Reviews written by CJ Redwine, Site and Staff Manager

A fantastic historical romance for younger readers (or older readers who enjoy sweet, satisfying stories). The world building is pitch perfect, the prose is clean, and the story is full of love, longing, and hope. I read and re-read this entire series while I was in middle school and recommend...

I enjoyed this modern twist on the classic Beauty and the Beast fairy tale. I despised the hero at the beginning (he was truly a beast inside!), but really liked him by the end. And I liked the heroine very much. The prose is clean and flows well, the story...

Do you love the Harry Potter series? Then this is a cookbook you MUST own. Full of treats from the Hogwart's tables to the trolley on the train, you can make a meal fit for a wizard. What a fun activity to do with your kids on a family HP...

What a way to finish the series! This book has everything I wanted: lush detail, relationship struggles, danger, plot twists, redemption, victory, and a happily ever after. It is AMAZING. I cried, cheered, cringed, cheered, and cried some more. So, so good. Thank you, J.K. Rowling, for a series that...

Oh, this book. THIS BOOK. I loved it, even though it broke my heart. I loved it because Dumbledore finally enlists Harry's help in unmasking Voldemort's past with an eye toward predicting the villain's next move. The history of both Voldemort and of the other characters I've come to love...

The Order of the Phoenix is a dark, intricately woven story. Voldemort is back, Harry has been labelled a liar by the Daily Prophet (and by the Ministry), Harry nearly gets kicked out of Hogwarts because the Ministry is determined to shut him up, and Dumbledore is staying away from...

Book 4 in the Harry Potter series is the lynch pin on which the series turns. Harry and his friends are growing up, noticing the opposite sex, and struggling to learn the ropes as they transition from children to young adults. The Goblet of Fire competition is another fabulously rendered...

The Harry Potter series keeps getting better. In book 3, the innocence of Harry's first two years at Hogwarts fades as threats from the outside world move in. Dementors are on the loose, an escaped convict is apparently searching for Harry, and a traitor roams the halls of Hogwarts. With...

This is so much fun! My kids adore the Lego Harry Potter video game, and this sticker book was just as enjoyable. They could put the stickers where they were supposed to go throughout the storybook or even create their own HP scene with stickers. Fun! Makes a great gift...

What a stunning collection of memories from all seven HP movies. Many of my favorite moments were captured! The posters are gorgeous and high quality, and the commentary throughout ties the whole series together into one unforgettable package. Perfect as a gift or (like me) to own for yourself!...

I really loved the idea behind this book, but was disappointed overall in the story. The world building is fine, although the premise is about vampires and the vampires all act like pagan witches, which was confusing. I enjoyed many of the characters, I felt the drama and tension was...

I devoured the entire Love Comes Softly series as a girl. And then I went back and re-read them multiple times. Love Comes Softly is a sweet story about love growing gradually, the power of hope, and the fact that while dark times hit us all, they don't stay forever....

I loved our second year at Hogwarts. Dobby is introduced, more of Voldemort's backstory is revealed, and the castle begins to give up more of its secrets. The friendships are deepened, the characters are as fabulously compelling as they were the year before, and we are once again seduced by...

A stunning conclusion to one of my favorite trilogies. I love that Tolkien's world is so thoroughly built. I can imagine it clearly every step of the way. I also love that Tolkien's characters must face hard choices. None of them are perfect, and their flaws drive the plot as...

This isn't my favorite of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, mostly because it is obviously a middle book and doesn't really feel like it has a strong ending. It functions as a bridge between books 1 & 3. However, the adventure is nail-biting, the world building is incredibly compelling,...