Sara Reads Things

Title: Chosen Ones By: Veronica Roth Genre: Urban Fantasy Pages: 304 Release Date: April 7th, 2020 Publisher: J ohn Joseph Adams/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Rating: ★★★☆☆ Summary from Goodreads: The first novel written for an adult audience by the mega-selling author of the Divergent franchise: five twenty-something heroes famous for saving the world when they were teenagers must face even greater demons—and reconsider what it means to be a hero . . . by destiny or by choice. A decade ago near Chicago, five teenagers defeated the otherworldly enemy known as the Dark One, whose reign of terror brought widespread destruction and death. The seemingly un-extraordinary teens—Sloane, Matt, Ines, Albie, and Esther—had been brought together by a clandestine government agency because one of them was fated to be the “Chosen One,” prophesized to save the world. With the goal achieved, humankind celebrated the victors and began to mourn their lost loved ones. Ten years later, ...

Title: The Aeronauts Genre: Historical Fiction Release Date: December 6th, 2019 My Rating: ★★★★★ IMDB Rating: 6.6/10 Cast:    Felicity Jones ,  Eddie Redmayne ,  Himesh Patel Summary from IMDB: Balloon pilot Amelia Wren and scientist James Glaisher find themselves in an epic fight for survival while attempting to make discoveries in a gas balloon in the 1860s.   IMDB Trailer Review: I absolutely loved this movie, not matter what the people on IMDB say. I feel like they are a fickle bunch of critics anyway. The story was so powerful. We follow a balloon pilot as she takes a scientist up into the sky to study the weather. As they gain altitude, the story of the balloon pilots late husband comes out and how he sacrificed his life to save her's when a balloon ride goes horribly wrong. As the air becomes thin, the two companions begin to slip into a cold sleep, but the balloon pilot knows that they must descend or they will both d...

Title: Shadows of Annihilation By: S.M. Stirling Genre:  Historical Fiction Pages: 400 Release Date: March 10th, 2020 Publisher:  Ace Books Rating: ★★★★☆ Summary from Goodreads:  The third novel in a World War I alternate history series where America's greatest weapon against Germany is Black Chamber secret agent Luz O'Malley and technical genius Ciara Whelan. Only they can protect America's best hope of winning the war. The Great War is at a stalemate, and the only thing stopping Germany from striking America is the threat of the United States using their own Annihilation Gas against them. But America's supply is quickly decaying and the Central Powers know it. A plant is under construction in the remote highlands of Mexico so that America can make their own supply. President Teddy Roosevelt assigns crack agent Luz O'Malley and her technical genius Ciara Whelan to watch over the plant operating under cover identities. But German agent Horst v...

Title: Smoke Bitten By: Patricia Briggs Genre: Urban Fantasy Pages: 352 Release Date: March 10th, 2020 Publisher:  Ace Rating: ★★★★☆ Summary from Goodreads:  Mercy Thompson, car mechanic and shapeshifter, faces a threat unlike any other in this thrilling entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series. I am Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman. My only “superpowers” are that I turn into a thirty-five pound coyote and fix Volkswagens. But I have friends in odd places and a pack of werewolves at my back. It looks like I’m going to need them. Centuries ago, the fae dwelt in Underhill–until she locked her doors against them. They left behind their great castles and troves of magical artifacts. They abandoned their prisoners and their pets. Without the fae to mind them, those creatures who remained behind roamed freely through Underhill wreaking havoc. Only the deadliest survived. Now one of those prisoners has escaped. It can look like anyone, any creatur...

Monday! Here we go again. I feel like things have been super crazy around here and it might be finally settling down. I am so ready for a break from all of this. In the midst of all of this insane stuff, I've been retreating back into my books. They give me a quiet safe place to get away from reality for a while. With this, I've read over 40 books this year alone and I feel like I'm too deep to stop now. Speaking of books, here is this weeks read. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. I've been trucking along with my read around the country challenge and this book is next in line. The internet said it was set in Louisiana and Goodreads said it was set in South Carolina. I'm needing Louisiana, so here's to hoping. Either way, I loved the movie so I can't wait to read the story the way it was meant to be. Lets get on with this weeks menu. I hope you enjoy! MENU Monday Smothered Pepper Jack Burgers Tuesday Creamy T...

Hello Sunday. We had a wonderful week on the blog. I've been reading a lot of great books and I'm excited to share them with you in the future. Lets get on with the confessions.  Sunday Confessions #31 ~ Weekly Menu #339 And The Book Of The Week ~ 7 Books for Historical Fiction Lovers ~ Book Review: The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkoski ~ Book Review: Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict ~ Book Review: Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMohan Weekly Menu #340 And The Book Of The Week ~ Book Review: Smoke Bitten by Patricia Briggs ~ Book Review: Shadows of Annihilation by S.M. Stirling ~ Book Review: Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth 30 Exciting new fantasy books to read in 2019 @ Perhaps, maybe not ~ 12 Hilariously funny book club books @ Tori Leigh 21/50 Books in my Read Around the Country challenge ~ 13/196 in my Star Wars Legends challenge ~ Still 1/20 in my Scotland challenge. I'll get there. ~ ...

