The Lanterns Ember by Colleen Houck

Hello again! Its my second day in a row getting some much needed down time from full time mommy life to bring you another book review. Thank you to my guy who is hanging out with our littles so I can take a break!

Synopsis:
Ember O'Dare has a secret. She's a natural born witch. From an early age, she's had a knack for crafting potions and felt and indescribable pull to the ancient bridge in her town of Hallowell. Little does Ember know, the bridge is a gateway to the otherworld, a realm crawling with fiendish beasts. And Jack, the ever-vigilant watchman, is committed to keeping meddlesome mortals away. His task is simple- or it would be, if he weren't falling for the very witch he's trying to keep out.
Undeterred by Jack's warnings, Ember crosses into the forbidden plane and sets off a chase through a world beyond her wildest imaginings. Now Jack must do everything in his power to rescue his true love before both the earthly and unearthly worlds descend into chaos.

Okay so, I waited for months for this book to be released because by the description alone I knew this was right up my alley. Witches, Halloween and a modern twist on the classic The Legend of Sleepy Hollow , I mean come on, what's not to love. I purchased it right before its release date so that it would arrive at my house upon its release. I read the first ten chapters and my life went bananas... literally crazy. Long story short, my dog got cancer, he fought for a couple months until he coul not fight any more and we put him to rest, then I took a part time job doing what I love to do, embroidery, I was in school and then we FINALLY got our transfer out of the crap town we were living in so I had to finish school, work and move with a one year old. Needless to say, reading was and has been on the back burner. In the last few weeks I have been listening to audiobooks like crazy and I saw that this book was available so I purchased it! But I digress...

Now Back to the book... Anyway because we had so much happening, I could not find the want to pick this book up again and every time I did I would get sidetracked or honestly a bit bored. There is a lull halfway through that is full of action and if you are like me you want the storyline to keep moving rather than have fluffer chapters that, in my opinion for this story, did not need to be as drawn out as they were and for me they detracted from the main premise. However I know that they do have their place and I think that most everyone will really enjoy these chapters. I have to say that the best elements of this book were the world building and the character development. It starts in this Sleepy Hollow-esque town called Hallowell that when you read the descriptions you feel like its Halloween in every scene. Then we visit the otherworld that reminded me of a steampunk underworld and by underworld I mean like one from Disney's Hercules. Then we are aboard the The Phanntom Airbus with a crew of monsters and a heated love triangle. By the end we are back in Hallowell which again is absolutely magical.

Then there are the characters. I will only talk about Ember and Jack as I want to limit spoilers as much as possible. Ember is a force! She is what you imagine a young, bright and beautiful witch to be. Imagined her as a Christina Ricci meets Mila Kunis kind of girl. Dark and beautiful but a bit rough around the edges (even if that's not how she is described) :) Then there is Jack. Be still my heart, how I loved Jack. He was dashing, and kind but he was not afraid to fight. He was masculine but not so much so that he was a muscle head (for lack of a better word) I Pictured him as Robert Sheehan with bright eyes, hark hair and Olive skin, of course even if he wasn't described that way.

I just have to say that while I was reading this, I was enjoying it but only at a 3.5/5 stars until the very end. The Epilogue alone made it a 5 star read for me. I wont give anything away, but if you are a history buff like I am then when you read it you will understand why I loved it so much. In fact I listened to it a couple more times after i finished because it was such a great way of tying in history to such a great story.

Like I said I gave this book 5 stars, and I think that it is a story that is appealing to many, especially Halloween/ Sleepy Hollow buffs like myself!

I hope you all enjoyed this review and I will plan on doing another soon!

Bye Friends

2018 book expectations

Hi readers! It has been quite awhile since you have heard from either Ashley or myself. My life has been crazy hectic and Miss Ash works full time as well as attending school. We apologize for not posting more...

So 2017 has ended and we are now almost 1 month into 2018. I have set my Goodreads goal at only 10 books and I am already 6 books into that goal! I have only read extremely short books minus the one I just finished. If you have not read Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi, then you need to pick it up. It is a whimsical tale full of magic, color and self acceptance. I am currently a subscriber to Audible (thanks to my amazing husband) and I have listened to 2 books already, including Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo which I absolutely hated, and The Necromancer, book 4 in the Alchemist Series by Michael Scott which I adored! My current hard copy read is Cinder by Marissa Meyer. I am only about 10 pages in and have heard nothing but raving about the series so I am anxious to see if it will live up to its reputation. I hope to post a bit more as my free time is limited but when the blogging bug bites I have to post. I hope you will stay with us.

