Harry Potter & the Cursed Child (Pts 1 & 2) by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany & Jack Thorne

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
✥Series: #8
✥Release Date: July 31, 2016
✥Format: Hardcover
✥Setting: England (?) & Hogwarts
✥Page Count: 309
✥Genre(s): YA, Fantasy, Fiction, Plays
✥Date(s) Read: 2/16-2/27/19
✥Rating:   Book: 2.5/5   Audio:  3.5/5        
   Narrator(s):Not Sure. If it was said, I missed it & I didn't want to search  it out. 


My Thoughts:

Audio:
I wasn't wild about him, but he made it easier to get through so that's why he got a 3.5/5 instead of a 3/5 or less.

Book:
It was nice to read, well, listen to this book. I started off trying to read it on my own but wasn't feeling it so I went searching online trying to find the audio & thankfully, I did. 

This wasn't a bad book, but not great to me either. It wasn't the fact that it was a play that was an issue, I've read a play before. I think it was the fact that in the beginning, I wasn't fond of a character or two. 

As it got closer to act 3, it started getting better. By the time it hit act 4, I was enjoying it quite a bit more. I'll be glad when I can find the 'play' some where. I haven't really followed it enough to know if they have or ever will put it on DVD. That is something I can look for eventually just to see what I can find. I am hoping to like it that much more but I think I should have seen if I could watch it first then read it. But I thought it would ruin it for me. Now, I think reading it first may have ruined it; but maybe not. Maybe, just maybe, once I am able to watch it, I will have "forgotten" much of it. 

I do believe I may watch Fantastic Beasts first before trying to go for the book After reading this one but I will also take this as it comes. If I find the book at a good price, I may get it and do my best to hold off reading it first.  😊

At the time I am typing this, I am still listening to the book. I've got about 30 or so pages left so I'm sure my final thoughts will come together about the book as a whole will come then but it may not change too much. At this point, I still have a pretty clear idea of my thoughts on the book, I will just need to figure out the rating. 

When I started this book, I didn't know what to expect. I wasn't expecting to 'see' some characters show up. Many characters  I was glad to 'see' again. Many of those I began to love by the end of the seventh book (throughout all of the books actually).

I don't go under 3 stars often but usually, if there are books that are going to get under 3 stars, nothing it does redeems itself. Rarely do I give 1 stars to books because if they're that bad, I've already DNF'd. Unfortunately, there have been times I've struggled through just because I wanted to know what happened. But, I've gotten off track. It was decent! 😊

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
✥Stand-Alone:
✥Release Date: April 4, 2017
✥Format: Hardcover
✥Setting: California
✥Page Count: 391
✥Genre(s): Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult
✥Date(s) Read: 2/16-2/23/19
✥Rating:   Book:  4/5     Audio:  4/5        Narrator(s): Amy Melissa Bentley 

My Thoughts:

Audio:
I liked her quite a bit. Her voice was easy to listen to in my opinion.

I think the only reason I gave it the rating I did because I listened to it online and it would "jump" (don't know how else to describe it) and sometimes I couldn't understand a word or two. I don't think it's the fault of the audio book..maybe just a 'glitch' when it was uploaded online. 


Book:
The book itself wasn't perfect by any means, but I gave it a solid, 3/5. I liked the characters. I especially liked Dad. It's a fun book to listen to. It had it's rough moments with the two main characters talked about some of the things they went through but the book wasn't completely engulfed in their "issues", it was about their relationship with each other, their friends and families. 

I love the fact that they talked about movies, some I have seen, many, I have not. It has me wanting to go through them and watch some of them when I am in the mood. This book is perfect timing because I said would spend this year getting back into movies. Watching ones I have missed in the last 18-20 years. Some classics. Some of my well loved movies from the past (from my childhood , teens & 20's) and within the last 20 or so years. So, again, Perfect Timing! You know what, for that matter, I will take it up to a 4 stars, just because of the timing & the ideas! So, I guess that's a 3/5 for the book itself & an extra star for the perfect timing!

I love Porter's & Bailey's relationship. It started off rough, but I just thought they were funny most of the time. They pushed each other to come out of their shells. Very much a coming of age story. Bailey's relationship with her father was a strong bond that I loved but even with her relationship with her mom, was semi-understandable but as a mom, I don't think I could do (or not do) some of the things she did (or didn't do). Porter's family bond I loved too. How protective of each other they are. You mess with one, you get them all! lol...

