Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
While the format may be different for fans of Harry Potter, this new installment to the series is a wonderful addition to the Harry Potter collection. Written as a screenplay, some of the wonderful J.K. Rowling mastery of words and descriptions is missing, but the story has the true feel of the original series. The story revolves around the friendship of Harry & Ginny's son Albus with Scorpius Malfoy, the son of Draco. Harry struggles with his relationship with Albus, and Albus is dealing with some struggles of his own. In an attempt to right a past wrong, Albus talks Scorpius into joining him on an adventure that leads them both to much more than they bargained for. The story brings back Ron, Hermione, Draco and of course Harry, plus a few more of the beloved characters that readers will enjoy. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It is NOT the same as reading the original novels, but for any Harry Potter fan this is a wonderful escape back to the magical world that we all love so much.
View all my reviews
Hello Love by Karen McQuestion
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
'Hello Love' is a sweet story that centers on a dog who manages to touch the hearts of several people in a very special way. A light and simple love story, with a predictable but satisfying plot. Anni is an important part of Dan's family, a beloved pet who is helping Dan and his daughter Laurel deal with the grieving process, so when she is stolen it is devastating. Andrea is working on dealing with her own messy divorce and figuring out how to move on with her life, when she impulsively decides to save Anni from her abusive owners, and Anni helps Andrea to find her inner strength and confidence. After several close calls, Dan and Andrea finally meet and with a little help from Anni they realize that love is possible once more. With charming characters, the authors tackles grief in a gentle and heartfelt way, and gives the reader a chance to believe in hope and love.
View all my reviews
Right Under Your Nose by Holly Tierney-Bedord
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this cute, short little book about Ariadne and her best friend Jess. The story follows Ariadne just after an ugly break-up and she has decided to skip Christmas this year. After some prompting from her parents and a special little push from the "Right Under Your Nose" bookshop, Ariadne discovers that perhaps she has more than just best friend feelings for Jess, but of course Jess is now involved with a very sneaky Laurel. How can Ariadne expose Laurel for who she is, and survive the holiday season? Although it was very predictable, the writing was easy and this book was a lot of fun for a quick little read. I do feel like the author rushed the ending, and I would have loved a bit more of the juicy details of Jess and Laurel's big fight, but overall it is a cute story to help get into the Christmas mood.
View all my reviews
The Light of Hidden Flowers by Jennifer Handford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Light of Hidden Flowers was a good story, although somewhat predictable. The book revolves around a bright, yet extremely introverted woman named Melissa Fletcher. Melissa had lived most of her life in the shadow of her very gregarious father, and as the story develops Melissa has to deal with her father's illness and untimely death. These events leave Melissa struggling to find meaning, as she re-evaluates her safe life and her decisions. The remainder of the story is Melissa's attempt to break out of the safe little box she has built for herself. While the main character is well developed, many of the minor characters seems one dimensional and stereotypical. Overall I did enjoy the book, but felt the writing was a bit stilted at times.
View all my reviews