The TMI Book Tag

Hey Guys and Girls, Kelsey here! Today I wanted to do a fun tag and while I was scanning the internet for something that got me inspired to write I came across @fandomsontherun and their TMI book tag! so lets get into it shall we?!?

1. Which Character has the best style?

For this I chose, Isabelle Lightwood fro The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. While this picture is from the movie, this just gives you an idea of how amazing Izzy dresses!!

2. Book boyfriend/girlfriend/fictional crush?

Obviously if you have been following me on Instagram or even on here you know that my love for Simon Lewis runs deep. He is by far the most wonderful book crush of my life.

3. Ever loved a character but then began to hate them? Hmmmm lets see...

I really loved Sam from The Perks of Being a Wallflower when I first started reading this book. After 100 pages I began to fall out of love with the book, but Sam as a character as well. I found her to be quirky for the sake of being quirky. That's really all she had going for her and then it just became obnoxious.

4. Bigges/Longest book on your shelf?

This beat Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by a whopping 1 page! This has 578 pages and man were they packed full of amazing!

5. Heaviest book on your shelf?

While this book is not 578 pages it is large in size and quite heavy!

6. Do you have any book posters? No... I cant say that I ever have.

7.Do you have any book themed Jewelry? I do not. Only because I am extremely allergic to nickle and all the cute costume jewelry is made from nickle or cheap material. However I would love something either Alice in Wonderland or Harry Potter!

8.Book OTP?

I really hate all of the trendy "book lingo" OTP, Trope, ship.. GAH SO ANNOYING but anyway, I guess my OTP is Abby and Caspian!

9. Favorite Book Series?

The Sweep Series By Cate Tiernan! This is an amazing series about teen witches and its utterly addicting!

10. Favorite Book to Movie Soundtrack?

You all know I am Tim Burtons biggest fan, so naturally I decided to go with this! Danny Elfman has said that "The Nightmare Before Christmas was the easiest soundtrack for me to write" and it really shows his creativity. Tim Burton got the idea for NBC from walking past a Macy's and they were taking down their Halloween display and putting up Christmas. The poem he wrote was published into the book it is now, which was then turned into a Stop motion animation film, Directed by Henry Selick and obviously created by Burton. Its by far one of my all time favorite soundtracks on earth!

11. A book/Story you miss and wish would continue?

I don't really have one because all of the stories I read have to end at some point and while it can be heartbreaking, its necessary.

12. Favorite Stand-Alone. This is so hard because I actually prefer stand-alones to series... but I guess if I had to choose...

Cat Winters is a literary wizard. She combines Historical fiction with the supernatural and her books are so hard to put down. In the Shadow of Blackbirds takes place in Coronado, California during WWI and during the outbreak of the Spanish Influenza. As you can see by the cover spirit photography is the supernatural element in this story and while it makes an impact, the time period and characters really steal the spotlight.

13. Since when did you read books. My passion for reading was sparked when I was 14 and a freshman in high school. It started with To Kill a Mockingbird By Harper Lee

14. Which Hogwarts house are you in?

I am a proud Slytherin!

15. Quality you look for in a book? Good Characters. If I don't like the characters, then the rest of the story wont appeal to me.

16. Favorite book quote: "Hold your Head high and keep those fists down"- Atticus Finch

17. Favorite Author? Without a doubt that would be Cat Winters. Like I mentioned before she is a brilliant writer!

18.Favorite book cover?

.

Again with Cat Winters! I LOVE this book cover. Its not only beautiful but also spooky. This book changed my life in so many ways. I never knew much about the suffragettes of America and now I have such a profound respect for them.

19. Action or Romance? Romance, Hands down! I love falling in love with a fictitious guys!

20. Where do you go when a sad moment happens? I am a huge baby when it comes to emotional reads. I cry at the drop of a hat so usually I just sit and cry while I gather my thoughts.

