The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I suppose I could have read this cult-classic book many years ago. But, I didn’t. So here I am in 2013 reading a book most people have already read and loved so much that it was made into a movie! Better late than never, right? I thought so, too ;)

Perks is told from the viewpoint of the main character Charlie. It is told through letters that he is writing to an unknown friend about his life going into High school. It is a coming of age story that I believe every reader can take something out of.

Charlie makes friends with two older high school students, Sam and Patrick. They let him hang around even though he is younger and not the popular type. They help him adjust to life in high school as well as helping him make some more friends along the way.

I think everyone can see a little bit of themselves in Charlie. Even if you were nothing like him. Just the way that he feels about certain things and the way he expresses his emotions.

I loved the way this book was written- through the letters. It made it really interesting to read and very relatable. It felt like you were going through someone’s journal. I can see why it is so well liked.

5/5 stars. Not much else to say. If you haven’t read this book yet, put it on your to-read list.  

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Down and Out In Manhattan by J.R Locke

I am not sure what I was expecting out of this book, but once I began reading it, it was not what I expected it to be. I was very pleasantly surprised with this book. The story, the writing, and it even has a pretty big twist at the end.

 This book takes you through the rise and fall of Jack Cole’s career in corporate business. It uncovers some business practices that in some cases are probably not so far from the truth.

The Frenchman is on the loose. He cuts off the hands of his victims and no one knows who he is. Will he get to Jack, before he is caught?

When jack gets tangled up in a sketchy business deal, everything starts to go wrong. People begin dying, and he goes through a moral dilemma. Does he do the right thing, or does he go to the authorities and put his job and life at risk?

The one bright spot in Jack’s life is the love of his life Lisa. She has had a rough past, but once she and Jack find each other again, everything seems to be perfect. On phone call could ruin everything, though.

This is a fast-paced story about the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of corporate jobs. It will keep you hanging on until the very last page.

5/5 stars. I was pretty stunned by the reveal of the Frenchman at the end. And as a whole, this book was a pretty realistic read that touched on a number of topics. For it being pretty short, it was done very well. 

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Demon Inhibitions by Gary Starta

Have you ever thought about there being someone out there in the world (or a different world) that looked just like you and was your alternate self?

Well, in this novel, Caitlin Diggs does not have to wonder about this. She is forced to confront this notion.

Caitlin is a former FBI agent that left the force because she came into having some supernatural powers. 

When a case calls for her to hunt down a truly evil demon and try to bring him to justice, her life is changed forever.

From discovering a world where demons are as common as humans, to evolving into a goddess herself, Caitlin must reevaluate all of her previous thoughts about everything mystical and paranormal to fit into this world and do the job that put her there in the first place.

There isn't much else to say about this one other than: READ IT. It is exciting and keeps you hooked from the very beginning.

5/5 stars It was pretty hard to put this one down. I don’t normally read books about demons, vampires, etc. But this one was really good!

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Roses Are Red by James Patterson

The sixth installment in the heart-racing Alex Cross series.

I don’t know if I am sweating because it is hot in my house and I am drinking coffee, or if it is because of the emotional roller coaster that this book just sent me on.

I am guessing the latter.

This is probably one of the best suspense/thriller novels I have read in a long time. Probably since the second book in this series Kiss the Girls.

Alex Cross is put on a disturbing case involving multiple bank robberies and murders.

The problem – They are all organized by one person, The Mastermind.

Who is the Mastermind? He is an intelligent person that has access to all of the information he would ever need. How is this possible? Is this man someone inside of the FBI, the police force, or does he just have the best resources anyone could imagine? Well, you will just have to read it to find out…

We meet a new character in this one – Betsey. She is the head of the investigation from the FBI’s side. She is smart, witty, and an overall good person.

I really enjoyed how she and Alex worked together.

This was one of the most interesting cases I think. Just because we don’t figure out who is behind it until the end, so it is a mystery. It was mysterious, it was disturbing, and it takes you on a wild ride.

5/5 stars for sure. If I could choose one book out of all that I have read to receive a full 5/5 rating, this one would be it. It is a must read. But do yourself a favor and read the previous 5 Alex Cross books before diving into this one. It isn’t necessary, but just trust me on that.

Just…. WOW.

It is going to take me awhile to recover from this one.

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Read ahead for spoilers!

Pop Goes the Weasel by James Patterson

Alex Cross stars in this crazy novel Pop Goes the Weasel.

He encounters one of the craziest and unpredictable serial killers yet. Will this case prove to be too much for Cross to handle. Will they ever find the killer?

