Mara, Mary, this is because of you. I blame you. I'm going to lump all the ones I've read so far in a big post, and then from then on I will post individually for the books I read. All summaries are taken directly from Amazon.
1) The Firm, John Grisham ★★★★
Summary: When Mitch McDeere signed on with Bendini, Lambert & Locke of Memphis, he thought that he and his beautiful wife, Abby, were on their way. The firm leased him a BMW, paid off his school loans, arranged a mortgage, and hired the McDeeres a decorator. Mitch should have remembered what his brother Ray–doing fifteen years in a Tennessee jail–already knew: You never get nothing for nothing. Now the FBI has the lowdown on Mitch’s firm and needs his help. Mitch is caught between a rock and a hard place, with no choice–if he wants to live.
This book was fun, fast paced, suspenseful and although a bit predictable still an enjoyable read. 
2) Labyrinth, Kate Mosse ★★★
Summary: July 2005. In the Pyrenees mountains near Carcassonne, Alice, a volunteer at an archaeological dig, stumbles into a cave and makes a startling discovery-two crumbling skeletons, strange writings on the walls, and the pattern of a labyrinth.
Eight hundred years earlier, on the eve of a brutal crusade that will rip apart southern France, a young woman named Alais is given a ring and a mysterious book for safekeeping by her father. The book, he says, contains the secret of the true Grail, and the ring, inscribed with a labyrinth, will identify a guardian of the Grail. Now, as crusading armies gather outside the city walls of Carcassonne, it will take a tremendous sacrifice to keep the secret of the labyrinth safe.
This book was long, but it was enjoyable. There were a few parts that lagged a little, but nothing terrible. I liked both of the main women and the idea of the Holy Grail that is presented. It had an epic feel that I enjoyed a lot. I loved the historical fiction aspect of it too. But there were parts that kind of confused me- and the idea of the Grail is never fully explained. It's more just kind of a concept. I don't know- it's hard to explain.
3) The Elfstones of Shannara, Terry Brooks ★★★★★
Summary: Thousands of years after the destruction of the age of man and science, new races and magic now rule the world, but an imminent danger threatens. A horde of evil Demons is beginning to escape and bring death upon the land. Only Wil Ohmsford, the last of the Shannara bloodline, has the power to guard the Elven Princess Amberle on a perilous quest to the save the world, while the leader of the Demon force aims to stop their mission at any cost.
I really, really enjoyed this book. Maybe even loved. I'm a sucker for Fantasy, and the world felt very real to me. There's a tiny bit of romance, but nothing over the top. I loved the characters interactions and the way they were portrayed. I definitely would read it again.
4) The Time Machine, H.G. Wells ★★★★
Summary: The Time Traveler, a dreamer obsessed with traveling through time, builds himself a time machine and, much to his surprise, travels over 800,000 years into the future. He lands in the year 802701: the world has been transformed by a society living in apparent harmony and bliss, but as the Traveler stays in the future he discovers a hidden barbaric and depraved subterranean class.
The only reason this book isn't five stars is because of the beginning. It starts off sort of philosophically which was hard for me to get through. But once the actual story gets going, it was thrilling, compelling and had an interesting social commentary on utopia and it's effects that I thought was intriguing.
5) She Walks in Beauty, Sarah Shankman ★★★
Summary: Sam has just turned 40, and the last thing she wants to do is cover the Miss America Pageant. But in Atlantic City Sam discovers what's beautiful and what's deadly when an obnoxious pageant judge mysteriously disappears.
This book was interesting. I liked Sam, and I enjoyed the mystery. I liked the social commentary and the sort of tongue in cheek feel that it had. I wasn't a huge fan of the way it started out, (there's an attempted rape and violence in a pretty intense scene) but the rest was enjoyable.
6) Frozen Tides, Morgan Rhodes ★★★★
Summary: CLEO: Reeling after a shocking realization about Magnus, Princess Cleo must cast aside her feelings and look toward her kingdom with the eyes of a queen.
MAGNUS: The steely prince of Limeros is once again torn between love and duty, leaving him wondering whether he's strong enough to rule his people.
LUCIA: Heartbroken and blind with fury, the betrayed sorceress allies with the awoken Fire god, who also seeks revenge.
JONAS: The defeated rebel leader reunites with Princess Cleo, only to become a pawn in the dangerous hunt for the elusive Kindred.
KING GAIUS: A desperate King of Blood flees Mytica and sails to Kraeshia, where he attempts to ally with the famously brutal emperor across the Silver Sea.
I really, really enjoyed this book. A top notch addition to the series. I liked the development of the main relationships and the development of Lucia. I'm really, really excited for the next in the series. Suffers from a bit of YA syndrome, but still very enjoyable.
