♡ Bookish A-Z Tag ♡

♡ Bookish A-Z Tag ♡

Hello lovelies,
Today I'm going to so something a little different. I saw this tag done by Lauren over at LaLa's Book Reviews. It looked like fun so I thought I would give it a try.  

A: Author you've read the most books from

♡ Danielle Steel with 9 books. Unless you count the books I read with my son when he was younger, if so it's Debbie Dadey with 59 books (Yay Bailey School Kids!).

B: Best Sequel Ever!!!!

♡ Garden of Shadows by V.C. Andrews
Full Disclosure: I don't read a lot of series.. I prefer stand alones.

C: Currently reading

♡ The Starter Wife by Nina Laurin

♡ Forbidden Trouble by Travis Casey

D: Drink of Choice when Reading 

♡ Either a Tim Hortons French Vanilla Cappuccino or an Ice Cold Mad Jack 

E: E-books or physical books

♡ I prefer physical books, however, I find e-books more convenient for nighttime reading. Especially when I read till my eyes decide they are closing no matter how much I'm enjoying my book. 

F: Fictional Character you would have dated in high school

♡ Prince Oliver from Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult; Samantha Van Leer

G: Glad you gave this book a chance

♡ The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

H: Hidden Gem

♡ Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles 

I: Important moment in your reading life

♡ When I read my first Nancy Drew book. This began my love of all things mystery!

J: Just finished

♡ Alice In Wonderland by Lewis Caroll
♡ Curing My Venom by A. Rinum

K: Kind of book that you won't read

♡ Books that are very religious. I used to be able to but I just can't handle them anymore. 

L: Longest book you've ever read

♡ 11/22/63 by Stephen King at 849 pages. 

M: Major book hangover

♡ We Were Liars by E. Lockhart 

N: Number of bookcases you own

♡ 2 large bookcases, 1 I still haven't put the books in but I don't think it will be full when I do. 

O: One Book you've read multiple times

♡ I don't normally reread books unless it's for a Challenge or a project. The only book I've reread multiple times for my own please is Don't Call Me Beanhead! by Susan Wojciechowski. 

P: Preferred place to read

♡ Snuggled up on a big comfy couch or chair.  

Q: Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels

♡ She loved mysteries so much she became one. -John Green, Paper Towns

R: Reading Regret

♡ I regret not reading some of the classics sooner, now I have some catching up to do. 

S: Series you started and need to finish

♡ Wormwood series by D.H. Nevins.

T: Three of your all time favorite books

♡ Luna by Julie Anne Peters

♡ The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

♡ Don't Call Me Beanhead! by Susan Wojciechowski

U: Unapologetic Fangirl for

♡ Scott Pilgrim Vs The World series by Bryan Lee O'Malley 

V: Very Excited for this release

♡ Beneath The Attic by V.C. Andrew's

W: Worst Bookish Habit 

♡ Reading more than 1 or 2 books at the same time. I need to learn to stop at 1 physical book and 1 e-book at most. 

X: X Marks the Stop? Start at the top of your bookshelf and pick the 27th book.

♡ Trapped in Ice by Eric Walters 

Y: Your latest book purchase

♡ Tampa by Alissa Nutting  

Z: Z-Snatcher! The last book that kept you up all night. 

♡ Shakespeare's Witch by Samantha Grosser. Such a great book but major CONTENT AND TRIGGER WARNING! I recommend 19+ readers only. Contains black magic, incest and graphic sexual content.

Are there any other fun bookish tags you would like to see me do? Comment below and let me know! Thank you for stopping by. 

Please visit Lauren over on her awesome blog to see her answers! 

♡♡Lauren's Blog♡♡

https://laurenbodiford123.wordpress.com

The Summer of Crud by Jonathan LaPoma Review

The Summer of Crud

By Jonathan LaPoma

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I am leaving this review voluntarily, all thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

During the last summer before starting his teaching job, 22 year-old Danny Wolinski takes a cross-country road trip with his friend Ian Perez in hopes of finding the inspiration that will take his songwriting to the next level. As they travel from place to place we see them party and get high almost constantly while Danny deals with abuse, mental illness and physical pain.

This book was hard to review, because while so little actually happened, it said so much. Ian is verbally and mentally abusive to Danny. He makes fun of him and puts him down both alone and in front of people. Danny allows this behavior to continue because he feels special that Ian has chosen him for this role. It is in this way of thinking that we see signs of Danny's mental illness.