21. How long do you need to finish a book? I am such a slow reader, so at least 2 weeks. My schedule is so busy all the time that I really only get to read in bed before I go to sleep and usually it only takes me 30 minutes to an hour to nod off.

22. How long is your mourning period? Honestly its pretty fast. I have seen on youtube and talked to people who need days or even weeks to get over the loss of  a literary loved one. I have a good cry and then I move on..

23.Least Favorite book? I have so many.. I am an extremely critical reader, and I don't know why. I cant stand books that are too hyped or talked about but I would say some of my least favorites include

I know to a lot of you this will seem just awful but I found all of these books to (for lack of a better word) SUCK!

24. Turn on in a character? I love strong, brave characters. I also look for a extreme amount of independence. I am such an independent person that when I read of even slightly co-dependent characters I begin to get annoyed.

25. Turn off in a character? Needy, clingy, whiney, co-dependent.

26. Reason I started blogging? I started blogging because I love talking about books. I am hoping to start school soon to begin my Bachelors in Library Science. Until then I love sharing my thoughts with all of you about books, characters and fandoms :)

27. Name a scary Book?

Yes, another Cat Winters book. I had a hard time reading this book at night because the concept of this little girl speaking as if she is 19 and drowned when she is really a 7 year old girl in another part of the country had me spooked!!!

28. Last Book that made you cry?

This emotional rollercoaster!!!

29. Last book you gave 5 stars?

This is an amazing new spin on witches in America!

30. Any Favorite book titles? I've never really thought about it!

31. Last book you read? This is war by Kennedy Fox <3

32. Book you are currently reading?

33. Last Book adaptation you watched?

I am watching Tim Burtons Alice in Wonderland as I am writing this post!

34. Book Character you always wanted to talk to?

Atticus Finch. I find him to be the most wonderful man and character in all of the written word!

35. An Author you always wanted to talk to? Harper Lee! I would love to find out how she came up with the idea for To Kill a Mockingbird.

36. Favorite book snack? I don't really eat when I read but if I do, on a rare occasion I really like smokehouse flavored almonds or plain popcorn.

37. Book world you want to live in?

I'm still waiting for my letter!!!!

38. Book world you don't want to live in?

While I love this series, I get anxious just thinking about the reaping and the games.. No thanks!

39. Last time you smelled a book? Today!

40. Weird insults used in books? I have no idea!

41. Favorite Romance book?

The only romance that still, to this day, breaks my heart all over again with every page I read.

42. Do you write? I love to write and I really want to write two non-fiction pieces. One on growing up with my sister Rachel, who is on the Autism Spectrum and one about being the wife to a man in law enforcement and how to cope with the every stresses that comes with. My personal blog kelseys365challenge.wordpress.com has segments on both.

43.Favrote magical item? Broomsticks!

44.Your quidditch position? On the sidelines cheering on my friends!

45. Name a song you connect to a book. You're going to wonder why but Stranger in Moscow by Michael Jackson with A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks. Only because the day I read it I was sick and so I read the entire book and I was obsessed with the song so I kept it on repeat.

46.Favorite book fandom? Either Harry Potter or Pretty Little Liars!

47. How many books do you own? I have never counted them, but I did just do a purge of about 15 that are going to good homes!

48. Who do you tag? Ashley, Sharon, and Leah and @LeeNichole on youtube

This is War by Kennedy Fox

Travis and Viola have been friends since they were kids. She was the little sister who followed her brother Drew and Travis around like a puppy. For Drew she was annoying, for Travis she meant friendship. Until Viola was 13 Travis was her fist love. On her birthday she hears Travis saying things about her to Drew that she never thought he would think let alone say out loud. She was a pity friend... After having her heart broken she begins to loathe Travis, distancing herself from him completely. Travis begins to change along with Viola. He becomes, in short, a man whore!! But when Viola has to spend her spring break with Drew and Travis will things begin to change? Will old friends fall in love?

Oh.my.gosh... I read this book in a few days because I couldn't put it down!!!! Kennedy Fox is a wonderful and fast-paced writer. Her writing style reminds me of Colleen Hoover mixed with Kresley Cole. Her humor is timed perfectly as well as her steamy moments! Also the cliffhanger at the end made my jaw drop. It was so perfect! Literally my favorite read of 2017 so far. Cannot wait to dive into part 2 of Travis and Viola's story! A five ⭐read
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Get over to Amazon and purchase some of her books. You will not be sorry!!!

