Book Review : Street Lights in Wonderland

I think I accidentally turned this into a book/shark blog. Eh, oh well I like both of those things a lot so I guess it would make sense. I was going to wait to review this book until I had finished with Alten's Meg series but I could not wait I needed y'all to read this amazing book! 

  

Amazon

Street Lights in Wonderland by Ashley McNiel 

 Amazon Description

"Suicide is a word commonly spoken in hushed tones and darkened doorways whenever I was near. It held a stigma that people never seemed to truly understand. It usually preceded words such as: selfish, mental illness, hopeless, damned, and my least favorite, coward. 

The word suicide held one specific meaning for me: Eli Nicholas Hampshire. " 

Shainelyn Bradshaw led a normal, happy life, until one night, her boyfriend of two years, committed suicide. 

A year later, Shaine was still trying to figure out her new world without him. 

Grief had consumed every aspect of her life. A once outgoing, bubbly, piano prodigy, now did nothing more than survive. 

Until the day Langston Fletcher burst into her life, breaking down every wall Shaine had built, then standing triumphantly atop the rubble. Langston turned Shaine's new world upside down. 

Langston shows Shaine that there is more to life than merely surviving. He shows her that the entire world is her personal Wonderland, and the best times of her life are yet to come. He's going to make sure of it. 

But just when Shaine thinks there is a chance at a life, and maybe even love after Nicholas, life shows her once again, it has other plans. 

Sometimes the same ghosts that used to keep you company, come back to haunt you. 

A story of adventures, life, and love.

My Thoughts

After this book I was just done. I was and still am in a book hangover. It was incredible, she had my crying in the first 10 pages. Shaine is an inspiration as a female character, she grows so strong and aware of herself. I hope this book teaches girls that you can be strong and confident without or despite a guy. With that said I am 100% in love with Langston not Hughes. He is incredibly well written and wise beyond his years, mentally and spiritually. I really love a good spiritual, but not preachy character and that is Langston. I feel that if I go on I might spoil this book and I do not want to do that. I will say that at times I wanted to throw my tablet, I was so frustrated about what I thought would happen next. This was made worse by stopping to sleep and I was dreaming about different outcomes and I always go worse case scenario.  But in all honesty I love every heart-breaking, anger inducing, falling in love with fictional characters moments of it.

My Langston not Hughes - ya that is Brandon Boyd from Incubus (1) (2)

I devoured this book in less that a day(split by sleep) I could not put it down! Only reason I did was Da'Hubby cannot sleep by the glow of my tablet (OOPS)! If you want a good summer read you have got to get this book. Ashley is coming out with a novella and a book two to the wonderland world and I cannot wait. I might have to reread this book a few times before they come out just so I can get my Langston not Hughes fix. 

Also be sure to check out Ashley's book blog HERE. She is an amazing person and an incredible author!

Book Review : Meg Series - The Trench

Amazon - Audible - Goodreads

Da'Hubby HATED me reading this series, it is all I wanted to do. He wanted to watch a show with me and I was like "I am almost at a stopping point" 2 hours later  "are you done yet??" - Da'Hubby. I just got lost in this world where Megs are real and an ever present danger. 

Book 2 - The Trench 

       This book (obvious by the title) takes place in the Mariana Trench 4 years after Jonas' second trip into the trench. Jonas is remarried to Terry Tanaka (daughter of the friend he helped) from the previous book. The female meg (Angel), birthed by the Meg that left the trench and was killed my Jonas in the last book, is in the Tanaka Institute Lagoon with feeding shows for the public. Now with the success of the Angel of Death shows lawsuits are rolling in from the families of the victims of the Meg deaths, putting a strain of Jonas' marriage, his wallet, and even causing a miscarriage. To make ends meet the Tanaka-Taylor family have to make a deal with the devil. Not wanting to leave the lagoon because he fears Angel will escape Jonas stay while Terry goes (against his wishes) to the Mariana Trench, and she doesn't realize how much danger she is really in. 

I love Terry in this book, she was a bada**, much better that the last book. We also meet the devil's disciples Celeste Singer and Benedict. I thought I hated Jonas' ex-wife but after meeting Celeste I would not mind having the ex back. Both Celeste and Benedict have ulterior motives and are not afraid to kill to get it done. We found out that the Megs are not the only thing that go bump in the night in the Mariana's trench. I do not know who was more dangerous Celeste and Benedict  (and his goons) or the other aggressors in the depths of the trench. This was a great sequel and that is not easy to do. This was such a thriller because in took place 5 miles below the surface of the ocean. Everything was amplified to dangerous measures, and there is no escape except death. If you have not started this series this book alone is worth it. 

