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Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book was so much fun to read! Quirky and full of romance. I found myself grinning throughout most of the book, as well as giggling quite frequently. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of ups and downs to keep your eyes glued to the page. Alongside the light wit and humour you will find truth and Godly wisdom. Joy has infused this story with so many real emotions that hit pretty close to home. Trust is one of the main themes of this book. Trust in God and not in man. Trust that He will guide our paths and that He has the best plan laid out for us, even if we can't see the end result. Forgiveness is another thread that you can find throughout the book. Forgiving those that have hurt us deeply can be hard. But, if we forgive and let go, place our trust in God to heal us, the result is more beautiful than we could imagine. Written in first and third person with the two main characters, I found it easy to follow along and to feel like I was inside Izze's mind. I love the dynamics between Izze and Miles. Personally, I feel like I am a pretty good mash up of their characters! A bookish person who is a bit (ok a lot) of a nerd with a healthy dose of sarcasm. I can't wait for you to meet them for yourself. I am relatively new to contemporary fiction, but I would highly recommend Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations.
I received a free copy of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
  
Journey (The Chosen One Trilogy #2)
Journey (The Chosen One Trilogy #2)
Mireille Chester | 2015 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is the second in The Chosen One trilogy and picks up where Crossover finished. You are straight back in the action with Hayden and Jasper as they fight for what they believe in and against being used by someone else. The choices that Hayden has to make never become easier but as a person, she grows and becomes more comfortable with the decisions she has to make. Jasper is by her side, supporting her in everything she does and I pity the person who tries to come between them.

This is very well-written although the perspective changes from Hayden to Jasper without warning which I personally found a bit jarring. However, saying that, it was good to get Jasper's perspective on things so I liked it, but a title or note at the beginning of each chapter would have made it smoother in my opinion.

The plot advances swiftly and time skips over 'dead time' occasionally as the plot moves forward. the character development is good and I am looking forward to learning more about the bond between Hayden and Alex, the bond between the Queen and the cats etc. So much information is given to you in this book and yet I am still left wanting more. I need the third book in this fabulous series!

In short, this is a brilliant book that shows the depth and sacrifice entailed with deep and enduring love. I love the world-building and the characters and can't wait to reimmerse myself in Hayden's world. Highly recommended.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 9, 2015
  
SM
So Much Life Left Over
Louis de Bernieres | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The aftermath of World War 1 in true de Bernieres style.
Louis de Bernieres has been one of my favourite authors ever since I stumbled across The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts in 1990. As soon as I see that he has a book coming out, I avidly wait until I can buy it, trying to get as much information about the subject matter as I can (yes, I'm a fan-girl). This novel has not disappointed me.
So Much Life Left Over takes us back in to the lives of Rosie and Daniel Pitt after the First World War has come to an end. We go as far as Ceylon, back to London and to Germany in the 1930's. We catch up with all of the characters that we first encountered in The Dust That Falls From Dreams (and if you haven't read that yet, you're seriously missing out), and learn about what happens to Rosie's sisters, parents and those that they have met along the way.
I love the dialogue in this book: it's punchy, quick-witted and emotional. The first of Oily Wragge's chapters (each chapter, when about a different person, is written from their perspective, sometimes in first person, sometimes in third person - but I like this. It seems so personal) haunting, terribly sad and filled with the violence and horror of war and being a prisoner of war.
Daniel and Wragge go to work in Germany, and set up a business with the two fighter pilots that Daniel captured in the war. Here we get a look at the Germany of the early 1930's: the poverty, deprivation, and Hitlers rise to power. Daniel correctly predicts another war.
However, the truly heart wrenching events happen in the last thirty pages or so. I strongly suggest you get your handkerchief ready. The emotion in these last pages is what really makes this a truly stand out book for me (if the rest of the book hadn't already been enough to do that!). The sensitivity in the way that the subject matter is handled, and the emotions that this invokes in the reader is so well done.
I would thoroughly recommend this novel, I so enjoyed it, and I will be looking forward to the last part of this story.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
  
TW
The Weird Sisters
4
5.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Rosalind, Bianca, and Cordelia are the Andreas sisters. Rosalind(Rosie) is a professor at the local college, Bianca(Bean) is off in New York, working and enjoying the nightlife, Cordelia(Cordy)is riding the wind wherever it takes her. One summer, they all show up back at home. Although Rosie has never left the town they grew up with, she is staying with her parents a lot more now. Cordy & Bean show up, just when they are needed most. Their mother is sick and is going to need their help. Each sister has been drawn home for a different reason, but being home will change them all.

