That One Challenge from Best Friend

1. Do you re-read books? What was the last book you re-read?

Of course I re-read books! Why wouldn't you?? Especially if the world the books take place in are enthralling enough, and the characters loveable enough. The last book I re-read was probably the entire Harry Potter series. Always worth it.

2. What book are you most proud of finishing?

Oh man. Since the most daunting books I've attempted, I've never actually finished or read all the way through from cover to cover, let me just modify this question a bit. Which books, when I finally finish them, will I be proud to say I read?

1. The Three Musketeers by Dumas
2. Tess of the D'urbervilles by Hardy
3. The Bible (I've never read it through from cover to cover.)
4. Great Expectations by Dickens
5. Anna Karenina by Tolstoy

3. What are some of your hobbies aside from reading?

Writing, singing, playing ukulele, playing volleyball, cooking, streaming...so many things, so little time!

4. What was your favorite read of 2018? Least favorite?

Hmmmmm, least favorite was Anna Karenina which is why I didn't finish it (but I will one day!)

Favorite read was probably the Guernsey book recommended by Best Friend :)

5. Bookmarks or dog-ears?

Anna Karenina is hypothetically bookmarked right now, but I don't actually use bookmarks or dog-ear pages.

6. Who are your read-everything-they-ever-wrote favorite authors?

Francine Rivers (even though I have more to go with her books), Rick Riordan (sooooo good), Robin Jones Gunn (I also have more to go with her books), and I think that may be it. There are some great series I've read by certain authors (like the Harry Potter series, Lunar Chronicles, Jackie Faber series, Wild Magic series, etc) that made me want to read other series by the same author, but the others weren't as good. Has that happened to you before?

I know this is just a drop in the bucket since I haven't posted since last April, but I promise to try posting more regularly this year!

Summing Up "Twice Upon a Time" (Bk 2) & "Ever After" (Bk 3)

Why I Chose This Book: Because the first one was so good (despite the occasional awkward sentence structure and grammar fails) that I wanted to check out the sequel!

Book Rating (1-5 Stars): I give it 4 stars. I believe this may have been self-published, so if it was ever picked up by a publisher and cleaned up a little bit, it would be 5 stars for sure!

Setting of the Book: Athelia & Earth... Mostly Athelia though.

About the Author: Aya Ling is a mystery wrapped in an enigma sprinkled with a little bit of unknown.

Plot of the book in one sentence: Kat gets transported back to Athelia after the wedding with her memory gone - can the Prince win her heart again?

If I Could Rename the Book: My creative juices are too dry at this moment.

Genre: YA

Point of View: First person - told from Kat’s POV

Favorite Character: Still the Prince

Least Favorite Character: Still Bianca... Ugh

Other (Main Characters):

Kat - 22 year old who is transported back to Athelia with her memories of the first time she was there having been erased

Prince Edward - just married "Katriona," the woman whose body Kat was inhabiting in the first book. Has to win her heart again when she's once again transported to Athelia & doesn't remember him.

Elle - the Cinderella character from book 1 who's really good friends with Kat and who wants to marry Henry

Henry - Edward's cousin who is also studying to be a doctor

Bianca - Katriona's evil sister who wants nothing more than to see Kat destroyed

Katriona - Kat's twin whose body Kat inhabits in the first book. However (plot twist), Kat doesn't take over her body in the second book, she merely arrives in Athelia and Katriona ends up in another country wearing a wedding dress and a wedding ring with no memory.

If the Book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

Been there, done that

Favorite Scene of the Book: when Kat regains her memory (spoiler alert)

Least Favorite Scene of the Book: when Katriona comes back and confronts Kat

Did I like the Ending? No, because once again, Kat has to leave Athelia. Ugh.

Which of my friends could I see loving this book? Hillary Duff

Which of my friends could I see hating this book? Bill Nye

This book left me feeling: Frustrated

How Long Did It Take Me to Read It: 3 hours?

Why I Chose This Book: I had to know how it ends!

Book Rating (1-5 Stars): Still 4, because of the grammar and sentence structure.

Setting of the Book: Athelia & Earth (once again)

About the Author: Idk

Plot of the book in one sentence: Kat returns to Athelia a third time, but because Edward is officially married to Katriona who doesn't want a divorce, things get in the way of them being together.

If I Could Rename the Book: Third Time's a Charm - Hopefully, Because this is Starting to Get Old

Genre: YA

Point of View: First person - it actually goes back and forth between Edward & Kat

Favorite Character: Amelie

Least Favorite Character: Bianca... And Liam

Other (Main Characters):

Same as the second book, with some additions- 

Bertram - Edward's bodyguard who has a thing for Amelie

Amelie - Kat's maid

Liam - grew up with Edward & wants to overthrow the peerage system

If the Book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

You already know.

Favorite Scene of the Book: Edward when he appears in court *sigh*

Least Favorite Scene of the Book: when Kat gets thrown in jail

Favorite​ quote of the book: "The End." Lol

Did I like the Ending? Yes, I was satisfied.

Which of my friends could I see loving this book? Christy Carlson Romano

Which of my friends could I see hating this book? Wolverine

This book left me feeling: Finished!!!!

How Long Did It Take Me to Read It: ehhh, idk.

Summing Up "The Elite" (Bk 2) & "The One" (Bk 3)

Why I Chose This Book:  I had already devoured the first book in less time than I care to admit, and I languished for a few days, because I couldn't find the last two books in the series to read for free, so I bought the paper copies (they were actually less expensive than the Kindle versions - can you believe it?!)

Book Rating (1-5 Stars):  Once again, these two books did not disappoint!  5 stars!

Setting of the Book: America & Canada in the future - called Illea, and split into 35 provinces, instead of 50 states...and however many Canadian provinces there used to be (Also, it has royalty, not a president, and people are separated into "castes" which is basically like your career and income and life is pre-determined by how well you marry and how much your family has always made.)

About the Author: Her name is Kiera Cass, and, as we already established, she has a B.S. in History and hates salads.  Just in case you were wondering.

Plot of the book in one sentence:  America Singer remains in the competition along with 5 other girls to compete to become the next Queen (they will be chosen by the prince), but (plot twist) the boy she's been in love with for the last two years is assigned to be her personal bodyguard while she's in the palace.  Also, there are Northern & Southern rebels who regularly invade the castle, putting everyone's lives at risk.  No biggie.

Genre: YA Fiction

Point of View: Exclusively told from America's POV - first person.  I like it.  Although there are novellas written from the queen's perspective, the guard's perspective, and the prince's perspective (they are all a part of the extra book "Happily Ever After").

Favorite Character: Okay, there was a girl that was pretty horrible to everyone in the first two books, but by the end of the third book, she has a change of heart and becomes a pretty good friend to America (spoiler alert!)

Least Favorite Character: The king.  For sure.

