The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide by Stephenie Meyer

Everything you ever wanted to know about the Twilight Saga is right here in this handy dandy guide. Let me tell you, IT IS A HEAVY BOOK! Filled with character descriptions, art work, quotes from the books and both vampire and werewolf lineage this has it all. What was fun for me is that each character has a total history that we may or may not have seen in the books. The Official Guide also gives a music play list that Stephenie Meyer used while writing the series. There is a Q & A section and then an interview section where Stephenie sits down with another author and chats about the books. I enjoyed the book very much!

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

So this once again brings to a close the Twilight series. I found this time around I got bored with how stinkin LONG this book is! I guess the pace keeps the story moving, but it is just long! Almost 800 pages! Good grief! Anyway, I still am happy with the "Happily Ever After" ending of the series. I'm still one of those people that didn't feel gypped about the non-existent fight scene. Frankly I don't think my heart could have taken it. I still cried when they were all saying good-bye to each other when they thought it was their last moment together. It didn't creep me out that Jacob imprinted on Renesme. I loved the honeymoon scene and thought the book did a much better job of closing the bedroom door at the proper time than the movie did. I love the interplay between Jacob and Rosalie! All of his blond jokes cracked me up. And then when she fashioned a dog dish for him I howled with laughter. I wish the movie would have showcased that relationship a bit better. I loved the scene when Bella realizes that Jacob had imprinted on Renesme...EXCELLENT!

Just so you all know, I have heard all of the arguments for and against this series. I have heard how reading these books "puts unrealistic expectations on spouses/future spouses." I think that anything that becomes an obsession can do that. I do not look at my spouse any differently than I did before I read this series. He still lights my fire! I still have eyes only for him. I don't lust for an Edward clone. I do however expect to be adored by my husband. I don't think that that is an unrealistic expectation. Edward and Bella adored each other. Why should I expect anything less for my marriage or for my children's marriages? And by the way, when I see my husband...he sparkles ;)

FYI:  I'm still resentful that Stephenie Meyer hasn't finished Midnight Sun which is Edward's story. BUT I'm still a fan of the series.

I'm counting this towards my Contentment Reading Challenge:

Night of the Living Dead Christian by Matt Mikalatos-NetGalley

Night of the Living Dead Christian:

One Man's Ferociously Funny Quest to Discover What It Means to Be Truly Transformed

 

 The author Matt Mikalatos plays a part in his story of a man trying to find what it means to be truly transformed. As "Matt" is out doing his Neighborhood watch duty one night he runs into a mad scientist(Culbetron) and his robot(Hibbs 3000). Pretty soon zombies arrive on the scene. Then his neighbor turns out to be a werewolf. 

 

Matt's werewolf neighbor is having trouble taming the beast within. His wife has now left him and taken his daughter with her. Matt, Culbetron and Hibbs decide to help Luther(werewolf) find a way of transforming himself from a beast to an acceptable citizen.

 

From a church full of zombies following a man and his rules instead of the Bible, to finally confronting his father, this is the journey of Luther who wants to be a better man yet instead of yielding his life to Christ like he should, is determined  to fix himself his own way.

 

One of the characters that I liked was a vampire. She represented a "transformed" life but still struggling with the "old" self and desires of her flesh. Matt Mikalatos has written a story that is thought-provoking and challenging along with being fun and a bit irreverent. He did wax preachy a couple of times, but brought us back into the story once more. 

 

I received my copy of Night of the Living Dead Christian from NetGalley and Tyndale House publishers. 

The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group by Catherine Jinks

Toby is found in a dingo pen at the local zoo. He's naked and has no memory of how he got there. Shortly after he returns home a priest and Reuben show up claiming that Toby is a werewolf and for his own good needs to be locked up the next full moon.

Toby and his mother do not believe that he is a werewolf. Unfortunately reality sets in when Toby is kidnapped in order to participate in werewolf fights. When Toby attempts a daring escape with another werewolf prisoner things seem to go from bad to worse.

If it weren't for all of the language in this book I would have enjoyed it a lot more. While I do not appreciate foul language in a book I can usually overlook it. But as I have said before I do not appreciate Jesus Christ and God(being paired with d--n) being used as curse words. This book is peppered with both throughout the entire book.  If it weren't for that this would have been an exciting and fun read.

Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright

Valerie lives in a village that offers monthly offerings to the Wolf in order to keep the Big Bad Wolf from killing everyone in the village. Unfortunately this month the Wolf has killed Valerie's sister.

Valerie is in love with Peter, a boy that she grew up with. Peter has been gone from the village for years but has returned. Unfortunately Valerie's parents have betrothed her to Henry. Henry's family is well-off and Henry will make a good match for Valerie.

Now that the wolf has invaded the village a priest is called in to help them find out who the wolf is. He informs them that the Wolf is someone among them. A witch hunt ensues with people accusing each other of being the wolf. Valerie's best friend accuses her of being a witch because Valerie can somehow communicate with the Wolf. Valerie is offered as the next sacrifice for the wolf. Can Henry and Peter who both love Valerie unite to save her? And how can Valerie trust anyone around her?

I imagine that almost everyone has heard of this book and movie. I enjoyed both equally since the movie pretty much follows the book. One thing that is a bit frustrating is that the last chapter of the book has to be read online. The author didn't want to give away the ending until after the movie came out I guess.

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Wow Jacob is persistent! Sometimes to the point of being annoying! Two of my most favorite parts in the book were when Bella punched Jake's jaw and the tent scene.

I was glad to see the end of Victoria and her newborn army. After 3 books it is about time that Bella and Edward catch a break from all of the drama and calamity that seems to follow their relationship.

This was one of my favorite in the series. I loved the humor in it and Edward's devotion and love for Bella.

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

New Moon is not my favorite book in the Twilight series. This is the book that Edward leaves Bella and Jacob comes into the picture. I don't like the despair that Bella goes into when Edward leaves. I don't like the fact that even though Bella tells Jacob that she can't love him she still uses him to keep her thoughts off of Edward. On the upside though, finding out that Jacob is a werewolf was pretty stinkin cool! The humor among the wolf brothers was great! I have sympathy for Jacob. But really, I will always be TEAM EDWARD!