The Third Mushroom

The Third Mushroom by Jennifer L. Holm
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a great addition to The Fourteenth Goldfish series. The first one ended in such a way that you could tell more was coming, so I'm glad this did not disappoint. In order to really understand what happens in this book, you have to have read the first one. There is too much backstory that will cause confusion if you try to only read this one.

The Third Mushroom sees Melvin coming back from his time abroad to join Ellie back in middle school and experiment with the specimen mentioned at the end of the first book. This book really focuses on the struggles of being a teenager and growing up in general. The target audience will easily be able to identify with the characters.

Although there wasn't really anything at the end of this book pointing to another one, I kind of want to see what is next for Melvin.

Author: Jennifer L. Holm
Publisher: Random House
Publication Date: September 4th 2018

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Corporate Crap

Corporate Crap: Lessons Learned from 40 Years in Corporate America by Howard Harrison
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book was an interesting read, but as a low-level employee, I feel like I did not get as much out of this as I could have. As I was reading, I kept thinking that this would be a great read for those that are in positions of power. It really puts some of the crazy things companies do into perspective. I've had to deal with most of the issues mentioned in the book, so I understood the author's views. There were a few that I have not experienced, and after having read about them, I'm going to cross my fingers that they never happen.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Author: Howard Harrison
Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing
Publication Date: 01 Oct 2018

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Book Love

Book Love by Debbie Tung
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This was a great read, and as a book nerd, I related to all of it. I'm just not sure I would read it all again in this format. Would I post individual parts on Facebook or hang posters of them up on my walls? Absolutely.

If you love books and love comics, this is a great read.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Author: Debbie Tung
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Publication Date: 01 Jan 2019

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Simon Fayter and the Tomb of Rone

Simon Fayter and the Tomb of Rone by Austin J. Bailey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This series is hilarious. There are footnotes, which can be hard to pull off in a work of fiction, but they just add to the humor. If you haven't read the first book, you really should before reading this one. This is not a series that can easily be understood if you do not have the backstory.

The characters are great and have developed since the last book, which is what they should do in a series.

These books are great for middle grade readers or those that just want an entertaining story. I will say, the ending of this book had me ready for the next book. I know the author is being awesome and releasing it soon, but I still have some time to wait and wonder what is going to happen next.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Author: Austin J. Bailey
Publication Date: November 22nd 2018

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Royal Crown

Royal Crown by Meg Cabot
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book seemed like it could have been a little side story of another one. The plot points that I really wanted to know about happened behind the scenes with Mia and the other adults. The things that happened in the forefront of the story involved babysitting and periods. It just didn't seem like enough to really fill a whole book. I realize that the main characters of this series are not old enough to be part of the big decisions, but I just wanted more of an actual story.

Author: Meg Cabot
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date: August 7th 2018

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Apprenticeship with a Vampire

Apprenticeship With A Vampire by J. Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this one. The fact that Nathaniel lets the ghosts do whatever they want with these poor people leads to hilarious situations. I like the ghosts. I like the fact that they are not stereotypical. They have their own special flare that goes along with this series perfectly.

This story really has a lot going on. It makes me wonder what kind of people would answer the ad that Diedre posted. Some of the best parts of this story happen in a small moment outside of the house.

This is really just a fast-paced story that keeps you entertained the whole time.

Author: J. Bennett
Publisher: Smashwords Edition
Publication Date: September 10th 2014

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Frank Einstein and the Brainturbo

Frank Einstein and the Brainturbo by Jon Scieszka
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This series is a great one for young readers, as an adult, I start to question things that were never meant to be questioned. If you are a reader that starts wondering about things like where all the adults are when things are happening, you will probably have the same issues I did. For kids, especially ones that are into science, this series is great.

Author: Jon Scieszka
Publisher: Turtleback Books
Publication Date: August 11th 2015

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Expelled

Expelled by James Patterson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book really held my attention, possibly because I really get into mysteries, I have to know what happened. The other reason the book held my attention was the teaser on the cover. It talks about how being expelled affected Sasha, but for most of the book, it is not clear why. That little teaser was just sitting there as I read the book, waiting to reveal itself. I have to admit, once everything was revealed, I did not see any of it coming.

