Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Volume 5 by Naoko Takeuchi

The last two pages....Evil laughter. Chibi-Usa. I love you.

I stan Usagi and Mamoru.

256 Pages

Tracking Game (Timber Creek K-9 Mystery #5). By Margaret Mizushima.

Tracking Game (Timber Creek K-9 Mystery #5). By Margaret Mizushima. 2019. Crooked Lane Books (ARC eBook).

When deputy Mattie Cobb and her beau, veterarian Cole Walker, seek out the source of what sounded like an explosion interrupting the rural town of Timber Creek’s Saturday night festivities, they come upon a burning van and a man shot dead. As the investigation begins, several leads quickly develop, only to be interrupted by a distressed 911 call that sends Mattie and her K-9 partner, Robo, out into the Colorado mountains. The search ends with the discovery of a second murder victim and the threat of a large predator on the prowl. The double homicide points to the Redman cattle ranch, but ferreting out who the cold-blooded murderer is unfolds into a story with a nice mix of mystery, action, setting and character.

This is my first book by this author but Tracking Game reads as a standalone. There are a lot of interesting details provided in how a law officer works with a K-9 partner; so readers who like animals involved in their mysteries will definitely enjoy this procedural. While it felt to me like Tracking Game opened stronger than it closed, the pace and plot are, overall, done well and I would be interested in future installments in this series, and for sure, reading the first book for the origin story of how exactly Mattie and Robo come to be partners.

 

282 pages

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Screwdrivered by Alice Clayton

Beware everyone, I've started to go back through some of my favorite romance novels, starting with this one. Vivian moves into a house she inherited from her great aunt and wants to start making repairs, but finds out that everything has to be approved by the local historian/librarian, Clark, as the house is on the historical register. Did I get annoyed that the librarian is constantly pushing his dust covered glasses up...like a lot? Sure, but there's lot of funny parts and a lot of heart.

Pages: 256

A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin

Why did they cut out most of this stuff from the show?!! The Young Griff plot, using the Wildlings to man the abandoned castles of the Wall, specifically knowing that Arya and Jon being wargs?? Would have fleshed out some of the last seasons a lot better. But that's why Martin is awesome and D and D fall flat. The sad part? Now I have to wait with the masses for the next book. So unfair.

Pages: 1125

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: Book 2: The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan

I do love when one character is exasperated by the ridiculousness of the characters and situations around them... And there was a knitting shout-out...so I feel acknowledged.

Magnus, you are stupid and oblivious..But you're protective and it's adorable. I love getting to know more about how his powers work.

Sam I love you. Never. Ever. Change She must be protected at all costs.

Did I hear a Catholic reference..Yes. Yes I did... Am I living. Yes I am.

496 Pages

Argyle Fox. By Marie Letourneau.

Argyle Fox. By Marie Letourneau. 2017. Tanglewood Publishing Inc. ISBN13: 9781939100092 (eBook).

Young Argyle Fox wants to play outside, but the wind keeps interfering. So he must be persistent and oh so clever to create the perfect solution for a windy spring day.

This imaginative fox’s story, adorably illustrated by the author, will entertain grade levels pre-school – 3.

32 pages

The Traitor Prince by C. J. Redwine

Javan, the cute nerd who's never gone out and studies all the time to make his dad proud...I feel attacked. Awkward dancing...like seriously same...same.....But how did he go from awkward to smooth in three seconds flat...teach me your ways.
*Banging pots and pans together* HONOR HONOR HONOR HONOR.... I'm fine... Javan...Heart eyes....I wanna know what aura I give off....Can my future husband take more notes please....because I love Javan. I stan characters who see themselves as monsters, and their love interests insisting that they're more than that. This story fills a core desire that weighs on my heart a lot....I need help. I love Sajda and Javan's interactions. *ten different crying gifs*
....And he prays...I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine... I love him. Can I keep him?
Fictional characters are the reason I'm single because my standards are so high....

I repeat once again. HOW IS THERE NOT MORE FANART.
432 Pages

Pale Fallen Angel (Vampire Hunter D Vol. 11, Parts One and Two). By Hideo Kikuchi, English translation by Kevin Leahy, Illustrator: Yoshitaka Amano.