The Weird Sisters is a weird book. It was written in the third person, but I didn't know which sister was speaking at the time. Maybe this is because I listened to the audio instead of reading the actual book, but I found it strange that it seemed like they were talking about each other, but you never knew who was speaking at that time. Maybe there was a fourth sister.

This book was just okay for me. It was an interesting story, but there wasn't anything that really stood out for me to make this a great book.
  
SA
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review

The third in the series has more of suspense feel to it than the others, I have to say it didn’t work for me. I don’t really do suspense even when it’s paired with romance, so I found myself enjoying this novel less than the first two. I did enjoy how much love these characters had for animals. As someone who loves all animals (I am that person who won’t step on a spider!), it warmed my heart to see their devotion.

The bottomline is that, despite not enjoying the mystery/suspense aspect, it was an enjoyable read. The characters are easy to like and their actions make more sense than those of characters in the previous installment. This was one of those novels where I enjoyed reading about the journey rather than reading towards the goal.

It’s also much easier to pick up on the language after read a few of these novels. If you are not used to European, particularly British, terms, then it could throw you off. The author makes sure these don’t actually interfere with the story, however.

_ Arec
<a href="https://rainythursdays.wordpress.com">Rainy Thursdays</a>
  
Shave &amp; Shimmer (Sangre Trilogy #2)
Shave & Shimmer (Sangre Trilogy #2)
Alex Carreras | 2018 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
6
3.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Shave & Shimmer (Sangre Trilogy #2) by Alex Carreras
Shave & Shimmer is the second novella in the Sangre Trilogy, and now that Asher has found love, he is determined everyone should. The first person on his matchmaking list is Tory, the high maintenance twink we were first introduced to in Asher & Niko's story. Tory wants to find The One, but has had no luck so far, which is why he agrees to Asher's suggestion that they go on a double-date. It starts off well, but ends badly, through no fault of Tory. He finds out more about Ray's past and what made him react that way.

This is once again a well-written but extremely fast-paced novella. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, no doubt leading to the third and final story. The story, this one moment in their lives, is well-told and is complete. I would love to know more about them, and what their futures hold though.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
http://glbt.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=26515
  
Cardiac Arrest
Cardiac Arrest
Lisa Q. Mathews | 2015 | Mystery
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
An Arresting Series Debut
When Milano, Florida, cardiologist Dr. Anthony Amoretto, aka Dr. A, dies in his office one morning, it brings Summer Smythe and Dorothy Westin together. Summer is a twenty-something working her first day for Dr. A, and she becomes the prime suspect since she handed him his morning shake. Meanwhile, Dorothy is a woman of a certain age who was Dr. A’s first appointment. The unlikely friends set out to find out what happened to Dr. A to clear Summer’s name. What will they uncover?

This book was a delight from start to finish. Dorothy and Summer are true partners, even acting as our third person point of view characters at various times, and both uncovering key pieces of the puzzle. Dr. A had plenty of secrets, and I had no clue where things were going until we reached the logical end. A few of the characters are a bit over the top, but they work for the comedic tone of the book. Summer would annoy me at times, but then she’s show a hidden depth that would make me rethink her. I hope she matures as the series progresses. Dorothy, on the other hand, was a pure delight. I can’t wait to visit this duo again.
  
Practical Magic
Practical Magic
Alice Hoffman | 2003 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
8.1 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
They focus on relationships between the women in the house, learning to appreciate each other and who they are. (0 more)
The film adaption was nothing like the book though that is usually an expected problem. The movie was light and almost whimsical, while the book is much darker, serious and almost sinister in nature. (0 more)
Good Witches based book!
I liked the book on a few different levels. Being a writer can be difficult, and she wrote in third person which to me can be very difficult.
 The mother is the main character because she overshadowed her daughter's actions (lives). It's about the Owen's family, mainly the sisters who resided in Massachusetts with their aunts. I love the themes of a family bond, they have to learn to appreciate each other and for who they are but also highlights the differences in the sisters. Learning that magic doesn't always fix everything. They use magic sparingly, only when they needed it.
 Alice made Fate a real and breathing thing, the secondary theme. If you haven't read the book, prepare yourself to have an open mind because the story is a bit darker than you would expect. It can be entirely entertaining towards the right audience.