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Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) created a post

Jul 31, 2023  
My July 2023 reads!

12 reads this month it’s been a really quiet one for me I’ve just struggled to read

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3⭐️⭐️⭐️
1 ⭐️⭐️
0 ⭐️
2 DNFS

My favourite book of the month is Secrets, Lies & Sacrifice by Ben Andrews I was really lucky to get an ARC of this book the author sent me the 1st in the series to read to. I loved both Secrets, Lies & Revenge is book one and got 4 ⭐️. Really can’t wait to read the next one.

Also The Mark by Lee Mountford was so good I absolutely pooped myself reading it lol

My least favourite is Boogeyman Booty call by Harpe Alexa although I did giggle at how silly it was.

My DNFS were not as high this month I just couldn’t get on with the 2 and I’m a great believer in not reading something just for the sake of it.

Book of the Month Secrets, Lies & Sacrifice by Ben Andrews
     
A Sliver of Sunset
A Sliver of Sunset
Devon Rhodes | 2016 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is a short but detail-filled story about a shifter who becomes ill with a human disease. Now most books will say that this is impossible, which is why it made for such interesting reading. There is everything in here that you would want or need in a novella - enough backstory so you know what's going on without drowning in it, steam between the main two, plenty of interesting and quirky secondary characters, and an overall story arc that I hope will continue as there are questions left unanswered by the end of this book.

Well-written and with a smooth pace, there were no editing or grammatical errors that I found. This was one enjoyable read from start to finish, and Devon Rhodes is definitely an author to look out for. I would like to read more from her. Recommended.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 6, 2016
  
MS
Maggots Screaming
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
104 of 220
Booksirens Arc
Maggots Screaming
By Max Booth III
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

THE FAMILY THAT DECAYS TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER

On a hot summer weekend in San Antonio, Texas, a father and son bond after discovering three impossible corpses buried in their back yard.

This book had me thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading it, to the point I’ve talked my husband into reading it and he doesn’t read. I’ve given it the full 5 stars simply because my god this had me never wanting to dig up the garden and to never watch the Simpsons again in the same way. The writing was so good it had my skin itching and crawling, I now have a new phobia decomposing while alive. It’s super graphic but put in a way that you actually feel it happening to this family. So entertaining but don’t read while eating or if you have a weak stomach!!

I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
  
TM
The Mind is a Razorblade
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
45 of 220
Book sirens arc
The Mind is a Razorblade
By Max Booth lll
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Drowning, he wakes beside two corpses. His memory has been wiped clean. He doesn't know his name, what he's doing here, who these people are, or even why one of them is a cop. Nor can he explain his strange telekinetic abilities.

Questions plague his mind like hellfire, questions that begin a journey leading into the rot of downtown America, a journey that will not end until every one of his questions have been answered, despite who has to die in the process. Even if those who have all the answers aren't human.

Even if the true monster he's hunting for is staring at him through the mirror.

This was bloody bizarre and to start with I was completely baffled but I actually really enjoyed it especially the ending. Definitely different to anything I’ve read. Also spiders really? I suppose it could have been worse like centipedes!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
  
TC
The Covenant
Tom Lewis | 2024
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
64 of 220
Book sirens arc
The Covenant
By Tom Lewis
⭐️⭐️

Capetown Maine is haunted. Everyone in the quiet seaside community knows it, but only Kenzie Walsh and her friends are willing to do something about it. So, when a mysterious, arcane chalice is found buried in a local cave, Kenzie delves into its origins. What she finds are its ties to a cursed, shadow-haunted city thought to only exist in legend, and its role in a terrifying end-times prophecy. A prophecy the chalice’s unearthing has set in motion; and which Kenzie and her friends may be the only hope of stopping.

I struggled with it if I’m honest it just wasn’t for me. I found it slightly long winded in places and in others that could have been interesting rushed past. A lot of over explanation.
Like I said it’s just not for me I hope that someo finds it for them.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
  
40x40

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2204 KP) rated Death Checked Out in Books

Oct 29, 2024 (Updated Oct 29, 2024)  
Death Checked Out
Death Checked Out
Leah Dobrinska | 2022 | Mystery
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Who Helped Greta’s Neighbor Check Out?
Greta Plank has moved to Larkspur, Wisconsin, for a fresh start. She’s loving her job as the director of the local library, and she’s become close friends with her fellow librarians. She’s even become friends with her neighbor, the town recluse. Unfortunately, she finds his dead body after work one day. But what she thinks is an accident the police label murder. Even worse, they think she is the prime suspect. Can she clear her name?

I thought this book sounded good, so I was looking forward to reading it. The initial set up was good, and I was getting cozy vibes from the characters and the setting. Sadly, that didn’t continue as the book progressed. I did like Greta’s arc, but the rest of the characters stayed pretty flat. The mystery did have some surprises, but I had things figured out very early. It’s not that the book is bad, but it’s not good either. This is one to pick up only is something in particular about the premise appeals to you.
  
