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Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated Closer in Books

Apr 19, 2019  
Closer
Closer
Alexa Riley | 2018 | Erotica, Romance
7
5.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
First finished book of 2019!! I would rate this 3 1/2 stars so I have rounded up to 4 stars.

I listened to this book through the Read Me Romance podcast. I loved the concept of the podcast and the intro music is amazing. Closer is my first time reading Alexa Riley so I went into this book with no idea what I was signing up for. Unfortunately, it seems that this little novella fell under the curse of the novella, I didn't feel connected to the characters.

Though I didn't feel connected to the characters I still liked them. They were interesting and I wish that I could have a full novel with the characters and not a short novella. I also liked the narrators and I think that they added a half star to my rating of this book.

The plot was obviously quick and dirty. It kept me entertained but it also left me wanting a lot more. There really wasn't time to get to know the characters and it was insta love which generally annoys me. I love insta connection but the insta love just drives me up the wall. I wish that I would have gotten to know the characters more and see a relationship develop.

All in all, it was quick and dirty.
  
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Kaz (232 KP) rated Never Let Me Go in Books

May 25, 2019 (Updated May 25, 2019)  
Never Let Me Go
Never Let Me Go
Kazuo Ishiguro | 2010 | Essays
8
8.1 (17 Ratings)
Book Rating
Beautiful writing and well crafted characters (0 more)
A little slow at times (0 more)
A Beautiful, but Disturbing Read
I read 'Never Let Me Go' a few years ago and, after just finishing re-reading this book, I realize that you possibly need to read it more than once, to really appreciate how brilliant this is.

'Never Let Me Go' tells the complex relationship between 3 friends Ruth, Tommy and Kathy, the narrator of this story. These characters are so well formed, that I totally believed that these people exist.

This is a story about friendship and growing up, which is something that you can relate to. However, the macabre twist to this story, delves deeper into what it is to be human.

My only real criticism of this book is that at times, it was a little slow. This melancholy, slower pace suited the story well. Due to the fact that the truth of what was happening to the main characters, was revealed slowly, meant that this had more impact. However, at times I felt like Kathy would be explaining something that had happened, but doing it in such a rambling way, that I wished that she would just get to the point.

Despite this little criticism, I think that this book is a beautiful and disturbing look into a future, that could potentially happen.

I would definitely recommend it.
  
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ClareR (5996 KP) May 26, 2019

Great review - this is one of my favourite books, and one of the few I’ve read more than once!

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Kaz (232 KP) May 26, 2019

Thanks! I actually was a bit underwhelmed the first time I read this, but reading it again really helped me to really appreciate it. I think that this is going on my list of favourite reads too.

The Last Widow (Will Trent #9)
The Last Widow (Will Trent #9)
Karin Slaughter | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller
10
8.6 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
This latest book in the Will Trent series is centred around far right extremists (Alt-right, Nazi ideology - there’s a lot of ‘Blood and Soil’ being shouted about). I have to hold my hands up here, and admit that I haven’t read the other 8 books in the series, but that didn’t stop me enjoying this. I LOVED it. If it wasn’t for the fact that I had to wait for each ‘stave’ to be released on The Pigeonhole for 12 days, I would have read it all in a couple of sittings. ‘Gripping’ is not the word to describe this - or rather it IS the word, but I’d add ‘exciting, ‘tense’ and ‘oh blimey, I really ought to breathe now!’.


Seriously, it’s a really very good book - loads of great detail about Alt-right/ Nazi groups, a great storyline explaining the relationship between Will and Sara (for those of us who need to catch up), and how the group Sara is kidnapped by operates.

I don’t want to say anymore, because spoiling a book is not on, but I should perhaps warn that it does go into details of rape, torture and paedophilia. If these subjects are not for you, then you’d best avoid this book. However, if these subjects don’t turn you away from a book, just do yourself a favour and read it!!
  
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Eleanor (1463 KP) Jun 14, 2019

Trying to get through the Grant County series before I start this series, looking forward to it.

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ClareR (5996 KP) Jun 14, 2019

@Eleanor I’m rubbish at reading most series - as you can see, I more often than not pick up somewhere near the middle, and then have to go back to the beginning. Luckily it didn’t backfire with this book!

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ArecRain (8 KP) rated The Frenzy in Books

Jan 18, 2018  
TF
The Frenzy
2
2.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is the worst book I have read since Douglas's Wolf Tales. This book is just so terrible in so many ways that I can't even think of and good way to go about stating how much I didn't enjoy this novel.

I guess I should start with the writing style. Was there was nothing grammatically wrong with Block's style, it was about as interesting as watching mud dry. The novel is in first person narrative, which can always go downhill fast. I should have known from the first page that I wouldn't enjoy it. I think it would have been a lot better had it not been so choppy. However, it felt like half the novel was written as an aside to the real story.

The second would be the story line. It was annoying, uncreative, and so ridiculously obvious that I had the whole novel figured out only a few chapters in. I had mixed feelings about a lot of the topics going on like Pace committing suicide in concerns with Michael, Liv's relationship with her parents, and Victor wanting Liv as his bride. The entire novel felt shallow and superficial.

In all honesty, I felt terrible after reading this book. It put me in a dark mood for some many reasons, I feel that I can't even justify my emotions with words.
  
The It Girl (It Girl, #1)
The It Girl (It Girl, #1)
Cecily von Ziegesar | 2005 | Young Adult (YA)
6
6.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
The It Girl series follows Gossip Girl character, Jenny Humphries at her new boarding school, Waverly. The sophomore must navigate an entirely new set of social rules in her attempt to become New Jenny - an it-girl. But life at Waverly isn't always what Jenny dreamed for herself and sometimes it's so much better.

