Dear Martin(Dear Martin,#1)

 

                                                                 ✰✰✰✰

  CONTAINS SPOILERS

 

 

Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can't escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates. Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out. 

Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it's Justyce who is under attack. 

 

   ❀

 

  Oh man. This is the book that everyone should read. It’s such powerful, moving, and real. It’s a book that you will talking to your friends about. The emotions in this book, I felt as if I could feel them, even if I cannot imagine what it must been like. I felt like I could. DEAR MARTIN is one of the books that have been on my to-read list, I have seen people talking about it. Once I started it reading it, I knew why. DEAR MARTIN covers so many important issues, and those are the ones that happen in real life. I have read other books on this topic, The Hate U Give , which is one of my favorites, but this was unique, and that was one of the things that I loved about this book. Dr. Martin Luther King is what teachers talk about in school; I remember learning about him in high school. I loved how Justyce spoke out about what was happening and how he felt about it by writing letters. I enjoyed reading his letters. It was powerful, but at the same time, heartbreaking. 

It did not take me long to finish this book. I was so engrossed in the story, one more chapter turning into five more. Before I even realized it, I was done. Once I finished it, I wanted to go back and reread it. I am sure that DEAR MARTIN will be a book that I will be re-reading for years to come. I couldn’t believe that this was NIC STONE’S debut novel. If this was her first novel, I could not wait to see what else she comes up with. DEAR MARTIN is the type of book that I wish I could write. My heart broke for Justyce about what happened to Manny; I don’t think I can even imagine having to go through something like that. Over loud music? Who does that? I was upset because I loved Manny and not only upset but also angry. It was then that I wanted to throw the book. DEAR MARTIN is an emotional book. You will cry, get angry and frustrated, but will keep on reading. 

Sarah Jane, SJ. I loved her from the start. I loved how strong she was and the way that she did not let anyone push her around. I loved the bond that she and Justyce established. It did not take long to figure out how they felt about each other. Even if SJ tried to deny it in the beginning. I found myself hoping that she would realize it at some point. I was rooting for the two of them. The only what I did not enjoy as much was the ending; I felt as if it was a bit rushed. Otherwise, this was a beautifully written story. DEAR MARTIN is not a book that you will forget. I am still thinking about it, and it had been days since I have finished it. Be prepared for an emotional ride.

Tigers, Not Daughters(Tigers, Not Daughters,#1)

                                  ✰✰✰✰

   CONTAINS SPOILERS

 

 The Torres sisters dream of escape. Escape from their needy and despotic widowed father, and from their San Antonio neighborhood, full of old San Antonio families and all the traditions and expectations that go along with them. In the summer after her senior year of high school, Ana, the oldest sister, falls to her death from her bedroom window. 

A year later, her three younger sisters, Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa, are still consumed by grief and haunted by their sister’s memory. Their dream of leaving Southtown now seems out of reach. But then strange things start happening around the house: mysterious laughter, mysterious shadows, mysterious writing on the walls. The sisters begin to wonder if Ana really is haunting them, trying to send them a message—and what exactly she’s trying to say. 

 

  ❀

 

  Have you ever picked up a book that you weren’t sure what to expect? A story that you ended up wondering why you haven’t read it sooner? TIGERS, NOT DAUGHTERS was that book for me. I came across this book at the library as I searched for a new book to read. I came across it, and the title and the cover caught my eye, and I was curious. Since I never read a book by the author, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading. It did not take me long to fall in love with the characters, the story. TIGERS, NOT DAUGHTERS was a powerful, yet a heartbreaking story. It’s not just a story about sisters, but about grief, love, acceptance. Everything felt real, and I felt all the pain, anger, the grief that the sisters were facing after Ana’s death. Even Ana’s ghost felt real. All those emotions, descriptions, I pictured it and felt it all. I could not stop, nor did I want to stop. I needed to see what would happen with the sisters. 

