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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Wolf Wants In in Books
Oct 31, 2019
Sometimes I foolishly put off reading a book because I think it sounds “too smart” or something for me. I made that mistake with The Wolf Wants In, and I was such an idiot! This was such a wonderful, well-written psychological thriller. I don’t know what I was thinking!
Wolf is told from the perspectives of Sadie and Henley, who both live in the same small Kansas town. Sadie has recently lost her brother, Shane, and she’s looking for answers about how he died—even if no one else seems too concerned. Meanwhile eighteen-year-old Henley comes from a long line of known troublemakers: many of whom are drug dealers and users. She’s determined to leave town and her family behind. But events transpire that make that harder than she envisioned. Overshadowing everything is the town’s opioid crisis and the discovery of a child’s skull in the woods.
The characters in Wolf are vivid and nuanced. They have such depth and feeling. McHugh captures small town life so well—as well as how easily addiction can ravage families. What I loved was how she layered a mystery against all of this: the result was a completely compelling read. I was totally captivated by this one: definitely recommend! 4+ stars.
Wolf is told from the perspectives of Sadie and Henley, who both live in the same small Kansas town. Sadie has recently lost her brother, Shane, and she’s looking for answers about how he died—even if no one else seems too concerned. Meanwhile eighteen-year-old Henley comes from a long line of known troublemakers: many of whom are drug dealers and users. She’s determined to leave town and her family behind. But events transpire that make that harder than she envisioned. Overshadowing everything is the town’s opioid crisis and the discovery of a child’s skull in the woods.
The characters in Wolf are vivid and nuanced. They have such depth and feeling. McHugh captures small town life so well—as well as how easily addiction can ravage families. What I loved was how she layered a mystery against all of this: the result was a completely compelling read. I was totally captivated by this one: definitely recommend! 4+ stars.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated Lost and Found in Books
Jan 27, 2020
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is one of my favorite books. Being offered the opportunity to read his latest, Lost and Found, is an honor and privilege. I know I am supposed to be unbiased when doing reviews but it was difficult in this case.
Lost and Found is not long, less than 300 pages, and flows wells so it is a quick read. In it, we are introduced to Ezekiel Blast who has a gift for finding lost items. He feels compelled to return his finds. Instead of being thanked, people accuse him of taking the items in the first place. He is friendless and an outcast until a girl walks up to him and asks "Are you really a thief?
This story is charming and engaging. The well-developed characters are endearing. It is being marketed as SciFi and Fantasy as well as Teen and Young Adult. I agree it is a Teen/YA book but, if anything, it is light SciFi and Fantasy. People who do not usually read SciFi and Fantasy will enjoy this story.
I believe I gave an unbiased opinion on this story especially since it is not a typical SciFi and Fantasy book.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 1/27/20.
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is one of my favorite books. Being offered the opportunity to read his latest, Lost and Found, is an honor and privilege. I know I am supposed to be unbiased when doing reviews but it was difficult in this case.
Lost and Found is not long, less than 300 pages, and flows wells so it is a quick read. In it, we are introduced to Ezekiel Blast who has a gift for finding lost items. He feels compelled to return his finds. Instead of being thanked, people accuse him of taking the items in the first place. He is friendless and an outcast until a girl walks up to him and asks "Are you really a thief?
This story is charming and engaging. The well-developed characters are endearing. It is being marketed as SciFi and Fantasy as well as Teen and Young Adult. I agree it is a Teen/YA book but, if anything, it is light SciFi and Fantasy. People who do not usually read SciFi and Fantasy will enjoy this story.
I believe I gave an unbiased opinion on this story especially since it is not a typical SciFi and Fantasy book.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 1/27/20.
Quest for Lost Heroes (Drenai #4)
6.0
Rate It
Book
The Drenai stronghold had fallen. Now blood-hungry Nadir hordes spread desolation and despair across...
