"Jackaby" - William Ritter

Hello fellow bibliophiles! Today's review comes with a bit of disappointment. I heard a lot of good things about Jackaby by William Ritter. I know it's been pretty big in Young Adult book clubs. I, unfortunately, wasn't able to get through it to the end. The writing was good and the characters are interesting. I, though, found the story line boring and dull. From the beginning, it failed to hold my attention. I tried to give it the benefit of the doubt but by halfway thru, I quit. Once again, I'm a quitter.

I think the plotline had potential. Sherlock meets paranormal. Maybe I'm just not in the mood for this genre right now. Either way, I just couldn't get into it. There are too many books in the world to waste time on one that isn't grabbing my interest. So onto the next! As always, feel free to share any comments, suggestions, or recommendations! I'd love to hear what you think!

Happy reading fools :)

"Carry On" - Rainbow Rowell

Hellow fellow bibliophiles! Today I have an intriguing review of Carry On by the bestselling New York Times author Rainbow Rowell to share with you. This is the first book in my upcoming newly joined FYA book club! Generally when I am reviewing/reading, I stay up later than I should reading the book and then write the review within the next couple days. But, as I finished Carry On, I felt a stroke of inspiration/brilliance/insanity to write, hence its almost 3 am and I'm scribbling away, pen to paper, West Wing reruns playing in the background. Shout out to Aaron Sorkin for being a literal G-O-D! Am I right?! And yes, I write everything out by hand and then type it. I'm old school.

First things first. Even though this book has ties to Rowell's book Fangirl (check out my review here!), it can easily be read as a stand alone novel. Rowell took Simon Snow, the fictional character from Fangirl, and gave him his own story.

"Simon Snow is the worst chosen one who's ever been chosen. That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right. 

Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all of this, if he were here -- it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't bother to show up. 

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you'd expect from a Rainbow Rowell story -- but far, far more monsters."

The story is broke into four "books" or parts. I found it difficult to get started and drawn in with this book. It took me pretty much the entire "Book One," about 150 pages to get into it. After that, I was hooked and didn't put it down until I was finished. It's a typical Rainbow Rowell novel. Full of normal teen-romance-friendship drama that her loyal readers have come to love and expect. Even though it took me a while to get into it, I did still like the book. Rowell is a great writer. She fully develops her characters and gives them a multi-dimensional facet. The only thing that did turn me off a bit, and maybe this is why  I struggled with the beginning, are all the similarities to Harry Potter. I grew up with HP. He embodied my reading years from grade school through high school. It's extremely hard for me to consider anything else that closely resembles HP solely due to the place in my heart it will always hold. Now there is a lot more to Carry On that just magic and evil nemesis' and being "The Chosen One." It is still a great story besides all of that. I LOVED the ending. I almost wish I would have read Fangirl after Carry On. Parts of that book would have made more sense, in my opinion. I often felt the fan-fiction sections in Fangirl that talked about Simon Snow and friends were out of place and by reading it after Carry On, I would have had a better understanding of them and their story. Just something to consider if you haven't read either book! Make sure to check out my other book reviews by Rainbow Rowell. She's quite fantastic! As always, feel free to share any comments, suggestions, or recommendations!

Happy reading fools :)

"And Then There Were None" - Agatha Christie

Hello fellow bibliophiles! Happy Throwback Thursday! A couple years ago I received And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie from a friend. What's the way to my heart? Books, books, and more books. And obviously wine and pizza. What can I say? I'm a classy gal. I'm sure I would be hard pressed to find a reader who hasn't at least picked up one of Agatha Christie's novels but if you are one of those few, start here. You can thank me later. 

"First there were ten - a curious assortment of strangers summoned as weekend guests to a private island off the coast of Devon. Their host, an eccentric millionaire unknown to all of them, is nowhere to be found. All that the guests have in common is a wicked past they're unwilling to reveal -- and a secret that will seal their fate. For each has been marked for murder. One by one will fall prey. Before the weekend is out, there will be none. And only the dead are above suspicion."

I devoured this book. And that is putting it lightly. While I have read others by Christie, this one consumed me. I couldn't put it down! Christie is fantastic when it comes to writing characters and the mysteries she places them inside of. Throughout the book, I felt I was always close to figuring out the "case", but then a new piece of information would come and I would be completely off base. Throw in a catchy little nursery rhyme and you have a thriller worthy of childhood nightmares. I have now read this book a couple different times and each time, I continue to find hidden pieces I missed the first time around, constantly enthralled until the end yet again. FYI this book is not a Hercule Perot book and can be read as a stand alone. I highly recommend this book as well as Christie's other books. She is a great writer and I have yet to find a book of hers that I could put down! As always, feel free to share any comments, suggestions, or recommendations!

