The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

My rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summary From Goodreads:

Jason has a problem.

He doesn’t remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper, and a best friend named Leo. They’re all students at a boarding school for “bad kids.” What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?

Piper has a secret.

Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare about his being in trouble. Piper doesn’t understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn’t recognize her. When a freak storm hits during the school trip, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she’s going to find out.

Leo has a way with tools.

When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there’s weird stuff, too—like the curse everyone keeps talking about, and some camper who;s gone missing. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them—including Leo—is related to a god. Does this have anything to do with Jason’s amnesia, or the fact that Leo keeps seeing ghosts? 

Plot:

I’ve heard in so many reviews that they couldn’t get into this book because there’s new characters, and a whole new plotline, but I thought the exact opposite. It was so refreshing getting a whole new mythology, while still having Greek in the mix. I honestly couldn’t put this book down, the characters and the plot twists kept me going. It was brilliant of Rick to put multiple POVs, because it kept the book running, and it was super cool seeing through the eyes of each and every character. And, we were lucky to not have to go through the torture of being introduced to a whole new world (because it normally lasts 200 pages). Us readers are already familiar with the amazing world of Percy Jackson. 

Characters:

Like I said above, I heard so many people say this was boring because Percy wasn’t in it. Heck, I missed Percy, but I still LOVED the new characters. Leo was probably my favorite because He was soooo funny! I don’t think I’ve ever laughed that much in a book. And I loved loved loved seeing more Greek gods, instead of the main 12. Piper was a very relatable character, and she was very fun to read about. Jason is definitely one of my new book boyfriends. He’s dreamy, brave, handsome, and really nice.

Overall & Recommendations:

I absolutely loved this book! There was so many plot twists, that left me wondering what would happen next. Even though this was a bit predictable, I can definitely expect great things to come in the rest of the books. The characters were my absolute favorite! I love how this book is both plot and character driven, which makes for a book that’s twice as amazing! 

Memorable Quotes:

“I have lightning and wind powers,” Jason reminded him. “Piper can turn beautiful and charm people into giving her BMWs. You’re no more a freak than we are. And, hey, maybe you can fly, too. Like jump off a building and yell ‘Flame on!'”

Leo snorted. “If I did that, you would see a flaming kid falling to his death, and I would be yelling something a little stronger than ‘Flame on!” 
“Gaea?” Leo shook his head. “Isn’t that Mother Nature? She’s supposed to have, like, flowers in her hair and birds singing around her and dear and rabbits doing her laundry.”

“Leo, that’s Snow White,” Piper said.” 
“Piper gripped his hand and followed him, “If I fall, you’re catching me.” 

“Uh, sure.” Jason hoped he wasn’t blushing.

Leo stepped out next. “You’re catching me, too, Superman. But I ain’t holding your hand.” 
“But beauty is about finding the right fit, the most natural fit, To be perfect, you have to feel perfect about yourself — avoid trying to be something you’re not. For a goddess, that’s especially hard. We can change so easily.
“She shot a blast of wintry sleet at the demigods, but Leo held up his hand. A wall of fire roared to life in front of them, and the snow dissolved in a steamy cloud. 

Leo grinned. “See, lady, that’s what happened to snow in Texas. It—freaking—melts.”
“Aphrodite is about love and beauty. Being loving. Spreading beauty. Good friends. Good times. Good deeds. Not just looking good. Silena made mistakes, but in the end she stood by her friends. That’s why she was a hero. I’m going to set things right, and I’ve got a feeling Mom will be on my side. Want to find out?

The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines

My rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summary From Goodreads:

These famous words are now synonymous with the dynamic husband-and-wife team Chip and Joanna Gaines, stars of HGTV’s Fixer Upper. As this question fills the airwaves with anticipation, their legions of fans continue to multiply and ask a different series of questions, like—Who are these people? What’s the secret to their success? And is Chip actually that funny in real life? By renovating homes in Waco, Texas, and changing lives in such a winsome and engaging way, Chip and Joanna have become more than just the stars of Fixer Upper, they have become America’s new best friends.
The Magnolia Story is the first book from Chip and Joanna, offering their fans a detailed look at their life together. From the very first renovation project they ever tackled together, to the project that nearly cost them everything; from the childhood memories that shaped them, to the twists and turns that led them to the life they share on the farm today.
Plot:
Before I start this review, I have to say that I love Fixer Upper. Chip and Joanna Gaines are one of my real life role models, and as soon as I heard this book was out, I picked it up as soon as I could. I loved how this book was told like an oral story (if that makes any sense), and not like a professional novel. Which made it all the more fun. Also, it was super cool seeing Chip and Joanna squabble throughout this book, like it was a casual story-telling conversation. And it was so cool to hear the adventurous story that led up to the Fixer Upper we know and love today.
Characters:
Obviously, this is a story about the authors: Chip and Joanna Gaines. So there are only two characters I can actually talk about. Chip was sooo funny. He was popping jokes here and there that made me actually laugh out loud (books rarely do that). As I said above, it was fascinating to see their whole life story piece together. I would never have expected their life story to be so adventurous.
Overall & Recommendations:
This was such a cute, quirky story, telling how Joanna and Chip’s lives came together piece by piece. Anyone who watches Fixer Upper, this is a must read.
Memorable Quotes:

