Butterfly Park

Stars 5/5

Butterfly Park by Elly MacKay

This is a beautiful story! Art work is so bright and colorful. I just loved it. The book follows a little girl that had to move with her family. She did not like it at all until she saw that she lived near Butterfly Park. She loved butterflies but there were not butterflies in Butterfly Park. One day, she spots a butterfly and follows it to find out where all the butterflies were going. I do not want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I really loved how such a simple thing can bring everyone together. I highly recommend this book to kids of all ages. 

The Tallest Tree House

Stars 5/5

The Tallest Tree House by Elly MacKay

I love Fairies! These fairies are too cute. I love the illustrations. The art work is amazing! The story follows Mip and Pip. Mip has an idea to build a tree house and he makes it into a contest of who can build the tallest tree house the fastest. Pip is very organized and Mip is not. I do not want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend it to kids of all ages.

Shadow Chasers

Stars 5/5

Shadow Chasers by Elly MacKay

Beautiful & Colorful! I just loved this book! The story follows children that are playing outside at sunset chasing their shadows and trying to catch them before they fade away in the dark. I highly recommend this book. Kids of all ages will enjoy it.

If You Hold A Seed

Stars 5/5

If You Hold A Seed by Elly Mackay

What a beautiful children's book! The illustrations are lovely. The story follows a little boy who has a seed to plant and what happens to the seed when it is planted. Wonderful book for kids of all ages. I highly recommend it.

Waltz Of The Snowflakes

Stars 5/5

Waltz Of The Snowflakes by Elly Mackay

What a beautiful picture book! The illustrations are wonderful and really bring this book to life. It starts out with a grey coloring and a little girl getting dressed up, which it doesn't look like she wanted too, by her grandmother and they are off to see the Nutcracker Ballet. When the Ballet begins the colors are amazing. You are never too old for a picture book. I highly recommend it.

This Book Is Not Yet Rated

Stars 5/5

This Book Is Not Yet Rated by Peter Bognanni

I really enjoyed this book. I will say that some things were predictable but I didn't mind it at all. The story follows Ethan, a young teen that is going through some hardships of losing his father and now the city is condemning the Green Street theater where he not only works but has lots of memories of his father there so now Ethan and his friends must figure out a way to stop the demolition. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I do recommend this book.

If You're Out There

Stars 5/5

If You're Out There by Katy Loutzenhiser

WoW! What an amazing story! I really loved it. The story follows Zan, a young girl that is going through lots of teen challenges but when her best friend, Priya, moves away and never responses back to her text messages, emails or calls, Zan knows something is wrong. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend it.

Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee

Stars 5/5

Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee by Jeff Zentner

WoW! I just loved this book! I have to say that this story took me back time. When I was a teen, I got to meet "The Cool Ghoul" a local horror tv show host and this book brought back all of the memories of how cool it really was. The story follows best friends Delia and Josie, better known as Rayne Ravenscroft and Delilah Darkwood, who host the Midnite Matinee, a local tv creature feature on cable. With their senior year coming to an end, these girls need to make some life changing decisions. Josie knows she wants to be on tv but also wants to go off to college and that would mean leaving the Midnite Matinee and Delia. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I just loved it and highly recommend it.

The Strangers (Greystone Secrets #1)

Stars 5/5

The Strangers (Greystone Secrets #1) by Margaret Peterson Haddix

WoW! I just loved this unique story and can not wait for the next book in the series. The story follows the Greystone kids, Chess, Emma, and Finn. One day, they find out that three kids with their names and exact birthdays are missing and now their Mom has to leave on a mysterious trip. The kids set out to find out more about these missing kids. The book is full of little puzzles and hidden places. I really enjoyed the book and highly recommend it.

The Priory Of The Orange Tree

Stars 5/5

The Priory Of The Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

What an amazing high fantasy world! I just loved it. Very creative and unique. I loved all the fantasy characters and creatures. So many things going on at once it keeps you on the edge of your seat wanting to know more and the world building is so very wonderful. It wouldn't be a good review if I forgot to mention talking dragons! I definitely recommend this book to everyone who loves Fantasy!

Reincarnation Blues

Stars 4/5

Reincarnation Blues by Michael Poore

This is a very interesting read. The book follows a man who has reincarnated almost 10,000 times because he is in love with Death, who goes by Suzy. The stories of his years are very unique and creative. He stumbles through so many lives trying to find immortality so him and Suzy can be together forever. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I definitely recommend it.

Of Blood And Bone (Chronicles Of The One #2)

Stars 5/5

Of Blood And Bone (Chronicles Of The One #2) by Nora Roberts

This is the second book in the Chronicles of The One trilogy and I just loved it. The story is an amazing dystopian world where some humans developed magical powers and appearances after surviving the virus attack that killed off most of the world. This book follows Fallon, a young girl that is about to turn thirteen years old and must leave her family to study to take her place as the "One". Fallon travels to a hidden magical forest with Mallick, her guide and tutor, to learn all she needs to know to help fight this war to come. I do not want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I do highly recommend it to everyone.