Other (Main Characters): the prince, America's boo-thang from her past, the King, the Queen, the other girls (there's one other contestant who America has become friends with)

If the Book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?
America would be played by Annelise van der Pol (Raven's sidekick from "That's So Raven")
Maxon (the prince) would be played by Chace Crawford (Nate from "Gossip Girl")
Aspen (the guard) would be played by Liam Hemsworth (because eye candy)
The King would be played by Josh Brolin (he could definitely pull it off)
The Queen would be played by Bridget Moynahan (from "Blue Bloods")
There are also 3 maids that tend to America during all three books, not to mention at least 6 or 7 girls repeatedly mentioned as contestants, but I'm not about to "cast" all of them.  Get it...cast...caste...?  Ehhh?  Ok, nevermind.

Favorite Scene of the Book: The last attack at the end of the third book - it was a nail-biter.  And honestly, I did not see it coming, and THREE of the main characters die, can you believe it?!

Least Favorite Scene of the Book: When America's friend is caught in a compromising position with one of the guards (who she is in love with) and, as a result, is publicly caned.  It tore up my heart.

Did I like the Ending? Yes, although some of the characters that died during the last attack...not cool.

Which of my friends could I see loving this book? I've already let my sister borrow the entire series, and, just as I predicted, she's already read them ALL.  lol

Which of my friends could I see hating this book? Chuck Norris

This book left me feeling: Content :)

How Long Did It Take Me to Read It: The second book only took me 3 1/2 hours on a Sunday afternoon.  The third book took about 4 hours.

Summing Up "The Selection"

Why I Chose This Book:  It kept popping up in my recommended lists everywhere - and by everywhere, I mean in my Kindle list and Amazon list.  Whenever I would buy or borrow a book, it would say, "Don't you want to read this?"  And I would say, "Yes, I do, but I don't want to spend the $$ on it unless I know it will be good."  Because I frequently talk to inanimate objects.  #yayforpersonification
Then, one day, this book was available for me to check out on Kindle through my local library, so I got to read it for $FREE-99!!!

Book Rating (1-5 Stars):  5 stars, hands down.  I loved it; I can't wait to read the sequel.  In fact, I just purchased the whole series in paperback.  Yassssss.

Setting of the Book: America in the future (but it's not called America, and it has royalty again, not a president.  Also, people are separated into "castes" which is basically like your career and income and life is pre-determined by how well you marry and how much your family has always made.

About the Author: Her name is Kiera Cass, and can I just sidebar with my best friend Hannah for a minute (considering she's probably the only one reading this)?  Kthanks.
HANNAH - I was reading up on this girl on her website, and can I just tell you that she has a B.S. in History (so you both love history; that's nice) - BUT SHE ALSO HATES SALADS!!!!! I think you two might be kindred spirits.  Read her bio NOW (please. lol).

Plot of the book in one sentence:  America Singer (yes, that's her name) is chosen, along with 34 other girls, to compete to become the next Queen (they will be chosen by the prince), but (plot twist) the boy she's been in love with for the last two years is assigned to be her personal bodyguard while she's in the palace.

If I Could Rename the Book:  I can't think of a better name than the one it already has.

Genre: YA Fiction

Point of View: Exclusively told from America's POV - first person.  I like it.

Favorite Character: I really like the prince.  I think the author does a great job of humanizing him.

Least Favorite Character: Hmmm, I can't say that I really have a least favorite character.  Although, there is a girl that America is "competing" with for the Prince, but the claws haven't come out - yet.

Other (Main Characters): the prince, America's boo-thang from her past, the King, the Queen, the other girls (there's one other contestant who America has become friends with)

If the Book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters? I'm going to wait until I read another one of the books to assign people.

Favorite Scene of the Book: The castle is attacked two times during the first book - I actually really liked reading about how the attacks were handled.

Least Favorite Scene of the Book: When America's boo-thang first gets to the castle and she starts to have doubts.  It tears me up inside.

Favorite Quote in the Book: There's not a specific quote, but I appreciate how, in this society, there is MUCH emphasis placed on the importance of sexual purity before marriage - in fact, the offense of pre-marital sex is punishable by death.  While I wouldn't go that far, I would say that it should be a punishable offense, because it contradicts God's laws.

Did I like the Ending? Yes, and I can't wait to read the sequel!

Which of my friends could I see loving this book? I really think Hannah would like it, and I'm totally going to let her borrow the first book (since I'll have the physical print copy) whenever she has time to read it ;)

Which of my friends could I see hating this book? I'm gonna go with Mr. T on this one.  I can't see him getting into it.  Although, I did see a softer side of him on DWTS this season...

This book left me feeling: Excited!

How Long Did It Take Me to Read It: Time matters not with a book this good :)

Summing Up "The Ugly Stepsister"

Why I Chose This Book:  Free reading on Amazon Prime!  Can I get a "Whoop whoop!"?

Book Rating (1-5 Stars):  When I first started reading it, I don't think I was in the right frame of mind, so I quickly gave up on it after about 3 pages.  But then, one day, I got back into it, and I would say despite the ending, I would give it 4 stars :)

Setting of the Book: The setting of the book WAS a book.  Isn't that CRAY?!?!?!

About the Author: Her name is Aya Ling, and that's pretty much all I was able to get from her website.  She has no "About Me" section, but she does have a blog, so there might be some info on that, but I don't have the time or inclination to browse.

Plot of the book in one sentence:  Kat gets transported from modern-day to INSIDE OF the story of Cinderella - with a twist.  The only way she can escape the book is if she helps the heroine fall in love with the prince & vice-versa.  The only problem is - Kat has replaced one of the ugly stepsisters, and the prince has shown her more interest than Cinderella.  What's a girl to do?

If I Could Rename the Book:  I wouldn't - I love the title.  It hooked me right from the start.

Genre: YA Fiction

Point of View: Told exclusively from Kat's POV - 1st person

Favorite Character: Probably Kat.  She can be a little melodramatic at times, but she's also really funny.

Least Favorite Character: Kat's "sister" in the book.  She's a real piece of work.

Other (Main Characters): The prince, Cinderella, and the prince's cousin (can't remember his name)

If the Book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters? 
Kat - would be played by Jennifer Stone (Harper from "Wizards of Waverly Place") because I like her.
The prince - would be played by Gregg Sulkin (Mason from "Wizards of Waverly Place") because he just seems like he would be a great prince
Cinderella - would be played by Elle Fanning because I think she's beautiful, but also pulls off the humble servant-girl look really well (in a good way)
The prince's cousin - would be played by Brant Daugherty because he's gorgeous - although I'm not sold on this pick, because in my mind, the prince's cousin is a little more bookish.
Kat's "sister" in the book - would be played by Janel Parrish (I'm gonna be honest, I've never seen her act, but she's beautiful while also seeming like she would play a really good mean girl.)
Kat's "mother" in the book - would be played by Nia Peeples (Because she looks like she'd be related to the girl playing Kat's sister.)

Favorite Scene of the Book: When Kat accompanies one of her friends to a neighboring town to be a witness in her elopement wedding ceremony.

