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Opposition (Lux, #5)
Opposition (Lux, #5)
Jennifer L. Armentrout | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.4 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
It's always weird when you finish a series of books. When it's a standalone novel, it's easier to let go of a set of characters, but with a series - especially when they go past the typical three - you spend so much time with the characters, they become a fixture for a while.

When I started the Lux series, I wasn't sold on it. I'm not a huge fan of YA novels at the best of times. Daemon amused me enough to keep me interested, though, so I slogged through the first and second books and hit the third... and that's when it captured me. Something clicked and the story became more than just a "yeah, it's not bad," to "holy shit, gimme more!"

Opposition has its issues. There are a couple of things I think could have been done better, but overall, a fantastic book which ties up the series nicely.

... and I've been informed today (and pre-ordered) that Luc is getting his own book in October this year (2018) so there's that!
  
One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories
One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories
B.J. Novak | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
6
6.8 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
Funny (at parts) (1 more)
Some stories provoked good thought.
Most stories were out of place, long, and really hard to get through. (0 more)
It took me almost four months to read and it wasn’t even 300 pages.
“I have been reading this damn book off and on since October of 2018. I honestly really struggled with it. I honestly only bought it and started reading it because it was written by @picturesoftext and I was REALLY curious to read some of his work. Some of the stories were actually really cute, or funny, or thought-inducing. However, a lot of it was filled with weird stories that I didn’t quite understand (though I’m sure that’s the point). I would have enjoyed it more if some parts of the separate stories intersected or crossed over. Anyways, this is definitely the kind of book that I could have seen BJ’s character on The Office writing while at his temp desk! .
.
I gave it 3/5 stars on Goodreads, and be sure to look out for my review of it tomorrow on Smashbomb!”

-From my bookstagram account, @rorythereader
  
Cait Morgan has traveled to Nice to present a paper for a sick colleague when she runs into her former boss, Alistair Townsend. Unable to say no, she finds herself at a birthday party for Alistair’s wife that night. Dinner is ruined when Alistair drops dead at the table and the other guests start feeling sick. With the police looking at Cait, she needs to figure out what is really happening.

Cait is an interesting character because she has an excellent memory but a habit of judging others quickly. I did find myself annoyed by her at times, but that never lasted for long. The suspects make a strong cast as they have layers to them that Cait has to peal back before she can solve the crime. And the plot heads into some areas I wasn’t expecting that I found interesting. I had a couple of niggles with the climax, but they were minor.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-corpse-with-silver-tongue.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Hellbent (Orphan X, #3)
Hellbent (Orphan X, #3)
Gregg Hurwitz | 2018 | Thriller
10
8.6 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
The phone call that Evan Smoak receives on his special phone comes from a voice he knows – Jack Johns, the main who trained him and the closest thing Evan has ever had to a father. The phone call changes Evan’s world, and Evan find himself setting out to pick up a package for Jack in addition to working on a very personal mission. Will Evan succeed?

This third book featuring Evan is fantastic. The pace is fast with plenty of twists and setbacks, yet I love how things came together at the end. You really have to read this series in order, not only to appreciate the background on the story told here but also to appreciate the character growth in Evan. He’s a complex character, and I love watching him change. The rest of the cast is fantastic, too, and the writing paints his world without slowing down the story. Truly a wonderful book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/03/book-review-hellbent-by-gregg-hurwitz.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
When Winnie gets an advance order for the people staying at the retreat out of town, she gladly spends the weekend thinking up fun desserts to encourage these artists. However, when she goes to deliver them, she arrives just as the owner of the retreat center dies. Only later, Winnie begins to question what she saw. Was someone trying to deceive her at the time? Can she figure out what really happened?

This is such a fun idea and fun series, and this book was no exception. I did feel the emphasis was on the series regulars and their sub-plots, but I didn’t mind too much since I do like these characters. And that’s not to say we didn’t get some twists along the way to the climax. The suspects add to the fun as they are a very unique group of people.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/01/book-review-dial-m-for-mousse-by-laura.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Cody and the rest of the Code Busters are excited for the next school day because their classes are going on a combined field trip to Alcatraz. The night before they leave, Cody gets a strange e-mail message. Then the four friends get part of a note on their front door step in the morning. It seems to imply that there might be a treasure on the island. Can they figure out what is going on while on the field trip?