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova

Hey readers! It is another beautiful sunday and I just finished Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova! This is a spoiler free review!

Synopsis: "Alex is a Bruja, the most powerful witch in a generation...and she hates magic. At her Deathday celebration, Alex performs a spell to rid herself of her power. But it backfires. Her whole family vanishes into thin air leaving her alone with Nova, a Brujo boy she cant trust. A boy whose intentions are as dark and strange as the markings on his skin. The only way to get her family back is to travel with Nova to Los Lagos, a land in between, as dark as limbo and as strange as wonderland."

Okay... As many of you know I am a crazy witch fanatic, so when I saw this was a whole new take on witches I had to read it! Let me start by say thing that this story was magnetic! The characters, I found to be so relatable, minus the Bruja thing :) Alex is just a normal girl still trying to figure herself out and find her place in the world. I absolutely loved her family and all their eccentricties. Each character was unique in their own way and really added depth to Alex as a girl, sister, daughter and friend.

The element of surprise was used so much in this story that I found myself shocked with every page. I had no idea where it was going to go and I found myself gasping every so often.

I only had one problem with this story and that was our villain The Devourer. I wont tell you who she is and why she does what she does (no spoilers remember) but I found her character to be quickly forgotten. I knew that she was our conflict and that she would pop up at the worst times for Alex but I found her too be a bit bland. When you hear the title The Devourer you think of a true villain but she was not as insidious as she sounded.

Overall this book was a 4.5 star read for me. If you are as into witches as I am, then you will really enjoy this book. The concept of these Mexican witches called Brujas is such a refreshing twist on what we have a preconceived idea of.

The Crowns of Croswald amazingness

Hey readers. So last week I received a message asking if I would like to get some bookish mail. Since I don't treat myself to subscription boxes nor buy myself many books anymore I was elated and said YES PLEASE! Little did I know how amazing this mail was going to be. If you look in the picture down below I received a gorgeous "Glangerie" bottle that lights up beautifully. Some instructions and some extra backstory literature and a copy of D.E Night's The Crowns of Croswald. I am beyond excited to dive into this book and leave a review, and did you look at the cover?!?! So gorgeous. Thank you so much to Meg for messaging me! You literally made my month!

Alice

Hey readers! I wanted to share this picture I just took for my Instagram account. I have a newfound love for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and my collection/ retelling are becoming quite extensive! I have only read The Splintered series which I have to say I am disappointed with. Splintered by itself was amazing. It took wonderland and warped it in a way that hasn't been done before. Sadly Unhinged was, in my opinion, AWFUL!!!! The whole story lacked so much substance and I only got a few chapters into Ensnared before I became bored. I am unsure if I will end up finishing... I am looking forward to the Alice in Zombieland series by one of my favorite authors Gena Showalter! Have any of you read them? I also just recently picked up Queen of Hearts and would like to get its companion Blood of Wonderland!

Do any of you have any recommendations on retellings or reimaginings for me? I would love to give them a shot!

Check out my Instagram @kelsey__reads as well as Ashleys @bookstgram13

Harry Potter and the 20th Anniversary

Hi readers! Today is a special day because not only is it my husbands birthday but it is also the 20th Anniversary of the release of Harry Potter!!! I have to say that makes me feel old. If it came out in 1997 that means I was 9 years old and I remember my teacher reading it to us. The lack of a reader that I was became bored with this boy and his friends and it took me until I was 15 to give his story a try. I am so thankful I did!! So lets go over some of my favorites!!
-Favorite Book in the series -Prisoner of Azkaban and I even have the Mauraders names tattooed on me!!!
-Favorite Character: HAGRID!!! Close second is Sirius
-Favorite Class: Defesnse against the dark arts as well as Divination
-Favorite House: Slytherin

Hope all of you enjoy some magic today!

