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.

The Forever Song (Blood of Eden #3)

4.5 stars
Julie Kagawa

I received this ARC from NetGalley

Allison Sekemoto once struggled with the question: human or monster? 
With the death of her love, Zeke, she has her answer. 
MONSTER 
Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren, the psychopathic vampire who murdered Zeke. But the trail is bloody and long, and Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions—her creator, Kanin, and her blood brother, Jackal. The trail is leading straight to the one place they must protect at any cost—the last vampire-free zone on Earth, Eden. And Sarren has one final, brutal shock in store for Allie. In a ruined world where no life is sacred and former allies can turn on you in one heartbeat, Allie will face her darkest days. And if she succeeds, triumph is short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone.

I just wanna start out by saying how much I loved how this all turned out. I mean true the death toll could have been lower, but then it wouldn't have been a book about a sadistic lunatic vampire insistent on bringing the world to an end. The book begins with Allie, Kanin, and Jackal tracking Sarren through the wilderness and discovering all the lovely surprises he has left along the way for them. Whole slaughtered towns just for dramatic effect. Allie has given up on her humanity because she lost the person she was hanging on for. She becomes the monster everyone has always thought she is and when she finally comes to realize she doesn't want to give into the monster and pulls herself together a huge surprise awaits her in Old Chicago. ARGH! I can't go into too much detail, but lets just say that SURPRISE is an understatement. Julie once again delivers on a book that will keep you on the edge til the very end. With selfless acts preformed by all, allegiances and betrayals you never saw coming. And just when you think it is over BAM!! There is more action. I'm glad the way this all turned out and have nothing but praise for Julie! Well Done again!!

Allegiant (Divergent #3)

2.5 Stars
Veronica Roth

 The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories. But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love. Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

This book really killed me I couldn't believe how this ended. Veronica Roth basically took my heart ripped it outta my chest and stomped on it. I don't know if I can do this review without spoiler, but I sure will try. First the book started off with a really fast pace which I felt very rushed. I mean I know it is the third book, but I want to feel like reading not like I'm running a race. Basically I didn't like the story telling in this book it just felt different from the first two that I really enjoyed. I don't know if it was the ending or just the actual style so that's why this has a 2.5 stars. The think that the thing that changed the story was the fact that it kept alternating view points between the two characters. I would just start getting into the story when I switched points of views. I wish I had enjoyed this more and since I really don't have much more to say I'm gonna stop now and not repeat again.

Princess of the Silver Woods (Princess #3)

 

3 stars

Jessica Day George

When Petunia, the youngest of King Gregor's twelve dancing daughters, is invited to visit an elderly friend in the neighboring country of Westfalin, she welcomes the change of scenery. But in order to reach Westfalin, Petunia must pass through a forest where strange two-legged wolves are rumored to exist. Wolves intent on redistributing the wealth of the noble citizens who have entered their territory. But the bandit-wolves prove more rakishly handsome than truly dangerous, and it's not until Petunia reaches her destination that she realizes the kindly grandmother she has been summoned to visit is really an enemy bent on restoring an age-old curse. The stories of Red Riding Hood and Robin Hood get a twist as Petunia and her many sisters take on bandits, grannies, and the new King Under Stone to end their family curse once and for all.

I  really enjoyed this series and have been looking forward to this final book.  This story follows Petunia, the youngest of the dancing princesses. I liked Petunia, she was pretty feisty. Her older sisters tend to baby her and she is tired of being babies and overlooked. She really comes into her own in this one. Our hero in this book, Oliver, was likable. I think I liked Galen and Christian a bit more, but he still had his own charm. I guess he came across a little young to me. While I enjoyed the book, I think I liked the first two a bit more. The plot seemed a little too similar to the first book and it did get a little confusing with so many characters (all twelve princesses, some of their husbands, and the remaining evil princes and a handful of other side characters). It moved along nicely though and kept me turning the pages.