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The Immigrant Brides Romance Collection
The Immigrant Brides Romance Collection
Irene B. Brand | Religion, Romance
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Immigrant Brides Romance Collection Review

                                                             


The Immigrant Brides Romance Collection
9 Stories Celebrate Settling in America
By: Irene B. Brand; Kristy Dykes; Nancy J. Farrier; Pamela Griffin; Joann A Grote; Sally Laity; Judith McCoy Miller; and Janet Spaeth
Barbour Publishing, Inc
Barbour Books
Christian, Romance
Publish Dater 1 March 2019
444 Pages
#TheImmigrantBridesRomanceCollection #NetGalley












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I read this book a little while ago so my review will be very short. It is also hard for me to review a short story collection. I did enjoy this book because it is historical fiction. The stories draw you in and you can feel what each character is going through. There are two stories that deals with Chinese immigrants and what they go through and how they are treated.
My favorite story is about an Irish immigrant who becomes a teacher. I love that her family was very supportive and how the young man who is interested in her helps her out also even though she doesn't give him the light of day.
I would recommend this book for you read.
  
Van Halen by Van Halen
Van Halen by Van Halen
1978 | Rock
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"If you're thinking I don't seem like a big Van Halen guy, then you'd be right. I liked parts of what they did, but what this is really about is a moment in 2017. Whenever Spoon play, we'll go through the same process in the build-up to stage time. The clock is ticking, we're sipping tequila and we're blasting music, turning it up a little louder with each track. The tour manager comes in, tells us we've got five minutes, and then it's time to pick one last song before we go on. For a while, this was it. It got us going! It was Alex (Fischel) who picked it, I think. It's sort of a David Lee Roth mission statement; all those fucked up lyrics, ""my love is rotten to the core,"" and ""you're semi-good looking."" We've had other pump-up songs - it was 'I Wish' by Stevie Wonder for a while - but this is one of those ones that makes you appreciate the art of the riff. You have to write a lot of them before you land on one this good. It's pure '70S rock and roll. I feel like we need some more of that nowadays."

Source
  
Lair of Dreams (The Diviners, #2)
Lair of Dreams (The Diviners, #2)
Libba Bray | 2015 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is an epic book that is based in 1920's New York, and everything you can associate with that - including flappers, parties and racism, to name but a few. A sleeping sickness is sweeping New York, starting off in Chinatown. It is up to Evie and a cast of characters to figure out what is happening and how to stop it.

This is the second book in the series and as such I would recommend reading book 1, The Diviners. I haven't and will admit to feeling slightly lost when the characters would think about or discuss what had happened before. The characters are all well-established with their own quirks and foibles by the time this book starts, so it did take a while to actually feel like I knew these people. Personally, my favourite characters were Ling and Henry, and the friendship that developed between them.

A dark, gothic and creepy book that may give you shivers, definitely recommended if you are on the lookout for something a bit different.

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

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 15, 2016
  
All Your Perfects
All Your Perfects
Colleen Hoover | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, Romance
7
7.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Emotional & Heavy
I've read a few of Colleen Hoover's books back in college but I have yet to pick up one of her newer ones. I've enjoyed them but I have to be honest, many of her books are what I would consider emotional porn. They're made to bring you intense emotions and I swear they're made to make you cry.

Going into this book I only knew the bare minimum about this book. I saw a few quotes here and there and I knew that it was about a failing marriage. What I did know is that I wanted to finally pick up another Colleen Hoover book. When I saw this book on Netgalley as a "wish" I knew I needed to click that button. I was lucky enough to be approved for this book.

I have to admit, I struggled with this book. I struggled with some of the actions of characters and honestly the characters themselves. I never truly felt connect with the characters. Now, Graham & Quinn were wonderful characters that were flawed and realistic, but I couldn't connect with them. Their story was tragic and beautiful at times and I can see why so many people have grabbed onto their story. Unfortunately, I just couldn't connect how I normally do.

As expected with any Colleen Hoover novel, it is well written. You are going to feel emotions and you're going to feel them very deeply. Colleen Hoover does emotions well, I may not have felt connected to the characters but I did feel emotions and even tear up a bit at moments.

All in all, it was a good book & well written.
  
