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MaryAnn (14 KP) rated Moments We Forget (Thatcher Sisters, #2) in Books
Nov 4, 2019
illian Thatcher has spent most of her life playing the family peacemaker, caught in the middle between her driven, talented older sister and her younger, spotlight-stealing twin sisters. Then on the night of her engagement party, a cancer diagnosis threatens to once again steal her chance to shine. Now, Jillians on the road to recovery after finally finishing chemo and radiation, but residual effects of the treatment keep her from reclaiming her life as shed hoped. And just when her dreams might be falling into place, a life-altering revelation from her husband sends her reeling again. Will Jillian ever achieve her own dreams, or will she always be just Jillian, the less-than Thatcher sister? Can she count on her sisters as she tries to step into a stronger place, or are they stuck in their childhood roles forever?
My Thoughts: This is a compelling story about three sisters who all have the difficulties that they are overcoming. Each one is on a journey that brings them back together again. This is a story that the readers can get lost in, that can connect and relate to in each of their own lives. The characters are real, with down to earth troubles that can happen at any time in our lives. This is a story about coming together, letting the past go, looking forward to the future and of course, there is an element of forgiveness.
I do like that the gospel is given in this novel, the fact that we do need God in our lives is foremost to living a life worth living. To those who don't know Christ, they can become lost or bitter during some of the circumstances that these sisters faced.
The writer has written a novel that is easy to read, the storyline flows well and she brings the reader into the story that makes it personal to the reader.
I truly enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more from Beth K. Vogt.
My Thoughts: This is a compelling story about three sisters who all have the difficulties that they are overcoming. Each one is on a journey that brings them back together again. This is a story that the readers can get lost in, that can connect and relate to in each of their own lives. The characters are real, with down to earth troubles that can happen at any time in our lives. This is a story about coming together, letting the past go, looking forward to the future and of course, there is an element of forgiveness.
I do like that the gospel is given in this novel, the fact that we do need God in our lives is foremost to living a life worth living. To those who don't know Christ, they can become lost or bitter during some of the circumstances that these sisters faced.
The writer has written a novel that is easy to read, the storyline flows well and she brings the reader into the story that makes it personal to the reader.
I truly enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more from Beth K. Vogt.
Not Forgotten: The True Story of My Imprisonment in North Korea
Mark Tabb and Kenneth Bae
Book
For the first time, Kenneth Bae tells the full story surrounding his arrest and imprisonment in...
Becs (244 KP) rated Silent Lee and the Adventure of the Side Door Key in Books
May 30, 2019
Story Development (2 more)
Character Development
Plot was amazing
Cute and simple read!
My rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Review:
I received Silent Lee and the Adventure of the Side Door Key by Alex Hiam from Smith Publicity to read and review for my honest opinion. Since this novel has such a long title, I will be shortening it to just Silent Lee.
Silent Lee is about a young girl about the age of fourteen named Silent Lee, (she prefers Sie). Sie has been living in the Side Door world majority of her life.
A note on the Side Door world and the Front Door world:
Side Door world - the magical world that you can only enter through the side door of a house. You must have the special key in order to activate this world. Not all side doors are a part of the Side Door world. If there is a side door that doesn't have an exit, then you're in luck!
Front Door world - the modern world that you enter via the front door, back door, or windows. This is the world that Raahi lives in along with Sie's mother.
One day, Sie's mother takes Sie away from her Auntie Gen's. Then, before Sie realizes, Auntie Gen dies (or so we think). The story continues to follow Sie as she gets dropped off at her cousins house, who eventually leave her for summer vacation, and Raahi entering Sie's life. Sie gets a note from her Auntie Gen and she begins questioning what it could mean and whether her Aunt is actually dead. So, being the curious soul that she is, she follows the note as best as she can. Raahi is by her side throughout the entirety of the story and even to the very ending when they find and rescue Auntie Gen from being held captive by Sie's mother who is a CIA agent.
