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Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated Out of the Ordinary (Apart From the Crowd, #2) in Books
Feb 25, 2019
Ms. Turano is back with her witty, soul capturing characters and brings her fans a novel that you won't soon forget! While this is not the first book in the series, it's easily read as a stand alone, though I do recommend reading the first book, as a series is always best read in order. Ms. Turano's writing style is unique and quirky and I loved every minute of this page turning novel!
Gertrude and Harrison really stole my heart. I loved the way they interacting and watching them blossom into their feelings was a pleasant treat while reading their story. Ms. Turano chiseled them both perfectly for their roles, and threw in a few other characters to round them out, though one character you'll just love to hate, if you're like me!
If you want a 5 star worthy novel that will captivate your stole, make a home in your heart and is filled with historic detail and laugh out loud wit from beautifully created characters, then this is most definitely a book that you do not want to miss! Ms. Turano has hit the nail on the head with this novel and I am already looking forward to the next book in the series. Well done and two thumbs up!
*Cafinated Reads received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit Tours and Bethany House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Gertrude and Harrison really stole my heart. I loved the way they interacting and watching them blossom into their feelings was a pleasant treat while reading their story. Ms. Turano chiseled them both perfectly for their roles, and threw in a few other characters to round them out, though one character you'll just love to hate, if you're like me!
If you want a 5 star worthy novel that will captivate your stole, make a home in your heart and is filled with historic detail and laugh out loud wit from beautifully created characters, then this is most definitely a book that you do not want to miss! Ms. Turano has hit the nail on the head with this novel and I am already looking forward to the next book in the series. Well done and two thumbs up!
*Cafinated Reads received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit Tours and Bethany House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated His Risk (The Amish of Hart County #4) in Books
Feb 27, 2019
Amazing! Another amazing novel and addition to the Amish of Hart County series. To date, I think this is her best one yet in the series, though I did love all of them. Ms. Gray, whose talent has always intrigued me, wrote a novel that pulled me instantly to the center of the story with Calvin and his life. I fell head over heels instantly with him and loved following his risky story.
When Ms. Gray introduced me to Alice, yet another character to fall in love with, I knew this book would be one I would be up long into the night reading. I was right. Seeing Alice with the kinner in her class, then watching her fight her feelings for Calvin, really tugged at my heart through the story!
This is definitely a 5 star worthy novel in this series. The ups, downs, twists, and turns that Ms. Gray add to this absolutely inspirational novel of risking all for love, is wonderful and keeps the reader hooked. I can't wait for the next and final book in the series to get back to Hart County and see what Ms. Gray gives us next. Hats off and twenty thumbs up to a talented author on this one!
*Cafinated Reads received a complimentary copy of this book from LitFuse Blog Tours/Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
When Ms. Gray introduced me to Alice, yet another character to fall in love with, I knew this book would be one I would be up long into the night reading. I was right. Seeing Alice with the kinner in her class, then watching her fight her feelings for Calvin, really tugged at my heart through the story!
This is definitely a 5 star worthy novel in this series. The ups, downs, twists, and turns that Ms. Gray add to this absolutely inspirational novel of risking all for love, is wonderful and keeps the reader hooked. I can't wait for the next and final book in the series to get back to Hart County and see what Ms. Gray gives us next. Hats off and twenty thumbs up to a talented author on this one!
*Cafinated Reads received a complimentary copy of this book from LitFuse Blog Tours/Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Christine A. (965 KP) rated Stalker (Joona Linna #5) in Books
Mar 21, 2019
5th novel in the Joona Linna series. Can stand-alone
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
Stalker by Lars Kepler is the 5th novel in the Swedish police series involving the main character, Joona Linna. Linna is a detective who is on the hunt of an obsessive, stalking serial killer who secretly video records his victims before brutally murdering them. He taunts police by sending them videos showing the victim alive and clearly unaware they are being recorded.
This novel can stand-alone but, according to reviews on Goodreads, the earlier novels provide information and background stories on characters in the series. I have never read the previous books but have had several of them on my "want to read" list since the 4th book, Sandman, could be found all over social media last year.
