Search

Search only in certain items:

My Favorite Half-Night Stand
My Favorite Half-Night Stand
Christina Lauren | 2018 | Romance
7
6.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Millie has always been one of the guys. She has four best guy friends—fellow professors. With an upcoming social function planned at the university, the group makes a pact that they will join an online dating service to find plus-ones for the event. But Millie and Reid have recently (secretly) shared a sexy night together. Hence the online dating plan offers some issues. So Millie comes up with “Catherine”—a pretend persona who lets her be more vulnerable than her more closed off self. Then Millie matches with the unaware Reid. Oh yeah, here comes trouble...

Oh, beach reads I love thee! I’m so enjoying catching up on Christina Lauren's back catalog! Although very much based on lying, which is a plot point that often stresses me out, I enjoyed My Favorite Half-Night Stand.

This was such an easy-to-read book. Millie is likable, and I could definitely relate to a slightly reticent, closed off soul. 😉 Yes, I did stress out a bit with all the lies and machinations! But, the book was very funny, sexy, and sweet! Millie’s group of friends was wonderful—just a humorous and fun cast. The chemistry between Millie and Reid was great, too! Definitely a good read! 3.5 stars.
  
40x40

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2426 KP) rated Three Shots to the Wind in Books

Apr 1, 2022 (Updated Apr 1, 2022)  
Three Shots to the Wind
Three Shots to the Wind
Sherry Harris | 2022 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Cozy Trope Twisted by Murder
Chloe thinks she is settling into her new life in Emerald Cove, Florida, when she starts to receive a series of mysterious gifts. While she knows they aren’t from her new boyfriend, she isn’t prepared to learn they are from her ex-fiance, Perry Franklin, who is in town for an accounting conference. Unfortunately, she learns this when she stumbles on his dead body at a crime scene. When they were together, Chloe thought Perry was boring. Had she misjudged him? What could have led to his murder?

I love how this book put a twist on the familiar cozy trope of the main character’s ex coming to town to try to win her back. Of course, Perry also wasn’t who Chloe thought he was, and exploring that gives us suspects and motives. I enjoyed following Chloe as she solved the case, and the climax wraps things up nicely. This story also gives Chloe a real chance for growth, which I enjoyed seeing. Additionally, a sub-plot gives some of the supporting characters a chance to grow as well. Sherry Harris is one of my favorite authors, and this book once again shows why.
  
Neverwhere
Neverwhere
Neil Gaiman | 2003 | Fiction & Poetry
9
8.8 (25 Ratings)
Book Rating
Setting (4 more)
Plot
Characters
World building
Gaiman's writing.
Richard Mayhew (0 more)
wonderland-esque and oh so good.
This was my first real venture in to the Urban Fantasy genre and I was so surprised I'd never really read anything from it before.

Neverwhere was an amazing book that had my imagination going on a rampage just trying to visualize London below, Gaiman did a wonderful job with combining a wonderland-esque world with modern London and living up to the old saying "No good deed goes unpunished."

The characters from London Below were all so detailed and took on a life of their own even as well as the magic of London Below it all just came off as being so real. My favorite characters hands down was Marquis De Carabas he was just so crafty and I really did not know if he was to be trusted or not, and Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar were some of the best villains I've seen in awhile.

The only thing I had a problem with and the reason even though I loved this book couldn't give it a full five star rating was I just didn't care for Richard Mayhew at all through out the whole book I made no attachment to him in the least bit, I know he was supposed to be this average every man type of person that got thrown into this crazy world but he either really annoyed me or was just kind of forgettable and fell into the background...I honestly forgot he was suppose to be the Protagonist.
  
The Ambassador of Nowhere Texas
The Ambassador of Nowhere Texas
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
6 Things I Enjoyed from The Ambassador of Texas:

1. I LOVED how Kimberly Willis Holt developed her characters from the beginning to the end. They were easy to like and relate to.
2. The dialogue between Rylee and Joe was engaging, believable, and conveyed a wonderful sense of small-town closeness.
3. Both the subject matter (9/11) and the memories associated with it were written in a way that was factual, yet, still reveling the topsy-turvy emotions that go along with losing someone you love in such a tragic way.
4. Kimberly Willis Holt did a good job explaining the timeline for the characters while still giving me a richer understanding of what it might have been like to lose someone during 9/11
5. I appreciated how Kimberly Willis Holt interwove themes of forgiveness, overcoming grief, being true to yourself, and perseverance.
6. I will close out with my favorite quote from the book:
“But true Friendship never fades, no matter what happens”.

Overall, this was an enjoyable, engaging, and enlightening story that any age would like. I do think it started a little slow, but after reading a bit I was thoroughly engrossed in the story. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars, for the characters, how 9/11 was conveyed, and for giving me a richer understanding of that time period.

*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
  
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars
Christopher Paolini | 2020 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Space Epic From The Author Of The Eragon Series
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.

Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Christopher Paolini's Eragon series, I looked forward to listening to the audiobook of his latest novel, To Sleep in a Sea of Stars.

Paolini did not disappoint. His work on this space opera spanned for nearly a decade. The research completed to make it accurate as possible shows he did not rush his writing.

Do not expect to read/listen to this in one sitting. The run time is 32 hours, 29 minutes, and the book is 880 pages. The book could have been released into a trilogy but do not let that scare you. The story may be long, but it is well built and full of completely fleshed out characters and worlds. My favorite character is Gregorovich, a ship mind. Paolini's sarcastic words and the narrator's voice makes him a character as memorable as paranoid Marvin from H2G2.
 
In 2013, the narrator, Jennifer Hale, was recognized by Guinness World Records as "the most prolific video game voice actor (female)." Her voice is instantly recognizable, and the array of voices she uses in the audiobook are separate and distinct from each other.

Paolini's story and Hale's voices make this an enjoyable story to remember.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 9/15/20.
  
With Visions of Red, Book One
With Visions of Red, Book One
Trisha Wolfe | 2015 | Erotica, Romance, Thriller
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I don't even know what to say. I love watching Law & Order: SVU, more so than any of the other Law & Orders (if that tells you how messed up I am), so reading With Visions of Red felt like an episode wrapped up into a book. I kind of love that fact - I have yet to experience L&O through my favorite form of consumption: literature. I chose to download the free version offered through Amazon because I assumed it had to do with BDSM, which can be just as good a romance story as any other. Obviously I was way, way wrong. I don't feel a need to complain though. Despite this book being so different from what I usually read, I really enjoyed it... I guess that's sick and twisted, but whatever. I have, thankfully, never experienced the horrors and terrors that Sadie has. I couldn't even begin to imagine the darkness that tries to claw its way to the surface, considering her line of work. It's interesting to see how she thinks and feels, how she deals with her past and reigns it in before it can obscure her present. For me, like I said before, a book of this nature is a first, so it was refreshing in a dark and twisted way. Honestly, I look forward to reading the whole series to discover not only who the unsub is or what happened to Colton in the past, but to see if two broken and destroyed souls can come together and become whole.
  
    JetBlue

    JetBlue

    Travel and Lifestyle

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

    App

    Take JetBlue everywhere you go! Download our app and get instant access to your itineraries, flight...