Update

Hey friends! Hope all of you are having a wonderful summer so far!! I wanted to do a quick check in with all of you because I have been thinking alot about this blog and what I would like to do with it. My husband (who is absolutely amazing) has been helping me with ideas and I am really hoping (fingers crossed) to start really adding to this. I won't ask anyone what they want to read because this blog has alot going on already but I am hoping to get more of a following as well as add some fun content for all of you. I will be brainstorming as soon as I'm home this week, we've been on vacation and I hope to have some fun things ready to share💚

My Goodreads Reading Challenge

Hey readers!! Hope all of you are well and reading amazing books!!!! I am really excited because I surpassed my goodreads goal by 2 books already. I set my goal to an attainable 15. Since I'm so busy, finding time to read is hard, so I need to get creative sometimes!!! You can see what I have read and if you have suggestions please let me know!!!

Latest Reads

Hi friends! I have been a littler bookworm lately.  most times I am so busy, finding time to read is hard but there were two books that I read fairly quick!!

Yesternight by Cat Winters is a story of mystery. A young woman named Alice is a child psychologist who travels from town to town administering tests for kids who may or may not have disabilities. When she meets a young girl named Janie who claims she is a 19 year old girl named Violet Sunday from Kansas who died tragically. It is with the help of Alice, Janie's Father Michael and the Sunday family to find out why and how Janie believes these things about her. This was one of the first books to ever creep me out. So much so, I had to not read it at night!! It was amazing. Cat Winters is such an amazing author. Her historical fiction mixed with the supernatural is spellbinding!!

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake was a book that I started years ago and just decided to finish. It follows a guy named Thesius Cassio (Cas)  Lowood. He hunts and kills ghosts and he is on a mission to track down a malevolent ghost named Anna who is murdering people who sneak into her house. Anna seems like the hardest ghost for Cas to kill but learning about her murder and being stalked by another evil spirit is what he has in store. This was a good book! My husband read it probably 5 or 6 years ago and he loved it. So far he hasn't lead me astray with a good book and he was right about this one. I cant wait to see what is in store for Cas in the second installment of this series!

I hope all of you enjoyed this mini review piece and check back for more reviews!!

Tips to help you read more

Hi readers. I wanted to do this post because if you're anything like me you have very little time to do anything for just yourself. For me that means setting aside time to read. All day long I sit and think about all the things I need to do throughout my day when all I really want to do is read. Wrapping myself up in a new book is my favorite thing in the entire world and I have quite the collection that has been neglected for so long. With my schedule being so busy I have had to creatively find new ways to read more so here's some tips that have worked for me and I hope that they will work for you as well.

1. Audiobooks!!! I cannot stress enough how much audiobooks have helped me. I listen to them when I drive to the grocery store when I have to go to an appointment or when I'm driving home to visit friends and family. Because of that I have listened to seven books just this year including The Mark of Athena and now the House of Hades as well as The Alchemist. Audio books are such a great way to kind of Disconnect from the busyness of everyday life and immerse yourself in a story even if you don't have your nose in an actual book.

2. Scheduling. My schedule is always packed. Although i don't work which I am very blessed to not have to do so that means  I take care of house and home, my husband, a puppy, the finances, I set up appointments I do all the paperwork, I do it all. So where in a 24-hour period do I find time to read. Well I have to schedule in little blocks of time throughout my day. For instance I have been going to the gym quite often and when I do so I bring my book, in fact I finished a book today! I read the last 60 pages while I was on the treadmill and I'll tell you what... it was fantastic I was tired, I was sweaty but I felt so good knowing I had finished yet another book. On days that I don't go to the gym usually I will schedule my time after my puppy's down for the night and I'm curled up in bed.

3. Don't force it. This is more of a tip so that you don't get frustrated if you can't read during your day. Don't force yourself to read if you're not in the mood. I cannot stress this enough. If you try to force yourself to read when you're either not in the mood or have too much going on youre not going to not get wrapped up in the story and not process what you're reading or you're going to piss yourself off because you tried so hard to read and still can't do it so do not force it.
... And finally

4. Set an amount of pages. This kind of goes hand-in-hand with the scheduling aspect. But if you're having a busy day and all you want to do is sit down for just a few minutes and read a book give yourself an allotted amount of pages. Tell yourself okay I can't do anything else until I read 15 pages of this book and make yourself read those 15 pages and be as present as possible. Immerse yourself in those 15 pages just so that when you finish your satisfied with what you read, how you took it in and are now ready to tackle the next part of your day and if you find you have more time give yourself another 15 pages.

the bottom line is we as a society find ourselves going 10 miles a minute and it's completely unacceptable if we do anything less (am I right?!?!) But it's okay to put things aside that don't need to be done right away like the dishes or the laundry give yourself a little bit of time just for you. I can't tell you how many days I finally had a few moments for just me and I would sit with my book and think oh I still need to do the dishes and I put my book down and go do the dishes and then I would find a handful of other things that needed to be finished right then and there so that by the end of my day I would have a huge chunk of time to read. But that's not how it works because by the time I got into bed and had my book out ready to read I was so exhausted from doing so much throughout my day. So if you follow these four steps or any variation of them whether you add extra steps or subtract some steps these should help you find more time during your day to read.

