Mega-Movie Challenge June 1-30

This is another Challenge that I have done off of on one of the groups I am in. This was made to help me with my progress and If you ever want to do the challenge you can. With the rules, I will list the actual challenge rules and then a few rules of my own.

Level One: Covers: Item listed must be on cover.

Level Two: Genre/Category: Books must fit genre/category listed.

Level Three: Description: Books must fit description listed.

Rules:

1. Books must be read in the month of June
2. Books must be 100 pages to count
3. No graphic novels or books of poetry
4. Books can only be used for one description and one level.

My Rules:

1. No rereads can count.
2. DNF books do not count.

Points:

1. 1 point for every category you complete (a category can only complete once unless all categories are complete and start over.
2. 5 points for completing level one
3. 10 points for completing level two
4. 15 points for completing level three
5. 20 points for completing all levels.

The movies:

Titanic:

1. A ship or a boat {Great Expections by Charles Dickens}
2. Romance {Beauty and the Beast by K.M. Shea}
3. A book about the Titanic

Jumanji:

1. Game board/game pieces
2. Dystopia involving a game
3. Book set in the jungle

A Beautiful Mind:

1. Math Symbols/ numbers {The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram}
2. Non-fiction
3. Deals with mental disorder

Groundhog Day:

1. Clock- {Fateful by Cheri Schmidt
2. Involves TV/news show
3. Repeated day story

Finding Nemo:

1. Orange and white
2. Mystery novel
3. Missing person story

Spirited Away:

1. Fantasy element/object/creature
2. Fantasy novel {Unchanged by Heather Crews}
3. A book with dragons

Jaws:

1. Frightening/ unnerving {The Devil’s Prayer by Luke Gracias.}
2. Horror novel
3. Mystery/horror/crime book set in New England

West side Story:

1. Cityscape
2. Modern interpretation of a classic
3. Modern interpretation of Romeo and Juliet

Back to the Future:

1. Car
2. Time Travel
3. Book published in the ’80’s

That Thing you do:

1. Band/music instrument
2. Related to music
3. About a musician or band

The numbers under each movie is the number to the level that these are to be in. Have a good Challenge.

Final score tally:

Level One: 2/10

Level Two: 2/10

Level Three: /10

Over all points: 4/60

I didn’t get much time to read for this in June. I was also in a huge book slump.

♣Jay♠

Monthly Best Read: June 2016

It’s that time again. I haven’t read much in the month of June. I think this sort of helped with me having to choose which is the best read of June.

The Devil’s Prayer by Luke Gracias

Why I picked this book? I was blown away by it. I am still going over everything I read and that ending. I didn’t talk much about the ending in my review but man was it a cliff hanger. I wonder if there is going to be another book.

I recommend this for everyone and anyone. It will have you guessing. Once you think you have everything figured out it does a 180 on you. This is all in the journey of Denise making a pact with the devil and the aftermath of what happened. It is all in a journal that was left behind for her eldest daughter Siobhan.

Even after I finished this I had a dream about it because I couldn’t get it off my mind. I read this after Game of Thrones which was an amazing read itself. That is why this is my number one pick and monthly best read of June.

Runner Ups

Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram

NetGalley!!!

This next month is going to be full due to me having received many (4) titles from NetGalley. I am super excited. Here are the titles I will be reading. More maybe add after this post due to not all of the titles I requested have been answered yet.

Even Angels Fall

Pigskin Rapture

Fight For Old DC

End Point

I’m very excited. I am starting with Even Angels Falls. Hopefully I will have my reviews up soon. Let’s hope July doesn’t turn out to be a big book slump like June.

♣Jay♠

 

The Devil’s Prayer by Luke Gracias

My edition: Kindle
Pages: 293
Series: Stand-alone
Rating: 4.5

Review:

I received my copy of this off of NetGalley.

***Spoilers are in this review. Nothing major but still. Read at your own risk***

What would it take for you to make a deal with the devil?