Least Favorite Scene of the Book:  Honestly, the end.  Didn't love it.  UNTIL I REALIZED this is the first book in a series!!!! Holler!!!!

Favorite Quote in the Book: I got nothing.  I really should pay more attention to this.

Did I like the Ending? See the answer to two questions ago

Which of my friends could I see loving this book? I think my sister, Sara, would like it

Which of my friends could I see hating this book? I know I'm not friends with this person, but I think Martin Luther probably wouldn't appreciate a book like this very much.

This book left me feeling: Dissatisfied (but now that I know there's a sequel - KA-CHING!)

How Long Did It Take Me to Read It: I honestly couldn't put it down.  Even though I had to a few times.  I INHALED THIS THING.

Summing Up "Fairy Tale Story Collection"

Why I Chose This Book:  It's actually 5 books in one.  My sister recommend them to me.

Book Rating (1-5 Stars):  For the most part, I enjoyed them.  There was only 1 book out of 5 that I chose not to finish.  It was the third book - "The Fairest Beauty," which was a retelling of Snow White.  And I'm not saying there's a correlation, but Snow White was always my least favorite Disney princess.

Setting of the Book: All 5 stories take place in Hagenheim, Germany during the 1400's or 1500's...can't remember which.  Basically, Medieval times.

About the Author: Melanie Dickerson has her Bachelor's degree in Special Education (that gives me hope, because I don't have a creative writing degree, and I want to eventually be a writer).  She has two daughters, and they all live in Huntsville, AL.  Fun fact about Melanie - she's taught in Germany and Ukraine!  How cool is that?!

Plot of the book in one sentence:  I'll have to use 5 sentences here, since there were technically 5 books:

Book #1 - "The Healer's Apprentice"  This book was a retelling of Sleeping Beauty (I'm pretty sure).  Rose has grown up in a pretty harsh family environment & can't understand why her mother never really loved her - then she becomes the Healer's Apprentice.  Lord Hamlin has been betrothed since infancy to an unknown woman who was placed in hiding at birth because of a curse put on her by a wicked sorcerer, but he ends up falling for Rose.

Book #2 - "The Merchant's Daughter" Annabelle is sold in indentured service to a beastly Lord Ranulf to pay off the debts incurred by her family's laziness.

Book #3 - "The Fairest Beauty"  Sophie is basically like an indentured servant to her awful stepmother, but one day, a man named Gabe comes to rescue her, claiming she is betrothed to his brother.  Things get complicated when they start falling for each other.

Book #4 - "The Captive Maiden"  Retelling of Cinderella - Gisela also works her bones off for her stepmother & stepsisters, but all she wants is to go to the annual festival the Duke is throwing.  She ends up going in disguise, and she catches the attention of the Duke's son...and her stepmother...

Book #5 - "The Princess Spy" I'm not sure what fairytale this is a retelling of, but Margaretha finds out from a mysterious stranger that her intended fiance, Lord Claybrook, is not who he seems.  She has to decide who to trust, and quickly, in order to save her family.

If I Could Rename the Book:  Ehhh, I probably wouldn't waste my time.  lol

Genre: Let's call it Christian Historical Fiction, shall we?

Point of View: Each book goes back and forth between the viewpoint of the female main character and the male main character.  Sometimes I like it, and sometimes I feel like it's a bit redundant, and at times, whiplashy.  Yes, I just made up a word.  Deal with it ;)

Favorite Character: I REALLY like the last two books, so my favorite character would either be Gisela or Margaretha.

Least Favorite Character: Bailiff Tom, the villian from Book 2.  I seriously wanted to punch him in the face.  A lot.

Other (Main Characters): I feel like I covered them adequately in the plot summaries.

If the Book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters? Too many characters to do this with - sorry!

Favorite Scene of the Book: In "The Captive Maiden," I love EVERY TOURNAMENT scene - there's jousting AND a swordfight - what's not to love?!  (Throwback to "A Knight's Tale" - such a good movie.  Now I wanna watch it....)

Least Favorite Scene of the Book: EVERY single scene with Bailiff Tom in it.  He's THE. WORST.

Favorite Quote in the Book: Couldn't tell ya.

Did I like the Ending? In 4 out of 5 books, YESSSS! :)

Which of my friends could I see loving this book? I honestly think Hannah would like these books.  And, because we're best friends, I also think she would probably be over the third one as much as I was.

Which of my friends could I see hating this book? A boy - always a boy.  lol

This book left me feeling: fictionalized (Like "You just got fictionalized!!"  Good word, right?)

How Long Did It Take Me to Read It: Honestly, I don't know.  It took a few months, because I took a LOOOOONG break after the third book made me want to give up.

Summing Up "Pretenders"

Why I Chose This Book:  On another of mom and my's infamous runs to the Books-A-Million clearance section, I picked up this gem for about $4.  Holler.

Book Rating (1-5 Stars):  I'd give it a 3 or 3 1/2.  It was good enough to hold my attention, but I probably won't read the sequel or recommend it to anyone else.

Setting of the Book: Some random town in USA.  The setting's not really that important.

About the Author: This book was written by Lisi Harrison.  I just went to her About page on her website and read it, and it's hands-down the BEST author bio I have ever read.  It made me reconsider my desire to read the sequel to Pretenders, because Lisi is awesome.  She was raised in Canada, has a bachelors degree in writing, and moved to Manhattan to write for MTV where she worked for 12 years.  She said her urge to write Pretenders came from working at MTV, not going to middle school (interestingly enough).  It's about the desire people have to wear certain things or act a certain way to fit in with the "in crowd."  She has since quit her MTV job & now writes full-time.  Bless her soul.  Here's her bio so you can read the cool-ness of it.

Plot of the book in one sentence: 5 ninth-graders who are going to an exceptional high school are assigned to keep journals for the whole year, and then, when they're in 10th grade, the journals are mysteriously released to the school to prove that no matter how "cool" someone seems, they're really just trying to fit in like everyone else.

If I Could Rename the Book:  I probably wouldn't, because the book title is pretty accurate already.

Genre: YA Fiction

Point of View: Alternates between each of the 5 students

Favorite Character: It's hard to choose, because I like them all, but maybe Sheridan.  She's a breath of fresh air.

Least Favorite Character: My least favorite character would probably be Duffy, simply because he takes a lot for granted, and he's clueless when it comes to how to act in friendships & relationships.

