Parent Trap-esque Found Family

Another random audio book picked out by simply scrolling through what was available on the Libby app.  I'm so glad I read it though, it was just what I needed.  It was unique and different than anything I'd read recently.  I found myself super engaged and I love it when that happens to me when reading a book.  What's the last book that had you feeling that way?

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You Have a Match by Emma Lord

This was a very unique spin on a sort of Parent Trap situation.  Involving found family, secrets hidden, and best friends torn apart, this story was way more than I bargained for when I checked it out from my Libby app.

I was expecting a young adult romance, and while there is a bit of that going on, it's very secondary to the main story of found siblings.  I love that the sister relationship and the parent's backstory is the main focus of the book and the teen romance is in the background.  I also love that while there are obviously the two siblings as the main characters, there is so much depth given to the surrounding characters.

I also liked, that just like in the Parent Trap stories, the book is mainly set in a summer camp.  It gave me very nostalgic feelings.  I love the Parent Trap movies and while, again, this take on that type of a story was VASTLY different, I did enjoy the feel of the similarities.

If you enjoy found family, young adult contemporary, and summer camp vibes, you're going to love this book.

Rebel Rendezvous

Ok, so if you haven't read a book by Piper James yet, you are seriously missing out.  All romance readers need to jump on board the James train right now!  Every page of every book I've read by this author is amazing and I'm so glad she's got another series coming out with this book!  Rebel Rendezvous is sure to be another fantastic success!

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I Wanted it to be You by Piper James

I was extremely happy to be able to read another book by the fabulous Piper James.  I Wanted it to Be You took me back to that place of first loves and second chances that only an amazing romance novel can do.  The characters practically leapt off the page in their relatability and I found myself connected with them and the story from the first chapter.

I love a good second chance romance, and I loved even better that it combined that with a best friend's sister, AND a plus sized woman.  This was just an all around good story, a great romance and an un-put-down-able book!  

I think that the addition of the online presence added an adorable side to the story that made it all that much sweeter.  I think that contemporary romance readers will truly enjoy this story and be eager to start a brand new series by such an engaging author.

Book Two, better Narration!

I absolutely loved this book and am loving this series.  If you haven't checked it out, I think it's a must.  The first one in the series had a narrator that put me off, but this one did not and that helped me love it even more!  It's amazing how something like that can make or break a book.  

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The Bride Test by Helen Hoang 

After reading The Kiss Quotient, I was eager to get started on The Bride Test.  I was hoping that the series would follow the original couple, but at the end of book one it became obvious it would not.  But I have to say how incredibly happy I was to learn that the story was about Khai!  I was intrigued with the mention of him in the first book, so I was eager to learn more about him and I loved getting another story with a neurodivergent love interest.  In addition to the fascinating and lovable character of Khai, is Esme whom Khai's mom finds to match him with and she is endearing in her own way.  I love how she has such ambition and goals and is willing to work hard to attain them.  With such great characters, it's no surprise that I was drawn into the story right away and couldn't get enough.  I also loved that there were some appearances from the people in the first book, so we kind of get a peek into their lives.  At the end of the book, there's even a little hint as to who will be in the third book, which I can't wait to read.

This author is definitely someone to look out for.  Her writing is amazing and I love the different cultures and diversity that she includes.

Challenged

I'm getting really tired of so many books being challenged, banned and burned in our country.  Have you all been keeping up with the news?  A majority of the books that these groups and parents find questionable, I've already read, but the ones I haven't I wanted to.  So, this is the first of those that I was able to read.  The complaints heard about this book were that it was pornography, had illicit drug use, and while there was the drug use aspect, it was integral to the telling of the story.  And there was nothing even remotely like porn in this book.  Anyway, this is my review of Hey Kiddo!

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Hey Kiddo! by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

After hearing that this book had been challenged by a local parent, I decided to check it out from the library and read it myself.  While I did not see any of the concerns that the parent had mentioned, I did see a very relevant story, a true one at that, that revolves around a boy who grew up not knowing his father and learning that his mother was an addict.  Is there some tough content in the book, yes, but there is tough content in life as well and I'm sure that one of these students who are getting access to this book through their school library are going to connect with it and maybe feel less alone.

I don't usually read graphic novels, but I did enjoy the drawing and how the story mentioned time and time again the main character/author and his journey as he found his art.  I loved the use of lyrics of songs listened to in the background of the artwork as well.

I'm very happy that the school board in question chose not to remove this book from the libraries.

Travel to Greece!

