This was great! I listened to the first book in this series around the holidays last yeThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was great! I listened to the first book in this series around the holidays last year so I was excited to check out this second installment this season. Each book could be read as a stand-alone even though I think that the relationships between the characters would be best appreciated if the series is read in order. I had a great time with this one and found it to be a wonderful holiday read.
Holly is looking forward to a nice murder-free Christmas. She goes wither her friend Caroline to an event in town where a giant candy bowl is revealed. Unfortunately, this year the bowl of candy has been topped off by a body. The murder weapon near the body is one from Caroline's shop so Holly decided to do a little investigating herself.
I thought that this murder mystery was very well done. I had no idea who the culprit was until it was revealed in the story. Holly is just a wonderful character and she really does seem to have a knack for solving the crimes in Mistletoe. The town does, of course, have a sheriff who is also quite capable and happens to be interested in Holly even if he doesn't always act like it. In fact, I found that the mystery behind the sheriff's behavior to almost as interesting as the murder.
Allyson Ryan did a fantastic job with the narration of this story. I loved all of the voices that she used for the different characters. She added a lot of emotion into her reading which made everything a little more exciting. She read the book at a very nice pace and I found her voice to be very pleasant. I think I enjoyed this book a bit more because I decided to listen to the audiobook.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a very well done cozy mystery filled with wonderful characters and quite a bit of Christmas spirit. I wouldn't hesitate to read more of this fun series.
Initial Thoughts This was so much fun! I listened to the first book in this series, Twelve Slays of Christmas, around Christmas last year and enjoyed it so I was excited to give this one a try this year. I thought that the mystery in the story was really well done and the characters were wonderful. The narrator did a fantastic job with the story which added to my enjoyment.
Well, I loved this! I have been a huge fan of Charlaine Harris's work but I haven't picThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
Well, I loved this! I have been a huge fan of Charlaine Harris's work but I haven't picked up any of her new books since the Sookie Stackhouse series ended. I have re-read a couple of the early Sookie Stackhouse books but I guess I was more than a little upset by how that series ended so I took a break from her work. I decided that it was time to give her books another chance and I must say that I am very happy that I picked up this book. It was an incredibly enjoyable read from beginning to end.
This book's setting is an alternate America in the 1930s. America has been broken up into several different countries and some areas are rather wild. Lizbeth Rose works as a gunnie, or hired gun. She takes her job seriously and will do whatever it takes to complete her mission. She finds herself without a crew and decides to take on a job offered to her by two Russian wizards.
This story was really exciting and there is a ton of action to go around. Gunnie Rose seems to be able to protect her charges very well even when they are not cooperating. I loved Gunnie Rose. She is a little rough around the edges but she is incredibly smart and knows when to keep her mouth shut. She never stops trying no matter how the odds are stacked against her. Eli and Paulina were also wonderful characters. Paulina and Gunnie didn't always see eye to eye which made for some rather interesting scenes.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I loved the Old West setting along with the alternate world that is very different than what is in the history books. This book was filled with action, wonderful characters, a bit of romance, and an interesting mystery. I cannot wait to read more of this exciting series.
Initial Thoughts Well, I loved this. I have to admit that I am still a little mad about how the Sookie Stackhouse series ended and while I have re-read some of the early books in that series in recent years, I haven't picked up any of Charlaine Harris's new work. Until now. I didn't want to put this book down. I loved the characters, the world the book was set in, and the fact that there was plenty of action to keep things moving. I am going with 4 stars for now but may end up bumping it to 5 after I have some time to think about it. I can't wait to get started with the next book.
I have listened to 3 hours of this book and the only thing I can say is that I am confused. There is just too much going on for me to keep trDNF @ 20%
I have listened to 3 hours of this book and the only thing I can say is that I am confused. There is just too much going on for me to keep track of really anything. There are a lot of narrators which can be a good thing but I think that it just adds to the confusion with this book. Maybe it would improve if I kept going but I just don't care to find out at this point.
