Review: Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Cover Source: GoodReads.com

Title: Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets

Author: J.K. Rowling

Series: Harry Potter #2

Version Reviewed: Finished, Hardback

Website: www.jkrowling.com

*This book was given to me by a family member.*

GoodReads Summary:

All Harry Potter wants is to get away from the Dursleys and go back to Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby - who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.
And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockheart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.
But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone--or something--starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects... Harry Potter himself.

Review:
So, so, so, so excited to be going through these books again.  I am super happy to be reading these to my daughter and experience them with her and my husband.  The last time I read the books was when I was in high school and I have intended to reread them ever since but, for one reason or another, have not.

Harry Potter for me is, in most cases, one of those series that completely blows me away by making me love each new book in the series even more so than the last.  (With the exception of Goblet of Fire because it's my favorite of the entire series). Chamber of Secrets definitely doesn't disappoint and sets the standards a little higher for Harry and his crew.

Chamber of Secrets is full of magic and adventure.  We get to meet some entirely new characters such as Dobby, Moaning Myrtle, Tom Riddle and the second of many Defense Against The Dark Arts professors, Gilderoy Lockhart. We also get to learn a little bit more about some of our already beloved (and not so beloved) characters like Hagrid, Ginny, Harry, the Weasleys and Lord Voldemort.

With each book that passes, the danger grows stronger and things get a bit more serious than before.  Each book is a page turner.  Literally, every single page keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you eager to find out what happens next.

I love Harry Potter so much and I cannot wait to dig into the rest of the series.  It's like I'm reading them again for the first time and I can't get enough!

Rating: 5 Stars.
Character: Ron, Hermione, Snape.

Bout of Books 14: Challene #3 & Reading Update

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 17th and runs through Sunday, August 23rd in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 14 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

So here we are!  We've made it to day three of the Bout of Books Readathon!  How are you guys doing so far?  Unfortunately, I managed to fall behind yesterday.  It just seems like I never got a real chance to sit down and read. I usually read after my husband falls asleep and the little one is down but last night I was so exhausted that, when it came time to read, I almost couldn't hold my eyes open. But, alas, today is a new day.

On to today's challenge!

Hosted by Rocky Top Real Talk

M.A.S.H. - Book Edition
MASH is a fun little game where you write up options for your future and then after getting a number, go through until you have one choice for each category - and have your future right there in front of you!

Here are my results!

Husband: Marc (from Rachel Vincent's Shifters Series)

House: Hogwarts

Job: Baker

Pet: Otter

#BoutofBooksMASH

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Reading List / Updates

Raven by Stacey Rourke

Embers by Karen Ann Hopkins (24%)

Gaia by Karen Ann Hopkins

Steam by Stacey Rourke

Pistol Fanny's Hank & Delilah by Annie Rose Welch

Lush Cocktails: Mermaid Water

If you know me personally, you know that I absolutely love Lush.  I could bathe in Lush daily if I could afford it.

I definitely have to force myself to not buy their products.

I had been wanting to try out this "cocktail" since I first heard about it online. If it had anything to do with mermaids, I had to do it. So, here are the deets:

Ingredients

1 Big Blue Bath Bomb

1/4 Sunny Side Bubble Bar (You can use more or less if you like, I'm just trying to make it last as long as possible.)

I did Big Blue first and then Sunny Side. 

Verdict
I would put this at the bottom of the post but I plan on making these picture heavy. Overall, I freakin' LOVED Mermaid Water and definitely, definitely plan on making this a repeat bath. I swear this was the prettiest, best smelling, most relaxing bath I have ever had. The color was brilliant, the shimmer was beautiful, the smell was ahhhhmazing. Big Blue is officially my favorite bath bomb so far. And the seaweed. Oh, the seaweed. I've never felt more like a mermaid in my entire life. I loved the natural element of the seaweed in the bathwater. It felt so soft and smooth.  I loved it and didn't want it to end. (Little secret: I left Mermaid Water in my bathtub for like two hours because I wanted my mom to come over and look at it.)

On to the pictures!