This was a fast-paced, middle grade novel that will keep your attention until the very end. I can't wait to read more of Sie's story!
Characters:
Silent Lee (Sie) - the protagonist, fourteen years old and a witch who travels from the Side Door world and the Front Door world. Mixed ethnicity - African American and European.
Raahi - a minor protagonist who befriends Sie because he has a crush on her. Same age as Sie and follows her throughout the story. Indian ethnicity.
Auntie Gen - Sie's aunt who is originally presumed dead, but was actually held captive by the CIA and Sie's mother. Also a witch and the holder of the Side Door key until she gives it to Sie.
Agent Lee - Sie's adoptive mother, may not actually be a part of the Side Door world at all. She tries to steal the power within the Side Door world to bring back into the Front Door world.
Mr. Vose - art gallery owner who helps Sie and Raahi.
The Custodian - balance keeper of the Front Door world, helps Sie and Raahi in a time of need.
Reasons why I rated it 5 stars:
1. The plot:
The plot was very driven and I did not find any plot holes. The story was written in a very high level for a middle grade novel and I truly enjoyed it.
2. My enjoyment:
I loved Silent Lee and the Adventure of the Side Door Key so much!
3. Character and story development:
Man oh man! There was a ton of background and development for both the characters and the story!! I was really blown away as there was more then the average young adult novel.
4. Grammar and spelling:
I did not find any grammatical or spelling errors and Silent Lee was very well-written.
5. The overall story:
This was such an adorable story! I really loved the modern and historical balance that the author created while also adding a bit of magic into the story.
"Bookworms ate books - they didn't read them. And what was wrong with reading, anyway?"
Review:
I received Silent Lee and the Adventure of the Side Door Key by Alex Hiam from Smith Publicity to read and review for my honest opinion. Since this novel has such a long title, I will be shortening it to just Silent Lee.
Silent Lee is about a young girl about the age of fourteen named Silent Lee, (she prefers Sie). Sie has been living in the Side Door world majority of her life.
A note on the Side Door world and the Front Door world:
Side Door world - the magical world that you can only enter through the side door of a house. You must have the special key in order to activate this world. Not all side doors are a part of the Side Door world. If there is a side door that doesn't have an exit, then you're in luck!
Front Door world - the modern world that you enter via the front door, back door, or windows. This is the world that Raahi lives in along with Sie's mother.
One day, Sie's mother takes Sie away from her Auntie Gen's. Then, before Sie realizes, Auntie Gen dies (or so we think). The story continues to follow Sie as she gets dropped off at her cousins house, who eventually leave her for summer vacation, and Raahi entering Sie's life. Sie gets a note from her Auntie Gen and she begins questioning what it could mean and whether her Aunt is actually dead. So, being the curious soul that she is, she follows the note as best as she can. Raahi is by her side throughout the entirety of the story and even to the very ending when they find and rescue Auntie Gen from being held captive by Sie's mother who is a CIA agent.
This was a fast-paced, middle grade novel that will keep your attention until the very end. I can't wait to read more of Sie's story!
Characters:
Silent Lee (Sie) - the protagonist, fourteen years old and a witch who travels from the Side Door world and the Front Door world. Mixed ethnicity - African American and European.
Raahi - a minor protagonist who befriends Sie because he has a crush on her. Same age as Sie and follows her throughout the story. Indian ethnicity.
Auntie Gen - Sie's aunt who is originally presumed dead, but was actually held captive by the CIA and Sie's mother. Also a witch and the holder of the Side Door key until she gives it to Sie.
Agent Lee - Sie's adoptive mother, may not actually be a part of the Side Door world at all. She tries to steal the power within the Side Door world to bring back into the Front Door world.
Mr. Vose - art gallery owner who helps Sie and Raahi.
The Custodian - balance keeper of the Front Door world, helps Sie and Raahi in a time of need.
Reasons why I rated it 5 stars:
1. The plot:
The plot was very driven and I did not find any plot holes. The story was written in a very high level for a middle grade novel and I truly enjoyed it.