Pale Fallen Angel (Vampire Hunter D Vol. 11, Parts One and Two). By Hideo Kikuchi, English translation by Kevin Leahy, Illustrator: Yoshitaka Amano. 2008. Dark Horse Press/Digital Manga Publishing. ISBN 1595821309 (paperback).

In a world where vampire hunters are the only ones the Nobles fear, it is singularly remarkable that a Nobleman possesses enough mettle to request the services of a hunter as a bodyguard. Baron Byron Balarge seeks to end Lord Vlad’s life and must make a treacherous journey to do so. Vowing to D that he will not drink blood from the living while the hunter is in the Baron’s services, the duo set off on the mission, thwarting assassins and accumulating traveling partners along the way.

The merry band of travelers are fresh and entertaining, the powers of the villains unique, and a very interesting reveal regarding D’s suspected parentage. Pale Fallen Angel, Parts One and Two promises a satisfying conclusion to this four-part tale. Initially published in Japan in 1994, this translated work contains the original illustrations by Amano, a 2008 postscript by the author.

324 pages

Archenemies by Marissa Meyer

Adrian and Nova being cute little nerds....you can't just be that adorable and cute together and expect me to be ok..

I think I am Callum....like.....I love his enthusiasm and passion. Me. My spirit. His gift would probably be my gift. I love it.
Dads are embarrassing me. I love them.
Nova getting in some sick punchlines.
Max. Too pure. Too good for this world. Cinnamon roll.

Everything was fine and then they had to rip my heart out....Seriously....this is why communication is important. This is why honesty is important.
This is almost as bad as Miraculous Ladybug. How do they...*Glares at fourth wall* They are so stupid.

496 Pages

Eternal Kiss of Darkness (Night Huntress World #2). By Jeaniene Frost, Narrator: Tavia Gilbert.

Eternal Kiss of Darkness (Night Huntress World #2). By Jeaniene Frost, Narrator: Tavia Gilbert. 2010. Blackstone Audiobooks. ISBN: 9781481587594. (Unabridged audiobook, 10 hours, 25 mins).

“Save one life” is the mission Chicago private investigator Kira Graceling lives by. So when she hears an assault taking place in a warehouse on her walk home, she responds; only to walk into a nightmare.

As a Master vampire dating back to the Egyptian pharaohs, Mencheres thought he had seen it all, until a fearless human woman attempts to rescue him from death at the hands of ghouls. Saving her instead, he discovers he that she is a liability as long as he is unable to wipe the events from her mind. He decides to keep Kira close, but Mencheres hasn’t survived so long without making enemies and when they redouble their efforts in destroying him by targeting her, he must challenge his fate--the eternal darkness that awaits him.

Eternal Kiss of Darkness picks up after Spade and Denise’s story, First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World #1), and is followed by Night Huntress #5. While Mencheres’ and Kira’s story is a stand-alone, Night Huntress #3 and #4 does lay out the groundwork for Menchere’s mindset and standing with his compatriots. Overall a great listen that pays off for one of the more intriguing characters in this world.

361 pages

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Shine by Lauren Myracle

Summary: After a personal trauma, Cat shuts herself away from her friends and closes herself off from her emotions. But they resurface when a formerly close friend is the victim of a hate crime. When local law enforcement fails to make progress, Cat is determined to investigate the crime herself and in doing so, finds herself again.

My Review: I heard this author speak at the 2019 YALSA Symposium, so decided to check her out. This is a well-written story about complex issues.

Pages: 380 pages     My Rating: 4 out of 5

Leadershift by John C. Maxwell

Summary: John Maxwell identifies the eleven changes, or shifts, he has made over the course of his career as a leadership expert.

My Review: Maxwell had me from “…the future seems to be coming at us faster than ever. It is not going to slow down. Would anybody seriously consider the idea that tomorrow will be at a slower pace than today? Technology, social media, and the rate of change will never allow that to happen. To go forward, we need to move faster. And as leaders, we need to stay ahead, we need to see more than others, and we need to see before others.” Wise words of wisdom!

