Pride Book: If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

In honor of pride month I really wanted to help transgender writers, and I came across this book.

The story follows Amanda Hardy, who moves in her estranged dad to start a new life for her senior year of high school. Amanda is determined to stay under-wraps until she starts falling for football player Grant, an easy going guy who' s interested in her. As she starts to let him in she realizes she deserves to find happiness even if she couldn't be truly faithful about something. Things are going well for Amanda as she now has a boyfriend and friends while carry a dark secret. She's transgender and was previously known as Andrew.

Amanda is worried about what will happen if her secret came out. After what she went through in her old school she realizes that in order to survive she can't let her secret slip.





Review: First off there was so much to love about this book! This is an LGBTQA+ book about transgender girl, written by transgender woman and the model on the cover is transgender! A step in the right way publishing. While this came out in 2016 and I'm just discovering it, shame on me, I found this story lovely! While I am writing a book with trans main character it's not from the POV of trans character.

While some parts were fictionalized it really opened my eyes to transgender community, and I hope to find more books about transgender teens as I think it's such an important topic. Some amazing scenes to note was when Amanda's dad thought Grant attacked Amanda but it was a misunderstandinG. Another was when after her GRS, Amanda sees her mom crying over her photos and accepts that even though she has lost Andrew she has Amanda. Such a powerful scene!
Also this was not a typical story where transgender faces bullying. Instead it was about hope and love and being who you are. I totally fell for Grant.

Two things I didn't like. First off the ending. It really left me hanging. I have no clue what happens it could have elaborated on that! Also it was the flashbacks, the flashbacks were unorganized going from six years ago to three years ago to four months ago.

Other than that I highly recommend reading this!

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. 

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. 

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead. 



Le Cirque de Rêves is a magical circus draped in shades of black, white, and gray. It was conceived as being more refined than most circuses and was built to be housed in many rambling tents, awaiting each attendee's personal discovery of them, instead of one large tent for everything. The circus only opens at night, and it comes and goes without any announcement traveling all over the world. The main characters, Celia and Marco have been in a decades-long game of a magical duel. 

I would walk into a bookstore and see this book, especially at the book store at target. A lot of people on goodreads have read this book and really liked it so I bought it from Target. It took me a year to finish this book. Not because I thought the plot was boring, but I just loved the story so much I didn't want to finish it in a hurry because the book was truly beautiful. There are moments when the plot was just gut wrenching, while the couple who falls in love when they shouldn't. I want books like this that just make me appreciate the book. i looked at the authors website and saw that it was a series of NaNoWriMo projects. This read is amazing and I highly recommend it. This is one amazing NaNoWriMo published book. And it's been optioned for film! YAY!

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

New soul
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.
No soul
Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?
Heart
Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Set in the post-apocalyptic world, during the past thousand years people living in the Range  have been reincarnated over and over again. What makes the incarnation the most interesting compared to other books is the world building. It's when the people are reborn, they remember their pasts including who they are and what skills they posses. When Ana, the main protagonist is reborn, and they scan her finger into a system to see who she was before, nothing comes out so she is defined as newsoul. Ana lives away from society growing up, and when she's old enough she ventures on her own. Ana then meets Sam and together they search for her past.  It's also a little been considered a utopia but I don't care it's a beautiful bookl.

This book is a crosses several sub-genres of dystopian, dragons, science fiction, fantasy and romance. Compared to the majority of dystopian books out there published this one was my favorite. If I could give a book award for incredible world building it would be awarded to Jodi Meadows. After the first thirty pages into the book, it's where the real juicy parts of the story begin. Once further into the book I found myself unable to put the book down. This is a unique and interesting read and those who love dystopian books will be blown away by this original story.

Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

In my quest to one day in my writing career to write books for middle grade, I decided the best I could try and learn what it takes to write a middle grade book was to read them and evaluating what the author does to the books that makes them appealing to kids. The only children's books I have ever enjoyed reading were the Harry Potter series and the Junie B. Jones books by Barbara Parker, and it's mostly because I grew up with the books and saw as each new title was released each year and displayed in the bookstores. I went around asking many for recommendations and I was told the Percy Jackson books. I knew it was a movie but I honestly thought the books were YA not MG and I hadn't read the book or seen the film. So I decided to begin reading this book.





Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school... again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus' master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.
Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus' stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.




