My Little Pocketbooks

Review: Fifty Shades Freed

2016-01-05T03:00:00.000-08:00

Fifty Shades Freed
Author: E.L. James
Genre: Erotica
Publisher: Random House Audio
Release Date: April 17, 2012
Audiobook: 21 hrs and 4 mins
Narrator: Becca Battoe

Source: Free from the E-library

Book Description

When unworldly student Anastasia Steele first encountered the driven and dazzling young entrepreneur Christian Grey it sparked a sensual affair that changed both of their lives irrevocably. Shocked, intrigued, and, ultimately, repelled by Christian’s singular erotic tastes, Ana demands a deeper commitment. Determined to keep her, Christian agrees.
Now, Ana and Christian have it all—love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of possibilities for their future. But Ana knows that loving her Fifty Shades will not be easy, and that being together will pose challenges that neither of them would anticipate. Ana must somehow learn to share Christian’s opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own identity. And Christian must overcome his compulsion to control as he wrestles with the demons of a tormented past.
Just when it seems that their strength together will eclipse any obstacle, misfortune, malice, and fate conspire to make Ana’s deepest fears turn to reality.

This book is intended for mature audiences.

Review

Ok! Let me start off my saying two things. One, no spoilers here. Promise. Two, I only listen to the audiobook because I wanted to complete a few million series I started awhile ago. This one included. So no I was not happy this audiobook was not any better than the others. Some folks like this book the best and I can see why. Because something interesting actually happens. But that was more or less in the background of the same old stuff form book one and two. Why are there more than one book in the first place? This could have been one big book with book 2 shorten. This was just a big money ploy on the author and publishers part; and yes I fell for it too. DANG!
There is tons of sex and a lot less whining from Anna. Whew! I had had it up to here *hand over my head*with all her whining and wondering if Christan was mad. Who cares?!!?
This book was a pass for me but the narrator did a good job. In fact the two stars are for her mostly.

Reviews by Other Bloggers

Dot Scibbles

Never Enough Shelf Space

Fiction Vixen

Recommendations

I recommend this book to adults only. There is a ton of sex and graphic language.

Challenges

This book is number 22 in my Audiobook Reading Challenge
This book is number 37 in my Goodreads Reading Challenge

Diversity on the Shelf 2015: Wrap Up Post and News

2016-01-04T01:00:00.000-08:00

Again, I know this is seriously late but here is...Diversity on the Shelf 2015 Reading Challenge Wrap Up.

Please have a direct link to your wrap up post to the linky. No links to blog home pages please. If you don't have a blog, please link to your Goodreads, Amazon, Facebook, LibraryThing or other account where you are reviewing the books for this challenge.

Books that qualified for this challenge were by people of color or with a main character of color. All shades and races of color were welcomed and encouraged here. If you still need more clarification on what a person of color is Click Here.

Links here are for your wrap up post that you have read and reviewed for 2015 only. Did you meet your original goal? Did you come close? I read a lot of books but I didn't hit my goal because I didn't review them all. I need to count and see how many books I still need to review.

Add your wrap up post below.

~ Wrap Up Post Linky ~

In other news...

Akliah @The Englishlist has so graciously taken the Diversity on the Shelf 2016 Reading Challenge over. So please go there by clicking the button and sign up to add a bit of color to your book shelves.

I'm not leaving for good but just taking a bit of time off because work, school, book club and life are a bit much. LOL! I am going to focus 2016 on getting the Mocha Girls Read blog up and moving. By the way if you are looking to contribute to a site we (Mocha Girls Read) are looking for you. Email me at littlepocketbooks at gmail dot com and let's make something happen.

Once my last classes are complete in April and I am back from BEA16 (Chi-Town here I come), I will re-evaluate the situation and see if I can jump back on to the blog. But for now I will be using Goodreads to keep track off your and mine reading happenings.

Have an amazing 2016 and I will see you all at BEA16!

Bye for now.

Diversity on the Shelf 2015: November & December Review Linky

2016-01-03T16:58:00.000-08:00

I know this is seriously late but here is...Diversity on the Shelf 2015 Reading Challenge.

Please have a direct link to the book you are reviewing to the linky. No links to blog home pages please. If you don't have a blog, please link to your Goodreads, Amazon, Facebook, LibraryThing or other account where you are reviewing the books for this challenge.

Books that qualify for this challenge are by people of color or with a main character of color. All shades and races of color are welcomed and encouraged here. If you still need more clarification on what a person of color is Click Here.

Links here are for book you read an reviewed for November & December 2015 only. There will be a wrap up post shortly.

~ November & December Review Linky ~

Wrap Up Post and new Diversity on the Shelf news coming soon.

Halloween Edition of Book Blogger Hop: Trick or Treat Books

2015-10-30T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Happy Friday everyone.

TGIF!!!!
*doing the Friday dance*
As you can see from the image above we are going to talk about scary and Halloween theme books this month.

What is Book Blogger Hop all about?

Each week the host at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted writer will prompt a new topic submit by a blogger and everyone can join in with their answers. You should join us! It's quite fun! No really it is!

