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BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated Amish Quilts Coloring Book in Books
Jan 2, 2019
I had so much fun creating my own Amish "quilt" through coloring. I think this is as close to making a real quilt as I will ever get. Sewing and I don't get along so well. Which is why this book is perfect for me! The patterns and details satisfy my OCD side, while my imagination with color satisfies the creativity. Some of the spaces are quite tiny, but it worked well for me. I use colored pencils and have a great sharpener on hand at all times. Coloring is such a great outlet for relaxing. I like to put music on (usually Lindsey Stirling) and let my inner artist emerge and let my personality bleed onto the page. At the top of each page is an Amish Proverb. The one on the page I colored has been so good for me this week. We have had a rough week here, but miracles have been in the making nonetheless!
"Difficulty is the first stage of a miracle."
~Amish Proverb
Overall, this book is a great idea! A wonderful way to bring to life a piece of the culture that we love to read about.
I received two pages from this coloring book to color for free through Celebrate Lit for this Blog Tour in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
"Difficulty is the first stage of a miracle."
~Amish Proverb
Overall, this book is a great idea! A wonderful way to bring to life a piece of the culture that we love to read about.
I received two pages from this coloring book to color for free through Celebrate Lit for this Blog Tour in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Eleanor (1463 KP) rated Good Girl, Bad Girl in Books
Jul 16, 2019
Introducing some thrilling charachters....
Oh I need this to be a series or at least a trilogy; I need more Evie Cormac!!! The characters in this book are great, if you missed my subtle hint I love Evie. As a young girl Evie is found alone and in a terrible condition, with nothing known of her past. She is kept in care where her path eventually crosses our other main protagonist the psychologist Cyrus Haven. Cyrus also has a dark past and the mystery surrounding their histories is really gripping.
Evie has a Girl with the Dragon Tattoo feel to her, and like Lisbeth in the Stieg Larsson books, Evie has a special talent in this case the ability to know when people are lying. A thoroughly broken but endearing character, I really wanted to see Evie succeed despite herself, and she loves dogs which is always going to get me on side.
The main story itself wasn’t nearly as interesting as the characters. The death of school girl and star figure skater Jodie is a fairly straightforward mystery without much in the way of surprises. However taking the journey with Evie and Cyrus is well worth picking this book up for.
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Evie has a Girl with the Dragon Tattoo feel to her, and like Lisbeth in the Stieg Larsson books, Evie has a special talent in this case the ability to know when people are lying. A thoroughly broken but endearing character, I really wanted to see Evie succeed despite herself, and she loves dogs which is always going to get me on side.
The main story itself wasn’t nearly as interesting as the characters. The death of school girl and star figure skater Jodie is a fairly straightforward mystery without much in the way of surprises. However taking the journey with Evie and Cyrus is well worth picking this book up for.
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Home and Away: Writing the Beautiful Game
Sean Kinsella, Karl Ove Knausgaard, Don Bartlett and Fredrik Ekelund
Book
This book is selected as a Book of the Year 2016 in the Times and Evening Standard. Karl Ove...

Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Flawed in Books
Jan 6, 2021
*I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
I'm sorry but I can't do it. I can't carry on reading this strange book. DNF @ 22%.
When I saw Cecelia on Lorraine Kelly talking about this the other day I decided to give it a go after humming and hawing about it for a long time. I've only ever attempted to read one book by the author before and the way it was written put me off.
I think the same happened for me with this. It wasn't smooth and was often repetitive, which annoyed me a little. The info overload and lots of inner turmoil over her sudden realisation that the flawed were not being treated right also pushed me to my limit.
If I'd had enough time to get to know the characters I might have cared a little more about what was going on but we didn't so I...didn't. The situation Celestine found herself in didn't bring me any feelings at all. There was one small bright spark on the horizon (the guy in the cell next door--bear in mind I'm a sucker for the slightest hint of romance) and even THAT couldn't persuade me to keep reading.
It seems me and this author are just not destined to get along.
I'm sorry but I can't do it. I can't carry on reading this strange book. DNF @ 22%.
When I saw Cecelia on Lorraine Kelly talking about this the other day I decided to give it a go after humming and hawing about it for a long time. I've only ever attempted to read one book by the author before and the way it was written put me off.
I think the same happened for me with this. It wasn't smooth and was often repetitive, which annoyed me a little. The info overload and lots of inner turmoil over her sudden realisation that the flawed were not being treated right also pushed me to my limit.
If I'd had enough time to get to know the characters I might have cared a little more about what was going on but we didn't so I...didn't. The situation Celestine found herself in didn't bring me any feelings at all. There was one small bright spark on the horizon (the guy in the cell next door--bear in mind I'm a sucker for the slightest hint of romance) and even THAT couldn't persuade me to keep reading.
It seems me and this author are just not destined to get along.

Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated A Terrible Love (A Terrible Love, #1) in Books
Jan 11, 2021
I received this copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was quickly captivated by this story and the characters and quickly devoured this book.
The story has some dark aspects but they are to be expected in most New Adult books. This one is slightly darker than others and focuses on abuse and violence.
I’ll start by mentioning Devin Castile, I think I fell for him pretty early on or he at least got me a little hot and bothered. Wowzer! Well done for creating such a hot character :D
Mitch on the other hand seemed sweet and kind but their wasn’t really a spark there. He seemed too much of a gentleman (but some women like that).
I also really liked Brad and Carlie, they were fun characters and I enjoyed the banter they shared with Jess
Although dark, this is a well written book and having looked on GoodReads I’ve seen their is going to be a second book, A Brutal Tenderness, which sounds like it will tell the story from Devin’s POV. I’ll tell you now I will definitely be interested in seeing things from his view and I’ve marked it as “to-read”
I really enjoyed it and recommend it to those who like New Adult books and those who like their books a little grittier.
I was quickly captivated by this story and the characters and quickly devoured this book.
The story has some dark aspects but they are to be expected in most New Adult books. This one is slightly darker than others and focuses on abuse and violence.
I’ll start by mentioning Devin Castile, I think I fell for him pretty early on or he at least got me a little hot and bothered. Wowzer! Well done for creating such a hot character :D
Mitch on the other hand seemed sweet and kind but their wasn’t really a spark there. He seemed too much of a gentleman (but some women like that).
I also really liked Brad and Carlie, they were fun characters and I enjoyed the banter they shared with Jess
Although dark, this is a well written book and having looked on GoodReads I’ve seen their is going to be a second book, A Brutal Tenderness, which sounds like it will tell the story from Devin’s POV. I’ll tell you now I will definitely be interested in seeing things from his view and I’ve marked it as “to-read”
I really enjoyed it and recommend it to those who like New Adult books and those who like their books a little grittier.

Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated This Raging Light in Books
Sep 5, 2019
*I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
This wasn't my usual book despite me reading most things romance. It didn't focus mainly on the romance, which may have been my issue with it.
But it also felt a little messed up. It didn't read that smoothly for me--this could be down to it being from Netgalley and not a final version of the book--and struggled to get into it until a good quarter of the way into it.
I may need to sleep on it until I can get my thoughts in better order.
So I slept on it and I'm still unsure of how I feel about it. I didn't gel with it much but I had to keep reading just to see how it was all going to play out. Would her mum come back? Would they be found out about living alone? Who was the person/people who were helping Lucille and Wren with the food and stuff? Would she end up in a relationship with Digby?
All of these questions get answered but afterwards I was just wondering what the message is in the story and I still haven't managed to work it out. Is there a message to be learned in it? I'm not sure.
This wasn't my usual book despite me reading most things romance. It didn't focus mainly on the romance, which may have been my issue with it.
But it also felt a little messed up. It didn't read that smoothly for me--this could be down to it being from Netgalley and not a final version of the book--and struggled to get into it until a good quarter of the way into it.
I may need to sleep on it until I can get my thoughts in better order.
So I slept on it and I'm still unsure of how I feel about it. I didn't gel with it much but I had to keep reading just to see how it was all going to play out. Would her mum come back? Would they be found out about living alone? Who was the person/people who were helping Lucille and Wren with the food and stuff? Would she end up in a relationship with Digby?
All of these questions get answered but afterwards I was just wondering what the message is in the story and I still haven't managed to work it out. Is there a message to be learned in it? I'm not sure.