2. My enjoyment:
I loved Silent Lee and the Adventure of the Side Door Key so much!
3. Character and story development:
Man oh man! There was a ton of background and development for both the characters and the story!! I was really blown away as there was more then the average young adult novel.
4. Grammar and spelling:
I did not find any grammatical or spelling errors and Silent Lee was very well-written.
5. The overall story:
This was such an adorable story! I really loved the modern and historical balance that the author created while also adding a bit of magic into the story.
"Bookworms ate books - they didn't read them. And what was wrong with reading, anyway?"
Codex of Victory
Games and Entertainment
App
Human society has been divided. On one side, the natural course of human evolution has been...
Becs (244 KP) rated The Demon in the Wood in Books
Aug 8, 2019
HOLY MOTHER OF PEARL THIS WAS GOOD!!
“Fear is a powerful ally, but feed it too often, make it too strong, and it will turn on you.”
TRIGGER WARNINGS: bullying, death, murder
Review:
This novella is a bit shorter than most novellas I’ve read, but that doesn’t take anything away from this wonderfully executed novella! It delves deep into the past of the Darkling, allowing the reader to glimpse a semi-sweet boy that was turned dark because of how people wanted to use him for the rare powers he possessed.
Holy mother of pearl! I really truly enjoyed looking into where the Darkling came from and what his past contained before the Shadow and Bone Trilogy. At first, I was a bit confused but it eventually picked up. I do wish there was a way to pronounce all of the names as I’m clueless on how they are correctly said loll.
This story of the Darklings past, was not only heartbreaking but also soul crushing. You get to see the multi layers of the Darkling forming and he begins to become the complex character he is in Shadow and Bone. The yearning for a place to live, the loneliness he felt of not being able to get close with anyone, and the suffering created a beautifully written and executed novella. The writing had a captivating presence and I was left with wanting more of who the Darkling was. Which I got a bit in devouring Shadow and Bone, but I wish this novella was longer!
“The Grisha lived as shadows did, passing over the surface of the world, touching nothing, forced to change their shapes and hide in corners, driven by fear as shadows were driven by the sun. No safe place. No haven. There will be… I will make one.”
TRIGGER WARNINGS: bullying, death, murder
Review:
This novella is a bit shorter than most novellas I’ve read, but that doesn’t take anything away from this wonderfully executed novella! It delves deep into the past of the Darkling, allowing the reader to glimpse a semi-sweet boy that was turned dark because of how people wanted to use him for the rare powers he possessed.
Holy mother of pearl! I really truly enjoyed looking into where the Darkling came from and what his past contained before the Shadow and Bone Trilogy. At first, I was a bit confused but it eventually picked up. I do wish there was a way to pronounce all of the names as I’m clueless on how they are correctly said loll.
This story of the Darklings past, was not only heartbreaking but also soul crushing. You get to see the multi layers of the Darkling forming and he begins to become the complex character he is in Shadow and Bone. The yearning for a place to live, the loneliness he felt of not being able to get close with anyone, and the suffering created a beautifully written and executed novella. The writing had a captivating presence and I was left with wanting more of who the Darkling was. Which I got a bit in devouring Shadow and Bone, but I wish this novella was longer!
“The Grisha lived as shadows did, passing over the surface of the world, touching nothing, forced to change their shapes and hide in corners, driven by fear as shadows were driven by the sun. No safe place. No haven. There will be… I will make one.”
Youthnation: Building Remarkable Brands in a Youth-Driven Culture
Book
Youth is no longer an age it's a commodity YouthNation is an indispensable brand roadmap to the...
I am not generally a Patterson fan, but I have got to disagree with the many poor reviews I hear about this book because they are completely unfair. The story was plot driven, exciting, scary, and imaginative. I liked it.