 

The Lightening Thief is book one in the Percy Jackson series. Percy Jackson is a twelve year old boy with learning disabilities. Percy has been rejected by schools and bounced around countless schools due to his abnormal behavior. Percy's math teacher also turns out to be a mythical creature in search of a mythological object. Percy soon discovers that he not like every one else, he's a demigod, the son of one of the Gods of Mount Olympus. 

When I first began reading the book, I had to try very hard to not read it with Harry Potter expectations. This has to be the first children's book I have read since Harry Potter series. I found this to be a new unique idea and plot compared to most of the books in the young adult genre. I think this book inspired the trend of Greek mythology in YA books today. I happened to find this a really good read. It almost reminded me of the Harry Potter books. The reviewers who say it's a rip-off of Harry Potter are reading it with the Harry Potter series in mind, because  they are nothing alike. The writing is what really hooked me from the first page. The world was created so well with such vivid imagination that it keeps the reader engaged into the novel. It has quirky dialogue with action that made me never want to put the book down. This is something many young boys will enjoy reading along with the Harry Potter books. Now I must go buy the DVD of Percy Jackson and read the second book before the next film comes out.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom points Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transformation power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.






I read this book for my high school for my Multicultural English class. Then when I had to sign up for second level English in college World Literature it turns out The Alchemist is the required reading for my class. When I was in high school I had never even heard of this book until I saw it was on the course syllabus to purchase. We were reading it in class and the book really appealed to me. Then to just read it all over again in college was helpful because well, I already know the book pretty well.

The Alchemist is about main protagonist Santiago, a shepherd who is on a journey and spiritual quest. During his quest he encounters people, strange dreams, and omens that stand in the way of him accomplishing. 

The books deals with nothing about magic or witchcraft or anything that would be deemed inappropriate. things that we've either forgotten about or simply dismissed as childhood fantasies. It is all about finding yourself. Finding the personal legend in yourself and pursuing your dreams regardless of anything that might come in the way . This book is really inspirational to those who are just trying to accomplish something in life. 

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave. Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word... especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra. If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.





This was a book I had been so anxious to get my hands on, and I was very impressed with this witch book compared to the others I have been reading. It's like a historical paranormal romance.  I LOVE to read books that take place during another time in history. Cate is filled with so much conflict. The characters were just so captivating I can't stop thinking about them. I was upset at the end of the book. I really hope it continues as a full series (and maybe 2 novellas). Plus the new paperback release in in this pretty pink color!

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Creatures

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever. Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

Beautiful Creatures is the first book in a four book series known as The Castor Chronicles, and is co-written by the author Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. Ethan Wate lives in the small, boring town of Gatlin, South Carolina. Ethan is dealing with a family death and just wants to escape his small town life. Then Lena Duhannes moves to Gatlin. Lena wants to be normal, everywhere she has lived she has felt like she does not belong. Lena struggles with her abilities and Ethan then finds himself interested in her despite all the talk from his classmates and from his nanny to stay away from Lena.  Ethan takes an interest in Lena. Ethan tries to pursue Lena but she s him it's best he stays away from her. Ethan is later told in the book by Lena that she is a witch, just like the rest of her family and when she turns sixteen it will determine whether Lena is a good witch or evil. Lena is terrified that she will turn dark and it will do nothing but destroy the boy she loves.

Beautiful Creatures reads like a replica of Twilight. The book is told from Ethan's point of view, since Beautiful Creatures is written by females, it does not feel like you're in the head of a teenage boy. the only difference in the novel being that the paranormal love interest is a witch/castor and not a vampire. Garcia's agent is also the same agent who represents Stephenie Meyer, and Beautiful Creatures is published by the same publisher of Twilight it should have clicked how similar that book was. so when you are reading the book, you start to feel like you are reading Twilight all over again. When I first saw the book, needless to say and to be perfectly honest, I thought this book was going to be horrible which is why I didn't want to read it when I saw it at the bookstore for the first time because it's co-written. In most cases in terms of co-authored books, one of the writers will write one book one writer will write a chapter and then the other author would then begin working on the next chapter, causing the book to  make absolutely no sense causing the readers to get confused.

