Cricket Reads

This is the third book I have read in the  Drakon  series by Shana Abe. I began reading this series because I picked up  The Sweetest Dark  not knowing that it was a sequel series to the  Drakon  series. I absolutely loved  The Sweetest Dark  trilogy. It had everything I look for in a book - the rainy English countryside, a castle-like boarding school, an orphan unsure of her past, etc... The  Drakon  series however leaves something to be desired as it weaves the same tale over and over again in each story. Every book I have read so far as focused on two Alpha-type drakon characters and their romantic journey. Now I have nothing against a good romance story, but in these type of books I have come to expect a strong plot line to go along with it to hold my attention. Overall Rating: ★★★ Although this particular installment in this series finally begins to set-up a major storyline, I feel like it has taken forever to get to this point. I d...

I would love to have something like that... To be on a team with someone... and to be better together than you ever could be alone. - Hector  This graphic novel was just plain adorable. A quick feel-good read that has all the elements I love to give you warm feelings by the end of the story. Here is a quick run down of the book. Things that I loved: 1. Hector and his enthusiasm for baking. He had me looking up Greek and Samoan pastry recipes and pinning them to my Pinterest baking boards fasted than a microwave mug cake! 2. The beach-side family bakery. Reminded me of all those summers spent in Bethany Beach with my family. 3. Jake and Hanna - Ari's adorable friends! They were so full of life - passionate about the things they loved and unapologetic for their enthusiasm. I just loved them! Things I found annoying in this book: 1. Ari was a little immature during the book. Focused mainly on himself, his phone and his issues. It made him seem very egocentric. I understand he i...

I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK.  Which was a surprise to me because Nicholas Sparks and I have had a very hit or miss relationship. I think this book was very relatable to my particular life which led me to just adore it. It had a lot of elements that I identified with and I just loved it. Things that I loved about this book:  1. Set in North Carolina (as most of the books I have read by Sparks tend to be). I basically spent every summer of my childhood running around with my cousins and relatives in major cities of North Carolina. I have great love for that area and it made the story seem so homey and familiar. 2. Nana. They way she gave advice through nonsensical one-liners, how she couldn't be slowed down by anything, how she always knew before someone revealed information to her but she never brought it up first. Made me miss my own grandmothers a great deal. 3. Beth and Ben. Beth has Ben pretty early in life (pregnant senior year of high school). Yet she never once ha...