The Bridge of Peace by Cindy Woodsmall

This is the second in the Ada's House series. The first is The Hope of Refuge. This was also a really good book and I totally recommend it.

Gray Graber lives with his wife and son but his wife has been shutting out. Gray doesn't understand when or why the sudden change in his wife's attitude toward him occurred but they've been pulling apart ever since. Something has to be done about it. Gray and Elsie, his wife, start to work toward a better relationship, tragedy strikes. Lena Kauffman is the local school teacher. All her life she's been ashamed of her birthmark on her cheek and has had to take all the looks for it. She believes that no one will ever want to marry her and the only thing she can do is teach, which is something that she loves dearly. One of her students starts to play tricks on her in an attempt to get her fired or... worse. Gray and Lena have been friends since childhood and they have to find ways to work through their misfortunes, maybe even together.

I have to say that I liked this book but not as  much as the first. I really liked the characters and the relationship in the first book and I wasn't expecting this book to bring in a whole new batch of characters. For those of you who have read the first book, Cara and Ephraim aren't totally gone but the spotlight is less on them and more on the new characters.

I recommend reading the first book in the series because it was fantastic and if you've read that then you should read this one but I don't think you should skip the first book because it has all the best characters.

I rate this book a 8.5/10 because it wasn't as good as the first book but the writing was still great and I liked the ending.

-Flounder

Escape Theory by Margaux Froley

Escape Theory is the psychological thriller starring students coping with the suicide of the popular and charismatic Hutch. Devon, an outsider in her prestigious boarding school, Keaton, acts as a therapist for all of Hutch's friends while struggling to control her own feelings. As Devon speaks to more of the students she discovers that something doesn't add up. There was no way Hutch would have killed himself. Devon take it upon herself to find the truth about Hutch's life, which could lead to the end of her own.
I actually became really attached to this book and it really broke my heart. The story of Hutch and Devon's relationship is very sweet; I could feel the same pain the character's went through. I also loved the psychological side to novel; it really gets into your mind and makes you think. It also addresses many things other people (especially teenagers) could relate to.
I suggest this book to anyone, although I should warn you that it's very depressing.
I rate it a 10/10 Please consider reading this book!
~Mushu

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

I'm hoping you all were able to guess, but this is the second book for Anna Dressed in Blood. I didn't really think the book needed a sequel, but reading it wasn't a disappointment. Also there are some spoilers in this, just a warning!
Cas hasn't been able to move on with his life after Anna disappeared into Hell, despite his friends convincing him Anna sacrificed herself for a reason. Furthermore he sees Anna everywhere, even in his dreams. But what if they aren't just dreams? Images of Anna being gruesomely tortured continue to haunt Cas and he knows he has to put a stop to it. It's time for Cas to save the girl he loves... from whatever it is that's happening.
I liked Anna Dressed in Blood more and the ending made me extremely sad, but the book was excellent. The writing was optimal as usual and I loved being able to read about these characters one last time.
I'd suggest it to anyone who loved Anna Dressed in Blood and wanted more closure or what's happened since the end of it.
I rate Girl of Nightmares a 9.5/10
~Mushu

Splintered by A.G. Howard

 Splintered describes the truth behind Wonderland from Carroll's classic story. In this book, Wonderland is much darker than the whimsical adventures we all thought we knew. Alyssa Gardner is the supposed descendent of Alice Liddell, and her great-great-great grandmother's madness has been passed on through the generations. But is it really madness? With her mother in an insane asylum, Alyssa is shocked to discover she and her mother hear the same voices coming from bugs and plants. She begins to question everything. When her mother's sickness seems to be growing worse, Alyssa decides to go back to her roots- jump down the rabbit hole and undo the curse placed on her family. But she soon finds out things are so much more complicated then she could ever have expected.

Right from the start of this novel you get a taste of how twisted and gruesome the story will be. I personally loved it, but I can see how some people would find it disturbing. Before Alyssa entered Wonderland I did find the beginning to be generally slow, but I loved it as soon as the main plot began. There was also a love triangle, which wasn't as bothersome as I thought it would be. I really enjoyed all the twists at the end, some I didn't entirely predict.

I'd suggest this book to anyone who loves dark fantasies or the original Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Also this book is for older audiences- probably about 14+ There is a sequel, but the ending to this book was perfect so it's not necessary.

 
I rate Splintered an 8.5/10 The second half of the book was much better than most of the beginning.

~Mushu

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

This was half-intersting, and half-boring. I'm also kind of sick of it from doing so many homework assignments on this book- but that's just me. It's not exactly my type of book, and yeah...
Henry Lee is one of many people who carry heavy memories from the war years. One day he passes the Panama Hotel, a place he hadn't gone to in a long time. That's when he hears someone just discovered the belongings of Japanese families hidden away during World War 2. Upon hearing the news, Henry remembers when he was just a boy, and the special relationship he had with a little Japanese girl- Keiko Okabe. This book tells Henry's story as a twelve-year old boy and his story so many years later. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet portrays love, hardships, and it teaches how some connections never die.
This was suprisingly a lot better than I thought, but still not the best book ever. I would have liked if the ending added more closure. The writing and descriptions was excellent so it doesn't bore one to death.
I'd recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction, or maybe has an interest in World War 2.
I'll rate this book a 7/10
~Mushu
P.S. And we're back from the (super long) hiatus! Maybe. Our sincerest apologies- life has just been really hectic