When I read on my Nook or Kindle, and it's not because I've specifically purchased a new book, I usually just scroll through all the freebies I've downloaded and pick one that looks good in the moment.  This time, on my Nook, I chose Seven Days of Friday.  As you'll see from my review, it took a bit for me to get into it.  Because of this, it took me nearly a month to read it.  Don't get discouraged though!  First of all, not all books are for all people.  What was slow to start for me, might be excellent from page one for others.  Also, just for the record, when I do read on an e-reader, that is my "night time reading" and it only happens before bed.  During the day, I am either reading a physical book or listening to an audio book.  So, yes some books do take me longer to finish.  Anyway, that might be more than you need to know about my reading habits, so let's move on to the review!

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Seven Days of Friday by Alex A. King

When I first started this book, I thought I wasn't going to like it much, and to be honest, it did take me a bit to REALLY get into it.  But the more I read, the more intrigued and interested I became.  Once the characters get to Greece, I was hooked.

I really liked the alternating points of view throughout the book to show what's going on from all sides of this complicated story.  I also loved that it wasn't a definitive every other chapter type of deal, but just sort of flowed with which character had more to say at the time.

As a former "cutter" I feel the need to share that there is a possible trigger in that area.  For me, it helped me identify with that character, but not everyone is in the same place in their lives, so please be aware of that.

I think women from teens to mature adults will enjoy this book.  It really showcases how things can be different throughout our growing up, but also remain the same.  There is a definite generational feel as you read about the various characters, so there is something for everyone, no matter what stage of life they are in.  I'm interested to see where the next book might take us.

TikTok Strikes Again

A lot of people on TikTok have been talking about this series.  I was blessed to win a copy of the first book from one such TikToker.  I won't jump in on the "war" on TikTok about which is better, (as I state in my review,) but I will say that I definitely did like Crave.  I liked it so much I went on ThriftBooks before I was finished to buy the 2nd book.  Unfortunately, it arrived severely damaged and unreadable, so I am still waiting for a better copy when I can afford one.  In any case, here's my review for book 1!

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Crave by Tracey Wolff

In a classic case of TikTok made me read it, I've picked up this book based on many reviews and an epic Crave vs. Twilight war! Now, I won't say which is better, I personally liked each for different reasons.

Crave is not your average vampire romance. First of all, we're dealing with way more than vampires, and even more than vampires and werewolves. Secondly, I think it's interesting to have the supernatural be the "norm" and the human be the abnormal one in the school. I absolutely love the Boarding School aspect of this story.

Many things are happening in this first book, from Grace moving to the school and ending up hurt... a lot, to uncovering a plot that will hurt many and change the world as we know it. I loved all the action and the paranormal creatures that are not as common in YA books.

The ending was SUCH a shock and cliffhanger! I both loved and hated it! But also, my book had some extra chapters from Jaxon's POV and I really enjoyed those. I'm not sure if that's something in every book or not. I know there are five books in this series so far, and I'm very excited to read the rest of them.

Autistic Characters

As I'll state in my review below, I love reading about characters who are neurodivergent or who have special needs.  I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy every book in this series.  I did struggle with the narrator, as I also state below.  But to give a bit more information... due to the main character being Autistic, the stilted and slow speech seemed a bit like making fun of her.  It was difficult to listen to.  I'm not sure that's what the narrator meant to do, but that's how it came across and since I am so passionate about these things, it was difficult.  If there hadn't been such a long waiting list for the ebook, I would have switched.  However, I loved the writing and the actual story.  I loved it so much, I powered through and I ended up just loving this story.  

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The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

I listened to this book on audio from the Libby app.  I have to be completely honest and say that if I had read it myself, I probably would have given it 5 stars.  The narration for the audio book was stilted and very hard to listen to.  Even after speeding it up, there were parts that made me cringe.

The book itself was amazing.  I loved the idea behind the story and the way it was executed.  I love that we have so much diversity going on in the book as well.  And not just racial diversity, but neurodiversity as well.  I hope this trend of writing characters who are not the "normal" will continue.  As a person who works with special needs for my job, I love having that type of character included in the books I read.

I loved watching the main character, Stella, come out of her shell a bit and realize that some of her so-called problems were not actually her but the people she had been dealing with prior to Michael.  I also loved Michael's family and that whole dynamic.  I love big extended families that are super close.

The end was the epitome of an HEA and I could not have been happier with where these characters ended up.  I sincerely hope that we get to see more of them as this series progresses.