“Don’t quit, and don’t give up. The reward is just around the corner. And in times of doubt or times of joy, listen for that still, small voice. Know that God has been there from the beginning—and he will be there until . . . The End.”

“I realized that my determination to make things perfect meant I was chasing an empty obsession all day long. Nothing was ever going to be perfect the way I had envisioned it in the past. Did I want to keep spending my energy on that effort, or did I want to step out of that obsession and to enjoy my kids, maybe allowing myself to get messy right along with them in the process? I chose the latter – and that made all the difference.”

“It was such a blessing to find myself thriving in the middle of the pain. Unless you find a way to do that, there’s always going to be this fake illusion that once you get there–wherever “there” is for you–you’ll be happy. But that’s just not life. If you can’t find happiness in the ugliness, you’re not going to find it in beauty, either.”

“I mean, that’s life. Life is never predictable. Life is never really manageable. If your mind-set is always, “I’m just surviving”, it seems to me that would wind up being the mind-set for the rest of your life. You’d just get stuck in it.”

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

My rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summary From Goodreads:
CATH IS A SIMON SNOW FAN. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan… But for Cath, being a fan is her life–and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.
Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fanfiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.
Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath that she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend; a fiction-writing professor who thinks fanfiction is the end of the civilized world; a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words…and she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone
For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?
Plot:
I gotta admit, the first 200 pages were utterly horrible. If it hadn’t picked up from there, I would have DNF’d it big time. I WAS SO BORED. And I was not a fan of the plot in general; this was way more of a character driven story. TBH, I really hate coming of age books (at least from what I’ve read). I just can’t relate to them at all (given that I’m not even in highschool yet). Even though I love the characters now, I truly hated them at first.
Characters:
As I just said above, I hated the characters at first. They were so… UGH.I honestly can’t even describe it. And is it just me, or was Wren leaving Cath totally not okay. Twin power, NOT. It was NOT OKAY for Wren to leave her stranded to pick up the pieces by herself. Also, not diggin the whole party scene. What is it about the stereotypical college kid having to go get wasted??? I’m so glad that Cath wasn’t like that. Okay, now onto the Levi+Cath stuff. They were sooo cute together! Once they got past the weird awkward stage, I shipped them so hard. I do have to admit, How did Cath not know that Levi and Reagan weren’t dating when she spent time with them every day for 5 months? #Unrealistic
Overall & Recommendations:
Even though I jus listed a lot of complaints above, I did REALLY LIKE this book. The plot wasn’t my favorite, but the characters made the story enjoyable. The first 200 pages were torture for me, but I soon caught onto the story. I recommend this to 14+. In fact, it would be better to wait to read this until high school or college.
Memorable Quotes:
“I don’t trust anybody. Not anybody. And the more that I care about someone, the more sure I am they’re going to get tired of me and take off.”

“Just… isn’t giving up allowed sometimes? Isn’t it okay to say, ‘This really hurts, so I’m going to stop trying’?”
“It sets a dangerous precedent.”
“For avoiding pain?”
“For avoiding life.”

“To really be a nerd, she’d decided, you had to prefer fictional worlds to the real one.”

“Underneath this veneer of slightly crazy and mildly socially retarded, I’m a complete disaster.”

“You’ve read the books?”
“I’ve seen the movies.”
Cath rolled her eyes so hard, it hurt. (Actually.) (Maybe because she was still on the edge of tears. On the edge, period.) “So you haven’t read the books.”
“I’m not really a book person.”
“That might be the most idiotic thing you’ve ever said to me”

“What’s the point of a twin sister if you won’t let her look out for you? If you won’t let her fight at your back?”

