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Courtney (149 KP) rated Foxlowe in Books

Nov 27, 2018  
Foxlowe
Foxlowe
Eleanor Wasserberg | 2016 | Contemporary, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Makes you think (2 more)
I really connected with pretty much all of the characters
Very good attention to detail making it easy to picture yourself in the story
Left some questions unanswered for me (1 more)
It could have gone on a lot longer and delved into the characters’ lives after the main plot came to an end
Brilliant read
Every so often I go through a spell where I can’t connect with the books I’m reading (through no fault of the books), yet this book snapped me right out of that. I was reading it at every available moment and found myself really thinking about it in the times when I wasn’t reading.

This book tells the story of a ‘family’, particularly focusing on three children; Green, Toby and Blue. This ‘family’ is a community of people who live together in an old, crumbling house and who indulge in very understandable superstitions and rituals to keep all things bad at bay.

As well as a thrilling, charming and downright unsettling premise, this book very cleverly looks at family ties and how love can be so closely related to what can be described as nothing less than torture and torment.

There is no way that I could possibly sum this book up in a few paragraphs, all I can do is wonder why this book doesn’t have more recognition and implore you to find out for yourself all about Green, Blue, the Bad and how much ‘silly’ superstitions can take hold and rule people’s lives.
  
Expectant Moon (Gladstone Shifters #1)
Expectant Moon (Gladstone Shifters #1)
Alexander Elliott | 2018 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Expectant Moon is the first book in the Gladstone Shifters series and it takes you to a current world where things are changing. Here we find Evan, a Delta, and Ben, an Alpha. Their two lives are separate at the start but once they meet, fireworks explode!

I found the beginning of this book to be slightly discombobulated, simply because we shift from one time to another, with different characters being introduced each time. HOWEVER, stick with it because each of those characters and situations is incredibly important to the overall story arc.

Once this story progressed, I was completely hooked. I loved this history of how times and attitudes had changed, how ways of life were forgotten and how they really needed to be remembered. Luckily for everyone, Jack is on hand to help and Evan will make sure it continues.

There was enough steam to melt my Kindle - which I loved! You really get a two-for-one deal with this book as Jack and William are magnificently interwoven with Evan and Ben - only in the literary sense! There is also pain, hate, tenderness, love, and hope.

Really, this was an amazing read that I thoroughly enjoyed. An amazing start to a new series with intricate details and new situations giving a brilliant twist to the 'standard' MM Paranormal Romance genre.

Absolutely 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!
  
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Christine A. (965 KP) rated Dead Air in Books

Aug 6, 2020  
Dead Air
Dead Air
Michael Bradley | 2020 | Mystery, Thriller
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
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.

It is no secret I am proud to be from Philly. I love the people, the sports, the arts, and the energy. Philadelphia is not perfect, but if you want to get my attention, set a novel in my city. I will read it. Michael Bradley, a southern Jersey native, set his third novel in Philly and combined his knowledge of the area and radio broadcasting to write Dead Air: A Novel of Suspense.

Kaitlyn Ashe, a radio DJ in Philadelphia, receives anonymous letters that threaten the life she built for herself. That life hides secrets she does not want to be revealed but, when the letters escalate, her fiance insists on calling the police. Kaitlyn needs to figure out who knows about the Shallows before her life crashes down around her, and her secrets revealed.

Rachel Fulginiti, an Audie-nominated narrator and veteran of the stage, skillfully narrates the audiobook, allowing us to hear Kaitlyn's "radio voice" and her normal voice. You can imagine Rachel is Kaitlyn conveying the story to us.

I found the audiobook a little slow to listen to at 1.0 speed. Philadelphians do not talk slowly so I played it at a more comfortable, higher rate.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 8/5/20.
  
Outlaw Witch (Enchanted Bargains #1)
Outlaw Witch (Enchanted Bargains #1)
Essie Suter | 2023 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
OUTLAW WITCH is the first book in the Enchanted Bargains series and it's a slow-burn, action-packed urban fantasy why choose story.

The FMC, Silver, is living on the outskirts of town, where no one really wants to be, with her found family. She has a terrible sense of direction which is how she meets Zeph, the first of the MMCs. Roscoe, the second MMC, "rescues" her from a fire. They both want her to help their friend, Fabian, who is under a blood curse and the third MMC. Throw in someone who knows who she was and it's non-stop.

I loved the set-up of this book, showing the different groups, as well as the different personalities. I would have preferred to know more about Zeph and Roscoe, as well as Rook, Ember, etc. but I guess you can't have everything in one book. I also want to see more of Silver's magic. It didn't feel as though she actually used much of it here. Hopefully, there will be more in the next book.