Overall, the book is enjoyable in a simple, YA, guilty read way. It's not going to win any literary awards, but if you enjoy books about privileged kids, boarding schools or volatile relationship dynamics you will like this read. Although it is fiction, sometimes I am astounded by the level of debauchery surrounding these students.

The first book, It Girl, introduces us to the large cast of characters. New girl, Jenny, who is looking to reinvent herself. Junior class prefect, Brett, who seems to have it all together. Privileged princess, Callie, who thinks appearances are everything. True it-girl, Tinsley, who is the puppet-master of Waverly. As well as all their girlfriends and the rotating batch of potential boyfriends.

School seems perfect - the guy she has her eye on seems to be crushing back, her roommates seem great and she's been invited to join the advanced art class. What could go wrong? {{spoiler}}Tinsley returns to school and is none too happy about the new girl in her bed.
  
I recently picked up the new Legend of Korra comic, Turf Wars and was drawn back into the world wholeheartedly. I love the Avatar: The Last Airbender tv show and realized that I hadn't read all of the comics released after the show concluded. There is a set that includes lost stories from the time of the show, but these newer bind-ups are actually continuing the story beyond the show's plot. It was so nice to be able to see what was happening with our favourite characters and how they've grown.

The characters we've grown to love are still apparent in this graphic novel, despite the fact that over a year has passed. Each has their own unique voice, which is familiar from the tv show and makes you feel like you're inhabiting the world once more. Toph's voice was the easiest to image as she has such a unique tone and outlook on life. It was interesting to see the progression of Katara and Aang's relationship in the aftermath of the war.

For any people concerned about reading the comics and not having them live up to the show you love, I hope that I can erase any fears. I loved reading this storyline and feeling the struggles that the characters were going through. I cannot wait to continue with these graphic novels and see how the story progresses.
  
TB
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Note: I won this book Though LibraryThing Early Reviewers for my Honest Review.

This book is about Joanna and her struggles and a bit about Hickory Hallows. I really enjoy this book though the eyes of Joanna. There some so strange about how it starts and ends. She so want to be a wife and mother and waiting for her special someone.

Eben is happens to run into her while they are at the Virginia Beach for Joanna great, great Uncle funeral. Thought Eben has is struggles at home in Indiana. What he has a dilemma and he so love a girl. Will they get what they both want in terms of each other?

They both have their struggles. Joanna struggles with Eben is mean for her or not. Joanna has to work something out while in Hickory Hallow and Eben has to work though his delimma with is family and brother and his family farm.

The book tell you about keeping your faith in the Lord, and teach about separation along with long distance Relationship and that you may need to give a little sometimes. Though I would rather you read this for yourself and decide if this is what you get when you are reading it. I would recommend it folks to read if they enjoy fiction and or Amish. You choose for yourselves.
  
RI
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
What a sweet treat! This was my first Georgia Peach mystery, and I really enjoyed it. The story and the setting just ooze southern charm. Nola Mae Harper is working hard to get her Peachy Keen shop ready to open on time when a murder occurs in town, and her best friend is the prime suspect. She knows the safe thing to do is to stay out of police business, but will the sheriff really look any farther with such a convenient suspect at hand? When it seems that she won’t, Nola and her group of friends get together to try save Ginny’s reputation, the Peach Cotillion, and a romantic relationship or two.

Nola, Hattie, and Ginny are an engaging group of friends with very individual, believable personalities, and there were enough suspects and clues in this mystery to keep me guessing right up to the end.

This is book #2 in the series. While I think it might have been nice to know a little more about Nola’s first case, since she refers to it occasionally during the story, you don’t need to have read book #1 to enjoy this one.

 

NOTE: I received a free copy from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
  
Robbie Riverton: Mail Order Bride
Robbie Riverton: Mail Order Bride
Eli Easton | 2018 | LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Dumb title, awful art, but good book
Please don't judge this book by its atrocious cover. As a kid, I read all of my older sister's romance novels--Jude Devereaux, Judith McNaught, et cetera--but as a sentimental gay dude, there was a lot that didn't hit home for me. This is my first gay historical romance, and I really liked it. It has about the same amount of depth you would expect from a heterosexual romance novels (which is to say, not much), but it was no less an enjoyable read. I'm glad that Easton didn't rely on angst to further the story, but actually gave us a story that stands in its own two legs.

I admit that I was nervous going into the more erotic scenes. It's kind of a thorny issue, with Easton being a woman and describing an entirely male act. But they were surprisingly realistic (for a romance novel). That said, they didn't exactly light my fire, but they weren't "boobs feel like bags of sand" either. Nice, middle of the road. It's clear the focus is on the relationship, not sex, though she acknowledges the strong sexual intensity that (sometimes) manifests between men.

Just, please, Easton, if you read these at all, do something about the cover art. The title is a little hokey too. It made me underestimate your talent.
  
AE
An Exaltation of Larks (Venery, #1)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
What a confusingly beautiful story. The beginning was my favorite. How the Author wrote these characters into life. The characters where given more than just another story. They were given true life. No life is perfect we have ups and downs. We just learn to navigate it better. I wasn’t a fan of how everything went down. But it was beautiful in it’s tragedy. Alex and Val have been destined for each other from the first time they didn’t let language be a problem. I loved reading their story and how they found each other after years of pushed aside affection. You add in Jav and things get really hot. I wasn’t expecting the ending but I am glad it ended the way it did. I would’ve had a hard time accepting their relationship when Jav didn’t want Val too just Alex. I see them as a packaged deal and Jav and Alex broke it. Val was amazing like I couldn’t cope with the thought of someone else loving my man. But she was so understanding and brave to try and make everyone happy. I think if they crossed that line anymore relationships would’ve been lost. Not saying it wouldn’t work just that someone would’ve been hurt and it would be Val. Love is a powerful and painful thing.