Pages: 288 pages          My Rating: 5 out of 5

Paperboy by Vince Vawter

Summary: Victor Vollmer has a problem with stuttering. When he takes over a friend’s paper route for a month, Victor must overcome his reticence about speaking with people and in doing so, grows into himself. This Newbery Honor Winner, is set in Memphis in 1959.

My Review: A touching tale that is part fiction, part nonfiction, as it also tells the story of the author. Vince Vawter was a featured author at the 2019 YALSA Symposium. I am glad I got introduced to his writing and can’t wait to read the sequel!

Pages: 201 pages           My Rating: 4 out of 5

Answers in the Attic by Kathi Daley

Summary: The renovations of the Inn is nearing completion and the only thing left to do is clear out the attic. The job takes on extra intrigue when a woman who is the great, great, great, niece of Abigail Chesterton, the wife of the man who built the house, arrives wanting to learn more about her ancestors. This time around, the mysteries are in the past, but that won’t slow down Abby Sullivan who is a part-time Inn owner, part-time author, and part-time amateur sleuth.

Series: Book 4 in the Inn at Holiday Bay series

My Review: A gentle, cozy mystery series with endearing characters. I read this one out of order, but that wasn’t a problem.

Pages: 201 pages

My Rating: 4 out of 5

How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel by Cressida Cowell, Read by David Tennant

I love that Toothless is learning to be polite...and he's so proud of himself.
I love how he constantly goes around saying that he is the most important lost thing.
I love Toothless so freaking much.
I need some fanart of Hiccup Neville-ing up. Because I've seen movie Hiccup....But I want book Hiccup.
You can't just write about suffering, growing up, and becoming a hero and not expect me to start waving a lighter over my head...
Epilogues always get me, y'all. I'm not crying, you're crying.
416 Pages

How to Steal a Dragon's Sword by Cressida Cowell Read by David Tennant

Is this a children's book... I did not sign up for these lessons (I love them, but still)...and stress...
Just frame the entire intro that comes before the prologue..
I know it says don't blame the story for being dark....
My eyes aren't watering...It's raining outside.
My beautiful baby child deserves the world and he doesn't deserve to be stressed.
Oh my gosh Toothless.. You are my spirit animal. Jealous of best friend having other friends... I do need my ego stroked. You are so cute and so loved.

384 Pages

Broken Throne by Victoria Aveyard

Mom's diary... Crying...And scenes from her life... I love knowing ships that are endgame. Why....Baby Cal....Soft baby hair... Baby..Baby boy
Julian and all the geography...Was there a Missouri reference....
Shade Shade Shade you never change. Heart eyes.
You can't just have them mirror a previous conversation...How dare you attack me in this way.
You can't just hint at post cannon and not give me more information. You can't show me babies and tell me nothing else. You can't tell me there names and nothing else... That is cruel and inhumane. Where where is the fanfiction...is she going to tell me more or just leave me completely in the dark to come up with cute scenes on my own....I did not sign up to be a fanfic writer and I cannot do the characters justice...Is there a letter I can sign to make her write more post-cannon....

496 Pages

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Volume 4 by Naoko Takeuchi

Back to the Future...but it's in space.

I really do love Mamoru. He is precious.

Small lady...Blushing gif.

240 Pages

War Storm by Victoria Aveyard

I loved having more perspectives to hear from...
Sad puppy.
I really hope this doesn't turn into a Gale situation...
Do y'all know how much anxiety I'm having...I haven't breathed in like....five hours...I am having a stomach ache from anxiety throughout basically the entire second half of the book...
Cal Cal cal... Little anxious baby with a heart of gold. Sinnamon roll that must be protected at all costs. Mother-son relationships... You can't just write things like that and expect me not to cry. I'm not ok...
You call her Nannabelle...Seriously?
I'm a romantic soooo reconciliations...being anxious about the well-being of the other...Flirting with death helps with the bonding, right? Binocular sharing and com sets. Princess Diaries 2 moment where Mia is talking to Grandma through the ear piece...
No Man's Land from Wonder Woman plays in the background.
I'm so proud of my sweetie Kilorn.
The moment in Space Jam where Bill Murray comes running in to play for the Looney Tunes team.
Beauty and the Beast plays in the background

Stomach Ache was worth it.

