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Rachel King (13 KP) rated The Season in Books

Feb 11, 2019

Most of the main characters had traits that separated their personality from one another, but I had trouble distinguishing between Alex's three brothers, as they all seemed to behave alike. The plot seemed to falter everytime there was a journal entry by the antagonist, especially since what would happen in the plot following them didn't usually match up with what was in the journal entry. All of the loose threads were accounted for in the end, though. The book came to me classified as a mystery, but I found that aspect of the text to be lacking most of the time, especially when focusing on the romance part of the text. I'm not usually a fan of mysteries, but the mystery of Gavin's father's death really seems to take a backseat to the budding romance between Gavin and Alex. The text claimed to fall in the year 1815, and there were lots of little details that made the text seem authentic, such as the three young women discussing the works of Jane Austen while identifying her as an anonymous author, the proper clothing attire for both men and women, and the proper decorum of both as well. Alex did seem to break with decorum a questionable number of times, but I'll attribute that to her personality and not a fault in background. While it's not likely I would have picked this particular book off the shelf if it were not for a recommendation, I have read similar works in the genre of historical romance for adults, and I have plans to read more of this genre in the future. I did enjoy this book and I would rate it 3 out of 5 stars.

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Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Surprise Me in Books

Apr 10, 2019

Surprise Me

Sophie Kinsella | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry

7.6

(7 Ratings)

Book Rating

Sylvie and Dan have their annual check ups and discover that they have the probability of being married for the next 68 years. It gives them the idea to surprise each other in little ways to help keep their marriage alive. But will this really work to keep the marriage healthy? When the surprises start to backfire, Sylvie and Dan have to take a closer look at their lives together and try to reevaluate their choices.

Sophie Kinsella is one of those authors whose books I have on my TBR, but I haven't read very many of them. Her books are light-hearted and fun with a bit of an edge. This book had me laughing and crying. 68 years is an awfully long time to be with one person. I can only hope to have that with my husband. But what can you do to keep the romance alive and not get bored. Sylvie and Dan believe they have the right idea, but will everything blow up in their faces?

At first the surprises are small, a new piece of clothing, a changing of the decor in the kitchen. But then they get bigger. But when Dan starts to seem distant, Sylvie believes that everything she is trying to keep their marriage alive, is actually backfiring and she may lose Dan forever. When she finds out the truth, she will be crushed as well as fall more in love with her husband.

At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book. It took me a while to get into it, but after a while, I found myself wanting to know what was going to happen.

If you're a Sophie Kinsella fan, I highly suggest you read this book. If you're married, it's a great book to read.

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Cynthia Armistead (17 KP) rated A Free Man of Color (Benjamin January, #1) in Books

Mar 1, 2018

Historical fiction isn't my favorite genre, but I'm much more willing to read it when it's mixed with mystery. I've read some of Hambly's work before and know her to be a fine writer, and I'd read good reviews of this series by people I respect, so I decided to give it a whirl.

I suppose all the descriptions of people's clothing would have mattered much more to someone who cared about such things, but I do realize that they were important in the context of the story. Personally, I was relieved when the main character went on a journey! I would have been happier had his medical skills been utilized more frequently than they were, but I suppose his experiences were fairly true to life for a "colored" man of his time.

I did learn quite a lot—things that I intend to verify in non-fiction sources shortly. The information about the black code, for instance, and the explanation of the distinction between "black" and "colored" people seemed too precise to be fabricated.

I knew, too, that Louisiana is the only U.S. state whose laws are based on French rather than English common law, which seemed silly to me. Why wouldn't they go with the standard everyone else used? After reading this novel, I'm starting to realize that there may have been rights given to citizens under French law that were lost under English law.

I'm not sure as to whether or not I'll go forward in the series, as I'm not sure that I can handle the unhappiness I can see foreshadowed even in some of the titles. However, I will say that this volume is well-written and well-plotted. I certainly didn't guess who the killer was or why the murder was committed before the big reveal, and that was a pleasant change!

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Merissa (14184 KP) rated The Briton and the Dane: Concordia in Books

Dec 17, 2018

This is one of those books that, going from the synopsis, I thought I would love. It sounded intriguing, interesting and full of action. However, what I got is definitely not for me. I read a lot of historical genre and love the medieval period - that is what gives this book the two stars. The descriptions given deliver a world of bygone times to you, everything described is richly detailed from the clothing to the fighting.

What I didn't like at all about this book was the main female character. We get from the synopsis that she is willful, vain, ambitious and cunning. What I wasn't expecting was just how much of a spoilt brat she was. Now perhaps this is exactly the reaction the author wanted but for me personally, Concordia spoilt the rest of the book that much that I had to force myself to finish it. And the ending? I was happy about it! What I wasn't happy about was how much influence she still had over these people once she had gone. But anyhow...

I didn't read anything about feminine cunning or her defending her honour. I read how she was 'forced' but then enjoyed it so carried on some more until she got passed onto the next brother, who also forced her but 'that didn't matter'.

I'm sorry, I know this book has some rave reviews and I'm fully expecting this to get downvoted on Amazon but with a main character like this, it just did absolutely nothing for me. The historical side of it - beautiful, rich in detail and description, a joy to read. The character - forget it, not for me. My apologies to the author for the two stars but that is the most generous I can be. I definitely won't be reading any more of this series.