“The Darkness was addicting. There was ecstasy in depression. Honor in anxiety. I knew I was a sacrifice. And I knew so few others could handle such a role.”

This passage from the book speaks volumes to the way abuse victims see their abusers. This passage itself, shines a bold light on the inside of a troubled mind.

The ending is abrupt, but it works. Nothing gets wrapped up in a pretty bow. It just ends, as sometimes things just do.

I don't recommend this book for the faint of heart. This book is raw and written bluntly. Nothing in this book has it's edges sanded down or rounded off. The topics of mental health, addiction, abuse and physical pain are not made over into something less terrible than they are. That is one thing I can appreciate about this book. If you are into blunt material that doesn't always receive the storybook happy ending then this book is probably for you.

Cat and Nat's Mom Truths by Catherine Belknap & Natalie Telfer Review

Cat and Nat's Mom Truths

by Catherine Belknap

& Natalie Telfer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I am writing this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Cat and Nat's Mom Truths is a gem, written by two best friends, it takes us through different stages and situations moms face during motherhood. In this book the friends talk about their experiences which are sometimes difficult, sometimes fun and almost always messy. Told with blunt realness, bold honesty and humor this book is a window of actual things moms face.

Up until reading this book I had no idea who Cat and Nat were. However, I saw the cover of the naked doll upside down in a glass of wine and thought "if my life had a cover, this would be it." After reading the description I thought this book may just be worth the read. I was right! This book is funny and honest and simply refreshing. I enjoyed reading a book about parenting that wasn't contained inside some pretty little box with a list of do's and don'ts as most parenting books are. I found this book relatable, entertaining and refreshing.

I wish I had this book back when my first born was a baby, and then again almost 12 years later when I gave birth to my second born. This book is a must read if you have children, are expecting children or even considering having children.

F*ck Love by Tarryn Fisher Review

F*ck Love

By Tarryn Fisher

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Helena Conway is reliable and plain, she loves her boyfriend Neil, her best friend Della and is on her way to a nice predictable life. That is until she has a dream where she ends up loving and making a life with Della's boyfriend Kit. Thrown for a loop, she decides to ignore the dream and continue to live her life as she always has. Things just keep getting more and more complicated until finally things simply can't be ignored. Now Helena must decide what is most important to her and what is she willing to do in order to get what she wants.

The writing itself was good. I was entertained throughout the entire book and hated to put it down. The story itself was enjoyable, however, certain things in the book dragged on longer than necessary.

The characters were done really well, even the ones I didn't particularly like or enjoy. I found they were well fleshed out with individual personalities instead of just being flat and one dimensional.

Helena is a strong character. She is fierce, independent and the one who takes care of others. She tries to do right by everyone despite her own feelings. Helena's downfall is the way she allows other people to treat her. She puts up with too much despite how it makes her feel. While I'm glad things worked out for her in the end I still feel like she deserved better than what she got.

I felt this book wrapped up nicely, it didn't leave anything unanswered or unresolved. Despite what happens throughout the rest of the book, the ending leaves everyone, well almost everyone, happy and that makes it hard to not be happy with it. I would read another book by this author. I'd recommend this book to fans of romance.

I'm Not Dying With You Tonight by Kimberly Jones, Gilly Segal

I'm Not Dying With You Tonight 

By Kimberly Jones, Gilly Segal

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

First just let me say, Wow! Just wow!

Now, I'll get to the review.

I'm Not Dying With You Tonight starts out as just a normal Friday for Campbell and Lena. They are just two ordinary girls who run in different social circles. They are not friends nor have they ever spoken to each other. Campbell attends a football game to help with the concession stand, Lena is there to watch her friends dance at halftime. When all hell breaks loose, the girls are thrown together in a terrifying situation where there seems to be nowhere safe. What starts as a fight at a football games turns into a city wide riot, the two must work together if they hope to figure out how to survive the night.

I'm Not Dying With You Tonight was told from both Campbell's and Lena's point of views. The characters of Campbell and Lena themselves were done beautifully. Lena is beautiful and popular, Campbell is the shy new girl with no friends. I loved how their individual sections were told so differently, from the way they spoke to the way their fears and values were addressed. The way they are shown as similar beings and completely different at the same time is just wonderful.

