Search
Search results
There There
9.0
Rate It
Book
Fierce, angry, funny, heartbreaking—Tommy Orange’s first novel is a wondrous and shattering...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2204 KP) rated Tall Tales in Books
Oct 17, 2022 (Updated Oct 17, 2022)
Racing to Stop the Darkness
It’s been a few weeks since the battle where Lena proved herself as a giant despite her small size. However, the Golden King is still out to control the entire world via shadow magic, and it soon becomes clear that Lena and genie in training Jin are the only ones who will be able to stop him. However, to do that, they will have to enter areas controlled by shadow magic. The fairy queens have told Lena she will have some tasks to accomplish to prove she is worthy of defeating the Golden King. Will she be successful? Or will she and Jin fall to the shadow magic before they even reach her first test?
This book has the unenviable job of bridging the gap between the beginning and the end of the trilogy while telling an entertaining story. And it succeeds wonderfully. There are plenty of twists and lots of action to make the pages fly by. This really is Lena and Jin’s story equally, and we get to watch it unfold from both of their points of view. We don’t see much of the other characters introduced in the first book, but we get some fun new characters to replace them. Then there’s the humor, including some fun meta moments, which help keep the book from getting too dark. There are some references to the events of author James Riley’s earlier Half Upon a Time trilogy, so this will leave you wanting to read those books if you haven’t yet. You’ll also be anxiously waiting for the final book in this trilogy to come out. I know I am.
This book has the unenviable job of bridging the gap between the beginning and the end of the trilogy while telling an entertaining story. And it succeeds wonderfully. There are plenty of twists and lots of action to make the pages fly by. This really is Lena and Jin’s story equally, and we get to watch it unfold from both of their points of view. We don’t see much of the other characters introduced in the first book, but we get some fun new characters to replace them. Then there’s the humor, including some fun meta moments, which help keep the book from getting too dark. There are some references to the events of author James Riley’s earlier Half Upon a Time trilogy, so this will leave you wanting to read those books if you haven’t yet. You’ll also be anxiously waiting for the final book in this trilogy to come out. I know I am.
Merissa (12066 KP) rated Over the Line (Sierra Hockey #1) in Books
Dec 7, 2023
OVER THE LINE is the first book in a new hockey series, Sierra Hockey, with a character who has shown up in other books by this author - Lake Jordan.
I know I'm going to be in the minority here, but I struggled with these characters, I'm afraid. Nova had a lot of good qualities but was WAY too forgiving, and prepared to just go with the flow. That's okay so long as you don't get walked all over, and she was, by many people. How Lake spoke to her and she just accepted it. Lake is a grumpy git, with reason. But in pushing Nova away, he is not just grumpy, he is downright cruel. And he never apologised for his words after the first time in the kitchen. He's amazed Nova just let it go, and so was I! As for the exes (boyfriend and sister), I have no idea why Nova was with them for so long, especially if her feet get itchy when the going gets tough.
Anyway, moving swiftly past them, the world-building of this story was just what I would expect. There is plenty to be done in this hockey team, and I look forward to reading about the players mentioned so far. The pacing was brilliant, with never a dull moment.
I look forward to learning more about this team and the world they live in.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* 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!
Dec 6, 2023
I know I'm going to be in the minority here, but I struggled with these characters, I'm afraid. Nova had a lot of good qualities but was WAY too forgiving, and prepared to just go with the flow. That's okay so long as you don't get walked all over, and she was, by many people. How Lake spoke to her and she just accepted it. Lake is a grumpy git, with reason. But in pushing Nova away, he is not just grumpy, he is downright cruel. And he never apologised for his words after the first time in the kitchen. He's amazed Nova just let it go, and so was I! As for the exes (boyfriend and sister), I have no idea why Nova was with them for so long, especially if her feet get itchy when the going gets tough.
Anyway, moving swiftly past them, the world-building of this story was just what I would expect. There is plenty to be done in this hockey team, and I look forward to reading about the players mentioned so far. The pacing was brilliant, with never a dull moment.
I look forward to learning more about this team and the world they live in.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* 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!
Dec 6, 2023
Not If I See You First
8.0
Rate It
Book
The Rules Don't deceive me. Ever. Especially using my blindness. Especially in public. Don't...
Young Adult Contemporary Romance
We Need to Talk About ... Kevin Bridges
Book
This is the comic autobiography of 2014. A comedian's autobiography? I wonder if he's ever used...
Little Ray Of Sunshine (41 KP) rated Fire in You (Wait for You, #6) in Books
Jan 11, 2019 (Updated Feb 10, 2019)
Book Review | Fire in You (Waiting for You #6) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Blurb
From the #1 New York Times and International bestselling author, Jennifer L. Armentrout writing as J. Lynn, comes Fire in You: a richly moving story about heartbreak and guilt, second changes and hope.
