The Golden Lily (Bloodlines, #2) by Richelle Mead

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines, #2) by Richelle Mead-418 pages

Sydney Sage has been at Amberwood Academy for a few months now protecting Jill Dragomir and is becoming close with Eddie and Adrian, who are also there to help protect Jill. New threats are revealed and a new protector, Angeline, has joined the "family." The main new threat is a group of vampire hunters that call themselves the Warriors of the Light. They hunt and destroy Strigoi, but have no love for Moroi or Dhampirs, either. Sydney and her "family" have run-ins with this group. A taboo/nearly forbidden love begins to sprout between Sydney and Adrian by the end of the book and will no doubt begin to blossom in future books in the series. I continue to enjoy reading this series and look forward to reading the next book soon. 

The Assassin's Blade (Throne of Glass Prequel Novellas collection, #0.1-0.5) by Sarah J. Maas

 The Assassin's Blade (Throne of Glass Prequel Novellas collection, #0.1-0.5) by Sarah J. Maas-435 pages

This is a collection of novellas set when Celaena Sardothien was a member of the Assassins under Arobynn Hamel in Rifthold. It's before the events of the Throne of Glass series. However, many of the stories told in these novellas are mentioned or alluded to in some way throughout the Throne of Glass series. Additionally, many of the characters from them are major players later on in the Throne of Glass series. I really enjoyed going back to some of these characters and reading about these stories and events mentioned or alluded to. I especially enjoyed going back to Celaena and reading about her time spent with the Assassins. I really enjoyed the Throne of Glass series and I enjoyed this prequel nearly as much. It really made me appreciate the Throne of Glass series even more than I already did, especially Maas' worldbuilding and character arcs. She is so good at worldbuilding. 

How to Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine

 How to Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine-299 pages

Alice sees her sister, Claire, murdered in a corn maze at a Halloween party. She's convinced that Owen Trevor Maddox killed her sister and was planning to kill other local girls. Alice's life hasn't been the same since Claire's murder (her parents divorced, she's estranged to her former best friends, and she gave up on her dreams, and etc.). She wishes she could go back and save her sister because she thinks that would make everything right again. A mysterious figure who looks like Sydney Prescott (and goes by Final Girl) shows up in the bathroom at the courthouse for the beginning of Owen Trevor Maddox's trial and gives Alice a chance to go back and save her sister. She is taken back to the night 1 year ago when her sister was murdered. She thinks she's being given a second chance. However, as the events of the night unfold revelations about Alice's family and friends make Alice question everything. It's a roller coaster ride and there's a big twist at the end. I rather enjoyed reading this and would recommend it to horror readers, especially. I would give it 4 out of 5 stars. 

Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene

 Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene 311 pgs.

12 year old Patty Bergen is trying to keep herself busy during one hot, dull summer in 1940s era Arkansas. The only girls she might dare call friends are off at the Baptist summer camp. This was not an option for her since she is Jewish and her parents forbid her to attend. Sometimes she hangs around her father's general store in hopes of helping out and maybe earning some affection or appreciation from her parents. That is a pipe dream however; Patty's parents are horrendous to her. She is a victim of verbal, emotional, and physical abuse. If it wasn't for her grandparents who she sees occasionally when her family visits Memphis and her kind maid Ruth, Patty's life would be even more miserable. 

 One day a train arrives in Jenkinsville carrying German POWs. The whole town buzzes with  excitement at this. Patty helps one of the prisoners, Anton, when the men are brought in to her father's store to buy straw hats to wear as they work in the fields outside of town. They form an unlikely bond during their brief interaction. She learns that not all Germans are Antisemitic supporters of Adolf Hitler. Later, when Anton escapes the prison camp, he is aided by Patty who provides him with a hideout and food for a day or two before he leaves town. This fateful decision will have severe consequences for Anton and for Patty, as well.

I did like this book. It is an interesting concept to have a German , WW2 POW helped by a Jewish girl. It was difficult reading the passages where Patty is abused verbally and physically by her parents, though.

Guess How Much I Love You

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney 20 pages


Little nutbrown hare is trying to express to big nutbrown hare how much he loves him, but big nut brown hare always finds a way to say he loves him more.

I believe this book is where the phrase "I love you to the moon and back," comes from. It is another cute bedtime story for little ones.

Are You My Mother?

Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman 64 pages

A birds mother leaves right before the baby bird is hatched. When the baby pops out of his egg he begins a search for his mother.. although, he doesn't know what his mother looks like.

Love You Forever

Love You Forever by Robert Munsch 32 pages

As a baby grows from a newborn all the way up to a grown man, each stage presents challenges for his mother, but no matter what age the boy is, mom sneaks into his room and rocks him. Eventually, she becomes to old and weak to rock him so he rocks her, and then carries on the tradition with his new baby.