I'm going to hush now because I feel like I am already giving away too much of the story. 

This is not the best cover but I guess it could be worse. I've seen a few other covers for it online, to me, this one is the best though. I guess my feelings about it are mixed. I don't love it, but I definitely don't hate it either. 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (H.P. #7)

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
✥Series:  #7
✥Release Date: July 27, 2007
✥Format: Hardcover
✥Setting: London, England; Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizadry
✥Page Count: 759
✥Genre(s): Fantasy, YA, Fiction
✥Date(s) Read: 1/23/19-2/15/19
✥Rating:   Book: 3/5       Audio:  5/5        Narrator(s):Jim Dale

My Thoughts:

Audio:

There isn't much I can say that I haven't already said beyond my liking Jim Dale and how much easier he made it to get through these lengthy books. I love his voices for the characters, even though sometimes, he made some sound whiny but no matter, I loved him. I listened to one with Stephen Fry (don't remember which one) and I can see why so many loved him too. If I could have gotten them all under Fry, I would have but again, Dale was amazing as well. 


Book:

Finally! Finished it! 

This was not one of my favorites. I found myself missing Hogwarts a lot. Wishing they were still at the school. 

Where I thought I had gotten spoilers, weren't spoilers. Although it's still frustrating that the person (a booktuber; I no longer remember who) I was watching would give potential ones. I do understand a lot of people have already read this series and seen the movies and many will speak of the books thinking that way. They also need to understand that there are generations after them and then folks like me who had never heard of the books until the movies came out and, well, like me, hadn't intended on reading them. I gave in, thankfully. 

But, I digress....

Why wasn't this my favorite? Well, beyond a few, many of my favorites didn't show up until later. I also think it's because I kept tuning out at some points. I had to replay quite a bit in the last couple of chapters, which got frustrating for me. I had to stop what I was doing to focus and/or pick up the book to reread certain parts I kept missing. So, one day, I will definitely will have to re-listen to these books again one day. I have the first 6 movies so I can watch those to jar my memory on stuff and maybe pick up stuff I may have missed (yes, I know, the movies leave out a lot). 

Digress again....rambles again...

It's kind of hard to talk about this book without giving those spoilers that I wouldn't want while still saying what I liked and didn't like. So, I can say that,well, I love how it ended. Ended in kind of a way that I figured because I have "The Cursed Child" book and scanned through it a little. So, that kind of helped me knowing the spoilers I thought were there, did or didn't happen. I am looking forward to making an attempt to read "The Cursed Child".

Some of my favorite characters from the previous books remained my favorites but with a new way of seeing them. And even one that I thought I'd never really like, I found myself liking by the end of it. Well, maybe even two. And those are the ones I can think of right now.

Well, I will hush now because I have become beyond repetitive. 

Thanks for reading this far. :o)

2018 Year in Review

Okay, I think I did everything right. I didn't do the best job of notes this past year. I got lazy. This should be everything though. If there is something that needs to be added, I will. This year will be relaxed. I haven't had the patience to read lately. We will see what happens by the end of the year. 

2018 Popsugar Reading Challenge: 

A book made into a movie you’ve already seen:  The Color Purple by Alice Walker

The next book in a series you started: Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix (H.P. #5) by J.K. Rowling
A novel based on a real person: Cane River by Lalita Tademy
A book set in a country that fascinates you: Death of a Mad Hatter (Hat Shop Mystery #2) by Jenn McKinlay
A book with a time of day in the title: Lady Midnight (Dark Artifices #1) by Cassandra Clare
A book with an LGBTQ+ protagonist: The Color Purple by Alice Walker
A book that is also a stage play or musical: The Color Purple by Alice Walker
A book about feminism: The Color Purple by Alice Walker
A book about mental health: By Your Side by Kasie West (Anxiety)
A book you borrowed or that was given to you as a gift:
A book by two authors: All Dressed in White (Under Suspicion #3) by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke
A book about or involving a sport: Pivot Point (Pivot Point #1) by Kasie West [Football]
A book by a local author: What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen (We both live in NC, just not in the same city)

