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The Twelve Tribes of Hattie
The Twelve Tribes of Hattie
Ayana Mathis | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I could not put this book down. I had to find out what happened next, even though it wasn't that kind of book. Each chapter is about one of Hattie's children(tribe). It tells the story of their mother and their life because of their mother through each individuals point of view. That was very interesting to me. I would have liked for there to have been a Hattie chapter reflecting on each of her children in her older years, but other than that...I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I know that this was the first novel for Ayana Mathis, but if she continues to write like this, she will be added to my favorite authors list for sure!!
  
The Girl on Camera
The Girl on Camera
Morgan Dun-Campbell | 2018 | Mystery, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I enjoyed this book particularly the questions it raises about human nature and how we will behave and react in certain situations.

From the description it was easy to guess part of the stories big reveal, however the how we get there and what was going on with each person.

I can’t say I ever particularly warmed to Rory as a character but I’m not sure why. She just seemed quite whiny and overall just average.

I would have liked more of a look at the psychology behind the characters and why they acted the way they did. I also felt the ending was a bit rushed with trying to recap and finish every story.
  
When Beauty Tamed the Beast (Fairy Tales, #2)
When Beauty Tamed the Beast (Fairy Tales, #2)
Eloisa James | 2011 | Romance
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Not so very long ago I reviewed the first of James' fairy tales series, A Kiss at Midnight, which I found OK, but not one to hang on to and read again, and I said that I always thought I should like her books more than I actually do. I have to say that it was almost as if someone was listening, as I liked this book a whole lot better. There is only a thematic connection with the other books; there don't appear to be any characters in common.

I liked this book as the two protagonists had personality and you could see what they would see in each other, which I found hard in the last book. The whole set up was maybe a bit far fetched, but it was quite an amusing tale - with a fair sprinkling of strong language. I smiled when the heroine had been reading Miss Butterworth & the Mad Baron - as I'm sure many readers of Julia Quinn will! A much more engaging and entertaining read, good protagonists and interesting supporting characters, giving enough interest but without detracting from the main plot.
  
Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian
Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian
E.L. James | 2015 | Erotica, Fiction & Poetry
8
6.1 (22 Ratings)
Book Rating
It's interesting to me that I liked this book so much more than Fifty Shades. Partially because I think that Christian is a far more interesting character than Ana - he has much more of a backstory. Maybe it's because I relate to him in a lot of ways. I've read reviews that think this wasn't a good book in any regard, that E.L. James clearly doesn't know how to write as if she were a man, and I disagree. I know a Christian-like man and reading this novel, it was like being in his head too.

However, I have the same issue that I had with Fifty Shades in the dialogue. I do not know a single American that says, "I'm going to have a shower." I'm not sure why that infuriates me so much, but alas, it does. I am anxious to read Darker and the next Fifty Shades.
  
Legend
Legend
Marie Lu | 2011 | Fiction & Poetry, Young Adult (YA)
8
7.8 (12 Ratings)
Book Rating
I tend not to read books with characters under the age of 17 because they can come across as being immature and annoying.

However that is not the case in this, both Day and June are really mature for 15, maybe it's their upbringing; life on the streets and growing up in a posher area and being a member of the Republic.

I'll admit it took me a while to get into the story--about the 20-25% mark--what with the dual POV and one hunting the other down but once they finally met and got to now each other I became quickly engrossed in their story.

I wasn't sure how to feel about June's brother, Metias, but the more I read and grew to know him through June's memories and his journal, the more I liked him and was sorry that he'd died. He seemed like a really great big brother.

Action, political corruption, dystopia, a bit of romance; it was everything I like in a book and I liked a lot of things about it. I'll certainly be keeping an eye out for the rest of the series
  
Tyler Perry's Boo 2! A Madea Halloween (2017)
Tyler Perry's Boo 2! A Madea Halloween (2017)
2017 | Comedy, Horror
Boo! Sequel Thats Bad But Good
Again, im not sure why but i liked this film. Again i thought it was really stupid it, but its so bad its good.

