House Rules

Jodi Picoult
4 Stars
 When your son can't look you in the eye...does that mean he's guilty?
Jacob Hunt is a teen with Asperger's syndrome. He's hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, though he is brilliant in many ways. But he has a special focus on one subject - forensic analysis. A police scanner in his room clues him in to crime scenes, and he's always showing up and telling the cops what to do. And he's usually right.
But when Jacob's small hometown is rocked by a terrible murder, law enforcement comes to him. Jacob's behaviors are hallmark Asperger's, but they look a lot like guilt to the local police. Suddenly the Hunt family, who only want to fit in, are directly in the spotlight. For Jacob's mother, Emma, it's a brutal reminder of the intolerance and misunderstanding that always threaten her family. For his brother, Theo, it's another indication why nothing is normal because of Jacob.
And over this small family, the soul-searing question looms: Did Jacob commit murder?

I was so glad that this book turned out to be so much better than I thought it was going to be. I typically don't like books told from everyone's point of view it just annoys me, but this story was made by incorporating everyone's point of view. I was reluctant to read this book because it didn't really grab my attention, but I started the book I couldn't put it down. I loved Jacob's POV it provided an inside look on Aspergers how he dealt with things and how he felt to the outside world making him seem so much more human to me. Being able to hear his perspective on things helped explain why he did the things he did. To him everything is simply black and white there is no gray area and he follows the rules to the letter, so when the rules need to be followed he does just that causing him to get into more trouble then he ever thought possible. He had to be my favorite character he said so many things that if you really think about make a lot of sense like "Normal is a just a setting on a dryer". Emma's POV was that of a loving devoted mother who has had so much to deal with for so long and yet she loves her son with no reservations. She deals with the hand dealt to her and keeps the family going strong. Theo is just a teenager trying to get by in the world that doesn't accept different very well and so being the brother of a weird boy doesn't help him. He tries to fit in at school and at home but there just doesn't seem to be a place for him. He's had to look out for his older brother for so long and he is just tired of it, but when his adventures get a little outta hand everything spirals outta control. Rich is just a detective who has to solve the crime and he his just doing his job following the clues and trying to get justice for a devastated family. Oliver the newly graduated lawyer is thrown into the whirlwind of a story just when the plot thickens and he adds a touch of naiveness that is perfect for a already chaotic scene. Together they bring to together this story of a poor girls alleged murder where everything turns out to be less than it really seems to be. I love Jodi Picoult story House Rules and all the characters that made this book so amazing!!

The Enchantress

 Michael Scott
4 Stars
The two that are one must become the one that is all. One to save the world, one to destroy it. 
San Francisco:
Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel have one day left to live, and one job left to do. They must defend San Francisco. The monsters gathered on Alcatraz Island have been released and are heading toward the city. If they are not stopped, they will destroy everyone and everything in their path.But even with the help of two of the greatest warriors from history and myth, will the Sorceress and the legendary Alchemyst be able to defend the city? Or is it the beginning of the end of the human race? 
Danu Talis:
Sophie and Josh Newman traveled ten thousand years into the past to Danu Talis when they followed Dr. John Dee and Virginia Dare. And it’s on this legendary island that the battle for the world begins and ends.Scathach, Prometheus, Palamedes, Shakespeare, Saint-Germain, and Joan of Arc are also on the island. And no one is sure what—or who—the twins will be fighting for.Today the battle for Danu Talis will be won or lost.But will the twins of legend stand together?Or will they stand apart—one to save the world and one to destroy it?

This was an awesome ending to an amazing series. I picked up this book because it had the name Nicholas Flamel and I had heard that name from the Harry Potter series and wanted to know more about him. I am so glad that I did, this series has been a great series to read. I remember picking this book up and reading the first three in the series and then looking up when the other ones in the series would come out and thinking to myself that 2012 was never going to get here fast enough. Well it is now 2012 and The Enchantress has been released and quickly devoured by me. I have to give a hand to Michael Scott who gave such depth and life to these amazing characters who kept me guessing and completely dumbfounded me with the ending of the twins. I didn't not expect the series to end this way. The book kept me guessing all the way up to the last couple of pages, I was confused about the prophecy "One to save the world, One to destroy the world" but he neatly tied up those loose ends. It gave a wonderful ending to the Flamels and made me come to actually like Dr. Dee. He gave a conscience to those who had been working for the dark elders and for that I am very glad, he showed that though you have done bad things in the past that does not always make you a bad person you can change who you are at anytime. The time line of a week had have been the longest week I have ever experienced seven days spread across five years was crazy and the deaths in the book left me crying because I had grown so attached to the characters. The ending has left me speechless, so I tip my hat to Michael Scott for writing such an amazing series and sharing it with all of us.

Destined

P.C and Kristen Cast
 2 Stars
 Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side, and preparing to face off against Neferet - which would be a whole lot easier if the High Counsel saw the ex-High Priestess for what she really is. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, Rephaim and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together - if he can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow...
But there are new forces at work at the House of Night. An influx of humans, including Lenobia's handsome horse whisperer, threatens their precarious stability. And then there's the mysterious Aurox, a jaw-droppingly gorgeous teen boy who is actually more - or possibly less - than human. Only Neferet knows he was created to be her greatest weapon. But Zoey can sense the part of his soul that remains human, the compassion that wars with his Dark calling. And there's something strangely familiar about him...
Will Neferet's true nature be revealed before she succeeds in silencing them all? And will Zoey be able to touch Aurox's humanity in time to protect him - and everyone - from his own fate? Find out what's destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series.

This is the 9th book so I can tell you that I am an avid reader of the series, but I feel like it is being dragged on for too long. As the 9th book I felt that it was very slow moving and just continued to reiterate points that have already been made in books before. I know that Nefert is evil blah, blah, blah...can we beat her already or get beat by her it is getting a tad annoying. The only I can say I liked about this book was Rephiam, Kalona, and Shanuee. The huge development is Kalona's character was totally unexpected and a great addition to the story. I was so happy when Nyx granted Rephiam humanity because he had formed such a bond with Stevie Rae and was able to turn away from the darkness, I thought his humanity was a truly deserved gift. And Shanuee finally becoming her own person was a twist as well. Don't get me wrong I love the "twins", but when Shanuee started thinking for herself I loved her all the more. Zoe and Stark just keep getting on my nerves I want them to have a happy ending, but I don't understand why Zoe can't protect Stark too. I will continue to finish reading the series and I hope the last 3 books will move more quickly and be more interesting.