Part 1:

Siobhan has just found out that her mother Denise Russo has died. Her mother had disappeared six years ago from Siobhan and her little sister’s, Jess, life. A priest has sought out Siobhan to give her her mother’s bible at her mother’s last request. In the bible there was a note for Siobhan to go to Zamora, Spain.

When Siobhan gets to Zamora, everyone she encounters tells her to leave Zamora. Once she gets to the convent Mother Superior Margret tells her to leave at once. A sister talks the Mother Superior to letting Siobhan stay the night but leave at first morning.

Siobhan finds her mother’s confessional book. She then flees to Madrid with the help of an officer.

Part 2:

Gracias wrote it the mother’s journal in first person and Siobhan in third person. This worked well for me because it showed when an entry was ended and Siobhan’s story continues. In the journal was Denise’s confession of making a deal with the devil for revenge against those who had betrayed her and left her as a cripple. Along with the journal there was a picture of her mother on her birthday with friends. There is something else in the picture. When Siobhan looks at it I got extremely creeped out. Congrats to Gracias, you had me on the edge of my seat ready to run to the nearest church.

I am not a very spiritual person. I don’t go to church but I do believe in God and in Lucifer, Satan, the devil, or whatever you want to call him. I also believe in demons, angels, and spirits. When I read a book like this I’m normally  paranoid afterwards. (Reason why I put space in between books like this.) I started to get creeped out when Siobhan sees the photograph her mother left. As her mother says it was the only picture she has of him.

At first this was a slow start to the book. I was reading it just for reading it (after all I did request it and can’t let it just sit there) but once part 2 started rolling and Denise starts to see the devil, I didn’t want to put the book down. It was really hard to put it down, especially at work. I wanted, no, needed to find out what was happening.

I love the telling of how Denise is in denial then how her state progresses into hate and wanting revenge for those who have wronged her. It does get pretty gory. Siobhan’s side of the story also was kept on the edge. Throughout the book I wanted to know why the red monks were chasing her. Why was she in danger? Did her mom not hold up her end of the bargain?

The book was well written. I was on edge for most of the book. Definitely recommend if you like mystery along with religion tie ins. I would say this is more thriller than horror but none the less creepy. Fair warning there is a rape scene and torture scenes.

There is a part 3 but I would spoil the book if I talked about it.

There are certain details Gracias wrote about that I  had to look up. Such as the Codex Gigas (Devil’s Bible). It is housed at the National Library in Stockholm. It is called the Devil’s Bible due to the legend on how it came to be. The legend says that it was written by one monk who was sentenced to death by being walled up alive (Not the best way to die). He wrote this book in one night with the help of the Devil. Grasias writes about this in the prologue. He stayed pretty true to the legend. Now I looked up how many pages it is said to be missing in the codex for real and it is said around 10 pages.

Those pages that are said to be missing, Gracias writes that they are hidden in a monastery in Zamora. These pages are known as the Devil’s Prayer.

Another deal I looked up was the Semana Santa. By the way the guys in the cloaks with hoods on, really creepy. Cool but very creepy at the same time. This is a real life celebration of the Holy Week.

AX9AG2 Holy Week Procession, Semana Santa, Seville Andalusia, Spain

If Gracias has other books out or will have more coming, I would definitely love to read them.

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

My edition: Library book ISBN:  9780553573404

Pages: 835

Series: A Song of Fire and Ice #1

Rating: 4.5

Review: I have many friends who love this book and love the T.V. series. Well before a movie or a T.V. series I like to read the book before watching them. Sometimes I’m not fortunate enough to figure out there was a book to that certain movie or series. (i.e. The Perks of Being a Wallflower.) So I told myself before I can give the T.V. series a shot, I need to read this.

I went to my library for this and had to do a library loan because my library didn’t have it. (I live in a very small town , don’t judge my library.) I finally got this in my hands. I have been wanting to read this for a while but I never had the urge to read it and it’s always been on the back burner of my mind. It came up a few days ago in a conversation and I remembered “Hey I wanted to read this book.”