Suffers from a bit of YA syndrome, but still very enjoyable. 7) Damselle in Distress, Kiley Kellermeyer ★★★★
Summary: Damselle has spent her sixteen years terrorized by magical creatures and evil villains. Now she’s done waiting for the next bad thing to happen or for the arrogant knights in the local order to come to her rescue. And she’s really tired of being shunned as if her bad luck is contagious. But after a plummet down a wishing well, Damselle is granted one wish: To learn why distress shadows her every step.
The answer? Her name, “Damselle,” marks her forever a “damsel in distress.” To change her name – and her life – Damselle must find three items of vast magical power.
Though she is aided by several new friends, Damselle's journey through the woods may be more distressing than even she dreamed. Because, in The Willowwax, a hydrophobic witch and a Society of Evil Stepmothers are the least of her concerns. And of course she'll have to rescue the incompetent but persistent Sir Leal. (Who ever heard of a damsel saving a knight, anyway?)
To make matters worse, Damselle can’t rid herself of the strange feeling she knows exactly where to go, despite never having been in the woods before…
I loved this book. Damselle is a fun character who doesn't have a whole lot of depth, but still is fun to read about. I really enjoyed the adventure through the woods, the fairytales spun on their heads, and just the general feeling of fun. The romance angle was one of my favorite tropes, but did not involve the main character. It just was a fun read and I'd read it again.
8) The Wind Singer, William Nicholson ★★★
Summary: In Aramanth, exams are everything. When Kestrel rebels, her family are sentenced to the harshest punishment. To save them, Kestrel learns the secret of the wind singer and she sets out to discover the true source of the evil that grips Aramanth.
I did really like this book. The main character was enjoyable, and the plot was quick paced and easy to get into. But the purpose of the Wind Singer and how it kept evil at bay, was sort of vague. Either that, or I just never really understood how it worked. There were elements that felt a bit repetitive, but it was enjoyable.
9) Born of Fury, Sherrilyn Kenyon ★★★
Summary: Counted among the fiercest Andarion warriors ever born, Hauk is one of the five founding members of the Sentella: an organization that has declared war on the League. They rule the Ichidian universe with an iron fist and terrify it with an army of well-trained assassins. Hauk's enemies are legion, but he fears nothing and no one. He will do whatever it takes to survive and protect his Sentella brethren.
Sumi Antaxas is one of the best assassins the League has ever trained. In her world, failure is not an option and she has never met a target she couldn't execute. So when she's assigned Hauk, she believes it'll be a quick and easy mission.But nothing is ever as simple as it seems, and Hauk is far better skilled than any she's faced before.
Oh, this book. This book. There were parts of it that I loved. I loved Sumi. I loved her character. I loved Hauk and his character. I loved the Beauty and the Beast themes it had going. I did not care for how Hauk was described by the author. He sounded more like a piece of meat at times then the main love interest. You know, I don't mind a little bit of fawning, I can deal with a bit of fawning. But it just felt like she was drooling over him in parts and I wanted to be like - you just met this guy! Plus, you are a trained assassin? And you are already falling head over heels? But the second part of the novel really grew on me, the way he interacted with his family and the plot really gets moving.
10) The Magic Circle, Katherine Neville ★★
Summary: In the last week of Jesus’s life, the Emperor Augustus orders the purge of all prophecies that question his divine power. Thus, in the crater of a dormant volcano, the books of the Sibylline oracle are sealed—lost to the world until the nineteenth century when Clio, a brilliant archaeologist, discovers them. The Sibyl’s words remain as potent as ever, having the ability to change the destiny of mankind. But who will be bold enough to harness their power?
More than a century after their discovery, some of the secret prophecies fall into the hands of nuclear scientist Ariel Behn when her beloved cousin is assassinated. If Ariel can discover the mystery behind the prophecies, she will be able to prevent a potentially worldwide catastrophe—but in order to do so she must travel to Russia, Vienna, and Paris where too many people are desperate to protect the secrets of these ancient writings.
I really wanted to like this book. But it was just so hard for me to get through. It's actually a book I can say I disliked. I just had a really hard time following the way the plot moved, and the way things connected. It was one of those books where I was just like- wait, what just happened? There were some things that just left me more confused then ever. But there were parts that were really interesting and fun. It was a confusing book.
11) At Home in Mitford, Jan Karon ★★★ (warning: religious content ahead for the next three of these)
Summary: It's easy to feel at home in Mitford. In these high, green hills, the air is pure, the village is charming, and the people are generally lovable. Yet, Father Tim, the bachelor rector, wants something more. Enter a dog the size of a sofa who moves in and won't go away. Add an attractive neighbor who begins wearing a path through the hedge. Now, stir in a lovable but unloved boy, a mystifying jewel theft, and a secret that's sixty years old. Suddenly, Father Tim gets more than he bargained for. And readers get a rich comedy about ordinary people and their ordinary lives.
I read these books because my in-laws have been talking about them nonstop. I enjoyed this first one, definitely written by a Christian women and intended for a Christian audience. Thankfully, there were only a few parts where I was rolling my eyes. The people and their interactions felt real enough, and I loved them. If only the book focused only on those, but then this thief shows up and yeah. I don't know - it just didn't feel like something that could really happen in a small town.
