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Brief synopsis (no spoilers): Neglected and eventually orphaned Mary Lennox is sent to live with her Uncle in  Misselthwaite Manor. Having been given all that she wants to this point she is spoiled and is constantly yelling and grumpy. However, as she begins to spend time outside and as she learns some of the secrets that  Misselthwaite Manor holds she begins to slowly find herself changing.  Category : Classics Why I chose this book:  It's a classic My personal opinion: I'm not sorry I read (well, listened) to this story; however, I don't think I'll be recommending it to anyone. The most beautiful and moving parts of the story were the descriptions of the garden coming alive and of Dicken's interactions with the animals.  But the parts about Mary's and Colin's upbringings and and their spoiled brat attitudes became rather annoying (although, I realize they have to start out with bad character traits in order to change throughout the book). The ...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): Benson Fisher receives a scholarship to Maxfield Academy, a private boarding school. As a resident of the foster system, he feels this will be his big break. But once he arrives, he realizes that there's more to the story. He and the other residents cannot leave- ever. Category : YA fiction Why I chose this book : Recommended, don't remember by whom My personal opinion : I really enjoyed the story. It had a couple rough moments of fighting, and it has a couple references to the word "sex", so I don't recommend it for anyone that isn't ready for those things. But the book was excellent. I love the plot twists! I never saw the middle coming, much less the end! Definitely worth owning (I am sure I will read and re-read this one). Warnings Language: None Violence: Fairly regular, and some graphic "Adult" situations: Kissing, holding hands, word "sex" mentioned Death: Yes, including major character(s) Movie rating e...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): Kalinda lives with a group of women who are trained to fight and be claimed as the wives of the most powerful men in the empire. She and two others are claimed at the same time by the Rajah and one of his generals. Kalinda will become the Rajah's one hundredth Rani, after a final battle for position between the wives and courtesans. As if that weren't enough of a story, the empire is at war with the Bhuta, who have penetrated the empire to the highest levels. Category : Fantasy, fiction Why I chose this book : Amazon First Reads My personal opinion : I liked the story, it was different from what I normally read. It was clean, and I enjoyed that it described some practices of another culture. It will not make my List of Favorites of All Time (TM), but it was good enough that I might buy more of the series. I do recommend it for anyone mature enough to understand courtesans and polygamy. Warnings Language: None Violence: Frequent and moderately graph...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): Hunter Braque is a "cool hunter," meaning his job is to roam the streets looking for the next "cool" thing. When a top client and friend goes missing, Hunter must use his skills (and the help of a friend) to find out what's going on.  Category: YA Why I chose this book:  Read other books by the author, sounded interesting My personal opinion: Skip it. I kept going because I kept thinking it had to get better. The first few chapters were an interesting social commentary about how ideas and innovations become popular or not and how they get transmitted through the ranks of society. Also, strewn throughout were interesting pieces of history and scientific stories, which I enjoyed. For example, I learned the history of the phrase "six degrees of separation." However, the story was ultimately very lame, the romance was awkward, and it just wasn't worth the time.   Warnings Language:  Lots, especially in the second hal...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): Frey and Rafi are identical twins, however only a handful of people know that Frey actually exists. While Rafi has been bred to be the charming daughter, Frey exists only to protect Rafi, having spent her whole life in hiding and training. She only appears as her sister's body double in dangerous situations.  Frey has never actually been out on her own until their father sends her instead of Rafi during a dangerous political mission. On the mission Frey meets Col, the son of the rival rulers. He gets close enough to Frey to realize that she may not be who she says she is.     Category: YA Why I chose this book: Read other books by the author  My personal opinion: Interesting story of the body double idea. It's interesting to watch as Frey learns who she is outside of her father and sister's shadows. The technology that exists in this world is also pretty cool.  Warnings Language:  One or two Violence: Fighting, but ...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): Arden and Dade could not be more different- Arden is from Undercity, and comes from a very poor background, while Dade is from one of the most influential families in the society, and lives in a sky tower. Everyone that does not live in a tower suffers from a vitamin D deficiency, and must take a supplement. The richest families, like Dade's, have complete control over distribution of that drug. And the drug can be re-fabricated into an addictive painkilling drug, which Arden and her family sell. Pretty classic "star-crossed lovers" story. Category : YA Fiction, Sci-Fi Why I chose this book : Amazon First reads My personal opinion : It was pretty good. Mostly clean in content, mostly interesting in the story. Fairly predictable (classic Romeo and Juliet story). It's good enough that I do recommend it to YA readers. I'm setting the movie rating at PG-13, though, because of the drug and romance references. Nothing explicit, just not kid...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers):  Kel has earned her shield and is given her first command. Though it isn't what she hoped it would be, Kel is determined to make the best of the situation.  Category: YA Why I chose this book:  Fourth in series My personal opinion: This was my least favorite of the set, but it is still good. Kel must take on the demands of leadership and balance that with her personal desires.  Warnings Language:  One or two maybe, or at least alluded to Violence: Lots of fighting "Adult" situations: Not really Death:  Plenty during the fighting, some favorite characters Movie rating equivalent: PG-13 - R depending on the degree of violence   Protagonist description:   In this book  we again see why Kel has the name Protector of the Small, as she defends those that her peers see as worthless.  Point of view of story:  Kel's point of view Book length:  Medium Story flow:  Fluid Grammar and sp...