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Senshi (Katana, #2)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Original Review posted on <a title="Senshi by Cole Gibsen" href="http://bookwyrming-thoughts.blogspot.com/2013/11/review-senshi-by-cole-gibsen.html">http://bookwyrming-thoughts.blogspot.com/2013/11/review-senshi-by-cole-gibsen.html</a>;
Original Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Owls

<i><b>Note:</b> Formatting may be lost due to copy and paste</i>

     Well, I'll admit Katana felt like a stand alone – with the "oh, hey, they lived happily ever after! There's no more!" And I actually did think Katana was a stand alone.

      But then Goodreads spoiled everything. -_- I can't believe you would do that to me, Goodreads.

      Well, not exactly. I really wouldn't have known Katana had a sequel without Goodreads, but with the announcements every single day (Katana was a book club read in October) at school about preordering Senshi, I'm bound to know eventually.

      Or the county library would have said, "hey, there's a sequel!" right after I returned Katana in Ebooks Library Lend101. Go figure.

      Moving on.

      In Senshi, it's been a few months since the events left off in Katana. Going down memory lane in terms of nutshell spoilers, Rileigh's finally come to terms with her inner warrior self (go Rileigh!).

      I must say, despite the fact Katana felt like a stand alone, Senshi had some nice surprises waiting for me when reading, and it was almost as good as the first novel. Okay, I almost always love the first novel before the sequels because it's not the end where you have to wave good bye to characters.

      But I just love it when authors lead you down one road but then all of a sudden, they toss in a thing or two (or more) that throws the reader off balance. It makes everything less predictable. ^_^

      The characters are just as amazingly written as ever, particularly Quentin, who I must admit has already landed on my favorite characters from the series next to Rileigh (of course, Rileigh. It's not like I can read Quentin's mind from Rileigh's view, even though I would love to, but I'm just one little opinion out of... hundreds). Then there's Sumi and also Dr. Wendell. I hope I'm not the only when I say the interaction between Rileigh and Dr. Wendell is pretty classic in the way Rileigh pushes Dr. Wendell's buttons all the time. Sumi, on the other hand, is a nuisance and a pain in the butt. Unfortunately, she's likely back in the next book: Shinobi. Fantabulous. A great way to make a Tuesday better. Good thing it's not a Friday. I think I'll survive.

      My Two Cents of Randomness: Aliens didn't abduct Rileigh and change her up did they? I still find the cover really weird. O_o (But only the story matters in my humble opinion, so says the girl who can't even draw a pair of eyes that aren't lopsided.)
  
DG
Destiny Gift (Everlast, #1)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I'll admit first and foremost that just because I had to swap review dates with The Iron Traitor a few weeks ago, does not mean that I wanted to toss Destiny Gift right out the window and into the ocean. I almost lost part of my notes with the assumption that my Kindle was broken while in perfect condition when it really just needed charging.

      Marking in ebooks is the only way not to get in severe trouble. x) I pity my poor planner with the chickenly scribbles of doom.

      Destiny Gift is actually a really interesting book, being set in a futuristic (though not so far from today I'm assuming) New York with a hint (okay, more like a lot) of mythology – hooray! – and fantasy – double hooray! – mixed in. So much is made clearer about halfway through the book, but Haygert manages to keep us in suspense and not confuse readers in the process, which basically shows that the author has great writing potential – and hopefully a very successful writing career too!

      The idea behind the Destiny Gift is also pretty intriguing, so let me toss some basic word math in: Visions + Made Up Mythology (Because then one has full control of making of legends. So much fun.) + Other Goody Elements = Cooking Up A Pretty/Really Good Story.

      I hope that sums up my entire thoughts in a nutshell of good old math. No Algebra needed (YES). But I'm not exactly finished, because I still need to talk about the characters, and having no clue about the characters is pretty much a book losing an arm or leg (ouch).

      Victor and Micah, the lovely guys one can go swoon over if they so choose – but no thanks. I'm focusing on good old days of Finals – seemed to be too perfect. Well, I take that back. They're not perfect. They just seem too perfect in looks. Not that I mind.