Other (Main Characters): 
Sheridan - dramatic and stylish, she wants to be an actress one day.  She has a best friend who, during the course of the book, begins to distance herself from Sheridan and establish her own identity, which Sheridan has a hard time with.
Lily - home-schooled until the 9th grade when she convinces her parents to let her enroll in public high school simply because (and this is a secret only she knows) she's in love with her neighbor, Duffy, and she wants him to notice her.
Vanessa - your classic know-it-all overachiever.  She was probably my second least-favorite character, because she puts too much stock into her smarts and kind of looks down on those less well-endowed with intelligence.  She gets a crush on Lily's best friend (can't remember his name) who is actually gay, but he hasn't come out of the closet yet.
Jagger - he's a loner, but it's not because he's one of those dumb emo kids who rides a skateboard everywhere.  There's some kind of dark secret as to why his parents aren't around, but I believe his dad's in jail (we don't know why), and Jagger was emancipated already so he doesn't get put in a foster home.  He's pretty lonely, and it breaks my heart for him.
Duffy - an all-star athlete whose parents essentially lose their jobs at the beginning of the year, meaning they can't afford to help him out with basketball costs (since he's on the varsity team), so he gets a "job" working for a trend-setter.  He has to wear whatever they give him and try and get his friends to buy whatever it is he's wearing.  Because Lily is head over heels for him, she ends up spending a ton of money buying this stuff to impress him, but he's clueless as to why she's doing it.

If the Book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters? 
Sheridan would by played by Peyton List (the oldest girl in the Disney show "Jessie")
Lily would be played by Lily Collins (Phil Collin's daughter - whaaaat?!  Funny how her name is Lily, too.  lol)
Vanessa would be played by Amandla Stenberg (best-known for playing Rue in the Hunger Games movie & who's starring in the upcoming movie "Everything, Everything")
Jagger would be played by Nicholas Hoult (who was in "Warm Bodies" - but like, a scruffy version of him, because he cleans up niiiiice.)
Duffy would be played by Lucas Till (who played a young "Havok" in the X-Men movies)

Favorite Scene of the Book: No one scene jumped out at me so much that I would say it's my favorite.

Least Favorite Scene of the Book: When Sheridan helps a guy she knows steal a car from her dad's dealership and then Vanessa's brother (who works there) gets blamed for it.

Favorite Quote in the Book: ???

Did I like the Ending? NO!  Because it wasn't an ending.  It was a cliffhanger that DEMANDS you read the sequel.

Which of my friends could I see loving this book? For some reason, Charity.

Which of my friends could I see hating this book? A boy...like my husband.  lol

This book left me feeling: Indy.  Like independent...you know, alternative.

How Long Did It Take Me to Read It: I think it was about 4 hours total.

April Update on New Year's Resolutions

Below are the New Year's Resolutions I made for 2017.  Can you believe 2017 is already A THIRD OF THE WAY DONE?!  I can't believe it.  I'm turning 30 in about 5 months, but I don't wanna talk about it.  Anyway, let's get a progress update on my resolution list, shall we?

1) Lose another 50 pounds - As of this past Sunday, April 30, I have completed two months of my 3-month weight loss challenge in which I've lost about 13 pounds so far!  But I have to confess, my exercising has slacked off, so I need to get back on that.

2) Pay off all of our immediate debt - Still working on it - it's definitely a work-in-progress.  Obviously, if we're still working on it... Anyway, enough of that.  (We're hoping to have everything paid off - except for my students loans - by this time next year!)

3) Rewrite Ravensboro - Still no more progress on this.  Sadly, I haven't been bitten by the writing bug lately.  But maybe soon, I will be.

4) Finish Harkness - I really can't start on this until Ravensboro is done...  ='(

5) Journal/Blog more - I have a few more book summaries waiting to be written and posted on my blog, but I finished the Harry Potter series - yay!  Not really journalling right now, but I'll figure out some kind of plan soon.

6) Find out where I should be career-wise - This is honestly still a prayer in my heart, but when you're paying off debt, a career or job change is about the stupidest thing you could possibly do.  Am I right?  This past weekend, I went to a Beth Moore devotional weekend with my best friend, and God showed me some things to work on in my spiritual walk, so that's at the forefront of things I'm focusing on right now, and honestly, I don't feel the least bit bad about it.  At all.  So yeah.


What about you?  Did you have any New Year's Resolutions going into 2017?  How are those working out?

Summing Up "Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows"

Why I Chose This Book:  Because it is the inevitable end.

Book Rating (1-5 Stars):  4 stars.  TOO MANY DEATHS and not enough happy moments.

Setting of the Book: For once, most of the book does not take place at Hogwarts.  Only some of it.

About the Author: J.K. Rowling - this is obviously her claim-to-fame series.  She wrote another book about some kind of political something or other in England (also fiction), but the synopsis on the back of the book really didn't interest me.  Also, I'm pretty sure she wrote the first Harry Potter book in her mid-twenties but didn't actually get it published until her early thirties?  Or something like that.

Plot of the book in one sentence:  Harry, Ron and Hermione travel around learning more about Horcruxes and the Deathly Hallows in order to defeat You-Know-Who.

If I Could Rename the Book:  Harry Potter & the Hunt for Horcruxes

Genre: YA Fantasy

Point of View: 3rd person limited (told from Harry's POV)

Favorite Character: The twins.  Beloved Fred & George :)

Least Favorite Character: YOU-KNOW-WHO!!!! ARGH!!!! And Bellatrix Lestrange.

Other (Main Characters): 
Harry Potter - the main character (obviously).  In this book, he's in his third year at Hogwarts.
Ron Weasley - Harry's best friend.  Comes from a poor family (all redheads).  His dad works for the Ministry of Magic, his two oldest brothers have already graduated from Hogwarts, his third oldest brother is a know-it-all rule follower at Hogwarts, his fourth-and-fifth oldest brothers are twins who are constantly causing trouble, and his younger sister is in love with Harry.  lol
Hermione Granger - Harry and Ron's other best friend.  Even though they can't stand her at the beginning of the first book (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone), they grudgingly grow to admire and like her.
Albus Dumbledore - The Headmaster of Hogwarts.  He's so wise.  And super beardy.  Seriously.  He has a super-long beard.
Severus Snape - The Potions teacher at Hogwarts.  He is SO MEAN to Harry all the time.
Draco Malfoy - a self-entitled bully who picks on Harry, Ron and Hermione all the time.
I could go on, but I don't want to bog you down with too many Harry Potter characters. lol

If the Book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters? 
It's already a movie, and the characters are spot-on.  The villians are extremely well-cast.

Favorite Scene of the Book: The theft from Gringotts.  The duel between Harry and You-Know-Who.  There are a lot of great scenes.

Least Favorite Scene of the Book: The death of the Auror.  The death of the joker.  The death of the house elf.  The death of the newly-married couple.  RIP, all of you.

Did I like the Ending? Actually, I felt like the Epilogue was a bit lacking...

Which of my friends could I see loving this book? Amy - I know she loves it.  haha

Which of my friends could I see hating this book? No idea.

This book left me feeling: Glad to be done.  I'd forgotten how dark the series gets after You-Know-Who comes back to power.

How Long Did It Take Me to Read It: Six hours? Give or take...

Summing Up "Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince"

Why I Chose This Book:  You should know by now.

Book Rating (1-5 Stars):  4 stars.  Too much Snape in this.  And SOMEONE ELSE WONDERFUL DIES.

Setting of the Book: Mostly Hogwarts (School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in London).  I'm a complete nerd, I know.