Beautiful Creatures had a lot of issues. The book is extremely long. There is a rule when it comes to word count when writing a books. Most young adult books run within the word count of 45,000-65,000 words, now 45,000 words is considered a novella. The only way an author can go beyond this rule is if the book is paranormal, science-fiction, or urban fantasy in which the general word count could range anywhere from 65,000-90,000 words. A debut author should not break this rule when it comes to their first time for publication. J.K. Rowling broke this rule, but the world and the stories she crafted were phenomenal and readers wanted more. There were also parts in the first book that so bland and overly descriptive tends to make you want to put the book down. There were also certain parts that should have been cut out of the book but it's mostly on fault of the editors. When I was reading, I found myself skimming through pages, or falling asleep there were pages within the book that were bland. it's evident that chunks should have been cut out of the book. Since the book series was published from the publisher as Twilight, the editor should have caught this along with the fact that the whole beginning of the book is just the background of the story, shouldn't the background of the story be the synopsis? Even then the publisher could have pulled the first hundred pages of the book and made it into a prequel story to sell before releasing the actual series. Then the characters tend to feel unrealistic. I will also admit I was not very impressed with this book, but I want to find out more about what's going to happen to the characters. 

I loved the chemistry between Lena and Ethan. and I loved the books! And here is the trailer for the movie! I'm so excited to see it!

Soulless by Gail Carriger

First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette. Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire - and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?






This is a book I have been wanting to read for some time and imagine the look on my face when I see that the publisher has all five books in the series available to purchase. I prefer to read a completed series because I get so impatient during releases and it allows me to read the whole series straight through.

This book is more of stemapunk with mystery. The plot was unpredictable, whenever I thought I had something figured out, something else would happen and throw it off the surface. It has a very unique take on the supernatural. I love the steampunk books because I am a huge fan of the Victorian era. The main character, Alexia, of the book has no soul and since she has no soul it neutralized supernatural creatures like wolves. I didn't really find a lot of wolf element. The book does deal with a lot of stereotype. I found this book to be a quick, entertaining, and interesting read with the mixture of fantasy,romance, humor, and steampunk! I really enjoyed how Carriger blended all of the elements to make one fantastic book.. It was a unique and enjoyable read. 

The Unnaturalist by Tiffany Trent

In an alternate London where magical creatures are preserved in a museum, two teens find themselves caught in a web of intrigue, deception, and danger. Vespa Nyx wants nothing more than to spend the rest of her life cataloging Unnatural creatures in her father’s museum, but as she gets older, the requirement to become a lady and find a husband is looming large. Syrus Reed’s Tinker family has always served and revered the Unnaturals from afar, but when his family is captured to be refinery slaves, he finds that his fate may be bound up with Vespa’s—and with the Unnaturals. As the danger grows, Vespa and Syrus find themselves in a tightening web of deception and intrigue. At stake may be the fate of New London—and the world.




The book is told in the point of view of Vespa and Syrus, and is written in third person limited. The world building in THE UNNATURALISTS is just incredible. I love the creatures, magic, and the consequences when it comes to using magic.The creatures, magic filled with choices when using it, all brought together with a unique story. I liked how the the society came around after the Telsa broke up and reclaimed London. New London began with the Victorian era never ending and steampunk progressed along with it. I found myself flipping through the pages eager to see what was going to happen next to the characters! I highly recommend this read!

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

The Princess Diaries

Timed just right to anticipate the August feature-film release from Walt Disney Pictures, with new cover art from the movie With wry, observant wit, Mia chronicles her rocky first month of high school. First she finds out she's the crown princess of a European principality, then there's a first kiss from her big crush, an empowering ice-cream-cone shove into the sweater of her nemesis, and a meltdown in the ladies' room of Manhattan's Plaza Hotel.

The book series revolves around a New Yorker named Mia, who finds out that her father is the prince of a small country called Genovia. Mia has to deal with all of this news while still failing Algebra, deal with her controlling best friend Lily, and try to control her crush over Lily's brother Michael. Later on in the book series, Mia does start going out with her best friend's brother Michael, and they fall in love. Then their relationship hits a rock bottom. In the last book in the series, Mia and Michael do get back together which made me happy, but it took ten books? Unfortunately as much as I like the books an author needs to be careful about how many books they put in a series because the reader can get bore with the series and eventually stop reading that series, but this series was the exception for me. Mia was a fun character and it was very entertaining to be in her head. 