I was hesitant to start the series because, I have found when a book has that much hype surrounding it, it feels like a disappointment when reading. I did not feel that when reading Stalker. The novel started off slowly. This may be because I was not familiar with the characters. Familiar or not, after the slow start, I was sucked into the story and will be moving the rest of the series to the top of my "want to read" list.
Review published on Philomathinphila.com on 3/21/19.
Stalker by Lars Kepler is the 5th novel in the Swedish police series involving the main character, Joona Linna. Linna is a detective who is on the hunt of an obsessive, stalking serial killer who secretly video records his victims before brutally murdering them. He taunts police by sending them videos showing the victim alive and clearly unaware they are being recorded.
This novel can stand-alone but, according to reviews on Goodreads, the earlier novels provide information and background stories on characters in the series. I have never read the previous books but have had several of them on my "want to read" list since the 4th book, Sandman, could be found all over social media last year.
I was hesitant to start the series because, I have found when a book has that much hype surrounding it, it feels like a disappointment when reading. I did not feel that when reading Stalker. The novel started off slowly. This may be because I was not familiar with the characters. Familiar or not, after the slow start, I was sucked into the story and will be moving the rest of the series to the top of my "want to read" list.
Review published on Philomathinphila.com on 3/21/19.
AmyBee (4 KP) rated The Bell Jar in Books
Sep 5, 2018
I cannot believe I have only just read this for the first time! The Bell Jar is definitely deserving of it's status as a 'classic' in semi-autobiographical fiction. Plath really captures you with the stream-of-consciousness monologue of Esther Greenwood, a young woman who narrates her journey into insanity in the 1950's.
The Bell Jar is narrated in a similar vein to and is quite reminiscent of Virginia Woolf's novel 'Mrs Dalloway', although it has a decidedly more risqué tone as the narrator talks in great detail about subjects which would not have been deemed acceptable in the 1920's (such as losing her virginity!).
What particularly gripped me about this novel is that Esther's mental illness seems to sneak up on her and this is reflected in the novel, as it almost seems to take the reader by surprise that this seemingly normal young woman is falling deeper and deeper into her illness.
Mental health stigma is also clearly represented in the novel, as it almost seem is at points that Esther's illness is treated as a joke, and definitely not taken seriously by most. It's also interesting to read about the archaic means of treatment for mental health sufferers eg Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) AKA Electroshock therapy, and it's aftermath.
All in all, a very thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended for lovers of classic literature surrounding mental health issues.
The Bell Jar is narrated in a similar vein to and is quite reminiscent of Virginia Woolf's novel 'Mrs Dalloway', although it has a decidedly more risqué tone as the narrator talks in great detail about subjects which would not have been deemed acceptable in the 1920's (such as losing her virginity!).
What particularly gripped me about this novel is that Esther's mental illness seems to sneak up on her and this is reflected in the novel, as it almost seems to take the reader by surprise that this seemingly normal young woman is falling deeper and deeper into her illness.
Mental health stigma is also clearly represented in the novel, as it almost seem is at points that Esther's illness is treated as a joke, and definitely not taken seriously by most. It's also interesting to read about the archaic means of treatment for mental health sufferers eg Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) AKA Electroshock therapy, and it's aftermath.
All in all, a very thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended for lovers of classic literature surrounding mental health issues.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated Keep You Close in Books
Jul 20, 2019
What would you do to protect your son? Would you betray your son or your country?
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
Keep You Close asks is "What would you do to protect your son. Would you betray your son or your country?" It is the second novel by Karen Cleveland. Her first, Need to Know, was a New York Times Bestseller.
Cleveland's background as a CIA analyst with most of her time spent working in counterterrorism helps bring authenticity to her work. While she writes fiction, she is able to get into the mindset of Stephanie Maddox, the head of the FBI's Internal Investigations division, so well it has a feel as if she is writing her memoir. Her debut novel's main character, Vivian Miller, works as a CIA counterintelligence analyst. Hmmm...
Maddox believes her near-perfect son is being framed and searches to discover the truth. Including CIA and FBI agents, makes choices made by Maddox more believable. In an environment whose very nature requires people to doubt and mistrust, she needs to decide whom she can trust and what to believe.