This is a book I'm going to be feeling for awhile. With both main characters being likeable and vulnerable in their individual ways I found myself in constant fear of what was going to happen next. I felt this book did an incredible job of spotlighting the gaps between race and class in a way that shines light on the problems many still struggle with today. The authors did an amazing job of portraying racial tension. I felt the ending was well done, as it left off with the girls arriving to their respective homes after escaping the riot leaving the focus more on the trauma of that night.

This was just an amazing book and I loved it. Once I started reading I only put it down when it was absolutely necessary. I'd recommend this book to anyone over age 13.

Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want To Come by Jessica Pan

Sorry I'm Late, 

I  Didn't Want To Come 

By Jessica Pan

⭐⭐⭐☆☆

Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come follows shy introvert (or "shintrovert") Jessica Pan for one year as she seeks to make a lifestyle change. Realizing that she needs to make a serious adjustment while fully clothed in a sauna, Pan makes the decision to get out of her comfort zone by doing things she never thought she would do. Using humor and honesty Pan takes us on her one year journey of saying "yes" to all the experiences she never thought she would have.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, I really did. Unfortunately, I didnt. I found this book hard to get through as most of it couldn't keep my attention. I found myself taking frequent breaks as I couldn't get through much at a time. There were two things about this book that were a bit of a saving grace and made it possible to make it all the way through. The first would be all the personality that was poured into the pages. It felt like Pan was there telling me the story herself. The second was the humor. There were parts in this book that made me laugh out loud, literally. The funny parts were the only relatable parts for me, as I have actually had quite similar thoughts at times. One of these in particular is when Pan says:

I run down. Sam is reheating the turkey and whipping up the vegan mashed potatoes. I take a look at my sweet potatoes covered in butter, sugar, and marshmellows. The marshmellows have failed to form that camp-fire-y, charred glaze and are instead completely melted, the white dissolving into clumps among the orange sweet potatoes.

"It looks like I spit my toothpaste out in it," Sam says.

I want to kill him. But there are too many witnesses.

I found this to be hilarious and relatable, as I'm sure most if not all individuals with a smart-ass partner would relate to it. There are many more laugh out loud moments in this book, this is just my personal favorite.

Overall, I can't say it was a bad book. I didn't enjoy the overall story but it definitely had it's redeeming qualities. This book would probably be enjoyed most by "shintroverts" who are looking to become more outgoing or even considering trying something out of their comfort zone.

Flashback to My Childhood Favorites

☆Flashback Friday☆

My Childhood Favorites

♡♡♡

Who doesn't remember the one that started it all? The book that grabbed your imagination and hauled you into another world from which you've never wanted to escape? Eventually you move on to the next one, hungry for the next euphoria that comes only from the escape to another adventure brought to you by the written word. The first is never forgotten though, as time passes its magical adventures only get sweeter as you experience the sweet nostalgia brought only by the passage of time. Below are some of my personal favorites whose adventures still make me smile no matter how long its been since I've read them. 

An enjoyable, funny way to address bedtime fears and scared-of-the-dark issues

Guess what's growing in the basement . . . a baby monster!

Minneapolis Simpkin is hiding it down there. But a monster is a hard thing to keep secret, especially one that hiccups and cries, and gets bigger every hour.

This Level One I Can Read is perfect for kids learning to sound out words and sentences. From the beloved creator of Amelia Bedelia, Peggy Parish, and illustrated by Caldecott medalist Marc Simont. 

This was one of my earliest book loves as a child. When Minneapolis Simpkin wants a pet things get a little... difficult. It was so much fun reading and rereading about having a monster for a pet and why it probably isn't such a great idea. After reading this book I would find myself wondering what exactly it would be like to own a pet monster. I never actually got to own one, unless you count my evil cat that I absolutely loved, but thanks to this book I was able to dream about it.

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish is a 1960 children's book by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel). A simple rhyming book for learner readers, it is a book with a freewheeling plot about a boy and a girl, and the many amazing creatures they have for friends and pets. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish was part of the Beginner Book Video series which included Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! and The Foot Book.

Of course there is a Dr. Seuss book in here! I loved all the little stories in this one. This was my go-to when I wanted to read but didn't want to stay sat down for more than a couple minutes at a time. I used to read the stories in different voices to keep things interesting and entertain my siblings when they would want to listen. I actually use these voices now to read to my own kids and they love them. My first taste of creative expression through performance of the written word!

