#227 Darker & 2018 Book Challenge

So after waiting what seems like forever I was finally able to read Darker by E.L. James on my library app.

OMG....I absolutely loved it. If you take out all the illicit, erotic material, you get at the root a really great story. Yes, I know this is basically Twilight, but still its a great story.

As my Goodreads Review states, I think I like this story from Mr. Grey's point of view a little more than the original. Below is the rest of my review from Goodreads:

So I may like these stories from Mr. Grey's perspective a little more. 

Both Grey and Darker give readers more insight into who he is deep down as a person. Through his point of view, readers learn what makes him tick. We get to learn more about why he is the way he is. We also can, through flashbacks, how he became the infamous Christian Grey. 

I love watching him grow into the man he is at the end of the story. He is slowly becoming who he was meant to be. I enjoyed seeing his view of the growing relationship between Anastasia and him. I sure hope Ms. James does the third book too. 

 

So I crossed off one of my books on my bestie and I's 2018 reading challenge. My goal which maybe a little daunting is to finish both the 2018 challenge and read some off our 2018. 

So my first crossed off book is for A Book That Has Been Banned.  I choose A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. Below is my Goodreads Review. I gave it 4 stars.

ok...that was crazy.....crazy good....so it wasn't my favorite but it was still very good. There was a lot of science fiction but also filled with lots and lots of adventure and mystery. I didn't know what I was getting into when I first stared reading the pages. Well I know I am going to have to finish the series cause I have to know whats going to happen. I loved Meg, Calvin, and Charles Wallace and I loved that fact that he was Charles Wallace and not just Charles or Charlie. The cast of characters are just great and they push readers to the end. This world is one of the most vivid and colorful worlds I have ever seen. I can't wait for the movie.

#226 Book Challenge

So I didn't finish my 2017 book challenge with my bestie. I got too distracted by other books, however I did read 55 out of 50 books with Goodreads. So anyway, I need to add more to the 2017 books that I actually finished.

Book Challenge 

1. Book Because of the Cover

King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard

2. Book You've Previously Started by NEVER finished.

The Bible (I swear I have started over and over like three times.)

3. Book by an Author you Love.

Two by Two by Nicholas Sparks

4. Book Everyone is Raving About
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

5. Book Recommended by a Friend
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

6. Book to Expand Your Horizons
 Grace Not Perfection by Emily Rey

7. Book Considered to be a "classic."
 Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
8.Book Published in 2017

Carve Your Mark by Veronica Roth
9. Book By an Author You've Never Read
A Court of Thrones & Roses by Sarah J. Maas
10. Book You've Been Meaning to Read
World Without End by Ken Fillet
(It's at least 1000 pages)
11. Book Set in a City You Want to Travel
Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey
12. Book that Has Been Turned into a Movie
The Shack by William P. Young

So really I only made it half way, but I have added a few more books since I last posted. For the life  of me, I don't understand why would I would add not one but two 1000+ page books. I think I added more than a few book boyfriends to ever growing list. (LOL)

 Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth was surprisingly good. Roth sort of irked me at end of the Divergent series, so I was hesitant to read something else by her but I am sure am glad that I read this one. I was hooked from page one and I couldn't put it down. I am so curious whats to come in this series. Fingers crossed that she doesn't reuse her plot at the end of the Divergent series.

Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey was so magical and so unexpected. I didn't think I would like it, but a little birdie told me that this story was based on a actual apartment found in Paris, then I was hooked. Trust me this book has everything. Travel, adventure and a whole lot of romance. Trust me your are going to want to pick this one up and not put it down.

My bestie has been wanting me to read A Court of Thrones & Roses by Sarah J. Maas for sometime. So when I finally borrowed it from her, I knew I would love it. I was right and so was she. I loved it. It vaguely reminded me of Beauty and the Beast but was also completely different. I love series that beautifully develops he or she's characters and Maas did this fantastically. I can't wait to read more.

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon wasn't my favorite however I believe it is well worth the read. For me it was about fate. It's about believing things happen the way they are supposed to; its about how we need to believe that everything happens for a reason and when the universe and God wants it too.

So we started a new one for 2018. It may be daunting, but I am going to try to incorporate both 2017 and 2918 challenges this year. For 2018, , I will pick and choose as I go. If my theory is correct, I will be reading a lot more on this one. Fingers crossed that I finish it.