Oh, this was fun! I picked this book as a freebie with no plans to read it anytime soonThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
Oh, this was fun! I picked this book as a freebie with no plans to read it anytime soon. The book that I had planned to read just didn't appeal to me so I decided to go ahead and give this one a try. I do enjoy shorter listens from time to time and the fact that this book is narrated by Andi Arndt and Sebastian York was a big plus. I found this to be a well-done romance and I am glad that I decided to give it a try.
I loved the setup of this story. Riley Kennedy and Kennedy Riley both work at the same company but in different divisions. They often receive the other's emails and Kennedy sometimes adds a few comments before he forwards Riley's emails to her. They meet at the company's Christmas party and strike a deal to help each other out with a couple of upcoming events.
I liked Riley and Kennedy and thought that they had great chemistry together. I loved the banter that they had with each other. It was a lot of fun to watch these two get to know each other. There were some pretty eye-opening events in both Riley and Kennedy's past that made it easier to understand why they were careful with their hearts.
I love the narrating pair of Andi Arndt and Sebastian York and I thought that they did a fantastic job with this story. Their voices just seem to work really well together with this kind of story. I loved the voices that they used for the various characters and the emotion that they added to their performance. I am sure that I enjoyed this story just a bit more due to their narration.
I would recommend this story to anyone looking for a shorter romantic read. I thought that this was a great way to spend a few hours and look forward to reading more from this writing pair in the future.
Initial Thoughts This was such a fun romance! I love the set up of the story. Riley and Kennedy were wonderful together. I thought that they had wonderful chemistry from the start that only grew as they got to know each other. I thought there were some pretty funny parts worked into this story and a few that made my heart melt just a bit. I think that Andi Arndt and Sebastian York are a great pair of narrators and they both did an amazing job with this story.
Every once in a while I am lucky enough to stumble upon a book that really impresses meThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
Every once in a while I am lucky enough to stumble upon a book that really impresses me. This was one of those books. I decided to give this book a try simply because it sounded like it had some promise and I am always on the lookout for new urban fantasy series to try. Once I started listening, I quickly realized that this was going to be a book that I wouldn't want to put down. I really enjoyed every moment that I spent with this book.
I loved this story's setup. Ozzy is a cunning man who is also very resourceful. He tries to help others when he can. He decided to help a man find a family heirloom even though the job isn't going to pay well. And that's when things really start to go wrong. Ozzy will risk losing everything to get to the bottom of this case before long.
I loved the characters in this book. I found myself liking Ozzy right from the start. I loved getting a chance to see what he thought and see how his mind works. Besides Ozzy, there were plenty of other great characters. Ozzy's mentor, Early, kept me guessing and the Dealer was intriguing yet creepy. I loved the variety of beings that show up in this book include hags, goblins, hobgoblins, and changelings just to start.
The story had plenty of action and moved at a pretty fast pace. I was completely drawn into the mystery and couldn't wait to see how things would work out. The book took a lot of turns that I didn't expect and I loved the fact that it kept me guessing.
Gary Bennett did a fabulous job with the narration. I really felt like he brought this story to life. He used a variety of voices for all of the different characters and made everything sound very natural. He had a very pleasant voice that I found easy to listen to for hours at a time. I think that his performance added to my enjoyment of the story.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a great start to a very promising series. The characters, the mystery, and the world-building were all very well done. I cannot wait to read more of this series!
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author via Audiobook Boom and have voluntarily left this review.
Initial Thoughts This was really quite good. I love the characters and thought that the premise was rather original. The story moved at a great pace that kept me guessing. The narrator did a fabulous job with the story which made everything just a bit more enjoyable....more
So I liked this one. I didn't love it but I thought it was a good overall listen. I didThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
So I liked this one. I didn't love it but I thought it was a good overall listen. I didn't even think twice about giving this audiobook a try once I read the book's description. It just sounded so original that I just had to see what it was all about. I also often enjoy it when audiobooks use a full cast of narrators so this book had a lot of things going for it. I enjoyed this book and am glad that I decided to pick it up.
