The Choosing (Seer #1)

2 Stars
Rachelle Dekker

“Not to be Chosen would yield a cruel fate of my own making.”
Like all citizens since the Ruining, Carrington Hale knows the importance of this day. But she never expected the moment she’d spent a lifetime preparing for—her Choosing ceremony—would end in disaster. Ripped from her family, she’ll spend her days serving as a Lint, the lowest level of society. She knows it’s her duty to follow the true way of the Authority. But as Carrington begins this nightmare, rumors of rebellion rattle her beliefs. The whispers contradict everything she’s been told; yet they resonate deep within. Then Carrington is offered an unprecedented chance at the life she’s always dreamed of, but she can’t shake the feeling that it may be an illusion. With a killer targeting Lints and corruption threatening the highest levels of the Authority, Carrington must uncover the truth before it destroys her.

I took a chance on this book thinking it might pan out, but honestly it was a chore trying to get through it. About a third of the way through I was struggling and I kept going, because I just wanted to find out what was going to happen to Carrington. It opens in a dystopian society that has been reformed to a belief system that women are nothing more then property. You must be chosen by a man and if not you are worthless. Carrington, who is the epitome of righteousness, somehow ends up not being chosen and becomes the family blemish who is quickly carted away from society. In her new world she is scared and berates herself for making the mistake of not being perfect enough, it was so annoying, I know that is what the whole book was suppose to be about but ugh! And of course because she can't have it a small flame of love sparks with a kind guard. Of course life sucks and she is somehow swept in whirlwind to a second chance she is then picked to be a bride for a very important man. She discovers nothing is what it seems and though he is important he has a nasty temper, he believes himself to be the  person sent to cleanse the evil from the world. It gets nasty and just goes horribly wrong for Carrington. I'll leave it there as to not give away anything, but I just shouldn't have read this book. It was so agitating and demeaning for women.

Handle with Care

4 stars
Jodi Picoult

When Willow is born with severe osteogenesis imperfecta, her parents are devastated--she will suffer hundreds of broken bones as she grows, a lifetime of pain. Every expectant parent will tell you that they don't want a perfect baby, just a healthy one. Charlotte and Sean O'Keefe would have asked for a healthy baby, too, if they'd been given the choice. Instead, their lives are made up of sleepless nights, mounting bills, the pitying stares of "luckier" parents, and maybe worst of all, the what-ifs. What if their child had been born healthy? But it's all worth it because Willow is, funny as it seems, perfect. She's smart as a whip, on her way to being as pretty as her mother, kind, brave, and for a five-year-old an unexpectedly deep source of wisdom. Willow is Willow, in sickness and in health.Everything changes, though, after a series of events forces Charlotte and her husband to confront the most serious what-ifs of all. What if Charlotte had known earlier of Willow's illness? What if things could have been different? What if their beloved Willow had never been born? To do Willow justice, Charlotte must ask herself these questions and one more. What constitutes a valuable life?

This is book I wouldn't have thought about reading, but I got the recommendation from one my friends. Boy was she right! I fell in love with this book, it was emotionally riveting and had me questioning life itself. There story is told from six different points of view Charlotte (Willow's Mom), Sean (Willow's Dad), Amelia (Willow's Sister), Piper (Charlotte's best friend/Obstetrician), Marian Gates (Charlotte's Attorney), and lastly Willow herself for a brief chapter. You meet Willow through everyone's eyes seeing how she represents something different to everyone. Charlotte wants to protect her, Sean wants to provide for her,  Amelia just wants to be noticed by her parents, Piper thought she did what was best for her patients, while Marian deals with being on the other side of not being wanted and searching for her birth mother. From the beginning it was hard for the O'keefe's with Willow's disability, but when they visit an attorney's office and discover maybe they can provide a better life for Willow they jump at the chance. But things are not always what they seem and in pursuit of getting what they need they tear apart their lives. Charlotte loses not only her best friend, but her husband and her other daughter. Sean sees this as all wrong he loves Willow and doesn't support the law suit. Amelia doesn't know how to deal with all of it, and heads down a twisted path that only hams her more. Piper's entire life is torn apart she questions everything that has ever made her a doctor she asks all the what-ifs, Marian ends up finding out you don't always want to know the answer.  The theme of this book was breaking; broken bones, broken friendships, broken families, broken marriages (even a broken heart...mine). Let me tell you this though, you will never see the ending coming. Through it all you bear witness that to get what you want in life you just might end of destroying everything that makes you, well you.

The Heir: The Selection Series

4 Stars
Kiera Cass

 Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible. But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought.

I really loved this book and I think it's because it touches me on such a personal level. I mean I don't run a country and I'm not a princess, but I sometimes act just like Eadlyn. She is taught to be a independent women meant to run a country, she has no time for the foolishness of love games. She has been taught to be strong and show no weakness, anything a boy can do she can do better. Which is why I feel like I can connect with her, so when things start to unravel in her country of Illea and she pushed into a Selection to distract her people from the problems she isn't happy. As much as having 35 gentlemen competing sounds like great fun, its work for her. Her walls are built high to keep out anybody who might get too close, but what if she doesn't' need to do this alone. What if she finds someone who will love her unconditionally, only time can tell. The story starts off a bit slow in the beginning, but quickly picks up. And yes she is moody and self-centered, but she is a princess and has no idea what it is like to be a normal common person, which is where I feel all her problems stem from. She seems harsh and distant to her people and to those around her, she doesn't mean to be this way its the only way she thinks she can be a respected queen. If only she was a little softer and you can see as she gets to know this boys she sees that maybe she doesn't have to be so strong all the time, and that people have feeling too. Not everything has to be her way. And then when you think she is making such great progress and she might have some character development, there is a great tragedy and the book ends. I can't wait til the next to book, I want this all resolved and I want Eadlyn to end up happy. 

The Kind Knight

5 Stars
Kelly Airhart

Meet the Kind Knight. He is brave. He is nice. And even when it's not easy, he always does what is right! Join him and his friends on their journey to stop the tears of the disappointed dragon. Learn the importance of patience and consideration. And as always, stay kind. 

Partial proceeds from each book will go to benefit Together We Rise, a national nonprofit that helps kids in foster care. 

I don't usually review children's books, but this author has a great story spreading kindness through the world and you can check out her journey at i-am-kind . As well as proceeds from the sale of her book go a great cause Together We Rise a nonprofit helping Foster Children in the United States. . Kelly Airhart is Mom, blogger, and a self-published author. Her first book The Kind Knight tells the story of a little kind knight who travels through the forest to solve a problem for Princess P. A cute story expressing the importance of  being patient, considerate, positive, and expressing gratitude. The story flows well and has cute illustrations, also created by Kelly herself. It makes a great addition to any children's library. 

You can help support her book, by buying an ebook at Amazon
Or by helping her kickstarter program The Kind Knight ,she is hoping to get her first set of hard copy books with this fundraiser.
I love seeing dreams come true and I hope she gets all the helps she needs. Go check her out.