Monday, August 29, 2016

Short and Sweet DNF: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, Jack Thorne


Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Harry Potter #8) by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, Jack Thorne

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016.
It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.
While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

Publishes in US:  July 31st 2016 by Little Brown UK
Genre: script
Source: bought
Series?
Harry Potter #8

Buy it: Amazon IndieBound Book Depository Barnes and Noble

Author stalk away: ~site ~twitter ~facebook



     I wanted to read this because I love the HP series, and wanted more. I read several of the scenes, but could not get into the play script format, and that is on me. I would love to see it though. 


My question to you, my lovely readers:
Did you read this? Are you planning to? Have you ever read a script before?

Monday, August 22, 2016

Review: Moon Called by Patricia Briggs


Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1) by Patricia Briggs
Mercedes "Mercy" Thompson is a talented Volkswagen mechanic living in the Tri-Cities area of Washington. She also happens to be a walker, a magical being with the power to shift into a coyote at will. Mercy's next-door neighbor is a werewolf. Her former boss is a gremlin. And she's fixing a bus for a vampire. This is the world of Mercy Thompson, one that looks a lot like ours but is populated by those things that go bump in the night. And Mercy's connection to those things is about to get her into some serious hot water...
”add
Publishes in US: Published January 31st 2006 by Ace
Genre: adult paranormal
Source: library
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC (advanced review copy). I am not paid for this review, and my opinions in this review are mine, and are not effected by the book being free.
Series? Mercy Thompson #1Mercy Thompson World - Complete #1

Buy it: Amazon IndieBound Book Depository Barnes and Noble

Author stalk away: ~site ~twitter ~facebook

 

    I wanted to read Moon called because of them branching out into the adult General little bit and this is one of the things that came up on the list of books to try if you like Richelle Mead and I very much enjoyed her adult fantasy books so we can give it a couple of them a try.

     Mercy is the main character and I liked her a lot she's different from a lot of women that I read about she is a mechanic and she's strong and she's a shapeshifter and what she shifts into is a coyote which is also something that I haven't read about. She's strong and sassy and snarky but she also has a big heart. She comes across a new werewolf who asked her for work and she ends up being a big Ally for him and help him out.

     It was a nice blend of the Paranormal there were werewolves and vampires and of course Walker's which is what they called her seat and her shape-shifting.

     There were hints of the romance developing, but for a while it kept me guessing because Mercy deals with a lot of the paranormal beings, and she has a history with some as well. But I liked the eventual pick, and direction it was going.

     I will continue with the series, because I liked the characters, and plot and how this one wrapped up.

Bottom Line: Fast, entertaining with good characters.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
What animal would you like to shift into if you could pick?

Monday, August 15, 2016

Review: The Possibility of Somewhere by Julia Day


 The Possibility of Somewhere by Julia Day 
Together is somewhere they long to be.
Ash Gupta has a life full of possibility. His senior year is going exactly as he’s always wanted-- he's admired by his peers, enjoying his classes and getting the kind of grades that his wealthy, immigrant parents expect. There's only one obstacle in Ash's path: Eden Moore—the senior most likely to become class valedictorian. How could this unpopular, sharp-tongued girl from the wrong side of the tracks stand in his way?
All Eden's ever wanted was a way out. Her perfect GPA should be enough to guarantee her a free ride to college -- and an exit from her trailer-park existence for good. The last thing she needs is a bitter rivalry with Ash, who wants a prized scholarship for his own selfish reasons. Or so she thinks. . . When Eden ends up working with Ash on a class project, she discovers that the two have more in common than either of them could have imagined. They’re both in pursuit of a dream -- one that feels within reach thanks to their new connection. But what does the future hold for two passionate souls from totally different worlds?
”add
Publishes in US: September 6th 2016 by St. Martin's Griffin
Genre: ya contemp
Source: earc from St. Martin's Griffin via netgalley
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC (advanced review copy). I am not paid for this review, and my opinions in this review are mine, and are not effected by the book being free.
Series? no

Buy it:
  • Buy at Amazon.com
  • Buy for Amazon Kindle
  • Buy from Barnes and Noble
  • Buy for Barnes and Noble Nook
  • Buy from Google Play
  • Buy from IndieBound
  • Buy from Kobo

Author stalk away: ~site ~twitter ~facebook ~blog

 

    I wanted to read this one because I liked that it dealt with smart kids who are from different walks of life. The hint of a new romance between the rivals for valedictorian also interested me.