This Weeks Topic/Question

October 30th - November 5th: Halloween Edition: If you could give away books instead of candy to trick-or-treaters on Halloween Night, what would the titles be?

My Answer

I would pick Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven and I would answer the door with this outfit on.

I think that would total freak them out. LOL!

And I would tell them..."If you don't read it then the Raven's will come and get you next."

I wonder if that would work? Hmmm?

*tapping finger on chin*

What about you?

If you could give away books instead of candy to trick-or-treaters on Halloween Night, what would the titles be?

Book Blogger Hop: Halloween Edition - Book Characters

2015-10-16T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Happy Friday everyone.

TGIF!!!!! Everyone!
*happy dance*

What is Book Blogger Hop all about?

This Weeks Topic/Question

October 16th - 22nd - Halloween Edition: Your having a costume party with the theme "Book Characters." Who would you go as?

My Answer

Ok since we are doing the make believe version and I get to be the same dress size as the character I am picking then I would select...

Storm from the X-Men series. I mean look at her. You mean if I get to pick to be someone for a day. Hell yeah! I would be storm in a heart beat. LOL!

What about you?

Your having a costume party with the theme "Book Characters." Who would you go as?

Review: Allegiant

2015-10-12T03:00:00.000-07:00

Allegiant
Author: Veronica Roth

Genre: YA
Publisher: Harper Audio
Release Date: October 22, 2013
Audiobook: 11 hours and 55 minutes
Narrator: Emma Galvin and Aaron Stanford
Source: Free from E-Library

Book Description

What if your whole world was a lie?

What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?
The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

Review

This is the third and final book in the Divergent series. After so much going on in the Divergent world I never thought of this as an ending. First, let tell you there will be no spoilers here. Next, I have to say up front, the first book was the best and something is lost on this one.
I was feeling the first book high after I put it down. Life and other books got in the way for Insurgent but a year later I read it. It was ok but I was not on the high like I was from book one. Then I saw all the 1 star reviews everywhere and heard all the disappointment with this book the other book bloggers had. But being the diligent reader that I am I picked it up and...

I was so disappointed!! I mean really Veronica Roth. You built all of this and basically pulled a DALLAS on us. For all of you to young to know what it that means...goggle it.
So many other endings where out there in the universe and that is what it all comes to. NOTHING! Whatever. Moving on! I'm over it too! Thanks for an outstanding Book one and great novellas.
Oh those starts below are for the narrators.

Reviews by Other Bloggers

Good Books and Good Wine

Little Bookstar

Beth Fish Reads

Recommendations

I recommend this book to older teens to due violence and killing.

Challenges

This book is number 21 in my Goodreads Reading Challenge
This book is number 36 in my Audiobook Reading Challenge

Other Books in the Series

Take A Listen

Halloween Edition: Book Blogger Hop: Halloween Snacks

2015-10-09T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Happy Friday everyone.

The other day I was just thinking...WOW! It's October already. When did that happen? I feel like I was just at June getting back from BEA15. Now we are talking about Halloween. Say what!?

What is Book Blogger Hop all about?

This Weeks Topic/Question

October 9th - 15th: Halloween Edition: What's your favorite "Halloween" snack to munch on while you're reading?

My Answer

I love so many candy flavors and various brands it's so hard to just pick one. Now that Halloween candy is mostly available all year round as bite size I can eat them anytime.

But one of my favorite snacks to eat while reading is...

wait for it...

I know it is not counted as Halloween candy but it's soo good. I seem to eat a box every time I open one.

Oh by the way...have you seen all the cute Halloween candy ideas on Pinterest. OMG! Soo yummy.

What about you?

What's your favorite "Halloween" snack to munch on while you're reading?

Review: Inferno

2015-10-05T03:00:00.000-07:00

Inferno
Author: Dan Brown
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Random House Audio
Release Date: May 14, 2013
Audiobook: 17 hours and 12 minutes
Narrator: Paul Michael
Series: Robert Langdon (Book 4)
Source: Free from e-Library

Book Description

Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon awakens in an Italian hospital, disoriented and with no recollection of the past thirty-six hours, including the origin of the macabre object hidden in his belongings. With a relentless female assassin trailing them through Florence, he and his resourceful doctor, Sienna Brooks, are forced to flee. Embarking on a harrowing journey, they must unravel a series of codes, which are the work of a brilliant scientist whose obsession with the end of the world is matched only by his passion for one of the most influential masterpieces ever written, Dante Alighieri's The Inferno.
Dan Brown has raised the bar yet again, combining classical Italian art, history, and literature with cutting-edge science in this sumptuously entertaining thriller.