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Wrecking Ball (Hard to Love, #1) in Books
Jan 11, 2021
This starts with Camilla in court (i think?) as she is told she has lost everything she owns after her dead husband started a ponzi scheme that lost a lot of people a lot of money. She is public enemy number one and nobody wants to hire her so she ends up living with her parents and going through agencies in the hopes of finding a job. She's finally offered one looking after a young boy who has a celebrity uncle and must live with them for the duration of the contract. Sparks fly between Cam and Calvin from the start but as they grow closer, animosity turns to attraction.
I actually really enjoyed this. It was definitely a slow burn romance but you could see there was a spark there from pretty early on. Probably from when Cal turned up at her evening job asking her to take the nanny job and wanting to drive her home afterwards since it was so late. That there put him down as being a gentleman in my books and I was smitten. I devoured it from that point on, willing them to finally do something about their attraction.
Of course, there's the dilemma that tears our couple apart and even I was getting emotional at that part. Geez, they were so good together and something like that was going to end up tearing them apart. All came right in the end, though, thank God, or I would be an emotional wreck right now.
I may have to read the next book in the series because it focuses on Cam's best friend and apparent man-hater, Amber, so that should be fun.
I actually really enjoyed this. It was definitely a slow burn romance but you could see there was a spark there from pretty early on. Probably from when Cal turned up at her evening job asking her to take the nanny job and wanting to drive her home afterwards since it was so late. That there put him down as being a gentleman in my books and I was smitten. I devoured it from that point on, willing them to finally do something about their attraction.
Of course, there's the dilemma that tears our couple apart and even I was getting emotional at that part. Geez, they were so good together and something like that was going to end up tearing them apart. All came right in the end, though, thank God, or I would be an emotional wreck right now.
I may have to read the next book in the series because it focuses on Cam's best friend and apparent man-hater, Amber, so that should be fun.
ArecRain (8 KP) rated Double Dose (Research & Desire, #4) in Books
Jan 18, 2018
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Sorely disappointed in this book. I was hoping that maybe, just maybe I could escape the overbearing Alpha male trope. But alas I was sorely mistaken. From the very beginning Ari is a Alpha male through and through, and not in a good way. I am sure he was supposed to be dark and brooding, but I quickly lost patience with him. It was around the third time he picked Daphne up to carry her around that my mood turned sour and never sweetened. While Benjy was better, I found that, after a while, his playful antics seemed more childish than endearing.
I wanted to like this novel, but I just couldnt get behind it. The chemistry seemed forced and though it actually had an in depth plot, it wasnt one I could care about. The author does have a good writing style that flows easily. My problem was with the story itself, not the writing.
Sorely disappointed in this book. I was hoping that maybe, just maybe I could escape the overbearing Alpha male trope. But alas I was sorely mistaken. From the very beginning Ari is a Alpha male through and through, and not in a good way. I am sure he was supposed to be dark and brooding, but I quickly lost patience with him. It was around the third time he picked Daphne up to carry her around that my mood turned sour and never sweetened. While Benjy was better, I found that, after a while, his playful antics seemed more childish than endearing.
I wanted to like this novel, but I just couldnt get behind it. The chemistry seemed forced and though it actually had an in depth plot, it wasnt one I could care about. The author does have a good writing style that flows easily. My problem was with the story itself, not the writing.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated G.O.A.T. in Books
Oct 31, 2019 (Updated Oct 31, 2019)
Tessa and Nash met when they both had just finished high school. She was off to Harvard and he was off to the military. In that one night, they lost their virginity to each other. She gave him her number, but he never called. For Nash, that was the best night of his life and for the past few years, he hasn't been able to get Tessa out of his head, no one can compare. So when she comes back into his life, will they be able to pick up where they left off, or is all hope lost?
Thank you to Frankie and Chantel for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I am loving this new Get Some series from the Quickie Queens. These novellas will grab you from the start and you won't be able to put them down until the very end.
What would you do if you met a guy and he rocked your world and then you never heard from him again? Is there something wrong with him or with you? Then all of a sudden, you're out one night with your friends, and there he is. Will you ever find out what happened all those years ago, or will it remain a mystery.
