Book Review: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

TITLE: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 
SERIES: Harry Potter, Book #2  

AUTHOR: J.K. Rowling 

PUBLISHER: Bloomsbury  
PUBLICATION DATE: 1998

FORMAT: Paperback, 251 pages  
GENRE: Juvenile Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy 
ISBN: 9781551923703

The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.

And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockheart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girl's bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.

But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble beings, and someone--or something--starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects...Harry Potter himself.

MY REVIEW:

I read this book aloud to my children. It was won a number of literary awards, including: 2008 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature, 1999 British Book Award, 1999 Smarties Prize, and 1999 Booklist Editors' Choice.

At the start of the book, 12 year-old Harry is eagerly awaiting his return for his second year at Hogwarts. The Dursleys are hosting an important dinner for Mr. Dursley’s boss and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Mason, and Harry is supposed to remain out of sight so as not to embarrass them. Upon his return to his room, he finds a strange elf named Dobby who has come to warn Harry not to return to Hogwarts. When Harry finds out that Dobby has been stealing the letters from Ron and Hermione meant for Harry, he is furious. Dobby makes trouble for Harry and uses magic to send Mrs. Dursley’s dessert crashing to the floor and a furious Mr. Dursley forbids Harry from ever returning to Hogwarts. He installs iron grates over the window and takes away his magic books and wand and locks them up in the cupboard under the stairs. Poor Harry! Good thing that Ron and his twin brothers steal their father’s magical car and use it to tear the grate from the window and rescue Harry!

Harry stays with the Weasleys until school starts, and Dobby tries to prevent Harry from getting aboard the Hogwarts train by sealing the magical passageway to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. The quick-thinking boys use Mr. Weasley’s car again to get to Hogwarts, although not without consequences!

The newness of Hogwarts still hasn’t rubbed off for me. I found it just as magical as the first book in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. In this installment, we are introduced to the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Gilderoy Lockhart. The women all swoon over this man, who has authored many books that recount his magical escapades. The book is a bit darker than the series debut, and Harry keeps hearing a chilling voice who whispers murderous words. Victims are becoming petrified, essentially turning into statues, and it seems to have to do with a Chamber of Secrets that was opened many years before. The key lies in a mysterious book that falls into Harry’s possession, which was owned by a Hogwarts student named Tom Riddle.

My kids and I absolutely loved this book! It was filled with so much excitement, and it was the highlight of our day to read this at bedtime each night. Even at such a young age, it is easy to see that Harry is becoming a very powerful wizard. I love the whole “good versus evil” tone that Rowling has created.

As was with the first one, I love how Rowling ends off the book with such a touching scene between Dumbledore and Harry. Dumbledore always offers Harry sage insight and treats him with such warmth and love, and I couldn’t help getting misty-eyed.

My thoughts on the movie: Loved it! I am so happy that the producer did not take liberties with the movie adaptation and kept the movie unfolding in much the same manner as the book. We enjoyed picking out the minor inconsistencies here and there. Hands down, my favourite character is Mrs. Weasley. She is such a hoot, and the scene with Ron’s Howler is one of our favourite parts. 

MY RATING:

5 stars!! I loved it, and you should definitely read it!

This book qualifies as: 
#30 for my 2013 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge
#30 for my 2013 Read-a-Latte Challenge
#14 for my 2013 Let Me Count The Ways Reading Challenge: Book Version
#14 for my 2013 Quick Fix Challenge 
#25 for my 2013 Women Challenge   
#8 for my 2013 2nds Challenge  
#10 for my 2013 Sequel Challenge 

#25 for my 2013 Books-in-a-Series Reading Challenge  
#14 for my Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2013
#14 for my 2013 TBR Pile Reading Challenge
#15 for my Embarrassment of Riches Reading Challenge 2013
#13 for my 2013 Dusty Bookshelf Challenge
#9 for my 2013 Catch Up Reading Challenge
#4 for my Just For Fun Reading Challenge 2013  

#16 for my 2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge 

#7 of Category #3 for my 2013 Immortal Reading Challenge  

#7 for my 2013 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge

#14 for my 2013 Young Adult Reading Challenge   

#13 for my 2013 YA/MG Fantasy Challenge

#9 for my 2013 Award Winning Books Reading Challenge  

#3 for my 2013 Banned Books Challenge 
#4 for my 2013 Books To Movie Challenge   
#9 for my Spring Reading Thing 2013

#4 for my The Fill in the Gaps: 100 Project Reading Challenge 

#16 for my 101 Fantasy Reading Challenge (Item #8) 

#9 for my Banned Books Perpetual Challenge  

View all my reviews

Cover Reveal and Giveaway: Shudder by Samantha Durante

TITLE: Shudder

SERIES: Stitch Trilogy, Book #2
AUTHOR: Samantha Durante 

PUBLICATION DATE: June 15, 2013

FORMAT: Paperback
GENRE: Dystopian, Paranormal Romance, Post-Apocalyptic, Young Adult, New Adult
ISBN: 9780985804626

It’s only been three days, and already everything is different.

