual damsel in distress. Now that I think about it... she appeared to be needing help, but in fact, she was very resourceful and proved herself to be able to stand on her two feet. This is the first book of the series. I am looking forward to read the next ones. View all my reviews

Room by Emma Donoghue My rating: 4 of 5 stars My friend Lynn loaned me this amazing book. I was captured by the story right from the beginning and right to the end. The story was suspenseful and kept me on the edge of my seat. This is a poignant account of motherly love and sacrifice. There were sensitive subjects which were thought provoking and many good survival advice. Although the story has a touching conclusion; it left me wanting to know more about the future and how well it will turn out for Jack and his mother. I read somewhere that someone purchased the movie rights to this book. Personally, I don't want to see this story on the big screen; I rather leave my imagination undisturbed. This is not an easy subject to write or read about; never mind seeing it. View all my reviews

Naked Imperfection: A Memoir by Gillian Deacon My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received this book from Pinguin Canada in exchange for an honest review. The mémoire was well documented in a series of small stories. Gillian Devon, a Toronto author and radio personality, did not try to embellish her encounter with cancer. She shares her struggles and pains in an open conversation with her readers. She remains honest through the descriptions of all she tried to win her battle with cancer; even when the methods were quite unusual. Naked Imperfection is a beautiful book about the struggles, the pain and also the victories of an extraordinary woman. I admire her resilience and courage. View all my reviews

The Lost by Sarah Beth Durst My rating: 4 of 5 stars This was a great weekend to read books. Just finished my third one. I received a copy of this book from Harlequin in exchange for an honest review. This is not a traditional Harlequin book. I was expecting a cheesy love story... Nope The Lost was surprisingly a great read filled with surprises. I loved the concept and innovative story. I particularly loved the variety of characters and what they each bring to the story. The Lost is a fantastic summer read. I am looking forward to the next book to find out what's next. View all my reviews

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman My rating: 4 of 5 stars I read this book in one setting during my 9 hour ride back home from New York City. I picked up the book before my trip because it had good reviews. I did not even read the synopsis before starting it, so I would not have an idea what the book was all about. From its cover, I imagined the book to be something similar to the book "The secret garden".... Was I ever wrong, but definitely not disappointed. I loved this story! It was well structured and kept me interested from beginning to end. Each characters had their own flavour. The writing was superb. Although this could be a children story, it is written for adults. I do not recommend it for children or young teen due to some mature content. View all my reviews

Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir by Jenny Lawson My rating: 2 of 5 stars This was a bit of a disappointing read. I checked the reviews before I picked up this book and they were good. It really did nothing for me. I had a few good laughs, but overall this book came across as a story told by a writer who tried real hard to shock her readers, but failed. At the end of the book, she succeeded to make it clear that she is eccentric and has bad home decor taste. View all my reviews

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion My rating: 5 of 5 stars The Rosie Project was a fantastic read. I laughed out loud many times. Loved how the book was written in the perspective of Don. From the first to the last page, this book was charming. Loved it. View all my reviews

The Last Kings of Sark: A Novel by Rosa Rankin-Gee My rating: 2 of 5 stars I won this book in a Goodreads.com giveaway. The book started well and had a good story line. It got fuzzy in the second part and what would have made this book so interesting was lost on the ferry ride between the Island of Sark and Guernsey. The book read like an old cinema noir French movie. I did enjoyed reading about the Island of Sark. I had never heard of this place and my curiosity was picked enough to Google it and learn more about the rich history of the island. I would love to go there one day. View all my reviews

He's Gone by Deb Caletti My rating: 3 of 5 stars I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. He's gone was a fantastic read. I enjoyed the way the author wrote the book in the perspective of one person with echoing thoughts from other characters. The plot was well thought and defined and kept me reading (and guessing) right to the end. This is a perfect book to take on a relaxing vacation. I would have given it 3.5 stars if I could. View all my reviews

Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese My rating: 5 of 5 stars I received a copy of this book from Random House in exchange for an honest review. In all honesty, this is one of the best written books I have read in a very long time. I was mesmerized by the story, the landscapes and the characters. Every sentences were spectacular imagery and the author's words carried me on a wave of poetic beauty. Each page was filled with strong emotions and the plot was never predictable. From beginning to end, this book remained strong, making you want to read further to find out what is next. I particularly enjoyed how the author treated the interactions between Frank and his father. The author dealt with the ugly subjects of failed parenting, guilt, remorse, betrayal and regrets in a beautifully way. Absolutely brilliant! View all my reviews