A book with alliteration in the title: Tough Tug by Margaret Read MacDonald

A book with a weather element in the title: The Summer by Sarah Dessen
A book set on a different planet: A Wrinkle in Time (Time #1) by Madeleine L'Engle
A book with song lyrics in the titles: Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson (Song by: Kelly Clarkson)
A book with characters who are twins: A Wrinkle in Time (Time #1) by Madeleine L'Engle
A book from a celebrity book club: Cane River by Lalita Tademy 
A childhood classic you’ve never read: Road to Oz (Oz #5) by L. Frank Baum
 A book that’s published in 2018: Wedding Cake Crumble (Cupcake Bakery Mystery #10) by Jen McKinlay
A past Goodreads Choice Awards winner: Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen
A book set in the decade you were born: Welcome to the World Baby Girl by Fannie Flagg
A book you meant to read in 2017 but didn’t get to:  By Your Side by Kasie West
 A book that involves a bookstore or a library: By Your Side by Kasie West
Your favorite prompt from the 2015, 2016, 2017 PopSugar Reading Challenges: 

  A Book from an author you love that you haven't read yet [2015]: Pivot Point (Pivot Point #1)             by Kasie West

Big Book Challenge:

Goal: 12

Completed:13

Page Count: 7,157

1. What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen (402 pages)

2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (870 pages)

3. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling (652 pages)

4. Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson (449 pages) 

5. Welcome to the World, Baby Girl! by Fannie Flagg (496 pages) 
6. What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton (464 pages)

7. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (Hannah Swensen #1) by Joanne Fluke (431 pages)
8. Cane River by Lalita Tademy (543 pages)
9.  Lady Midnight (Dark Artifices #1) by Cassandra Clare (669 pages)
10. Standing in the Rainbow (Elmwood Springs #2) by Fannie Flagg (560 pages)
11. 1st To Die (Women's Murder Club #1) by James Patterson (462 pages)
12. Beastly (Kendra Chronicles #1) by Alex Flinn (483 pages)
13. Warbreaker (Warbreaker #1) by Brandon Sanderson (676 pages)

Personal Reading Challenge:

Goal: 12

Completed: 54

Throughout the year, I went up on the challenge (on Goodreads) but kept the original goal here so that I can see how I did and could do the comparison.

January :
1. Our Sunday Best by Lynn Johnston  4/5
2. What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen 3/5
3. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling 3/5
4. Cloche and Dagger by Jenn McKinlay 3/5

February 

1. Tough Tug by Margaret Read MacDonald 5/5

2. By Your Side by Kasie West 4/5

3. The Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum 5/5

4. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen 3/5

5. The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith 3/5

6. Malcolm X: The Last Speeches**   5/5

7. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han 3/5

March 

1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling 4.5/5

2. The Color Purple by Alice Walker 4.5/5

April 

1. Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson 4/5 

2. Welcome to the World, Baby Girl! by Fannie Flagg 4/5

3. Pivot Point by Kasie West 4.5/5

4. The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis 5/5

5. Lucky in Love by Kasie West  3.75/5

May :

1. That Summer by Sarah Dessen 3/5

2. All Dressed in White by Mary Higgins Clark  3.5/5

3. Last One Home by Debbie Macomber  4/5

4. Not A Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus by Kyle Idleman 3/5 

5. Wedding Cake Crumble (Cupcake Bakery Mystery #10) by Jenn McKinlay 5/5

June:

1. What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton 4.5/5

2. Death of a Mad Hatter by Jenn McKinlay 4.5/5

3. And Still I Rise by Maya Angelou 5/5

4. The Nine of Us: Growing Up Kennedy by Jean Kennedy Smith 5/5

5. Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen 3/5

July:

1. Fat Dad, Fat Kid by Shay Butler & Gavin Butler 5/5

2. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (Hannah Swensen #1) by Joanne Fluke 3/5

3. Taming of the Star Runner by S.E. Hinton 2.75/5

4. The Emerald City of Oz (Oz #6) by L. Frank Baum 3.5/5

5. The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles #1) by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black 3/5

#7In7Readathon (7/23/18-7/29/18)

6. Cane River by Lalita Tademy (I started this book before the 7 in 7 & finished the last 100+ pages on day one)

7. The Seeing Stone (The Spiderwick Chronicles #2) by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black 5/5

8. Lucinda's Secret (The Spiderwick Chronicles #3) by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black 4.5/5

9. The Ironwood Tree (The Spiderwick Chronicles #4) by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black 4/5

10. The Wrath of Mulgarath (The Spiderwick Chronicles #5) by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black 4.5/5