Happy reading fools :)

"A Cowboy Firefighter for Christmas" - Kim Redford

Hello fellow bibliophiles! Another shout-out to Netgalley for the e-ARC of today's review. THANKS! Apparently I'm in a firefighter mood. Check out my recent review of Smoke by Catherine McKenzie (click here!) posted on Sunday and now this review for A Cowboy Firefighter for Christmas by Kim Redford. It's the first in the series "Smokin' Hot Cowboys" for Redford. Steamy title, eh?! :)

"Trey Duval, a rancher and local firefighter, is out of luck. His ranch has suffered from several 'accidental' fires and there is no explanation in sight. All he wants for the upcoming holiday is to get to the bottom of this mystery, but what he gets instead is hotter than any ranch fire when he meets city-girl Misty Reynolds."

Don't read too much into the description. I feel it leaves a lot out, but that's just my opinion. Misty Reynolds isn't just a "city-girl." Misty is a troubleshooter hired to help solve the mystery of the fires without exposing her role to the town locals and the people who may be potential suspects. I really enjoyed the book. It has all the parts a reader expects in a Contemporary Romance/Chick Lit novel. The characters are well developed, the writing is done well, and the whole book is overflowing with wit, humor, and charm. Not to mention brimmed full of steamy romance. Here's one of my favorite quotes from the book. Take note of Redford's fantastic description!

"This close, he appeared wild. Hazel eyes flicked back and forth, resting on nothing or on everything. Dust peppered his tousled dark brown hair. His broad bare chest was coated with dirt and sweat. He looked good in the rough and rugged kind of way that set a gal's thermostat on 'too hot to handle.' She quickly flicked her AC to a higher setting and relished the burst of cold air." (Page 7). 

Overall, good book. Perfect cozy romance novel to curl up with a cup of coffee on a Saturday afternoon during the upcoming holiday season! As always, feel free to share any comments, suggestions, or recommendations. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading fools :)

"Smoke" - Catherine McKenzie

Hello fellow bibliophiles! First off, THANKS Netgalley for the opportunity to read an e-ARC of Smoke by Catherine McKenzie! I was intrigued from start to finish with this book! The characters, the mystery, the dynamics of relationships and marriage. I loved it.

"From the internationally bestselling author Catherine McKenzie comes an evocative tale of two women navigating the secrets and lies at the heart of a wildfire threatening their town. 

After a decade-long career combating wildfires, Elizabeth has traded in for a quieter life with her husband. Now she works as the local arson investigator in a beautiful, quaint town in the Rockies. But that tranquil life vanishes when she and her husband agree to divorce, and when a fire started in nearby Cooper Basin begins to spread rapidly. For Elizabeth, containing a raging wildfire is easier than accepting that her marriage has failed. 

For Elizabeth's ex-friend Mindy, who feels disconnected from her husband and teenage children, the fire represents a chance to find a new purpose: helping a man who lost his home to the blaze. But her faith is shattered by a shocking accusation.

As the encroaching inferno threatens the town's residents, Elizabeth and Mindy must discover what will be lost in the fire, and what will be saved."

As I've said before in previous reviews, I really enjoy books that flip back and forth between character perspectives. Smoke flips between Elizabeth and Mindy with ease. That being said, I did sometimes have trouble following some sections. There were times when the story would flip from one character to another without a clear transition. I did like how Elizabeth and Mindy were interconnected with each other. I wish McKenzie would have stated their relationship and background a little earlier in the book instead of trailing pieces throughout. I also felt there was more to say into the background and issues with Elizabeth and her husband Ben. There was definitely more to say about Elizabeth's relationship with fellow firefighter, Andy, as well. Something was left unsaid about the two of them but then again, maybe McKenzie wanted us to feel that way. Leaves a sense of mystery that keeps the reader hanging on.

Overall, I did like the book. Seeing the "fire" from two different perspectives and how it affected them each differently, had a good dynamic to it. The characters had good development from start to finish. The book begins with the start of the fire and ends with the end of the fire, a time span of only a week. Even with the short period of time, I never felt the book was rushed. That's a lot of plot line to squeeze into 370 pages yet McKenzie made it seem easy with her writing. Great cover. Like I said, I was intrigued from start to finish. It was just published on October 20 so head out and grab your copy (links below on where!). Once again, THANKS Netgalley! As always, feel free to share any comments, suggestions, or recommendations. I'd love to hear your feedback!