Crescendo (Hush, Hush, #2)
Crescendo (Hush, Hush, #2)
Becca Fitzpatrick | 2010 | Fiction & Poetry
10
9.1 (13 Ratings)
Book Rating
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
Genre: YA
ISBN: 9781416989431
Publication date: October 19th 2010 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Rating: 5

(No summary, to keep spoilers out!)


Ok. Crescendo definitely wasn’t what I expected. I definitely liked it—maybe loved it. But I can’t say I enjoyed reading it. I won’t spoil it, but we’ll just say there were times when I wanted to wring the characters necks. It was wonderful, and it was miserable.

And Patch. Oh Patch.

Ok. Can’t say anything else about Patch.

I admire a book that surprises the crap out of me. Crescendo did that. I had absolutely no idea of who was the bad guy until the very last page, and it was nothing but wishful thinking that kept the hero in his position. Although the tension, both romantic and emotional, made it difficult to read at times, I tore through it and couldn't put it down.

So here are the things that made it wonderful:

1. The plot was woven perfectly, intricately, and complexly, and it surprised me. There was so much to it, that it might take a while for me to completely wrap my head around it. It did not have plot overkill, thank goodness, but it would have if it hadn’t been organized and written so well.

2. The emotional turmoil was very real… reading it was almost depressing… if I hadn’t had so much faith in Patch… Wow. Having faith in Patch isn’t a good thing, is it?

3. Not only was the plot complicated, but it was fast paced the entire time. There was no down-time, there was nothing simple.

As far as the writing, I have nothing great to say about it. It was every-day satisfyingly mediocre writing style and vocabulary, but it wasn’t bad.

And of course, the characters… well they don’t have that many redeeming qualities, do they? I mean, really. Name five things about Patch that make him a worth-while guy, besides being sexy and smelling delicious. And yes, sometimes I wanted to yell at Nora to forget about her pride and just “do it!” (no not that! you’ll understand when you read it!)

Now for my favorite part: The end. It was good and bad: Good because I got the end that I wanted in the first place (!!!) and bad because at the very end, the last paragraph, I read it and freaked out… SERIOUSLY? BECCA, THAT’S NOT AN ENDING! It was worse than Catching Fire. But the rest was wonderful! *swoons*

So. I absolutely recommend Crescendo. I recommend reading it when you have all day to devote to it, because you won’t want to stop and leave yourself feeling angry and depressed. Because really, the whole mood of this book is angry, sad, and depressing. But it was ok that way.

Then again… you may want to wait to read it until book 3 comes out. Because there will definitely be a book 3. And I definitely want it right now.

And that’s all I have to say about that.

Content/recommendation: Ages 16+ for some sensuality. And you have to read Hush, Hush first or none of it will make any sense.

By the way, I got my ARC of Hush Hush at ARC swap. So head over there to see if there are any goodies you’d like to swap for. Last I checked, there was an ARC of Fallout, Tyger Tyger, Party, Perchance to Dream, and quite a few more. http://arcswap.webs.com
  
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WH
Witch Hunt (The Witch-Game, #2)
K.C. Blake | 2012
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received an ARC via Clean Teen Publishing Elite Reviewers which I am a member of. I made no guarantee of a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are my own.

Kasi Blake has once again out done herself and I loved reading this book. This well written story line has us tagging along with high school news reporter Starr who has a knack for digging up the truth no matter what the cost. Her latest news report has made her a complete outcast and the majority of her classmates now despise her. Thankfully, she still has her best friend Lily.

Now Starr has set her sights on the Squad which her love interest Dylan is a part of and once she hears that the game of the fox and the hounds is about to start she knows something is definitely up and nothing will get in the way of her learning what the Squad is truly up to. Starr has no idea of the shocking truths she'll uncover along the way.

This stand alone book is a fast paced read and the characters are outstanding. Get ready to get tangled in this author's web.
  
HD
Hidden Deep (Hidden Saga, #1)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review when I signed up for the book tour.

I loved this book so much that I had to stay up late to finish reading it because once I started I could not put it down! Ryann is a teenage girl living with her mom and grandmother and due to an "incident" that occurred when she was young, she is overly protected.

Lad is a young and mysterious man who is keeping secrets from Ryann and who also finds himself with some important decisions to make.

Nox is the arrogant band leader who also has a secret that will in time be revealed. You want to hate and love him as you find yourself questioning his ulterior motive.

The storyline kept me on my toes. I was surprised, shocked, happy and sad as I read this book and I love how the author pulled me in from the very beginning. Smooth flowing storyline and well developed characters make this a must read book and I cannot wait until the next book in this trilogy is released.