This post got delayed a day for a post about K. But I’m here now and ready to link up with Steph and Jana. And some housekeeping details: Nothing is getting posted tomorrow so this post can truly shine for the next few days 😉 LOL

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
★★★★★/5; Sci-fi Thriller
I am terrified of dinosaurs and I’ve never seen the JP movies. For some reason, even though I don’t like to watch certain things, I can read about them. I was nervous that this book would still give me nightmares, though. It didn’t. In fact, I loved this book. I can’t wait to pick up The Lost World. I loved the twisty science and the interesting characters and the whole concept of bringing dinosaurs back and the absolute chaos something that like creates. Lex annoyed the sh*t out of me and Alan was charming and Hammond was insane and Dr. Sattler was a bad ass. Ian Malcolm was great, too. Honestly, I just really loved the science-based thriller aspect of this book. I was never bored and reading it made me feel so smart. Hahaha.
Read it? Yes.

When I told people I was reading this book so many replied with, “Why? Just watch the movie.” I could’ve smacked them. Lol

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate
★★★★/5; Children Fiction
This story was sweet & sad & inspiring. (I wouldn’t consider it an animal story like Applegate’s Ivan because Crenshaw is an imaginary cat.) Crenshaw’s human is named Jackson and sometimes Jackson’s family- which consists of his mom, his dad, his dog Aretha, and his little sister Robin- has to move out of their apartment or sell their things or live in their car. Like Ivan, this is a great book for kids and adults. It gives a face and family to the proverbial “hard times” that many people fall on. And it also gives perspective, honesty, and a silver lining to those same struggles.
Read it? Yes.

The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Amanda Quick
★★★★/5; Historical Mystery, Romance
It took me a minute to get into this book but once I did I was hooked. This historical murder semi-thiller was unique in that you were made aware of one killer’s identity, but left guessing and grasping at clues for the other killer’s true name. Some folks on GR thought this story had too much going on, but I think it’d have been boring without all the subplots. I like Irene and her cautious outlook. She grew on me as the story progressed, as did the friends she made along the way. This book isn’t a crazy thriller and there IS a small amount of steamy romance. Overall, it’s a fairly tame historical, romantic mystery. (**Not as tame as Amory Ames- for those of you that went off that suggestion for a clean historical mystery.**)
Read it? If my review sounds like something you’d like, yes.

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Erin’s 10.0 Book Challenge

| 5 points | Freebie: The Lost World by Michael Crichton*
| 10 points | A book that was made into a movie: Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
| 10 points | Set in Europe: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
| 15 points | A Newberry Award winner: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
| 20 points | A friend or family member’s favorite: Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell
| 20 points | Published over 100 years ago: A Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde**
| 25 points | Six words in the title: The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Amanda Quick
| 30 points | A cardinal direction in the title: Winter at West Sands Guest House by Maggie Conway*
| 30 points | Published in a different language: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
| 35 points | Begins with the letter “N”: Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

I’m at 165 out of 200 points.
*Changed from Archenemies by Marissa Meyer
**Changed from The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

What did you read this month?