The Water And The Wild by K.E. Ormsbee

4.5⭐️
Summary From Goodreads:
For as long as Lottie Fiske can remember, the only people who seem to care about her have been her best friend, Eliot, and the mysterious letter-writer who sends her birthday gifts. But now strange things and people are arriving on the island Lottie calls home, and Eliot’s getting sicker, with a disease the doctors have given up trying to cure. Lottie is helpless, useless, powerless.
And then a door opens in the apple tree.
Follow Lottie down through the apple roots to another world—a world of magic both treacherous and beautiful—in pursuit of the impossible: a cure for the incurable, a use for the useless, and protection against the pain of loss.
Plot:
I really enjoyed this originally fun book. At the beginning, I noticed very vague similarities to Alice In Wonderland, which made it super fun. At first, I wasn’t that into the premise of the book, but all the creativity and characters drew me in almost immediately. I have to admit, the pacing was a bit iffy at times, but it didn’t really effect the overall story. And the world building was spectacular. It was confusing at first, but I caught on quick. I thought it was super original about the five senses, where each character had a sense that was extra strong. (TBH, I forgot the proper names so that’s why I’m vaguely explaining this).
Characters:
K.E. Ormsbee does a great job of writing lovable characters. Over the course of the story, I got more and more attached to the characters I now know and love. At the start, Lottie seemed immature and selfish. But she quickly overcame that, and I think I’ll see a lot of future development for her in the next book. Also, I love love love Fife and Ollie. Their characters were super goofy (especially Fife), and I think they had more depth than Lottie.
Overall & Recommendations:
This was such a quirky, middle grade read, and I’m so glad I won a giveaway for this book. The plot was original, and the world building was such a delight to read about. And the characters were so likable, I can’t wait to read more about them. I definitely recommend this to 3rd+.
Memorable Quotes:
“Eliot isn’t like anyone I know. He’s just Eliot. And even if he isn’t refined, he knows how to live. That’s why I’m not about to let him die.”

“You might have a little trouble waking me,” Fife told Adelaide. “I’m a very sound sleeper.”
“No worries,” Adelaide said sweetly. “I’ll just kick your face till you come to.”

Bedtime Book Tag

A BOOK THAT KEPT YOU UP ALL NIGHT

What Light by Jay Asher. Boy was I determined to finish that book! I started it around 7 pm, and I didn’t expect to finish it. But what I didn’t realize was how short it was (250 pages). So I decided I was gonna finish it then and there, and ended up staying up until 1 am. The only other book I can think of is Mockingjay, but I didn’t stay up quite as late.  

A BOOK THAT MADE YOU SCARED TO GO TO SLEEP

I honestly don’t have an answer😳 I don’t read books that scare me. Definitely not a horror fan AT ALL. 

A BOOK THAT ALMOST PUT YOU TO SLEEP

I’m gonna be completely honest, Watership Down by Richard Adams. It was an okay book, but it took me FOREVER, and the writing seriously bogged me down. 

A BOOK THAT HAS YOU TOSSING AND TURNING ANTICIPATING ITS RELEASE

Gah there’s so many! My main one is probably Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken. I liked Passenger, didn’t love it, but I can’t help he super excited for the next one! My second most anticipated is probably The Continent by Kiera Drake. There’s so much crap going around about this book, but I’m still sooooo excited! And have you seen that cover???

WHAT BOOK HAS YOUR DREAM BOYFRIEND

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I LOVE PEETA SO MUCH😍😍😍😍he’s my #1 Book BAE. I just can’t even— akajduzjns! His personality would match mine perfectly, he’s sooo kind and caring and considerate—I could go on and on and on.

WHAT BOOK WOULD BE YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE 

Is it cheating to use the same book in a row? Oh well💁 My for sure choice would be The Hunger Games society. The 13 districts would scare me half to death. Violence in real life scares the living daylights out of me. I couldn’t deal living in a world where I’m in constant fear for my life. I like peace, thank you very much. 

WHAT BOOK HAS A NIGHTMARISH CLIFFHANGER

The Glass Castle by Trisha Preibe. The cliffhanger was so killer. It wasn’t a scary one, but it was almost like the end of a chapter. I just needed more!

A BOOK THAT REMINDS YOU OF NIGHTTIME

Hands down— The BFG by Roald Dahl. The whole beginning of the book took place at nighttime, because that’s when the giants would go out. I used to love this book as a kid, and I still do to this day. 

WHAT BOOK HAVE YOU ACTUALLY DREAMED ABOUT

Gotta be honest, I have no idea. I don’t actually remember dreaming about a book. I kinda wish I could say Harry Potter, because i think about it every day. 

