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Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated No Weddings in Books
Jan 8, 2021
I first saw this book as a giveaway on Goodreads and entered to win it. Unfortunately I wasn’t a lucky winner and after re-reading the synopsis I decided I wanted to read it anyway, which isn’t always the case with the books I enter to win on Goodreads. So off I went to Amazon to search it out and I was surprised by the price (77p) so I pre-ordered it and two days later it was delivered.
Let me say this now; I'm not a big contemporary romance reader any more. I tend to stick to paranormal/urban fantasy/suspense books with romance in them for an added element.
But I have to say that I really liked this!
It was told from Cade's POV, a proper ladies man, who sets up a party planning company with his three older sisters and decides they won't do any weddings as Cade seems to always end up sleeping with a guest (or two). But then he meets Hannah, an amazing baker/cook who they want to hire to make the cakes for whatever events they're organizing for, and as he gets to know her he begins to really like her.
Let me tell you this book is full of sexual tension; they flirt, they touch...it was really kinda cute watching how he softened and changed.
http://s216.photobucket.com/user/leannecrab/media/tumblr_n5z8fpUqsd1t0hoy1o1_5001.gif.html"; target="_blank
Another thing I liked was the banter between almost everyone. The siblings reminded me a bit of me and my brother; Cade and Hannah; Cade and his room mates.
Let me say that there is no sex in this book—plenty of romance!—and their relationship is going to continue into the next one, One Funeral, which I believe is going to be from Hannah's POV. And let me tell you I will most definitely be continuing this series.
Let me say this now; I'm not a big contemporary romance reader any more. I tend to stick to paranormal/urban fantasy/suspense books with romance in them for an added element.
But I have to say that I really liked this!
It was told from Cade's POV, a proper ladies man, who sets up a party planning company with his three older sisters and decides they won't do any weddings as Cade seems to always end up sleeping with a guest (or two). But then he meets Hannah, an amazing baker/cook who they want to hire to make the cakes for whatever events they're organizing for, and as he gets to know her he begins to really like her.
Let me tell you this book is full of sexual tension; they flirt, they touch...it was really kinda cute watching how he softened and changed.
http://s216.photobucket.com/user/leannecrab/media/tumblr_n5z8fpUqsd1t0hoy1o1_5001.gif.html"; target="_blank
Another thing I liked was the banter between almost everyone. The siblings reminded me a bit of me and my brother; Cade and Hannah; Cade and his room mates.
Let me say that there is no sex in this book—plenty of romance!—and their relationship is going to continue into the next one, One Funeral, which I believe is going to be from Hannah's POV. And let me tell you I will most definitely be continuing this series.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Beauty from Pain (Beauty, #1) in Books
Oct 14, 2019
Well this is a backburner book (#1 on my to-read on Goodreads), having been on my Kindle since some time in January 2014 when it was released. I think I've put off reading it simply because of the "erotica" label it had on Goodreads. It wasn't exactly erotica, though. Yeah, they had quite a lot of sex but there was a romance to it, too.
So this starts with Laurelyn arriving in Australia with her best friend to spend time with her best friends brother for three months as he studies wine making there. On the first night they head out to a bar and take part in an...open mic night? Laurelyn sings and plays the guitar (I think) and attracts the attention of Jack, a man looking for his next lover. Instead of the usual week/month, he plans to spend three months with his next bed fellow, giving her whatever she wishes for and making her feel special. Laurelyn catches his attention and he plans to seduce her into agreeing to his arrangement.
I guess if I was on the receiving end of an attractive rich guy wanting to spend three months with me, getting to know me and spending a lot of that time in bed, I'd enjoy it, too, but I have to admit I got a little bored with this. It was taking a little too long to get where it was going and I skipped entire sex scenes. The books 271 pages felt more like 500.
It had a rather promising start, apart from the slightly stalkerish behaviour of Jack as he tried to meet Laurelyn again, and I enjoyed the slow seduction and how he treated her. But then I didn't really see the relationship grow as such. It didn't work for me, personally.
By the end, I wasn't all that bothered about what was going to happen next with the characters so I won't be continuing the series.
So this starts with Laurelyn arriving in Australia with her best friend to spend time with her best friends brother for three months as he studies wine making there. On the first night they head out to a bar and take part in an...open mic night? Laurelyn sings and plays the guitar (I think) and attracts the attention of Jack, a man looking for his next lover. Instead of the usual week/month, he plans to spend three months with his next bed fellow, giving her whatever she wishes for and making her feel special. Laurelyn catches his attention and he plans to seduce her into agreeing to his arrangement.