ArecRain (8 KP) rated The Heir Apparent (Sanyare Chronicles #2) in Books
Jan 18, 2018
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I didnt think it was capable for the series to get better. Haskell is such a talented writer and story teller that the second installment not only expands on the first, it enriches it. In this novel, we are treated to more in-depth look at the world and mythology, which are both intricate and original.
Plus I absolutely love Rio. She is a solid character, its hard to not like her. She has such a strong, dynamic personality, and yet we are allowed to see the inner workings of her mind where her insecurities are evident.
A steady paced novel with an interesting world and entertaining characters, Sanyare is an immediate favorite that I tend to follow to its end.
I didnt think it was capable for the series to get better. Haskell is such a talented writer and story teller that the second installment not only expands on the first, it enriches it. In this novel, we are treated to more in-depth look at the world and mythology, which are both intricate and original.
Plus I absolutely love Rio. She is a solid character, its hard to not like her. She has such a strong, dynamic personality, and yet we are allowed to see the inner workings of her mind where her insecurities are evident.
A steady paced novel with an interesting world and entertaining characters, Sanyare is an immediate favorite that I tend to follow to its end.

Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated The Final Tap (Living History Museum, #2) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
Well, I've found yet another cozy mystery series to add to my must-buy list! I really enjoyed the setting - a working historical farm - and learned everything I could want to know about maple syrup production. Not in a clinical way, but as interesting bits of information presented during the story.
Our heroine Kelsey has her hands full trying to run the farm, raise her kindergarten-age son, and solve a murder before the police can pin it on one of her young employees. There was an interesting cast of characters, and that homey, small-town feel that I love in a good cozy.
While previous events are mentioned, it's not necessary to have read book 1 to know what's going on.
NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Our heroine Kelsey has her hands full trying to run the farm, raise her kindergarten-age son, and solve a murder before the police can pin it on one of her young employees. There was an interesting cast of characters, and that homey, small-town feel that I love in a good cozy.
While previous events are mentioned, it's not necessary to have read book 1 to know what's going on.
NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Silence of the Lamps (Caprice De Luca Home Staging Mystery #5) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
Silence of the Lamps is book #5 in the Caprice De Luca mystery series, and while previous cases are mentioned, you do not need to have read the earlier books in the series to enjoy this one. The interaction between Caprice and her sisters is so realistic you almost feel like part of the family while reading the story. And when one of her sisters is the prime suspect in a murder investigation, how can Caprice stay out of it? The more she asks around, the more she finds that her sister Nikki was far from Drews only enemy. With lots of clues to keep you guessing at the identity of the murderer, this was a fast paced, fun read.
NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts / opinions are my own.
NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts / opinions are my own.

BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated The Drawing Lesson: A Graphic Novel That Teaches You How to Draw in Books
Jan 2, 2019
I was very impressed with this new approach to drawing lessons. Fresh and different there is a lot to learn. There are several "Chapters" touching on subjects such as: Shading, Using Negative Space, Checking Proportions, Simplifying Things, and more. Seeing the examples and poor David's frustration at constantly having to redraw lines, helps me feel a little more normal in my artwork. I love the interaction between teacher and student. David's eagerness to learn and study...And his teacher's guiding hand, bringing him back to earth. I recommend this book for those who have a basic concept of drawing, but would like to learn more. Have fun with it, and remember, art is NOT like math!
I received a free copy of The Drawing Lesson through Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
I received a free copy of The Drawing Lesson through Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.