Review

This is the fourth and I think the last book in the Robert Langdon series. Now let me say this first, I loved The Da Vinci Code as well as Angels and Demons. Both of those books, I read before I started blogging. Those two books made me excited about reading and made me want more. Now as part of my incomplete series goal (to complete book series I started) this year I picked this last book up from the library.
Robert Langdon is caught up into some craziness again but this time he has no idea how it all started, where he is and how he got there. Robert wakes up in a hospital and is running for his life the minute he comes to in Florence, Italy. And yes he has a beautiful women with him the whole time.
This is the worse of all the books in the series. The book starts out really good. The opening of the book starts of with some really great action and gets the reader hooked from page one. I love that about Dan Browns books. The thrill of this thriller is packed with non-stop place to place movement. I loved that until two things start to happen. One, the one and only female is his new hook up. Why does he have to have a different woman on his hip in every single book? Why? In his every day life Robert Langdon does not have a woman but when he gets into trouble there "she" is. The chic on the hip. Minus one star Dan Brown for playing that same story line out again in this book. Ok! The other reason is the ending. This ending is the worse ever. After all that chasing, fighting, killing and stuff it all was for what? Nothing basically. Nothing. I felt like I had invested way to much time for nothing. Bye bye star!
Overall, the story was good until the last three chapters. Yuck! Even thinking about it now kind of pisses me off. Please Dan go onto a new series. Let this one die.

Reviews by Other Bloggers

Fantasy Book Critic

Sorry Television

Truth, Beauty, Freedom and Books

Recommendations

I recommend this book to older teens and adult readers due to the nature of violence.

Challenges

This book is number 20 in my Audiobook Reading Challenge
This book is number 35 in my Goodreads Reading Challenge
This book is number 8 in my Books Set in Another Country Reading Challenge

Other Books in the Series

Take a Listen

Cover Characteristics: Airplanes

2015-10-04T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hosted by Sugar and Snark

Each week we will post a characteristic and choose 5 of our favorite covers with that characteristic. If you want to join in and share your 5 favorite covers with the weeks particular characteristic, then just make a post, grab the meme picture (or make your own) and leave your URL in Linky (so we can visit).
You don’t even need to participate, just stopping by and saying hi would be great! Don’t forget to stop by the other participants!

This week the cover characteristic is all about airplanes. Old and new. This one was hard to find. I thought there were ton of book with planes on them until now. Click on the book titles below to go to their Amazon page.

~ Airplanes ~

1. Flight of Passage by Rinker Buck

2. A Man Jumps Out of An Airplane by Barry Yourgrau

3. Flight of the Intruder by Stephen Coonts

4. The Flight of the Phoenix by Elleston Trevor

The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin

When Anne Morrow, a shy college senior with hidden literary aspirations, travels to Mexico City to spend Christmas with her family, she meets Colonel Charles Lindbergh, fresh off his celebrated 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic. Enthralled by Charles’s assurance and fame, Anne is certain the aviator has scarcely noticed her. But she is wrong. Charles sees in Anne a kindred spirit, a fellow adventurer, and her world will be changed forever. The two marry in a headline-making wedding. In the years that follow, Anne becomes the first licensed female glider pilot in the United States. But despite this and other major achievements, she is viewed merely as the aviator’s wife. The fairy-tale life she once longed for will bring heartbreak and hardships, ultimately pushing her to reconcile her need for love and her desire for independence, and to embrace, at last, life’s infinite possibilities for change and happiness.

What about you? What pretty covers have you seen with planes on them?

Review: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Book #1)

2015-10-03T03:00:00.000-07:00

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency (Book #1)
Author: Alexander McCall Smith
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Recorded Books
Release Date: November 21, 2003
Audiobook: 8 hours and 14 minutes
Narrator: Lisette Lecat

Source: Purchased from Audible.com

Book Description

The No.1 ladies' detective agency consists of one woman, the engaging and sassy Precious Ramotswe, who sets up shop in Gabarone, Botswana. This unlikely herione specialises in missing husbands, wayward daughters, con men and impostors.

Review

I remember when this book was made into a TV series for HBO a few years ago. I wanted to read the book before watching the show but of course I never got to either one of them. If my book club had not selected it for the book of the month I would have not picked it up.
Precious Ramotswe is a strong woman who started her own detective agency in Botswana after her husband leaves her and her father dies. In the beginning no one thinks she will make a good living at it. But slowly she gets clients who hire her to find out about their husbands, doctors and past employees.
This book is really fun and a nice book. There are a few parts in the beginning that might me hard for some. Basically, her husband was not a nice man at all. But she overcomes that relationship.
I really like Precious and I would love to be friends with her in real life. There are so many positive qualities about her that we (women) can learn from her. Precious never depends on a man to make her dreams come true. She knows she has to take her resources and make a living for herself. This is a strong woman because the society she lives in doesn't think highly of women who do it their way. You go Precious! She makes me proud!
After reading this book, I can see myself visiting Botswana. I know nothing of the country to be honest but I want to go so bad now. The author painted a wonderful picture of the country and I have started drinking Red Bush Tea every so often. :) I had to try it since it was Precious Ramotswe's drink of choice.
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the quickness of some of here cases. It felt like she got a case a solved it within 48 hours. I would like to have seen something more in depth. And I was not into the narrators voice that much. I like Lisette Lecat voice but I can tell she was white and I was under the impression since the main character was black so would the narrator be.
But overall, it was a great book and I will like to read more books in this series.