This is a good read that is not just another light-hearted YA book.

Author: James Patterson and Emily Raymond
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Publication Date: October 23rd 2017

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When Vampires and Ninjas Collide

When Vampires and Ninjas Collide by J. Bennett
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

While this was a fun little story, I have to admit, I didn't like this one as much as the others in the series. I think it was because a lot of the action happened between random characters that were not in any of the other stories or Diedre with the Ninjas. There wasn't as much Nathaniel interaction as I would have liked. The Nathaniel parts were great, but I just wanted more of them.

Author: J. Bennett
Publisher: J Bennett
Publication Date: October 25th 2013

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Cogheart

Cogheart by Peter Bunzl
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book had an interesting premise and good plot twists, I just couldn't really get into it. I think the books target audience will like this a lot, so just because it wasn't a favorite of mine doesn't mean I wouldn't consider it a good book.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Author: Peter Bunzl
Publisher: Jolly Fish Press
Publication Date: 12 Feb 2019

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Duel with the Werefrog

Duel with the Werefrog by J. Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book in the Vampire's Housekeeper Chronicles introduced some great characters. The characters that make their debut in this story are featured in the other stories, so it is best to read the Chronicles in order.

In Duel with the Werefrog, Nathaniel and Henrick, a werefrog, decide to duel to win the affection of a lady who frequents bingo games. I enjoyed the fact that the creatures in this series are not just your run-of-the-mill ones. It's not a werewolf, but a werefrog, and an old one riding around in a scooter at that.

I like the fact that Deidre was able to see Nathaniel's true colors even if she was unconscious for them. She definitely had an exciting adventure in this story, with a lot of mixed emotions.

Author: J. Bennett
Publisher: J Bennett
Publication Date: September 28th 2012

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It Wasn't Me

It Wasn't Me by Dana Alison Levy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Mysteries tend to capture my attention, and this book was no different, especially since everyone seemed guilty.

The book is about Theo, who's photos were vandalized twice at school. The principal agrees to let a teacher try a Justice Circle over a week-long school break to find out what happened instead of automatically suspending everyone who may have been involved. The book takes place during the time spent in the Justice Circle. Each day of the week little pieces of information are given about each of the characters, making it difficult to figure out what really happen.

I liked that the characters had some depth to them. None of them were as clear cut as they seemed on the surface. They all had things in their personal lives that they didn't want the others to know about. These secrets created some distrust and confusion as to what really happened.

The ending was slightly predictable, but at the same time, I was surprised. There were mixed emotions when I finished the book. All in all, it was a good YA read.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Author: Dana Alison Levy
Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 13 Nov 2018


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The Vampire Hunter Comes to Call

The Vampire Hunter Comes To Call by J. Bennett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This series cracks me up. You would think that a series with a vampire would be dramatic when a vampire hunter is added, but this is the Vampire's Housekeeper Chronicles, thank you very much. Nothing is ever what it seems.

This story includes Facebook, arthritic knees, and a chess tournament to the death. Really, what more could you want in a book? I highly recommend this entire series.

Author: J. Bennett
Publisher: J Bennett
Publication Date: April 3rd 2012

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Homeroom Diaries

Homeroom Diaries by James Patterson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book was a pretty deep read for something that had illustrations. Those types of books come around every now and then. For me, this is a book that is great for teens, and may even be something that will help them get through hard times, but was something that I think I will only read once. I would still highly recommend it.

I think my biggest issue with this book was the fact that most of the adults were just jerks. I kept wanting to scream at them for the way they were treating Margaret.

I don't know what to say about this book. There is a lot going on, and it is good at evoking emotions. I think it is just one of those books that would be good for everyone to read at least once. There is really something for everyone to get out of it.