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare My rating: 3 of 5 stars This is the 6th book in the Mortal Instruments Series. It is always a bitter sweet moment when you finish the last book of a series. I have to admit that the overall series had its ups and downs, but this last book made up for most of it. Cassandra Clare did not totally close the last chapter and so many spin-offs could be written from this book. The future will tell us if it will be the case. It was a good Summer read. Now I need to find the next series to read! :) View all my reviews

Generous Spaciousness: Responding to Gay Christians in the Church by Wendy Vanderwal-Gritter My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received this book from Brazos Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book offers a non-conventional message about the Christian community acceptance of gay and lesbian Christians. It is an honest conversation on how the church has missed the mark with regards to being God's extended hands towards all our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is also a refreshing outlook on how there are positive changes happening among the Christian community. To say that we understand fully God's will and plan would be pretentious. You cannot put God in a box to serve your agenda. More and more, the Christian community is getting glimpses of God's true plan for His church. We need to drop our pretenses and listen to what the Holy Spirit has to say; if not, He will not be able to change the misconceptions that are deeply anch...

Running A Web Design Business From Home: How To Get Clients, Keep Good Clients and Make Money with Your Home Business by Rob Cubbon My rating: 4 of 5 stars This was a very informative booklet on how to start your own Web design business. The booklet is filled with great nuggets and offers the right information to get started. I particularly enjoyed that the author provided the names of awesome tools and where you can find them. This was very helpful. This was a very quick read; well worth my time. View all my reviews

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green My rating: 5 of 5 stars A good book has just the right amounts of laughter, love and tears. The fault of our Stars met these criteria. One of the most touching stories I read in a very long time I read it with the perspective of Hazel's mom. Being a mom of two young adults made me be very vulnerable to the possible transposition of mother-daughter relationship and the heart breaking feeling that no parent wants to outlive their children. I shed many tears while reading this beautiful book and appreciated the fantastic writing style and beautiful prose that fills every pages. This is epic! I understand now why so many people love this book and why they are making a movie based upon it. Just like The Notebook, this book will be a best seller for a very long time. View all my reviews

The Chia Cookbook: Inventive, Delicious Recipes Featuring Nature's Superfood by Janie Hoffman My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received a copy of this recipe book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I consider myself a healthy eater and I like cooking with ingredients which promote and improve health. I never had the opportunity to taste or cook with Chia and knew nothing about this super food. I was surprised to read that one little seed contains such powerful nutrients. Each seed contains protein, fiber, omega-3 and so much more. Chia is a tropical or subtropical crop and comes from Mexico, Central and South America, or Australia. Luckily, it is available in most local grocery stores in bags or in bulk. Right from the beginning of the book, I wanted to try this wonder of nature. I found Chia at my local Bulk Barn and tried a few smoothy recipes... all were very delicious. The instructions are easy to follow and the little facts about the food are useful. I wo...

The Glass Ocean by Lori Baker My rating: 1 of 5 stars Last year, I received a copy of The Glass Ocean from Penguin Canada in exchange for an honest review. I am a bit late to write it since the book was published on August 1st 2013. This was a very hard read... slow and painfully repetitive. The entire story can be contained in about 20 pages, but was stretched to breaking point by constant repetitions. The repetitive writing style dragged the story and besought me to quit reading that book over and over. I persisted because of my stubbornness and finally saw the end of it; however I don't have much to say about it. All the characters had major flaws and none stood out as likable. Some scenes in the book were interesting (i.e. the green cloud storm, the mechanical woman looking like Clotilde), but were so few and far between. I hate giving such a low rating to any books, but this book did not have the substance for giving it more than one star. ...

The Keeper of Dawn by J.B. Hickman My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. That was almost a year ago. I loved this book! I loved how the author addressed the struggles that come with being a teenager. The emotions that feel more like a roller coaster than a pleasant stroll in the country side. The friendship between four teenage boys that starts while in boarding school and which lasts past the life of the school itself was very touching. The author did a fabulous job at describing the complex family matters that haunted Chris, Rolland, Derek and Jacob. He also provided vivid descriptions of Raker Island which made you feel like you were there. The story is strong and well structured. A fantastic read. View all my reviews

The Inventor's Secret by Andrea Cremer My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received a copy of this book from Penguin Canada in exchange for an honest review. This is the first steampunk book I have the opportunity of reading. I enjoyed the alternate reality story line and the eclectic characters. This book is written for a TA audience. As an adult, the story came through as immature at times; especially when it addressed Charlotte's infatuated feelings. I addressed those with a few rolls of the eyes. Sometimes it was also difficult to believe that a young girl who was not raised in the ways of society, found it so easy to play the part of a debutante. I was expecting more conflicting emotions and feats. I enjoyed reading about the different classes and how they intertwined. Although there were several main personas in the story, they each were unique in their own way. They contributed to the tale as needed without bringing confusion as to who is who. The d...