BOOK MONSTER YOU WOULD NOT LIKE TO FIND UNDER YOUR BED

A DEMENTOR! That would be the scariest experience of my life— one that I probably wouldn’t survive. 



Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire by JK Rowling

My rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Page count:734

Summary From Goodreads:
Harry Potter is midway through both his training as a wizard and his coming of age. Harry wants to get away from the pernicious Dursleys and go to the International Quidditch Cup with Hermione, Ron, and the Weasleys. He wants to dream about Cho Chang, his crush (and maybe do more than dream). He wants to find out about the mysterious event that supposed to take place at Hogwarts this year, an event involving two other rival schools of magic, and a competition that hasn’t happened for hundreds of years. He wants to be a normal, fourteen-year-old wizard. But unfortunately for Harry Potter, he’s not normal – even by wizarding standards.
And in his case, different can be deadly.
Plot:
Ummm… I’m pretty sure I say this in every Harry Potter review, but there’s not really much I can say except for how FREAKIN AMAZING this book was. Here’s a summary of what I’m about to tell you: AN ALL OUT FANGIRLING RAMBLE ABOUT HARRY POTTER A sophisticated, professional review on the exquisite qualities of this superb book. So onto the review o_o. Harry Potter continues to astound me by the complexity of the plot line. Alright, I admit it might be a little predictable who the bad guy is, but with every Harry Potter book, the world-building gets more fascinating and complicated. Pretty much nobody can guess the entirety of a Harry Potter plot. And don’t even get me started on JK Rowling’s writing style. I know some people who say it’s way too simplistic for their taste, but in my opinion her writing is so well developed, and it seems she has all the right things to say. Another thing I’ve heard with this book, was that it dragged on, and it should’ve been 100 pages shorter. WELL I SAY THATS BALONEY. I will soak up anything and everything JK writes in the wizarding world.
Characters:
I can feel an unpopular opinion coming on. TBH, I never felt a die-hard connection with Harry Potter himself. Don’t get me wrong, I love him to pieces and would give up my whole bookshelf (DONT JUDGE ME) for him. But his maturity just seems so behind his age. Honestly, I have no idea how a teenage boy is supposed to act at that age, but he and Ron can be so rude at times. There was many a chapter where I pitied Hermione so much. The more that I think about it, the more convinced I am that Hermione is my favorite character. And is it just me, or are you full on-board with SPEW? I loved the message it gave out, and I can relate to Hermione more than any other character. And what is the deal with everybody’s obsession with Cedric Diggory? I mean he was great and all, but he wasn’t featured enough for me to be shed a tear for him. Also, HAGRID. I love Hagrid so much! He’s just an oversized teddy bear, and he has a heart the size of a Screwt.
Overall & Recommendations
Okay, if you haven’t read this series, then your life has a huge void waiting to be filled with Harry Potter. IM NOT KIDDING. Drop everything you’re doing and go read this amazing series! Harry Potter is my forever #1! The plot is ingenious, and the characters have their flaws, but that’s what makes them human.
Memorable Quotes:    
“If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not him equals.”

“It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.”

“Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory.”

“Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it.”

“We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.”

“Well, I certainly don’t,” said Percy sanctimoniously. “I shudder to think what the state of my in-tray would be if I was away from work for five days.”
“Yeah, someone might slip dragon dung in it again, eh, Perce?” said Fred.
“That was a sample of fertilizer from Norway!” said Percy, going very red in the face. “It was nothing personal!”
“It was,” Fred whispered to Harry as they got up from the table. “We sent it.”

Weekly Cover Contest #5

Last week, Harry Potter and the Sorcerors Stone won. And I ask, please please please Don’t vote for the book itself, vote for the cover

In my opinion, this is the best Contest of them all, because I put all popular books, with all AMAZING covers. I wouldn’t be able to chose between them😳

City Of Bones

Cinder

The Selection

An Ember In The Ashes

Fablehaven

Fandom Mashup- 12/18/16

This week’s theme is: “Christmas is nearly here and you’re decorating a massive tree! Which fictional characters do you choose to help you decorate? “

OLIVE ELEPHANTA

If you didn’t know, she’s from the Miss Peregrines trilogy, and she can levitate. She could just fly up to the top of the tree and put all the ornaments up, etc.

HERMIONE GRANGER

I’m just not sure I’ll do a fandom Mashup and not include Hermione. Do any of y’all remember the “wingardium leviosa” scene from the first book? Well, she could levitate all of the ornaments into the rightful place.