    To some extent the sound of Eden reminded me of myself. I grew up in trailer parks more often than not, had little money, wanted to go to college, was fairly good with grades but not as good as Eden, and I had and still have to this day problems with socialization. She is wary of others, keeps to herself a lot, and while our reasoning may be different, the results are the same. 

    Ash also was fun to read about. It's clear that he is under a lot of pressure from his parents to get good grades and they aren't happy with him being 2nd in the class. But his interactions with Eden are slightly awkward and she begins to see a side of him that he'd never shown her or that she didn't notice. 

   This was an easy read in some aspects, even when it dealt with some tough issues. Money is an issue a lot with Eden and her family and she gives them some of her college savings and it's hard for them all. Eden also babysits regularly for a family and the kids have really worked themselves into her heart. The girl, 10 is way more mature than she should be because the little boy, in 1st grade is a high functioning autistic. Eden in seeing his intelligence but also the autism that limits him and keeps hi in its cage has really made an impact on her and she wants to study special education specializing in autism. 

    Though it did begin to get really emotional and I am one who drinks angst like there is no tomorrow, so that was good for me. 

    I also liked that this book focused on family and friendship, showing that both can be imperfect but still present and a big part of the character's lives. Mundy is the new girl and she is bold in approaching Eden and doesn't let Eden use her usual maneuvers in order to evade the friendship. Its not perfect and Mundy does hide things that end up hurting Eden. But Eden also learns that even if things aren't perfect, and even if Mundy isn't going to be around physically for more than a semester, that their time and friendship still deserved to happen and that it was a good thing. Relationships can grow and change and often distance can be a factor, but it proved to Eden that even though her biological mother abandoned her and never looked back that it wasn't necessarily what would happen with every other relationship. 

    I liked how close Eden and her stepmother was, and how Marnie supported her and loved her and wanted the best for her even though they weren't blood related. Eden and her dad have it rough and there is some abusive tendencies there, but I also saw in moments that he cared for her, so even though it needed a lot of help and there should have been bigger consequences for his actions, that something might be salvageable. 

   The Possibility of Somewhere also touches on race and class, segregation and racism. It's not preachy but I do like that it is an inter-racial relationship and it examines the complexities and the stereotypes and parents that think they know what is best and push too hard. I did like that Marnie was accepting and just wanted Eden to have a man who adored her and treated her right. I think that Ash's parents, being Indian and also first generations to the US had a hard time at first putting those cultural differences aside and they treated Eden unfairly. 

    But I did like the ending, how it wrapped up certain story lines, how the couple even though young and in love, still pursued their college dreams, even while keeping things long distance and open for the future. I liked seeing the beginnings of change in their families as well. I liked that things were hopeful and open with so many possibilities while still giving me closure for the characters and the plot. 

    I look forward to reading more from Julia in the future, her characters left and impression on me, the romance was original and a slow burn, I loved Eden's inspiration for wanting to teach and seeing past Kurt (the boy she babysat for) difficulties and saw a loving child who needed people to love him, accept him, and help guide him through a scary universe to him. 

    I read this story in one sitting, and devoured all it had to offer. I haven't been much in the YA mood lately, and glad to read this gorgeously written book with characters that had a lot to learn and to offer. 

Bottom Line: Emotional, focuses on character development, romance, family and friendship. Loved the smart main character and seeing her blossom.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Do you have any experience with autism?

