Holding the Reins by Paisley Hope

Holding the Reins by Paisley Hope -- 416 pages

Take a deep breath and let go of the reins.

Cecilia “CeCe” Ashby is finally escaping the toxic relationship that has consumed her entire adult life. She's returning to her hometown of Laurel Creek, Kentucky, and to her family’s equestrian ranch, unsure of what the future holds. 

Nash Carter, the newly retired superstar of the Dallas Stars, is Laurel Creek's hometown hero, local business owner, and notorious bachelor. He’s also the unofficial fourth sibling in the Ashby clan. It’s been years since his days of tormenting CeCe with her older brothers Wade and Cole. So, when CeCe needs a job, he feels drawn to help her.

Nash can’t seem to take his eyes off of his best friend's sister, and it seems she’s been staring right back, not without animosity left over from his childish teasing back in the day. Despite their initial reluctance, the fire between them ignites and it isn't long before they jump into the flames.

Spooky Celebrations Around the World

Spooky Celebrations Around the World - 48 pages

Matt Ralphs, Veronika Kotyk (Artist)

Summary (From the MARC Record)

You'll have heard of Halloween, and maybe Dia de Muertos, or Obon too, but did you know there are spooky festivals all over the world? Across every continent there are festivals that celebrate and honor spirits. Children will delight in discovering the stories behind these 21 amazing celebrations.

Review

While I had heard of some of the celebrations in this book, there were just as many -- if not more -- that I had no prior knowledge of whatsoever!  Even in the case of the ones I had heard of, there were many facts about them I wasn't privy to before reading this book.  I definitely recommend this one to anyone looking to learn!  

Murder, She Wrote: The Murder of Twelve by Jessica Fletcher & Jon Land

 

Murder, She Wrote: The Murder of Twelve by Jessica Fletcher & Jon Land                 377 pages

Staying at the Hill House hotel while her home is being rebuilt, Jessica learns that she is sharing the hotel with a dozen members of a wedding party.  There is a historic snow storm outside set to dump up to 5 feet of snow in Cabot Cove.  The wedding party and Jessica are snowed in while the bride and groom have not shown and are feared missing.  The local sheriff is investigating an abandoned vehicle that may be the bride and grooms rental car.  As the storm intensifies outside, murders pile up inside the Hill House.  Jessica with the help of the hotel's manager work frantically to find out who among them is the murderer, or is it someone from the outside.  Time is ticking as the murderer intends to kill all twelve and possibly Jessica too. 

Supergirl: Being Super by Mariko Tamaki and Joelle Jones

 Supergirl: Being Super by Mariko Tamaki and Joelle Jones-208 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

She's super-strong. She can fly. She crash-landed on Earth in a rocket ship. But for Kara Danvers, winning the next track meet, celebrating her 16th birthday and surviving her latest mega-zit are her top concerns. And with the help of her best friends and her kinda-infuriating-but-totally-loving adoptive parents, she just might be able to put her troubling dreams--shattered glimpses of another world--behind her.

Until an earthquake shatters her small town of Midvale...and uncovers secrets about her past she thought would always stay buried.

Now Kara's incredible powers are kicking into high gear, and people she trusted are revealing creepy ulterior motives. The time has come for her to choose between the world where she was born and the only world she's ever known. Will she find a way to save her town and be super, or will she crash and burn?

Caldecott Honor and Eisner Award-winning writer Mariko Tamaki (This One Summer) and Eisner Award-nominated artist Joëlle Jones (Lady Killer) combine forces for this incredible coming-of-age tale! This is the Girl of Steel as you've never seen her before.

Collects the limited series Supergirl: Being Super #1-4.

Thoughts: This is a good, new origin story for Supergirl. I've seen all the seasons of the CW show and I really enjoyed that. This is right up there with that show. 

Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes (Goosebumps #34) by R.L. Stine

 Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes (Goosebumps #34) by R.L. Stine-119 pages

⭐⭐⭐1/2

Two pink flamingos. A whole family of plaster skunks. Joe Burton's dad loves those tacky lawn ornaments. But then he brings home two ugly lawn gnomes. And that's when the trouble starts.
Late at night. When everyone's asleep.
Someone's creeping in the garden. Whispering nasty things. Smashing melons. Squashing tomatoes.
No way two dumb old lawn ornaments could be causing all the trouble.
Is there?

Thoughts: This was a fun read. These books aren't really scary for adults, but they could be for some kids. I like how there's always an event at the end of the book that leaves the story open-ended. 

Scarlet

 Scarlet by Marissa Meyer 464 pages

Synopsis: Cinder is back and trying to break out of prison―even though she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive if she does―in this second installment from Marissa Meyer.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother, or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana.

My Thoughts: This book was based off of the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood and it did NOT disappoint! All of the characters are hilarious. I loved being able to focus on another character in the same world, but continue the story from the first book and the first character we were introduced to. 

Heir of Fire

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas | 576 pages | 2014

Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak-but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life-and her future-forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)