Author: James Patterson
Publisher: Arrow (Young)
Publication Date: July 17th 2014

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Royce Rolls

Royce Rolls by Margaret Stohl
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was an entertaining read that made me think about what is really going on behind the cameras on all of the reality tv shows that are out there these days. If this book were to have come out before reality tv was pretty much everywhere, I don't think it would have had the impression it did.

Royce Rolls is about a family like the Kardashians that lives their lives in front of a camera. Behind the scenes, things are not what they appear, and getting that look into what was really going on once the cameras turned off was what made the book a good read.

The book is filled with drama and moments when the reader is left wondering what happened. I appreciate that the readers are not given all of the information from the start. Sometimes it's great to read a book and be all-knowing, but this is one of those times when it worked better for the reader to find things out as the story progressed.

I did listen to the audio book version, and I will admit, the thing that made me crack up multiple times was the mispronunciation of the county Sevier. It didn't change the story at all, but coming from someone who grew up in that area, the reader made it sound a lot fancier than it actually is.

Author: Margaret Stohl
Publisher: Freeform
Publication Date: April 4th 2017

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The Rosie Effect

The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a cute addition to the Don Tillman series. I have to admit, while I did see somethings happening, there were others that took me by complete surprise. Don's way of looking at the world makes it so the reader never really knows what is going to happen next. Things that seem completely logical to him, are unexpected, at least to me. I will say though, the scene on the plane made me think people were over reacting. I guess there are some people who would jump to the conclusions the people in that scene did, but I didn't see anything wrong. Of course, I also knew about the character and the background, so my thoughts might have been different if I did not know that.

For some reason, the part of this book that I enjoyed the most, was Don and Rosie using B.U.D. as a name for the baby. Second favorite part was Don bringing a fake Rosie to events he did not want the real Rosie to know about. That provided great material later on in the book.

Really, there were a bunch of great moments that only Don Tillman would find himself in. I like stepping back from my life and looking at the world from his point of view. I'm glad there is another book in this series so I can see what happens next.

Author: Graeme Simsion
Publisher: Simon Schuster
Publication Date: September 24th 2014

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Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula

Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula by Andi Watson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but it was pretty cute. Princess Decomposia and Count Spatual is a graphic novel about an overworked princess and the new cook. The illustrations really helped to move the story along and bring a new level to it. Princess Decomposia's father was written in such a way that, as a reader, I could sympathize with the struggles Decomposia and Count Spatula had to deal with.

Author: Andi Watson
Publisher: First Second
Publication Date: February 24th 2015

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The Island of Dr. Libris

The Island of Dr. Libris by Chris Grabenstein
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book gets four stars because I really just want this to be my actual life. It's every bookworm's dream to be able to have adventures with the characters from their favorite books. It was fun to see the interactions between the different all the storybook characters.

This is a book meant for young children, but I enjoyed it, and wish that it was real. I just don't know what characters I would want to have adventures with.

Author: Chris Grabenstein
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 2015

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Island of Graves

Island of Graves by Lisa McMann
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This series has a lot going on for a Middle Grade read. The characters have depth to them, which I appreciate. It's easier to really enjoy the story when you can see the characters growing as the series goes on.

I expected this book to be like the others and spend a decent amount of time on the island, but I was wrong. Even though there is not a lot of time spent on the island, there is enough to give readers an understanding of what happened on the island. I feel that older readers will like the knowing about this island because of the little details that are provided and the new character that is introduced. This is one of those times when the reader has some knowledge about what is going on that the characters do not. I'm so used to having everything in these books be something new, so it was an interesting flip. It makes me wonder how things are going to play out in the next book.

Island of Graves is a great addition to the Unwanteds series.

Author: Lisa McMann
Publisher: Turtleback Books
Publication Date: September 15th 2015

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Death in the Family

Death in the Family: A Funny Vampire Short Story inThe Vampire's Housekeeper Chronicles Series by J. Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love a good J. Bennett book. This series is great, along with her Girl with Broken Wings series.

If you're like me, you will start reading The Vampire's Housekeeper Chronicles and not be able to stop.