Nash and Tessa, Tessa and Nash. These two were made for each other, but will old hurts and new wounds be able to heal in order for them to be together.
Thank you to Frankie and Chantel for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I am loving this new Get Some series from the Quickie Queens. These novellas will grab you from the start and you won't be able to put them down until the very end.
What would you do if you met a guy and he rocked your world and then you never heard from him again? Is there something wrong with him or with you? Then all of a sudden, you're out one night with your friends, and there he is. Will you ever find out what happened all those years ago, or will it remain a mystery.
Nash and Tessa, Tessa and Nash. These two were made for each other, but will old hurts and new wounds be able to heal in order for them to be together.
Tales of the Lost
Book
Tales of the Lost is a book of short stories for adults, ranging from realms of fantasy to...
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated The Long Kill in Books
Nov 20, 2019
As a big fan of Reginald Hill I was interested in reading this, one of the books he published under a pseudonym at the same time as he was experiencing success with his other novels.
The set up is intriguing and the main character interesting but the plot doesn't quite seem to gel; I don't know exactly what wasn't right but it didn't have the Hill magic. Everything seems to be fairly conventional, if not a bit cliched and some of the plot points came across as contrived or plain unlikely. The writing too wasn't up to par, almost as if Hill had lost enthusiasm for the project before it was completed. Perhaps that was why he published it under a different name.
That said, it's workman like enough to pass as a casual read. It's just not in the same league as Hill's other work.
The set up is intriguing and the main character interesting but the plot doesn't quite seem to gel; I don't know exactly what wasn't right but it didn't have the Hill magic. Everything seems to be fairly conventional, if not a bit cliched and some of the plot points came across as contrived or plain unlikely. The writing too wasn't up to par, almost as if Hill had lost enthusiasm for the project before it was completed. Perhaps that was why he published it under a different name.
That said, it's workman like enough to pass as a casual read. It's just not in the same league as Hill's other work.
Frank Turner recommended It's All Crazy! It's All False! It's All A Dream! by mewithoutYou in Music (curated)
Rodney Barnes (472 KP) rated Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017) in Movies
Mar 22, 2019 (Updated Mar 22, 2019)
Very Disappointed
Contains spoilers, click to show
I am one of the biggest Star Wars fans you would meet. I have been to theaters to see all movies. As a kid I saw A New Hope in the theater. The Last Jedi however was an abomination. What you have in this movie was a director that did whatever he wanted and hardly addressed anything in The Force Awakens; which now in my opinion is irrelevant.
In the old canon Luke was such an awesome powerful character and leader. Instead of that we get some crazy old guy who has lost connection with the force because his nephew has turned to the dark side (Hmmm A gifted force user turning to the dark side never heard this type of storyline before). The Knights of Ren was not addressed. Luke confining himself to an island and force projecting himself was just plain dumb to me (Hmmm a Jedi Master exiling himself...never heard that storyline before either). The revelation of Rey's parents was anti climatic. The Canto Byte scene was unnecessary. The the thing I was most disappointed in was when Snoke was killed. He was a character I was really interested in. I have heard the people that like this movie say most are mad because this movie was not a "fan service". That is inane reasoning because without fans you have nothing. If this was just another type of Sci fi movie it would have worked. As a Star Wars movie.....just plain bad
In the old canon Luke was such an awesome powerful character and leader. Instead of that we get some crazy old guy who has lost connection with the force because his nephew has turned to the dark side (Hmmm A gifted force user turning to the dark side never heard this type of storyline before). The Knights of Ren was not addressed. Luke confining himself to an island and force projecting himself was just plain dumb to me (Hmmm a Jedi Master exiling himself...never heard that storyline before either). The revelation of Rey's parents was anti climatic. The Canto Byte scene was unnecessary. The the thing I was most disappointed in was when Snoke was killed. He was a character I was really interested in. I have heard the people that like this movie say most are mad because this movie was not a "fan service". That is inane reasoning because without fans you have nothing. If this was just another type of Sci fi movie it would have worked. As a Star Wars movie.....just plain bad