HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS

“Harry Potter and the Chamber Of Secrets” ~ J.K. Rowling is another wizardry thriller that will leave you at the edge of your seats.

In the second installment of the J.K Rowling wizardry book series, 12-year old Harry Potter returns for his second year at Hogwarts ready to learn more magic and have fun with his friends Ron and Hermine. However, something is looming over him after Dobby a house-elf makes and unexpected visit to him at the Dursley house warning him to not go back to school that something bad is going to happen if he did.

However, weary about taking advice from a house-elf and eager to continue his magical education, he returns to the school. Shortly, after returning to school weird things start to take place. Random attacks occur on random individuals and the mystery needs to be solved.

This is nothing that Harry Potter and his can’t handle. This leads to another mind blowing, action-packed magical thriller. That will lead Harry to understand why Dobby warned him and why he also went against the house-elf suggested.

J.K Rowling has done yet another amazing job taking the reader inside such a fascinating wizardry adventure with best wizard of them all Harry Potter! 🙂

July 27, 2019

Yes, Again Yes

“Yes, Again Yes” ~ Mary Beth Keane is a fantastic novel about family, love, trauma and forgiveness

In 1973 Brian Stanhope and Francis Gleasons were rookies in the NYPD and were partners for the first 3 weeks on the job. Both men were newly married and starting families . When Francis suggest to Brian to move the family orient neighborhood in Gillam. He takes him up on his offer.

However, what will happen between the two families when Brian son Peter and Francis youngest daughter Kate becomes best friends and their wives don’t improve?

The intention grows between these two families when the kids are in middle school and the childhood friendship blossoms into something more. After one minor incident where Kate falls and gets hurt. Along with the strange reaction that Kate mother had. Their mothers ban them from seeing each other.

As all star-crossed lovers or rebellious teenagers do. They set a plan to meet each other at midnight that night. It was that night and the events that occurred that night that ultimately ripped these two families apart!

How will these two families ever heal after tragic events from that night? Will these two crazy kids that were in-love ever find each other again and see where that love takes them? Will these families ever be able to forgive?

Mary Beth Keane did a beautiful job writing a family drama novel. Leaving the reader feeling real connections and empathy for each and every character.

From love, heartbreak, grief, to faith and hope this story full of every emotion. It is must read about how family strength .

July 12, 2019

Searching for Sylvie Lee

“Searching for Sylvie Lee” ~ Jeane Kwok is a mysterious story of family, friends, love , grief and betrayal. Twist and turns at every corner that will have you at the edge of your seat.

This story is about two sisters and how when one of them goes missing, the other sister won’t give up trying to find her. The search takes her from New York to the Netherlands where her sister was visiting family right before her disappearance.

Along the way the sister that is searching finds out the truth behind her older sisters marriage, love interests and childhood. Where her sister was sent to the Netherlands to live with distant family friends because her newly immigrated parents couldn’t afford raise her in New York.

To be honest, it is slow at first trying build up and fit the pieces of the puzzle together. However, the end is worth the wait. It is a family drama like no other!

I would recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a family drama and mystery rolled into one!

July 4, 2019

Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone

“Harry Potter & The Sorcerer Stone” written by J.K Rowling is action packed, mystery fill story of wizardry and witchcraft in the land of Hogwarts.

By now most everyone on the planet has read the famous Harry Potter series and have watched the movies. However, I am a bit late to the party and I just finish listening to Book One in the series “Harry Potter and The Sorcerer Stone.” Through the Audible app. Here are my thoughts on the first book.

It starts with the birthday boy Harry Potter finding out he is a Wizard and is accepted into the elite Wizardry and Witchcraft school Hogwarts. Soon Harry is confronted with his sudden celebrity like status and dealing with the truth behind his parents’ death and family history.

The book is full of unexpected friendships and villain dealings. All the while Harry is trying his best to fit in and win the house cup for his schoolhouse Gryffindor. Trying to beat out the other houses, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and the most hated Slytherin. All the while trying to steal back the Sorcerer Stone that is hidden deep with the school grounds. Will he to get pass all the obstacles in his way to be able to the stone or will he get caught and expel from one of the biggest wizards school around? Also, he becomes a sudden star in the Wizardry sport of Quidditch. He takes on The Seeker role with pride and determination!

J. K Rowlings does a fantastic job developing a book that takes you into the worlds of wizardry and witchcraft with beloved characters and quests that will leave you on the edge of your seat and not wanting to put the book down.

I would recommend this book and series for anyone who is into wizardry and wants to find a world that will you captivate you from the moment that the first spell is casted!

June 20, 2019

A LOVE LETTER LIFE

“A Love Letter Life” written by Jeremy and Audrey Roloff is a compassionate, detailed story that is full of the up and down struggles of their ultimate love story.

This book tells the story of Jeremy Roloff who is a reality TV show star and his wife Audrey of how they met fell in love each other and got married on national television. They wanted to lay it all out there from the gentle pursuit that Jeremy took to win Audrey’s heart to the hard discussion on whether to podcast their special day for the world to see and becoming first time parents and every trial and tribulation in between.

These two hold faith and religion every close and they show it throughout this book. They wanted to show readers how their Christianity lead them to finding each other and how it is the leading aspect of their marriage and family. They love Jesus first then each other. To them this is what has made their relationship work and become so successful.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a genuine love story.

June 6, 2019

The Nest

“The Nest” written by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney is whirlwind family drama full of twist and turns pending from a tragic incident that occurred with one of the family.

The book takes the reader on a journey of a family drama between brothers and sisters trying to figure out whether or not they are going to have a stable future with the help of The Nest. The Nest is a family trust fund set up by their father before is unexpected death. The future of The Nest lays in the balance after the unfortunate actions of one of the brothers Leo. However, the other siblings were developing a real need for their money due to the financial crisis.