The ending is a doozy. Cliffhanger Alert!!! It will definitely leave you wanting more. A great start to a new series, and one I look forward to continuing. Definitely recommended by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 14, 2023
  
Sweat Connection (Hot Under the Collar #1)
Sweat Connection (Hot Under the Collar #1)
Katherine McIntyre | 2023 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Quite possibly McIntyre's best work to date!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

I'm not rehashing the blurb, and I'm not telling you the story, I'ma just gonna jump straight in!

READ THIS FREAKING BOOK, PEOPLE!

It's so well written, from both Rhys and Cole's POV, in the first person, each chapter headers the change.

It's steamy and smexy (sooooooooooooooooooo smexy!) It's deeply emotional, for both Rhys and Cole and that surprised me, don't ask me why, cos I've no freaking idea! I just expected this to be a light and fluffy book. And it is, but with a heavy side of emotions.

It's sweet and cute, it's so freaking cute. Full of the warm and fuzzies that low/no angst books carry. Full of emotion and love.

Rhys is in a dark place when he comes into contact with Cole, and after that, it's just two guys falling in love! Throw in McIntyre's skill with found families, and extended families, and a 2 yr old called Sammy and you've got, for me, possibly McIntyre's best work yet!

AND this is the first in a new series and I cannot wait for the next one!

I'm making this a relatively short review, I might start ranting and raving, and if I allow myself free reign, you could end up with a 10,000 word review!

I'm putting this on my Masterpiece shelf! I abso-freaking-lutely loved this book and I can't see why anyone wouldn't.

5 full and shiny stars.

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
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Merissa (13911 KP) rated Insurgent in Books

May 30, 2023  
Insurgent
Insurgent
Veronica Roth | 2013 | Children, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
8.3 (59 Ratings)
Book Rating
The adventure continues with Tris and Tobias as they try to recover and regroup. With people in their group that they don't like and don't trust, they face an uphill struggle to move forward and make plans, without being betrayed. They both keep secrets aplenty, even from each other, which I found very frustrating, but also understandable. Tris was told by more than one person to never let on that she was Divergent, and now all and sundry are talking about it and seem to know more than she does!

Tobias and Tris face obstacles and difficulties, not just with the war that seems to have started, but also personally and with their relationship. This is all tied in with what is happening and who shows up, but it makes for powerful reading!

With a closer view on the other factions, it shows you the good and the bad. With visits to Amity, Candor and Erudite, we also meet with more characters of all factions. Some that are friendly, some that aren't.

I won't give out anything else, as I hate spoilers, but I will say that with more twists and intrigue than you can shake a stick at, these books are completely enthralling. I am absolutely loving this series and can't wait for the final book. 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!
Mar 19, 2016
  
Stag Weekend: Island Confidential Novella
Stag Weekend: Island Confidential Novella
TA Moore | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Tate really SAW Simon!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Simon wanted to keep his head down, and out of the family gossip, since his engagement was called off. It's his sister's turn, given as no one likes Wyatt, the groom. But then Simon wakes up in Tate's bed, Wyatt's stepbrother. The ame stepbrother who Angie warned Wyatt to tell his brother to keep away from.

This book, right, is a catalogue of errors on Wyatt's part, saved by Tate and Simon, with a backdrop of gate-crashing cousins (who I really REALLY wanted to punch in the face!) missing rings, stolen wine, and some special moments between Simon and Tate that really were the best!

It's a lot, though. I found myself just waiting for the next drama, and it did get a weeny bit too much.

I loved Simon and Tate, both together and apart. Simon clearly hadn't met the right man to really SEE him like Tate does and I loved that Tate wouldn't let Simon talk himself out of whatever Tate had in mind at any given moment.

It's steamy in places and flipping hilarious in others. Not too much emotion, but there are moments that let you into Simon's mind. He has a lot more to say than Tate I think.

I really enjoyed all these books, they have been a lot of fun to read and sometimes, just sometimes, you really do need to laugh out while reading!

4 very VERY good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
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Kyera (8 KP) rated Alex & Eliza in Books

Jan 31, 2018  
Alex & Eliza
Alex & Eliza
Melissa de la Cruz | 2017 | Romance, Young Adult (YA)
8
6.3 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
Alex and Eliza is a historical fiction novel about a love story for the ages. As much as I love history, I don’t pick up historical fiction very often and reading this book makes me want to. It is a wonderfully written young adult novel that makes America’s history more relatable. Some historical texts tend to be dry and don’t lend themselves to casual reading. My belief is that this novel (and others like it) might spark an interest in history that will lead teens, or really anyone, to seek out further information.

As this is a work of fiction, the author takes liberties with the plot and adds a fair amount of drama. Historically, there is not a lot known about the courtship between Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler. As you may be aware from history lessons, or your obsession with Hamilton the musical, the two fell in love quite hard and fast. It was nice to see the author’s take on their first meeting, interactions, and ultimate wedding.