Happy reading fools :)

Check out Catherine McKenzie and her other books HERE!
Smoke can be purchased at Amazon and Barnes & Noble!

"Mug Meals" - Dina Cheney

Hello fellow bibliophiles! I have a different type of book for you today. A recipe book! I received this book through NetGalley. Thanks for the ARC! This review wasn't easy to write. I tried to focus more on the book and writing itself, rather than the recipes. Recipes, whether good or bad, should not be held against the author. That's simply a matter of opinion. My review, therefore, focuses on how easy or not the recipes were to follow, layout, etc.

"The secret to fast and easy meals cooked from scratch is hiding in plain sight in your kitchen. The microwave oven is not just for reheating leftovers and making popcorn anymore. With pantry ingredients, a mug and a microwave, you can create a meal in minutes that rivals those cooked in the oven or on the stovetop. Mug MEALS! is the perfect solution for new cooks, busy families, singles, college students, teens, seniors or anyone who just wants a hot meal without all the cleanup. 

Make a meal for any time of day. Breakfast options include Lox and Bagel Strata, Double Berry French Toast; for lunch try Moroccan Pumpkin and Chickpea Stew, White Bean Gratin with Olives and Lemon or Double Carrot Soup. Dinner entrees include Chinese Chicken with Noodles and Black Bean Sauce, Classic Shepherd's Pie and Lasagna; dessert selections feature Mango Coconut Crumble, Molten Chocolate Cake with Truffle Filling, Peach and Cornbread Stuffing and more."

The book was very well written. The beginning has a great introduction section that lays out the different ingredients, measurements, and items that Cheney uses throughout the recipes. Recipes are very easy to follow, many with substitutions for things like gluten-free or vegan. Photographs throughout the book are done really well. I did try 5-6 different recipes throughout the sections of the book. While I personally didn't care for the recipes themselves, like I said previously, I cannot hold that against the author. That's simply my personal opinion on what I like or don't like. As always, feel free to share what you think about the book or recipes. I'm open to any comments, questions, or suggestions!

Happy reading fools :)

"Child 44" - Tom Rob Smith

Hello fellow bibliophiles! Since I won't be writing the review for the book I am finishing tonight until after midnight, I thought I'd give you a throwback review for today! Complete with a bonus at the end of my thoughts on the movie! Today's throwback is Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith. For those of you who know me, I have a love for all things pertaining to Russia. Russian books, books set in Russia, its history, current news, hockey, etc. (Looking for a challenge? Try reading In The First Circle by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. It took me 2.5 years). I fell in love with this book many moons ago and have always felt it has been underrated in the reading community. Don't worry Smith, I constantly recommend this book to others! 


"Stalin's Soviet Union is an official paradise, where citizens live free from crime and fear only one thing: the all-powerful state. Defending this system is idealistic security officer Leo Demidov, a war hero who believes in the iron fist of the law, but when a murderer starts to kill at will and Leo dares to investigate, the State's obedient servant finds himself demoted and exiled. Now, with only his wife at his side, Leo must fight to uncover shocking truths about a killer -- and a country where "crime" doesn't exist."

That description does not do the story justice at all. Smith does a great job of placing the reading into the communist state of the Soviet Union by demonstrating the fears and consequences that came about every day for people living within its walls. The struggle Leo faces not only with the State and his superiors but within himself is an amazing dynamic. How do you persevere and fight for justice when around every corner you could be facing death? I loved the suspense and fight for the truth. I highly recommend reading it. I would include it in my top 15 of all time favorites. When I recently reread the book not too long ago, I discovered there are actually 2 more books preceding this one that I had no idea about. No worries, I have added them to my TBR list! As always, feel free to share any comments, suggestions, or recommendations.

Happy reading fools :)

MOVIE REVIEW BONUS: Recently Child 44 was made into a movie starring Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, and Noomi Rapace. While I was definitely looking forward to watching the movie, it did not do well at the box office and made me question if I was willing to take the risk. I was afraid the movie might ruin the book for me. Alas, I went ahead and watched it anyway! The writers did well with sticking to the story line from the book and while I did like the movie and felt it was better than what others had said, it still lacked the luster and allure I felt while reading the book. It's still worth watching in my opinion!