BEANY (NOT BEANHEAD) introduces Bernice Lorraine Sherwin-Hendricks, aka Beany — a girl with twenty-three freckles, a bossy best friend, and a tendency to worry over just about everything!

With Susan Wojciechowski's sure-handed touch for capturing the real concerns of a regular kid, this enormously entertaining Beany book will have middle-grade readers laughing with recognition.

This is the first chapter book I ever loved. I read this book at least once a week until it mysteriously disappeared on me (cue the heartbreak). I would use my nightlight to read this long after I was supposed to be asleep, there was something about it that just comforted me so much and I couldn't sleep without at least one chapter. It was like a security blanket that I could read, it kept me safe and helped me drift off to pleasant dreams.  

While solving the mystery of an old man's disappearing fortune, Nancy ends a family feud and reveals the identity of an orphan of unknown parentage.

Ahh, Nancy Drew. I was given this box set as a gift for Christmas about 15-20 years ago and it is still one of my most favorite gifts I've ever received. There was something about this book that just pulled me back into it again and again. It started up a love of mystery novels that I never forgotten. Granted, I've now moved onto James Patterson and other more adult related mystery authors and novels, but this one is a special love that I'll never forget.

Thank you for joining me for this post everyone. I hope after reading it you feel as warm and nostalgic as I do. So tell me, have you read any of these books? What were some of your first favorites? Do you remember what book sparked that love of reading? Tell me all your book loving details, I'd love to hear from you!

COVER REVEAL | The First Lie by A.J. Park

☆☆COVER REVEAL☆☆

The First Lie
By A.J. Park

We’ve all had sleepless nights thinking about it.

You’re home alone. Someone breaks in.

In defending yourself, you end up killing the intruder.

Now you’re the one the police want.

That is the situation that criminal barrister Paul Reeve arrives home to find.

His wife Alice stands in the bedroom, clutching a bloodied letter opener in her shaking hand.

“What have you done, Alice?”

“I didn’t have a choice…”

We would all believe the person we love most.

But would we all make the same choice Paul and Alice make next…?

Pre-order Links 

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/First-Lie-addictive-psychological-thriller-ebook/dp/B07NLCMD44/

US - https://www.amazon.com/First-Lie-addictive-psychological-thriller-ebook/dp/B07NLCMD44/ 

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-first-lie/a-j-park/9781409187424

Author Bio – 

After studying literature, linguistics and Spanish at university, AJ Park trained as an English teacher and actor. He has edited magazines and taught English, Media Studies and Drama in secondary schools in England. He was also a competitive fencer for seven years.

Social Media Links – 

Twitter @AJParkauthor

Facebook KarlVadaszffy

www.karlvad.com

Ethereal by Zoe P. Knights Review

Ethereal

By Zoe P. Knights

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Eden Osmond has one year left until her high school graduation. Home life in Australia is strained and dysfunctional. In an attempt to get her away from the drama to focus on school her brother convinces Eddie to move to England to finish her last year of school at Oakland Abby. It doesn't take a pretty girl like Eddie long to make new friends and maybe draw some extra attention from the schools bad boy. Everyone, including the attractive bad boy Sam, warns her to stay away from him. Of course, she doesn't and the two develop feelings for each other. Things get even more complicated when Eddie discovers that Sam isn't just a bad boy, but the son of The Devil himself. Now the two must figure out their future together and if they can even have one. Filled with excitement, desire and drama Ethereal is definitely something to get lost in.

I found this book to be absolutely great. There was something so charming and magical about the entire story. The characters were wonderfully developed. I found myself captivated by Eddie and Sam. Their relationship was sweet and cute at times while being intense other times, exactly what you would expect from two people in their situations. Everyone had such strong individual personalities. The detail about the characters, situation and settings made reading it feel like watching a movie in my mind. I could really see cliques, cliches and drama of high school.

I really enjoyed reading this book, I absolutely loved it! I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in paranormal YA fiction and/or romance. Fans of paranormal fiction would also enjoy this read.