Paragon is behind her, but somehow Alessa’s life may actually have gotten worse. In a wrenching twist of fate, she traded the safety and companionship of her sister for that of her true love, losing a vital partner she’d counted on for the ordeal ahead. Her comfortable university life is but a distant memory, as she faces the prospect of surviving a bleak winter on the meager remains of a ravaged world. And if she’d thought she’d tasted fear upon seeing a ghost, she was wrong; now she’s discovering new depths of terror while being hunted by a deadly virus and a terrifying pack of superhuman creatures thirsting for blood.

And then there are the visions.

The memory-altering “stitch” unlocked something in Alessa’s mind, and now she can’t shake the constant flood of alien feelings ransacking her emotions. Haunting memories of an old flame are driving a deep and painful rift into her once-secure relationship. And a series of staggering revelations about the treacherous Engineers – and the bone-chilling deceit shrouding her world’s sorry history – will soon leave Alessa reeling…

The second installment in the electrifying Stitch Trilogy, Shudder follows Samantha Durante’s shocking and innovative debut with a heart-pounding, paranormal-dusted dystopian adventure sure to keep the pages

About Samantha:

Samantha Durante lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband, Sudeep, and her cat, Gio. Formerly an engineer at Microsoft, Samantha left the world of software in 2010 to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and a lifelong love of writing. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, Samantha is currently working full time for her company Medley Media Associates as a freelance business writer and communications consultant. The Stitch Trilogy is her debut series.

CONNECT ONLINE WITH SAMANTHA:

Website / Goodreads

One lucky winner will win an ARC of the second book in the Stitch Trilogy, Shudder.

This giveaway is open worldwide until June 9, 2013.

To enter the giveaway, please fill out the Rafflecopter Entry Form below.
Enter the Giveaway HERE!!!

Awakened Book Blitz: Author Interview and Giveaway with Kriston Johnson

Hi, everyone!

I am pleased to participate in the Book Blitz hosted by Xpresso Book Tours for Kriston Johnson's Awakened.


About Kriston:

Kriston Johnson lives in Southwest Washington with her husband, teenage son, and miniature Australian Shepherd. Her home rests at the fringe of an old growth forest that she insists is the home of Jason Voorhees. Her husband thinks that’s a ridiculous assumption, because everyone knows it’s really Bigfoot. Every summer Kriston participates in the annual pilgrimage to Faerieworlds, a real life faerie realm here on Earth, and has an unhealthy obsession with Star Wars, The Vampire Diaries, and Iron Man. Awakened is her first novel. 

CONNECT ONLINE WITH KRISTON: 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Welcome to Darlene's Book Nook, Kriston! What inspired you to write Awakened? 

My father-in-law gave my husband an antique knife that was passed down to him from his father. When my husband pulled the copper sheath from the engraved blade I envisioned a wave of magic escaping and transporting the beholder to another place and time. 


Do you have any book recommendations for fans of fantasy? 

The Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder and the Graceling books from Kristin Cashore. 


Do you have any future stories in the works? 

Yes. I am currently writing Transcended, the sequel to Awakened. I also have a young adult Viking story and a middle grade story outlined. 


Who is your favorite super hero? 

Not counting my boyfriend Tony Stark, I’d have to say Nightcrawler from the X-Men. 

~ This or That ~ 

Zombies or Unicorns?
Unicorns. 

Skittles or Chocolate?
I actually have a hidden chocolate room in my house. 

Damon Salvatore or Stephen Salvatore?
Eric Northman :) But between the two offered, Damon. 

Gandalf or Dumbledore?
Gandalf.

Thanks so  much for joining us today, Kriston! It was fun getting to know you better!

One lucky winner will win a digital copy of Kriston's YA Fantasy debut, Awakened.

TITLE: Awakened

SERIES: The Legends of Elyndia, Book #1
AUTHOR: Kriston Johnson

PUBLICATION DATE: April 25, 2013

FORMAT: Kindle, 274 pages

GENRE: YA Fantasy
ASIN: B00CCGZPRI

Can fighting for the right side be the wrong thing to do?

Draven, the tyrant ruler of Elyndia for the last one thousand years, searches for the one who can fulfill his prophecy.

The Paladins, an elite band of warriors sworn to protect their way of life at all cost, search for the one with the ability to bring their world crumbling down.

An innocent girl, tormented by demons only she can see, lives on the brink of insanity and longs for a life of peace.