This love story reads true and will warm your heart, even if you are aware of the future turmoil in their lives. I enjoyed getting to know Alexander and Eliza so much over the course of this book. The author also does a fantastic job of introducing and developing the supporting characters in this love story. They don’t feel like flat portrayals, but dimensional people that you love (or hate, as the case may be).

For those readers familiar with Hamilton, you will not find that this is the young adult novelization version of the musical. I’ve heard many readers dismaying that fact and it is unfair to the author to make those comparisons. They are two different mediums that each share their love and admiration for the powerhouse that was Alexander Hamilton. The musical follows and chronicles much of Hamilton’s life, whereas this book is a love story. It tells the tale of two souls who found their match, despite all the odds and fell in love.

While the dialogue at times can be cumbersome and strange, it is likely because the reader is used to the modern way of speaking. If you were to read letters that were composed during that era, you likely would notice they have a much more formal, or flowery, way of speaking. Although I found some of the lines to be a bit over the top, overall I felt that they were authentic to the time period in which the book takes place. It would have been unfortunate if the story had been written as if these historical characters were speaking in modern times.

I highly enjoyed this read and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys history. I believe that it is a very accessible book and would lend itself well to those who are hesitant to delve into historical fiction. It does a wonderful job of blending the love story with purposeful doses of actual historical events. Whether you are a fan of the musical, historical fiction, American history or something else – I urge you to give this book a chance.
  
BA
Breathe, Annie, Breathe
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I picked it up on a total whim (having received an ARC) and really enjoyed it. First, I have to state that apparently this is part of Kenneally's "Hundred Oaks" YA series, which I didn't know. It definitely can stand alone, however.

Annie is finishing up high school and training for a marathon. She's never been a runner - in fact, she hates it. However, Annie is running in honor of her late boyfriend Kyle, who never had a chance to run the marathon for which he was training.

Annie is a very mature kid, which took a bit of getting used to. She was definitely in a very developed relationship early in life and she came across older than her years. However, we learn that she's been on her own a bit - her dad was never around and her Mom has been busy working multiple jobs to keep the family afloat. So her maturity works, overall.

Annie is struggling with guilt over Kyle's death. She starts to find relief in her marathon training. She also starts to find relief in Jeremiah, the brother of her training coach. Jeremiah is unlike anyone Annie has ever known.

This was a simple, YA love story. You pretty much know where it's going to go. But it was surprisingly sweet and touching and well-done. Annie is an extremely likable character. Her maturity lends her some credence not always found in YA characters. I also found myself quite swept up in Jeremiah (not unlike Annie), who was also different from the typical YA beau.

Finally, the running element was a fun add to the book. As someone training for a 5K (nowhere near a marathon, but I like to pretend, ha), it was enjoyable to watch Annie progress toward her goal.

Overall, this is probably really a 3.5 star novel, but I just enjoyed the story so much, I bumped it up to 4.

<i>(Note: I received an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.)</i>
  
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Kaz (232 KP) rated The Dead Ex in Books

Nov 5, 2019  
The Dead Ex
The Dead Ex
Jane Corry | 2018 | Crime, Mystery, Thriller
5
6.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Interesting characters but not entirely well executed, one plot line was interesting (0 more)
Negative depiction of someone with Epilepsy, poor ending (0 more)
‘The Dead Ex’ was a buddy read, I had never read anything by Jane Corry before. To be quite honest with you, it will possibly be the last book I will read by this author.

Firstly, this book is split into several threads of story. We have the main character Vicki’s point of view, a little girl named Scarlett and a woman named Helen. Lately, whenever I have read a book which had more than one story thread running through it, I’ve been frustrated that one plot was good and the others, disappointing. With ‘The Dead Ex’, this was the same. I liked Scarlett’s story line and found it particularly moving. The power of this story was let down, by the weaker threads running along side it.

The characters were mostly ok, but I found some of their behaviors to be too exaggerated. This book would have been a good read for this month’s ‘Disability Read-a-thon’ (I read this just before the beginning of October), because the main character in this book, has Epilepsy. The sad thing for me though, was that this book would have been the perfect example of how NOT to portray a person with this condition.

I felt annoyed that, whenever anyone discovered that the main character had Epilepsy, she was instantly treated with suspicion. To me, this didn’t highlight the condition, but in some ways, demonized people who have to deal with Epilepsy and this wasn’t fair.

The plot of this novel was, for the most part, intriguing and I wanted to continue reading to find out what was going to happen. Whilst the many threads of story were tied up in a satisfactory way, there were a couple plot twists, which I felt to be weak, or really silly.

Overall, I think that this book was trying to highlight many social issues. Unfortunately, this need to cram a lot into the pages of this book, resulted in a weak and messy read.

This book was ok, but nothing that I would recommend rushing out to read.

My Rating: ** 1/2 Stars