Booktubeathon 2018  (7/30-8/5/18)

11. A Wrinkle in Time (Time #1) by Madeleine L'engle 2.5/5

August:

1.  Son of the Dawn (Ghosts of the Shadow Market #1) by Cassandra Clare & Sarah Reese Brennan  3/5

2. Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices #1) by Cassandra Clare  3/5

September:

1. Standing in the Rainbow (Elmwood Springs #2) by Fannie Flagg**    5/5

2. 1st to Die (Women's Murder Club #1) by James Patterson 4.5/5

Contemporary-A-Thon (9/17-9/23/18)

3. Serafina's Promise by Ann E. Burg 4.75/5

4. Until Friday Night (The Field Party #1) by Abbi Glines 3.5/5

Fall Into Reading-A-Thon (9/22-9/28/18)

5. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith 4/5

October:
1.  Warbreaker (Warbreaker #1) by Brandon Sanderson 
2. Asking for Truffle (A Southern Chocolate Mystery #1) by Dorothy St. James
3. The Robot King by Brian Selznick
4. 50% Off Murder (Good Buy Girls Mystery #1) by Josie Belle/Jenny McKinlay
5. House by Frank E. Peretti and Ted Dekker
6. Leaking Laffs Between Pampers and Depends by Barbara Johnson

December:
The Sisters' Guide to In-Depth Bible Study by Victoria L. Johnson

Favorite (**)

The Sisters' Guide To In-Depth Bible Study by Victoria L. Johnson

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
✥Stand-Alone: 
✥Release Date: April 24, 2003
✥Format: Paperback
✥Setting: N/A
✥Page Count: 143
✥Genre(s): Non Fiction, Self Help, Christian
✥Date(s) Read: 12/1-12/10/18
✥Rating: 5/5   

My Thoughts:

This is my second time reading this book and I enjoyed it as much as the first time, well, I remember enjoying it back them (rented in from the library then but just recently bought it). Although I realized that I didn't remember anything about it because it had been so long since I read it. There are some things I questioned how she came to the conclusion she did. I mean, I kind of understood but she took part of a scripture and "ran with it" when the other part that followed was important too (not being ashamed but it also followed with following God's commands).Other than that, I enjoyed it and got a lot out of it. It has been tabbed, highlighted and underlined. Even got the names of some bible dictionaries, encyclopedias, concordances, etc. I will be looking into those really soon and hopefully I will be able to get some of them soon. 

Leaking Laffs Between Pampers and Depends by Barbara Johnson

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
✥Stand-Alone
✥Release Date: March 19, 2000
✥Format: Hardcover (3 in 1)
✥Setting: N/A
✥Page Count: 178
✥Genre(s): Humor, Christian, Non-Fiction 
✥Date(s) Read: 10/17-10/25/18
✥Rating:  5/5

My Thoughts:

Book:

This is a book that came as a 3 in 1. There was this one, Boomerang Joy & Living Somewhere Between Estrogen and Death. I, of course am taking each book as I feel like reading them. 

Leaking Laffs was funny and it is what I needed right now. This was more of a way to make you laugh with tidbits of advice thrown in there in between. She basically just said, don't always take life so seriously. Find ways to laugh your way through life as often as possible. Well, that's what I got out of it anyway. I found myself laughing and chuckling throughout the book. I have it tabbed up...a lot!

Just some of my favorites from the book:

Man trying to meen woman: 'Hey sweetie, what's your sign?"
Woman: "Do not enter."

Did you ever stop to think...
and forget to start up again?

She who laughs last 
thinks the slowest.

My next Kitchen will have no kitchen-
Just vending machines.

Yes, of course, there are many more but those were just some short ones that gave me a good chuckle. 

When I picked this book up and just went by the cover, I thought it was a few short [fictional] stories until I sat down to look through the book and realized it was a nonfiction christian book. I got it not sure what I would think and ended up enjoying it. It took me some time to get through the book because I was focused on other books and just sat down and read this one as I felt like reading it. 

This books is sweet stories about her life and the lives of others that were sent to her. All that she has been through, she has found a way to laugh at least most of it. Something more of us need to do. Maybe the world would be a little better if we could just find ways to laugh and be happier.