When seventeen-year-old Jade Rosenberg reads from an antique book, she has no idea she just read an incantation awaking her inherited power. But when opposing—and equally terrifying—groups invade her home, she learns she is descended from an enchanted realm and a member of a powerful race thought to have been hunted to extinction.

Ripped from her world, Jade is forced to seek refuge from those who want her dead. She is given one of two options and the time has come for her to make a choice: assassinate their sworn enemy…

Or sacrifice her soul.

Buy Link:

Amazon

Book Excerpt:

 Leaning over Jade, Gabriel dropped to one knee, putting one hand behind her head and bringing his face within inches of hers. Jade could feel his warm breath on her cheek and the cold, hard blade of a knife pressed against her throat. Killing Jade was his original mission, and she guessed he was ready to make good on that promise. Maggie told her to trust him, but he obviously had second thoughts about helping her.

To enter the giveaway, please fill out the Rafflecopter entry form below. 

This giveaway is open worldwide until 12:00 AM CST on May 9, 2013. 

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Book Review: Nowhere to Hide by Nancy Bush

TITLE: Nowhere to Hide

AUTHOR: Nancy Bush 

PUBLISHER: Zebra Books
PUBLICATION DATE: August 28, 2012

FORMAT: Paperback, 384 pages
GENRE: Romantic Suspense
ISBN: 9781420125023

"Do unto others..." Carefully, he carves the words into their flesh. The victims are all young, brunette, pretty. But she's the one he really wants. The others are just a way to ease the rage that has festered for years, until the only thing that calms him is his knife slicing through skin. Detective September Rafferty - Nine to her friends - recognizes the artwork that arrives in the mail. She created it back in second grade. Now a killer's words are slashed across it in what looks like blood. He knows her. September's investigation leads to her old classmate, Jake Westerly. She wants to believe Jake is innocent. But trusting anyone could be her last mistake. Every slight, every slur, he remembers them all. They turned him into a monster, and now they will suffer for it. Starting with September, he'll show them that the past can never stay hidden, and the time of vengeance is at hand.

MY REVIEW: 

I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any compensation for my review, and the views expressed herein are my own. 

This is the companion story to Bush’s Nowhere to Run, which featured Detective August “Auggie” Rafferty. In Nowhere to Hide, the story revolves around Auggie’s twin sister, September “Nine” Rafferty, who is also a Detective with the Laurelton Police Department.

A serial killer is targeting women with the same physical traits as September Rafferty. When she receives a piece of her grade-school artwork with a message scrawled across it, she realizes that she is the killer’s ultimate prize. September needs to look into her past to piece together the clues, and she isn’t sure who she can trust.

I actually liked this one more than its predecessor, Nowhere to Run, whose protagonist was more like a damsel in distress. September is no damsel, and she can take care of herself! I like that about her. I also enjoyed getting to know the Rafferty clan better and getting more back-story on the family issues. There is a cross-over of crimes from Nowhere to Run to Nowhere to Hide, so you will definitely want to read both books to get the whole story.

A third companion story, Nowhere Safe, will be released in the Fall. I am looking forward to it! 

MY RATING:

4 stars!! It was really good, and you should put it on your TBR list. A big thanks to Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this book!

This book qualifies as: 
#29 for my 2013 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge
#29 for my 2013 Read-a-Latte Challenge
#13 for my 2013 Let Me Count The Ways Reading Challenge: Book Version 
#13 for my 2013 Where Are You Reading? Challenge
#13 for my 50 States Challenge 2013     
#11 for my The In the Middle Reading Challenge
#15 for my 2013 ARC Reading Challenge  
#24 for my 2013 Women Challenge   
#7 for my 2013 2nds Challenge  
#9 for my 2013 Sequel Challenge 

#24 for my 2013 Books-in-a-Series Reading Challenge  
#17 for my 2013 Free Reads Challenge    
#7 for my 2013 Eclectic Reader Challenge 
#16 for my 2013 Genre Variety Reading Challenge   
#2 for Task #1 of my 2013 Sub-Genre Reading Challenge
#2 for my Romance Reading Challenge 2013  
#1 for my 2013 Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge
#7 for my 2013 Mystery/Crime Reading Challenge  

#23 for my Monthly Mix-up Mania: 2013 to 2015 Edition     

Letter N for my 2013 A to Z Reading Challenge

#8 for my Spring Reading Thing 2013
#1 for my Clean Sweep ARC Challenge: May 2013

View all my reviews

Cover Reveal and Giveaway: You Are Mine by Janeal Falor

TITLE: You Are Mine

SERIES: Mine, Book #1
AUTHOR: Janeal Falor 

PUBLICATION DATE: May 6, 2013

GENRE: YA Fantasy

Serena knows a few simple things. She will always be owned by a warlock. She will never have freedom. She will always do what her warlock wishes, regardless of how inane, frivolous, or cruel it is. And if she doesn’t follow the rules, she will be tarnished. Spelled to be bald, inked, and barren for the rest of her life– worth less than the shadow she casts.