Reviews by Other Bloggers

Rivers I Have Known

Vulpes Libris

Ramya's Bookshelf

Recommendations

I recommend this book to older teen readers due to the subject matter of miscarriage, domestic abuse and rape.

Challenges

This book is number 17 in my Diversity on the Shelf Reading Challenge
This book is number 20 in my New to Me Author Reading Challenge
This book is number 19 in my Audiobook Challenge
This book is number 4 in my Book by a Non-American Reading Challenge
This book is number 7 in my Book Set in Another Country Reading Challenge
This book is number in my 34 Goodreads Reading Challenge
This book was Mocha Girls Read book of the Month

Other Books in the Series

Take a Listen

Halloween Edition of Book Blogger Hop: Scary Kids Book

2015-10-02T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Happy Friday everyone.

Happy Friday everyone. I hope you all had a great and productive week. As you can see from the change in meme image we are going to talk about scary, Halloween theme books and things this month.

What is Book Blogger Hop all about?

This Weeks Topic/Question

October 2rd - 8th: Halloween Edition: You're volunteering to read a book to a group of young children at a library. What scary themed book for kids would you read to them?

My Answer

I never read scary kid books because everything use to scare me as a kid. But I heard the R.L.Stine Goosebump series was really good for the age group.

So I would pick one of those books. The covers seem to be really scary to me as an adult right now. I don't know if I could handle reading it. LOL! But kids now adays..nothing scares them. LOL!

Click the cover.

Trick or Trap (Goosebumps Most Wanted Special Edition #3)

The infamous, Most Wanted Goosebumps characters are out on the loose and after you. Just in time for Halloween, a super special edition!

It's Halloween and that means time for trick-or-treating. And scary parties. But this year things are taking a turn for the terrifying. Scott and Amanda throw a bash at an old haunted house. There won't be any treats, only traps. Traps for a few bullies that are always bugging them at school. What could possibly go wrong? How about a haunted house with a mind of its own? A house that would rather play its own tricks and set its own traps..

What about you?

What scary themed book for kids would you read to them?

Diversity on the Shelf 2015: October Review Link-Up and Giveaway

2015-10-01T02:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the October review linky of Diversity on the Shelf 2015 Reading Challenge.

Every month I will post a linky for you to add your reviews. Please have a direct link to the book you are reviewing to the linky. No links to blog home pages please. If you don't have a blog, please link to your Goodreads, Amazon, Facebook, LibraryThing or other account where you are reviewing the books for this challenge.

If you haven't signed up for the challenge yet, don't fret you still have time. Just sign up here!

If you need a few suggestions on what to read for this challenge check out the list of links to blogs, book list and more. (Links here)

September Stats
(as of 9/26)
15 books read and reviewed

First book read, reviewed and linked up from Shan @Curled Up with A Good Book and Tea

~ October Review Linky ~

An InLinkz Link-up

Now for the giveaway part.

I hope this makes sense.
If you read, review and link up a D.O.T.S. approved book (book by a POC author or with a POC main character) you will get one (1) point.
If the book has a scary theme with a monster (ie. vampire, witches, werewolves, ghost, shapeshifter and all the things that go bump in the night) you get another one (1) point.
POC book = 1point
Scary POC book = 1 point
Total = 2 points

Read, Review and Link

At the end of the month come back here and leave your total number below along with your sign up number and your email address.
Winner will be the person with the highest number.
If there is a tie then Random.org will pick the winner.

So What is the Prize?
Any book you want up to $15.00USD
YOU PICK IT!

Rules
1. Must be a D.O.T.S. participant
2. Must include your number of books linked up to this page.
3. No links to homepages.
4. Must leave your sign up number and email address below as well.
5. Giveaway will close on November 6th, 2015 at 1:00am
6. Winner announced on November 8th.

Good Luck!

Shelf Control: Happiness Like Water

2015-09-30T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hosted by Book Shelf Fantasies

Welcome to the a new weekly feature from Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies called…

Shelf Control!

Shelf Control is a weekly blog meme where we blogger talk about the books we have. From the Lisa's blog.."Instead of looking ahead to upcoming new releases, Shelf Control focuses on already released books that I want to read. Consider this a variation of a Wishing & Waiting post… but looking at books already available, and in most cases, books that are either on my shelves or on my Kindle!"

God knows I have tons and tons of books to talk about.

My Shelf Control pick this week is:

Title: Happiness Like Water
Author: Chinelo Okparanta
Published: 2013
Length: 208 pages

Here are Nigerian women at home and transplanted to the United States, building lives out of longing and hope, faith and doubt, the struggle to stay and the mandate to leave, the burden and strength of love. Here are characters faced with dangerous decisions, children slick with oil from the river, a woman in love with another despite the penalties. Here is a world marked by electricity outages, lush landscapes, folktales, buses that break down and never start up again. Here is a portrait of Nigerians that is surprising, shocking, heartrending, loving, and across social strata, dealing in every kind of change. Here are stories filled with language to make your eyes pause and your throat catch. Happiness, Like Water introduces a true talent, a young writer with a beautiful heart and a capacious imagination.