I could not get this story out of my head. It kept on haunting my thoughts long after I finished the book. TIGERS, NOT DAUGHTERS was one of those books that made me glad that I decided to check out, that I was curious about. This is one of the best ways to discover a new author. I am eager to check out what other adventures SAMANTHA MABRY came up with. There were few slow parts, but it did not last long, and before you knew it, you have been reading for hours. While reading this book, I lost track of time because I was engrossed in the book. I loved that the book was written by each sister. An excellent way for the reader to get to know each of the sisters better. I loved each one of them; they were all unique in their way. There is so much I can say about this book, but I don’t think there is enough time to write it all down. It took my breath away. I know that if it weren’t for the amount of homework I had, I would have finished it in one day. 

As the story progresses, you can see a change in each of the sisters. I knew that Ana’s ghost was there for a reason. I believe she was there to bring them together. They needed each other. TIGERS, NOT DAUGHTERS is unlike any book that I have read before, and I have read few that included ghosts. I loved the magical realism in this book. Even Ana’s ghost felt real. I could picture there, along with her sisters, watching over them. I still cannot get the story out of my mind. I feel that this will be the one that I will return to in the future. TIGERS, NOT DAUGHTERS, has everything that I love about books. It’s a book that I would recommend to my friends, my family. It’s magical, inspirational. It will feel you with all of the emotions. It’s worth it, every single page. 

A Must Read.

Code Name Hélène.

                                              
                                ✰✰✰✰

  CONTAINS SPOILERS

 

 This book is based on the life of Nancy Wake, an Australian expat who worked as a reporter for Hearst in Paris just before WWII and later as a spy for the British. 

Lawhon throws readers into the middle of the action, as Nancy, under the alias Hélène, prepares to parachute from an RAF plane into France to help the Resistance in 1944, carrying in her head memorized lists of vital data, including bridges targeted for destruction and safe house addresses. After she lands, the story flashes back eight years, as Nancy struggles for respect and recognition as a journalist; despite her firsthand observations of Nazi brutality in 1930s Vienna, her editor is reluctant to publish a story about what she's seen. 

Frequent jumps in time draw out the arc of Wake's remarkable life; despite her statement early on that women's weapons of warfare were limited to "silk stockings and red lipstick," by the end she's proven herself skillful at physical combat as well. 

 

  ❀

 

Heartfelt. Powerful. Thrilling. 

There are many other words I could use to describe this remarkable story. I had CODE NAME HELENE on my to-read list for a few months, and because of the long waitlist, I had to wait for a while. I can see why it had a long waitlist, and it was worth the wait. I love historical fiction, and I love books that feature a strong woman. Nancy was one of the strongest women I have read about, to have done what she has done, the sacrifices she had to make. Like Henri, I was worried for her, worried that eventually that she would get caught. I knew that nothing good could come for her if she were caught. I loved Nancy from the start, how she acted, the way that she protected everyone, her friends, her family. Not once did she give up or run away; she kept on going until the end. Nancy was fierce, a fighter, a hero. CODE NAME HELENE was one of the most challenging books to put down because I wanted to see what would happen if she would make it until the end. 

I was amazed and fell in love with the book within a couple of first pages. I loved how the story started at the action, making you wonder how she got there and why. I loved the book's timelines, telling Nancy's story, of her and Henri's meeting, and how she joined the Resistance. I fell in love with her and Henri’s story, one of the most significant elements in the story. I am not sure how Henri did it, how he managed to be away from her that way, knowing that she was putting her life in danger every day. All through the book, I was rooting for her, for him, to find their way to one another again, safely. CODE NAME HELENE is one of those books where I am not sure if I can describe all my emotions properly. There was a lot of going on in this book, and I found myself going through the motions that she was going through. I was thinking about this book long after I turned the last page. CODE NAME HELENE is not a book that you will be able to get out of your mind. 

The moment I finished the book, I researched Nancy Wake because I was curious. Before reading the book, I wasn’t aware of her. Once I finished, I couldn’t help but do my research. I was engrossed in CODE NAME HELENE . I read this book late into the night few times, as I lost track of time. I couldn’t get enough. This was the first book I have read by ARIEL LAWHON , and now I am eager to check out the rest of her books. I love discovering authors this way. I know this will be the book that I will be recommending to friends and family and re-reading multiple times in the future. CODE NAME HELENE isn’t just story about adventure. It is a story about love, bravery, sacrifice, friendship, and hope. There were few slow parts towards the end. However, most of the book took my breath away. If you love historical fiction, this is the book I would highly recommend.