Book Challenge Update #6

Da' Hubby is not a fan of me this month. He is so jealous that I want to read and not be next to him when we are at home. Over the weekend he took a nap on the couch so instead of waking him up by turning on the light I moved over to the chair next to the window to read. When he woke up he was sad because I "abandoned him"  I was literally on the other side of the coffee table. But ya gotta love him for wanting to spend so much time with me (even if he is passed out and I am wide awake). Anyway I am 4 books ahead of schedule on my challenge and I am pretty deep into 2 other books right now. 

Soul of The Fire (Book 5 in the Sword of Truth Series) by Terry Goodkind  - Amazon - GoodReads - Audible

The audio on this one was much better than the previous book. I got angry more than once in this book, I felt that Richard was being stupid in parts. I understand I am reading the book so I remember what happen months ago in the story was only a few chapters back but how can you forget getting married even if there was no ceremony. So much of this book could have been easier on the whole gang if he had remembered the woman he saved. I also missed Zedd in this book he was not in it very much which is sad I love Zedd. I also felt like he focused so much time on Anderith and the officals in it and not the main group of characters. It makes since to give some background and build the town because we know nothing about it but I think there was too much focus on it unless they turn into bigger characters later in the series. All in all it was a great continuation of the series. And can I just say OMG Kahlan at the end of the book ( I do not want to spoil it but seriously!!!)

♥♥♥.5 out of 5 (too much on Anderith and such a slow pace in the beginning)

Cloaked by Alex Flinn - Amazon - GoodReads - Audible

I love the mixing and combining of Fairy Tales that Alex does. I am a big fan of these remakes. I feel like some of the things that happened were a bit expected, like the love interest or the witch part and even the fox. Despite all of that it was a great book and I have been recommending it the people even before I finished it. Since the book is a big mixing pot of fairy tales I think that you are going to know what will happen if you have read the fairy tales. But I need to pick up another of Alex's books if they are anything like the 3 have I have just read. 

 ♥♥♥♥ out of 5 

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (Book 1 Chronicles of Narnia) - Amazon - Goodreads - Audible 

I read this book when I was in school but I am not sure if I even finished the series of just read the book required. I have decided that I really enjoyed it this time around (when I am forced to read something I usually do not like it.) After rereading it I am going to read this with my sister, I think she will really enjoy it and it will help with her reading ability. This is a great children's book and I hope to share it with my future kids as well. 

♥♥♥♥♥ out of 5 

great read as a child, sibling, or parent - good book to share

It's a Chick Thing : Celebrating the Wild Side of Women's Friendship - A collection of stories Edited by Ame Mahler Beanland - Amazon - Goodreads 

This light-hearted books is a bunch of stories about friendships. It talks about the bad times when your friends are always there for you, when they get you in trouble, or you get them in trouble, and the connection you have. I think this is a great easy read for a girls trip, while tanning at the beach read this book and start sharing stories with your gal pals. 

♥♥♥.5 out of 5 

Not something I would reread but it was cute

The Trench (Book 2 Meg Series) By Steve Alten - Amazon - Goodreads - Audible

Of course I enjoyed this book it is about Sharks!!! Angel was amazing and terrifying. Jonas was stubborn, stupid, and so determined. This book is not focused on the shark as much but the trench as the name states. I liked how you really see the motives of the characters in this sequel. We find out things about Jonas' past that even he didn't know/realize. We find that Terry is a bada** and her and Jonas' love is stronger than a prehistoric shark or sadistic billionaire. If it had not been for Da'Hubby wanting my light turned off last night I would have started book 3 as soon as I sat this one down. 

♥♥♥♥.5 out of 5 

I was a bit lost in the techno-babble but it was needed for the story 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky - Amazon - Goodreads 

I picked this book up half on a whim and half because Phillip DeFranco (SourceFed & such) said it was one of his favorites like last year or something. Anyway I was pleasantly surprised by this book, and I too love it! As I said on Goodreads it is heartbreakingly wonderful. Chbosky talks about a bunch of really deep stuff but from the perspective of someone who is not fully emotionally or psychologically able to handle it. This little wallflower grows in maturity throughout the book and watching him grow is amazing. I already have this on my netflix queue to be delivered so I can share this book/movie with Da' Hubby. 

♥♥♥♥♥ out of 5 

absolutely will be re-reading  

Previous challenge update posts: January - February - March - April - May

Book Reviews: Adulting - Something Worth Fighting For - Speaker of The Dead -Ender's Game - Extras - Specials - Pretties - Uglies - The Fault in our Stars 

New TMNT Movie Preview Review

I generally do not do reviews like this but I was raised on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and I was so excited when I heard about a new movie. I loved the cartoon, the movies, I had the toys, I even had a metal over the lap tv tray that was TNMT, I loved my turtles. 

After watching this preview I am not as excited. The turtles just do not look right. I want my turtles with the protruding snout not flat faced like this. And can I be the one to say who picked Megan Fox to be April O'Neil?  Are you serious?! I could think of so many better actresses to play that part. 

If you want to bring in (more) nerds - Felicia Day

Want someone who is popular right now? - Emma Stone

Want international crowd? - Karen Gillian

And that is just a few but they are all better than Megan Fox. Maybe I am turning into one of those people who think everything from when they grew up is better than anything from any other generation. Who knows, I will go see the movie no matter what and I will have my final view of it then. I hope it is better than it appears. 

So are y'all going to watch the new TMNT? How do you feel about movies of things you loved as a child like the Indiana Jones movie with Shia Lebouf or the upcoming Star Wars?

Book Challenge Update #5

Staying strong with 2 books ahead of schedule and just started 2 more that will be on next month's update. I may surpass my goal! I am running out of ideas of books to read after I finish my series. I still have the rest of the Sword of Truth series and Meg but after that I am at a loss. Plus since I am listening to SOT I like to have an actual book or even a kindle book to read when I am at home. If you have any books you would like to recommend I am all ears.

Temple of the Winds (Book 4 of Sword of Truth Series) by Terry Goodkind - Amazon- Goodreads - Audible

First and for most, I listened to the audio version from Audible and I have for all of the books and the voice actor on this one was different and butchered the pronunciations of the characters and locations. He said Kah-lynn instead of Kay-lynn and it is SOO annoying. Other than the narrator the book was amazing. I like the new characters introduced and hated that some of the older ones had to go. Zedd is seriously my favorite person in the whole series, he is hilarious. There were times in this book that I got really angry or sad but that was because the story is just that good that it brings you in and makes you feel so much. I am ready to get started on the 5th book in the series.

♥♥♥♥ out of 5 (because of the deaths)

Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror by Steve Alten - Amazon - Goodreads 

I am amazed it has taken me this long to find this book. A friend read it and knowing how big of a shark fan-girl I am she gifted me this book and I am in love! And I just found out that it is a series. I already downloaded Meg: Origins (like a mini prequel) and am about to devour that...haha see what I did there? Devour like a shark. If you like cheesy Sy-Fy channel movies like Sharknado, Sharktopus, or Paranaconda than you will love this book. This is a short read perfect summer reading book and heck, I would dare to say a beach read. 

♥♥♥♥♥ out of 5  (I do love my sharks)

Meg: Origins by Steven Alten - Amazon - Goodreads

I think I was the one who failed this book instead of it failing me. I read this book after reading Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror ( I didn't even know it was a series when I was given the book and started reading it). After finishing book 2 I found and read this. I like the book but was confused about some parts and was not a fan of how much it jumped around. I liked the back story it gave to Mac and Jonas but I feel that if I hadn't read book 2 first I never would have continued the series after this book. 

♥♥.5 out of 5 (purely because I enjoyed learning about the top secret dive and Mac's history)

Do you have books I should read? I could use some recommendations. 

Previous challenge update posts: January - February - March - April

Book Reviews: Adulting - Something Worth Fighting For - Speaker of The Dead -Ender's Game - Extras - Specials - Pretties - Uglies - The Fault in our Stars 

Shark Book Series!!

Guys I cannot tell you how excited I am that I found a Shark novel that is actually good and on to of that it is apart of a series! Da'Hubby and I were at his best friend Tiny's house over the weekend for Comicpalooza and his wife Sloane  is also a shark lover. We were talking about our love of shows like Sharknado, Shark Week and Sharktopus and she remembers she has had the book Meg by Steve Alten for years. She gives it to me and I devoured the book. I went upstairs that night and read until I forced myself to sleep for the early day.

I swear that girl is the sweetest person ever!

I am in love with this book and I am so excited the read the 3 books that are in the series plus the prequel. I already downloaded the prequel since it is like a little mini book but I want the hard copy of the rest for my book shelf and for future reading.

Synopsis (Amazon)

On a top-secret dive into the Pacific Ocean's deepest canyon, Jonas Taylor found himself face-to-face with the largest and most ferocious predator in the history of the animal kingdom.  The sole survivor of the mission, Taylor is haunted by what he's sure he saw but still can't prove exists--Carcharodon megalodon, the massive mother of the great white shark.  The average prehistoric Meg weighs in at twenty tons and could tear apart a Tyrannosaurus rex in seconds.

Written off as a crackpot suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Taylor refuses to forget the depths that nearly cost him his life.  With a Ph.D. in paleontology under his belt, Taylor spends years theorizing, lecturing, and writing about the possibility that Meg still feeds at the deepest levels of the sea.  But it takes an old friend in need to get him to return to the water, and a hotshot female submarine pilot to dare him back into a high-tech miniature sub.

Diving deeper than he ever has before, Taylor will face terror like he's never imagined, and what he finds could turn the tides bloody red until the end of time.

My thoughts:

I am going to agree with many others who have reviewed this book, it is a book for shark nerds. You cannot go into this book expecting Moby Dick, it is a Sy-Fy original movie in book form. This book knows what is is and does not try to be more than that. Ya, I knew what was going to happen to many characters before it happened but that did not take away my joy of this book. It had actual facts about sharks, whale migrations, and Navel issues. I have read some books that are cheesy but they think that you are stupid Alten does not do this, he does not insult your intelligence. How serious can a book be when it is talking about a 60' shark going on a killing spree? As long as you go into this book expecting an entertaining fast read you will be very happy.

My Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥ out of 5 

All in all this book gets 5 hearts from me because it is about sharks, I plan on reading it multiple times and I love the whole premise. 

What books are you reading now?

Respect *CAUTION RANT AHEAD*

After having a wonder Mother's Day weekend with my 2 step-mom's I have decided many people do not understand how to respect others and how to earn respect.  I am blessed to have two wonderful step-mothers (one married to my birth-dad and the other my ex-step-dad) and without them I would not be the person I am today. They have taught me about not dwelling on the past, how to be a happier person, and how to be a successful adult.I owe my eternal thanks and gratitude to them and they deserve the utmost respect.

Now for the  rant I warned you about:

I feel that respect is a two-way street and that it should be earned not just handed over. I have people in my life and have seen it elsewhere, that demand respect but give none out. If you need a call or a visit on your birthday, anniversary, Mother's Day, Father's Day, or any other day you deem necessary than you better return that favor. If you can only muster a generic text message for me, why do you feel that you deserve more?  Don't get me wrong I do not mind get a text telling my happy whatever, and I grateful for it. But if you say it is rude and disrespectful to do so than don't do it to me and not expect it in return.

I also feel that public shaming is not a good way to try and earn that respect that you are demanding. (I get that it may seem like I am being a hypocrite writing this post but this is not about one specific person, this is just things that I have seen and experienced with many people not just one.) If you spend any time on Facebook at all than you know what I am talking about. People doing the brag/put-down like "my wonder son A got me this for my birthday, waiting on son B to call at least"  or the "so jealous of all the mothers day posts I wish my kids were as thoughtful" but people do it with everything! Let me brag about this trip and then write to someone about how you wish they were there when you never invited them, or worse the people who look at your pictures and ask where their invite was. If you were not invited there was a reason, and if someone rubs it in your face that you were not invited do you really want to be their friend?

I usually try to go above and beyond for the people I care about. I cannot always do so, because money is a thing, but I try. Once I see that my hard work is not appreciated or even ridiculed than why should I try to impress you anymore? I am so happy that you can make others feel guilty for not living up to your ridiculous standards and doing what ever you demand of them, despite their own wishes, but I am not one of them. I will not cower away from my stand on something because you say so. If I do not like to do something that you enjoy, I will not do it just because you want me to. Oh you like to do marathons, spend every waking moment at church/gym, hurt puppies, ride unicorns whatever. Well I don't so you have fun we can do something else that we both enjoy. Don't make me feel bad for not wanting to do those things. Don't ignore me because I went against your wishes on something that is 100% my decision and none of yours.

I know this post is all over the place but I hate going on to social media and seeing people intentionally put people down, try to make them feel guilty or are just rude. Why can't you use the outlet to spread joy. I rarely post on facebook and when I do it is about sharing a great experience with great people. Heck I mainly post news articles that make me happy, like the dives in Australia saving the reef shark.

OK I am going to stop here I can seriously go on all day long on this but I want to get this negativity away from me so I can get back in a good space and have a happy day.