The plot: Tiffany travels to Derrick Lake to celebrate her 18th birthday at a Halloween frat party in the middle of the woods. Frantic and worried, Madea, Aunt Bam and Hattie hop in the car to save her from the same terrible fate that befell a group of teens there years earlier. Chaos soon strikes when the would-be heroes find themselves fighting for their lives against an array of spooky monsters, goblins and boogeymen.

Again i would reccordmend this movie.
  
Mute (Dragon Runners #1)
Mute (Dragon Runners #1)
ML Nystrom | 2018 | Contemporary, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Good, but not great
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Katrina lands a job in the local biker bar while she finishes up her final semester at nursing school. Club enforcer Mute props himself up at the end of the bar for most of the night and watches. Kat's life is threatened, along with that of the club. Mute digs deep to overcome his fear of falling in love again, and pulls out all the stops to save both Kat and his beloved club.

Ok! SO!

I liked this, mostly. I think.

Not a particularly original story line, but it is told in a slightly different way. Kat has her say for the bigger part of the book in the first person. Then Mute has a say, for a little bit, in the third person. Until Mute has his say, I wasn't sure I was enjoying it, and maybe I wasn't even going to finish it. But Mute having his say made the book a little more enjoyable and I did finish it.

I liked that there was a slow build between Kat and Mute. I did not like that the love word was bandied about very early on.

From what I can see, this is a first time author and in places, it does show. It's a little . . . clunky . . . . .at points and some things don't flow too well.

A good start, not a great one.

3 stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
EH
Every House is Haunted
Ian Rogers | 2012
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Standouts:
Cabin D - Intriguing beginning gave way to fascinating ending.
The Nanny - This just made for a neat ghost story.
The Cat - I could use a cat like this, but I don't know if I'd survive.
Charlotte's Frequency - Creepy and weird. Me likey. After reading, I wondered who'd win in a Cat vs. Charlotte battle. <spoiler>I vote for draw, or else they team up and annihilate humanity. That's probably more likely.</spoiler>
The Tattletail - Kinda cute, actually.
Inheritor - I kinda saw where this was headed but it still made for a darned good yarn.
The Candle - Appropriately creepy and a good book ender although I'm not exactly sure what the heck happened.

Ho-hum
Autumnology - I get it, but I think I'd get it more when I'm an old geezer. Physically, not just in mind.
The Dark and the Young - This was just too long and explained things too much but with little point.
Woods - I liked the thought behind this but the ending just didn't do anything for me.
Relaxed Best - In a different anthology, I might have liked this better as I like noir, but I just didn't care for where it went.
Twillingate - Meh.

All the rest of the tales fell somewhere in between awesome and meh, but even in the Ho-hum category, I didn't actually hate any of the stories.
3.5 stars
  
First Snow (Northbound #2)
First Snow (Northbound #2)
Saga Nansen | 2023 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
If Arttu has to get on his knees for a murderer, so be it.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 2 in the Northbound series, but it can be read as a stand alone. There is a minor on-going story arc that can be quickly picked, with most being recapped in this book.

I loved book one, Midnight Sun, and while I really REALLY enjoyed this one, it doesn't quite meet up to book one's grab-you-and-not-let-go kinda vibe, and it pains me, deeply, to say so!

I liked Arttu, I really did. He wants to find out what happened to his friend in London and if he has to get on his knees for a murderer, so be it. But Jareth is so much than the skin he wears. Yes, he has killed beings and people that break the rules, but never in cold blood. He is Half-Fae, a Lord of his people, and as such wears a glamour most of the time. When Arttu finally sees Jareth true form, he isn't quite sure what he is seeing, but he knows he needs Jareth, in any form.

Jareth, not so much. I don't know why, but my overwhelming feeling about Jareth is "I don't like you!" That said, I did like how drawn he was to Arttu. He knows Arttu is keeping secrets, he is a master at that himself, but still. He wants Arttu in a way he never wanted anyone before.

I liked that Jamie and Finn pop up (from book one) I liked the supporting cast, both the support for Arttu and Jareth is great in very different ways.

I'm still not sure quite what happened with Lord Briar and his wife though!

And I thank you, Saga Nansen, for the glossary at the end!! I found in immensely helpful!

I'm sorry I couldn't love it as much as Midnight Sun, but I did thoroughly enjoy it.

4 very VERY good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere