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Merissa (11958 KP) rated The Cowboy and the Pencil-Pusher in Books
Nov 30, 2018
The Cowboy and the Pencil-Pusher by S.C. Wynne
The Cowboy and the Pencil-Pusher is the first book by S.C. Wynne I have read, and I enjoyed it.
In this story, we meet Paul - a man trained to think without feelings, to let cold, hard facts rule him. He was trained this way by his father, but then his dad had a heart attack, which led him to an epiphany. A result of this, is his dad is trying to do things with more feelings. This leaves Paul completely confused and unsure of what he is supposed to do. Paul has to go to a ranch and see Cort and his grandpa, because their payments have fallen behind. Paul would be happy just to foreclose on them, but his dad wants it done differently. Enter Cort. Everything that Paul shouldn't want, but does. Throw in a complicated ex, a stampede, and sexy times, and there you have it.
I loved Paul's character, prissy though he was. There were reasons for the way he acted, and you find them out slowly throughout the book. Cort I loved, up until Riley reappeared in his life. It's funny, because I could get behind him when Riley was just a name, but how he acted once Riley was there, didn't like that. I know Paul couldn't give him the answer he wanted, but to fall back in with Riley was just the easy, familiar route. It didn't seem to mesh very well with the Cort portrayed throughout most of the book. He really was a two-sided character - one with Riley, and one with everyone else.
On the whole though, I did enjoy this book. The pacing was smooth, and the character development was there, in Paul at least ? This was the first book by this author, but it won't be the last. Recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
In this story, we meet Paul - a man trained to think without feelings, to let cold, hard facts rule him. He was trained this way by his father, but then his dad had a heart attack, which led him to an epiphany. A result of this, is his dad is trying to do things with more feelings. This leaves Paul completely confused and unsure of what he is supposed to do. Paul has to go to a ranch and see Cort and his grandpa, because their payments have fallen behind. Paul would be happy just to foreclose on them, but his dad wants it done differently. Enter Cort. Everything that Paul shouldn't want, but does. Throw in a complicated ex, a stampede, and sexy times, and there you have it.
I loved Paul's character, prissy though he was. There were reasons for the way he acted, and you find them out slowly throughout the book. Cort I loved, up until Riley reappeared in his life. It's funny, because I could get behind him when Riley was just a name, but how he acted once Riley was there, didn't like that. I know Paul couldn't give him the answer he wanted, but to fall back in with Riley was just the easy, familiar route. It didn't seem to mesh very well with the Cort portrayed throughout most of the book. He really was a two-sided character - one with Riley, and one with everyone else.
On the whole though, I did enjoy this book. The pacing was smooth, and the character development was there, in Paul at least ? This was the first book by this author, but it won't be the last. Recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jessica - Where the Book Ends (15 KP) rated Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda in Books
Jan 30, 2019
I’ve heard so much hype about Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda that I was a little afraid to read it. I am one of those people that usually dislikes books that everyone raves about. Or it gets so much hype that it doesn’t live up to the hype. Anyway… This book lived up to the hype. This book was great! I loved Simon and his voice. He was awkward, down to earth, funny, and witty. I want Simon to be my best friend. Some of the supporting characters I wasn’t super fond of. Abby, and Nick were just kind of there for me. I also didn’t think that Alice was a necessary character. We didn’t get to know her in any way. I would have loved to have seen more of Simon’s parents and more of Leah. I am dying to read Leah on the Offbeat.
The emails back and forth between Simon and Blue were amazing and about 10 times throughout the book I was 100% sure I knew who Blue was, and I was completely off. I loved having that surprise element and having the suspense until the end. I think having that suspense kept me on the edge of my seat and reading because I had to know who Blue was.
It took me about 3 days to read this book, and I’m a slow reader, so for me 3 days is pretty incredible. The authors writing style worked really well for me and she did an amazing job of giving each of the characters their own voice and sticking with it. Often times I see where the beginning of the book characters have their own voice and then by the end they all start to sound the same.
Over all I really enjoyed this book, the adventure, the characters, and the growth the characters experienced. I highly recommend this book to everyone. I think it’s a great quick read that will teach you not to fight who you are, you are you and that is amazing. It also teaches you about the impact that you can have on another person’s life, so be kind and choose your words and your actions carefully. Be kind.
The emails back and forth between Simon and Blue were amazing and about 10 times throughout the book I was 100% sure I knew who Blue was, and I was completely off. I loved having that surprise element and having the suspense until the end. I think having that suspense kept me on the edge of my seat and reading because I had to know who Blue was.
It took me about 3 days to read this book, and I’m a slow reader, so for me 3 days is pretty incredible. The authors writing style worked really well for me and she did an amazing job of giving each of the characters their own voice and sticking with it. Often times I see where the beginning of the book characters have their own voice and then by the end they all start to sound the same.
Over all I really enjoyed this book, the adventure, the characters, and the growth the characters experienced. I highly recommend this book to everyone. I think it’s a great quick read that will teach you not to fight who you are, you are you and that is amazing. It also teaches you about the impact that you can have on another person’s life, so be kind and choose your words and your actions carefully. Be kind.
Peepo!
Allan Ahlberg and Janet Ahlberg
7.0
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Peepo! is the much-loved picture book classic by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. Peepo! is a modern classic...
Merissa (11958 KP) rated Bound (The Caelian Cycle #2) in Books
May 5, 2023
I said in my review of Lost that I needed to read book 2. Well, I have, and now I NEED to read book 3!!! This is a doozy of a book that just keeps on giving, with twists and turns that you won't see until it's too late, and things that won't make sense until the author decides it is time for you to know. Donnielle Tyner wraps up a fantastic story into a neat little bundle, presents it to you and then sits back whilst your emotions get ripped to pieces!
We stay with Sadie as she lives in the Underground, training in preparation to take down her grandfather, Miles Koenig. Kian doesn't agree with her decision, but he still supports her in her training. Sadie is one kickass main female and I love her to bits. Kian, well, he's just Kian! Dreamy, protective, stubborn, I could go on. The supporting cast is still as funny and heartwarming as before, although we don't see as much of them due to Sadie's living arrangements. When we do though, it's wonderful. She does make a new friend in Luca though, and their relationship is just as strong as the ones from the orphanage.
There is plenty of action in this book that will leave you gasping and, yes, even crying. I was on more than one occasion and I'm not ashamed to say it. THIS - this is how an author drags you into a story and makes you care about what's happening! There are two shocking events in this that tore me apart, but I will leave it to you to find out what they were.
With a cliffhanger ending that almost had me throwing my Kindle against the wall, this still manages to finish in the right place. Totally engrossed from page one, I can't wait to read book 3! Highly recommended!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 26, 2015
We stay with Sadie as she lives in the Underground, training in preparation to take down her grandfather, Miles Koenig. Kian doesn't agree with her decision, but he still supports her in her training. Sadie is one kickass main female and I love her to bits. Kian, well, he's just Kian! Dreamy, protective, stubborn, I could go on. The supporting cast is still as funny and heartwarming as before, although we don't see as much of them due to Sadie's living arrangements. When we do though, it's wonderful. She does make a new friend in Luca though, and their relationship is just as strong as the ones from the orphanage.
There is plenty of action in this book that will leave you gasping and, yes, even crying. I was on more than one occasion and I'm not ashamed to say it. THIS - this is how an author drags you into a story and makes you care about what's happening! There are two shocking events in this that tore me apart, but I will leave it to you to find out what they were.
With a cliffhanger ending that almost had me throwing my Kindle against the wall, this still manages to finish in the right place. Totally engrossed from page one, I can't wait to read book 3! Highly recommended!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 26, 2015
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2171 KP) rated Murder She Wrote: Manuscript for Murder in Books
Feb 6, 2019
Is Jessica Reading a Motive for Murder?
When Thomas Rudd approaches Jessica Fletcher after one of her signings and accuses Lane Barfield, their mutual publisher, of skimming money from their royalties, Jessica can hardly believe it. Within a couple of days, both of the men are dead. However, Jessica begins to suspect that the political thriller Lane asked her to read was to blame. Is she correct? If so, is she the next target?
I had a mixed reaction to this book. On the one hand, I got very caught up in the plot, and always had a hard time putting it down. There are twists and turns and plenty of danger, and I loved it. It would have worked better, however, if it weren’t a Murder, She Wrote book. It certainly doesn’t fit with the rest of the franchise in tone, with several events being several shades grayer than we got, at least on the TV show. (I’ve only read one other book, the previous one.) We see several of the regular side characters, but they and their relationship with Jessica was off. What I suspect was supposed to be funny came across as rather mean. These characters wouldn’t interact this way. There’s also the fact that one of the plots in the book gets dropped in favor of the other. Honestly, I think there are two good storylines here, and they should have gotten their own books. This is the second book that Jon Land has written in the franchise, and I’m wondering if his efforts to turn things darker are going to be a permanent thing or if he will adjust better to the light tone of this franchise.
I had a mixed reaction to this book. On the one hand, I got very caught up in the plot, and always had a hard time putting it down. There are twists and turns and plenty of danger, and I loved it. It would have worked better, however, if it weren’t a Murder, She Wrote book. It certainly doesn’t fit with the rest of the franchise in tone, with several events being several shades grayer than we got, at least on the TV show. (I’ve only read one other book, the previous one.) We see several of the regular side characters, but they and their relationship with Jessica was off. What I suspect was supposed to be funny came across as rather mean. These characters wouldn’t interact this way. There’s also the fact that one of the plots in the book gets dropped in favor of the other. Honestly, I think there are two good storylines here, and they should have gotten their own books. This is the second book that Jon Land has written in the franchise, and I’m wondering if his efforts to turn things darker are going to be a permanent thing or if he will adjust better to the light tone of this franchise.
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Night of the Living Trekkies in Books
Feb 15, 2019
Not as imaginative or funny as I'd hoped, <u>Night of the Living Trekkies</u> was still a fun read, some may even call it a brainless read. As far as zombie stories go, this doesn't cover any new territory, but that's where Star Trek helps the book out. Chock full of references, storyline parallels, and chapters named after episodes, it's clear this is devoted to Star Trek fans, whether they be Trekkies or Trekkers. The authors clearly know what they're writing about and lovingly poke fun at Star Trek and its fans. There's even some Star Wars love thrown in for good measure, and not with the usual rivalry between the two either.
In order to fully enjoy this book, I think it is essential that readers have a passable knowledge of the Star Trek universe, like zombies, and appreciate pulp, or at least have two of those three; otherwise, I can't imagine this would appeal to anyone outside of those factors. Overall, I had a good time with <u>Night of the Living Trekkies</u>, there were moments that made me laugh-out-loud (I especially liked the tale of the "Red Shirts") and though it's predictable, the story was well-told, and at around 250 pages, it's a very easy read. Readers could do worse than to pick up this book; what you see on the awesome cover is pretty much what you get on the inside: pure, pulpy entertainment that's well-envisioned and could easily be made into a movie.
3.5 Warp Speed
This has one of the best trailers I've ever seen, certainly the best book trailer:
Not part of the book at all but definitely goes along with it: http://molitorious.blogspot.com/2009/06/zombie-trek.html
In order to fully enjoy this book, I think it is essential that readers have a passable knowledge of the Star Trek universe, like zombies, and appreciate pulp, or at least have two of those three; otherwise, I can't imagine this would appeal to anyone outside of those factors. Overall, I had a good time with <u>Night of the Living Trekkies</u>, there were moments that made me laugh-out-loud (I especially liked the tale of the "Red Shirts") and though it's predictable, the story was well-told, and at around 250 pages, it's a very easy read. Readers could do worse than to pick up this book; what you see on the awesome cover is pretty much what you get on the inside: pure, pulpy entertainment that's well-envisioned and could easily be made into a movie.
3.5 Warp Speed
This has one of the best trailers I've ever seen, certainly the best book trailer:
Not part of the book at all but definitely goes along with it: http://molitorious.blogspot.com/2009/06/zombie-trek.html
Kyera (8 KP) rated The Star-Touched Queen (The Star-Touched Queen, #1) in Books
Feb 1, 2018
The Star-Touched Queen is a little slow to start, but once it finds a groove the story will draw you in and you won't want to put it down. The writing style is very poetic and descriptive, which is absolutely gorgeous but can sometimes slow down the story. Those pacing issues continue throughout the story. Sometimes the book flows well and you find yourself reading through chapters in no time, while other times the writing or plot trips you up and slows down the story.
I was very intrigued by the premise of the story, as not only does it include elements of Indian folklore but it is a re-telling of the Hades and Persephone myth. As a huge fan of Greek mythology, that was the aspect of the story that I was most excited to experience. Amar and Maya are our Hades and Persephone, although it is a unique story and you don't feel like you're reading a re-telling.
As strange as it seems, my favourite character was actually the demon horse Kamala. Although she could be really creepy when she salivated over eating people, she could be funny and made some of the scenes for me. Although I liked Amar, Maya and the other supporting characters I didn't relate strongly to any of them so it made me less invested in the book. I wish I did like them more because I would have loved to have stronger feelings about this gorgeous book.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it - but it didn't make any strong or lasting impact on me. Readers who are fans of flowery prose and very descriptive writing will enjoy Roshani Chokshi's writing style, but if you are a fan of more simple sentences you might have difficultly getting through this book.
I was very intrigued by the premise of the story, as not only does it include elements of Indian folklore but it is a re-telling of the Hades and Persephone myth. As a huge fan of Greek mythology, that was the aspect of the story that I was most excited to experience. Amar and Maya are our Hades and Persephone, although it is a unique story and you don't feel like you're reading a re-telling.
As strange as it seems, my favourite character was actually the demon horse Kamala. Although she could be really creepy when she salivated over eating people, she could be funny and made some of the scenes for me. Although I liked Amar, Maya and the other supporting characters I didn't relate strongly to any of them so it made me less invested in the book. I wish I did like them more because I would have loved to have stronger feelings about this gorgeous book.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it - but it didn't make any strong or lasting impact on me. Readers who are fans of flowery prose and very descriptive writing will enjoy Roshani Chokshi's writing style, but if you are a fan of more simple sentences you might have difficultly getting through this book.
A Gentleman's Bedside Book: Entertainment for the Last Fifteen Minutes of the Day
Book
Have you ever found that once you are between the sheets Madame Bovary is too heavy, magazines are...
The League of Regrettable Superheroes: Half-Baked Heroes from Comic Book History
8.0
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A fun, funny, and affectionate look at the strangest superheroes to ever appear in comics, some so...
Elli H Burton (1288 KP) rated Midnight Sun (Twilight, #5) in Books
Jan 3, 2021
Seeing the world through Edwards eyes. (1 more)
Even though you know the story, it's NOT like reading the same book twice.
Insight, it's a funny thing.
Contains spoilers, click to show
So, I hate to include spoilers in my reviews, HOWEVER as this is a story that has already been told (in both book and film) I don't really think it is one, but for the rare person out there unfamiliar with the twilight universe I've clicked contains spoilers.
So - lets start with the obvious, I really enjoyed it. I learnt things I didn't know from the first book, it was fascinating to watch the stories unfold from Edwards mind, it made the whole book feel so much different. For example, Despite Twilight being a relatively dark book (the fear, the mystery etc) I always had this sense of light in it, the excitement, love and hope Bella felt. This one is darker with the feeling of Edwards constant seesaw of emotions, his internal arguement as to whether or not he was doing the right thing being with Bella and fighting his natural instinct to kill her and want for her to have a normal human life. I also didn't know he had planned to leave her before New Moon, he was jist biding his time for it to come almost naturally rather than out of the blue.
Even though I know how the story ends, it was definitely an interesting read, learning something knew.
SPOILER sort of.
The way Edwards mind works in this is something you never see in the other books, he can tune into someones mind (other than Bella obvs) and hear the current thoughts but can also see what they see as they process it. This never occured to me before and was really cool to discover.
So - lets start with the obvious, I really enjoyed it. I learnt things I didn't know from the first book, it was fascinating to watch the stories unfold from Edwards mind, it made the whole book feel so much different. For example, Despite Twilight being a relatively dark book (the fear, the mystery etc) I always had this sense of light in it, the excitement, love and hope Bella felt. This one is darker with the feeling of Edwards constant seesaw of emotions, his internal arguement as to whether or not he was doing the right thing being with Bella and fighting his natural instinct to kill her and want for her to have a normal human life. I also didn't know he had planned to leave her before New Moon, he was jist biding his time for it to come almost naturally rather than out of the blue.
Even though I know how the story ends, it was definitely an interesting read, learning something knew.
SPOILER sort of.
The way Edwards mind works in this is something you never see in the other books, he can tune into someones mind (other than Bella obvs) and hear the current thoughts but can also see what they see as they process it. This never occured to me before and was really cool to discover.