How I got it:

I got it from the publishing company.

When I got it:

In October of 2012 or 2013. Can't remember.

Why I want to read it:

I like short stories and I love stories about life in another country. I have no idea why I haven't started it but when I saw it on Shannon @ Reading Has Purpose blog, and her not so hot thoughts on it, I wanted to read it and see why. I rarely read reviews about books I have on my shelf but I did and now I want to read the book more. One day I will get to it.

What book do you have sitting on your shelf collecting dust?

What I Am Listening To...

2015-09-29T03:00:00.000-07:00

X by Ilyasah Shabazz with Kekla Magoon

Cowritten by Malcolm X’s daughter, this riveting and revealing novel follows the formative years of the man whose words and actions shook the world.

I am Malcolm.
I am my father’s son. But to be my father’s son means that they will always come for me.
They will always come for me, and I will always succumb.

Malcolm Little’s parents have always told him that he can achieve anything, but from what he can tell, that's nothing but a pack of lies—after all, his father's been murdered, his mother's been taken away, and his dreams of becoming a lawyer have gotten him laughed out of school. There’s no point in trying, he figures, and lured by the nightlife of Boston and New York, he escapes into a world of fancy suits, jazz, girls, and reefer.
But Malcolm’s efforts to leave the past behind lead him into increasingly dangerous territory when what starts as some small-time hustling quickly spins out of control. Deep down, he knows that the freedom he’s found is only an illusion—and that he can't run forever.
X follows Malcolm from his childhood to his imprisonment for theft at age twenty, when he found the faith that would lead him to forge a new path and command a voice that still resonates today.

Write Up Review A Thon: Wrap Up

2015-09-28T05:30:00.000-07:00

Hosted by Book Bumblings

I think this is the first time I had a huge pile of books to review. I am telling you now, I did not finish the pile but I got a few (very few) things done. There are just not enough hours in the day honestly. So I will be joining this event again next month for sure. Here are my wrap up stats.

~~The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency #1~~

Inferno #4 IN DRAFT FORM
Alliegant #4 IN DRAFT FORM
Fifty Shades Freer #3 IN DRAFT FORM

Orange is the New Black
The Mango Season
Prince Lestat
Fifty Mice
Counting by 7s
Grey STILL READING
The Mighty Miss Malone
March Book 2
Here in Harlem
When Dad Killed Mom
The First Part Last

How did you do in the Write Up Review A Thon? Do you have a ton of reviews to write? I think you need to join in next month. Just check in at Book Bumblings.

Review: The Lost Symbol

2015-09-28T04:00:00.000-07:00

The Lost Symbol
Author: Dan Brown
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Random House Audio
Release Date: September 15, 2009
Audiobook: 17 hours and 51 minutes
Narrator: Paul Michael
Source: Free from E-Library

Book Description

In this stunning follow-up to the global phenomenon The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown demonstrates once again why he is the world’s most popular thriller writer. The Lost Symbol is a masterstroke of storytelling--a deadly race through a real-world labyrinth of codes, secrets, and unseen truths . . . all under the watchful eye of Brown’s most terrifying villain to date. Set within the hidden chambers, tunnels, and temples of Washington, D.C., The Lost Symbol accelerates through a startling landscape toward an unthinkable finale.

As the story opens, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned unexpectedly to deliver an evening lecture in the U.S. Capitol Building. Within minutes of his arrival, however, the night takes a bizarre turn. A disturbing object--artfully encoded with five symbols--is discovered in the Capitol Building. Langdon recognizes the object as an ancient invitation . . . one meant to usher its recipient into a long-lost world of esoteric wisdom.
When Langdon’s beloved mentor, Peter Solomon--a prominent Mason and philanthropist--is brutally kidnapped, Langdon realizes his only hope of saving Peter is to accept this mystical invitation and follow wherever it leads him. Langdon is instantly plunged into a clandestine world of Masonic secrets, hidden history, and never-before-seen locations--all of which seem to be dragging him toward a single, inconceivable truth.
As the world discovered in The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, Dan Brown’s novels are brilliant tapestries of veiled histories, arcane symbols, and enigmatic codes. In this new novel, he again challenges readers with an intelligent, lightning-paced story that offers surprises at every turn. The Lost Symbol is exactly what Brown’s fans have been waiting for . . . his most thrilling novel yet.