Six years ago, Jillian Lima's whole world was destroyed. The same night her childhood love Brock Mitchell broke her heart, her life was irrevocably altered by a stranger with a gun. After years spent slowly rebuilding the shattered pieces of her life, Jillian is finally ready to stop existing in a past full of pain and regret and is determined to start living. The one thing she never expected was the impossibly handsome Brock walking back into her life...
Brock can't believe that the breathtaking women standing before him now is the little girl who use to be his shadow growing up. Unable to stay away from each other, their tentative friendship soon sparks into something more and the red-hot chemistry sizzling between them can no longer be denied.
But falling for Brock again risks more than just Jillian's heart. When the past resurfaces, and a web of lies threatens to rip them apart, the fallout could lay waste to everything they've ever care about..
Review
This is the first time I hearing this author and I will want to read more of her books.
I love how this author wrote the main character Jillian to have imperfection as this makes me feel that she is amazing character and she lucky she survived the traumatic event. Also some stories can have the female main character to look flawless and I like how Jennifer L. Armentrout wrote it differently. Brock Mitchell never notice that Jillian loved him since he came through the door when he tried stealing from her families business. But the traumatic event what happened to Jillian with a stranger with a gun Brock felt guilt that he didn't took her to her car and just let her walk alone with this happening they decided to go their separate ways.
Jillian is offered the General Manager Assistant at her family business so she feels she can do this and its in her blood but she wondering who is the General Manager. When she comes to work she realise it is Brock Mitchell she wants to run away and find another job. When Brock first sees her after a long time being apart he realise the little girl he use to know as grown into a beautiful women and she takes hes breath away.
Jillian pushes their problems aside and starts working but this means they need to work together and the chemistry between each other becomes red-hot and Brock can't get her out hes mind. But will this go any further then just flirting? As their past resurfaces and web of lies threatens to rip them apart.
Will there be a happy ever after?
You will need to buy the book to find out ;)
From the #1 New York Times and International bestselling author, Jennifer L. Armentrout writing as J. Lynn, comes Fire in You: a richly moving story about heartbreak and guilt, second changes and hope.
Six years ago, Jillian Lima's whole world was destroyed. The same night her childhood love Brock Mitchell broke her heart, her life was irrevocably altered by a stranger with a gun. After years spent slowly rebuilding the shattered pieces of her life, Jillian is finally ready to stop existing in a past full of pain and regret and is determined to start living. The one thing she never expected was the impossibly handsome Brock walking back into her life...
Brock can't believe that the breathtaking women standing before him now is the little girl who use to be his shadow growing up. Unable to stay away from each other, their tentative friendship soon sparks into something more and the red-hot chemistry sizzling between them can no longer be denied.
But falling for Brock again risks more than just Jillian's heart. When the past resurfaces, and a web of lies threatens to rip them apart, the fallout could lay waste to everything they've ever care about..
Review
This is the first time I hearing this author and I will want to read more of her books.
I love how this author wrote the main character Jillian to have imperfection as this makes me feel that she is amazing character and she lucky she survived the traumatic event. Also some stories can have the female main character to look flawless and I like how Jennifer L. Armentrout wrote it differently. Brock Mitchell never notice that Jillian loved him since he came through the door when he tried stealing from her families business. But the traumatic event what happened to Jillian with a stranger with a gun Brock felt guilt that he didn't took her to her car and just let her walk alone with this happening they decided to go their separate ways.
Jillian is offered the General Manager Assistant at her family business so she feels she can do this and its in her blood but she wondering who is the General Manager. When she comes to work she realise it is Brock Mitchell she wants to run away and find another job. When Brock first sees her after a long time being apart he realise the little girl he use to know as grown into a beautiful women and she takes hes breath away.
Jillian pushes their problems aside and starts working but this means they need to work together and the chemistry between each other becomes red-hot and Brock can't get her out hes mind. But will this go any further then just flirting? As their past resurfaces and web of lies threatens to rip them apart.
Will there be a happy ever after?
You will need to buy the book to find out ;)
Debbiereadsbook (1202 KP) rated Escaping Exile (Escape Trilogy #1) in Books
Oct 29, 2018
kinda creeps up on ya!
I was gifted my copy of this book direct from the author, that I write a review was not required.
Andrew didn't know how long he'd been on the island, but it was a long time. When a ship wrecks on his beach, a scent pulls him to find Edmund, half dead from the wreck. But there are others who want Edmund, and they don't mean to save him. Andrew has to keep HIS monster at bay, along with those on the island, if he wants to keep Edmund safe.
So! I'm in a bit of a quandary about this book!
If you follow my reviews, you'll know I'm not a fan of books written in the present tense and first person. I don't know why I don't like them, I just don't. You'll also know, I will ALMOST always say I wanted to hear from the other main character, if a book is written from a single point of view.
And thus: my quandary. This book is written present tense AND first person. Had this book been written from both Andrew AND Edmund's point of view, in resent tense/first person, I have no doubt, NONE at all, I would have dumped this book as soon as that became clear. But it's ONLY Andrew who has a voice here. And of course, at this point I'm gonna say I needed to hear from Edmund, because I really did! But HAD Edmund had a say, I might not have finished it! You see my problem?!?!?!