About the Author: J.K. Rowling - this is obviously her claim-to-fame series.  She wrote another book about some kind of political something or other in England (also fiction), but the synopsis on the back of the book really didn't interest me.  Also, I'm pretty sure she wrote the first Harry Potter book in her mid-twenties but didn't actually get it published until her early thirties?  Or something like that.

Plot of the book in one sentence:  Harry, Ron and Hermione try to find out what You-Know-Who is up to while EVERYTHING ELSE FALLS APART.  I just can't even.

If I Could Rename the Book:  Harry Potter & the Death of All that is Good and Sane

Genre: YA Fantasy

Point of View: 3rd person limited (told from Harry's POV)

Favorite Character: Dumbledore <3 p="">
Least Favorite Character: Snape. Malfoy. Snape. Malfoy. Snape. Malfoy....

Other (Main Characters):
Harry Potter - the main character (obviously).  In this book, he's in his third year at Hogwarts.
Ron Weasley - Harry's best friend.  Comes from a poor family (all redheads).  His dad works for the Ministry of Magic, his two oldest brothers have already graduated from Hogwarts, his third oldest brother is a know-it-all rule follower at Hogwarts, his fourth-and-fifth oldest brothers are twins who are constantly causing trouble, and his younger sister is in love with Harry.  lol
Hermione Granger - Harry and Ron's other best friend.  Even though they can't stand her at the beginning of the first book (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone), they grudgingly grow to admire and like her.
Albus Dumbledore - The Headmaster of Hogwarts.  He's so wise.  And super beardy.  Seriously.  He has a super-long beard.
Severus Snape - The Potions teacher at Hogwarts.  He is SO MEAN to Harry all the time.
Draco Malfoy - a self-entitled bully who picks on Harry, Ron and Hermione all the time.
I could go on, but I don't want to bog you down with too many Harry Potter characters. lol

If the Book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?
It's already a movie, and the characters are spot-on.  Especially Snape - he's so easy to hate.

Favorite Scene of the Book: Honestly, I can't really think of one.

Least Favorite Scene of the Book: In the clock-tower after Harry and Dumbledore return from retrieving the locket....

Did I like the Ending? Hated it.  Hated it.  Why so much death?!

Which of my friends could I see loving this book? Amy - I know she loves it.  haha

Which of my friends could I see hating this book? Probably so many people.

This book left me feeling: Honestly, depressed.  But I press on for the ending.

How Long Did It Take Me to Read It: Too long.

Summing Up "Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix"

Why I Chose This Book:  I had to know what happened after You-Know-Who came back!

Book Rating (1-5 Stars):  This book is going to get 4 stars.  It's kind of depressing; one of my FAVORITE characters dies in it; the movie leaves out a lot of the coolest parts (but that's probably because it's one of the longest books in the series).

Setting of the Book: Hogwarts & the Ministry of Magic

About the Author: J.K. Rowling - this is obviously her claim-to-fame series.  She wrote another book about some kind of political something or other in England (also fiction), but the synopsis on the back of the book really didn't interest me.  Also, I'm pretty sure she wrote the first Harry Potter book in her mid-twenties but didn't actually get it published until her early thirties?  Or something like that.

Plot of the book in one sentence:  Harry, Ron and Hermione meet the Order of the Phoenix and deal with the aftermath of You-Know-Who coming back and the Ministry of Magic taking over the school.

If I Could Rename the Book:  Harry Potter & the Department of Mysteries (is it "department"? Now I can't remember...)

Genre: YA Fantasy

Point of View: 3rd person limited (told from Harry's POV)

Favorite Character: Tonks, hands-down.  She's awesome.

Least Favorite Character: The woman the Ministry of Magic sends to get Hogwarts under control.  She's awful.  *shudders*

Other (Main Characters): 
Harry Potter - the main character (obviously).  In this book, he's in his third year at Hogwarts.
Ron Weasley - Harry's best friend.  Comes from a poor family (all redheads).  His dad works for the Ministry of Magic, his two oldest brothers have already graduated from Hogwarts, his third oldest brother is a know-it-all rule follower at Hogwarts, his fourth-and-fifth oldest brothers are twins who are constantly causing trouble, and his younger sister is in love with Harry.  lol
Hermione Granger - Harry and Ron's other best friend.  Even though they can't stand her at the beginning of the first book (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone), they grudgingly grow to admire and like her.
Albus Dumbledore - The Headmaster of Hogwarts.  He's so wise.  And super beardy.  Seriously.  He has a super-long beard.
Severus Snape - The Potions teacher at Hogwarts.  He is SO MEAN to Harry all the time.
Draco Malfoy - a self-entitled bully who picks on Harry, Ron and Hermione all the time.
I could go on, but I don't want to bog you down with too many Harry Potter characters. lol

If the Book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters? 
It's already a movie, and the characters are spot-on.

Favorite Scene of the Book: When Fred & George stand-up to...THAT WOMAN.  Ugh.

Least Favorite Scene of the Book: When Harry gets detention and has to write "I must not tell lies" with a quill that PIERCES HIS SKIN.

Did I like the Ending? Of course I did :)

Which of my friends could I see loving this book? Amy - I know she loves it.  haha

Which of my friends could I see hating this book? People who don't like conflict

This book left me feeling: Frustrated, but vindicated.

How Long Did It Take Me to Read It: Too long - this book is sooooo long.

Summing Up "Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban"

Why I Chose This Book:  Because the Harry Potter series is awesome.

Book Rating (1-5 Stars):  I'm gonna go with another 5 stars on this one.

Setting of the Book: Mostly Hogwarts (School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in London).  I'm a complete nerd, I know.

About the Author: J.K. Rowling - this is obviously her claim-to-fame series.  She wrote another book about some kind of political something or other in England (also fiction), but the synopsis on the back of the book really didn't interest me.  Also, I'm pretty sure she wrote the first Harry Potter book in her mid-twenties but didn't actually get it published until her early thirties?  Or something like that.

Plot of the book in one sentence:  Harry, Ron and Hermione discover a supposed murderer, Sirius Black, has escaped from the wizard prison, Azkaban, to come after Harry and kill him - or is that the whole truth?

If I Could Rename the Book:  I wouldn't rename any of the books in the Harry Potter series - they're all apropos.

Genre: YA Fantasy

Point of View: 3rd person limited (told from Harry's POV)

Favorite Character: In this book, I love the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher, Lupin.

Least Favorite Character: Always Snape.  He's just such a jerk.  Although, I don't like Draco Malfoy either.