I hope you guys got something out of this that might help you when you're in a reading slump when you feel uninspired or when you feel like you just don't have any time because believe me I understand but using these tips should not only help you find more time to read but inspire you to read more and more often!

The Girl who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making By Catherynne M.Valenti

Hi readers! Its been quite some time since I have posted. As you know I am a very busy lady! Hope all of you are doing well and ready to hear all about my latest read. Now first off, with my busy schedule I have very little time to read (a post about that and some tips is coming soon!!) So lately I have been reading while I work out. I just get on the tredmill and powerwalk and I read and that is how I was able to get this book read and this review ready to be posted!

Picture Provided via my book theme Instagram!

Synopsis: A Girl named September lives a quiet life with her Mother and Father until one night a Leopard called The Leopard of Little Breezes comes to take her on the adventure of a lifetime. During this adventure she takes a bath, meets a Wyvern names A through L or Ell as she calls him, begins turning into a tree, meets a Marquess named Mallow and visits a land where its only fall all the time!!! She has very little time in this place and has to confront Mallow before her time runs out.

Here is my review on this whirlwind of a story. I have had this book for years now and every time I tried to read it I could not get past the first chapter. That's not because it is boring by any means but it was not my time to read it. The first page alone has enough excitement to hook any reader. About a week ago I had posted a picture via Instagram with the cover of the book and a friend commented that she had read all of the Fairyland books and how I would love them, so I finished the book I was currently reading and began The Girl who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making and I cannot tell you how much I loved it and how wonderful of a book it was. Upon reading the first  pages I felt that I was in a familiar place. A place where I had visited once before, a long time ago and I couldn't quite put my finger on where that place was until I started the next few chapters and I realized that I was in a place closely related to the Classic Stories of The Wizard of Oz, Alices Adventures in Wonderland  and The Phantom Tollbooth. This story was so similar to those 3 books that it was like revisiting those old and timeless tales. I cannot tell you how satisfying this story was and how put together the entire plot was. When I wrapped up today I found myself feeling a bit sad because I had seen this force of a girl called September travel to new lands, make new friends and find her way back home all in one piece. September felt like she was my friend through this book and she was the girl I wish I could have been at her age.

I HIGHLY recommend this book to people young and old. You will not be disappointed and I am about to start book two as soon as I wrap this up! Give it a try, you wont regret it!!

Ashes to Ashes Book Review

"Don't Go to school November 1st"

Ashes to Ashes by Valerie Thomas.

   Natalie is a normal teenage girl living in a gated community when an altercation between her brother and a strange boy named Zach, leads her to meet a pink haired Girl named Love. Love is a smooth talker who can convince Zach to not try and stab Ben, Natalie's brother and who can talk her way out of anything. She can also be a common link to a string of Suicides happening at Emerson High School and Natalie is bound and determined to get to the bottom of it. Meanwhile Natalie begins dating a boy named Evan, who in my opinion seems a bit too good to be true, but after tragedy strikes him close to home he too is on the hunt to get to Love or to get rid of Love. What we find out is that Love is hiding a big secret. One that contains magic and something that could change the lives of Natalie, Ben, Evan and herself. Its a race against time to find out why people are dying, and why November 1st is such a feared date. This story combines a dark mystery, with a bit of romance, some untimely deaths and magic.

   I absolutely loved this book!! I found it so easy to read and so quick. The characters were complex, but no much so that they were unrelatable. This was the first, I guess Mystery, I have read in a really long time and I found myself wanting to find more clues and figure out who was the real "bad guy". The plot twists were timed well and whenever they hit I was left with excitement to turn the page.