 This is one of my favorite series growing up. These books by Meg Cabot hold a special place in my heart because it's one of the first series I read that made me fall in love with a character so much. Sadly the movie wasn't the same as book one in the series, but I do love Anne Hathaway. These are really quirky books that deal with everyday teenage problems all while being prepared to rule a country. This is such a fun series for teens to read and I urge you to read them, you won't be disappointed. The movie was quite similar to the book, but it was really clear what parts were changed in the movie and the book.

Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

Blue Bloods
When the Mayflower set sail in 1620, it carried on board the men and women who would shape America: Miles Standish; John Alden; Constance Hopkins. But some among the Pilgrims were not pure of heart; they were not escaping religious persecution. Indeed, they were not even human. They were vampires.The vampires assimilated quickly into the New World. Rising to levels of enormous power, wealth, and influence, they were the celebrated blue bloods of American society. The Blue Bloods vowed that their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is seeping out. Schuyler Van Alen is a sophomore at a prestigious private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive grandmother in a dilapated mansion. Schuyler is a loner...and happy that way. Suddenly, when she turns fifteen, there is a visible mosaic of blue veins on her arm. She starts to crave raw food and she is having flashbacks to ancient times. Then a popular girl from her school is found dead... drained of all her blood. Schuyler doesn't know what to think, but she wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are keeping. But is she herself in danger?





This is another one of my favorite vampire series (yes I do like vampires, just not one particular series). This book series was like Gossip Girl which is one of my favorite novels. I liked how it was rich vampires living in Manhattan. The vampires don't live forever, but they do come back in life cycles. This was an interesting take on vampires. The writing was in third person limited, so it's like regular third person but it head hops and gives too much of the backstory in each chapter. The author is better off writing a whole prequel novel of the events before the series. This is an example for someone who wants to write third limited.I am a huge shipper of Schulyer and Jack. Sometimes the writing gets too dull and rushed. I am just upset with having to wait a whole year to read the final book in the series.

The Iron Fey by Julie Kagawa

Have I mentioned how much I love fairies? I love the fairy trend. While some novels read the same thing, or plots similar to Twilight, I decided to read this series, and I am very happy I read all books straight through.

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined. Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home. When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

This was just a glorious book series to read, and the best series about fairies I have ever read! I loved Kagawa's writing, and the conflict with Puck. What I liked is how she put the whole Shakespeare spin into the story uses Shakespeare elements. The world building takes a little while to get into but the writing is what made me not want to put it down. I found Puck to be my favorite of the entire series. My favorite book in the whole series was book one, when Meghan discovers she's a fairy, however the whole teenage girl finding out she's a fairy gets pretty old when rereading it in different books all the time. I loved this series so much, and I heard Kagawa has a spin-off series from Iron Fey coming out this year. I look forward to reading more of her books.

The Modern Tales of Faerie by Holly Black

Tithe


Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother's rock band until an ominous attack forces Kaye back to her childhood home. There, amid the industrial, blue-collar New Jersey backdrop, Kaye soon finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms - a struggle that could very well mean her death

This was an amazing book to read! I love Holly's writing. Filled with so much imagery and descriptions! Book three in the series was just to tie up the loose ends left in book one and two, but it does make some things about fairies a little creepy for me. I enjoyed this series, it keeps you cautious with wanting to turn the pages as quickly as you can wanting to see what happens next! I highly recommend reading this series!

Greta and the Goblin King by Chloe Jacobs

While trying to save her brother from a witch’s fire four years ago, Greta was thrown in herself, falling through a portal to Mylena, a dangerous world where humans are the enemy and every ogre, ghoul, and goblin has a dark side that comes out with the eclipse. To survive, Greta has hidden her humanity and taken the job of bounty hunter—and she’s good at what she does. So good, she’s caught the attention of Mylena’s young goblin king, the darkly enticing Isaac, who invades her dreams and undermines her will to escape. But Greta’s not the only one looking to get out of Mylena. An ancient evil knows she’s the key to opening the portal, and with the next eclipse mere days away, every bloodthirsty creature in the realm is after her—including Isaac. If Greta fails, she and the lost boys of Mylena will die. If she succeeds, no world will be safe from what follows her back..




Being an avid fan of fantasy books, this book quenched my thirst for wanting to read something new and unique! I loved the writing. I loved Greta a very strong heroine which we need in today's YA literature. The book reminded me of a darker version of Alice in Wonderland! I love the adventure along with all the twists written across the pages. Very wonderful book and I hope there will be more books in the series.