672 Pages

First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World #1). By Jeaniene Frost, Narrator: Tavia Gilbert.

First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World #1). By Jeaniene Frost, Narrator: Tavia Gilbert. 2010. Blackstone Audiobooks. ISBN: 9781481587310 . (Unabridged audiobook, 10 hours, 6 mins).

When Denise MacGregor befriended vampire hunter, Cat Crawford, she was introduced to the world of vampires, ghosts and ghouls. But when her husband was killed by zombies in an attack orchestrated to kill Cat’s husband, Bones; Denise withdrew from Cat’s world. But now she and her family are in grave danger from a shape-shifting demon, so she reaches out to Spade, a centuries-old vampire, and requests he help her. Spade’s honor impels him to aid Denise at first, but he soon discovers he has no desire of leaving her side. Together, they must unravel the secrets of the demonic bond that threatens her life.

First Drop of Crimson is the first installment of Frost’s Night Huntress World novels (set in the Night Huntress universe but are dedicated, full-length, single novels featuring new couples that are not Cat and Bones). The author’s recommended reading order places this title between Night Huntress #4 and #5; and this is the order I am following, but I think this title can be considered a stand-alone as the main highlights for Denise are revisited and up to this point, very little is known about Spade.

So far, I’m not a fan of Cat and Bones, but my interest in the world and desire to learn more about the secondary vampires has me working through the recommended reading order so that I don’t miss anything about Spade, Mencheres, Ian, and especially Vlad. I very much liked Spade and Denise’s story. Their steadfast natures help each other overcome Denise’s PTSD episodes and Spade’s fear of losing a mortal mate. Overall, an entertaining and steamy narrated read that will appeal to readers of vampire and paranormal fiction.

371 pages

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Renegades by Marissa Meyer

Y'all I live for villains who think they're heroes. Sign me up. Evil laughter...Finally I can let out all my pent up evil laughs...
I also live for villains who are actually heroes and have the heart of a hero.
I love Marissa Meyer's world building...
Bad Reputation plays while Nova kills it. She sassy.
Adrian must be protected. He is stupid and I love him. So stupid.
When you picture a character a certain way in your head for 7/8 of the book....and you find out he looks different... I'm shook. How do you fix your brain...Crud.
Max is a boss and deserves the world.
Nova...Just...Just indulge your romantic urges for three seconds...Please.
Elphaba's No Good Deed plays in the background.
592 Pages

The Escape Artist. By Brad Meltzer. Narrators: Scott Brick & January LaVoy.

The Escape Artist. By Brad Meltzer. Narrators: Scott Brick & January LaVoy. 2018. Hachette Audio. ISBN13: 9781478949374 (Unabridged audiobook, 12 hours 45 mins).

Even though it’s his rotation off, when Jim "Zig" Zigarowski sees the name Sergeant First Class Nola Brown on the list of new arrivals, he makes sure he is the one to work on her body. Zig is a civilian mortician at Dover Air Force Base. When the broken bodies of American soldiers are flown back home, Zig pieces them back together. He is known for his talent and dedication, but it isn’t a love for his craft that drives him. Zig wants to be able to provide closure for the families receiving home their loved ones. And for a brief moment in time, Zig knew Nola; it feels necessary to him to be the one to see to her. Only, the body on the table isn’t Nola. And the scrap of paper in a small canister Zig retrieves from the body’s stomach proves Nola is alive, and that trouble is following her.

Meltzer brings together Zig and Nola, who is the U.S. Army’s artist-in-residence, and ensnares them in a covert sleight of hand. It appears that Operation: Bluebook, has been resurrected and greed is at the helm. The Escape Artist is an entertaining story with plenty of action and intriguing politics and history tracing back to the greatest escape artist of all, Harry Houdini.

Narrators Brick and LaVoy are top notch. Top notch!

416 pages
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