Exploration (The Gifted #2)
Exploration (The Gifted #2)
Char Webster | 2016 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This series is getting better and better! The first book introduced some amazing characters and situations. Exploration builds on those and gives you so much more.

Kate is hurting from Nick's disappearance, Nick is hurting from leaving Kate - so will these two ever get together? Robert and Co certainly hope so, even though it hurts them to see how low Kate is feeling. However, amongst all of this, you find out that there are yet more players involved, as well as new characters to meet.

Now, I will be honest here, and say that I did get a bit confused about just whose motivation was what as there seemed to be numerous branches suddenly appearing, each with their own agendas. If you stick with it though, it does become clear and at the same time, everything that you have been led to believe gets turned on its head. This book is guaranteed to keep you on your toes and make sure you don't skim-read. If you do, you'll get lost. Instead, take your time and savour every word, every moment and every plot line and character. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that I found, this book has definitely left me wanting more, and I can't wait for book 3 to come out. Definitely recommended.

* Verified Purchase on Amazon *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 29, 2016
  
A Fall of Light
A Fall of Light
L.J. Greene | 2023 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
only ONE thing knocked that star off!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Greg appears as a side character in a series by Greene. I have not read those books, but I don't feel I missed out on anything by not doing. I'm intrigued by this group, though, and may well go back and read them. *if I can find the time*

I gave this 4 stars, and one thing ONLY knocked that star off.

Single person point of view.

Only Greg gets a say here, and I wanted, so desperately wanted to hear from Louis, at many key points along the way and I don't get him.

That said, it's the only fault I can find with this book.

I loved that Greg knew, deep down, that he wasn't a casual person, and he could never be casual with Louis. Yet he jumped right in with everything. I loved that Greg let Louis keep his secret for as long as he wanted to. He knew it would come out in the end, he just had to bide his time. I hated what Greg's brother was doing to him, I really did. Said brother does get his comeuppence though.

Greg's past is dark and shocking, being made homeless at 16, he did what he had to do to survive. Loved that Louis did NOT hold it against him, even if his own flesh and blood did. Loved that the band supported him doing the solo stuff, to appease his brother, and also that they stood by him.

It's not especially explicit for a MM romance, but I liked that here, it's more about the emotions going through Greg (since we don't get Louis!) than anything else.

Some difficult topics dealt with: religious intervention, conversion therapy, street life and doing what you need to do to survive. Triggers for some, be mindful.

This is the first I've read of Greene's work. Like I said, I'd like, *time allowing* to read the series that Greg first appears in, but if not, I will absolutely read any future books by this author.

4 very VERY good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
This is unique kind of story in itself. It about a family in Apple Grove along with Luke Carson and his men on a trail. There are some things that happen along the way. Emma and Luke relationship starts to form.

In the prologue you learn about Luke Carson, and his pa. Luke was picked to be a trail boss to take Mr. Hancock cattle to market. He is to take the cattle drive from Texas to Hays. We find out what some of what Luke Carson wants in life and it bit different then this fathers life.

Emma Switzer and her family were on their way to Troyer. Emma does not want to leave Apple Grove to go to Troyer to live her aunt. Her Grandmother Switzer insisted on her to go with Emma to Troyer.

We start out on the trail in Kansas going from one Amish community to another Amish community. When unexpected things start to happen to the Switzer's family. They are robbed of their belongings, and were left with nothing, but their lives. Emma Switzer's father Jonas, sister Rebecca and grandmother Switzer's were all traveling to Troyer, KS. They were hoping that Emma would find husband, as their were more Amish men available there.

After they are left on the trail, they pray for God's help and is provided with assistance from Luke Carson. He is on a cattle drive, and is in a anxious to get to Hays, KS with his animals.

Wait until you hear what Grandma Switzer.... says and does on the wagon ride. It to funny.

So if you are in a need to laugh or you just want to read it read about to see what up with this wonder of a book. The best way to put on smile is to laugh at something. As they say laughter is best medicine.
I would recommend it but to read this it up to you to decide. These are my honest feeling and for this review. It is a fun and funny book, but if you do not like western or cowboys or rustlers this may not be a book for you but that is up to you to decide. I do not like to many histical or western stories but this one got my attention and did like it.