This story is set in the future and I really enjoyed all of the different "improvements" that were worked into the story. Trinity is recovering from an injury that has kept her in her apartment. She is able to work from home using a simulator to drive people around. She does have a couple of friends that periodically drop by and she is friendly with her neighbor. And then there is her neighbor's nephew, Li Wei.
Trinity and Li Wei end up spending quite a bit of time together. Li Wei is trying to act more human and his interactions with Trinity help him do that. Trinity believes that he is also recovering from an injury so she doesn't think too much about his strange behavior until he lets her know that he is an A.I. Even that doesn't seem to stop the pull they both feel for each other.
I really liked the originality of the story and thought that the descriptions of all of the basic things in Trinity's apartment were very well done. It did seem like there was more going on with the characters and I thought that it did make sense with everything was revealed. I wish that I would have been able to connect with the characters a bit more. I also didn't feel a lot of chemistry between the pair. It was an entertaining story but it was missing that something extra that would have made it great.
I thought that the audio production was very well done. I thought that each of the narrators did a fantastic job with their characters. I also thought that the sound effects that were worked into the story were a whole lot of fun. I would say that I enjoyed this book just a bit more because I was able to listen to the audiobook.
I would recommend this book to others and I think that a lot of listeners will enjoy it even more than I did. I wouldn't hesitate to read more from Alyssa Cole in the future.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from Audible Originals.
Initial Thoughts This was good. Not great, but good. I am really somewhere between 3 and 4 stars on this book so I am going with 3. I liked the concept and I thought it was entertaining but the story never completely grabbed me. There were some pretty neat twists thrown in and I thought that the audiobook production was very well done. ...more
Oh my gosh, how I loved this book! When I saw this book offered as one of the selectionThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
Oh my gosh, how I loved this book! When I saw this book offered as one of the selections for Book of the Month, I immediately knew that I had to have it. I have heard great things about the book from a lot of different reviewers so I wanted to see what all of the fuss was about for myself. Well, I quickly figured out that this book was worthy of all the hype it has received. I had a great time with this book from start to finish and am so happy that I had the chance to give it a read.
Alex is the son of the President of the United States. His mom is the first woman elected into that office and his father holds a seat in Congress. He plans to run for public office himself someday and enjoys getting involved in politics. He does have a bit of a problem with one of the English princes and he has a royal wedding to attend where he is sure to run into the prince in question and maybe even share a bit of cake. When things go wrong at the wedding, those in charge decided that Alex and Henry need to spend some time together and show the press that they are actually friends.
I loved Alex and Henry. The story is told from Alex's point of view so we do see more of what is going on in his world but I have to admit that Henry stole my heart. Henry had so many things to deal with and his life was under the control of others. He was such a caring character and I just wanted to see things work out for him. Alex was also amazing. He had a lot to figure out in this story but he wasn't afraid to take risks when necessary. I thought that the supporting cast of characters was also very well done.
I thought that the romance was very well done. I really liked how their relationship developed and enjoyed seeing them turn to each other more and more as the story progressed. Most of the time, these two had an ocean between them but I really enjoyed all of the texts, emails, and phone calls they shared. When they were together, it was special. These two had fantastic chemistry that only grew stronger throughout the book.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I was swept away by this story and felt like I was right there with Alex and Henry cheering them towards their happily ever after. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Initial Thoughts I loved this book! I have heard great things about it so when it was offered as a December choice at BOTM, I grabbed it right away. Once I picked it up, I couldn't read it fast enough. I loved Alex and Henry so much and thought that they had fantastic chemistry. It wasn't a perfect book. There were a few times that things happened that seemed awfully convenient or rather unlikely. It didn't matter though because I loved the story and since it is fiction convenient and unlikely works for me. The story is told in the present tense which did throw me a bit but I was so lost in the story it didn't even matter. All in all, this was just a fantastic read!
This was a fun little romance! I have enjoyed what I have read from this author in the This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was a fun little romance! I have enjoyed what I have read from this author in the past so I was pretty excited to give this book a try. I enjoyed the book from the very start and great time seeing how everything developed. I am so glad that I decided to give this book a try.
Sam and his partners are still getting the ranch they run off the ground. The business is off to a good start but they do hope that things pick up a bit. