And What is a Hobbit?

I'm so excited to see The Hobbit movie this weekend. Here is a picture of the first page of my copy of The Hobbit titled,  "And What is a Hobbit?"

Haunted Week - Beware of Book Review ~ Day 8 ~ WARD 3 by Carole Wood

Happy Halloween!!!!! For the first time in many years, I live in a neighborhood that I will actually have children knocking on my door. I am so excited to pass out candy to the kiddos and see their costumes.
I will begin my last post for Haunted week with 'This is Halloween' from "The Nightmare Before Christmas"...press play and enjoy ;)



Day 8 of Haunted week, Beware of Book Review:

Goodreads - Amazon

WARD 3

by Carole Wood
Horror Novella
Published by: Carole Wood Books
Pub. Date July 8, 2012
eBook -Kindle
My Rating: ♥♥♥♥½





Summary:  ~ from goodreads~

After suffering a recent loss Matt Lindsey, a psychology student takes a placement in Fortraven Psychiatric Hospital.  Over the following nine weeks he discovers all is not as it seems.  He becomes concerned for the welfare of a patient named Abby after a string of violent, strange incidents occurs. Everyone in the hospital is in danger.  Can he help them before it's too late?

My Review:

I literally want to, SCREAM, YELL, SHOUT, AND SHAKE PEOPLE!!! READ CAROLE WOOD'S BOOKS!!!! She is an amazing Independent Author that is very talented.

I am having a hard time thinking how to write this review without spoilers. I normally do not read any books labeled horror, and I feel that anything I say may spoil the joy and ride you will have when you read WARD 3. 
I am instantly drawn into the first chapter and transported to a tragic beginning.  The main character Matt is later introduced.  Matt is a serious student and has set goal to achieve. A tragic event happens and he is forever changed. The path he is now on, leads him to meet Abby. Abby has her own tragic event that has affected her. She is trying to live a normal life and keep her sanity. Abby and Matt meet and together they learn to trust in others and themselves. This is a wonderful story! It is a supernatural,  horror, suspense, mystery, romance novella. It has it all. And if you read Aventurine Heart, Carole wood has a surprise for you in this book.

Haunted Week - Skeletons on My Bookshelf ~ Day 3

Day 3  of Haunted Week.
I confess, I do have a few skeletons in my closet - I also a few skeletons on my bookshelf.
Since this is a meme about books, I will share with you, my five books that I have owned for a long time but never read. I plan on reading all of them I just have such a huge "to read" list O_o



#1 - The Help by Kathryn Stockett
I loved the movie, I heard great things about this book.




#2 - The Sight by David Clement-Davies
Recommended to me love the cover.



#3 - Hourglass by Myra McEntire
Another book I love the cover and was a recommended to me.



#4 - Sweep: Volume 1 by Cate Tiernan
A friend said she loved this series so I bought it. I love the paranormal genre sounds interesting.


#5 - A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
One of several classic books I want to read just trying to find time to put in my schedule of my long list of books to read.



It is so hard to pick what to read next. I have a lot of new releases that I want to read also. If only I can be paid to read!!! :P

Haunted Week - Bats In Your Book Pages ~ Day 2

Day two of Haunted Week.
Time to list my top 5 things that drive me batty!!

#1 - Girl drama! I am okay with a little bit of it here and there in a story. I do not like it when the drama seems to take over the story. I don't like it in real life, I surely do not want to read about it. Just give me enough to establish the characters and their relationship with each other.

#2 - Long Introduction to a Character. Being introduced to the main character by giving away every detail possible can make me want to stop reading right away. Give me time to develop a relationship with the character to feel for the character. It's like meeting someone for the first time and he/she wants to tell you everything about themselves in 15 min. Ugh!

#3 - Instant Love. An instant connection towards someone is okay. There of course needs to be an interest in one another to even start any relationship. I want to get to know my characters first. Show me the heart warming events and struggles they go through, the journey the take to become madly in love.

#4 - Instant Sex. Hey, I admit it, I like romance and the heated scenes. I do not like it when it takes over the entire story. Give me a story of two people gradually getting to know each other then leading up to the OMG! scene. I like my stories with substance sprinkled with a few hot moments. :P

#5 - No Closure.  Okay this is tricky. I am not a writer I am just a reader. The last chapter of any book needs some resolve from the story being told. If there is going to be a sequel leave me with a bit of mystery.
I also love cliff hangers that leave me screaming at the author. But I do not like a cliffhanger leaving me with confusion and asking myself " what just happened? " O_o Then I am left with wondering if I should read the next book or not. I love to read, but when I read, I am investing my time to the lives and world that the author created. Make it worth my time.

Haunted Week - Ghosts of Books Half-Read ~ Day One

Five books I have never finished

Today is Wednesday October 24th, and it is the first day of Haunted Week!!

I do have to say that I do plan on finishing a few of these books. I have stopped reading because of time or because I was in the mood to read a different genre.
Books are like food for me. I love to devour them. Sometimes I just have a craving for something else. For example, I love cookie dough ice cream but I really want a  pumpkin pie blizzard instead.

Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese - I checked this book out from the library and I did not have time to finish. My mother was visiting and I had to return it. I have not been back to the library since. I do plan on finishing this book.


A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire#1) by George R.R.Martin - I was given books 1 thru 4 as a Christmas gift. (they were on my on my I want list) I did begin to read it and did not finish it because I promised a few authors I would read their book and post a review. I do plan to read it.


Into the Wild by Erin Hunter - I downloaded this book for free to my nook. I told a student of mine I would read this. I started to read at the end of the summer. It just did not catch my interest. I still might read it in the future.

Tributary (Riverof Time, 3.2) by Lisa Tawn Bergren - I really enjoyed the books before this one. I tried reading it. I just could not stay interested in it. I do not know if I will pick this book back up again.

When Darkness Comes (Guardians of Eternity #1) by Alexandra Ivy - I do want to finish this book. It was highly reccommneded to me. For some reason the story line is just moving to slow for me. I have tried a few times to pick it up, but then I stop and start reading something else. I think I just need to start from the beginning and give it a fresh start.

Legend by Marie Lu

Legend (Legend #1)
by Marie Lu
Ages 12-17
Publisher: Penguin Group
Pub. Date: November 29, 2011
Pages: 336
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥




Summary ~ from goodreads~


What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.
From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths-until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival. while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep secrets.
Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.


My Review:


I love this book as much as I love The Hunger Games and Divergent. I was hooked from the very beginning. Constant action, never a dull moment, and suspenseful. I did not want to put this book down. All the characters were written well. It was easy for me to visualize the surroundings the story was written in. I easily grew to care for June, Day and every character affected by the lies and in justice they endured. This is another book I can add to my growing list of dystopian / post-apocalyptic favorites. I am so glad, that I have another book I can recommend to my sixth graders at work. We have had many discussions over The Hunger Games and now after they read Legend we can discuss this one too.

 Each chapter alternates between Day and June.  I give a thumbs up to Marie Lu for deciding to tell the story in this way. Reading in both point of views gave me a better connection and empathy to both of them. Day and June were both raised and grew up under the same government. June from the wealthy district, and Day from the poor district. Their feelings for their government is different. As the story unfolds they meet and find themselves at odds with each other. Eventually many truths are revealed, difficult choices have to be made and trust is  eventually earned. June and Day both where in the dark about different things in their life's. I can't wait to see what June and Day decide to do about what they learn.

Marie Lu's next book to the trilogy of Legend is Prodigy.

January 2013
http://www.marielu.org/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4342215.Marie_Lu

Random Reads #1 ~~ Into the Wild (Warriors #1) by Erin Hunter

http://imlovingbooks.com/

I would like to thank I'm Loving Books for hosting this monthly meme. This is my first time participating. This is a great idea to give all those books that are put on the to read list a chance. For May I had my friend pick a random book out of my Nook library I have not read.

 My first book for the Random Reads this month is Into the Wild by Erin Hunter.

Goodreads summary

This book was recommended by Gabriela, over 2 years ago. She was a student in my aftercare program that loved this series. I still keep in touch with her family, so I will be able to tell her I am finally going to read it. She will be very excited. 

There are different ways you can pick a random book. Next time I will try using my to-read shelf on my Goodreads 

• It's easy..  

1. If you're on Goodreads enable sorting to your to-read shelf (you should see numbers next to each book now). 
2. Go to Random.org and type in the Min as 1 and the Max as how many ever books are on your to-read shelf.
3. Scroll down to the book matching the number Random.org picks.
4. Link up to your Random Reads post.
5. Read and enjoy!!!

• You can also close your eyes and randomly point at a book on your to-read bookshelf
• Place several books on the floor in a circle and spin a bottle.
• Have a friend or family member pick one randomly from books you own and still need to read.

I would like to say again, this is a great idea! Happy reading everyone!!

I also would love to hear what everyone is reading please leave a comment and share. 

♥ Josie