No Place Like Oz (Dorothy Must Die, #0.1)

                                ✰✰✰✰✰

 CONTAINS SPOILERS

After returning to Kansas, Dorothy Gale has realized that the dreary fields of Kansas don’t compare to the vibrant landscapes of Oz. And although she’s happy to be reunited with Aunt Em, she misses her friends from the yellow brick road. But most of all, Dorothy misses the fame and the adventure. In Kansas she’s just another prairie girl, but in Oz she was a hero. So Dorothy is willing to do anything to get back, because there really is no place like Oz. But returning to the land she left comes at a price, and after Dorothy is through with it, Oz will never be the same. 

Perfect for fans of Alex Flinn, Marissa Meyer, and Gregory Maguire, No Place Like Oz is a dark reimagining of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Building off of its rich mythology, Danielle Paige creates an edgy, thrilling story for teens that chronicles the rise and fall of one of the literature’s most beloved characters. This digital original novella is a prequel that sets the stage for the forthcoming novel Dorothy Must Die. 

 

  ❀ 

In 2016, I came across the book, Dorothy Must Die , which I was hesitant about at first but ended up falling in love with. While reading the series, I did wonder what happened to Dorothy, how she became that evil. I wondered if there was a reason behind her turning to that monster. Usually, I don’t read novella’s often, but I was curious about NO PLACE LIKE OZ and curious to find out what happened with Dorothy. I saw the change in Dorothy, the minute that she had the shoes on. At first, they were little change, but the most I change was in Dorothy’s attitude. It seemed as if anything her aunt and uncle did, it wasn’t right. I wondered if it was the shoes that made Dorothy want to stay in OZ. I know that both her aunt and uncle noticed the change, even if they pretended like they didn’t. 

I did wonder what would happen if Dorothy was able to remove the shoes. I wondered if she would be going back to herself and go back to Kansas with her aunt and uncle. In this book, Dorothy is not the Dorothy I remember from Wizard Of Oz . As the book progressed, it seemed as if she got angrier at everyone, and I knew it would not end well for anyone. Never did I imagine that Glinda would be the one responsible for Dorothy going evil. That was one of the things that I loved about the book; it was unexpected. NO PLACE LIKE OZ will keep you on reading until the end. That ending, it had me curious and picked up the next in the series to see what happens. If you are a fan of Wizard Of Oz and want to read a retelling with a twist, be sure to check this series out. 

Be prepared for a wild ride.

The Year Of Witching.

                                                                 ✰✰✰✰✰

CONTAINS SPOILERS

In the lands of Bethel, where the Prophet’s word is law, Immanuelle Moore’s very existence is blasphemy. Her mother’s union with an outsider of a different race cast her once-proud family into disgrace, so Immanuelle does her best to worship the Father, follow Holy Protocol, and lead a life of submission, devotion, and absolute conformity, like all the other women in the settlement. 

But a mishap lures her into the forbidden Darkwood surrounding Bethel, where the first prophet once chased and killed four powerful witches. Their spirits are still lurking there, and they bestow a gift on Immanuelle: the journal of her dead mother, who Immanuelle is shocked to learn once sought sanctuary in the wood. 

Fascinated by the secrets in the diary, Immanuelle finds herself struggling to understand how her mother could have consorted with the witches. But when she begins to learn grim truths about the Church and its history, she realizes the true threat to Bethel is its own darkness. And she starts to understand that if Bethel is to change, it must begin with her. 

 

   ❀

 

  Dark. Mysterious. Magical. 

I love any books that deal with witches, wizards, and witchcraft. I fell in love with those stories when I read Harry Potter in middle school. Since then, I have read a few different books about witches. I have been hearing about THE YEAR OF WITCHING for a while but had to wait for a while because there was a long list of holds. Now that I have read it, I know that this book was worth the wait. THE YEAR OF WITCHING is the type of books that I love. This story was unlike any other book that I read. THE YEAR OF WITCHING had me thinking about the Salem Trials, except this one had unexpected twists. This was one of the books that I wasn’t sure what to expect since I wasn’t familiar with the author. On the other hand, I was curious about this story because so many were talking about it. Now I know why. THE YEAR OF WITCHING was one of the darker witch stories and not the kind of witches that you would want to meet. THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING portrayed the witches the way I always thought of them before reading Harry Potter. 