While the title of the book is a little misleading (we discuss some haunted places but never see any), this is a fun book for kids of all ages. The plot moves along quickly, and it included a great twist. The characters are on the thin side, but I’m sure kids won’t notice that. And there is enough information on codes for kids to have lots of fun with them long after they’ve finished reading the book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-haunted-lighthouse-by-penny.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Opposition (Lux, #5)
Opposition (Lux, #5)
Jennifer L. Armentrout | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.4 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
It's always weird when you finish a series of books. When it's a standalone novel, it's easier to let go of a set of characters, but with a series - especially when they go past the typical three - you spend so much time with the characters, they become a fixture for a while.

When I started the Lux series, I wasn't sold on it. I'm not a huge fan of YA novels at the best of times. Daemon amused me enough to keep me interested, though, so I slogged through the first and second books and hit the third... and that's when it captured me. Something clicked and the story became more than just a "yeah, it's not bad," to "holy shit, gimme more!"

Opposition has its issues. There are a couple of things I think could have been done better, but overall, a fantastic book which ties up the series nicely.

... and I've been informed today (and pre-ordered) that Luc is getting his own book in October this year (2018) so there's that!
  
TF
The Forgotten Man (Elvis Cole, #10)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Normally, a man shot in an alley in downtown Los Angeles wouldn’t cross Elvis Cole’s radar. However, this man claimed that he was the PI’s long-lost father in town to make up for lost time with his son. Could it be true? If so, what was he doing in the alley when he got shot?

At some point, this part of Cole’s past had to come into the foreground in the series, and this book does a great job of using that hook to springboard us into a great mystery. As you’d expect, there are some good twists and an exciting climax. I did feel that a flashback to Elvis as an early teen really didn’t do much for the story other than slow it down. We don’t get to see much of Joe Pike, Elvis’ partner. Instead, the sidekick role is filled with Carol Starkey, but I hated how she came across here. Definitely a step down for her character.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/01/book-review-forgotten-man-by-robert.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
The Undomestic Goddess
The Undomestic Goddess
Sophie Kinsella | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry
6
8.5 (13 Ratings)
Book Rating
Would you like some cheese with that?
Hello all you beautiful people!

Let's all rejoice for regular posting on the blog and Youtube!!! I am officially back and all my attention is now on all you followers, readers and commenters! There are going to be a mix of food and book focused content which I am really excited to get out to all of you and content I have had so much fun creating so here's hoping you will have as much fun reading and watching it!

Now back to business. Today I am going to be reviewing a book by a very famous author that I picked up while doing my weekly shop in Tesco (2 for £7, can't go wrong!). Honestly, I have never read any Sophie Kinsella before but I mostly associate her works with chick lit, contemporary feel-good reads so I was looking forward to getting back into reading with a nice easy read.

Continue reading my review at: https://www.readsandrecipes.co.uk/2018/06/would-you-like-some-cheese-with-that.html
  
Little Fires Everywhere
Little Fires Everywhere
Celeste Ng | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
9
8.3 (43 Ratings)
Book Rating
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
“But the problem with rules, he reflected, was that they implied a right way and a wrong way to do something. When, in fact, most of the time there were simply ways, none of them quite wrong or quite right, and nothing to tell you for sure which side of the line you stood on ”

This book focuses on the Richardsons, an idealistic suburban family; Mr Richardson a hotshot lawyer, Mrs Richardson a housewife cum reporter and the Richardson children; Lexi, Trip, Moody and Izzy. They live happily in their 6 bedroom house and had all the material belongings they could long for, but each had a void in their life. This would be filled in some way or another by Mia and her daughter Pearl, new tenants in one of Mrs Richardson’s properties. We watch the two families grow close and form relationships only to be divided by a custody battle taking place in the town.

Continue reading my review at: https://www.readsandrecipes.co.uk/2018/10/little-fires-everywhere-by-celeste-ng.html