Ghost Soldiers

Ghost Soldiers By: Hampton Sides

                      This book took me awhile, course historical non-fiction usually does cause I want to take in as much detail as I can. I served and LDS mission in the Manila Philippines mission. While I was over there we had a chance to tour the US Embassy and our tour guide was the first person to introduce me to the Bataan death march, "High Pockets" and the Japanese occupation in the Philippines. My interest was instantly peaked; so naturally when I found this book I felt like I needed to read it.
                         Reading about the atrocities that these POW's went through and the scale of the rescue mission and the determination of the first Army Rangers to free them is both awe inspiring as well as gut retching. Hampton Sides does s great job at helping you to understand and "see" what was going on. At times I felt like I was watching a documentary in a way rather than reading a book. I really loved learning about all these brave soldiers and look forward to studying this subject in further detail.

City of Fallen Angels

City of Fallen Angels By: Cassandra Clare

"The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She’s training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most importantly of all—she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second, bloody war. Clary’s best friend, Simon, can’t help her—his mother just found out that he’s a vampire, and now he’s homeless. When Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: she herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace."

I don't know if its because I have been listening to this series for awhile now and I am getting a little bored of them, or something else. But I found this book to be really slow and not quite as attention grabbing as the last 3. The last chapter was awesome and it ended on a cliffhanger. But again I don't know if its cause I need a break from the series or what but I didn't want to immediately jump into the next book to find out what happens. In fact I think I am going to read a non fiction or two before I go back to this series. 

City of Glass

City of Glass BY: Cassandra Clare

Jace and Clare continue to figure out how they can defeat the evil Valentine and help wake Clare's mom up from her coma. As they head to the shadow home country and to the city of glass. Clare and Jace finds out more about their families and the time comes for them to face Valentine. Will they have what it takes to defeat him?

I am really enjoying this series, she has so many twist and turns in these books and you never know whats going to happen next. It always leaves me wanting more. I am excited to continue on with this series and read more. :)

City of Ashes

City of Ashes  By: Cassandra Clare

The adventures of Clare, Jace, Isabelle, Alec and Simon continue in this "cant put down" sequel. The twists and turns continue as Jace and Clare continue to battle demons and the rogue shadow hunter Valentine with the help of friends and family; and this time they need all the help they can get.

I had a hard time stopping this and always found myself listening to it any chance I got, even if it was walking from my car into work. I at least got to listen to a few minutes more. :p This series is quickly turning into a favorite and I predict that this series may be one I go back to again and again.

City of Bones

City of Bones By: Cassandra Clare

This book was a roller coaster ride. My head is still spinning with all the twists and turns this book had. I enjoyed this book quite a bit and would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed reading the divergent series.

"When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know..." (review by Amazon)

Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them

Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them By: Newt Scamander

I cant believe it has taken me so long to read this book, especially with me being a HUGE Potter fan. My husband and I read this together in honor of remembering the time that I forced him to listen to me read Harry Potter in the car on the way to work till he became interested. :p It was fun and nostalgic to read this book together. It was a lot of fun to read and I would recommend this book to any Harry Potter fan.

This book is an A-Z of magical creatures that Newt Scamander has found in his various journeys; including the ministry of magics danger rating, as well as a short history of various monsters and locations.

The Death Cure

The Death Cure By: James Bashner

Escaping W.I.C.K.E.D. Thomas and his friends now find themselves in the real world and not knowing what to do, where to go or who to trust. They decide to go to one of the few remaining citys that try and keep out the flare. Denver! Once there though they receive a mysterious note and find out about a rebel group called the right arm. After there meeting with an old friend who they thought was dead things go from bad to worse and once again Thomas and his friends are fighting for their lives and freedom.

I really loved this whole series. Seriously if you liked the hunger games this is a MUST read.

The Scorch Trials

The Scorch Trials By: James Dashner

This is the next book in the maze runner series.

Thomas, Teresa and the other glader's felt like they were finally safe with their rescuers when they were awoken by cranks (people infected with a disease called the flare) banging on the windows screaming. Thomas was shocked to find Teresa was missing and a boy named Aris had replaced her. After a few days of confusion and hunger they finally found out from an agent of W.I.C.K.E.D that their journey wasn't over. They had passed the first trial but their second trial was just about to begin and it was going to be harder, more terrifying, and confusing then the first trial in the maze.

I really enjoyed this book, you got to find out more about Thomas and WICKED and what was going on. more of the story was coming together. If you liked the hunger games then I think you'll enjoy this series.

The Chimes

The Chimes By: Charles Dickens

This was a gift from Audible for Christmas. I started it around that time, but as small as it was it took a long time for me to get through it. At first I was thinking it was another version of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. But after I  finished it to me it seemed more like a book to teach about the importance of not judging others because you never know what their story is.

The story is a about an old man who lives in England with his daughter Meg. He has a "vision" of goblins and spirits that live in the bells in the cathedral.

It's really hard to explain, but it has a really great message and meaning to it, in my opinion.

The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner By: James Dashner

This is a book that I have heard about but logged it away as a read it someday but then forgot about it. I saw the movie on Amazon and remembered the book. I always like to read the book before I see the movie, I feel the movie can make more sense that way. :) This book did not disappoint. If you like the Divergent Series or the Hunger Games I think you'll enjoy this book. It kept you curious, confused and wanting to know more right to the last page. I really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to moving on to the next book.

The main character Thomas found himself not knowing who he was or anything about his life. All he could remember was his name. He was now in a glade with hundreds of other boys ranging in age and surrounded by a giant maze with menacing creatures called grievers. He starts to make friends and find a place for himself in the glade, but then everything changes.

The Austere Academy

The Austere Academy By Lemony Snicket

I always start reading these with the best of intentions. After awhile I remember that I haven't finished these books and I start to wonder what happens next. So I pick up the next book and usually get through it fairly fast. But almost always without fail around the middle of these books I think "Nothing ever good happens to these poor kids. Why am I reading this?" I have been trying to get through this series for the past 5 to 8 years, and I have to say it has gotten worse since I have became a mother. Not the story, the story is very well written. I just know that nothing good has ever or will ever happen to these kids and it just baffles me that I keep reading. Has anyone else had this experience with these books?

Bye 2015. Hello 2016

So I was really close to completing my goal of 20 books in 2015. At the end of the year though I did feel a little burned out. So this year I am going to lower my goal for a couple reasons, I want read this year for the enjoyment of reading and not to try and read a lot; ( I hope that makes sense) I am going to try and get back to school this year too. So I see more textbook reading in my future than anything else. So my reading goal for 2016 is going to be 10 books. Also I found this fun reading challenge on facebook:

I think it would be fun to follow this as a guideline for this next years reading challenge. So I wish everyone a happy, healthy 2016.

Happy Reading! :D