Now there are ton of reviews out there about this bad boy so I’m going to just put in my thoughts throughout the book.

I will have a number one rule though. Don’t like or fall in love with any of the characters!!

***Also a warning: Winter is coming*** 

There may be spoilers just so ya know.

Updates

• The prologue: What are they doing? Wait I’m confused. What the hell just happened.
• Okay they just killed that guy. What happened to the other one?
• I already know what the actor looks like for Khal Drogo and can I say hottie!!!

• Oh is Bran alright?? Is he dead??  Explained what happened to Y and he busts out laughing. The things I do for love.
• Tyrion is one funny halfman. Well broke my number 1 rule.
• Does anyone else want to cuddle with Jon??
• Damn that was one hot scene with Dany and Drogo.

• Hey leave the fat kid alone.
• Can nobody tell that Arya is a girl?
• Is he really not the hand anymore?
• She is breast feeding her son. He is six oh my god.

• Oh damn. Oh damn.
• Sansa you are such a brat.
• Tyrion you are so my favorite.
• Jaime Lannister, please tell me you die soon. Along with the King Joffery and your lover/sister Ceresi.
• Yep need next novel.

I would have written more but right now I don’t have much to say other than I need to win the lottery and become rich so I don’t have to wait on books.

P.S. Can we give a round of applause to my fiance Y. I had this book on a library loan and I was very busy while reading this and other books so my dead line came in all to fast. We went to Wal-Mart one night, Y bought a copy for me.

♣Jay♠

Blood Tree: Part One by Scarlett Dawn

My edition: Kindle

Series: Blood Tree #1.

Rating: 3

Review: ***All individual installments have been put together in one book called Blood Tree Silver Edition. It is on Kindle Unlimited.***

The first installment follows Kenna Julius.  Kenna learns that she is an elf but what her mother hid her from the elven world till she knew if Kenna is a dark elf or a light elf. Kenna has to wait till her twentieth birthday when her blood tree shows if she is  dark or light.

This was alright. I wasn’t fully impressed by the story. Maybe if it was longer and a few details were tied up I would have liked this much better. The story seemed to fast past for me. Like it was rushed. Now I will read the other three installments due to the fact the edition I have  has both books in it.

♣Jay♠

The Unearthly by Laura Thalassa

My edition: Kindle

Pages: 296

Series: The Unearthly #1

Rating: 4

Review: Forgive me but I’m writing this review a week after I read the book. I was busy when I went to Colorado and back. I am finally able to sit down and write this review.

Gabrielle is off to the British Isles to finish off her high school career. Little does she knows that it is a school for supernaturals. She soon learns she is a supernatural too. She has caught the attention of Andre when the elixir that is suppose to awaken her supernatural abilities turns around and kills her. She comes back alive. Andre is interested in Gabrielle but he isn’t the only one. The devil has marked her and he wants her bad.

I was actually captivated by this story. It was well done. It was quirky. It had funny moments. I wouldn’t say I totally love this but I will be reading the next book.

♣Jay♠

The Libby Garret Intervention by Kelly Oram

My edition: Kindle

Pages: 352

Series: Science Squad #2

Rating: 4.5

Review: We met Libby in The Avery Shaw Experiment as Avery’s best friend. Libby wants Owen Jackson. She wasn’t to much of a big character in the first book but we did see the start of the weird relationship (if you want to call it that) between her and Owen. Owen always was calling her weird and acting like he didn’t like her. From the first book we can already tell Owen is a huge A-hole.

Now we get to hear their story in this book. Well at least Libby’s story and Adam’s. Who is Adam you say?

You look like James Dean and have the heart of Mr. Darcy.

Adam works at the same coffee shop as Avery. He has had a crush on Libby for a long time. When Avery comes to him with help for Libby’s addiction to Owen’s sexual needs for Libby. Adam has dealt with someone who has an addiction. Maybe not an unhealthy relationship but still addiction never the less. Like the first book Avery turns to science. Instead of the seven stages of grief Libby is to go through with the twelve steps to addiction. Adam is going to be her sponsor.

This one even though it had it’s humor and quirkiness that the first one had it was hard for me to read. No it wasn’t boring or anything like that. No this is a hard read for me due to the insecurities the book brings forth.

There is no Link Larkin out there waiting for me.

Libby has self-esteem issues do to her weight. Unfortunately she has a disease that makes it where she can’t lose the weight. Dealing with this and Owen’s embarrassment to be seen with Libby breaks her down to where she is blowing off her friends and being mean.

Now when I was in high school, actually even now, I have problems with my weight. I look fine everywhere else until we get to my stomach. It seems to be the only place that does gain weight. I tend to look pregnant. I’ve been very self conscious about this. This is one of the reasons this was hard to read.

Throughout my high school I didn’t have much of the weight problem as I do now but it was still there and I learned to hide it well. Also I had a huge crush on one guy who only dated me for three days. I had a crush on this guy since my eighth grade year till I was a junior in high school. Looking back on it my friendship/barely there relationship was unhealthy. I let him have power over me. It hurt when I saw him dating other people and when someone would tell me about what he said about me behind my back it really hurt and chipped away more.

Senior year I had moved to a new state and school and I thought I had finally gotten over him and moved on when a boy there asked me out. I felt great. I had a boost. Over time I started realizing that I was transforming into someone I’m not for him. I said I didn’t like country music, which I like any kind of music. I said I would rather live in the city but actually I would rather live in the mountains secluded. I just went from having one unhealthy relationship to another. Even after senior year it continued. I even became one of those girls that used sex to feel special. I ended up hating myself and losing a lot of friends who just didn’t care what happened to me. Finally after my first year at college I came home and had some self exploring. I finally found myself.

Now I’m in a much healthier relationship with a man who accepts me as being me. Yeah at times it looks like we are fighting or being mean to each other but really we are just teasing and having fun. Grant it I still have some of those insecurities today but there not as bad and I’m still on the journey to get myself fully back but that is what life is all about.

Libby’s story hit home for me. I was picturing myself as Libby. Only difference is that I don’t have crazy cat shirts and I’m not good at science or math. I do recommend this series.

♣Jay♠

 

MIA for a little while!!!

Hey y’all

I hope you guys are having a great week and a good weekend. I am announcing that I will be MIA for a little bit. This upcoming week I will be in Colorado and on vacation for my birthday. I will be reading mostly so I will be bringing back a bunch of reviews!!

I will most likely have Game of Thrones, ‘Salem’s Lot, and The Sanctuary done. Hopefully. I probably have a few others as well but mostly those three.

I hope every another great week and see yall on the 20th.

♣Jay♠

Unchanged by Heather Crews

My edition: Kindle

Pages: 158

Series: Stand alone

Rating: 3

Review: So while I was reading this I kept thinking why does the author’s name sound familiar? Well it took about a day for me to figure out why. I went on Goodreads to see the author’s bio and saw the picture. Now I know why the name looked so familiar. I follow the author on Goodreads. I felt a little stupid.

Any who on to the review.

At first this was a little slow for me, but when our heroine, Lilly, goes to the winter dance (I forgot if it had a name) it starts to get more interesting. Earlier Lilly skipped school to go draw in the woods. While she was there she met a man named Ahaziel. She feels strange around him. Like she has seen him before. Lilly has a connection with Ahaziel. But Ahaziel is not what he seems.

The story was good. It was a little different then what I have been reading lately which is good. I do like change every now and then. (Only in my books though) I liked it. Again it was different.

I really do have much more to say about this book but I would be spoiling the whole book and I really don’t feel like being nice/cruel. Why I say that, well nice because you get answers, cruel because after reading the answers the book is there for ruined.

♣Jay♠