Kissed by an Angel by Elizabeth Chandler

This book goes to show that the trends do cycle. 

In a romantic and suspenseful collection of the New York Times bestselling trilogy, love's unbreakable bonds are put to the test.

When her boyfriend, Tristan, died, Ivy thought she'd lost everything, even her faith in angels. But now she's discovered that he's her guardian angel — his presence so strong that she can feel the touch of his hand, the beat of his heart. Ivy needs Tristan now more than ever because he knows she's in terrible danger. Only Ivy's guardian angel can save her now that his killer is after her.But if Tristan rescues Ivy, his mission on earth will be finished, and he must leave her behind forever. Will saving Ivy mean losing her just when he's finally reached her again?

Ivy always believed in angels. When she meets Tristan, it's the love of a lifetime. When he dies, her heart is broken and her belief in angels vanishes. And without that belief, she is unable to feel Tristan's presence when he returns--as an angel. Now Ivy is in terrible danger, and Tristan is struggling to save her. How can he protect her if she's lost her faith in angels? Original.

The story is about a girl named Ivy who is devastated when her boyfriend Tristan is killed. Ivy struggles being without him, but Ivy has always believed that angels watch over people. Tristan is sent back to earth as Ivy's guardian angel. Ivy in the meantime does not know she is in danger and lives her life normally while Tristan protects her.

I chose to read this book. I had no idea that it was originally published in the 1990s, but was reprinted during the angel trend, I think this is a good example of how the trends always come back. I find myself very interested in the angel trend as well. I liked the concept of this story. Very clean writing, and very tight, a unique concept on angels.

The Luxe Series by Anna Godbersen

So I decided to branch back into one of my favorite genres of literature since I was a small child, historical fiction. It was something I enjoyed for a while growing up until I started getting to caught up in the vampire and angel mania. I mostly decided to read it because on Amazon it showed how if I liked Gossip Girl I would like this story.

The Luxe (Luxe 1)

Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn.Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions.
White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups.This is Manhattan, 1899.Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan's social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City's elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone--from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud--threatens Elizabeth's and Diana's golden future.
With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city's gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan's most celebrated daughter disappear...In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent

So this pretty much sums it up but I won't give an to in depth details. 

In book 1, Elizabeth Holland's father dies and then it does not surprise me that he had so many debts and that the family is poor, so then Mrs. Holland tells Elizabeth her only chance to save the family's reputation is to marry the son of the wealthiest man Henry Shoonmaker, but Elizabeth's been having an affair with her late father's valet/ coach runner. When Elizabeth's best friend, Penelope, discovers about her affair with the help and threatens to ruin her reputation, mind you and this is her best friend ( But Penelope is only doing this so that way she could have Henry for herself). So Elizabeth fakes her death leave social elite.

Book 2, Elizabeth runs away with her lover and leaves her social elite life behind. She returns when she receives a letter from her sister telling her her mother is ill, then she and her lover, Will elope. Henry, Elizabeth's former fiance is forced to marry Elizabeth's bet friend because she catches Henry sleeping with Elizabeth's younger sister, and threatens to expose him (doesn't she sound like a peach). 

Book 3 Henry and Penelope are still in their stupid marriage, they don't do anything. Henry decides to escape his crazy and malicious wife to join the military.after a a horrific event Elizabeth then returns to New York where there she rekindles with a childhood friend, but soon finds out she's pregnant with her late lovers child then marries her late father's business partner to avoid bringing the family to more shame than they already have.

Book 4 Elizabeth thinks she's happy, but she then discovers some shocking secrets about her new husband who saved her family from shame, only to find out her new husband might have been involved in her father's death, never mind the damsel in distress but she is soon rescued by her childhood friend Teddy Cunning. 


OMG this is the most juiciest Historical fiction series I have ever read! I loved every single page if this series! It was so fascinating to read. I was really pissed off when my favorite character died in book two, I was like "OH MY GOD! How could she do this!" I was so shocked and upset and angry at the author! I don't know if whether or not the Holland's were a real family but I am now researching to see if it their existence was true! Reading this series was like reading a historical version of my favorite show and book series Gossip Girl, who would have thought that girls back in this day were capable of doing such scandalous things! It's shocking! 

I found this video on youtube, which I DO NOT OWN OR USING FOR PROFIT, but I agree with this video on the cast member for if it was to be a film adaption.