PIPER MCLEAN

Even though she’s a total tomboy, she still has some of those Aphrodite genes in her. She would be able to tell us where to put certain ornaments in order for the tree to be super gorgeous

AMERICA SINGER

I have to admit, she wouldn’t really help with the tree, she would just be a great friend to have along with us. And she’s a great musician, and so she could sing and play piano for us while we decorate.

LEVI STEWART

If you’ve read Fangirl, you would know how sweet and kind Levi is. He would be the life of the party! He might feel a look out of place—being a muggle and all—but he would immediately make friends. And do you remember how he was always described as having super long arms? Well that’s perfect for decorating!

Disney Pixar Book Tag

Ooo this tag looks super fun! I can’t wait to get on with the questions.

WARM UP QUESTION: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE PIXAR MOVIE?

Hands down, Inside Out! I loved that movie, it was just so entertaining, and I loved the concept. It’s so fascinating to see the “emotions” inside Riley’s head, and I would love for Pixar to come out with another similar movie.

TOY STORY: YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD BOOK THAT YOU NEVER GREW OUT OF

You know what, I’m just going to go ahead and go with the classic answer: Harry Potter. Because with me, that’s pretty much the only TRUE answer that applies.

A BUGS LIFE: A BOOK THAT FELT TO SIMILAR TO ANOTHER POPULAR BOOK

I honest to goodness don’t have an answer for this. I’ve never really read a book that seemed like a rip-off of another book.

MONSTERS INC: A VILLIAN WHOM YOU COULDNT HATE

Bellatrix Lestrange🙈. She’s so bad but she does it so well!

FINDING NEMO: BEST FAMILY RELATIONSHIP YOU READ ABOUT IN A BOOK

The Weasleys, of course! I absolutely love their family, and the quirky, real relationships they have with each other is so refreshing, and I so wish I could live in the Weasley house.

THE INCREDIBLES: THE SUPERPOWER OF A CHARACTER YOU WISH YOU HAD

I’m wondering if this counts as cheating, but it would be hands down The Flash. I absolutely ADORE Barry Allen, and his superpower is #goals! I could speed read, and basically do anything with super-speed. (The Flash is my #1 TV show😍)

CARS: A BOOK WHERE THE CHARACTERS GO ON A ROAD TRIP/TRAVEL A LOT

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken. Well, they did travel a lot; time travel. TBH, I was pretty much confused about where they were the whole book, but I know they never stayed in the same place.

RATATOUILLE: YOUR FAVORITE SIDEKICK IN A BOOK

I would say Hermione or Peeta or something, but I wouldn’t say they’re sidekicks, I would say they’re pretty much main characters. The first thing that comes to mind is Bronwyn Bruntley from Miss Peregrines trilogy. I love her personality, and for awhile, I preferred her over the main characters.

WALL-E: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE (OR TOP 5) DYSTOPIAN BOOK/SERIES

1. The Hunger Games

I can’t tell you how much I love this series. 2nd fave of all time.

2. The Selection

I know you’re probably thinking “that’s not dystopia!” Well think again, it is so dystopian. It’s in a very subtle way, though. It doesn’t have downright violence like normal dystopia series.

3. The Maze Runner

I loved this series! It was the series that got me into dystopian, it was also the first young adult book I read.

4. The Generations Trilogy

This series is so underrated, and it deserves so much more attention. I loved it sooo much, and it’s a perfect dystopia series.

5. Books Of Ember

I haven’t actually completed this series, but it’s the only other dystopian series I enjoyed.

UP: THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LOVE STORY YOUVE EVER READ

Uggg, so many options. I’m wondering if I can say Hunger Games, because I loved Peeta and Katniss’ story. If it wouldn’t be that, it would be Fangirl. I literally just finished that yesterday. I’ll just go with Fangirl. I loved Cath and Levi’s relationship, it was just so cute.

INSIDE OUT: THE BOOK THAT GAVE YOU “THE FEELS” 

Boy am I glad I chose Fangirl for the previous question, Mockingjay is my for sure answer. After I finished, I cried soooo hard. Like, the hardest I’ve ever cried about something make believe. I can’t even describe it.

Weekly Cover Contest #4

Another weekly cover Contest! I would voters to please vote for the book they think has The prettiest cover, NOT because they like the book. 

Harry Potter and The Sorcerors Stone 

The Maze Runner

Splintered

A Pair Of Docks

Isle Of The Lost