I was engaged with the story from the first page. From the start, you wonder what is going to happen with Immanuelle. As the story progressed, it got more challenging for me to put the book down. When I was sure that I could put down, something happened that kept me reading for a couple more hours. THE YEAR OF WITCHING was a hard book to put down. I had forced myself to put down, and I knew if I wanted to finish my homework, I had to. It was the book that I was looking forward to reading all day. THE YEAR OF WITCHING had amazing descriptions, and the way that Immanuelle’s emotions were portrayed had me imagining that I was in Bethel, in the Darkwood. I had a feeling that something terrible would happen when Immanuelle went into the Darkwood; I knew that there was a reason that her grandmother told her to stay away. I hoped that she would stop the plaque, but I wasn’t sure if she could stop it. I loved that she kept on going, that not even once did she give up. 

Prophet. He’s not a character you will like. I was not too fond of the way that he treated others, especially girls. There was a part of me that hoped that someone would be able to put a stop to it. I did wonder if maybe that person would end up being Immanuelle. Ezra. What is there to say about him? I had a good feeling about him from the start. I had a hard time believing that he was related to Prophet. It didn’t take long to see how much Ezra cared about her, even if Immanuelle did not at first. He had helped her and looked her out so many times. He even got himself captured, to protect her. If that’s not love, then I don’t know what is. I do wonder what happens with them after. THE YEAR OF WITCHING is a beautiful story, a story that will be hard to describe in a review. I don’t think I can even express all my emotions; there are so many. If you love fantasy, witches, adventure, then I would highly recommend this book. Not a book that you will regret checking out.

Unbirthday (Twisted Tales,#9)

                                   ✰✰✰

 CONTAINS SPOILERS

What if Wonderland was in peril and Alice was very, very late?

 
Alice is different than other eighteen-year-old ladies in Kexford, which is perfectly fine with her. She'd rather spend golden afternoons with her trusty camera or in her aunt Vivian's lively salon, ignoring her sister's wishes that she stop all that "nonsense" and become a "respectable" member of society. Alice is happy to meander to Miss. Yao's teashop or to visit the children playing in the Square. She's also interested in learning more about the young lawyer she met there, but just because she's curious, of course, not because he was sweet and charming. 

But when Alice develops photographs she has recently taken about town, familiar faces of old suddenly appear in the place of her actual subjects-the Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter, the Caterpillar. There's something eerily off about them, even for Wonderland creatures. And as Alice develops a self-portrait, she finds the most disturbing image of all-a badly-injured dark-haired girl asking for Alice's help. Mary Ann. 

Returning to the place of nonsense from her childhood, Alice finds herself on a mission to stop the Queen of Hearts' tyrannical rule and to find her place in both worlds. But will she able to do so . . . before the End of Time? 

 

 ❀

 I remember as a kid, re-reading Alice in Wonderland , and every time that I read it, I fell in love with it. It was one of my favorites; I loved exploring Wonderland along with Alice. When I heard about UNBIRTHDAY from a friend, I was excited. Like many others, I wondered what happened to Alice after, if she ever went back to Wonderland, or if she wanted to go back to Wonderland. I had always wondered what happened to Alice after. One of my best friends ended up surprising me and getting UNBIRTHDAY for me. I was happy and could not wait to read the book and see what would happen with Alice. I wondered how Alice would be an adult if she would be as adventurous as she was when she was a kid. I have read LIZ BRASWELL other twisted tale, Part Of Your World and loved it. Maybe I set my expectations high for this book. I did enjoy UNBIRTHDAY , but it wasn't what I expected the book to be. 

