Loramendi's Story by Angela Carlie

Loramendi's Story by Angela Carlie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not the type of story I normally read, (I don't read books like Twilight) but really good nonetheless. I am so intrigued by this story line and its characters that I might just have to purchase the others in the series just to find out what is going on in this fantasy world of shapeshifters.

I really like the character of Lora and thought she was well developed  throughout the story, not sure about the other characters though. I wasn't a huge fan of Chance (or his brothers.) I thought he was a bit too perfect and he seemed a little flat, but their relationship was sweet and heartfelt. I really liked Aubrey and her friends Jessie and Johnnie.

Overall, I thought the author is a great writer and her stories read really well and keep my interest. AND I love the Washington references. I would definitely recommend this book and I hope to read the other stories from Angela Carlie soon.


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The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very interesting book, to say the least. It starts off right away, no holds bar and gets right down to it....the earth's rotation is slowing down. Birds start dying, then plants, animals, etc.

This story is told out the eyes of a girl named Julia, who is looking back on the beginning of the slowing and how her life has to change and evolve over the course of about a year or so. We see how she and her friends and parents deal with the slowing and her relationship with a boy named Seth. Julia and Seth share a sweet little romance, but in the end, parishes, unfortunately.

Julia mainly focuses on how the slowing effects her life and the people around her, not so much the world as a whole, which I get. She's a teenager and teenagers are typically self-centered and don't focus on much of anything other than their own lives. But, I was left wanting to know more of what happened to other parts of the world due to the slowing and was left wondering what would I do if this actually happened. I even wanted to know more about Circadia and how these "Real Timers" coped with the slowing. I had a lot of questions, and they never seemed to be answered.

I thought the ending was a really lame. We jump from Julia being young teenager, 12-13 years old, to all of a sudden she's 23. Whaaaatttt???? There is just way too much time in between there that is left unsaid and then the story is done. Just done... Like that......Left hanging there. I read the last chapter and looked around dumbfounded. What the heck!?! Not good, in my opinion.

The rest of the book was great, but the ending was horrid. So disappointing. I feel this story had so much potential to be a fantastic story, but I was just left feeling flat. 3.5 out of 5 stars for me because of the poor ending. I am glad I read it though.


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Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! Now, that was a fun book to read! I really, really liked this book! I thought it was great from the get go. I loved the twists and turns and wild rollercoaster ride that this story took me on. What a thrill!!! I wish I could un-read this book just so I could read it again. An awesome, fantastic, exciting story! I need all my friends to read this book, so I can talk to them about it!!! Seriously!

First off, I love the author's writing style. I thought it was so cool how she went back and forth between Amy and Nick and told each side of their stories. I think it's absolutely brilliant story-telling! One minute I hated Nick, the next moment, I hated Amy. I actually felt pity for these two characters at other times. Now, I feel empty that I'm done with this book. *Sigh* I wish it would keep going.

I would definitely recommend this book! It totally kept my interest and I had a hard time putting it down. 5 stars for me!


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8 Reasons Why Reading is So Important

Here's a great article to check out, if you haven't read it yet. 8 Reasons Why Reading is So Important.
http://inspirationboost.com/8-reasons-why-reading-is-so-important

Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbol

The Boy In The Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbøl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was awesome! Intense moments, extremely suspenseful, and lots of non-stop action! I really enjoyed this one and can't wait to read the author's next book.


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"Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son's First Son" by Anne Lamott

Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son's First Son by Anne Lamott
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book was just okay for me. It was a bit too religious/spiritual for me, because I'm not a religious person, so that part did not appeal to me at all.

I enjoyed her journaling about her trip to India and about her grandson and her son. To me, that was pretty interesting up to a point, but I found myself skimming through a lot of the other stuff, just because I couldn't relate.

This book got a 2.5 stars from me. Glad to be done with it.


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Fifty Shades Freed

Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Okay, I have to admit, this one was better than the first one, Fifty Shades of Grey, and WAY better than the second one, Fifty Shades Darker. I didn't think I was going to read it, but I couldn't keep away. I had to find out what happened. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. Plus, I was next in line on the library wait list.

But there was actually a story in this one instead of all the dribbly smut. We actually find out more about Christian and why he is the way he is. There is actual drama and some exciting action instead of reading about the apex of Ana's thighs. Ana's still annoying and whiny, but not to the level in the first two.