      I also like Micah's humor. Victor seems more of a "I'm a poisonous snake. You know, red on yellow. Stay away if you want to live." type of person. Not exactly the most pleasant image, since this is the snake I'm talking about:
<img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YI9vO_3_YLQ/UqYxHxURzOI/AAAAAAAACIo/L09fY3iu8Ic/s1600/thCAIAE0RF.jpg"; />
     Freaking out? It's not the actual poisonous one. I didn't really want to... "poison" my blog with snakes you know. :p

      I was sort of thinking about Biology at the time the review was written.

      I suppose it isn't a terrible comparison. Why? I'm not giving spoilers....
<blockquote>"All right, let's change the question. What* are you three?"
 "Power Rangers, ever heard of them?"</blockquote>
--------------------
Review copy provided by author for review
Original Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Owls
This review and more can be found at <a href="http://bookwyrming-thoughts.blogspot.com/2013/12/review-destiny-gift-by-juliana-haygert.html">Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gi5Rk5yLloA/UtliaUbdL3I/AAAAAAAACbE/J27z92_qrYU/s1600/Official+Banner.png"; />
  
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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Nov 11, 2022  
Do you love reading about complicated 20th-century women? Visit my blog to sneak a peek at Joanne R. Easley- Writer's historical women's fiction novels SWEET JANE, JUST ONE LOOK, and I'LL BE SEEING YOU, and enter the #giveaway for your chance to #win one of the three eBooks - three winners!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2022/11/multi-book-blitz-and-giveaway-fiction.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS FOR SWEET JANE**
A drunken mother makes childhood ugly. Jane runs away at sixteen, determined to leave her fraught upbringing in the rearview. Vowing never to return, she hitchhikes to California, right on time for the Summer of Love. Seventeen years later, she looks good on paper: married, grad school, sober, but her carefully constructed life is crumbling. When Mama dies, Jane returns for the funeral, leaving her husband in the dark about her history. Seeing her childhood home and significant people from her youth catapults Jane back to the events that made her the woman she is. She faces down her past and the ghosts that shaped her family. A stunning discovery helps Jane see her problems through a new lens.

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**BOOK SYNOPSIS FOR JUST ONE LOOK**
In 1965 Chicago, thirteen-year-old Dani Marek declares she’s in love, and you best believe it. This is no crush, and for six blissful years she fills her hope chest with linens, dinnerware, and dreams of an idyllic future with John. When he is killed in action in Viet Nam, Dani’s world shatters. She launches a one-woman vendetta against the men she seeks out in Rush Street’s singles bars. Her goal: break as many hearts as she can. Dani’s ill-conceived vengeance leads her to a loveless marriage that ends in tragedy. At twenty-four, she’s left a widow with a baby, a small fortune, and a ghost—make that two. Set in the turbulent Sixties and Seventies, Just One Look explores one woman’s tumultuous journey through grief, denial, and letting go.

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**BOOK SYNOPSIS FOR I'LL BE SEEING YOU**
A saga spanning five decades, I’ll Be Seeing You, explores one woman’s life, with and without alcohol to numb the pain.

Young Lauren knows she doesn’t want to be a ranch wife in Palo Pinto County, Texas. After she’s discovered by a modeling scout at the 1940 Fort Worth Stock Show Parade, she moves to Manhattan to begin her glamourous career. A setback ends her dream, and she drifts into alcohol dependence and promiscuity. By twenty-four, she’s been widowed and divorced, and has developed a pattern of fleeing her problems with geographical cures. Lauren’s last escape lands her in Austin, where, after ten chaotic years, she achieves lasting sobriety and starts a successful business, but happiness eludes her.

Fast forward to 1985. With a history of burning bridges and never looking back, Lauren is stunned when Brett, her third husband, resurfaces, wanting to reconcile after thirty-three years. The losses and regrets of the past engulf her, and she seeks the counsel of Jane, a long-time friend from AA. In the end, the choice is Lauren’s. What will she decide?
     
LF
Losing Francesca
J.A. Huss | 2013
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
(This review can be found on my blog <a href="http://themisadventuresofatwentysomething.blogspot.com/">The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl</a>.


How interesting does this book sound!?! The blurb definitely caught my attention, and I'm glad it did because I loved this book!!

I think the title suits this book. It's about the main character losing who she thought she was, so I think it suits the book just fine.

I'm usually not a big fan of just sticking a girl on the cover of a book, but with Losing Francesca, it works. I think if it had much more than Francesca on the cover, it'd be too cluttered.

