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Book Divas (227 KP) rated The Surrendered in Books
Dec 12, 2017
This was a well written and fast paced story that grips you and keeps you wanting to continue reading this book. The world building was outstanding and the characters were beautiful and heartbreaking. It is full of unexpected twists and turns and I went through a range of emotions while reading this book. I felt anger towards the parents that kept having children knowing they couldn't afford the tax and then I would feel guilt for thinking that way because maybe they thought they'd be able to afford the tax. I felt sadness and heartache for the children as they are the ones that suffer the consequences of the imposed tax. They didn't ask to be brought into this world.
This author is indeed creatively gifted and I highly recommend this book to one and all.
{I received an eARC via the publisher. I made no guarantee of a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are unbiased and my own.}
This author is indeed creatively gifted and I highly recommend this book to one and all.
{I received an eARC via the publisher. I made no guarantee of a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are unbiased and my own.}
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet in Books
Jan 15, 2018
First off the title of this book is entirely fitting!! The end was a bittersweet pill to swallow... it was the perfect ending to the story and yet so frustrating to have it end so abruptly!!
The story itself took me awhile to really get in to, but it is a fascinating story. One that is not touched on much in any WWII fiction.... that of the Japanese internment camps in the US. It focuses on 2 elementary students who are supposedly on opposite sides of the war in the pacific despite being classmates & born in America.
It had all the components of hope and heartbreak, putting you in the story & making you feel like you were there. I just didn't like how slow moving the plot was but what redeemed it was the colorful characters & the fact that it was well written. Being realistic fiction it is hard to make it too fast paced & believable at the same time.
The story itself took me awhile to really get in to, but it is a fascinating story. One that is not touched on much in any WWII fiction.... that of the Japanese internment camps in the US. It focuses on 2 elementary students who are supposedly on opposite sides of the war in the pacific despite being classmates & born in America.
It had all the components of hope and heartbreak, putting you in the story & making you feel like you were there. I just didn't like how slow moving the plot was but what redeemed it was the colorful characters & the fact that it was well written. Being realistic fiction it is hard to make it too fast paced & believable at the same time.
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Hard Eight (Stephanie Plum, #8) in Books
Jan 15, 2018
After my disappointment with the last installment in the Stephanie Plum series, I was happy to see Evanovich bring it in Hard Eight. This book was much more engaging than the last. I couldn't put it down.
The sexual tension between Ranger & Stephanie finally came to a head (no pum intended). But of course there's still Morelli popping up when least expected & always managing to find his way into her heart or her pants in no particular order.
The plot of this book was fast paced. I am really enjoying that Stephanie's sister Valerie is back in Jersey & figured rather prominently into the story line. This particular plot was a bit more developed than that of the other books in the series. There were more twists & turns in this one which made it a more engaging read in my eyes. I like not being sure what's coming & Evanovich defintely didn't disappoint in that aspect!
The sexual tension between Ranger & Stephanie finally came to a head (no pum intended). But of course there's still Morelli popping up when least expected & always managing to find his way into her heart or her pants in no particular order.
The plot of this book was fast paced. I am really enjoying that Stephanie's sister Valerie is back in Jersey & figured rather prominently into the story line. This particular plot was a bit more developed than that of the other books in the series. There were more twists & turns in this one which made it a more engaging read in my eyes. I like not being sure what's coming & Evanovich defintely didn't disappoint in that aspect!
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated The Lincoln Myth (Cotton Malone, #9) in Books
Jan 15, 2018
Well as usual Steve Berry does it again, with a little help from Cotton Malone that is! I have yet to read a book by Berry that I had an easy time putting down & I can' imagine that I will ever find one. Malone is one of my favorite characters of all time. And the plots that Berry weaves around him are top notch, fast paced, & not easy to figure out. The Lincoln Myth is no exception to this formula.
The plot of this book centers around Lincoln and a secret deal he may or may have not made with Brigham Young during the Civil War. Calling this The Lincoln Myth is spot on. So many questions are raised & it really makes you think. All of the theories presented are so well researched & written that as a reader you almost forget that it is just a fictitious story & books like that are the best kind to read.
The plot of this book centers around Lincoln and a secret deal he may or may have not made with Brigham Young during the Civil War. Calling this The Lincoln Myth is spot on. So many questions are raised & it really makes you think. All of the theories presented are so well researched & written that as a reader you almost forget that it is just a fictitious story & books like that are the best kind to read.
Orphan X
This is a crazy fast paced thriller! The story grabbed me from the very start and I could not put the book down!
Evan Smoak is taken out of a bad life in Baltimore at the young age of 12 and he is taken to DC where he is trained in a secret Government program to be an assassin. He is mentored by a man named Jack, who becomes a father figure to him. When this program is disbanded, Evan moves to California where he chooses to use these skills and the financial resources he is given to do good. Evan follows a series of commandments that he has learned from Jack to do these missions to help people who have no one else to turn to.