I guess if I was on the receiving end of an attractive rich guy wanting to spend three months with me, getting to know me and spending a lot of that time in bed, I'd enjoy it, too, but I have to admit I got a little bored with this. It was taking a little too long to get where it was going and I skipped entire sex scenes. The books 271 pages felt more like 500.
It had a rather promising start, apart from the slightly stalkerish behaviour of Jack as he tried to meet Laurelyn again, and I enjoyed the slow seduction and how he treated her. But then I didn't really see the relationship grow as such. It didn't work for me, personally.
By the end, I wasn't all that bothered about what was going to happen next with the characters so I won't be continuing the series.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Goodreads: Book Reviews in Apps
Nov 4, 2017 (Updated Nov 4, 2017)
The only way I keep track of my books
If I didn't have this app, I would be using the website daily, logging my one-a-day diet of books. It's as simple as that. As I have memory of a goldfish, I'd have no idea what I'd read this year if I didn't use GoodReads. And since I'm up to 270 books this year, there would be absolutely no chance of me remembering them all.
The best bit is seeing what others are reading and adding it to my To Be Read list. Reading reviews has helped immensely in terms of choosing what I should plough through next. And seeing how many pages is useful so I can calculate how much time I need to read the next book.
Of course, the app isn't perfect - the search functionality can be problematic as you can't really search just for an author's page. But it's easier than using the website.
The best bit is seeing what others are reading and adding it to my To Be Read list. Reading reviews has helped immensely in terms of choosing what I should plough through next. And seeing how many pages is useful so I can calculate how much time I need to read the next book.
Of course, the app isn't perfect - the search functionality can be problematic as you can't really search just for an author's page. But it's easier than using the website.
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated The Hidden in Books
Jan 15, 2018
Well you have to love it when you win a Goodreads giveaway, get sent the wrong book, read it, & are pleasantly surprised at your luck. That's just what happened to me with this book. I won another book called Hidden but was sent this 1 by mistake. It was better than the book I really won!
This book alternates between Egypt in the 1920s & Egypt at the turn of the century. It is told alternately from the perspective of Aimee & a journal written by Hezba a few decades before.
It wasn't hard to figure out the plot, but I am happy to say that it didn't make the book any less engaging even after I had its number. The story is very well written even though I wish I hadn't figured it out as soon as I did. The characters are fascinating & the plot moves along at a nice clip with just the right number of twists & turns. I hope Chumas continues writing like she did here.
This book alternates between Egypt in the 1920s & Egypt at the turn of the century. It is told alternately from the perspective of Aimee & a journal written by Hezba a few decades before.
It wasn't hard to figure out the plot, but I am happy to say that it didn't make the book any less engaging even after I had its number. The story is very well written even though I wish I hadn't figured it out as soon as I did. The characters are fascinating & the plot moves along at a nice clip with just the right number of twists & turns. I hope Chumas continues writing like she did here.
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Iron House in Books
Jan 15, 2018
First off I have to admit that I wasn't at all sure whether or not to read this book. I read Hart's The Lost Child. I thought it was just okay, but not exactly my thing. A friend won Iron House on Goodreads & offered me the book when she'd finished it. I can now say that I am VERY glad she did!
This book was much more satisfying than The Lost Child! The characters were very well developed & seemed to me to be much deeper & less predictable. The plot was still very dark which seems to be a Hart trademark, but the story was engrossing. It tore at your heart, but managed to gross you out & keep you on the edge of you seat at the same time. All the hallmarks of a great book in my eyes.
I don't know what the future will bring, but for me I sure hope John Hart continues writing in the style of Iron House. It was a winner!!!
This book was much more satisfying than The Lost Child! The characters were very well developed & seemed to me to be much deeper & less predictable. The plot was still very dark which seems to be a Hart trademark, but the story was engrossing. It tore at your heart, but managed to gross you out & keep you on the edge of you seat at the same time. All the hallmarks of a great book in my eyes.
I don't know what the future will bring, but for me I sure hope John Hart continues writing in the style of Iron House. It was a winner!!!
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated The Grace of Silence: A Family Memoir in Books
Jan 15, 2018
I won this book on Goodreads First Reads.
This book caught my eye because I'd taken a Civil Rights course one summer while in college at CMU. The class facinated me. I learned what I thought was a great deal about the civil rights movement...from freedom marches, to sit ins we talked about it all. Or so I thought!
Michelle Norris's book told me otherwise. The day to day struggles of real families from this era of American history goes largly unnoticed. This book looked at one family & how things that were considered taboo, & therefore never talked about, effected generations of her family. It took an in-depth look at how "normal" people were the cornerstone of the movement & to this day go largly unhearlded for their efforts.
The memoir was well written & read more like a novel than a true account of someone's family. This was an unexpectedly great book!
