J Elizabeth Klug (21 KP) rated Misadventures of a Virgin (Misadventures, #4) in Books
Dec 14, 2019
“And now I have to worry I may have given him more than my body. I may have just given up my heart.”
June Bell and Kase McCasker grew up as neighbors in Falls Edge. Kase was June’s girlhood crush with whom she shared a memorable kiss before he disappeared off to college and out of her life.
Four years ago, Kase received unexpected news that shook his world and drove him away. Now he’s back, a degree in hand, ready to face his demons. He’s determined to save the struggling farm that’s been in his family for generations.
The time and distance have done nothing to tame Kase’s desire for June, who is the daughter of the man trying to buy his family’s land. Just one look at her, even after all this time, has him ready to risk his future and his heart.
For years, June’s father has been trying to buy the McCasker land. Now, Kase agrees to the sale with one stipulation. June must spend 2 weeks with him on the property.
June agrees, finding out that Kase has been forgotten about her and is intent on finishing what they started all those years ago at the farm. Kase is upfront with his feelings and very possessive of June. As they spend time together and their feelings for each grow into something deeper, June begins to question whether she really wants the sale of the property to go through.
In learning more about Kase, June also learns some startling truths about her own mother’s death and the ongoing feud be their two families. Will this startling revelation destroy any chance of a happily ever after?
This was a great, well-written story. The characters were well developed. I found myself able to really empathize with characters emotions. Meredith Wild is rapidly becoming my favorite romance author.
Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated Fury of the Phoenix (Kingdom of Xia, #2) in Books
Jan 23, 2020
Note: Formatting is lost due to copy and paste.
*Warning: May contain minor spoilers from the previous novel*
Remember the evil sorcerer by the name of Zhong Ye from the previous novel, Silver Phoenix? In Fury of the Phoenix, the sequel to Silver Phoenix, it's been a few months after Zhong Ye's death and Ai Ling receives warning from a dream that Chen Yong is in danger. Knowing that, Ai Ling finds a way to try and find him.
During Ai Ling's journey, we go through a few flashbacks throughout the book entering Zhong Ye's life when he's just a worker in the Emperor's Palace (I'm not talking about the buffet) trying to climb up in rank to how he came to be in Silver Phoenix. Ai Ling and Chen Yong have also changed a lot and matured a bit (maybe a lot?) since the previous novel.
I'm not exactly sure what to make of the second (and I think final?) component to the Kingdom of Xia series. I personally picked up the series because it was based on Ancient China (just in general terms there are fictional stuff as well) and thought it would be really interesting to read. But staying away from the series actually, I never even knew a sequel existed until I joined Goodreads and then coming back to it has made me realize that I'm missing out in the world that Cindy Pon creates in Silver Phoenix and Fury of the Phoenix. In fact, I even miss the dumplings and buns. And that's coming from someone who has those often... :p I also want to visit China one day, though I certainly don't want to meet some of the unpleasant creatures both Ai Ling, Chen Yong and Zhong Ye encounter in the book.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Summer of '79 in Books
Mar 19, 2020
"Exalta is dead. She died in her sleep two days earlier in the house on Fair Street, while Mr. Crimmins, their former caretaker, slept beside her."
There are a few books in the world that end perfectly, and you don't need another word. But many books are so engaging--the characters so vivid--that you often wonder what has happened to them. Elin Hilderbrand is such an excellent author and so good at world-building for her characters. It only makes sense that she would allow us to check in on her characters at a later date. And, because she's so good at bringing them to life, the concept works perfectly.
This is a slim e-book (coming out later in book form as part of a tribute anthology to the late Dorothea Benton Frank). I read it easily in one setting and quite enjoyed catching up with Kate and the kids, particularly the youngest, Jessie, who was my favorite in '69 and remains so ten years later.
"She feels like a stranger in her own family, but there’s nothing new about that."
Despite the somber occasion for which the family has gathered, it's quite fun to check in on them ten years later. Hilderbrand switches POV from Kate to all four of the kids, allowing us to see what they've been doing and how they feel. We also find Kate adjusting to moving into the role of family matriarch with the passing of her mother.
Overall, if you enjoyed Summer of '69, this is a great novella to catch you up on some beloved characters. I kind of wish we could have novellas like this for other favorite books. 4 stars.
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