The first part of the book was slow for me. I did enjoy the elements that the pictures that she has taken; they were characters from Wonderland. I found it interesting that Alice was the only one that could see it, maybe because she been to Wonderland before. I was eager if there was a reason behind it, why they started to appear all sudden. The book did pick up once Alice got herself into Wonderland again. I was eager to see all of them, and I found out how all of them might change. I did not like Queen Of Hearts when I read Alice In Wonderland , and it seemed as if she got worse since Alice last seen her. It was as if she has taken over Wonderland, changing everything in the process. I rooted for her and hoped that she would stop Queen Of Hearts and save Wonderland. I did wonder if maybe Alice would stay there or would want to stay this time around. 

Going back and forth to Wonderland and Kexford was a bit confusing for me. The story was more interesting when she was in Wonderland than when she kept going back to Kexford. When she was back in Kexford, I felt as if the story dragged on and wasn't as interesting to read when she was in Wonderland. There was more going on, more adventures when Alice was in Wonderland. I did enjoy the story; there were some parts that I did not enjoy as much as the others. UNBIRTHDAY turned out not to be like I was expecting to be. There were relatively few enjoyable parts in the book, especially as she tried to save Wonderland, there was always something happening. If you are a fan of Alice In Wonderland , I recommend giving this book a try.

Last Day.

   ✰✰✰✰✰

 

 CONTAINS SPOILERS

 

 

Years ago, Beth Lathrop and her sister Kate suffered what they thought would be the worst tragedy of their lives the night both the famous painting Moonlight and their mother were taken. The detective assigned to the case, Conor Reid, swore to protect the sisters from then on. 

Beth moved on, throwing herself fully into the art world, running the family gallery, and raising a beautiful daughter with her husband Pete. Kate, instead, retreated into herself and took to the skies as a pilot, always on the run. When Beth is found strangled in her home, and Moonlight goes missing again, Detective Reid can’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu. 

Reid immediately suspects Beth’s husband, whose affair is a poorly kept secret. He has an airtight alibi—but he also has a motive, and the evidence seems to point to him. Kate and Reid, along with the sisters’ closest childhood friends, struggle to make sense of Beth’s death, but they only find more questions: Who else would have wanted Beth dead? What’s the significance of Moonlight? 

Twenty years ago, Reid vowed to protect Beth and Kate—and he’s failed. Now solving the case is turning into an obsession . . . 

 

   ❀

 

 Mysterious. Thrilling. Tragic. 

There are many more words I could use to describe this book. The words that would take me all day to write. I don’t even know how to express my emotions about what I just read, especially that ending. That was the last person that I expected… that was… wow. LAST DAY had everything that I love about murder mystery books, a story that had me guessing until the end. There were so many twists and turns, and it’s what made it so hard to put the book down. I was drawn from the moment that Beth was found murdered, who was it, her husband, or was it, someone, who wanted her dead, and why? Reid was positive that it was Pete, her husband, but I had my doubts that he had anything to do with her death. I know that their marriage has fallen apart, but I don’t think that he wanted her dead. The way that Pete acted when he found out about Beth’s death and how he kept calling was not an indication of a killer. Of course, I knew that there is a possibility that I could be wrong. It’s not uncommon for a husband to get accused when a wife gets murdered, especially if he has an affair. 

Every page, something was happening. It made me feel as I was there, along with everyone, trying to figure what happened to Beth. The way Beth was murdered was disturbing, and I wondered what the murderer’s intention was, and if it could be someone that she knew, or if it was a stranger. I cannot even begin to imagine how Beth’s daughter, Sam, felt during all of this. Her mother found murdered; her father was accused of murder. Sam’s emotions were strong, and as I read, I felt the feelings that Sam was feeling. I felt all the emotions; they were so vivid. The only reason I put the book down was because of classes, homework. LAST DAY is a book you won’t put down once you pick it up. 

I have been reading LUANNE RICE since 2011, and there hasn’t been a single book I did not enjoy. Its been few years since I read a book by LUANNE RICE , and as I read LAST DAY , it reminded me of why I love her books. LAST DAY was different from the other ones that I have read, and so far it is my favorite one. There wasn’t anything about this one that I did not like. It was…breathtaking and a story that I won’t forget anytime soon. It was real. If you love a mystery with twists and turns, I would highly recommend picking this one up.