First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My oh my oh my...
How is it that I haven't ever heard of this series.
Then bam! It hits me!


The characters were brilliant and witty. I especially enjoyed the banter between Charley and Cookie. The plot and mystery were very well done, and fairly twisted. You weren't able to figure out who the villain was until almost the end.
I think what I'm not to hip on is the male protagonist in this story. I'm not to crazy about the idea of this guy.
I thought the theory of crossing through the Grim Reaper was an extraordinary angle.

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A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh, hi...


So I went into this read without reading the synopsis or any reviews for this one.


Then I figure out that this is running on a 'Beauty and the Beast' plot scheme...


The plot and the characters have given me many of these moments...


I'm going to edit more later; until then...

Cheers Pretties!

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Slathbog's Gold by M.L. Forman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really liked the premise of the plot, but I was unhappy with the repetition and lack of character growth. There was also an overuse of feasts, and a lack of descriptive action. The action seemed very glazed over.

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“Remember-doubts may check pride, but too much doubt will keep you from doing what must be done.” ― M.L. Forman, Slathbog's Gold

“And when has waiting ever been troublesome to a dwarf?” ― M.L. Forman, Slathbog's Gold

The Horn of Moran by M.L. Forman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Good... Good...
Interesting.
Hoping that 16 year old Alex will eventually stop sniveling. He seems overly humble and it seems like insincerity. I mean is this what I have to look forward to when my kid's go into the teenage years? The 'tween years' are pissing me off, and driving me...


I loved how many magical creatures were included in this installment. Much of the other characters are interesting, but the adventure has seemed a little too structured for my taste. If this was a story written for adults instead of children, I most likely would have given this five stars.

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Albrek's Tomb by M.L. Forman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Kind of seemed that the author lost their steam. The adventure wasn't as action driven as the previous two books were. Things and titles seem to fall into Alex's lap with little or no effort. It just doesn't seem believable now.

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Harbinger by Shae Ford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an awesome epic adventure, and I loved it! People that like R.A. Salvatore or Christopher Paolini should give this a try. This type of writing is what is lacking in the YA genre. Please we need more of it. I am looking forward to the next book.
I like the main characters and their interaction with the common folk around them. I will admit that the story starts off a little rocky, but soon turns into a strong plot.

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The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Think of it this way. You have your retiring uncle, the top tempter, who has taken it upon himself to teach his tempter nephew.



and you have the nephew who is very much acting like this.



In essence each letter or chapter: focuses on a particular vice. Screwtape always has an example for Wormwood. He is fairly long-winded, and I can see where many readers lose their interest when undertaking this read. Tips for reading this one is acquire the dictionary.com app, and think of Hobgoblin from Spiderman is your narrator Screwtape.
Cheers, and Happy Reading!

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Buford the Little Bighorn by Bill Peet
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Look everybody he actually exists...

For that alone it gets to go from a 3-star to a 4-star rating!

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Charming by Elliott James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Holy Crap this book was awesome. Is there going to be a Robot with a Docking option? Just the creature features will keep me coming back for more of this authors work. John Charming was hilarious, and very witty. I liked the fast-paced plot.

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After Hitler: The Last Ten Days of World War II in Europe by Michael Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I constantly watch the news, and sometimes I just didn't understand many of the comparisons or references that reporters generally bring up. I decided to remedy that by at least reading one history book per month. I have always struggled with history, and books pertaining to it. This though, has been eye opening to the reality of the horrors that were carried out by Hitler and his underlings. This is really hard to stomach, and if you read I suggest you don't eat before reading. I agree with Churchill, " It must never happen again."
If your writing a research paper on WWII; this is definitely the book you need. Sadly enough though, this is really glazed over in the current education system. I know that I never learned any of this in high school. Leaving it to my own self education. When studying the geography of where most of the battles took place and the timeline; I understand so much more now. There also seems to be a repeating of history with the exception of our technology. (Which can be a double edged sword at times. Then tech was limited. That is impossible for me to fathom.)
It seems a shame that all that these brave soldiers fought and died for is being ignored; in present times. In fact, most must be rolling in their graves. There needs to be a rise of a New Churchill, Patton, and Eisenhower. (not by the same name, but hopefully you get the idea.) It seems that the militant group Isil is following the battle strategy with a mix of the Nazis and the training regimen and fighting tactics of the Viet-kong. If we also throw in a mix from the propaganda machine, known to most now called the internet, and funded by the sales of oil. Their system is run by a Califite(sp?) system. That means the guy leading them is 'JESUS' in their eyes. (this is how the German's somewhat saw Hitler, and his ideals.) This is the link to another book that I'm trying to tackle right now, and I noticed the similarities then. The Islamic Antichrist: The Shocking Truth about the Real Nature of the Beast
When all of the allied countries are limited to the terms of the Geneva Convention agreement, what can be done? I don't think they were expecting a rise of like minded thinking ever again, and didn't come up with a contingency plan if it did at the time in a change of power(U.S. elections)?
(I still have lots that I don't know so if anyone wants to throw in a few links for me it would be appreciated. I mean there could be outlines that aren't known to a peon like myself.)
Who knows what's in the cards for the United Nations. Hopefully it won't reach the numerical atrocities of the Third Reich. Pray for the world, if it does.
Sorry for my ranting folks, I just had to get that out. Stay safe out there pretties!