Another classic tear jerker that should be in every child's personal library.

Just in Case You Ever Wonder

Just in Case You Ever Wonder by Max Lucado 24 pages

This book is the sweetest! It gives words of affirmation to children about how loved they are and how thankful the parent is God chose them to look after the child. It goes through a child's life letting them know their parent will always be there. One of my all time favorite to read to my girls even though it can make me a little teary eyed.

Llama Llama Red Pajama

Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney 40 pages

Llama Llama doesn't want to go to bed during bedtime and gets nervous when his mama isn't around. Mama gets frustrated at first that little Llama won't go to bed but she uses it as an opportunity to tell him how much she loves him even if she's not physically around.

A cute rhyme-y bedtime story for little ones. 

Little House on Plum Creek

Little House on Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder 358 pages

After the Ingalls family moves away from the little house on the prairie, they settle near plum creek. There is a lot of new adventures such as going to school for the first time. However, the land brings them many hardships as well.

I always feel more grounded and happier when I reread the little house books!

Little Bunny's Bedtime

Little Bunny's Bedtime by Jane Johnson 16 pages

Mama's littlest bunny is doing everything in his power to delay his bedtime. Mama bunny tries everything she can think of to get little bunny to go back to sleep. Finally, he gets so tuckered out he does sleep, but Mama's work isn't done yet..because then her second youngest bunny cries "mommy I can't sleep."

A cute bedtime story to read to a little one. I am sure all parents have been here.

Lon Po Po: A Red Riding-Hood Story From China

Lon Po Po: A Red Riding-Hood Story From China by Ed Young 32 pages

In this version of Little Red Riding Hood, the wolf sees that three young girls are left alone while their mother is off to visit their grandma (Po Po). The wolf tricks the girls into thinking he is actually Po Po to get inside. Once the eldest daughter discovers the Po Po they have let inside is actually a wolf, she comes up with a plan to get rid of the wolf and save themselves.

Both the western and Chinese version of this tale are pretty grim.

Milo and the Magical Stones

Milo and the Magical Stones by Marcus Pfister

This is an environmental stories that has two endings to choose from, a happy ending and a sad ending. Milo and his mice friends live on an island where in winter it can get dark, cold, and stormy unlike when they happily roam about the island in the summer, this forces them to live in little holes most of the winter. Milo makes a discovery of a magical stone that brings light and warmth. He tells his friends where he finds it. In the happy ending, all the mice only take one stone each, and put love into decorating a rock to put in the place of the stone as a way of thanking the island. In the sad ending, the mice run rampant with greed, taking all the stones they can find for themselves which leads to the island collapsing.

I think this is a great way to introduce children to taking care of the world they live on and be thankful and sparing of its resources.

Jack Frost Vs. The Abominable Snowman

Jack Frost Vs. The Abominable Snowman by Craig Manning 47 pages

A race between Jack Frost and "Abe" the abominable snowman. A choose your own path book, choose who you think will win and follow along!

The Itsy Bitsy Snowman

The Itsy Bitsy Snowman by Jefferey Burton 16 pages

A short little rhyming book about a day in the life of the itsy bitsy snowman.

Not a fan of reading this book over and over again but it is still one of my daughters favorites even though she is getting too big for it.

The Little Engine That Could

The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper 48 pages

A great little story about believing in yourself and perseverance. The little blue engine is an unlikely canidate to pull the train with toys and food for the children on the other side of the mountain, but she thinks she can, she thinks she can she, thinks she can, and she does.

Little Mommy

Little Mommy by Sharon Kane 24 pages

Little mommy is about a little girl taking care of her baby dolls throughout the day just like a real mommy would.

As I was looking on goodreads to find the page count for this book, I noticed a lot of hate on it because of the "gender roles." This made me so sad. The book was published in 1967, a product of its time. My daughter loves taking care of her dolls. It is a cute book and should be taken as such.

We're Different, We're the Same

We're Different, We're the Same by Sesame Street

This book illustrates that even though we may look different, we are all the same. For example, we may all have different noses but they are all used to smell.

It is a good book to introduce diversity to your children.

How to Babysit a Grandma

How to Babysit a Grandma by Jean Reagan 32 pages

This is a cute book ideal for Grandmothers reading to their grandchildren. It gives lots of fun ways and ideas to keep "grandma" entertained while the child is "babysitting."

Little Ree

Little Ree by Ree Drummond 40 pages
 
Ree and her family just moved to the country to be with her grandma and grandpa. Ree is a girly girl and isn't used to the country life. She gives her new bedroom some girly finishing touches. She learns she has to go to sleep early because grandma will wake her up at "the crack of dawn." She meets her new horse Pepper, makes some blueberry pancakes, and meets her cousins (even if she isn't properly dresses for it).

It is a cute story, my daughter really likes this one.