Other (Main Characters): 
Harry Potter - the main character (obviously).  In this book, he's in his third year at Hogwarts.
Ron Weasley - Harry's best friend.  Comes from a poor family (all redheads).  His dad works for the Ministry of Magic, his two oldest brothers have already graduated from Hogwarts, his third oldest brother is a know-it-all rule follower at Hogwarts, his fourth-and-fifth oldest brothers are twins who are constantly causing trouble, and his younger sister is in love with Harry.  lol
Hermione Granger - Harry and Ron's other best friend.  Even though they can't stand her at the beginning of the first book (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone), they grudgingly grow to admire and like her.
Albus Dumbledore - The Headmaster of Hogwarts.  He's so wise.  And super beardy.  Seriously.  He has a super-long beard.
Severus Snape - The Potions teacher at Hogwarts.  He is SO MEAN to Harry all the time.
Draco Malfoy - a self-entitled bully who picks on Harry, Ron and Hermione all the time.
I could go on, but I don't want to bog you down with too many Harry Potter characters. lol

If the Book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters? 
It's already a movie, and the characters are spot-on.  Although, I don't LOVE who they cast as Sirius Black or Lupin, but they play their parts well.

Favorite Scene of the Book: When Harry & Hermione travel back in time using a time-turner, and have to help themselves while also avoiding themselves...it's pretty awesome.

Least Favorite Scene of the Book: In the Shrieking Shack when Sirius, Lupin, Snape come face-to-face with Harry, Ron, Hermione and a surprise guest.

Did I like the Ending? Always.

Which of my friends could I see loving this book? Amy - I know she loves it.  haha

Which of my friends could I see hating this book? Literally no one.

This book left me feeling: Whimsical

How Long Did It Take Me to Read It: Longer than an hour and less than a day, but it was time well-spent!

Summing Up "Afterworlds"

Why I Chose This Book:  During the same BAM trip in which I purchased "DUFF," I found this book for $3.97.  AND DID I MENTION the book has about 600 pages?  WINNING!

Book Rating (1-5 Stars):  I'd give it 4 stars.  I really like the author - his writing is really good, but some things in this book were hard to get through.  For example, some scenes were REALLY creepy, and I'm not down with horror.  Like, at all.  Also, one of the main characters decides that she's a lesbian all of a sudden.  So there's that.

Setting of the Book: It vacillates between Darcy, a YA author living in New York, and Lizzie, the main character of the YA novel that Darcy just finished writing.

About the Author: Scott Westerfeld wrote a series I read before this book called the "Uglies/Pretties" series, and I really liked that series.  I couldn't put it down.  So, of course, when I saw this book, I really wanted to read it.  And, while I don't regret reading it, I don't necessarily know if I'd want to read it again.  Maybe, though.  If I'm bored.

Plot of the book in one sentence:  Each chapter alternates between the story of Darcy in New York editing "Afterworlds" for publications and the actual text of "Afterworlds" in which Lizzie survives a terrorist attack in an airport only to learn she can now see ghosts.

If I Could Rename the Book: Psychopomps, Anonymous  (In the book, Lizzie is referred to as a "psychopomp" which is kind of like a grim reaper.)

Genre: YA Fiction Fantasy

Point of View: Alternates between Darcy (told in third-person limited) and Lizzie (told in first person)

Favorite Character: I really liked Lizzie, despite the fact that she develops a crush on a fellow grim reaper who isn't really that awesome, in my opinion.

Least Favorite Character: Either "The Bad Man" or the other villain in the story (can't remember his name off the top of my head)

Other (Main Characters): 
Darcy - the YA author.  She just graduated high school and moves to New York to edit the novel and begin to write the sequel.
Darcy's sister - can't remember her name either, but she's a 14-year-old math whiz who's also Darcy's best friend and helps her budget the money Darcy earned from getting published
Imogen - Darcy's love interest; a fellow writer (the first chapter of the book she's written is included in the book, and it makes me sad it wasn't continued)
Lizzie - Darcy's main character in "Afterworlds"
Yama - A lord of the dead who visits Lizzie and reveals what she is
The Bad Man - a serial killer who killed Lizzie's mom's best friend when she was eleven; he also murdered 5 other little girls
The Man in the Patched Jacket - the other villain from "Afterworlds" who knits coats from ghosts he chops us (gross, I know).

If the Book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?  People?  I don't know.  I can't see the characters for this book.

Favorite Scene of the Book: The terrorist attack in the airport.  It's such a gripping scene.

Least Favorite Scene of the Book: When Lizzie meets the man in the patched jacket.

Favorite Quote in the Book: I didn't have one.

Did I like the Ending? Nope, kinda hated it actually.

Which of my friends could I see loving this book? N/A

Which of my friends could I see hating this book? N/A

This book left me feeling: Creeped out a little

How Long Did It Take Me to Read It: I don't even know.  6 hours? 7 hours?

Summing Up "The DUFF - Designated Ugly Fat Friend"

Why I Chose This Book:  I was walking through my current favorite bookstore, BAM, with my mom last Friday, and I stumbled across this gem in the Clearance section.  I'd seen the movie before, and the book was less than $2, so I got it.

Book Rating (1-5 Stars):  I'll give it a 3.  It was your typical raunchy teen book, but it did tear at the heartstrings a little, and it came off as genuine.  Self-esteem check!  lol

Setting of the Book: Honestly, couldn't tell ya.  Some city in Kentucky.

About the Author: Kody Keplinger is herself a native of Kentucky.  She wrote this book when she was just seventeen years old!  She's written a few more books for young adults since this one, and she's active on social media about self-esteem and body positivity.

Plot of the book in one sentence:  Bianca finds out she's the DUFF in her group of friends - or is she?

If I Could Rename the Book:  A Trashy YA Novel About Self-Esteem

Genre: Teen Fiction

Point of View: First-Person (told from Bianca's perspective)

Favorite Character: I really like Bianca's best friend, Casey

Least Favorite Character: Probably Bianca's dad

Other (Main Characters): 
Bianca - a senior in high school
Casey - Bianca's best friend; cheerleader; also a senior in high school
Jessica - Bianca's other best friend who's not as close to her
Wesley - a senior in high school who calls Bianca "the Duff"
Toby Tucker - Bianca's long-time crush and a lovable nerd

If the Book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?
The book is already a movie & I've seen it; the characters were okay in the roles - HOWEVER, as I was reading the book, I kept picturing Wesley as Adam Hagenbuch instead of whoever actually played him in the movie.  Don't ask me why. lol

Favorite Scene of the Book: Honestly, there wasn't really one.

Least Favorite Scene of the Book: Bianca's dad gets drunk, calls her a bad word, and hits her in the head.  It's pretty scary.

Favorite Quote in the Book: N/A

Did I like the Ending? Yeah, sure; it was cute I guess, but I was hoping for so much more.

Which of my friends could I see loving this book? Charity Riley for some reason.

Which of my friends could I see hating this book? For every trashy book I read, I always see Hannah hating it.  haha Or my mom.  This book is definitely not mom friendly.

This book left me feeling: Ok

How Long Did It Take Me to Read It: About 5 hours total

Summing Up "Time's Edge" (Bk 2) & "Time's Divide" (Bk 3)

Why I Chose This Book:  Yes, I'm lumping these two book summaries together.  I read the first book and, intrigued by the characters and the plot-line, I immediately spent my hard-earned money on the sequel.