Putting that fact aside, I really did enjoy these 80 pages of a vampire falling in love with his rescue, who in turn rescues him from his banishment. Andrew has been banished for killing one to many humans and keeping this human alive might just be his salvation. Edmund, curious mind that he has, wants to study Andrew's kind. And as they grow closer, Andrew's beast pushes hard for Andrew to bite Edmund, which Andrew doesn't want to do. But Edmund takes the choice away from him.
Andrew's voice is strong and clear, and he tells his story well. I saw no spelling or editing errors to spoil my reading.
It's just my bloody quandary!
So, since I really am surprised I enjoyed this first person/present tense...
4 solid stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Andrew didn't know how long he'd been on the island, but it was a long time. When a ship wrecks on his beach, a scent pulls him to find Edmund, half dead from the wreck. But there are others who want Edmund, and they don't mean to save him. Andrew has to keep HIS monster at bay, along with those on the island, if he wants to keep Edmund safe.
So! I'm in a bit of a quandary about this book!
If you follow my reviews, you'll know I'm not a fan of books written in the present tense and first person. I don't know why I don't like them, I just don't. You'll also know, I will ALMOST always say I wanted to hear from the other main character, if a book is written from a single point of view.
And thus: my quandary. This book is written present tense AND first person. Had this book been written from both Andrew AND Edmund's point of view, in resent tense/first person, I have no doubt, NONE at all, I would have dumped this book as soon as that became clear. But it's ONLY Andrew who has a voice here. And of course, at this point I'm gonna say I needed to hear from Edmund, because I really did! But HAD Edmund had a say, I might not have finished it! You see my problem?!?!?!
Putting that fact aside, I really did enjoy these 80 pages of a vampire falling in love with his rescue, who in turn rescues him from his banishment. Andrew has been banished for killing one to many humans and keeping this human alive might just be his salvation. Edmund, curious mind that he has, wants to study Andrew's kind. And as they grow closer, Andrew's beast pushes hard for Andrew to bite Edmund, which Andrew doesn't want to do. But Edmund takes the choice away from him.
Andrew's voice is strong and clear, and he tells his story well. I saw no spelling or editing errors to spoil my reading.
It's just my bloody quandary!
So, since I really am surprised I enjoyed this first person/present tense...
4 solid stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
The Great Mountain Crags of Scotland: A Celebration of Scottish Mountaineering
Guy Robertson and Adrian Crofton
Book
The Great Mountain Crags of Scotland is a celebration of climbing in Scotland's wild places,...
Rachel King (13 KP) rated Hannah (Daughters of the Sea, #1) in Books
Feb 11, 2019
This book was both mysterious and sweet, as Hannah very slowly discovers what she is and where she truly comes from. Even though I found the whole process of discovery rather drawn out, I didn't mind the slow pace because of the age of the girl and setting that she lived in, at a time in which women were never even given the opportunity to go to college and the wage of a few dollars was considered good income. How the orphans were handled, some even being "adopted" into households in the midwest, had me wondering just how common this practice was at the time and how it played into geneologies. The intricacies of how the household is run that Hannah works in is enlightening, as I had no idea there was such a heirarchy among the servant class of that time period.
Hannah is only 14 when she goes through these changes to become a mermaid, but if that had happened to me at that age, I don't think I would have had the courage to abandon what security I could find for the great unknown of the vast ocean. What I found greatly disappointing was how her budding romance with the painter was just left hanging, with no resolution or explanation of what he was and why he left the ocean. I can only assume that since this is the first of three books, that his character will be further explored in future books. I also worried for the household that Hannah had been working in and what happened to them in the impending storm, but that loose end was not resolved either. The nuances of Hannah's revelation that give me clues as to what she is are interesting, such as the changing nature of Hannah's hair, her ability with the harp, and the way she sheds salt and scales. I always love when the author gives such attention to details. I look forward to reading about Hannah's two long-lost sisters and their own revelations.
Hannah is only 14 when she goes through these changes to become a mermaid, but if that had happened to me at that age, I don't think I would have had the courage to abandon what security I could find for the great unknown of the vast ocean. What I found greatly disappointing was how her budding romance with the painter was just left hanging, with no resolution or explanation of what he was and why he left the ocean. I can only assume that since this is the first of three books, that his character will be further explored in future books. I also worried for the household that Hannah had been working in and what happened to them in the impending storm, but that loose end was not resolved either. The nuances of Hannah's revelation that give me clues as to what she is are interesting, such as the changing nature of Hannah's hair, her ability with the harp, and the way she sheds salt and scales. I always love when the author gives such attention to details. I look forward to reading about Hannah's two long-lost sisters and their own revelations.
OU
Once Upon a Time in Russia: The Rise of the Oligarchs and the Greatest Wealth in History
Book
This is a gripping and shocking insight into the lives of Russia's most famous oligarchs from New...