Then her ownership is won by a barbarian from another country. With the uncertainty that comes from belonging to a new warlock, Serena questions if being tarnished is really worse than being owned by a barbarian, and tempts fate by breaking the rules. When he looks the other way instead of punishing her, she discovers a new world. The more she ventures into the forbidden, the more she learns of love and a freedom just out of reach. Serena longs for both. But in a society where women are only ever property, hoping for more could be deadly.

About Janeal:

Janeal Falor lives in Utah where she’s finally managed to live in the same house for more than five years without moving. In her spare time she reads books like they’re nuts covered in caramel and chocolate, cooks whatever strikes her fancy, and enjoys the outdoors. Her husband and three children try to keep up with her overactive imagination. Usually they settle for having dinner on the table, even if she’s still going on about the voices in her head.

Website / Goodreads /  Twitter

One lucky winner will win a digital copy of Janeal's YA Fantasy novel, You Are Mine.

This giveaway is open worldwide until 12:00 AM CST on May 8, 2013.

To enter the giveaway, please fill out the Rafflecopter Entry Form below.
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Clean Sweep ARC Challenge - May 2013: Goals Post

Hi, everyone! Time for a 2013 Reading Challenge!!

This challenge is being hosted by Kimba the "Caffeinated Book Reviewer" and Kimberly @ The Windy Pages.

Here are the details copied Kimba's blog:

Rules

- Must be read during May 1st and May 31st, 2013

- Starts and ends at midnight in your local time zone

- Physical and digital ARCs are eligible, in any length and genre!

- Linky will close on May 15th so sign up before you miss out!

- When you join, please add the challenge button to your blog. When you post your goals be sure add button and links back to hosts.

- Challenges will be hosted each Saturday with a chance to win additional prize

Grand Prize- TWO winners will be chosen to pick a book of their choice from The Book Depository. (Up to $15 value per book)

- Please post your recap by June 3rd. This is the day that the Rafflecopter will close. Recap post should include a link to the review or Goodreads review with date it will be posted on your blog. (This is for readers who may be reading books way ahead of schedule and don't want to post a review yet!)

- Rafflecopter entries will be awarded for each book review linked, posting about challenge, recap post, participation in challenges, and following.

- Challenge Schedule and Rafflecopter will post on April 30th at 4pm (EST)

- Rafflecopter will close on June 3 at 11:59 (EST)

If you would like to join me in the challenge, click on the challenge badge at the beginning of this post.

Here are some of the ARCs on my TBR mountain:

1. Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist by M.C. Beaton
2. Written in Red by Anne Bishop
3. On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle
4. Tuesday's Gone by Nicci French
5. Nauti Siren by Lora Leigh
6. Last Kiss Goodnight by Gena Showalter
7. Envy by Elizabeth Miles
8. Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
9. The Blessed by Tonya  Hurley
10. Chasers by James Phelan
11. Nowhere to Hide by Nancy Bush
12. The End Games by T. Michael Martin
13. A Kiss of Blood by Pamela Palmer
14. Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn 
15. Breed by Chase Novak
16. The Program by Suzanne Young 

 I am aiming to read and review six ARCs by the end of the month!

CHALLENGE UPDATE:
COMPLETED ON 31 MAY 2013 

I will keep track of my progress below:

1. Nowhere to Hide by Nancy Bush
2. Breed by Chase Novak
3. Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist by M.C. Beaton (Agatha Raisin, Book #6) 
4. Written in Red by Anne Bishop (The Others, Book #1) 
5. The End Games by T. Michael Martin
6. On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle (Coffeehouse Mystery, Book #1)                 

#WaitingOnWednesday: Tumble & Fall by Alexandra Coutts @abcoutts @fsgbooks

Hi, everyone!

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Here is this week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection:

TITLE: Tumble & Fall

AUTHOR: Alexandra Coutts 

PUBLISHER: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

EXPECTED PUBLICATION DATE: September 17, 2013

FORMAT: Hardcover, 384 pages

GENRE: Young Adult, Science Fiction

ISBN: 9780374378615

The world is living in the shadow of oncoming disaster. An asteroid is set to strike the earth in just one week’s time; catastrophe is unavoidable. The question isn’t how to save the world—the question is, what to do with the time that's left? Against this stark backdrop, three island teens wrestle with intertwining stories of love, friendship and family—all with the ultimate stakes at hand.

Alexandra Coutts's Tumble & Fall is a powerful story of courage, love, and hope at the end of the world.

I think it would be so scary to know that the end of the world was coming! This book sounds like it would be a very emotional read, and I'm adding it to my Wishlist!
 

 What are you waiting on? Please leave a comment in the section below. If you participate in this meme, please leave a link so I can visit your blog!