I found the world building to written quite well for the most part! It was easy to slip into Francesca's shoes and feel exactly what she was feeling. The only part I didn't like was the insta-love between Francesca and Brody. It just didn't feel that believable. Also, I felt as if Francesca accepted her new life too quickly. She didn't act nervous or scared enough, I felt. However, saying that, I've never been in that situation, so I can't pass judgement too much.

The pacing is absolutely fantastic in this book! I usually only read ebooks at night while I'm laying down, but with Losing Francesca, I was reading this book at all times. I couldn't wait to read about what would happen next. This book definitely held my attention.

I really enjoyed the whole plot. I found it to be original and interesting. I like the idea of a girl that was kidnapped being recognized as the child who went missing years ago. I wanted to see what it'd be like. There aren't really any plot twists in this book, but that doesn't take away from how good it is.

I didn't really like the character of Francesca until towards the end. She came across as being a snobby rich girl. Even when she was with Brody and had stopped with the whole rich girl act, she still seemed like she was bragging about how rich her family is. To me, she was too spoiled and too much of a show-off. However, I did start liking her towards the end. I did like Brody. I loved his determination and his never give up attitude. Although he used to be a bit of a bad boy, he came across as a gentleman.

The thing that annoyed me with the dialogue is that the swearing seemed too over the top. Brody swears a lot, and most of the time, the swearing seems forced and fake. It doesn't come across as natural because Brody does it too much. And it wasn't just Brody. Some of the other teenagers swore as well, and it didn't come across as natural. Other than the unnatural swearing, the dialogue was quite enjoyable. We get point of views from Francesca and Brody which was quite enjoyable to read. I enjoyed reading Francesca's point of view the best.

Overall, Losing Francesca by J.A. Huss was a super good read! There were a few problems, but those were easy to overlook with how great the book was!

I'd recommend this book to those aged 17+ who are after an interesting and sweet read. I'm only recommending it from age 17+ due to the language (which there is a lot of swearing). Otherwise, this would've been a 14+.

I'd give Losing Francesca by J.A. Huss a 4.5 out of 5.

(I received a free ecopy of this title from the tour host in exchange for a fair and honest review).
  
The Young Elites
The Young Elites
Marie Lu | 2014 | Paranormal, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
6
7.9 (12 Ratings)
Book Rating
Well, here's to my first audio book review (because napping on the bus for an hour isn't exactly productive and I'm one of those who gets a bit woozy if I read in motion). Bear with me if I fail, and feel free to criticize me away without actually being Rundus and calling me an ugly or dirty Communist in the process (apparently our friendship/cobloggership is a level 3: <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">insult</span> make fun of each other relentlessly).

The Young Elites, no matter how impressed I am that Marie Lu actually wrote from a villain's point of view instead of a hero's/heroine's point of view, is a book that I'm not too fond of and I'm not too sure <i>why</i> exactly. It's not entirely the narration – there's something amazing having someone else "reading" a book to me instead of me reading it myself (because I'm half asleep and I still manage to know what's being said). Of course... I had the misfortune <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">fortune</span> of actually being able to snag an ebook copy of this particular book on Overdrive, which eventually resulted in me wondering if I should continue on with ebooks... or if I should just stick with being unproductive (as Lupe suggests) for an hour every morning on the bus.

The starking contrast in having an audiobook is the mere fact that there were some parts of the book that changed. <i>Completely</i> changed – some were taken out and replaced with something entirely different, or some had a few additions. Sadly, I'm not exactly a big fan of changes between the two. There's something highly annoying with an unabridged audiobook not following the book (though I totally understand the audiobook is probably a recording of an almost final draft).

I did have other problems though. For some reason, I can't stand Adelina, or the majority of the characters aside from maybe a few side characters. Problem? I don't really know why I can't stand Adelina. There's something about her that I don't like. Adelina seems to be extremely open-minded and dark, too dark.

I also can't stand the plot, no matter how interesting and complicated (because nothing can get more complicated than two or more potential villains) it is – both are absolutely ironic. Spoilers behold, but for an Inquisitor who's not only a Young Elite himself and totally "welcomed" Adelina into a deal/trap/whatever, Teren apparently hates Elites and wants to rid the world of Elites.

