Book Review: The Blood of Olympus

And it's over. The Blood of Olympus is the final installment of The Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan.

I'm a little sad that it is over. I've been reading through since I discovered Percy Jackson and the Olympians. I love the adventures of the books and after I read each one I listen to the audiobook with my kids.

They love listening to books when we are in the car or cleaning the  house. Especially Sidda.

The Blood of Olympus does not disappoint.

The seven demigods of the prophecy are heading to Athens. They are on their way to stop the ritual that will bring Gaea back to life.

But not without a few hiccups along the way. They must face psyco gods and battles that will make them face their own fears and even their own mortality.

Across the Altantic, Nico, Reyna and Coach Hedge are making their way back to Camp Half-Blood with the Athena Parthenos. They are hoping to make it back before the Roman demigods start attacking the Greek demigods. Their only hope is to make it in time and unite the two camps against the rising earth mother.

I loved reading every minute of this book. And I look forward to letting the kids enjoy this final installment.

Book Review: Shopaholic to the Stars

Where do I even begin?  I love, love, love the Shopaholic series.  I love reading about Becky Brandon (Bloomwood) and all of her antics.

But maybe it's time for Sophie Kinsella to put it to bed.  I feel in Shopahlic to the Stars Becky just gets in to one mess after another and none of the problems are really solved. It just kind of ends. It is left with a huge cliff hanger that means there is going to be a follow up novel.  And in truth I will read it because I have to know what happens.

Now even though it wasn't one of my favorite shopaholic novel doesn't mean it didn't have great moments or funny moments or that it was over all bad.  Just not the same. But now, let's get to what happened in the book.

Becky and Luke have moved to Hollywood. And Becky is beyond excited. She wants to rub shoulders with celebrities and walk the red carpet. But more than any of that she wants to become a celebrity stylist. It's really the perfect fit. She would get to dress the Hollywood elite and get to shop to make it happen.  It's really a dream come true. If only she could get her foot in the door.

Luke is working PR for Sage Seymour a very popular actress. Becky is trying to make contact with her but Luke is keeping Sage away from Becky. (Smart guy.) But then Becky catches Sage's rival, Lois Kellerton, shoplifting and it's her way in to get in with Sage.

But Hollywood life is not all that it's cracked to be. Becky's daughter, Minnie, is in a prestige preschool but the head of the PTA is none other than Alicia Billington, Becky's own rival from her years as a financial journalist. Alicia has convinced everyone that she has changed but Becky is not so sure.

Overall I would rate this about a 3 1/2 out of 5.

2015 Goals

As I looked over my goals I set for myself last year I realized how much I really didn't accomplish.  I was able to complete 13 of the 32 items on that list.  I am super excited for the things that I did accomplish.  I really failed in the areas of losing weight and creativity.

I started the year off with good intentions. I ran every day for 100 days.  I was good with drinking my water. I tracked my steps. But with all of that I wasn't staying on top of my diet and so no weight was lost.  I did not gain but none was lost at all.  What a downer. A lot of my exercise stopped completely after Michael's grandfather passed away. Life just changed and it was hard to get a routine back together.

So it really seems that for the last half of 2014 I really didn't accomplish anything.

But that's not completely true. It just wasn't the goals that I had even considered.

A couple of months ago I started crocheting for the first time in at least 10 years. I never really liked it when I was younger. But as I've been starting to get into it again I really feel I have a knack for it.  I love when I get to be creative and this is a way I can do it.  I was ecstatic! I love that I can make things for my friends and family.

Also, funnily enough, my husband and our kids church helped me accomplish a back of my mind goal and I have finally memorized all the books of the Bible in order.  Sidda, MJ and I all learned them together.  I can now get through those minor prophets with ease!  Woo-hoo!

So now for this year. It's time to accomplish some new goals.  Renew some old goals and change my way of thinking on how to accomplish them.

1. Write at least one blog post a week in 2015
2. Read 12 books.
3. Read 24 books.
4. Crochet a blanket
5. Sell one crocheted item.
6. Drink 100 oz of water in one day.
7. Drink 100 oz of water a day for 7 days
8. Drink 100 oz of water a day for 30 days
9. Run 1 mile without stopping.
10. Lose 10 lbs.
11. Lose 24 lbs.
12. Lose 36 lbs.
13. Go down on dress size.
14. Potty train Anya
15. Go on 6 out of the house, kid free dates with Michael.
16. Have weekly in home dates with Michael
17. Try a new food
18. Try a new recipe
19. Start a vegetable garden.
20. Play an RPG video game.