It does NOT deserve to be called the "worst novel ever written." I know of PLENTY of books I liked A LOT less than this one. No, this book is not the next literary masterpiece, but that isn't the point. Sure the characters aren't deep, and Oz himself is kind of an idiot despite having figured out what happened, but truthfully, most of the characters acted pretty realistically and served their purpose. Maybe the science wasn't 100%, but I don't think it was impossibly wrong either.
Could it have been better? Yes. Was it awful? No. I happily read this book in three days, and I even watched a little of the series, even though it's completely different. I was actually torn between 6 and 7 stars, but I did kinda wish it ended differently.
It does NOT deserve to be called the "worst novel ever written." I know of PLENTY of books I liked A LOT less than this one. No, this book is not the next literary masterpiece, but that isn't the point. Sure the characters aren't deep, and Oz himself is kind of an idiot despite having figured out what happened, but truthfully, most of the characters acted pretty realistically and served their purpose. Maybe the science wasn't 100%, but I don't think it was impossibly wrong either.
Could it have been better? Yes. Was it awful? No. I happily read this book in three days, and I even watched a little of the series, even though it's completely different. I was actually torn between 6 and 7 stars, but I did kinda wish it ended differently.
Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated Tampa in Books
Mar 15, 2018
This book is meant to shock! Based on the case of Florida teacher Debra Lafave, this book explores a taboo subject with a twist. Not as often do you hear of a female teacher having an affair with a student, so it's a great book that flips this subject on its head to reveal a shocking double standard that's sadly present in our society.
I was so interested in where this story was going and how it was going to end that I hardly put it down! Definitely a NSFW book with some rather graphic scenes. Don't expect this book to be anything like Lolita in the sense that Nabokov writes in a such a way that you catch yourself slipping and feeling sorry for Humbert on occasion, Nutting makes no efforts to make us feel sorry for Celeste, she's presented as a lust driven woman who will stop at nothing to fufill her desires.
By liking this book I am not condoning the actions written within, I simply found this a fascinating read. Very different to anything I've read before.
I was so interested in where this story was going and how it was going to end that I hardly put it down! Definitely a NSFW book with some rather graphic scenes. Don't expect this book to be anything like Lolita in the sense that Nabokov writes in a such a way that you catch yourself slipping and feeling sorry for Humbert on occasion, Nutting makes no efforts to make us feel sorry for Celeste, she's presented as a lust driven woman who will stop at nothing to fufill her desires.
By liking this book I am not condoning the actions written within, I simply found this a fascinating read. Very different to anything I've read before.
Katarzyna Krasuska (81 KP) rated Find Her in Books
Aug 15, 2018 (Updated Aug 16, 2018)
Very strong female character (2 more)
Very gripping
Female Charles Bronson
Make this into a movie!
This is definitely a book that should be made into a film.
I saw this interview with Reese Witherspoon, where she talks about books, that she has made into films, because they're female driven. Yet the books she focuses her attention on are not strong or interesting enough, like "Gone girl " or "Husband's secret" . Here we have a female author, a female kick ass character, that is not just strong, but smart, brave and I would happily say dangerous. Not just that, I genuinely believe men would like to watch this too.
The main character of this book was abducted by a psycho and kept in a box for 472 days. When she gets rescued, instead of just trying to move on with her life, she goes into avenger mode. She learns how to fight, reads awful lot about self defense and decides to get the justice herself.
Amazing story, that I think all women should read.
I saw this interview with Reese Witherspoon, where she talks about books, that she has made into films, because they're female driven. Yet the books she focuses her attention on are not strong or interesting enough, like "Gone girl " or "Husband's secret" . Here we have a female author, a female kick ass character, that is not just strong, but smart, brave and I would happily say dangerous. Not just that, I genuinely believe men would like to watch this too.
The main character of this book was abducted by a psycho and kept in a box for 472 days. When she gets rescued, instead of just trying to move on with her life, she goes into avenger mode. She learns how to fight, reads awful lot about self defense and decides to get the justice herself.
Amazing story, that I think all women should read.