Yes, it's still a sex filled story, full of heaving, thrusting, and handcuffs, but there was a little bit more depth and quality as opposed to quantity (meaning sex, sex, and more sex.) Over all I would give the complete series three stars out of five. This series is really hyped up and it keeps people buying it and enjoying it so I guess that has to say something, but I don't think it will stand the test of time.


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Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is "Fifty First Dates" meets "The Machinist" with a major twist at the end. I really liked this story and it did keep my interest. Just when I thought I'd figured what was going on, it would twist and turn on me and go in a different direction. I love that in a book. The reason I give it only 4 stars instead of 5 is because there was a couple slow parts and it repeated itself quite a bit because of the memory loss subject. (Christine had to relearn everything about her life every single day.) But other than that, I thought it was a great read and would definitely recommend this book!!!


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The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This story was just okay for me. I like dogs but reading about dog training over and over again was a bit much to take. I really wanted to like this book since I had heard so many good things about it, but I had a hard time getting into this one and I am so glad to be done with it.


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Fifty Shades Darker (Fifty Shades, #2) by E.L. James
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

What a bunch of crap. This book was worse than the first one Fifty Shades of Grey. It was all about Christian and Ana and how they fall in love, blah blah blah. It was filled with so much sap and sugary dribble, one could get cavities from this book. UGH!!!

Well, there was plenty of sex in this book for sure, but it was all the same, over and over again. This author really needs a thesaurus.

We do find out why Christian Grey is the way he is but at what cost. We have to listen to Ana go on and on about how sad it is, and how fucked up it is, but.....how she'll NEVER leave him no matter what. Ana is suppose to be this beautiful, smart girl who just graduated from college with this literary degree, who reads great literature, but you know what....she is just an insecure little girl who has no life experience whatsoever and has fallen in lust with another beautiful, insecure person who has no life experience. One has money, one doesn't. This is the most unbelievable story ever written. This would NEVER happen!!!

This actually reminds me of a dysfunctional relationship I had in high school(except without all the money and expensive toys, of course.) The boyfriend is uber jealous about every person she come in contact with and possessive as hell, the girlfriend is insecure and doesn't feel worthy of his love or any love at all for that matter. And then she grows up and realizes this relationship is unhealthy and has to go into hiding to get away from the creep.

I haven't decided whether or not I'm going to read the last one or not. I can't stand reading and re-reading the same dribble over and over again. I find myself rolling my eyes and putting this book down and walking away many, many times while reading this crap. I will read a REAL book in between this one and the next though just to cleanse the pallet. I don't want to keep reading "Holy crap and Holy shit" "My fifty shades" blah blah blah over and over again. If you like that type of stuff than this book is for you. Otherwise, walk away!!!


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In Fifty Years We'll All Be Chicks by Adam Carolla
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was hilarious! I was literally laughing out loud during a lot of this book! The book is written like he talks, if you've ever listened to his radio show or podcast you will totally understand.

Granted, Adam Carolla isn't Steinbeck or any other type of literary genius by any means, but it was funny and he did have some good points about life. I loved the chapters about the worst songs ever and cutting the cords of his newborn twins. But I could have cared less about the bonus chapter about all the different sports.

Overall, a very funny book and I liked that you don't have to be a guy to appreciate his comedic sense of humor.


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Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Good story, terrible writing, decent smut. Anastasia is really annoying but there is definitely something about Christian Grey that is very intriguing though. I really don't get all the hype surrounding this book but I did find it fun reading about Portland/Vancouver and Seattle since I live here. I probably will go on and finish the other two but glad that I'm getting these for Kindle via the public library and not actually paying anything for these book or I would have been sorely disappointed.


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The Bodies Left Behind by Jeffery Deaver

The Bodies Left Behind by Jeffery Deaver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I thought this was a decent book and I liked it pretty well. It had mystery, twists and turns, and kept my interest. This book got three stars from me. It wasn't mind blowing by any means. But it was entertaining, nonetheless.


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11/22/63 by Stephen King

11/22/63 by Stephen King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is definitely one of the best books I have EVER read in my life and by far the BEST book Stephen King has ever written, in my opinion. I'm not an especially fast reader but I read this one in less than 3 weeks. It was so fascinating and engrossing, I just couldn't put it down. I would even read this one again and I am one to NEVER re-read a book. (There are too many books out there to re-read any book, but this one I think I would.)

I loved the story line, the characters, and the ending. Everything about this book was awesome! I LOVED IT ALL!!! I will miss it now that it's done and I will remember it for a long time! If I could give it six stars or more I would have.