This short story features Tiffany, a female vampire who also happens to be Nathaniel's sister. The names were very well chosen for this story. Both Nathaniel and Tiffany act like you would expect. No offense to anyone with those names, it's just that Nathaniel is an older name, one set in tradition, and Tiffany is one that is newer and featured in movies as the mean girl or popular girl.

The story line might have been more predictable if the cast of characters didn't also include ghosts, a zombie, a wereferret, and Deidre. I have to say, Deidre is a great model of perseverance. She may look at her poster every night and feel like she is failing, but I would have given up long ago. She just keeps plucking along.

This series is a hilarious read for anyone that is looking for a vampire read that goes against every normal convention.

Author: J. Bennett
Publisher: J Bennett
Publication Date: March 5th 2014


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The Odds of Getting Even

The Odds of Getting Even by Sheila Turnage
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book was good, and I love the series, but it wasn't my favorite. Out of the whole book, I like that Mr. Macon's character was developed more. Honestly, I think he was my favorite part of the book.

The reason the book's villains were doing what they were doing was not clear as I was reading, that part was a surprise, but it was clear to me who they were.

As a book for middle-grade readers, it's great. The characters are still wonderful, the plot just didn't work for me. I'm still completely excited to read the next book.

Author: Sheila Turnage
Publisher: Kathy Dawson Books
Publication Date: October 6th 2015

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How You Ruined My Life

How You Ruined My Life by Jeff Strand
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The story line was great, I just had issues with the characters. I wanted to scream at them the whole time I was reading. Honestly, I'm still not sure what to think about what I read. This may be one that I have to go back to in the future to come to a firm decision on. Right now, it's iffy.

Author: Jeff Strand
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication Date: April 3rd 2018

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Nooks & Crannies

Nooks & Crannies by Jessica Lawson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book had all sorts of twists and turns that I was not expecting. In one way, the mystery was predictable, and I figured out quickly what was going to happen, but there were parts that surprised me and kept me reading. Because of the surprises, I was okay with the small mysteries that I was able to figure out on my own. This book is for middle grade readers, so it is possible that a younger readers thought process would not lead them down the same path mine did.

This book had a lot going on, and was one of those reads that draws you into the story.

Author: Jessica Lawson
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: June 2nd 2015

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The Worst Night Ever

The Worst Night Ever by Dave Barry
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

After reading the first book in this series, you think I would have been prepared for this one, but no. There is so much crazy in this book.

It was an interesting read and I liked seeing how the characters handled the situations they were in, it was just too much for me. The villains had a really kind of horrible plan, and it was hard for me to see how anyone, even a villain would think that it was a good idea.

I do really think that this would make a great screenplay. It seems to have a cinematic element to it that makes it enjoyable, it's just not one I will be picking up again.

Author: Dave Barry
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: April 26th 2016

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Everything, Everything

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I decided to read this book because the movie came out and caught my attention. As of right now, I have not actually watched the movie, so my view of the story is based solely on the book.

I have to admit, I wasn't sure what to expect. Having seen the previews for the movie, I thought I knew the premise of the story, but once I hit the ending, I was surprised. I'm really glad that the story wasn't predictable. There was character growth that helped push the story line forward.

I did have an issue with the ending, just because it brought up questions for me. The ending was a shock, but then I sat there and wondered why no one ever thought to question what was going on. Once the hole was poked in the story, it seemed clear to me that the life the mother had created should have fallen apart long before then. I don't know, that might just be my thought.

All-in-all, a good YA book.

Author: Nicola Yoon
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 2015

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Penguins of America

Penguins of America by James Patterson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

While this book was cute and funny, it's not one that I think I will read again. The illustrations are what really sets this book apart, and I think people that are more into books with fewer words and more illustrations will really enjoy this.

Honestly, you can't go wrong with penguins. They make everything better. I can see everyone enjoying this book, maybe just not over and over, depending on who you are.

Author: James Patterson
Publisher: Little: Brown and Company
Publication Date: 2017

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