   I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars! The only issue I had with it was that the biggest plot twist left me a bit confused, I think it was because I was so focused on finishing it that I began to read too fast. It was a fantastic book, and I highly recommend it!

Harry Potter Spells Tag

Hey readers! I had a few chunk of time this evening and wanted to do a fun book tag! I came upon this awesome blog @dreamlandbookblog.wordpress.com and I had to do one of my own! So lets get into it!

Flagrate, Writing Charm: a book you found interesting but would like to rewrite?

Funnily enough the first title I chose was a Harry Potter book. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was very disappointing to me. While I love the story overall, I would rewrite it in a way that didn't seem so... "half-assed" for lack of a better word. To me it felt like this book was so rushed and the chapters that were filler chapters really read that way.

Alohomora, Unlocking Charm: First book in a series that got you hooked?

I adore The Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. I remember being a sophomore in high school, this was before I read Harry Potter, and there was a book fair in our library. The cover of this book intrigued me and a friend, so we bought them and were so enveloped in the sadness and quirkiness of the story. I am still plugging away at this series and I am currently on book 9!

Accio, Summoning Spell: Book that you wish you could have right now?

Oh my gosh friends, I am beyond excited for this release. It comes out the day before my wedding anniversary! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ME!!!!

Avada Kadavra, Killing Curse: A killer book?

This was such a surprising read. It mixes magic, romance, lust and the devil all in one book. It was one that I took off my self with no expectations (I was in a reading slump) and after chapter 1 I could not put it down!

Confundo,Confusion Charm: Book you found confusing?

I was greatly disappointed with this book and I kept finding myself having to go back and re-read chapters because I was so lost. Once I saw the movie it all began to make sense!

Expecto Patronum, Guarding Spell: Spirit animal book?

Oh my gosh you guys (and gals) this book was amazing! I was so in love with the blend of history and fiction, of magic and heartache, of witches and of ghosts. Adriana Mather is truly a spectacular writer.

Sectumsempra, Dark Curse: A dark, twisted book.

I don't have a picture nor a book for this spell... I tend to put books down if they are too dark for me :(

Expecto Patronum (2) Guarding Spell: A childhood book connected to good memories.

This fricken book. I had it memorized. it makes me remember good times with both my mama and dad!!!!

Expelliarmus, Disarming Spell: A book that took you by surprise.

I don't know how many of you have tried Ellen Hopkins, prose style books but she is a great writer. All of her books are about social issues and this one in particular was such a roller coaster of twists and turns and left my jaw on the floor for a majority of the book! *disclaimer* while her books are amazing they are not for the faint of heart, some of her themes include Abuse, drug addiction, and mental illness.

Prior Incantato, Reverse Spell: The last book you read.

I just finished this book and you can see my review on it, on here as well but this was not my favorite...

Riddikulus, Boggart Banishing Spell: A funny book you have read.

I read this book, this time last year and actually just listened to the audiobook with my husband and oh my gosh I found myself giggling at least once a chapter, especially at the Grandma character!!!

Sonorus, Amplifying Charm: A book you think everybody should know about.

Normally I would say To Kill a Mockingbird but for the sake of mixing it up I had to chose The Cure for Dreaming. This book deals with conversion therapy by hypnosis during the time of the American Suffragettes. It combines a very important piece of history, along with hypnosis and a strong willed women. I recommended it to my mama and she read it in a day and said it was so amazing!

Obliviate, Memory Charm: A book or spoiler you would like to forget having read.

This frickin book. By the end of chapter one I felt so awful and disgusted with it that I threw it away at work. Never have I ever been so sickened by a book...

Imperio, Controlling Curse: A book you had to read for school.

This book changed my life in more ways than one. I loved every aspect of it. I wish that more people would give this book a shot, not because they have to but because it is so beautiful and so well written. I cannot talk about this book enough!!!

Crucio, Torture Curse: A book that was painful to read.

This book made it into my DNF pile. I am so in love with the story (and Logan Lerman's portrayal of Charlie) but the book was so hard to get through. Charlie is a very sheltered and quiet almost childlike teenager and when I was reading it I felt like I was listening to a 7 year old telling the story and not a 14 year old freshman.

That wraps up this super fun tag! If you see any tags that you want myself or Ashley, or both of us to post on please send us a comment down below!