Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!

I hope that your day is filled with family, friends, and laughter!

I hope you have new books under the tree.

And also hot chocolate and gingerbread cookies.

These look so much better than the ones I made, but do they taste as good???

Happy Birthday to Me

This is 45

A lot has happened this year! 

This is one of my favorite pictures - from our Glacier trip.

Middle Grade Review: Unraveled

While his friends faced their own challenges in Stellarlune, Keefe was in the human world. Where did he go, who did he see…and what shocking secrets were revealed to him? - Summary from the publisher

My Thoughts: This book takes place after the last book - but it's from Keefe's point of view during his time in the human world. I like how he struggled with human moments that are different than what elves do. Lord HunkyHair is one of my favorite characters - because of his humor and wit. There are lots of secrets that's required to keep. I loved the ending and I'm eagerly awaiting for the next installment. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendation: A must have series for your school and public libraries. 

Fall TBR Check-in

This week we shared our Winter TBR list, so here's the check in...

So far, I've read 8 books. Which is pretty good for me. 

But I also have several books on the list checked out from the library. 

 

Review: My Antarctica

 

Today's the first day of winter and this is a great book to read to start off the season

A writer explores Antarctica and shows off lots of pictures, lists, and experiences.

This book has so much to offer between pictures and the funny tidbits of information about the land and the people there. There's a lot to pour over, but the information's broken up into nice chunks. I loved how the pictures were also illustrated. The end of the book features an author's note, more facts, and a Q & A. After reading this book, I can't help but want to travel there. Not for seven weeks like the author, but maybe a week. 

Would you travel to Antarctica?

Mini Review: Operation Chaos

 

X-Men meets Spy Kids in the fifth installment of The Forgotten Five middle-grade fantasy/adventure series by the New York Times bestselling author of The Unwanteds.

The Forgotten Five and their friends are reeling in the aftermath of the raid on Magdalia Palacio's campaign rally—an attack masterminded by her corrupt opponent President Fuerte and his henchmen. Birdie is in the hospital with a head injury, and under arrest for stealing a police horse in her attempt to evade capture. Separated from her friends—and not even allowed to see her mother—how can Birdie escape when she is utterly alone? Then the Librarian is taken captive in the heavily guarded palace dungeon after Fuerte discovers she's been acting as a double agent. What will they do without their trusted mentor? Luckily, the five have been honing their supernatural abilities, and it's Brix who takes the lead, forging an unlikely alliance and putting together a plan. Does the group have what it takes to rescue their friends and even the odds in the president's all-out war against Estero's supernaturals? 

- summary from the publisher

My Thoughts: I don't want to go into too many details and give away something from the series.

But...

Obviously, there is a lot of action and danger here

Rescue missions

Talking animals

Trust Issues

I can't wait to read the next installment. This is a such a fun series.

Source: My Library

Cover Thoughts: Love it - it's action packed

Library Recommendation: A must have series for school and public library.

Christmas Romance Review: All I Want for Christmas

Jessica Carrington always wanted her own happily ever after. But, until that happens, she spends her days as a small-time romance writer, penning satisfying Happily Ever Afters to soothe the heartache left by her ex-boyfriend Nick Matthews, a fellow romance writer and now her biggest rival, who has found success writing love stories without happy endings. It's clearly what he's good at, after all . . .

So, when their professional obligations find them snowed in - and forced to share a room! - at the same remote inn a few days before Christmas, Jess and Nick are both fuming. But what's more fitting for two romantic writers in a slump? And when they realise the friction between them might be the only cure for their writer's block, they decide to turn their frustration into fiction . . . and the pages start flying.

Jess can't shake the feeling that Nick is the last guy on earth she should be falling for (again), but, as they both finally get back in their flow, is he actually all she wants for Christmas? - summary from the publisher

My Thoughts: I loved this one. I loved how they were both not over each other. I loved how they both had writer's block but after trading barbs on social media, the words start flowing again. Then they get stuck snowed in at the book event. At breakfast, it comes out that they are essentially writing the same book, an editor suggests they write the book together. There was so much banter and flirting in this book. I loved it so much, I handed it off to a co-worker. And now I need to read the author's other works. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Recommendation: Highly recommended for your romance collection