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Shockaholic by Carrie Fisher

Shockaholic by Carrie Fisher

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This is was just an okay book for me. There were some interesting stories, but Fisher was all over the place and jumped around too much for me. Glad it was a quick read and had pictures. I am relieved to be done with it so I can move on to something with some amount of intelligence and depth.



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The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan

The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Wow! What can I say about the Dust Bowl. This was such a sad time in our country's history. I still can't believe that people actually survived and lived to tell about it. I was so sad and sickened to read about these people's struggles and severe conditions. I know I could NEVER live through that. It was just so unbelievable the state of the land, the weather, the dust, the government, just about everything that these people had to endure. Fact is truly stranger than fiction.



It was a great book and I'm so glad I read it. I think this one will stick with me for a long time. I had to rent the movie "The Plow That Broke the Plains." after I read this book on Amazon. I thought it was very interesting. People of the day said that it was propaganda. That may very well be, but I bet seeing this movie on the big screen educated a lot of people about what was happening on the High Plains. The moving pictures of this land were way more profound than black and white photos ever could be.



My next book is The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. I'm hooked on this subject now.



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Duma Key by Stephen King

Duma Key by Stephen King

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I thought Duma Key was really good and I liked it a lot. For the most part, it kept my interest and I wanted to keep reading. There was some real creepy parts in it that really reminded me of how twisted Stephen King's mind really is. I kept wondering throughout the book "How does he come up with these ideas?" The story line was just so bizarre and different, but oh, so good!



I also really enjoyed all of the characters, especially Wireman. He was definitely my favorite. He was so cool and seemingly calm throughout the whole story. I liked all the other characters as well, but Wireman was the character that made the book for me.



Overall, I would give this 4 1/2 stars and not the full five just because there was some confusing writing when King would write through the eyes of Elizabeth as a child and I had to go back and re-read some of the text and it was sometimes difficult to actually visualize what Elizabeth was experiencing. Other than that, I loved this story and will continue to read more of King's books.



*One last note, it was waaaaayyy better than Under the Dome!



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A Hint of Murder: The Writer by Lia Fairchild

A Hint of Murder: The Writer by Lia Fairchild

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Wow! All I can say is wow!! Even though this was a short story and it didn't take me long to read it, I really liked this! It had many twists and turns and kept me guessing until the very end. This was a truly fun and amazingly short, but thrilling ride. Can't wait to read more stories from Lia Fairchild. Five stars from me, for sure!!!



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Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock by Sammy Hagar

Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock by Sammy Hagar

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This was a very interesting book written by Sammy Hagar about his life beginning when he was a small child up until now. I have always been a huge fan of his even before he was in Van Halen, though much more when he joined the band. He really shows that if you work hard you can make it in any business. He has a real work ethic and is a true entrepreneur that to me was surprising, especially in the world of rock and roll.



It did sadden me though how much he bashed the Van Halen brothers. Even if it's all true, it was disheartening to read a lot of what went on, on stage and behind closed doors, though not surprising. I have been a huge fan of Van Halen, especially when Hagar joined them back in the 80's and saw them 3 times in concert throughout Hagar's career with them. The first two times were amazing, but that last concert in '03 or '04 (the reunion tour) wasn't so great. The book did explain a lot of why that was, but still saddened me to read it.



The thing I really disliked about the book was the terrible grammar, proper nouns not capitalized, and the beginning of sentences not capitalized. Come on!!! These are common editorial mistakes that could have easily been fixed during editing. I don't know who's job it is to make sure an ebook has the right punctuation and grammar, but I find it VERY distracting while reading any book. That's why I gave it only three stars instead of four.



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In Search of Lucy by Lia Fairchild

In Search of Lucy by Lia Fairchild

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I really liked this book. I thought it was well written and the characters were very likable and I was able to relate to their situation. It really made me think that if something happened to my sister would I be willing to give her a kidney, no questions asked. And my answer is: I'm not sure. We don't get along, we haven't gotten along for a very long time. Probably 25 years or so, we haven't seen eye to eye. She has made some very poor decisions in her life that I can't support and I really struggled with this question. Could I give my kidney to her?? It made me wonder if she would do the same for me, and my answer is "I don't know." I really hope I don't ever need to know the answer to that question.



I really, truly liked this story and I had to think about my review for awhile. I love books that touch me in a personal way and makes me think about my own life and existence. I will probably struggle with this question of giving my kidney to my sister for a long while, but hopefully I will never have to face it head on. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. Two thumbs up for me!!!



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