Book Rating (1-5 Stars):  3 stars.  I waded through this book, even though there was more time travel talk than in the first book, which weighed me down immensely, and regretfully, I went on to the third book.

Setting of the Book: All over the place; though mostly between 1853 (Chicago) and present day (DC)

About the Author: Rysa Walker's first book ever written was the first book of this series, Timebound.  For more information about her, I would recommend using Google ;)

Plot of the book in one sentence: Kate is traveling through time & space to stop the leader of a religious cult from destroying the world.

If I Could Rename the Book:  Proof that Sequels Aren't As Good As the Original

Genre: Sci-Fi

Point of View: First Person (Kate)

Favorite Character: Probably Kate

Least Favorite Character: This guy Simon

Other (Main Characters): Same as the first book

If the Book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters? 

Same as the first book

Favorite Scene of the Book: When Kate went back in time to 1853 to the Chicago World Fair

Least Favorite Scene of the Book: When Kate was in the "World Fair Hotel" trying to get away from H.H. Holmes the serial killer.  (He really did kill a bunch of women in 1853 during the Chicago World Fair!)

Favorite Quote in the Book: None

Did I like the Ending? Eh.  Although, I suppose, enough to buy the third book.

Which of my friends could I see loving this book? Don't care, because I won't recommend it.

Which of my friends could I see hating this book? Don't care.

This book left me feeling: Heavy-headed (lol headache as a feeling)

How Long Did It Take Me to Read It: It seemed like forever.

Why I Chose This Book:  I'm a glutton for punishment, I guess.

Book Rating (1-5 Stars):  2 stars.  Too much time-travel talk, and it got really hard for me to follow.  So I didn't even finish it.

Setting of the Book: All over the place.

About the Author: Nothing new here.

Plot of the book in one sentence:  Kate, along with a new group called the Fifth Column, work together to take down the Cyrists.

If I Could Rename the Book:  A Book That Christina Couldn't Even Finish

Genre: Sci-Fi

Point of View: Still Kate (first-person)

Favorite Character: Still Kate

Least Favorite Character: Still Simon.  Although Pru is pretty up there (or down there, I guess.)

Other (Main Characters): Same as the first two books.

If the Book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters? 

Same as the first two books.

Favorite Scene of the Book: There wasn't.

Least Favorite Scene of the Book: Couldn't tell ya.

Favorite Quote in the Book: N/A

Did I like the Ending? Also N/A, seeing as how I didn't finish it.

Which of my friends could I see loving this book? Who knows.

Which of my friends could I see hating this book? I could think of a few (many).

This book left me feeling: Frustrated!  Because I actually spent money on it!

How Long Did It Take Me to Read It: I think I wasted about 2 hours on it before I stopped.

Basically, life is short, so I really don't have time to waste on books I have no interest in finishing.  I thought about not reviewing these two books, but I figured the public has a right to know ;)

Summing Up "Timebound"

Why I Chose This Book:  I found this book for free with my Amazon Prime subscription, so I was like, "I choose you."

Book Rating (1-5 Stars):  4 stars.  I would read it again, but it was hard to follow in some places and kind of hurt my brain a lot.  However, I don't read a lot of time travel books, so I liked it.

Setting of the Book: Too many to count.  But it starts in modern-day DC.

About the Author: Rysa Walker. Originally from Pensacola, FL.  Timebound is her first novel, and after she wrote it, she submitted it to a contest for new writers.  Her novel won the contest, so she quit her day job as a professor to pursue writing.

Plot of the book in one sentence:  Kate finds out she is descended from a family of time travelers, and must go back in time to save her grandmother from being murdered.

If I Could Rename the Book:  The Travelers

Genre: Sci-Fi

Point of View: First Person (told from the POV of Kate)

Favorite Character: Trey (I know, another love interest named Trey. lol Weird.)

Least Favorite Character: The person trying to murder Kate's grandmother

Other (Main Characters): 
- Kate (17-year-old who can travel through time)
- Kate's parents, Deborah and Harry
- Katherine, Kate's grandmother
- Saul, Kate's grandfather
- Trey, Kate's boyfriend
- Kinian, Kate's...friend
- Connor, Katherine's co-worker

If the Book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters? 
- Kate would be played by Grace Phipps.
- Kate's parents don't really matter, because they don't appear that often.
- Katherine would be played by Kristin Scott Thomas.
- Saul would be played by Christopher Waltz.
- Trey would be played by Chord Overstreet.
- Kinian would be played by Matthew Atkinson.
- Connor would be played by Scott Grimes.

Favorite Scene of the Book: When Kate meets Trey :)

Least Favorite Scene of the Book: When Kate is trapped in the hotel of a serial killer.

Favorite Quote in the Book: Didn't save one ;/

Did I like the Ending? Yes - enough that I immediately bought and am currently devouring the sequel.

Which of my friends could I see loving this book? Actually, due to it's historical references, this may be the only Sci-Fi book I could actually imagine Hannah reading.  Hahaha

Which of my friends could I see hating this book? People who hate history?

This book left me feeling: Charged up

How Long Did It Take Me to Read It: About 4 hours

Summing Up "Darken the Stars" (Sequel to "Sea of Stars")

Why I Chose This Book:  I had to know how the trilogy ends.

Book Rating (1-5 Stars):  I'll give it 4 stars (the only reason it's not 5 is BECAUSE OF THE ENDING - UGH!)

Setting of the Book: Most of the book takes place on a deserted island on Ethar (well, deserted except for Kyon and Kricket, that is)

About the Author: Nothing new.  Still the same old Amy.

Plot of the book in one sentence:  Kyon takes Kricket in exchange for giving up her sister (shhh, nobody knows they're related, except for now you.)

If I Could Rename the Book:  Kricket - The Making of an Empress

Genre: Fantasy

Point of View: First Person Present (still from Kricket's POV)

Favorite Character: Still Kricket

Least Favorite Character: Pan Hollowell (That's all I'm gonna say about him.)

Other (Main Characters): New main characters since last book - Pan and Kricket's sister

If the Book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters? Same as always, but I don't feel like picking faces to go with Pan & Kricket's sister right now.

Favorite Scene of the Book: I liked A LOT of the scenes in the book.  Except for the ending.

Least Favorite Scene of the Book: The ending. Duh.

Favorite Quote in the Book: "I was sleeping! I never get to sleep on this stupid planet!" I sigh. "Someone is always chasing me, or hitting me, or waking me up.  This planet is so rude."

Did I like the Ending? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Which of my friends could I see loving this book? People like me

Which of my friends could I see hating this book? People unlike me

This book left me feeling: FRUSTRATED!

How Long Did It Take Me to Read It: 3 hours

Summing Up "Sea of Stars" (Sequel to "Under Different Stars")

Why I Chose This Book:  I finished reading "Under Different Stars," and I couldn't stop, so I paid the $4.99 Kindle edition price and immediately started reading the sequel.

Book Rating (1-5 Stars):  Maybe 3-4 stars.  This book really felt like a filler between the first and third books, and Kricket and Trey were awfully mushy in it, which was kind of blech.