2019 PopSugar Reading Challenge So Far

2019 PopSugar Challenge So Far

For the last few years I haven't had much time for reading, despite books being my first love. As an incentive to get myself to read more I accepted the PopSugar Reading Challenge. I accepted this challenge every year for the last three years actually (not successfully I should add). I (once again) decided this is definitely going to be the year I definitely finish it. I'm happy to say it's actually looking good this year as this is the closest I've ever come to finishing it. Below I'll log my progress and then when I (fingers crossed) finish the challenge I'll post my completed list.

☆~☆~☆

2019 POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE

1.A book becoming a movie in 2019
Pet Semetary by Stephen King ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2.A book that makes you nostalgic
3.A book written by a musician (fiction or nonfiction)
11/22/63 by Stephen King ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
4.A book you think should be turned into a movie
The House of Twelve by Sean Davies ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5.A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads
6.A book with a plant in the title or on the cover
Blue Rabbit by Jimena Novaro ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
7.A reread of a favorite book
8.A book about a hobby
The Tunes of Lenore by J.T. Blossom ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
9.A book you meant to read in 2018
Angel Killer by Andrew Mayne ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
10.A book with POP, SUGAR, or CHALLENGE in the title
Sugar And Spice And Not So Nice by Janet McNulty ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
11.A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover
Minno by James Barlog ⭐⭐☆☆☆
12.A book inspired by myth/legend/folklore
The Lasy Olympian by Rick Riordan ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
13.A book published posthumously
14.A book you see someone reading on TV or in a movie
15.A retelling of a classic
As Old As Time by Liz Braswell ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
16.A book with a question in the title
17.A book set on college or university campus
New Girl by A. Fae ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
18.A book about someone with a superpower
Mrs. Marvel, Vol 2: Generation Why by G. Willow Wilson ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
19.A book told from multiple POVs
Expiration Date by Kristin Coley ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
20.A book set in space
21.A book by two female authors
22.A book with SALTY, SWEET, BITTER, or SPICY in the title
23.A book set in Scandinavia
24.A book that takes place in a single day
25.A debut novel
26.A book that's published in 2019
Shakespeare's Witch: Pages Of Darkness Book One by Samantha Grosser ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
27.A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature
The Many Adventures of Peter and Fi Volume I: Homecoming by Kelvyn Fernandes ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
28.A book recommended by a celebrity you admire
29.A book with LOVE in the title
30.A book featuring an amateur detective
31.A book about a family
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
32.A book author from Asia, Africa, or South America
33.A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in title
34.A book that includes a wedding
Soulstealers by Jacqueline Rohrbach ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
35.A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter
The Battle Of The Labyrinth by Rick Riordan ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
36.A ghost story
A Medium's Birthday Surprise by Chariss K. Walker ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
37.A book with a two-word title
Four Nails by G.J. Berger ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
38.A novel based on a true story
She Said Yes: The Unlikely Martyrdom of Cassie Bernall by Misty Bernall ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
39.A book revolving around a puzzle or game
40.Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading challenge

•ADVANCED•

41.A "cli-fi" (climate fiction) book
42.A "choose-your-own-adventure" book
MAROONED: Will You Endure Treachery and Survival on the High Seas? by James Schannep ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
43.An "own voices" book
Mrs. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
44.Read a book during the season it is set in
45.A LitRPG book
46.A book with no chapters / unusual chapter headings / unconventionally numbered chapters
Looking For Alaska by John Green ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
47.Two books that share the same title
Bittersweet by Brooke Moss ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
48.Two books that share the same title
Bittersweet by Sarina Bowen ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
49.A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom
50.A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent
The Haunting of Briarwych Church by Amy Cross ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

☆~☆~☆

Do you know of any other fun reading challenges? Are you currently doing any or have you done any in the past? Do you have any suggestions for any of the prompts I haven't finished yet? Please comment below and tell me all about it! I'd love to hear about your thoughts and experiences!

Pet Sematary by Stephen King Review

Pet Sematary

By Stephen King

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Sometimes dead is better..."