Out of The Easy by Ruta Sepetys My rating: 4 of 5 stars Last year I received a copy of Out of the Easy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Last year was a busy year and I did not get to read all the books that were sent to me. I am desperately trying to make up for the lost time. So here is my review for this book. This story is about decisions and their impact on someone's life. I was taken right from the beginning. I am a sucker for stories from the 50's filled with mobsters and hope for better days. I was not disappointed. Josie Moraine is a young lady who is trying to find her place in the sun despite all what life has thrown at her. We follow her story in 1950 and her desperate attempts to get out of the Big Easy (The Big Easy is a nickname for New Orleans, if you did not know that). The story is rich with facts about New Orleans and how the people lived in the 50's. The author did not hide the ugliness and beauty of this ci...

Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book was a wonderful read! I could not put it down and was sitting at the edge of my seat right to the end. I remember when I read the first book of this series and felt that the next book would not come out quick enough. I was right! I was eagerly waiting for each book to be published and was never disappointed. I am not sure if this is the last book since the author finished with an opened ending, but I won't be disappointed if I hear that another book is added to the series. I love all the characters, even the evil ones. I think it is a art for an author to make you hate a fictive character. Laini's writing is so good! I wonder how she was able to make each character so unique and perfect for the story. There is no boring moments and surprises are waiting for you at each turn of a page. I recommend that you read the books in order to get the full experience. Each book ha...

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received a copy of "The Kiss of Deception" from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of the book. This is the story of Lia, a princess, who is promised to marry a prince from another kingdom. This marriage promises to create a strong alliance between the two kingdoms in order to defeat the barbarians who are menacing them. Lia is young and has her own dreams which do not include a loveless marriage to a stranger. This is where the story really begins. Lia makes her own choices and leave everything behind to find what her heart desires. Before she finds what she is looking for; she will face many challenges and revelations which will turn her world upside down. I really enjoyed this first book of the series. The characters are interesting and well developed. Each has its own flavour and brings his or her own perspective to the story. Mary E. Pearson's writing style is fr...

Studio Saint-Ex by Ania Szado My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received a copy of this book from Netgalley last year and did not have the chance to read it until today. Now I regret I did not lay my eyes on this timeless story before. I read and reread "Le petit prince" (The small prince) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry as a child. The story enthralled me and although the end is sad and full of melancholy; it is also full of love and hope. My parents bought me a recording of "Le petit Prince" read by the author and it was magical. I did not know much about the life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. I did not know that a small eight years old from Québec City (neighbour of my native town) was the inspiration for this wonderful children's book. Why am I talking about "Le petit prince" and not "Studio Saint-Ex", you ask? I am getting to it. This book is about a short period of time of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry while he was in New York waiting to j...

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon My rating: 4 of 5 stars A beautifully weird book; beautiful nonetheless. I loved it!! Loved how the author narrated the entire book in Christopher's point of view and in his words. Mark Haddon kept the reader (in this case, me!) interested from start to end. The story was very touching and had many tender moments. Although Christopher warned us that his book was not going to be funny, it was at times (which made it fun to read). How he views the world might seem extreme, but totally normal for someone with autism. I loved all the little facts and the mathematical equations. It was a fun and quick read and recommend it to all. This is a little jewel of a book! View all my reviews

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is the second book in the Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. I couldn't wait to read this book and waited patiently for its release. I was not disappointed!!! What a fantastic and fabulous story. Lot of action; a roller coaster of emotions, lots of bad bad guys and lots of super awesome peculiars. The concept of this book is unique (to me it is anyway). I love the old pictures scattered throughout the book which makes the story come alive. Ransom Riggs' writing is superb. Each scene is described with the right amount of details and transports you in the area where they take place. There is no dull moment in this book and I have to admit that he totally got me in the end. I did not see this coming. What an ending!!! Now the wait starts until the next book. Patience! Patience! I just can't wait!!! View all my reviews