There aren't many words to describe how I feel about this book. I can just say it's the lifting of my spirit that I needed. Two more 'books ' to go here but I'll take a break and read them as I feel the desire to do so. 

🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼

This is the cover for the book by itself. I couldn't find the cover for the one I have but the image on this book is a picture used throughout the book for the squirts and squints part of the book and beginning of the chapters. There are some differences (the baby and grandma in the boat is used).

House by Frank E. Peretti, Ted Dekker

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
✥Stand-Alone
✥Release Date: March 5, 2007
✥Format: Paperback
✥Setting: Alabama
✥Page Count: 372
✥Genre(s): Christian Fiction, Horror/Thriller
✥Date(s) Read: 10/16-10/19/18
✥Rating:   Book: 4.75/5   Audio: 3.75/5     Narrator(s): Kevin King

My Thoughts:

Audio:
Once I sped him up to 1.2/1.5, he got a lot better. At it's normal rate, I wasn't very fond of his narration. 


Book:
This is my second time reading this book. I really enjoyed it the first time. I guess because I didn't know what was coming. Although, I found myself getting bored throughout the book the first time. I think it was because I wasn't used to reading books like this & some male authors I tend to find not to like their writing style. Now, I am finding myself stepping outside my box and giving more men a chance and enjoying them. No, I am not bad mouthing male authors, it's just preferences. From my beginning of consistent reading, I've always migrated towards women authors. 

Anyway, I got off on a tangent there....

As I was saying, I loved it the first time but had my moments of finding it boring. Now, with the re-read, knowing what was going to happen, I was able to get through it smoother. Enjoy it in a different way. It's not a favorite as it was the first time because I knew the message in the story  that I didn't notice the first time until after I closed the book and began to think over it.

This time, the story for me was just as strong but different because I can see so much of the good vs evil going on in this world. And seeing that, even in fear: Trust Him. Follow Him. I am a very spiritual [yet, imperfect] person and I can many times just think over things and see things not just flesh war but spiritual war. I may not understand it all but I don't think I am supposed to.

This book for me is a reminder that no matter what we try to do, some things are just meant to happen. We can find ways to make things easier as we go through this life but yet, prepare ourselves for what's coming. You don't have to believe in God or demons but that doesn't make them any less real. But it is not for me to force anyone to believe or not to believe because of free will.

Why doesn't God stop the evil in this world? Because He gave us free will to do with it what we will. Why doesn't he abolish evil? Well, for most everything (if not everything) in this world, there has to be an opposite. For life, there is death. For up, there is down. For good, there must be evil, etc.

Again! Another tangent....Sorry

This was a good book that doesn't have very high ratings on Goodreads. So, after reading the summary, and deciding if it is interesting enough to pick it up from the library, used book store, kindle, etc, I would suggest you read the book first before reading the reviews. Come to your own conclusion then read the reviews.

There is a movie based off of this that at first, I didn't like and couldn't get through the first time. I finally was able to get it finished and found that I still liked the book more of course. I may try watching the movie again soon just to see if my opinion has changed any.

Overall, what do I think? In just one word? Beautiful

50% off Murder (A Good Buy Girls Mystery #1) by Josie Bell

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
✥Series: #1
✥Release Date: April 3, 2012
✥Format:  Mass Market Paperback
✥Setting: St. Stanley, VA
✥Page Count: 277 
✥Genre(s): Cozy Mystery, Romance
✥Date(s) Read: 10/11-10/17/18
✥Rating: 4/5

My Thoughts:

I liked it. It had it's cheesy moments but it was good. 

This is a book written under the Josie Belle pseudonym by the author of the Cupcake bakery mystery series (and others), Jenn McKinlay. When I found out who wrote it, that made me more excited. 

Cupcake Bakery Mystery series is my favorite by her. I did notice some similarities between this one and CBM, like the rivalry, young male character and one or two other things. 

I already own the second book so maybe I'll be able to get to it soon but we will see. This one might be on the top list too because I got some decent tips on saving money. Some  I knew, some I didn't. 

If you like cozies and haven't read this one, it's worth at least trying. Just go into it expecting to be entertained and hoping to enjoy it but not expecting much more than that. Don't get your hopes up too high. I enjoyed the book as much as I'd hoped I would have.