Back at Castle Mountain Lodge

 I really liked the first few books in this series, so it's no surprised that I liked this one as well. I love when authors bring back other characters in series like this that center around a different couple for each book.  I have recently found out that while I thought this was a trilogy, there are actually several more books in this series to read.  So, I'm eager to look into getting the rest of the books on my Kindle to read.  Here's my review for Mistaken Gifts by Elena Aitken, which I actually read at the beginning of January.  

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Mistaken Gifts by Elena Aitken

I really enjoyed Eva and Jeff's story in this charming little series. It's definitely got a bit of opposites attract feel to it, and the heat is off the charts. I also loved getting to check back in on previous characters and see how their relationships are faring. I especially enjoyed seeing Ella again! I do feel like there is more going on with Jeff's job offer and the way that lady left the lodge, but come to find out there is another book in this series! I thought it was just a trilogy. So, I'm looking forward to finding that other book to read and see if there are more answers there. I hadn't read Elena Aitken before this series, but I do enjoy her writing and think I will be reading more of her in the future!

MindF*ck!

I've likely stated this before, but I often do not read the blurb or synopsis of a book before reading it.  I'm the epitome of the "judge a book by it's cover" type person.  When I bought this book, I bought it specifically because I happen to love the author and love everything that she's written.  I knew that I had got a bit of a mind fuck with Verity, but I wasn't expecting another one with Layla.  I guess with the one word, woman's name title I should have guessed.  In any case, I loved it!  It was romance, intrigue, mystery, paranormal and amazing writing!  The following is my review for Layla by Colleen Hoover.

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Layla by Colleen Hoover

This was definitely not what I was expecting!  Even after reading Verity, I still equate Colleen Hoover with more romantic drama than the mystery type genres.  Going back and forth between a present day interview and memories from the main character, this book built up intrigue and a desire to know what was going on that was so strong, it was hard for me to put it down!

I love the sort of paranormal element to this book and the mystery surrounding what's happening at the house.  There were several times throughout the book where I thought I had things figured out, only to be proven wrong time and time again.  And then one of the biggest plot twists I've ever read shook me to my core!  I sat with the book in front of me and my mouth hanging open for I don't even know how long until my husband asked what was going on!  

One thing I wish we'd gotten to see is how Layla's sister and Leeds ended up resolving their conflict, because I really do think that Leeds is a good guy.  I would like to see how the families get along after everything that happened.

If you enjoy a good ghost story type mystery, and a pretty epic love story all rolled into one, you will enjoy this book.  I also think fans of any of Colleen Hoover's work will enjoy it, because her writing is just phenomenal! 

Dorothy Must Die Series

 Throughout December, (and a tad bit of January,) I listened to the entire Dorothy Must Die series.  Actually, there were a few novellas that weren't available on audio so I read the ebook, but you get my point.  I read the whole series and I loved it.  Of course, there were books in the series that I liked more or less than the others, but taking it as a whole, I really did enjoy the series.  I've always been a fan of The Wizard of Oz, both the books and the films, and I also really enjoy a good retelling.  I got very behind on my blogging, so to save some posting, I'm going to share the reviews for all of the series here.  I'm going to put them in the order I read them, so here we go!

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Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

I've been meaning to read this series for so long now. I'm so glad I finally picked it up. Think The Wizard of Oz if it were just a bit more twisted and slightly dystopian.

I love the imagination that went into this work, and the descriptions are so very vivid that it's like you're right there in Oz watching everything play out. I think the characters in this book were very well developed as well. You get to know Amy before she ever leaves Kansas, and while some of the characters in Oz are harder to get to know, the mystery surrounding them makes them into more in depth characters.

The idea that the desire to gain power will turn someone so evil is a good theme in this book. It shows how even the most trusted people can be turned into something wicked through their desire for power and control. That's true in the real world as well and something that we all need to watch out for.

There are some pretty graphic descriptions in this book, so I would recommend this book for older teens and adults.

I loved the story and how it's progressing and can't wait to read the next book! 

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The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige

I am really enjoying this series that takes a spin off of the original Wizard of Oz story. Not only does it bring some nostalgia to the reader, but it's a thrilling new adventure that fans of the original are sure to love.

Asking yourself what would happen if Dorothy went back to Oz for good, this series explores what the desire for magic, power and control can do to corrupt a person. In addition to seeing some of the characters you remember from the original story, there are some new and charismatic characters we meet in this series. I listened to this book on audio and I was very impressed and amused at the voice acting for the character, Lulu.

This book had a bit more action than the first in the series. That being said, remember that there are some scenes of violence and gore that weren't in the original story, younger readers might be bothered.

