Penelope March is Melting

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Goodreads Synopsis:    An icy-cold mystery adventure to warm your heart--perfect for fans of The Mysterious Benedict Society and Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library!

Something sinister has come to Glacier Cove, an icy-cold town that sits on top of an iceberg . Nothing bad ever happens here. Until now. And it's up to Penelope March to stop it.

Mmm-hmm, that Penelope--the bookworm who lives in the ramshackle house with her brother, Miles. The girl with the mom who--poof!--disappeared. The one everyone ignores . . . except strange Coral Wanamaker, a tiny thing with raven-black hair and a black coat.

When Penelope meets someone who seems to know secrets not only about Glacier Cove but about Penelope herself, she and Miles are pulled into an ancient mystery. Together, they'll face the coldest, cruelest enemy ever known. Looks like the girl who only reads about adventures is going to start living one.

Magic cookies! Volcanoes! Penguins! Sea monsters! And a girl hero with the strength and imagination to spring into action.

My Thoughts:

-    This was a cute book, but it was a little too long. 

-    I loved the world building. A town built on a glacier is genius! I also loved the ice house and the underwater stuff. It was a very fun and vivid setting. 

-    The liked all the characters. I think kids will be able to relate to them. 

-    I got a little bored. I think the book could have been cut down quite a bit. There wasn't enough adventure to keep my attention, and I think kids will feel the same. For the target audience, I really think this book needs to be a lot shorter.

-    The story had a lot of potential, and I think it just barely missed the mark. It is very frustrating when a book could be super fun, but isn't. 

Belle Epoque

Goodreads Description:    When Maude Pichon runs away from provincial Brittany to Paris, her romantic dreams vanish as quickly as her savings. Desperate for work, she answers an unusual ad. The Durandeau Agency provides its clients with a unique service—the beauty foil. Hire a plain friend and become instantly more attractive. 

Monsieur Durandeau has made a fortune from wealthy socialites, and when the Countess Dubern needs a companion for her headstrong daughter, Isabelle, Maude is deemed the perfect foil.

But Isabelle has no idea her new "friend" is the hired help, and Maude's very existence among the aristocracy hinges on her keeping the truth a secret. Yet the more she learns about Isabelle, the more her loyalty is tested. And the longer her deception continues, the more she has to lose.

My Thoughts:

-    This was such a great story about friendship and true beauty. I enjoyed every page.

-    The characters were awesome. I loved the way each person made an impact on Maude's life, especially Marie-Josee. She was one of my favorites! I loved the interactions between Maude and Isabelle. The way their friendship developed was so real. 

-    The ending was perfect! I loved how everything was resolved. I was worried there for a while. 

-    I like the little tad of romance. It isn't over done, and it it just enough.

-    I was surprised by how clean this book was. I thought there would be some unsavory things in the book, but it was squeaky clean. 

-    I enjoyed all the French stuff! It was fun and gave the book so much flair. 

-    The message of this book is awesome! I loved it! It made me feel good, and it made me feel good about myself. 

The Kill Order

From Goodreads:    The prequel to the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series.

Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth and mankind fell to disease.

Mark and Trina were there when it happened, and they survived. But surviving the sun flares was easy compared to what came next. Now a disease of rage and lunacy races across the eastern United States, and there’s something suspicious about its origin. Worse yet, it’s mutating, and all evidence suggests that it will bring humanity to its knees.

Mark and Trina are convinced there’s a way to save those left living from descending into madness. And they’re determined to find it—if they can stay alive. Because in this new, devastated world, every life has a price. And to some, you’re worth more dead than alive.

My Thoughts:

-    This was a very intense book!  It starts off crazy and doesn't slow down!  It was just one thing after another.  It was like the author tried to squeeze as many horrible things he could into this book.

-    The dreams/past scenes were intermingled in the story.  I would have liked it better if they had just done one continual story instead of break up the time sequence.

-    There is some gruesome stuff in this book.  There were a few cringe worthy moments.

-    I kinda felt like the Maze Runner series had zombie like creatures in it, but this one just confirmed it.  Zombies EVERYWHERE!!

-    I really wanted the prequel to be about how WICKED started and how Teresa and Thomas met and started the whole process, but alas, it wasn't.  It was about how The Flare started, which is terrible!   We get a tiny bit about Teresa and Thomas, but not much.  I personally think that Deedee is Teresa.  

-    I still have questions that I want answers to, but looks like I'm not going to get them!  Grrr!

The Death Cure

Goodreads Synopsis:   Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.

What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says.

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.
Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

My Thoughts:

-    To be honest, I had to take a break after The Scorch Trials.  I was really angry, and I wanted answers.  I'm glad I took my break.  I think it made The Death Cure better for me.  