The book is full of family drama, surprises and love. How will the family reconnect after the unfortunate incident? Will they after reconnect? Also after Leo mysteriously goes missing will he ever be found?

Cynthia does a famously job developing the family dynamic with throwing in the necessary surprises along the way.

I would recommend this book to anymore looking for a good family drama full of mystery type of book.

This book was certainly a fun read!

May 24, 2019

A Woman Is No Man

“A Woman is No Man” written by Etaf Rum is jea moving, touching, emotional packed novel about family and different cultures. That will have you cheering on some characters and wanting to yell at others.

This powerful novel is set in Brooklyn New York and follows 3 generations of Arab women. As the older generations try to keep their Arab culture alive, with marring their daughters off at such a young age believing that is the only way to survive. While the next generations tries to push barriers and stand up for themselves.

These novel highlights, a conflict that is happening every day in America as families escape foreign lands to find freedom in America. The conflict that only men are capable of supporting the family and that women are only good for cleaning and being at their men’s beck and call.

Throughout the story you find that the younger generations are realizing in America they have a voice and that they can stand up for themselves and have the futures and careers that they dreamed about back home and hear about only in books.

The push and pull of this struggled gets so emotionally intense at times that the reader won’t be able to put the book down. This story shows the power of what books and the proper education can do for people that are escaping from their past.

I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn about the Arab culture and women empowerment.

This book surely won’t be a disappointment. ❤

May 9, 2019

Crazy Rich Asians

“Crazy Rich Asians” written by Kevin Kwan is a world wind story of when three mega rich Asian family comes together for one huge extravaganza of a wedding.

This book takes the readers on a journey of three prominent rich Asian families and they Crazy messed up trials and tribulations along the way. The main rich family is the Young family. Nick Young plans to take is girlfriend of two-years that he met while teaching in New York City back to Singapore for his best friends Colin Khoos wedding.

One that thing that Nick doesn’t realize is that word travels fast and his family is well aware of his plans before he gets a chance to tell them himself.

The real question is: will Rachel be accepted by Nick’s family considering his is rendered as the sole heir of the family fortune or will the family be torn apart of the new family guest?

I appreciated the writing in this book as it was easy to read and follow along. Considering there were many different story lines going on throughout the book. The titling of chapters were very well layout.

I would recommend this book for any one who is looking for a drama filled, family-oriented book with a little splash of Singapore and Chinese history.

April 20, 2019

Girl, Stop Apologizing

“Girl, Stop Apologizing” written by Rachel Hollis is another one of Rachel Hollis’s inspirational and motivational books. Giving tips that women should live by.

My first though when I heard that Rachel had this other book, I didn’t really care for it because I thought it was going to be the same concept as “Girl, Wash Your Face.” However, I was watching an interview where Rachel was promoting this book and how she got inspired to write this particular book. She got her inspiration from Demi Lovato’s song “Sorry Not Sorry” about how Demi has stop apologizing for who she was. I was like if there is a book out there inspired by this amazing artist and song, I am going to read it! That is why a chose the book to read in the first place.

The message behind this book is so important for not just all women to hear but for everyone to hear. I feel as if we live in a world where it seems wrong to want to aim for bigger dreams. That it might be considered selfish if we want to be the center of attention and be rich and famous. This book tells you that you don’t need to apologize for wanting bigger things. If you achieve them the right way with hard work and determination.

This book gives tips about how to balance your personal and professional lives. It also gives you permission to say no when you feel it is right to do so. Rachel also reminds us that in the process of following our dreams, we need to ask for help. Any dream cannot be accomplished by just one person. It takes a whole team of people big or small to helped out. Especially in situations where there is children involved.

I would recommend this book to any one who is sick and tired of apologizing for having the dreams that they have. This book is for anyone who might be overwhelmed with either family of professional goals. This reminds us that it is OK to make mistakes and that no one is perfect and we have to stop apologizing for it!

April 4, 2019

Girl, Wash Your Face

“Girl, Wash Your Face” written by Rachel Hollis is an inspirational and motivational memoir. That takes you are a journey of the ups and downs of an ordinary girl just following her dreams.
Rachel Hollis is an author and motivational speaker who while trying to grow from the trauma of her childhood was able to build a successful media company and become a best-selling author.
To all the women out there: have you heard things like: you’re not good enough or that I am better than you! Yes, I am sure you have! However, this book tells you that anything is possible with hard work and dedication.
One thing that I took away from the book was in the chapter “I’ll Start Tomorrow.” Everyone makes every excuse in the book to start their dream tomorrow. However, I learned that if you keep telling yourself “I’ll Start Tomorrow” you will never end up actually starting it. Just start! No matter where or how long it takes at least you started on the path to follow your dreams, or you will regret ever trying. It is about the journey not the destination.
Another thing that I learned was in the chapter “I Am Defined by My Weight.” Except for me it replace the word “weight” with “height” I stand at a proud 4’3” and obviously that is the first thing people notice. However, with what I lack in height I make up with in my personality. I am a loud, hardworking and positive person. The lesson learned was not letting one thing define who you are.
This book was sort of a kick in the butt for your goals and that they are not achieved overnight. It will take time but don’t ever give up. It highlights all the trials and triumphs that Rachel had to face along the way as well. Whether it was the years of therapy with coping with the loss of her bother, bad boyfriends, a rocky adoption process or the ups and downs of her business. She bravely lays it out there for the reader to take it and feel that you are not alone.
I would recommend this book to any women who is looking for motivation to get off their butt and follow their dreams. I would recommend this book to any guy who would like to learn how girls think and maybe how to respect women a bit better.
Rachel did a great job with this book and can’t wait to read her other best-selling books!