This book caught my eye because I'd taken a Civil Rights course one summer while in college at CMU. The class facinated me. I learned what I thought was a great deal about the civil rights movement...from freedom marches, to sit ins we talked about it all. Or so I thought!
Michelle Norris's book told me otherwise. The day to day struggles of real families from this era of American history goes largly unnoticed. This book looked at one family & how things that were considered taboo, & therefore never talked about, effected generations of her family. It took an in-depth look at how "normal" people were the cornerstone of the movement & to this day go largly unhearlded for their efforts.
The memoir was well written & read more like a novel than a true account of someone's family. This was an unexpectedly great book!
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Garden of Madness (Seven Wonders, #2) in Books
Jan 15, 2018
This is 1 of those times where I wish Goodreads would give the old 1/2 a star option. This book wasn't a 3, but it wasn't a 4 either. I enjoyed it, but I also didn't think it was worth 4 stars. The characters I interesting & the arcs that each progresses through during the course of the book were intriguing. There was a fairly good plot, and the ending found me holding my breath for fear of what might happen to Tiamat.
However, the beginning was where I found myself struggling with the story. It took awhile for the action of the plot to really get going & draw me in. The characters were at first, hard to connect with. I enjoyed the historical part of the story. It wasn't too overbearing or preachy for being rather religious based. It didn't feel forced and worked naturally with the plot. I guess this just isn't the kind of book I'd normally find myself pulling down off a shelf.
However, the beginning was where I found myself struggling with the story. It took awhile for the action of the plot to really get going & draw me in. The characters were at first, hard to connect with. I enjoyed the historical part of the story. It wasn't too overbearing or preachy for being rather religious based. It didn't feel forced and worked naturally with the plot. I guess this just isn't the kind of book I'd normally find myself pulling down off a shelf.
Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) rated Girls Made of Snow and Glass in Books
Sep 5, 2017
One of my best books of 2017!
I received an ARC of this book through Goodreads and got to read it before the release date (September 5th! GO GET IT!) and I was SO excited to read it. It did not disappoint! This is her debut novel, and the story is absolutely fantastic. It’s billed as a “fantasy feminist fairy tale” and I think it lives up to that pretty well. There are no princes in this story. There are a couple of men – the King, the Queen’s father, and the Huntsman, but they are not who the story is about. The story really is about the relationship between the Queen/stepmother and her stepdaughter, the Princess.
You can read my full review here: https://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com/2017/09/05/book-review-girls-made-of-snow-and-glass/
You can read my full review here: https://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com/2017/09/05/book-review-girls-made-of-snow-and-glass/
Merissa (14098 KP) rated Echo Falls (Echo Falls #1) in Books
Aug 16, 2017
Echo Falls (Echo Falls #1) by Jaime McDougall
I got this for two reasons - 1) it was free and 2) I like paranormal romance. I can quite honestly say that I'm very glad that I did and have sat down and read it in a couple of hours as I wanted to find out what happened!
I loved the storyline in it and even though I knew who the "traitor" was, it in no way diminished my enjoyment of the story as a whole. I loved how Phoebe's story was told throughout the book and how Aidan was trying to get information from her. The secondary characters in this book are also believable and funny. It also makes a very refreshing change to have the main female as scared, unsure and carrying physical scars without being a complete wuss.
Loved reading it and will definitely be keeping it!
Favourite character? Definitely Aiden!
* Verified Purchase ~ February 2013
Reviewed on Goodreads ~ February 2013 *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
I loved the storyline in it and even though I knew who the "traitor" was, it in no way diminished my enjoyment of the story as a whole. I loved how Phoebe's story was told throughout the book and how Aidan was trying to get information from her. The secondary characters in this book are also believable and funny. It also makes a very refreshing change to have the main female as scared, unsure and carrying physical scars without being a complete wuss.
Loved reading it and will definitely be keeping it!
Favourite character? Definitely Aiden!
* Verified Purchase ~ February 2013
Reviewed on Goodreads ~ February 2013 *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Chelsea (166 KP) rated Goodreads: Book Reviews in Apps
May 2, 2018
Keeps track of your books & dates you read them (3 more)
Allows you to set goals
Links with other social media to see what friends are reading/recommending
Offers book suggestions
I love this app. I didn't realize at first that you could actually use it as more than a book reviewing site. You can add books you have read, books you'd like to read, and books you are currently reading. You can choose the edition of the book you're reading so it keeps an accurate account of how far you've made it through the book. I also really like that it keeps track of the dates you read the book. The app is linked to other social media accounts so you can see what friends are reading or wanting to read and vice versa. Goodreads offers suggestions of what to read next or books that are popular in your favorite genres. Honestly have nothing bad to say about it!