Summary
Birthday Girl is a contemporary romance novel by Penelope Douglas. The story follows Jordan, a 19-year-old girl who moves in with Pike Lawson, a 38-year-old man, after her relationship with his son ends. As Jordan and Pike spend more time together, they develop strong feelings for each other, but their age difference and complicated family dynamics make their relationship taboo.

Characters
Jordan is a relatable and likable protagonist. Her vulnerability and strength make her a well-rounded character. Pike is a complex and charismatic character. His struggles with his feelings for Jordan and his sense of responsibility towards her are palpable.

Trigger Warnings
This novel contains mature themes, including age-gap relationships, family drama, and emotional distress. However, these elements are handled sensitively and are not gratuitous.

Favorite Quotes
"I don't know how to want something I shouldn't have." This quote captures Jordan's inner conflict and her desire for Pike.

"I don't know what's going to happen, but I do know that I'm not going to regret this." This quote highlights Pike's willingness to take a risk and pursue his feelings for Jordan.

Overall Review
Birthday Girl is a captivating and emotional romance novel. Penelope Douglas tackles complex themes with sensitivity and nuance. The characters are well-developed, and their relationships are believable and relatable. The only reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars is that some of the supporting characters feel a bit one-dimensional, and the ending feels a bit rushed. Nevertheless, I highly recommend Birthday Girl to fans of contemporary romance and complex, emotional storytelling. Rating: 4/5 stars.

Summary
Heartless is a captivating retelling of the origin story of the Queen of Hearts from Lewis Carroll's classic tale, Alice in Wonderland. The story follows Catherine, a talented baker who dreams of opening her own shop, but is instead pushed towards marrying the King of Hearts. When she meets Jest, the charming and enigmatic court joker, she finds herself drawn to him, despite the risks of offending the king and her parents.

Characters
Catherine is a delightful and relatable protagonist. Her passion for baking and her desire for independence make her a strong and admirable character. Jest is equally charming, with a witty and mysterious persona that complements Catherine's perfectly. The supporting characters, including the King of Hearts and Catherine's parents, add depth and complexity to the story.

Trigger Warnings
This novel contains some mild violence, emotional abuse, and mature themes. However, these elements are not gratuitous and serve to advance the plot and character development.

Favorite Quotes
"The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I didn't want to be a queen. I wanted to be a baker." This quote captures Catherine's spirit and her desire for independence.

"I would rather be with someone who loves me for who I am, than be with someone who loves me for who they think I should be." This quote highlights the themes of self-acceptance and true love that run throughout the story.

Overall Review
Heartless is a beautifully written and engaging novel that explores the complexities of love, identity, and destiny. Marissa Meyer's vivid world-building and captivating characters make this retelling feel fresh and original. The only reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars is that the pacing felt a bit slow in some places, and the ending, while satisfying, felt a bit rushed. Nevertheless, I highly recommend Heartless to fans of fantasy, romance, and retellings. Rating: 4.5/5 stars.

Summary
Azrael Vol.1: Fallen Angel introduces readers to Jean-Paul Valley, a young man who discovers that his family is part of an ancient secret society known as The Order of St. Dumas. Valley is conditioned to become the latest in a line of deadly assassins, taking on the mantle of Azrael. However, when he is tasked with targeting Batman, Azrael begins to question his life and duty.

Characters
The characters in Azrael Vol.1 are somewhat one-dimensional, but they show potential for growth. Jean-Paul Valley/Azrael is an interesting protagonist, and his inner conflict between his conditioning and his morals is compelling. Batman makes appearances throughout the volume, and his character is consistent with other DC Comics storylines.

Trigger Warnings
This graphic novel contains violence, gore, and mature themes. Some scenes may be triggering for readers who have experienced trauma or abuse.

Favorite Quotes
"The angel of death has many faces, but only one purpose." This quote highlights the themes of mortality and morality that run throughout the story.

Overall Review
Azrael Vol.1: Fallen Angel is a solid, if unremarkable, addition to the DC Comics universe. The story is engaging, and the artwork is well-done. However, the characters feel somewhat underdeveloped, and the pacing can be slow at times. Overall, I would recommend this graphic novel to fans of Batman and DC Comics, but it may not stand out to readers who are new to the genre. Rating: 3/5 stars.

Summary
The Mist is a horror novella by Stephen King. The story takes place in a small town where a group of people, including the protagonist David Drayton, his son Billy, and their neighbors, take refuge in a grocery store as a mysterious mist envelops the town. As the group tries to survive and find a way out, they are threatened by the monsters lurking in the mist and by the increasingly unstable and fanatical Mrs. Carmody.

Characters
The characters in The Mist are underdeveloped and lack depth. David Drayton, the protagonist, feels more like a vehicle for the story than a fully fleshed-out character. The other characters, including Billy, Brent, and Mrs. Carmody, are one-dimensional and lack any real motivation or backstory.

Trigger Warnings
This novella contains graphic violence, gore, and intense fear. There are also themes of claustrophobia, paranoia, and religious fanaticism that may be triggering for some readers.

Favorite Quotes
Unfortunately, I didn't find any quotes that stood out to me in this novella.

Overall Review
I was thoroughly disappointed with The Mist. As a huge fan of Stephen King, I was expecting a gripping and terrifying horror story. Instead, I found the characters to be dull and unengaging, the plot to be predictable and slow-moving, and the monsters in the mist to be more annoying than frightening. The themes of paranoia and religious fanaticism felt heavy-handed and lacked any real depth or nuance. Overall, I would not recommend The Mist to anyone but the most die-hard Stephen King fans. Rating: 1/5 stars.

Summary:
Deep and Dark and Dangerous is a ghost story novel by Mary Downing Hahn. The story follows 13-year-old Ali, who spends a summer with her aunt and a girl named Sissy at a remote lake house in Maine. Sissy, has been acting strangely, and Ali soon discovers that the lake house has a dark history. As Ali delves deeper into the mystery, she must confront the malevolent spirit that haunts the lake.

Characters:
The main character, Ali, is a likable and relatable protagonist. Her aunt and Sissy, are also well-developed characters. However, the supporting characters feel somewhat one-dimensional.

Trigger Warnings:
This novel deals with themes of grief, loss, and trauma. There are also some intense and frightening scenes that may be disturbing for younger readers.

Overall Review:
Deep and Dark and Dangerous is a solid, middle-grade ghost story. The atmosphere is creepy and immersive, and the mystery is engaging. However, the pacing feels a bit slow, and the supporting characters are underdeveloped. Additionally, the ending feels somewhat rushed and convenient. Overall, I would recommend this novel to fans of ghost stories and atmospheric settings, but it may not stand out from other novels in the genre. Rating: 3/5 stars.

I love that this book is not only one you can fill out, but it has so many links to help others with whatever they are going through. This book is a good read for if you’re just thinking about going into the military it kind of helps you understand what you’re life could be like. This read is also good for military spouses as it tells you the support you will/could get. I loved each and every story as well as seeing how much emotional or non-emotional support you can get from other military spouses.