Review

There are just some books out there that grab you and hold you until the very last page. I have to say this is one of them for me.
Robert Langdon is called to Washington D.C. this time by a friend to give a lecture in the U.S. Capitol building. After arriving to the building things begin to turn for the worse and the signs and symbols start to point to a deadly ending for all parties involved.
Robert Langdon is more or less a modern day, regular guy super hero. He knows everything about symbols and their origins but more than that Washington D.C. is his foundation for all things secret.
Secret rooms. Secret societies. Secret meetings. He knows the stories and theories behind why things are the way they are in Washington D.C. All of these things make you want to Google it as you are reading to see if it's true. The other story lines are really good too. I was hooked and shocked by the twist and turns that I did not see coming. Some people are much more perceptive than I am but I didn't see them coming at all. Or the ending. I loved this audiobook. It reminded me of why I loved the The Da Vinci Code so much. Dan Brown is a writer that makes his readers feel smarter by not watering down the story.
I know you have scrolled down to the end of this review to see the number of stars I gave this audiobook and are saying what's the issue, Alysia?
Well, I think there is no reason at all for Robert Langdon to always have a women to fling with. Just like in James Bond it seems like wherever he goes when the toughness hits he falls in lust with some younger, cute and brilliant woman. Thank God she is smart but why is it necessary. Robert Langdon is an undercover player basically. When he is home chilling and all is good, there is no woman in his life. That is a bit annoying. I wish we can get through a book without him kissing on someone. Can we please Dan?
But overall, this is a great read and I think if you liked The Da Vinci Code then you will like this one as well.

Reviews by Other Bloggers

Dusk Before the Dawn
Without A Book
Book Worm Reads

Recommendations

I recommend this book to older young adults due to violence.

Challenges

This book is number 18 in my Audiobook Reading Challenge
This book is number 33 in my Goodreads Reading Challenge

Other Books in the Series

Take a Listen

Cover Characteristics: Purses and Suitcases

2015-09-27T03:30:00.000-07:00

Hosted by Sugar and Snark

Each week we will post a characteristic and choose 5 of our favorite covers with that characteristic. If you want to join in and share your 5 favorite covers with the weeks particular characteristic, then just make a post, grab the meme picture (or make your own) and leave your URL in Linky (so we can visit).
You don’t even need to participate, just stopping by and saying hi would be great! Don’t forget to stop by the other participants!

You know this was soo up my alley. I loved, loved, loved look for purses on book covers. Click on the book titles below to go to their Amazon page.

~ Purses and Suitcases ~

1. Prada and Prejudice by Katie Oliver

2. Objects of my Affection by Jill Smolinski

3. The Old Brown Suitcase by Lillian Boraks-Nemetz

4. Stardust by Carla Stewart

Clutches and Curses by Dorothy Howell

Life is looking good for amateur sleuth Haley Randolph. She's even close to getting her hands on the season's hottest purse. But when she transfers to another store she finds the body of Courtney Collins sprawled across the floor of the menswear department.

What interesting book covers have you seen with purses or suitcases on them?

New Home: Write On Review-A-Thon

2015-09-26T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hosted by Book Bumblings

Hi all! Remember back several months ago when I was blogging on the regular and I was participating in a few blogging events. Well, one of them Write On Review-a-Thon was hosted by The Book Vixen now it has a new home.

Book Bumblings is now hosting the event now.

From Brittany's blog and sign up page

Welcome to Write On Review-a-Thon’s new home!

From here on out, I will be hosting the review-a-thon on the last weekend of each month. Signups will be posted about a week ahead of time, we’ll review our hearts out from Friday to Sunday, and the wrap-up post will be posted on Monday.

The next review-a-thon will be this Friday, September 25 through Sunday, September 27.

How to Participate:

Create a post on your blog or a social media page with the list of what you’re going to review for the upcoming challenge. Remember to include the official blurb I’ve included for you below so your readers can join in.
Add the URL of that post to the linkup below.
Tackle your list throughout the weekend. Take no mercy nor prisoners! And join in the conversation on Twitter using #reviewathon.
Update us with your progress – you can either update your original post or create a new one.
When the wrap-up goes live Monday morning, add the URL of your progress info to the linkup.

If you are interested in signing up go the sign up page here and add your name to the link. Then start getting those reviews done.

As for me I have 15 reviews to do. I am not planning on doing them all but more or less 5 of them for this event. Cause sista girl has tons of homework to do this weekend.

Here is my list of books patiently waiting a review.

The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency #1
Inferno #4
Alligent #4
Fifty Shades Freer #3
Orange is the New Black
The Mango Season
Prince Lestat
Fifty Mice
Counting by 7s
Grey
The Mighty Miss Malone
March Book 2
Here in Harlem
When Dad Killed Mom
The First Part Last

Hopefully, I will get at less the first four or five of these done. Whew! We will see.

Book Blogger Hop: Book Sites

2015-09-25T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Happy Friday everyone.

TGIF!!!!! So glad today is Friday.

What is Book Blogger Hop all about?

This Weeks Topic/Question

September 25th - October 1st: Do you belong to Shelfari, Goodreads, LibraryThing, and other similar sites? If so, can you list all of the book sites you belong to so others can take a look at them? (submitted by Elizabeth)

My Answer

I love Goodreads so much. I think it's the bee's knees. I opened an account at Shelfari when I started blogging years ago but never used it. I also signed up on for a few others. And you know what, I cancelled those accounts because I never use them either.

I am stuck on Goodreads and for me more than one is a bit over kill.

What about you?