Sherwood

Stars 5/5

Sherwood by Meagan Spooner

I want to be honest, I didn't know if I would like this book because right away you are told that Robin of Locksley was dead and so I was not sure if I would like a female Robin Hood but the way Meagan Spooner tells the tale it is wonderful and didn't minimize Robin of Lockley's character in any way. I really enjoyed the twists and turns that are creative and a fresh new way to tell the story but staying true to the original work. I love the cover of the book and thinks it tells so many things about what the book is about so I will not go into the story more as to not spoil it. I highly recommend it especially to those who loves retellings.

Geektastic: Stories From The Nerd Herd

Stars 5/5

Geektastic: Stories From The Nerd Herd by Various Authors

This book is an anthology of lots of Geeky Tales from some great authors. I just loved it. Now, I have to say that I loved some stories more than others of course but the book is altogether an awesome read. The stories feature geeks of all kinds. Many different fictional worlds represented. I definitely recommend this book to all geeks!

The Calculating Stars

Stars 4/5

The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal

I have to say that I went into this book blind and I am so glad I did. I really enjoyed this story. Very unique and creative. In 1952, a meteorite hit the eastern US and killed millions yet the devastation is nothing for what is about to come. This disaster has triggered a climate cycle that will make Earth inhabitable to humans in the near future. With this knowledge, Elma and her husband race to get this info to government officials. NASA prepares for Lunar missions to find a habitat suitable for humans. Elma and other women, who were WASP (pilots) from the war petition to become the first women astronauts. I really enjoyed this book and hope to continue on with the series.

The Handmaid's Tale

Stars 5/5

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

This is a re-read for me as I have read this before but so many years ago. I thought I would like to re-visit this world. The story is set in a dystopian future where I believe that not only was it a result of religious extremists but also a world shattered by a feminist uprising. This lead to a world where women lost even the rights to read. This book always made me wonder. With today's feminist movement, could our world fall into this kind of despair? Is it true that what goes around will come around? This book really makes you wonder. I gave this book five stars even though the ending left me wanting more.  I highly recommend it. 

Heroine

Stars 5/5

Heroine by Mindy McGinnis

WoW! I have to say that I usually do not read books with addiction tropes but I had heard good things about this book so I gave it a shot and I am so glad I did. This book was written so well that when the author was describing how the characters were feeling and the pain they were going through, it felt so real and I could feel it just from the words. So very realistic it was scary. The story follows Mickey and what she goes through after wrecking her car. The pain from her hip. The pain from seeing her friend heal faster than her, or so she thought. The pain of running out of her medicine and the pain of waking up to find dead people all around her. I do not want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend this book. 

Jar Of Hearts

Stars 5/5

Jar Of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier

WoW! What an amazingly creative and unique story line! I loved it! The book follows Geo, a woman rising to great heights not only with her job but engaged to a very well to do man until one day she is arrested for the murder of her best friend who was killed fourteen years ago and they just found her body. Since Geo, Georgina, was only sixteen at the time of the murder of Angela Wong, she only received five years in prison because it was proven she only helped with the cover up but her boyfriend, Calvin, was convicted of the murder and was also found to be a serial killer. I am not going into this story more as to not spoil it but I have to say that there are so many twists and turns it will keep you glued to the edge of your seat. I highly recommend this book.

Lodestar (Keeper Of The Lost Cities #5)

Stars 5/5

Lodestar (Keeper Of The Lost Cities #5) by Shannon Messenger

This is the 5th book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series and I really love this series but OMG this book brought on the tears. No spoilers. The story continues to follow Sophie, her friends, family and magical creatures. The Black Swan continues to find out more about the Neverseen. This book brought on lots of emotions. I do not want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I highly recommend it and I plan to continue on with the next book.

The Tales Of Beedle The Bard

Stars 5/5

The Tales Of Beedle The Bard by J.K. Rowling

Being a Harry Potter fan, it is odd that I never did get to read this book until now. I really enjoyed this book full of short tales. The Wizard and the Hopping Pot made me laugh out loud. Such a fun read and I highly recommend it to everyone who loves Harry Potter and for those have never read the Potter series. The book has tales for everyone of all ages.

She Lies In Wait (DCI Jonah Sheens #1)

Stars 5/5

She Lies In Wait by Gytha Lodge

OMG! What an amazing suspenseful mystery that kept me wondering "who done it" until the very end and what an awesome ending it was but no spoilers! The story follows DCI Jonah Sheens as he is called to a scene where skeletal remains have been unearthed and unfortunately he believes that he knows who it is. Thirty years ago, a group of teens were camping in that same location. A young fourteen year old named Aurora went missing. Now Jonah must solve this very cold case and as he does he is afraid it may drag out some skeletons he has in his closet. I definitely recommend this book if you love a "who done it". 

O.W.L.S. Read-A-Thon 2019