-    Did I get all my answers?  Kinda sorta.  That is all I'm willing to divulge.

-    There was a lot of fluff and extra stuff that kinda slowed the story, and I felt like it wasn't needed.  I didn't really need a whole chapter dedicated to Thomas walking towards a building.  

-    There were some crazy awesome scenes among the fluff though, and I couldn't read fast enough.  The ending is especially exhilarating, and my eyes were just flying across the words trying to consume everything.  Some of the bits about Newt really got my heart pumping as well.  

-    I thought this was an alright ending to the trilogy.  It wasn't perfect, but I was happy with how things ended up.  There are some sad moments, but that is to be expected from this series.

-    It was really crazy to see Thomas's character change and evolve into a serious survivor.  He isn't the same Thomas he was in The Maze Runner.  I really liked seeing his character development.

-    Of course, all great characters need great supporting characters.  I liked some of the people, but hated others.  I think I was supposed to hate the others though.  I really loved Minho.  He is one dedicated friend, and Thomas really needed him.  There just isn't words to describe the relationship you get with someone after you've been through hell and back with them.  

-    I liked this better than 2nd book, but the 1st was the best.  I don't know if I'll ever re-read this series, but it was worth reading once.  I'm still looking forward to the prequel.  

The Scorch Trials

Goodreads Description:    Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.

In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety . . . until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.

Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated—and with it, order—and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim . . . and meal.

The Gladers are far from finished with running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Thomas can only wonder—does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED?

My Thoughts:

-    This book made me angry!  So many twists!  So many questions without answers!  Come on Dashner!!  Give me something!

-    There were some serious graphic scenes in this book!  I hope they never turn this into a movie, cause I won't be able to stomach seeing some of this stuff.

-    The book turned into a Zombie book.  Didn't see that coming.

-    I don't know who to trust or what the heck is going on!

-    The jargon didn't bug me as much in this one.  It wasn't as prominent.  

-    The first half of the book was a little slow for me, but the 2nd half really picks up.

-    Thomas...what will become of you!!

-    A love triangle?  Really?  I was not expecting that.

-    I wasn't expecting any of it really.  This series is crazy!!

-    I really can't decide how I feel about this book.  I liked it, but I hated it.  Things better wrap up all nicely with lots and lots of answers in the last book.

The Maze Runner

Goodreads Description:    When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse enclosed by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them, open. Every night they are closed tight. And that every 30 days a new boy is delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. Only the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. 

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets that are buried within his mind.

My Thoughts:

-    I don't like the jargon in this book.  Words like Shuck, Shank, Klunk, etc.  It's annoying.  The characters use them like made up swear words.

-    The whole book was pretty suspenseful.  I was hooked from the first chapter.

-    It felt like Lord of the Flies and Ender's Game.

-    There were lots of unanswered questions at the end!  I'm excited and NEED to read the next book.

-    I love the Maze concept and how they solved it!!  It was awesome!

-    I got a little frustrated from all the questions and no answers

-    I couldn't really relate to any of the characters, probably because there was only 1 girl, and she didn't really do anything til later, but I still felt for the characters.  I love Thomas.  He is WAY braver than I am, and he is motivated to help others.  

The Bridesmaid

Goodreads Summary:  After years of watching couples come to blows over ice sculptures, Abby wants no part of the family business. She’d rather spend weekends kicking a soccer ball or antagonizing Noah, the cute son of a famous pastry chef–not doing the Electric Slide.

Then Abby’s barely legal sister, Carol, does the unthinkable–she announces she’s getting married and wants Abby to be her maid of honor. Clearly, Carol has lost her mind! Will Abby soon lose hers?

So what if Carol turns into Bridezilla? So what if the dresses are hideous? So what if the invitations get messed up? So what if Noah looks extra hot with frosting in his hair? Abby can handle it. After all, it’s just one day. Right?

My Thoughts:

-    I can see my sister and I promising each other we were never going to get married!!  ha ha!

-    Abby is pretty annoying.  She is really selfish and ornery.  She doesn't quite think things through.

-    Seems like the time period is in the early 90s.

-    Carol is super inconsiderate of Abby.  I would freak out if my sister changed my computer preferences and took over my room.  

-    This book reminds me of how painful it is to plan a wedding.  Seriously, engagements and planning a wedding sucks!!  I wish I had eloped.

-    I didn't like the use of the Lord's name throughout the book.  It is the only swear word used, and it could have been left out.

-    Abby assumes WAY too much.  She needs to chill!!

-    The ending is kinda sweet.  Everything turns out alright, but the it sure takes a while for everyone to be happy.