Do you belong to Shelfari, Goodreads, LibraryThing, and other similar sites? If so, can you list all of the book sites you belong to so others can take a look at them?

October 2015 Blog Ahead Challenge: Goals

2015-09-23T03:30:00.000-07:00

Hosted by the awesome ladies at Herding Cats and Burning Soup and Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Hi everyone! I am soo thrilled to announce this blogger event coming up next month called BLOG AHEAD! What's the big deal about it? Well for one, think about all the times you wanted to have a blog post go up but life, work, school, your friends and family came first. Now just image if you had scheduled out a month of post before the cray-cray started. That would be one more thing off your mind since your blog would be on cruise control.

Example: Today I am writing this post on 9/17/15 but you will not see it posted until... wait for it...9/23/15. Voila! I blogged ahead.

Get it! So here are my goals for this awesome, much needed and super wonderful event.

Goals

Create my posting calendar for November.

Review as many books as possible (I have more than 15 reviews to do as of today. ARGH!!)

Create and Schedule 30 post plus post as much as possible along the way.

Right now I have 6 scheduled and 9 in draft form. So by Halloween I need to have 36 post scheduled and hopefully 10 in draft for December.

You should join the fun.

Click the link under the buttons above to get more information and to sign up too.

What I Am Listening To...

2015-09-22T03:00:00.000-07:00

When Dad Killed Mom

Jenna and Jeremy knew their parents' marriage was in trouble. But no one could have predicted what would come next. Now with Mom dead and Dad in jail, Jenna and Jeremy must re-create a family of their own. But each guards a secret that could send their fragile new lives into a tailspin.
Newbery Honor winner Julius Lester paints a dramatic portrait of a family forced to confront the unimaginable.
Reader's guide included.

Review: Fifty Shades Darker

2015-09-21T03:00:00.000-07:00

Fifty Shades Darker
Author: E.L. James
Genre: Erotica
Publisher: Random House Audio
Release Date: April 17, 2012
Audiobook: 19 hours and 48 minutes
Narrator: Becca Battoe
Source: Free from E-Library

Book Description

Daunted by the singular tastes and dark secrets of the beautiful, tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey, Anastasia Steele has broken off their relationship to start a new career with a Seattle publishing house.
But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought, and when he proposes a new arrangement, Anastasia cannot resist. They rekindle their searing sensual affair, and Anastasia learns more about the harrowing past of her damaged, driven and demanding Fifty Shades.
While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront the anger and envy of the women who came before her, and make the most important decision of her life.
This book is intended for mature audiences.

Review

The only reason I picked up this audiobook from the library was for my personal goal of completeling several of the unfinished series I have sitting on my shelf. This was one of them and it has been a long while since I read Fifty Shades of Grey. I was not thrilled about the book. You can see my review here.
As for book two (without spoilers) it was much of the same from book one. Christian Grey is still crazy rich and madly in love with Anastasia. She is head over heels for him as well. They have tons and tons of sex. Of course! And this time there are a few other things going on behind all of that. The other stuff going on outside of those two was WAYYY more interesting and held my attention from chapter to chapter. If you took out Ana and Christian from this book I would have been given it more stars by far.
Throughout this book you will read the word MAD a million times. "Oh no Christian is going to be MAD." "Are you MAD Christian?" "Yes I'm really MAD at you Ana." LORD! This man has the same anger issue but now Ana is feeding into it at ever single turn.
Ana makes some really stupid and dumb decision in this book over and over again. And hearing them in the narrators voice just annoys me more and more. I have no idea if I can separate the narrator from the story like I normally do. The two are so intertwined in my mind that I doubt if I can listen to another audiobook with her narrating anytime soon.
Well Christian and Ana... I'm MAD! I'm MAD I had to endure another book in the series with two more to go. ARGH! Book three better step it up.

Reviews by Other Bloggers

Frances and Lynne

Dot Scribbles

Narratively Speaking

Recommendations

I recommend this book to older readers due to the amount of sex going on.

Challenges

This book is number 17 in my Audiobook Reading Challenge
This book is number 31 in my Goodreads Reading Challenge
This book is number 3 in my Non-American Reading Challenge

Other Books in the Series

Give it a Listen

Cover Characteristics: Water

2015-09-20T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hosted by Sugar and Snark

Each week we will post a characteristic and choose 5 of our favorite covers with that characteristic. If you want to join in and share your 5 favorite covers with the weeks particular characteristic, then just make a post, grab the meme picture (or make your own) and leave your URL in Linky (so we can visit).
You don’t even need to participate, just stopping by and saying hi would be great! Don’t forget to stop by the other participants!

OMG! I was soo shocked at the number of books with water on the covers. There are millions out there. Women swimming in it. Men's chest covered in it. So I thought I would focus on a color. The color of water for me is blue. And of course I made it extremely diverse adding POC authors and POC characters. Click on the book titles below to go to their Amazon page.

~ Water ~

1. Painless by S. A. Harazin

2. Lake by Banana Yoshimoto

3. Adrift by Paul Griffin

4. Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Since I couldn't pick one I liked more than the others here are a few more book covers.