Title: Island of Lost Girls By: Jennifer McMahon Genre: Thriller Pages: 255 Release Date: April 22nd, 2008 Publisher:  William Morrow Paperbacks Rating: ★★★☆☆ Summary from Goodreads: While parked at a gas station, Rhonda sees something so incongruously surreal that at first she hardly recognizes it as a crime in progress. She watches, unmoving, as someone dressed in a rabbit costume kidnaps a young girl. Devastated over having done nothing, Rhonda joins the investigation. But the closer she comes to identifying the abductor, the nearer she gets to the troubling truth about another missing child: her best friend, Lizzy, who vanished years before. From the author of the acclaimed  Promise Not to Tell  comes a chilling and mesmerizing tale of shattered innocence, guilt, and ultimate redemption. Add on Goodreads Review: Eehhh... The story was weird and didn't sit well with me. I'm a huge fan of McMahon's creepy writing style, but I couldn...

Title: Lady Clementine By: Marie Benedict Genre: Historical Fiction Pages: 336 Release Date: January 7th, 2020 Publisher:  Sourcebooks Landmark Rating: ★★★☆☆ Summary from Goodreads: New from Marie Benedict, the  New York Times  bestselling author of  The Only Woman in the Room ! An incredible novel that focuses on one of the people who had the most influence during World War I and World War II: Clementine Churchill. In 1909, Clementine Churchill steps off a train with her new husband, Winston. An angry woman emerges from the crowd to attack, shoving him in the direction of an oncoming train. Just before he stumbles, Clementine grabs him by his suit jacket. This will not be the last time Clementine Churchill saves her husband. Lady Clementine is the ferocious story of the brilliant and ambitious woman beside Winston Churchill, the story of a partner who did not flinch through the sweeping darkness of war, and who would not surrender either ...

Title: The Last Wish By: Andrzej Sapkowski Genre: Fantasy Pages: 360 Release Date: December 14th, 2008 Publisher:  Orbit   Rating: ★★★★☆ Summary from Goodreads: Geralt of Rivia is a witcher. A cunning sorcerer. A merciless assassin. And a cold-blooded killer. His sole purpose: to destroy the monsters that plague the world. But not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good... and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth. A collection of short stories introducing Geralt of Rivia, to be followed by the first novel in the actual series, The Blood of Elves. Note that, while The Last Wish was published after The Sword of Destiny, the stories contained in The Last Wish take place first chronologically, and many of the individual stories were published before The Sword of Destiny. Add on Goodreads Review: I read this book because I really enjoyed the new TV series. The book was better. The authors way ow writing i...

I've been reading a lot of historical fiction lately and It happens to be one of my favorite genres to read. I've also been reading historical fiction for one of my reading challenges, so needless to say, I've been knee deep in the good old stuff.  I've come up with a small list of 7 historical fiction books that everyone should read at least once. Jane Eyre by   Charlotte Brontë ,   Michael Mason   (Editor) Orphaned as a child, Jane has felt an outcast her whole young life. Her courage is tested once again when she arrives at Thornfield Hall, where she has been hired by the brooding, proud Edward Rochester to care for his ward Adèle. Jane finds herself drawn to his troubled yet kind spirit. She falls in love. Hard. But there is a terrifying secret inside the gloomy, forbidding Thornfield Hall. Is Rochester hiding from Jane? Will Jane be left heartbroken and exiled once again? Kidnapped (David Balfour #1) by   Robert ...

Monday! February is already half over. Can you believe it? This year is already flying by. This weeks book is Divergent by Veronica Roth. I need to read a book set in Illinois for my reading around the country challenge, and I picked this one. Its been many years since I've read this story and I'm excited to dive into it again. Lets get on to the menu. Enjoy! MENU Monday -  Black Bean and Quinoa Taco Bowl Tuesday -  Roasted Chicken and Broccoli Wednesday -  Beef Stroganoff Thursday -  Pulled Pork Carnitas Friday -   Oktoberfest Bratwurst Saturday -   Smothered Pepper Jack Burgers Sunday -  Leftovers Night

Hello Sunday, welcome back. Are you as happy that its Sunday as I am? I just feel like the weeks are flowing into the next and I'm not able to rest like my body needs. We just need to get past these hard weeks. It will come.  Lots has been happening on the blog in the past week and a lot of great stuff to come. Lets recap the week. Sunday Confessions #30 ~ Weekly Menu #338 And The Book Of The Week ~ Movie Review: The Irishman ~ Book Review: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo ~ 5 Star Wars books in the Legends Timeline ~ Book Review: A discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness Weekly Menu #339 And The Book Of The Week ~ For Historical Fiction Lovers ~ Book Review: The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkoski ~ Book Review: Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMohan ~ Sunday Confessions #32 5 Books to read when you're soul searching @ Your Career Homecoming ~ Instant pot sloppy joe's @ Mama Needs Cake ~ 2019 Top picks ...