Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was the second time I've read this book, the first time being maybe 15 years ago? I thought it was a great sequel--it was fun meeting some new characters like Gilderoy Lockehart and learning more about Hagrid and Voldemort. You also witness how Harry is growing more confident and sure of himself. I'm about to re-read book 3, and I really don't remember ANYTHING from reading these books the first time, but I definitely want to learn more about Dumbledore please!

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Storm by Kate Palmer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. I didn't think I would, as it is a romance-y type novel that takes place on a ranch (which isn't really my genre). However, I ended up connecting with the main character, Storm, as she struggles to overcome health problems, death, financial hardship, and finding new love. It seems like a lot to cram into one little book, and to be honest I was a bit overwhelmed at the beginning. Anyway, I stuck with it and now I find myself looking up other books written by this author :)

I received an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just finished reading the illustrated version and it was amazing! I have read this book twice before, but the last time was probably 12 or 13 years ago? I also watched the movie, but only once or twice and not since it came out. I did not consider myself a fan of Harry Potter, although I have read most of the books and thought they were good.

Anyway--the story itself is great, and timeless! I thought I would find it childish, or that the story would seem old to me since I know it pretty well. I ended up reading through it quickly, as I was completely captivated by the story once again. The illustrations made it even better, and I found myself wishing over and over again that the rest of the series were already available with illustrations. I'm not sure I'll be able to wait for them to be released yearly :)

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Doctor Who: Engines of War by George Mann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This novel follows the Time War Doctor and his companion, Cinder, as they battle the Daleks. I actually listened to the Audible audiobook instead of reading it and it was SO GOOD! I've listened to quite a few audiobooks, but never one like this. There were sound effects (Dalek voices!) and music, in addition to great reading by the narrator. And of course, the storyline was really good, too. I recommend the audiobook, or even reading the novel, to any Doctor Who fan as we get to experience the Time War Doctor for a bit (which we don't really get to see in the show).

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Running Lean by Diana L. Sharples
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Stacey is a quirky teenager with a boyfriend named Calvin and best friend named Zoe. Stacey is artistic and poetic, and is very much in love with her boyfriend. However, she is haunted by experiences in her past and develops an eating disorder. Calvin is unsure of how to help her, and their relationship is tested as they struggle to figure it out.

I really liked this book. The author does a great job of writing a person with an eating disorder. I read other reviews and saw that people were annoyed with Stacey, but I felt like she was authentic--yes, she was annoying, but that's because she has a disorder! People really have thoughts like that! Personally, I was annoyed with Calvin, but again, that's because he was reacting like a real person who is being torn apart as he witnesses someone he loves self-destructing. I have struggled with an ED myself and I knew someone who reacted like Calvin. I hated him for it, and I still feel like he had no right to do what he did (I barely knew him), but now I have a slightly better understanding of what was going on in his head.

Rating: I gave this 5 stars for it's personal relevance to me, so it might be more like 4 stars to other people. I think this is a good read for people who are trying to understand someone with an ED. Also, apparently this is a Christian book, though I didn't find it overwhelmingly so.

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Out of Boneville (Bone Vol. 1) by Jeff Smith

This graphic novel is the beginning of a 9 volume journey following three cousins who have been exiled form Boneville.  I'm going to be honest, I picked it up because the characters looked cute and I've seen it around so much that I figured it had to be good.  Then, once I started reading it, I was surprised to find that I was having a difficult time getting through it.  The first chapter was slow and I did not like the dialogue--it was hard to read and I couldn't find the flow.  I actually considered giving up on it, but I don't like unfinished books (even if I have to force myself through them).

I am so glad that I kept going!  The book ended up being super cute and funny, with a lot of adventure.  The three cousins get separated for a while (which I liked because we got to focus on the most tolerable Bone first), but then meet up again and get into all sorts of trouble.  I can't wait to read the second volume next.

I would rate this 5 stars and if the rest of the series is as good, I would be interested in collecting the rest of the volumes on my bookshelf.

Ice Station Zombie by JE Gurley

I am a huge fan of The Walking Dead and Z Nation on TV, so I thought why not try reading a zombie-themed book?  I liked how the novel took place in Antarctica and Australia--for whatever reason, I don't really read much that takes place on either continent.  I also grew to love the characters, which makes me excited for the sequel (although I do believe the second novel follows a different set of people).

I will definitely be looking into more from this author!

Synopsis:  A government experiment gone wrong has resulted in the zom-pocalypse taking over the world.  Two men in Antarctica work to try to escape ground zero, while other survivors in Australia fight to stay alive.  Those who are still alive are losing their minds, and it is difficult to decide who can be trusted.

Rating: 4 stars - I would recommend it to a fan of zombie stories.  I found myself thinking things like, "hmm, something like this happened in The Walking Dead...," but then also acknowledged that it was different.  I mean, there are only so many ways the zom-pocalypse can be written and I thought this was pretty good.

Currently Reading - 12/13/15

Here is the list of books I'm currently reading:

From Kindle Owners Lending Library: Ice Station Zombie by JE Gurley

From NetGalley.com: Ink by Amanda Sun

From ebooksforreview.com: Storm by Kate Palmer

From storycartel.com: Chronicles of a Clocksmith by M Doerner-Miller

I realize this list might seem excessive, but I actually prefer reading more than one book at a time so that I can switch between them if the plot gets a little slow.  I can also read no matter what my mood is because I'm most likely in the middle of a book that fits that mood!

Reviews of these books will be up as I finish reading each of them.