Let's just say the mean side of me wants to tell Teren to screw off because that's pretty much saying he wants to get rid of himself as well... after ridding the world of Elites. (Read: Should I find out the plot of future books of the series being anything like this, I'm tucking my tail between my legs and hightailing it straight out of here.)

I just feel as though the main point of the plot is Adelina trying to decide which side is right and being the mole of the Elites. In the long run though... she just chooses to go on a completely different path. Whether it's darker or not I'm not too sure I want to find out.

On a similar note, I don't think I can stand the common people either. The "Young Elites" are people who are survivors of a deadly plague that swept through the nation and have powers that aren't exactly normal. They also have scars, which are called "markings," and they're also called "malfettos." Of course, as soon as someone who can do some mind-blowing healing comes around, the people might actually be on board with the Elites and start kissing their shoes... right?

I liked <i>The Young Elites</i>, but I don't like it as much as I wish I could have liked it.

<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/audiobook-review-young-elites-by-marie-lu/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
  
Keep Me Still (Keep Me Still, #1)
Keep Me Still (Keep Me Still, #1)
Caisey Quinn | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry, Medical & Veterinary, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Holy freaking cow. This book sat on my Kindle app for the longest time. Many nights I scanned over it, couldn’t remember if I read it or not, so just avoided it all together. Lately, the eBooks I have downloaded are dwindling, so I got desperate and clicked on practically every book I owned and either hadn’t read or just couldn’t remember reading. I skimmed through a few and just wasn’t feeling it – you ever get that way, start reading the first couple of chapters in several books and just know it’s not what you’re in the mood for? Finally, I clicked on Keep Me Still, though I still couldn’t recall whether or not I had read it. The Kindle version I read had all 3 parts of Keep Me Still. Only after a couple of pages in Let You Leave (part 1), I immediately knew I hadn’t read it and that it was what I was looking for.
From the beginning, I was intrigued with Layla. At first, it sounded as if she had come back from dealing with depression or something of the sort, so I was drawn to figuring out why she felt the way she did and how she overcame it. Then I met Landen; reading his mother beg him to not get into any fights piqued my interest. Who doesn’t love a bad boy, eh? During the first few chapters, if I’m being honest, I was only interested in finding out why the school treated Layla like a pariah. Being a victim of bullying, there was an instant connection with her on that level and I was curious to figure out what could have happened to earn her the nickname “Freaky Flaherty”. Somehow, without my knowing it, that mystery fell to the wayside as I watched Layla’s guard slowly crumble enough to allow Landen in. I’m a sucker for a good romance, it’s pretty much the only thing I read, so their spark inflamed the fire of curiosity within me. I like to guess at what the catalyst will be when it comes to these kinds of stories. There’s always one and I tried my best to figure out what would tear them apart. Watching them come together, watching Layla allow Landen to tear down her walls and show her love, was amazing. Of course, then my heart got crushed when that catalyst occurred.
Immediately, I read the second part, ‘Keep Me Still’, almost with desperation. I needed them to get back together, I needed them to reconcile and let their feelings for each other obliterate all the insecurities and fears they were holding onto. To my delight, there wasn’t much of a fight when they finally came back together, but again, I was waiting for the catalyst – which was a lot more obvious this time around. The end of that section made me ecstatic, but the novella came after and I couldn’t ignore it.
The novella, Hold Us Close, slayed me. Practically from the second or third page, it took my heart and tore it into little tiny pieces, then proceeded to stomp all over it with every heart breaking moment, back to back to back. Many times I had to hold my breath, several moments left me staring at the screen in horrified shock, more often than not, I was shaking my head and mentally berating both Landen and Layla (though Landen got the brunt of my scolding). The ending – the final ending – scared the living daylights out of me. I didn’t know how it would turn out; it was shaping up to be a story without an HEA and I knew I wouldn’t be able to handle it. Before the last page of their story, before reading Landen’s letter, the ending left me in tears. I don’t remember when I downloaded this eBook, but I do know I’m beyond grateful for all those sites that tell you when Amazon is giving them away for free – that’s the only way I could have owned Keep Me Still, because I would remember if I spent money on it, but I’m certainly appreciative to whichever e-mail I received with this title listed for free.

*PS: I really love Corin. She's amazing. Is there a novella with a little more of her and Skylar's story??