I love a book that I find difficult to put down and walk away from, and that is definitely the case in this series so far. I'm very eager to get started on the third, and I think final, book in the series!

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The Straw King by Danielle Paige

This little glimpse into the life of the Scarecrow shows just how early Glinda began to change things in Oz. From the first three books in the series, I assumed it all began with Dorothy coming back, but it seems as if something started to get dark before then. You can clearly see how Glinda was pulling strings from the beginning.

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Heart of Tin by Danielle Paige

Reading about how the Tin Man turned was actually kind of sad. He had so much love for Dorothy but not much smarts and it caused him to be taken advantage of. It was interesting to see how the change began in the heart he was given. It also really made me hate Dorothy and Glinda that much more, but now I'm also really hating the Scarecrow! 

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The Wizard Returns by Danielle Paige

Quite a few things were answered and explained in this novella addition to the Dorothy Must Die series. We finally learn where the Wizard went when he left Oz in the original story. We also get some background into the magics of Oz and the gifts the Wizard gave to the Scarecrow, Lion and Tin Man. This shows us why the Wizard asked Amy to retrieve them. It also gave us a look at the Wizard's true personality. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Witch Must Burn by Danielle Paige I enjoyed this novella that tells Jellia's story and how she got involved with The Order. I liked the glimpse into the inner workings between Glinda, Dorothy and even the Wizard that we got while learning about Jellia. It was also kind of cool to see what Nox was doing before Amy got there. **************** Yellow Brick War by Danielle Paige Each book in this series gets more and more exciting and dangerous. I find myself flying through the books and eagerly checking out the next in the series. I just found out that this was not the final book and there is another! There's also a bunch of novellas to go along, so I'm happily scouring those out as well. If you're a fan of retellings at all or a fan of the original Wizard of Oz stories, you're sure to like this series. This book goes between Oz and Kansas which is slightly different than the previous two. In fact, more seems to take place in Kansas than in Oz. I loved how we got to see some of the characters from book one and how they are faring and how the relationship between Amy and some of those characters has changed. Amy isn't the only character who has matured and found new perspective. There are also new villains to face, mainly the Nome King. I think I dislike him even more than Glinda and Dorothy! The writing is excellent and the reader really feels like they are there and a part of the action. This is a must read series!  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Dark Side of the Rainbow by Danielle Paige Because I did not read this series in chronological order, like I prefer, this book was a sad one for me since I already know what will happen to some of the characters. However, I did truly enjoy getting a look into Polychrome's life and how she first met Bright. It was also interesting to see how smarmy Dorothy could be.  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Order of the Wicked by Danielle Paige This wasn't my favorite of the novellas, it started a bit slow for me, but I think that's because I don't remember who Lanadel is from the main books. Maybe she's someone I will encounter in the fourth book? In any case, once I really got into the story and more and more characters I remembered came into play it got more interesting. When I finished the last line, I literally said "uh oh" out loud! There's also a quote I really liked in this book, "Any tool is a weapon if you hold it right." ~~~~~~~~~~~ No Place Like Oz by Danielle Paige I really enjoyed this novella addition to the Dorothy Must Die series. It was fascinating to see how exactly Dorothy came to return to Oz and the things she saw and did before the Power got to her. It also made me dislike Glinda a little more and gave me more than a few questions as to where she came from. I'm wondering if book 4 will have answers to those questions. It was enlightening to see what happened to Dorothy's family and to Ozma. I'm reading these a bit out of order, but they are still interesting and great additions to the series. ************** Ruler of Beasts by Danielle Paige I think this one has been my favorite of the novellas so far. I like how we get to see how easily the Lion is persuaded and how much he flips back and forth. I love when Ozma told him that she didn't think he thought much on good or evil. I think that's very true. I also really enjoyed seeing the Nome King and the Wheelers and hearing about the Princess with all the heads. It reminded me of watching Return to Oz as a kid. There were also some questions about Glinda answered and even about Dorothy's shoes. A great addition to the series. ^^^^^^^^^^^^ The Queen of Oz by Danielle Paige This was a novella in the series that told about how Pete came about and how Ozma was eventually restored to the Emerald City. I liked getting a closer look into Mobi as a character and seeing different sides of Glinda and Glamora. It was also very cute to see Pete's interaction with the munchkin he met. I really liked this addition to the story! ~~~~~~~~~~ The End of Oz by Danielle Paige What a stunning conclusion to this epic series! I think this may have been my favorite book of all of them. There is so much going on, and I loved the alternating view points. Madison plays a bigger role in this book, and I also loved getting more interaction between Amy and Nox. There's less of the witches and more of the younger characters in this book and it really feels like they have grown and matured. I liked the new munchkin character and finally learning about Lanadel, (after I'd read the novella about her I was sort of confused.) This book also has the reader really hating the Nome King, but I did enjoy seeing more of Ev and it's people. I found the Wheelers to be super interesting when I watched Return to Oz as a kid, so I loved seeing them again in this book. The descriptions were so in depth, I could almost smell them. I was in tears at the end of this book, but I think it ended the way it should. I think readers will be happy and that fans of Oz in general are going to love this series.