There we have it.  I have less goals this year than last year, I want this year to be a success.  I'm ready to start.  I'll start small at expand on my goals as needed. It's time for new. It's time for change in some areas and more focus in others. I'm looking forward to 2015 being a great year! 

Book Review: Champion

And we have an ending to our trilogy. It always makes me a little sad when I finish a series.  I feel like there is so  much of the world that I missed out on and want to explore some more.

Champion by Marie Lu did not disappoint as a follow up to Legend and Prodigy.

June is now second in command of the entire Republic.  She is helping lead the country by the side of Anden the Elector Primo.  She has gotten mixed in the politics of governing the nation and has remained in the capital in Denver.

Day on the other hand has left Denver and returned to California with his brother, Eden, who he just found again.  But there is one more thing.  Day is dying.  He's been sick for awhile but it has now reached the breaking point.  Best case scenario, Day lives a few more months.

June and Day's lives are brought back together when the Colonies wage war on the Republic.  The plague that had affected Eden has now spread into the Colonies and they will attack until a cure can be found.  June must ask Day for his help and the help of Eden if they ever hope to find a cure.

June knows nothing about the secret that Day carries around.  How long can he keep it from her?  Will they survive the war?  Will they find the cure that they desperately seek?

Champion delivers action and emotion.  Lu is an excellent story teller with an awesome story to tell.  If you enjoy dystopian novels this should be on your read list.

Book Review: Prodigy

Prodigy is the second novel in the Legend Trilogy.  If you would like to read my review of Legend, you can see that here.

Prodigy by Marie Lu picks up right from where Legend left off.  Day is hurt and June is with them. They are trying to make it to Las Vegas to find the rebellious group known as the Patriots. It's their only chance of receiving the help the desperately need.

Once they finally come in contact with the Patriots they had a very fast decision to make, receive the help they need (healing Day) and agree to the extreme terms or go on on their own.

And what is it that Day and June have to agree to do? Assassinate the new Elector. To do this June must get close to the Elector and Day must prepare to be the one that to do the killing.

But things don't always turn out how you expect.

I again loved this book. Marie Lu knows how to bring you in to a wonderful story. I am now moving on to the last installment, Champion.

Book Review: Artistic License

While perusing my local library last week I picked up a copy of Artistic License by Katie Fforde.  This is the first book that I have ever read by this author and I really enjoyed it.

It did start out slowly but by the middle I really wanted to know what was going to happen so I pressed on and really loved it.

Thea is 35 years old and really just going through the motions of life.  She runs student housing out of her home and though she doesn't mind it, she really wants something more.

Things change quickly when her friend Molly invites her on an artists tour in France.  Thea meets Rory, an aspiring painter, and runs off to Ireland with him.  She sees his painting and decides that she will open an art gallery to show the world Rory's work.
Of course, not everything is as it seems and is not a simple as you make think it should be.  There is confusion and misunderstandings and falling in love.

This novel was more than I expected.  I was fast and fun and I'm glad I got a hold of it.

Book Review: The One and Only

I don't even know where to start with this book.  What happened to Emily Giffin? What happened to the wonderful storyteller that wrote Something Borrowed and The Heart of the Matter?

The last two books I have forced myself to continue reading in hopes that the story would just get better.  And it just didn't.

In The One and Only we meet Shea.  Shea loves all things football, but particularly Walker University football.   Her life revolves around it since she was a young girl.

The head coach, Coach Carr, wife has recently passed away and Shea has always maintained a crush on him since she was small.  But now her feelings are deepening and she wants more.

There are many things that stand in the way of them being together, including Coach Carr's daughter Lucy who is also Shea's life long best friend.

I was so disappointed in this book.  The story was boring and there was no character development.  Shea did not change or grow from the beginning of the book to the end.  Even with the many times that she told herself that she changed.  Maybe it was an effort to convince the reader that there was something different about her after 400 pages.

If you're looking for something to read, I'd say pass on this one.