12) A Light in the Window, Jan Karon ★★
Summary: His attractive neighbor is tugging at his heartstrings. A wealthy widow is pursuing him with hot casseroles. And his red-haired Cousin Meg has moved into the rectory, uninvited. As you can see, Mitford's rector and lifelong bachelor, Father Tim, is in need of divine intervention. In this beautifully crafted second novel in the Mitford series, Jan Karon delivers a love story that's both heartwarming and hilarious. Only time will tell if the village parson can practice what he preaches. Like At Home in Mitford, the first novel in the series, this book is filled with the miracles and mysteries of everyday life. And the affirmation of what some of us already know: Life in a small town is rarely quiet. And absolutely never boring.
My least favorite of all these that I've read so far. A bit pretentious and slow. I didn't like the way the other woman who was 'pursuing' Father Timothy was portrayed at all. I didn't like the way his cousin was portrayed. I didn't like the way the relationship between Timothy and Cynthia (the aforementioned neighbor) dragged out. I felt like she was just putting stuff intentionally to separate them. Now, as an author, I understand that. I don't mind it a lot of the time, but in this it just didn't really fit. I don't know. It just felt unnecessary.
13) These High Green Hills, Jan Karon ★★★
Summary: In These High, Green Hills we're once again in Mitford, a southern village of local characters so heartwarming and hilarious you'll wish you lived right next door. At last, Mitford's rector and lifelong bachelor, Father Tim, has married his talented and vivacious neighbor, Cynthia. Now, of course, they must face love's challenges: new sleeping arrangements for Father Tim's sofa-sized dog, Cynthia's urge to decorate the rectory Italian-villa-style, and the growing pains of the thrown-away boy who's become like a son to the rector. Add a life-changing camping trip, the arrival of the town's first policewoman, and a new computer that requires the patience of a saint, and you know you're in for another engrossing visit to Mitford -- the little town that readers everywhere love to call home.
This book was much easier to enjoy then the second in the series. Father Timothy and Cynthia stop being dumb and get engaged. I really enjoy the way Dooley's character is turning out. I enjoy the way the relationships are portrayed. Much easier to get through..
14) The Jungle Book, Rudyard Kipling ★★★★★
Summary: The fourteen fables in this landmark of children’s literature tell the story of Mowgli, a boy raised by wolves in the Indian jungle. With the help of Baloo the bear, Kaa the python, and Bagheera the black panther, Mowgli learns the laws of the wild and survives countless escapades—none more thrilling than his confrontation with the menacing tiger Shere Khan, king of the jungle.
Many other unforgettable characters appear in The Jungle Book, including Kotick, a rare white seal who searches for a safe haven from those who hunt him; Rikki-tikki-tavi, a brave mongoose who saves a boy and his family from a pair of deadly cobras; and Toomai, a ten-year-old elephant trainer who risks everything to witness one of the world’s greatest mysteries: the dance of the elephants.
This was one of those books I've been meaning to read forever and finally did it. It was lovely, rich and vibrant. I loved every moment of it. Although, I wasn't big on the last of the series- all the other stories were enchanting and felt so real. I loved it. Will own.
It was lovely, rich and vibrant. I loved every moment of it. Although, I wasn't big on the last of the series- all the other stories were enchanting and felt so real. I loved it. Will own.15) Uprooted, Naomi Novik ★★★
Summary: Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.
Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.
The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her.
But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose.
I liked this book quite a bit. Enjoyable, and fast paced. A bit confusing towards the end, but I did like the way it ultimately finished. It did suffer from 'I'm really super powerful' syndrome but it was fun anyway. At least she didn't automatically get good at magic. She had to find her own brand of it for it to work without exhausting her. I did love the romance. I'm a sucker for the Beauty and the Beast sort of thing. Although, Sarkan's (the Dragon) personality was just kind of stand-offish and could have been developed more. But I really did like the main character. She did feel real to me. And I thought her relationship with her best friend Kaisa was really sweet and honest (to be honest, I thought it might go the LGBT route and was a lot surprised when it didn't). Because there were definite hints.
16) Red Queen, Victoria Aveyard ★★★★
Summary: Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood—those with common, Red blood serve the Silver- blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own. To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard—a growing Red rebellion—even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. One wrong move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal.
I really enjoyed this book. A lot. Mare was fun, endearing and brave. I loved Cal. I loved the way his personality just jumped off the page. I loved the world building. It all felt so real. Like I could reach in and touch it. I did enjoy the big twist at the end, although I saw it coming and I had prepared myself for it.
We're starting a trend, guys!
I remember loving the adventure and fantasy aspects, but not liking the final pairing of Eretria and Wil.
I enjoyed both books enough that I made it through them pretty quickly. Especially the 100, it's pretty short.