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): Kel gets a real chance to prove herself in the field as a squire when war breaks out in Tortall. Kel must also prepare for her Ordeal of Knighthood. Category: YA Why I chose this book: Third in the series  My personal opinion: I continued to enjoy the series. I like the man who is Kel's master and his way of training and teaching her.  Warnings: Language:  None that I remember Violence:  Fights with fists and weapons, nothing overly gory  "Adult" situations:  As Kel gets older she starts to notice and be interested in boys. She does get into a relationship and while they steal kisses in alleys at the market, it doesn't go anywhere. In fact, Kel talks about how she wants a family eventually, but right now she is working toward her shield. She talks with her Mother about relationships and decides to get a charm from a healer that wards against pregnancy. There is reference to relationships between other characters. As ...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): Everyone's searching for the Red Dragon. No one is telling the whole truth- ever. Category : Fiction, fantasy Why I chose this book : Recommended on Amazon My personal opinion : It's okay. The language is clean. The story line is interesting enough. The writing style is immature. Author: I recommend paying a proofreader. Don't read it if you don't like characters escaping peril by chance, or "just in the nick of time". It's not predicable, but it's also not thrilling. New powers, circumstances, and plans are introduced all the time- the happy ending is inevitable. Warnings Language: none that I recall Violence: fighting, some of it moderately graphic "Adult" situations: yes, bordering on graphic (usually interrupted before too much detail) Death: yes, including major character(s) Movie rating equivalent : PG-16 (not R, but I won't let my 13-year old read it) Protagonist description : Row...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers):  Through fiery determination Kel has made it into her second year of training for knighthood. This book covers her second and third years as a page. She continues to fight against the same grueling schedule and prejudice as the previous years. Kel must deal with growing up, learning to conquer her fears, and decide what it means to be a leader.   Category: Juv/YA Why I chose this book:  Second in the series My personal opinion: I continued to enjoy this series immensely. I love Tamora Pierce's writing style and I love Kel as a character. This book does dive into the topics of Kel going through puberty, but as with other books by the author, I feel that Pierce does a wonderful job of being realistic without being graphic. These things do happen and do affect Kel's manner of dressing and training, but the descriptions are never excessive or overly awkward.  Warnings Language:  None Violence: Combat situations with fists an...

  Brief synopsis (no spoilers):  Keladry of Mindalen is the first girl to take advantage of the decree that girls can train to be Knights in the realm of Tortall. Alana the Lioness became a knight 10 years ago and Kel wants to follow in her footsteps. However, because the training master, Lord Wyldon, doesn't believe girls should be knights, Kel is put on a one year probation, something that no male has ever had imposed on them. In addition, Keladry must deal with the usual hazing and grueling schedule of training for knighthood.     Category:  Juv/YA fic Why I chose this book:  Enjoyed other books by the same author  My personal opinion:  Kel is awesome. I loved going on the journey with her through her probationary year. And I love her title, Protector of the Small. It comes into play from the very beginning of her story.  Warnings Movie rating equivalent:  PG Language:  None.  Violence:...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): Rowen is a half-blood, meaning her mother is a dragon (dragons live in human form most of the time), and her dead father is a human. Her stepfather is a Duke, and is intent on Rowen carving out a place of royalty for herself- by any means necessary. Rowen is not so sure about that approach. As a half-blood, she has some magical ability, but she hasn't fully explored what she can do, because practicing magic is against the law in the dragon realm. Category : Fiction, fantasy Why I chose this book : Recommended on Amazon My personal opinion : It's okay. There were a few scenes in which I was afraid that the lewdness would spill into the inappropriate realm, but it was mostly clean. The language is fine. The story line is interesting- I am curious to see how the main characters are developed. But the writing style is immature. Future books by the author will undoubtedly get better; I recommend paying a proofreader. This story line will not be added to...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): Prince Jorg intends to be the king over the entire land by the time he's fifteen. And he will kill anyone that gets in his way- friend or foe. He's quite bright and strategic, so he just might accomplish his goal. Category : Fantasy Why I chose this book : Description sounded interesting My personal opinion : I am grateful that it was on sale when I bought it, because this was a waste of money. Bad language, graphic violence, and rape are present almost from the very beginning. Most of the bad language was spelled as it would be pronounced in a dialect, so I thought they were euphemisms. But no, the real deal came up later. I wish I could have finished this book. The story line sounded interesting- I really want to see if Jorg can actually pull off the revenge he wants. But I can't take the language, so I'm done. I don't recommend this to anyone. I'm also not reviewing the series, because I don't intend to continue it. Warnings ...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): Kate Moore lives in the US in the late 1920s. She has a rough background, and some serious baggage, but she's making good strides to improve her station. Category : Historical Fiction Why I chose this book : Amazon First Reads My personal opinion : I was excited to try this book. The story line was compelling. There's a "spooky", foreshadowing chapter right at the beginning (maybe even a prologue), and then the story jumps back in time to give the background and set the scene for some juicy intrigue. There are some vague references to immorality, but nothing explicit. And then there's a romance scene, with too much detail to ignore. I'm done. Could have been a good book. Probably is a great story, but I'll never know. Warnings Language: None Violence: Referenced, but not graphic "Adult" situations: Yes, references to prostitution, and a mildly graphic scene between husband and wife Death: Yes Movie rating equivalent ...