All the Broken Pieces by Cindi Madsen

What if your life wasn’t your own?
Liv comes out of a coma with no memory of her past and two distinct, warring voices inside her head. Nothing, not even her reflection, seems familiar. As she stumbles through her junior year, the voices get louder, insisting she please the popular group while simultaneously despising them. But when Liv starts hanging around with Spencer, whose own mysterious past also has him on the fringe, life feels complete for the first time in, well, as long as she can remember. Liv knows the details of the car accident that put her in the coma, but as the voices invade her dreams, and her dreams start feeling like memories, she and Spencer seek out answers. Yet the deeper they dig, the less things make sense. Can Liv rebuild the pieces of her broken past, when it means questioning not just who she is, but what she is?





This was such a gritty story! I love the complex situations and the imagery. Such an interesting story, and very refreshing in the young adult Contemporary genre with just a tad of goth elements. The main character wakes up from a coma with no memory of what happened to her, but always hears two voices in her head. I enjoyed this book so much I could not put it down though I had to to get some homework done. I highly recommend this book if you a young adult contemporary story with a bit of the Gothic theme. Madsen can write a great book. 

Harry Potter Books by J.K. Rowling

This is one of my favorite book series of all time! I am an avid Harry Potter fan, I grew up with these books, and I wanted to share them with everyone.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter thinks he is an ordinary boy. He lives with his Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and cousin Dudley, who make him sleep in a cupboard under the stairs. Then Harry starts receiving mysterious letters and his life is changed for ever. He is whisked away by a beetle-eyed giant of a man and enrolled in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The reason: Harry Potter is a wizard!

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike. And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girl's bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.
But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone - or something - starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects... Harry Potter himself?

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

During Harry's third year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he must face his greatest challenge yet: a confrontation with Sirius Black, an escaped convict and madman who is rumored to be in cahoots with Harry's archenemy, the Dark Wizard Lord Voldemort. This alone would be daunting enough, but Harry's task is made even more trying when he discovers that Sirius is suspected of being the one who killed Harry's parents. For Harry, the Hogwarts campus has always been a sanctuary, but when Black escapes from the horrifying clutches of Azkaban Prison, all clues suggest the madman is headed for Hogwarts and Harry himself. As a result, the school starts to feel more like a prison than a sanctuary as Harry finds himself constantly watched and under guard. What's more, the terrifying Dementors - the horrifying creatures who guard Azkaban Prison - are lurking about the campus looking for Black. And their effect on Harry is a devastating one.
Still, life at school offers plenty of distractions. Harry really likes the new teacher for Defense Against the Dark Arts, Professor Lupin, who might be able to teach Harry how to defend himself against the Dementors. But Professor Snape's behavior toward Lupin has Harry wondering what secrets the two men are hiding. Harry's friend Hermione is also acting very strangely. And, of course, there is the tension caused by the ongoing Quidditch competition between the Gryffindors and the Slytherins and the never-ending bullying of the Slytherin leader, Draco Malfoy.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire



Harry Potter is midway through 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.
He wants to find out about the mysterious event that's 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 a hundred 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.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

There is a door at the end of a silent corridor, and it's haunting Harry Potter's dreams. Why else would he be waking in the middle of the night, screaming in terror?
Harry has a lot on his mind for this, his fifth year at Hogwarts: a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher with a personality like poisoned honey; a big surprise on the Gryffindor Quidditch team; and the looming terror of the Ordinary Wizarding Level exams. But all these things pale next to the growing threat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named — a threat that neither the magical government nor the authorities at Hogwarts can stop.
As the grasp of darkness tightens, Harry must discover the true depth and strength of his friends, the importance of boundless loyalty, and the shocking price of unbearable sacrifice. His fate depends on them all.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

The war against Voldemort is not going well; even the Muggle governments are noticing. Ron scans the obituary pages of the Daily Prophet, looking for familiar names. Dumbledore is absent from Hogwarts for long stretches of time, and the Order of the Phoenix has already suffered losses. And yet . . As with all wars, life goes on. Sixth-year students learn to Apparate—and lose a few eyebrows in the process. Teenagers flirt and fight and fall in love. Classes are never straightforward, though Harry receives some extraordinary help from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince. So it's the home front that takes center stage in the multilayered sixth installment of the story of Harry Potter. Here at Hogwarts, Harry will search for the full and complex story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort—and thereby find what may be his only vulnerability.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows

Harry is waiting in Privet Drive. The Order of the Phoenix is coming to escort him safely away without Voldemort and his supporters knowing - if they can. But what will Harry do then? How can he fulfil the momentous and seemingly impossible task that Professor Dumbledore has left him?
Harry has been burdened with a dark, dangerous and seemingly impossible task: that of locating and destroying Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes. Never has Harry felt so alone, or faced a future so full of shadows. But Harry must somehow find within himself the strength to compete the task he has been given. He must leave the warmth, safety and companionship of the Burrow and follow without fear or hesitation the inexorable path laid out for him ...


This is the most beautiful book series ever written that exists on the face of the earth. Rowling is a genius. I never liked reading when I was a kid until I read this series. It made me enjoy reading. Rowling's writing is just captivating pages written across hundred and hundreds of pages. This is a wonderful book series for kids to read, I highly recommend it. Also if a writer is trying to find books that deal with magical realism and third person writing, this is the perfect example of both. 

Dream Catcher Series by Lisa McMann

This is one another one of my favorite book series I have read and I hope people get the chance to read this book series because I find it remarkable, and something different! 

Wake (Book 1)

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does -- they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant....

Fade (Book 2)

For Janie and Cabel, real life is getting tougher than the dreams. They're just trying to carve out a little (secret) time together, but no such luck.

Disturbing things are happening at Fieldridge High, yet nobody's talking. When Janie taps into a classmate's violent nightmares, the case finally breaks open -- but nothing goes as planned. Not even close. Janie's in way over her head, and Cabe's shocking behavior has grave consequences for them both.

Worse yet, Janie learns the truth about herself and her ability -- and it's bleak. Seriously, brutally bleak. Not only is her fate as a dream catcher sealed, but what's to come is way darker than she'd feared....

Gone (Book 3)

Janie thought she knew what her future held. And she thought she'd made her peace with it. But she can't handle dragging Cabel down with her.
She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He's amazing. And she's a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves--she has to disappear. And it's going to kill them both.
Then a stranger enters her life--and everything unravels. The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she'd ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils. And time is running out...

I really enjoyed reading this book trilogy, it was something new, and you know the saying, "Don't judge a book by it's cover" well that happened to me. I was judging this book based on it's cover, I was just staring at it in the bookstore until I decided to just take it home and read. I started to read it and I fell absolutely in love with it! It was so unique compared to all the vampire books that were taking up space. This was something I got a joy reading. A teenage girl who's a dream catcher, it was so interesting! I strongly urge people to read this book series! It's amazing!

Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy by Maggie Stiefvater

This is one of my favorite book series ever in the world to read. I have always had an obsession about wolves, and I love this series and recommend people to read it.

Shiver Book 1

The dark blonde haired and brown eyed Grace has always watched and obsessed over the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed grey-furred wolf —her wolf— has a chilling presence she cannot seem to live without since her attack by the wolves six years ago meant her meeting with her wolf. Since the incident, something happened between the two, a connection the grew every winter when the wolf would come watch Grace as she settle in her yard; often reading or doing homework and watching him back all day.Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, inside frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl, the girl he saved, the one who would change him in the near future. In summer, he gains a few precious months of being human; of having an opportunity to talk to the girl he saved, but not having the courage to do it until the cold makes him shift back again. However, incidents like being shot and cared for by Grace can change a lot.Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. Is it her wolf? It has to be. Since he was shot and suddenly shifted, Grace hides Sam in her house and eventually love comes, and Sam becomes Grace's boyfriend. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human— or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

This book series is something I liked. I liked the originality Maggie brought to wolves. I found myself skimming some pages because they tend to get overly descriptive for example five pages on making quiche, but I liked this particular series up until I read the last book. It was so depressing I just wanted to curl up with a bottle of wine and cry. In this book you can really feel the love Sam and Grace have for each other and I love how it was written in two point of views which helps to understand their feelings more. The last book in the trilogy was the worst, and it is not a usual way for an author to end a book series it was too depressing. If it's labeled paranormal romance, it has a funny way of showing it by the way she ended the series. She literally tortured these poor characters to the end! Ugh I was so frustrated let alone, when Forever ended on a such a huge cliffhanger which is absolutely no way to end a book series.