Keep You Close is a stand-alone novel. However, Need to Know's main character does appear in this novel. I did not realize this until I finished reading this novel.
Cleveland does not have any future works listed on Goodreads.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 7/15/19.
Keep You Close asks is "What would you do to protect your son. Would you betray your son or your country?" It is the second novel by Karen Cleveland. Her first, Need to Know, was a New York Times Bestseller.
Cleveland's background as a CIA analyst with most of her time spent working in counterterrorism helps bring authenticity to her work. While she writes fiction, she is able to get into the mindset of Stephanie Maddox, the head of the FBI's Internal Investigations division, so well it has a feel as if she is writing her memoir. Her debut novel's main character, Vivian Miller, works as a CIA counterintelligence analyst. Hmmm...
Maddox believes her near-perfect son is being framed and searches to discover the truth. Including CIA and FBI agents, makes choices made by Maddox more believable. In an environment whose very nature requires people to doubt and mistrust, she needs to decide whom she can trust and what to believe.
Keep You Close is a stand-alone novel. However, Need to Know's main character does appear in this novel. I did not realize this until I finished reading this novel.
Cleveland does not have any future works listed on Goodreads.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 7/15/19.
Fools of Fortune
Book
Fools of Fortune by William Trevor - a classic early novel from one of the world's greatest writers...
Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Night Window: A Jane Hawk Novel in Books
Jun 25, 2019
5th and final novel of the Jane Hawk series
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
4.51 · 2,534 ratings ·
The Night Window by Dean Koontz is the 5th and final Jane Hawk novel in the series. I have read many books by Koontz and am a fan of his Odd Thomas series. Somehow, I missed reading his Jane Hawk series.
I was provided with a copy of the 5th novel and, to give a fair review, needed to read the earlier books in the series. I am so glad that I did. I could not put them down! It would help, but you do not need to read the other books. However, you would be missing out on an excellent and chilling series. Koontz gives you enough information, so you have a general outline of the events leading up to The Night Window.
In the Silent Corner, the first novel, Jane begins a campaign to reveal the truth about her husband's suicide. Early on, we learn a number of government officials and other influential individuals with the help of nanotechnology and an army of mind-altered citizens are responsible. It is the possibility of this "revolution" occurring that makes the story so disturbing. Often you find supernatural creepiness in Koontz's books, but I found this series to be the scariest.
This review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 6/24/19.
4.51 · 2,534 ratings ·
The Night Window by Dean Koontz is the 5th and final Jane Hawk novel in the series. I have read many books by Koontz and am a fan of his Odd Thomas series. Somehow, I missed reading his Jane Hawk series.
I was provided with a copy of the 5th novel and, to give a fair review, needed to read the earlier books in the series. I am so glad that I did. I could not put them down! It would help, but you do not need to read the other books. However, you would be missing out on an excellent and chilling series. Koontz gives you enough information, so you have a general outline of the events leading up to The Night Window.
In the Silent Corner, the first novel, Jane begins a campaign to reveal the truth about her husband's suicide. Early on, we learn a number of government officials and other influential individuals with the help of nanotechnology and an army of mind-altered citizens are responsible. It is the possibility of this "revolution" occurring that makes the story so disturbing. Often you find supernatural creepiness in Koontz's books, but I found this series to be the scariest.
This review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 6/24/19.
In Youth Is Pleasure
Book
A tender and fierce account of boyhood and nascent homosexual desire First published in 1945, In...
The Sealwoman's Gift
8.0
Rate It
Book
***SHORTLISTED FOR THE HWA DEBUT CROWN, THE WAVERTON GOOD READ AWARD & LONGLISTED FOR THE BEST FIRST...
Historical Fiction
Kai (5 KP) rated Will Grayson, Will Grayson in Books
Nov 29, 2017
Brilliant novel, slightly confusing to read on my kindle app on my phone as there was no way to distinguish between the two chapters - it took me a while to understand what was happening! But I absolutely loved it and would definitely recommend it - along with most other John Green books!