Monday, August 8, 2016

Review: Darkfever (Fever #1) by Karen Marie Moning



Darkfever (Fever #1) by Karen Marie Moning
When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death—a cryptic message on MacKayla Lane’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed—a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/112750.Darkfever" target="_blank">
”add
Publishes in US: October 31st 2006 by Delacorte Press 
Genre: adult fantasy
Source: library
Series?  Fever #1
Buy it:

Author stalk away: ~site ~twitter ~facebook ~blog



     It took me a little bit to get into it but I'd heard some good things about darkfever. I wanted to also branch out some into the adult books since I think I've been a little burned out with YA lately and this was one that I've seen around on a lot of blogs and it was also in the you might also like whenever I looked up the adult Richelle Mead books that I've read and liked.

     Usually the whole murder mystery thing isn't really my cup of tea but I knew that there was also a paranormal aspect to this so it wasn't just the Whodunnit. it was also a young woman in her twenties who just lost her sister and best friend and wanted to find out what her sister had gotten herself wrapped up in. as mac is asking questions and finding more and more out about the whole paranormal side of the world that she had no idea about she gets more and more drawn into it and figures out just how and what she is with everything that she's learning about.

    The romance got started as a Kind of Love To Hate Thing. I guess there was physical attraction and he was the man who knew something about the strange words her sister left on Voice Mail just hours before her death. as they begin to trade information back and forth and antagonize one another we got to see more of how they clashed in some ways and fit in others. she said you know where she was light, he was dark and they had a lot of characteristics that were opposite but also some that were very much alike. They are both stubborn and strong and determined to find this mysterious book.

    About a third of the way in, I started skimming, because I still wanted to know what happened, but it just didn't keep my full attention. The ending was okay, but I will not be continuing this series.


Bottom Line: Had potential but didn't work for me.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Would you want to know if there was hidden paranormal in our world?

Saturday, August 6, 2016

Catch up version: Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post, Bought Borrowed and Bagged


Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews,  check it out and sign up  here
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

Bought, Borrowed, & Bagged is a weekly meme, hosted by TalkSupe, where I share with you the books I have bought, borrowed, or bagged. Link up with me here.


Currently reading:
Complicated
source: FF.net


From my mailbox:

Between Worlds by Skip Brittenham Thanks to Penguin House
Your Presidential Fantasy Dream Team by Daniel O'Brien Thanks to Random House


What I read:
Books:
Darkfever (Fever, #1)
source: library



The Omen Machine (Sword of Truth, #12; Richard and Kahlan, #1)
source: library

Didn't finish:
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Source: bought


Fanfic:
Masen Manor
A Compendium of Thoughts
A Light in the Darkness
The definition of want
Zenith

breathe again
like night and day
Theories of Bellativity
foolish hearts
The Red Line
Healing Faith (In Your World, #1)
Unexpected Circumstances
This Life
Our Yellow House

Under the Apple Tree

since last time on the blog:
Girl in Pieces
source: delacorte via netgalley

Torn (A Wicked Saga, #2)
source: bought
Because I Love You
Source: earc from Blaze via Netgalley
Chasing Stars (After Eden, #2)
Source: bloomsbury via netgalley
Detached
Source: earc from Dundern via netgalley
The Memory Book
Source: earc via Netgally from Little Brown

Source: earc via Edelweiss from Simon teen
Losing Gabriel
source: bought

What's new with me:
I know I haven't been as present lately, my mom is doing much better and is home. My oldest started third grade and celebrated her birthday turning 8 on the 30th.
I have completely caught up with my ARCs that I've requested and actually have none on my reading calendar. There have only been a couple of books on Netgalley and Edelweiss that even got my attention and I wasn't approved for those.

I have still been reading a lot of Twilight fanfic and its kept me happy enough but starting to wane a bit with that.

I don't know if I am burnt out on YA, or what, so I have been trying some adult series. I didn't get much into Darkfever by Moning, and am going to try some Jennifer Estep and Patricia Briggs-- I am open to other suggestions... I loved Richelle Mead's adult fantasy books and that is where I found those books from the amazon page and goodreads you might also like.


What are you reading? Any of my books new to you or have you read any of my books? If so, what did you think?
Also, feel free to link up your blog and mailbox post.