The Living by Matt De La Peña

Shy took the summer job to make some money. In a few months on a luxury cruise liner, he'll rake in the tips and be able to help his mom and sister out with the bills. And how bad can it be? Bikinis, free food, maybe even a girl or two—every cruise has different passengers, after all.
But everything changes when the Big One hits. Shy's only weeks out at sea when an earthquake more massive than ever before recorded hits California, and his life is forever changed.
The earthquake is only the first disaster. Suddenly it's a fight to survive for those left living.

Rain Inside by Monique D. Mensah

I will the rain to be the source of life . . .
Rain grapples with memories of a horrific past that leaves her far from unscathed. After witnessing her mother's gruesome murder as a child, she is now left piecing together the fragments of her shattered psyche as an adult. Quickly, she is drowning in years of frustration and confusion with no promise of relief. Sinister visions and undying spirits haunt Rain relentlessly, driving her deeper into darkness and lunacy. Rains grandmother, GiGi, tries her best to help Rain face the truth, urging her to confront her past, but the past is too painful--it's easier to hide.
As Rain struggles desperately to define herself, she's forced to brave her live-in siblings: a violent and narcissistic brother, Danny, who resents her weakness and Carmen, her promiscuous and hostile older sister, who wishes Rain would disappear. In her fragile mental state, Rain is ill-equipped to handle the chaos of their ruptured lives. When Rain, Carmen, and Danny are submerged into the horrors of prostitution, drug-addiction, domestic violence, and murder, Rain is left alone to face her internal demons and find her identity, with no one to answer to, but herself.

Honey Girl by Lisa Freeman
How to survive California's hottest surf spot: Never go anywhere without a bathing suit. Never cut your hair. Never let them see you panic.
The year is 1972. Fifteen-year-old Haunani “Nani” Grace Nuuhiwa is transplanted from her home in Hawaii to Santa Monica, California after her father’s fatal heart attack. Now the proverbial fish-out-of-water, Nani struggles to adjust to her new life with her alcoholic white (haole) mother and the lineup of mean girls who rule State Beach.
Following “The Rules”—an unspoken list of dos and don’ts—Nani makes contact with Rox, the leader of the lineup. Through a harrowing series of initiations, Nani not only gets accepted into the lineup, she gains the attention of surf god, Nigel McBride. But maintaining stardom is harder than achieving it. Nani is keeping several secrets that, if revealed, could ruin everything she’s worked so hard to achieve. Secret #1: She’s stolen her dad’s ashes and hidden them from her mom. Secret #2: In order to get in with Rox and her crew, she spied on them and now knows far more than they could ever let her get away with. And most deadly of all, Secret #3: She likes girls, and may very well be in love with Rox.

What books do you like with water on the cover?

Stuck in A Good Book Giveaway Hop 2015

2015-09-19T13:00:00.000-07:00

Hosted by Stuck in Books and I Am A Reader

I haven't done a giveaway in a long, long time so I thought this would be the perfect one to get back into giving away books, bags and gift cards.

So far I have read a few really great books and audiobooks that were perfect 5 star reads.

One lucky US winner will get a paperback ARC copy of Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan. This book is amazing and helped me get up and out of my reading slump. I was hooked and you will be too. I have an ARC of this book that was never opened so it's a new old copy. LOL!

About the book

In the tradition of Out of My Mind, Wonder, and Mockingbird, this is an intensely moving middle grade novel about being an outsider, coping with loss, and discovering the true meaning of family. Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn’t kept her from leading a quietly happy life . . . until now.

Suddenly Willow’s world is tragically changed when her parents both die in a car crash, leaving her alone in a baffling world. The triumph of this book is that it is not a tragedy. This extraordinarily odd, but extraordinarily endearing, girl manages to push through her grief. Her journey to find a fascinatingly diverse and fully believable surrogate family is a joy and a revelation to read.

You will also get a bag too! I have a DSW tote for the winner of this giveaway. I don't have any pictures at the moment but here is the official DSW ad for the bag.

I mean who doesn't love a bag that can hold a ton of books. Right!

Because this giveaway is for a middle grade book there is no age restriction, but you must fill out the rafflecopter to win. When you are done go to the next blog on the list and enter to win another great giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now go and hop on!

Book Blogger Hop: Passwords

2015-09-18T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Happy Friday everyone.

TGIF!!!!! So glad today is Friday. I have been waiting on this three day weekend for the longest. Just kinda freaked out that my finals start on Monday. ARGH! The perils of online classes. They don't care about holidays.

What is Book Blogger Hop all about?

This Weeks Topic/Question

September 18th - 24th: Where do you keep your passwords for all of your different sites? (submitted by Elizabeth)

My Answer

LAST PASS! This has been my life saver. (Click the logo to go to the site)

Here is how it works.

1. Sign Up

2. Install

3. Then you have one password to log into Last Pass then last pass remembers your passwords so you don't have to log in every time.

It will even create a password for you.

What About You?

Where do you keep your passwords?