Diverse Reading

I'm really behind on updating this blog.  The holidays are crazy times, and we had some very troubling times in my family as well.  We are struggling financially as well as dealing with some personal and health issues.  But, I have been reading!  Reading is my escape from all of that, so I do have plenty to post!  I'm going to start with my most recent read and then go back and try to fill in some older ones as I have time.

I'm making a personal challenge for myself to read even more diverse books in 2022.  I want to read about people of other races and cultures and immerse myself in the differences and similarities.  The first of these I've read is The Way You Make Me Feel by Maureen Goo.  The characters are Korean/Brazilian, African American, and more.  I really enjoyed reading about the different foods on a Korean/Brazilian fusion food truck.  The following is my review...

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The Way You Make Me Feel by Maureen Goo

I've seen a lot of negative reviews of this book based on the main character's lack of empathy, a situation involving pork, and how self-centered she is.  I'm not going to disagree with those thoughts, but I will say that this character is on a path of personal growth.  She's maturing into who she can be instead of the immature person she was.  If you continue reading, past the pork scene and past some of her more annoying moments, you might be surprised at the way this story can help us to see that even if we get lost along the way and don't really like who we are, there is still the capacity and ability for change.  Clara showed this in some of the best ways, because she was not so great a character to begin with.

I absolutely adored the characters of Rose, Adrian and Hamlet.  I abhorred in equal measure Clara's mother.  Adrian is the epitome of a good father.  He's kind and thoughtful in the way he handles things in Clara's life.  He's ambitious in his career but makes sure to put Clara first.  And unlike a lot of parents, he makes sure to not let his feelings for her mother be seen, and puts them aside to make sure Clara is taken care of.  Rose is a perfectionist of sorts, but I think that the way she described her anxiety was a very poignant and helpful bit of dialogue.  I've yet to read a book that explained the way I see my anxiety so clearly as this.  And Hamlet is just the good guy of all good guys.  He has a big heart, he's kind and genuine, intelligent and thoughtful.  I think the fact that he sees something in Clara speaks a lot for both characters.

I loved the natural arc that the story took, from fighting and enemies to friendships, working together and finding yourself.  It's a wonderful coming of age, young adult novel.

Siobhan can do no wrong!

I am utterly convinced that author Siobhan Davis can do NO wrong!  I have been a reader of her books since she was a newbie author and published her first.  I was hooked right away and knew this was an author to watch out for.  Since then, I have eagerly devoured every word she has written, from Sci-Fi to Forbidden Romance, from Angsty Contemporaries to Reverse Harem, I've stepped out of my comfort zone more than once and been completely delighted with the experience.  Now she's got me reading Mafia Romance and loving it!  The writing is beautiful and descriptive and she makes you feel all the feels.  If you're not reading her books you should be!  The following is my review for her latest in a mafia romance trilogy.  It was passionate and compelling and I couldn't put it down!

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Scared to Love by Siobhan Davis

 I never realized how much I could love a good mafia romance until Siobhan Davis stepped into the picture! (This woman can write anything, I swear!) I never even thought it would be something I would like or be into, but I found myself drawn in with Condemned to Love and stayed on for this trilogy of a ride. Even better, I've found out (at the end of this book) that there will be some spin off stories as well. I'm so glad, because two of the spin offs mentioned are ones that I was hoping she would write!

I have to admit that I've been anxious about Serena's story, we meet her in book one and she doesn't always come off the greatest. But as the series continues, you realize that she's been trapped in this world and was not only helpless, but also lost a bit of herself. It was really encouraging in this book to watch her reclaim that part of herself and come out better for it.

Alesso is a passionate hero and I think readers will swoon over him. Coming from his own tortured past, he needed someone to fill a void in his life and I was so happy how things worked out for him in the end.

The epilogue was just the icing on the cake for me, not only did it tie up the end of this trilogy but it left the openings and the questions for the readers to want to get to those other spin off stories as soon as possible. If you enjoy mafia romance and all the action, suspense and passion that goes with it, you're going to love this book and the whole trilogy!