The Silver Chain by Primula Bond My rating: 3 of 5 stars The Silver Chain was interesting and unique as far as an erotica book. Gustav and Serena have their ups and downs and sometime it feels a bit redundant. I sometime felt that the story was dragged longer than needed. Primula Bond's writing is good and her landscape descriptions are awesome. Her characters are not perfect and have different dimensions. I was particular surprised by the ending and it makes me curious to read the next book. Overall, I think it was a good erotica book; not over the top; well balanced between an interesting story and the right amount of erotica. View all my reviews

Night Broken by Patricia Briggs My rating: 5 of 5 stars That was the best!!!!!! My favorite Mercy Thompson book so far. Wow!! What a story!! The action, the complicated relationships and the new characters worked wonders. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, totally enthralled by this story. Patricia Briggs outdid herself! After the last book, I thought there was no way Patricia would be able to find a more malevolent enemy for Mercy to fight. I was wrong! I also loved to discover more about who Mercy is. I used to think that it would be cool to be a werewolf, now being a shapeshifter is IT. There so much I would love to say about this book, but I would give out too much and spoil it for whoever is reading this review. Mercy Thompson books can be read individually, but I would recommend that you start with the first one (Moon Called) to really understand the complicated relationships between the characters and see how this kick ass shapeshifter is brilliant. You won...

Crazy Rich: Power, Scandal, and Tragedy Inside the Johnson & Johnson Dynasty by Jerry Oppenheimer My rating: 2 of 5 stars This was a hard read. There was surprising elements and some interesting anecdotes. It took me a while to read it and I had to skip a bit because it sounded too repetitive. I think it is still a good read and very informative book when it comes to the Johnson family. View all my reviews

Sea of Shadows: Age of Legends by Kelley Armstrong My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is another great book by Kelley Armstrong. This book is full of action and bravery. The concept is exciting and I am looking forward to reading the next books. I like how Kelley treats her characters with lots of reality. There is no mistake, the teenagers act like teens and adults act like adults. This is often a mistake made by YA authors where you cannot relate to the characters because they are out of place. I particularly liked the true emotions Ashyn and Moria demonstrated in the book. The fear, the grief and their passion felt real. This was an wonderful read! I could not put the book down and now I am eager to read the next books. Don't delay too much Kelley... this will be an awesome series!!! This book will be available at your favorite bookstore on April 8th. Go buy it! You will like it! View all my reviews

Allegiant by Veronica Roth My rating: 3 of 5 stars This book was much slower than the first two. I liked it nonetheless. It is a story that deals with the difficulties for humanity to change for the better. Although we attempt to make changes for the better; humans will be humans no matter what. We all hope that all men will live in peace and they would all adhere to same ideology. We are all damage and we all wish to be whole. Is there hope for humanity? I am hopeful! We might all be damage, but we can be mended. We mend each other. View all my reviews

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick My rating: 2 of 5 stars I am a big fan of YA novel. I read the first book from this series last year and enjoyed it. I am not sure what happened this time around. I lost patience with the childish and idiotic ways the characters behaved. I understand that this is a novel about teenagers, but really!!!! I don't know any teens that would think the way Nora and Vee thinks. Hot dogs for courage!!! Ughhh! Also, the drama between Nora and Marcie got old after a while. The story dragged and dragged and in the end, there was not much to make me want to read the next book. I will wait a year and see if I am still interested in this series by then. Oh well! View all my reviews

Insurgent by Veronica Roth My rating: 4 of 5 stars I am enjoying this series very much. Beatrice is a bit too suicidal for my taste, but I guess this is who she is and what makes the story interesting. Looking forward to read the third book in the series. View all my reviews

Stay Where You Are And Then Leave by John Boyne My rating: 5 of 5 stars I won this book in a "First-Read" contest. This is the first book from John Boyne I have the pleasure to read. I saw the movie The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and liked it, so I was intrigued to read this short novel by the same author. I normally don't gravitate towards war time books and I was wondering if I would get into it. Well, Stay Where You Are And Then Leave was totally awesome. I loved the well written story which described with accuracy the struggles of the soldiers' family members who were left behind to take care of themselves. It also addressed the stress the war has left on soldiers and how they had to cope with the painful memories. The story takes place during the first World War. It follows the life of a young boy named Alfie, between the ages of 5 and 13. Alfie is no ordinary boy. His story of courage and sense of honour was so touching. Every characters in the book had so...