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The House of Hades by Rick Riordan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Is it just me who didn't find this book absolutely the best of the series?
I struggled to keep my attention on this particular plot. There was plenty of action, but I'm just not crazy when it goes into Piper's point of view. Leo and Hazel's chapters are much better. Also the mythos is very easy to follow, and retain the knowledge. I found that reading mythology and folk-lore easier to grasp after reading this series.

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Princess Jellyfish, Tome 1 by Akiko Higashimura
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hysterically random and at other times emotionally rending. This is the perfect example of a great josei manga. So if you're a manga fan, this should be on your to-read list already.
The art is fantastic, but the plot is what kept me reading. The main characters are a riot, and the secondary characters only egg on the comedy. I particularly found the old uncle hilarious. I haven't laughed so much in ages.

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Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

If you're fan, then guess what.!?



Have you ever really thought about it?


Mr King puts it best...

“Here's what vampires shouldn't be: pallid detectives that drink Bloody Marys and work only at night; lovelorn southern gentlemen; anorexic teenage girls; boy-toys with big dewy eyes. What should they be? Killers, honey. Stone killers that can't get enough of that tasty Type-A. Bad boys and girls. Hunters. In other words, Midnight America. Red, white and blue, accent on the red. Those vamps got hijacked by a lot of soft-focus romance.”
― Stephen King

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New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Bella Swan...


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Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
My rating: 1 of 5 stars



Needless to say that I do not like this book, and I am very disgusted with what this book has done to our culture. The structure of the content itself is written like a very poor episode of a WB drama. It is not okay for many of the situations portrayed in this book, nor is the belittlement and subjugation. It is a shame that this is what young women have for as an example of romance.
Also I am appalled that the writer had no respect for the paranormal genre.

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Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
My rating: 1 of 5 stars


I'm still so pissed at the shallowness that radiates from this series. The female protagonist is cruel and selfish.
There is a saying in Alabama about a domestic dispute. "You know it's rude to stare, but you just can't help but to watch how it turns out." This is the entire feel this series has given off, and I feel so sleazy having said that I've read this. Teenage mentality on romance has sunken down to a cesspool of stupidity. This is like a lowly WB network show with paranormal slapped on top of it. Worse than Smallville, Dawson's Creek, Gilmore Girls, The O.C. Desperate Housewives, and Brittney Spears all rolled into one.


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A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Only Brandon Mull can pull off something as ridiculous as a protagonist being swallowed by a hippopotamus. Yes you read correctly, a hippopotamus. This truly has been pleasure to read.
This was an intensive adventure.

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Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There was one quote that made this one on my favorites shelf, because lo and behold I look up and see this on the news after reading it.



“With that, I hurled the slipper at him, not caring if I caused his decapitation. (I did not.) Marshaling what little dignity I yet possessed, I stomped down the corridor - challenging indeed with one shoe - and around the corner. I lay awake for hours. The prince had no right, not one, to indict me so, and if I had held the slightest hope of the book's assistance, I would have climbed at once to my wizard room for a spell with which to punish him. Death, perhaps, or humiliation. A croaking frog would be nice, particularly a frog that retained Florian's dark eyes. I should keep it in a box and poke it occasionally with a stick; that would be satisfying indeed.”
― Catherine Gilbert Murdock, Princess Ben

If I myself had been in Ben's position I would have done the exact same thing. Yes truly, ask my husband about my shoe throwing tendencies. Oh a girl after my own heart.

In conclusion this was just a really fun book to read.

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“Every fairy tale, it seems, concludes with the bland phrase "happily ever after." Yet every couple I have ever known would agree that nothing about marriage is forever happy. There are moments of bliss, to be sure, and lengthy spans of satisfied companionship. Yet these come at no small effort, and the girl who reads such fiction dreaming her troubles will end ere she departs the altar is well advised to seek at once a rational women to set her straight.” ― Catherine Gilbert Murdock, Princess Ben

The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Up to Canto 6. I'm thoroughly entertained and kicking myself for not reading this sooner.
4/12/16~
Now I'm up to Canto 23:
I find that whenever I'm in a reading slump, that this is where I retreat to. The Inferno is clearly laid out, and seems that how much you understand and comprehend, is all dependent on how well read you are in: history, religion, mythology, and philosophy. Though if it was to be read as merely fiction, it is pretty comical.
In Purgatory Canto 11, there is an eloquent prayer that some ministers and reverands could take a lesson from it.
Words I had to look up during this read: avarice, prodigality, & bow shots.
Persons of mention that I had to look up: Vergil, many tyrants through the ages, & a lot of saintly characters.
4-16-16
Now I'm up to Canto 13 in Paradise. You really have to be well versed in the Holy Bible to understand Paradise. Particularlly the Old Testament books Ezekial, Jermiah, Daniel, and Ruth. If you have finished this, my hat is off to you. Good job.

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“All hope abandon, ye who enter here.” ― Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy

“Consider your origin. You were not formed to live like brutes but to follow virtue and knowledge.” ― Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy

“If the present world go astray, the cause is in you, in you it is to be sought.” ― Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy

“Salvation must grow out of understanding, total understanding can follow only from total experience, and experience must be won by the laborious discipline of shaping one’s absolute attention.” ― Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy

“Life is a " vale of tears" a period of trial and suffering, an unpleasant but necessary preparation for the afterlife where alone man could expect to enjoy happiness - Archibald T. MacAllister (The Inferno; Dante Alighieri translated by John Ciardi)” ― Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy