Recently I decided to go on a binge of reading children stories. I was just in a nostalgic mood and ended up reading some books I never got around to reading when I was younger, and some that are newer published.

 

Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows, Sophie Blackall (Illustrator) 

#1 (4 stars)

I was browsing through the kid section of the overdrive library, because I was in the mood for some children/middle grade (possibly nostalgic stuff from my past) and I saw the cover for this book. I thought it looked cute, so I checked it out. I liked it. I think it was silly and fun, and of course cute. I'm in my 30s, but I like to believe I still have a firm grasp on my inner child. I can still relate to younger characters. In the case of these two, I can relate to their imagination and how they get along with family; especially annoying a sibling.

 

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The Adventures of Captain Underpants Dav Pilkey

#1 (5 stars)

I think this book is fun, silly, weird, but I can see why it is a hit or miss with some people. I enjoyed the artwork.

 

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Scream Street by Tommy Donbavand

Fang of the Vampire #1 (5 stars)

 

I thought this series looked interesting and it turned out pretty fun and cute.

Blood of the Witch #2 (4 stars)

I'm on the fence if I liked this one better than the first one or not. It was quite silly, but not in a bad way, and the author is obviously going with his own vampire lore of how vampires are made

and cured.

(spoiler show)

At least they don't sparkle. ha ha

A fun, quick paced read.

 

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The Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne, Salvatore Murdocca (Illustrator)

 

Dinosaurs Before Dark #1 (4 stars)

I never read this series as a kid. It is just one of the ones I over looked and never thought about. But I thought this was cute and fun, especially for the age group it is intended for. The only reason adult me would give it a lower rating is because I would love more details and I believe even as a child reading this, more details couldn't hurt!

The Knight at Dawn #2 (3 Stars)

The only reason I give the volumes after #1 a 3 star instead of a 4 star is because of the repetitiveness. The summery of past books within the new story would be really helpful for a person who hasn't read the series in a long time. I will give this series that! So I understand why it happens, but it takes something from me as an adult reader.

However the books are cute and fun. I can relate to them, even as an adult, because I love books and would love to be in their shoes, to see all the worlds in the books, and who wouldn't want a magic tree house?

Mummies In The Morning #3 (3 Stars)

Now that I have finished the 3rd book in the series, I am starting to wonder... is the magic tree house really there, or are the children making up everything in their heads? Either way, I really like it!

Pirates Past Noon #4 (3 Stars)

So now we know who "M" is. I still wonder if the children are making up everything in their minds. Imagination is a powerful thing! Either way, this series is really fun. Sure, it's simple and short for adult readers, but that is completely fine by me! It is nice to sit down with some books without all the young adult drama. Also, I feel like these "children" books and other nostalgia type books are really good when you are in a reading slump.

 

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

#1 (4 stars)

I think I would have rated this higher if the kid hadn't been such a brat. I know kids can be bratty, but he seemed way over the top! I would even say he has a meanness to him and doesn't care what the coincidences of his actions are. I felt sorry for his so called best friend.

I do like diary format in books. I might read more in the series. I hope he grows as a character as the series goes on.

3.5 stars. I liked this short paranormal novel and its main character, a vampire librarian with fastidious eating habits. Nothing original but the author knows how to weave a well-paced tale, and does a good job with irony. It's both a standalone and the first installment of a series.

It was embarrassing when your food outsmarted you.

This is the sequel to Zen and the Art of Vampires which I really liked. Unfortunately I read it 3 years ago and don't remember a darn thing so Crouching Vampire was very confusing. The plot is rather convoluted and multi-layered. What the heck is Zorya or an Illagi? I honestly couldn't follow most of this story. I did liked Kristoff though but Pia got on my ever-lovin' nerves with all that "I'm fat" stuff. Obviously her man didn't think so so WTH. I'm glad this is the end of the Pia/Kristoff thing so maybe the next book will focus on someone with a less messed up situation.

I have read this Dark Ones Series out of order starting with #6 (Zen and the Art of Vampires), mostly because I needed a "Z" title for a challenge that I was doing. After reading that one, I had to go on to #7 to see what would happen with Pia and Kristoff. This books starts off where #6 left off. I would say that you have to read #6 to get a good idea of what's happening in this book.

I don't have a lot of experience with Katie MacAlister, but this is the third book of hers that I have read, and I can say that now I am truly a fan. I typically don't like my romance to be funny, but you can't help but enjoy the way Ms. MacAlister writes her characters and this book isn't any different. There are a lot of twists and turns, but in the end we get our HEA which we were a bit cheated out of in the last book, but she wraps up nicely here.

I look forward to reading the rest of series because I see hints of things I have missed with some of the other dark ones and their beloveds, and I am sure that I am in for a good time with them as well. I appreciate the series for it's humor with just the right touch of sex to keep the romance readers happy.

I read this book and the one before it as the first ones in this series. There was quite a bit of stuff I didn't get with the references to the other characters, but it wasn't bad enough that I didn't stop reading and following along.
I suppose if I had read the other books before hand, I wouldn't feel as if the ending was confusing as well as just falling flat.
I gave it 4 stars because Pia and Kristoff were fun and cute together, but the story line was just blah.
Maybe after reading the rest of the series from the beginning, I might in hindsight, come to really like their story.