Louis Creed never thought that accepting a job at a college in Maine and moving his family to Ludlow would change their lives forever. Just behind the family's new house is a path leading to the "Pet Sematary", a place the children of the neighborhood keep tended and bury their pets. Just behind the Pet Sematary is an ancient Indian burial ground that brings the dead buried there back to life. Louis and his family become close with Jud and Norma Crandall, their neighbors. On Halloween night Norma has a heart attack but thankfully, she survives due to Louis being there to help her. One night while Louis' family is away for Thanksgiving the family cat Church gets killed on the busy road. Knowing how upset Louis' daughter would be over the death of her beloved cat and wanting to say thank you to Louis for helping Norma, Jud takes him up to the ancient Indian burial ground behind the Pet Sematary and has him bury Church without telling him why. When Church appears back home, a bit strange but most definitely alive, Louis uses his knowledge of science to explain the strange phenomenon. When Jud explains to him what he had him do and why he had him do it, he also warns him of a pull that comes from the burial grounds after using them. Louis finally understands what happened but can he resist the pull once the need for the graveyard returns? Or will he give in and make things worse than he ever could have imagined?

I almost didn't read this book. In fact, it was my attraction to the cover that really got me to read it. I am now so thankful to whoever made that cover because I absolutely loved this book! It was absolutely amazing! This is the second book I've read by Stephen King, the first one left a lot to be desired and I really didn't understand what all the fuss over him was about. I read in reviews that the other book was quite different from his usual stuff, but I still wasn't interested in reading his work again. I'm so happy I ended up reading this because it was a million times better than the other book and I enjoyed it so much. 

I really liked the characters and thought they fit well for their parts in the story. The backstories explained particular traits in the characters rather nicely, such as when we learn why Rachel has such an unhealthy fear of death. The childish essence of Ellie and Gage were captured wonderfully and really brought to life.

I didn't find this book to be really scary. I found it was more like chills-down-your-spine creepy amazingness. Maybe that says more about my own weird kinks rather than the book. This book had so many twisted scenes in it that just kept me on the edge of my seat with my heart pounding just wanting more while simultaneously unsure if I could handle anymore. I found this book to be so satisfying in the most twisted of ways and I loved every minute of it. If you're a King fan or a fan of being creeped out and/or scared than you should definitely read this book. I've never seen the movie, but now I will definitely be watching both the original and the remake.

"Cause what you buy, is what you own. And what you own... always comes home to you."

The Forest by Krista Wagner Review

The Forest

By Krista Wagner

⭐⭐⭐☆☆

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Forest is the second book in The Magical Forest series. This book starts off in high school and we get to know Shane, Amanda's bully from the first book. We are told this story through his eyes; we learn about the death of his mother and the abuse from his already angry father that followed. When Shane discovers the Magical Forest he has a lot of questions and only one person he can ask, Amanda. Shane and Amanda end up going to the forest together and have a magical experience where their fantasies seem to come true, if only for a little while.

I had mixed feelings about Shane. On one hand my heart ached for him, on the other hand I was angry with his attitude and the way he treated Amanda. Shane is being abused by his father and singled out by his principal, which of course, causes him to be angry and resentful. We see these feelings projected onto other people especially when someone is already treating him different or badly. Shane decides he doesn't want to hurt anyone anymore and his life starts getting better. His dad ends up quitting drinking and settling down with a nice woman. He is sorry for the way he has treated Shane and works to make things better between them.

The Forest is a quick read with very little filler. The story started off good but lost me towards the end. For me, it got a little too weird and religous. I'm a little confused about how they went from a fantasy magical forest setting to suddenly standing in God's light. For me it ruined the book. The writing of the actual book isn't bad, the overall story isn't bad, I just hated the ending. I found it didn't live up to the first book and I was disappointed with it. It could be a good book for someone else, it just wasn't for me.

The Gold by Krista Wagner Review

The Gold

By Krista Wagner

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Amanda is a fifth grader who is left home alone with her big sister Jane, for anywhere between days and weeks at a time. She's bullied in school, mentally and emotionally abused by her sister at home, and her father is hardly ever around due to work. Things finally start to change when Amanda discovers a true friend in the form of talking gold. With a friend at her side Amanda's life is slowly changing, and maybe she can finally have the happy life every child deserves.

My heart broke for Amanda, I sympathized with the character and wanted to just comfort her. For most of the book I wanted to shake her entitled sister. Thankfully, Jane softened up towards Amanda and became much nicer near the ending.

I felt the story was well written, just slightly rushed at the end. I was glad to read that Amanda received a happy ending. I'd recommend reading this book. It shows the pain Amanda felt from being bullied and dealing with her sister without getting graphic so it can be read by any age.