Setting of the Book: It all took place on the planet of Ethar, current day.

About the Author: See her summary on the "Under Different Stars" post.  Although, we have recently confirmed her hair color as blonde, so there's that.

Plot of the book in one sentence:  Kricket and Trey are on the run from pretty much everyone else.

If I Could Rename the Book:  Kricket and Trey: On the Run From Pretty Much Everyone Else

Genre: Fantasy

Point of View: First Person Present (still told from Kricket's POV)

Favorite Character: I really like Kricket, so I'm gonna go with her.  She's really smart and passionate, so she's an easy heroine to relate to.

Least Favorite Character: It has shifted from Kyon to Giffin.  What kind of name is Giffin anyway?

Other (Main Characters): Still Trey, Kricket, Jax, Wayra, Kyon (and now sometimes Giffin)

If the Book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters? The characters would still be played by the actors I chose in "Under Different Stars."  Giffin would be some blonde brat.  That's all I got.

Favorite Scene of the Book: There is a scene in the book where Trey is teaching Kricket to use a wrist-weapon thing.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Least Favorite Scene of the Book: ALL the super-mushy ones between Trey & Kricket.

Favorite Quote in the Book: "When you have nothing to lose, failing doesn't come with the same kind of consequence."

Did I like the Ending? There wasn't really an ending, because it went straight into the next book.

Which of my friends could I see loving this book? Fantasy-loving nerds

Which of my friends could I see hating this book? Reality-loving nerds

This book left me feeling: On edge.

How Long Did It Take Me to Read It: 3-4 hours.

Summing Up "Under Different Stars"

Why I Chose This Book:  I found this one for FREE on Amazon Prime, so I was like - yes, please!

Book Rating (1-5 Stars):  Hands down, 5 stars.  I loved it, and I would read it again and again.  The main character (Kricket) is awesome, and her love interest (Trey) is completely swoon-worthy while also being believable.  The plot is great.  I love it.

Setting of the Book:  Starts on Earth, but eventually travels to an alternate/parallel universe called Ethar.

About the Author:  Amy A. Bartol is a college graduate who lives in Michigan with her husband and two sons.  She either has blonde, straight hair or super curly brown hair.  You can find out more about her here.  http://www.amyabartol.com/about-the-author.html

Plot of the book in one sentence:  Kricket, an orphan on the run from DSS, is kidnapped by Trey and his two fellow soldiers and taken to Ethar, a planet where Kricket is originally from.

If I Could Rename the Book:  From Earth to Ethar: Awesomeness in Written Form

Genre: Fantasy with just a hint of Sci-Fi

Point of View: First Person PRESENT - told from the point of view of the main character, Kricket

Favorite Character: That's SO HARD to choose, because Kricket & Trey are both awesome

Least Favorite Character: Kyon *spits* I spit on the ground he trods.

Other (Main Characters): 
- Kricket, a 17-year-old runaway from DSS who's actually also an Etharian priestess with magical abilities
- Trey, a soldier sent to retrieve Kricket from Earth and return her to her rightful home to "pay for her crimes"
- Kyon, a sleazebag soldier from a different nation on Ethar who ALSO wants Kricket to come home with him so he can marry her and exploit her gifts
- Jax & Wayra, fellow soldiers who come with Trey to get Kricket

If the Book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters? 
- Kricket would be played by Brie Larson, who also played in "The United States of Tara."  I chose her because she's a spunky blonde who would be perfect to play the fireball that is Kricket.
- Trey would be played by Ian Somerholder, because sometimes I like to call him Ian Mr. Smolder.  Mmmmkay.
- Kyon would be played by Kellen Lutz, because he would play a jerk well, I feel like.
- Jax & Wayra would be played by Michael Trevino and Zach Roerig because then it would be like a Vampire Diaries reunion - yayyy!

Favorite Scene of the Book: I don't know - there's so many!  I really liked when Kricket & Trey had to pretend to be married so the soldiers they ran into in the woods wouldn't know they were actually on a covert mission.

Least Favorite Scene of the Book: Any scene with Kyon in it.  Ugh.  Kyon.

Favorite Quote in the Book: I actually paid attention this time!  So here's my favorite quote - "I'm just saying that when there is little left to lose, the consequences of one's actions don't carry the same weight - painful or otherwise."

Did I like the Ending? LOVED it!  And I immediately went to the Kindle store and bought the sequel and am reading it NOW! :)

Which of my friends could I see loving this book? I think maybe Brittany would like it.  Maybe even my sister, Jessica.

Which of my friends could I see hating this book? Um, pick a boy.  Any boy. haha

This book left me feeling: I need to make up a word, because I don't know one in the English language to accurately describe it.  So the word is "Mystimarveled" - I was completely swept up and enchanted by the story and the world.  I loved it (can you tell I loved it)?  Haha

How Long Did It Take Me to Read It: 4 hours (give or take)

Summing Up "Starters"

Why I Chose This Book:  One of the books I found in the BAM Clearance section along with "Vitro" and "The Coldest Girl in Coldtown"

Book Rating (1-5 Stars):  4 stars - I got really into it and couldn't put it down!

Setting of the Book: A future USA with increased technology, but no one alive between the ages of 25 and 60.

About the Author: Lissa Price also doesn't have much about her on the internet, but she's an award-winning author who's best known for the series, Starters.

Plot of the book in one sentence: An orphan, Callie, rents out her body to be used by a company called Prime Destinations in order to afford medical treatment for her sick brother.

If I Could Rename the Book:  I got nothing.  Obviously, I'm so good at this.

Genre: Young Adult Sci-Fi

Point of View: Third Person Limited - strictly told from the point of view of the main character, Callie.

Favorite Character: A teenager named Blake who Callie goes on a few dates with

Least Favorite Character: The villain, who we only know as the Old Man

Other (Main Characters): 
- Callie, a sixteen-year-old homeless orphan
- Tyler, Callie's younger, sick brother
- Michael, Callie & Tyler's fellow orphan friend
- Blake, a senator's son who goes on a few dates with Callie

If the Book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters? 
- Callie would be played by Bella Thorne from "Shake It Up"
- Tyler would be played by Elias Harger from "Fuller House"
- Michael would be played by Jeremy Sumpter, the actor from "Peter Pan" (2003)
- Blake would be played by Brant Daugherty from "Pretty Little Liars"

Favorite Scene of the Book: There were a lot of good scenes, so I can't really pick one in particluar.

Least Favorite Scene of the Book: Ehhhh I don't know.

Favorite Quote in the Book: "Youth is wasted on the young."  Simple, but true.

Did I like the Ending? LOVED the ending - can't wait to read the sequel!

Which of my friends could I see loving this book? Probably my friend, Maribel.

Which of my friends could I see hating this book? Any of my friends who hate fiction & love non-fiction (like Matthew, Nathan, Greg)

This book left me feeling: Entranced

How Long Did It Take Me to Read It: 3 hours, I think?