When Alex’s lover goes missing, his whole life is turned upside down, and his motivation to solve the case goes through the roof. He is taunted by The Weasel and can’t stand the thought that Christine may be dead.

In a case that has more victims than the police have answers, this turns out to be one of Cross’s worst cases yet.

Will he catch the Weasel once and for all? You have to read to find out!

One thing I really liked about this one is that we got a lot of insight into what was going on in the killer’s mind. It made it more interesting!

4/5 stars. It was a great read, but there were some parts in the middle that seemed to drag on a little long. Otherwise, it kept me captivated by wondering if they would find Christine alive. 

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Dog Park by Deena Marie Kaylee

Dog Park is a book to read if you want a feel-good story.

It is all centered around the love of pets and the importance of pets in life. And more than that, it is also a religious story as well.

As an animal lover myself, I really it make it enjoyed how the dogs took the main stage at different parts in this book, and it made it fun to read.

Bamboo and Brutus were the stars of this books just as love was in the stars for their owners.

It is a cute love story where two members and workers of a church come together by chance at a dog park, and their lives are never the same after that.

It brings comedy to the notion that first impressions are very important, but also shows how relationships can change when two people get to know eachother.

5/5 stars. It was short and sweet, and there were plenty of adorable doggy scenes!

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Black Book Part 2: Out of Time by Dylan Jones

Sherriff Jack is back!

This installment of Black Book was more confusing than the first.

There were two different story-lines that were being shared, and the one with the President lost me after they were placed into Pods.

It seemed like they were aliens… or facing aliens. I am not really sure.

Then there was the story line that was centered around Jack. I think he was travelling back in time? Then he ends up with an old man that knows him, but he doesn’t know the old man.

It was intriguing, maybe because I was trying to figure out what was going on.

I am looking forward to reading the 3^rd installment, and maybe some of it will be cleared up.

2/5 stars. I just could not figure out what was going on half of the time, but it left off as a cliff hanger, and I want to know what happens next. 

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Snow Day by Dan Maurer

Snow day is a novella that is told like a spooky campfire story told to children. It also reads like it could be a child’s nightmare.

I really enjoyed the writing of this novella. Mr. Maurer did a wonderful job of setting the tone of the story. It was spooky throughout the whole story and had a hint of doom around each corner.

It tells the story of one snow day. Usually snow days are days that children love more than none other. What could beat getting out of school for the day and being able to play in the snow? Not much!

But when things go in a horribly wrong direction that leaves the main character haunted for life, snow days aren’t something to be excited over anymore.

Some parts are a little silly, and some parts are very gorey (the ending for sure!). But, there is just something about this story that keeps you holding on until the very end. It captivates your mind by drawing very explicit mental images, and I think that is where the skill of the writer comes in.

If you are into spooky and somewhat unsettling novellas, this one is for you!

5/5 stars. Kept me hanging on until the end, and Dan Maurer did a wonderful job with descriptive writing. 

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12th of Never by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro

It is that time of year again --

My person is back! Lindsay Boxer and the rest of the Women’s Murder Club is back for the 12^th installment!

And as always, Mr. Patterson does not disappoint!

Lindsay has just become a mother, but she doesn’t get any time off. After having baby Julie, she is thrown right back into the hectic mess that is investigating homicides in San Francisco.

Claire’s job is on the line when a high-profile murder victim’s body disappears.

Cindy and Rich’s relationship hits a bump in the road.

And Yuki has the court case from hell!

One of the many things I loved about this novel was how many story lines were all intertwined with each other. Yet, in classic Patterson form, it doesn’t get confusing and all flows together.

Once a book series starts getting up in the double digits, you may expect the books to start getting worse, but it hasn’t happened yet here. This novel was just as exciting as 1-11 and it was hard to put down.

This is my favorite book series, and I was really excited when my pre-order copy came in the mail. The fact that the quality of the book still matches the earlier installments just reinforces why Patterson is my favorite author.

5/5 Stars. It lived up to all expectations, and of course…. Leaves you begging for the next book. 

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Women's Murder Club Series

Read ahead for spoilers!

F in Exams by Richard Benson

Now that my finals week is over, and others are going through the stress as I am writing this. I thought I would bring this little book of comedic relief.

F in Exams brings laughs from reading what students write when they are clueless on exams.

It is something to keep your mind at ease if only for the little time that it takes to read it.

It is a short book, so don’t worry about it cutting into study time. Everyone needs a break every now and then, right?

Take a break from the stress in life and pick this up. It’s sure to make you laugh!

5/5 stars

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