Recovery Road by Blake Nelson - A Book Review

Hey guys!

Sorry for the absence, it was my birthday this past week so I have completely been gone from my house. However, this morning I finished Recovery Road by Blake Nelson. I gave this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars because of a few things.

1. I feel like Nelson's style of writing with the listing and the lack of minor character development is the major reason for the low score. If someone dies, and I don't feel bad, I don't think that's a very good sign. However, I know many other readers who like this style of writing - it's just not my forte.
2. I feel like the main relationship in the book happens too quickly, so I don't connect with the main character on the relationship level.
3. However, in every other aspect I adore the main character.

To hear more about what I thought (including SPOILERS!) watch the video below!

Entwined by Heather Dixon: A Book Review

Hi Guys!

I just finished reading Entwined by Heather Dixon, and honestly, I can't decide if I loved or hated this book. I felt in sections it tended to drone on and on, but during other parts I absolutely could not put this book down. This has never happened to me, and I can assure you, I'll do everything I can to make sure it doesn't happen again! Because of this fact, I gave the book a 3 out of 5 stars. I wasn't upset that I read it, but I wouldn't read it again.

The book is based off the fairytale The Twelve Princesses, mainly focusing about a princess named Azalea and her life at her castle that also happens to be enchanted, in part. The book takes place in England, hundreds of years ago. Before the Wentworth family (Azalea's family) had conquered the land, it was ruled by the High King - an evil king.

I did not know of the fairytale and still have not read anything about The Twelve Princesses, and it was still very easy to follow in that regard. However, in the beginning, with the bouncing around between present time and memories, did end up leaving me confused at times.

Heather Dixon has beautiful linguistics, and I feel like she should be proud of her ability to write the past so well, and also be proud of how well she knows the British slang - especially because she grew up in the western United States. She wrote the novel very elegantly, and I give her credit for that.

If you guys have any questions, just let me know! Comment below or on my YouTube account. My Goodreads account link is on the description underneath the video on YouTube.

As always, good readings!
Alicia :)

Update!

Hey guys!

I just wanted to give you a quick update with where I'm at book-wise and why it's been a week since I've done a YouTube review! I tell you, you stick to a goal and then fate decides to jump in and take the reins! Either way I have a book review coming your way tomorrow and I'm very excited to do it. Also, below is the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, which I should have put on the Thirteen Reasons Why review, and completely forgot.

If you or someone you love is considering suicide, please call the number. You deserve a chance to grow, be the best person you can be, and live. :)

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

As always, good readings!
Alicia

The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch: A Book Review

Hey y'all!

Sorry, I felt the greeting was appropriate. I mean, we are talking about Southern Charm here. The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch is one of the best books I have ever read. It did one thing that most books that I've read don't do: It made me nervous, but it also made me laugh. It's a hard line to stay on, but Crouch does it beautifully!

The Magnolia League is about a girl named Alex (or Alexandria, as her Grandmother calls her against her will) who is from a commune farm in California, but upon her mother's death, is forced to move to Savannah and live with her beyond wealthy Grandmother. Soon after arriving, she is thrown to the hens, so to speak, at a meeting of the The Magnolia League. And nothing is the same after that...

Alex gets thrown into a world of hoodoo, and with that comes great things, and some very bad things as well.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars, definitely a perfect summer read.

Click here to see very low prices on this book through sites such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Half.com.

I also recently got a Goodreads. Go ahead and add me, just let me know where you found me! On there you can see what books I've read in the past, including ones I haven't reviewed on Youtube, currently reading, and the books next on my list to read.

As always, below is a video of my thoughts on the book including spoilers. Don't worry though - I announce talking about the spoilers before actually talking about them! ;)

Good readings,
Alicia

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher: A Book Review

Hey guys!

I want you to imagine coming home from school or work, and seeing a package addressed to you. You get excited - you've got mail, and it isn't a bill! You open them up and it's tapes. Who could've sent you these? Is it music? What is it? You find an old tape player and decide to give it a listen.

"It's Hannah Baker here -"


Wait, it can't be. She's dead.

Are you in this mind set now? Perfect! You're ready to read Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. The book is about a young boy named Clay who receives the tapes in a mail from an anonymous sorts that obtained the story of the short life of Hannah Baker - directly from the source. Hannah tells the listeners immediately, they are the reasons she killed herself, and she's going to tell them all why.

I give this book a 5/5 stars! Definitely an amazing read. Mr. Asher has amazing writing skills, and should be very proud of this book. I recommend anyone 14 and older to read this book! There's some pretty heavy things in the book, and that's why I give it that age for when it's appropriate.

As always, a more detailed explanation and spoilers are in the video!
Good readings!
Alicia :)

Sickness in the Spring :(

First things first - yes, I am done reading Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. Unfourtunately, at the same time, my immune system has failed me and I have completely lost my voice! I'm so sorry for the long wait - I'm hoping this will be gone by Tuesday of this coming week!

I've had a suggestion to read I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore. Any opinions on that front? Let me know!

As always, Good readings! :)
Alicia

Dark Mirror by M.J. Putney: A Book Review

Hi guys!

Alrighty - let's get down to business! I read Dark Mirror over the weekend, which is the first part in a series (which I believe will actually be a trilogy, but I'm not 100% positive in that one - will edit and update later!), and it was definitely a good book. I would say a 3.5-3.9/5 stars, depending on your mood. The end doesn't necessarily have any huge cliffhangers, and I think it's be a pretty decent book just on it's own, but I will definitely be picking up Dark Passage - the second book of the series - when it comes out this fall!

The book is about Lady Victoria Mansfield (Tory) and the aftereffect of dealing with living in a century (1803, to be exact) around nobles who believe that magic is a taint to the blood, and they send their children to a boarding school to get them cured.

I definitely think that Ms. Putney has a talent for writing historical fiction that is unmatched by any other author I've read books from. So, definitely a book worth checking out. I recommend this book for readers 15 and older, for the vocabulary used in it. Unless you are ahead in your classes, or don't mind the occasional dictionary word hunt (or skipping the word, assuming you get the gist of what it means), I don't think you're going to want to read this book, based simply on the vocabulary.

As always, the video is below for more things such as spoilers and what my next book that I will review will be. I also have a segment at the very end letting everyone know about Barnes & Noble's Authorized Seller List, that will help you get books for sooo much cheaper (don't worry, they aren't telling me to say this, I just love an amazing bargain and want to share)!

If you have any book suggestions, feel free to let me know! I was thinking of possibly creating a twitter for the website. You guys will have to let me know what you think of that idea!

Good readings!
Alicia :)