This novel will keep you guessing and make your heart pound! It twists and turns and WOW is it great!
Very Highly Recommended for thriller/spy/action lovers!
Evan Smoak is taken out of a bad life in Baltimore at the young age of 12 and he is taken to DC where he is trained in a secret Government program to be an assassin. He is mentored by a man named Jack, who becomes a father figure to him. When this program is disbanded, Evan moves to California where he chooses to use these skills and the financial resources he is given to do good. Evan follows a series of commandments that he has learned from Jack to do these missions to help people who have no one else to turn to.
This novel will keep you guessing and make your heart pound! It twists and turns and WOW is it great!
Very Highly Recommended for thriller/spy/action lovers!
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Kitty and the Midnight Hour (Kitty Norville #1) in Books
Feb 15, 2019
I have to say, I did not like the pack and when the story revolved around them and their politics, it rather ruined the book for me. They seemed to completely ignore anything human, and I get that the behavior is like real wolves, I do, but I guess I was hoping for something more original and not such a cliché. Kitty was a great character when she was on the air, then she turned into a sniveling, submissive pack member pretty much the rest of the time. Also, I hated that the author felt she needed a sacrifice in the story, especially one of the best characters in the book. That's all I'm going to say so I don't ruin it for future readers. Overall, it's a decent and fast read, although I'm not sure whether or not I want to continue; I definitely won't go out of my way to read the next book.
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Meridian (Fenestra, #1) in Books
Feb 15, 2019
Well-written, evenly paced, with a likable and realistic protagonist in the title character, Meridian came alive in my mind quite easily. The writing is engaging, the dialogue well-done, and overall, the author did a great job creating the concept of angels who usher the dead into heaven, nirvana, enlightenment, or whatever you want to call it. Meridian does falter with the character of a typical cookie-cutter villain and at the end where there's a bit of confusion in what's happening, but it's understandable, yet slightly vague.
Amber Kizer has some interesting ideas about death and how it works. However, I do believe that the book is more suited to those who are open-minded, no matter their religion or beliefs. Meridian does well as a stand-alone, but if this does turn into a series, it will be interesting to see where Ms. Kizer takes us next. I'd recommend this for an easy, interesting and fairly fast read.
Amber Kizer has some interesting ideas about death and how it works. However, I do believe that the book is more suited to those who are open-minded, no matter their religion or beliefs. Meridian does well as a stand-alone, but if this does turn into a series, it will be interesting to see where Ms. Kizer takes us next. I'd recommend this for an easy, interesting and fairly fast read.
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Vamps and the City (Love at Stake, #2) in Books
Feb 15, 2019
I enjoyed Vamps & the City more than the first book in the series, How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire. Only a few things bothered me in this book; one being that Austin was being a judgmental jerk about vamps, (2) how easily Darcy forgave him, and (3) the whole vamps don't have a shadow thing. I know that last one has been used in other medias, but I have never gotten it - that or no reflections. Especially because I'm sure if you hold a corpse up to a mirror, you'd see their reflection. How can something solid not have a shadow anyway? In the book they are technically alive at night so they could have a shadow and reflection. Illogical, but I guess so are vampires (or are they? LoL), but I'm just nitpicking. :P
I did think that the whole flow to this book was so much better than in the first. So overall, I thought it was a fast, fun, and interesting read.
I did think that the whole flow to this book was so much better than in the first. So overall, I thought it was a fast, fun, and interesting read.
Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated Rule of Law in Books
Feb 27, 2019
Randy Singer's RULE OF LAW is an awesome and intriguing read. As someone who loves to watch, and read, legal thrillers, this book is one of the best I have read in a long time. It played out like I was watching an intense, edge of my seat movie or TV Show. Randy Singer did not leave me wanting in this book. From the start, I was intrigued by the characters and their development, along with the way Singer makes the reader feel as if they are in the center of the action. This is definitely a high rated 5 stars for this reader! It is going on my keeper list and will be recommended to all who love an intense, fast paced, heart pounding legal read. Hats off to the talented Singer on a job well done.
*Cafinated Reads received a complimentary copy of this book from LitFuse Blog Tours/Tyndale House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
*Cafinated Reads received a complimentary copy of this book from LitFuse Blog Tours/Tyndale House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Gonzocawn (6 KP) rated Monopoly gamer in Tabletop Games
Mar 31, 2019 (Updated Mar 31, 2019)
Shorter and more likeable
Mario monopoly is a game that shortens the regular version of monopoly down into only 10 times of passing Go. It replaces the standard currency with Mario coins making you feel fully encompassed by the game and has all your favorite characters to play as. Every character has their own unique special ability that can be used when landing on star spaces, and the game keeps everyone involved whether you want to stash coins, go for beating bosses, own property sets, or even just run around the board as fast as you can. All are viable options of winning. Great game, better when played with at least 3 people, but can be challenging if trying to add more than 5.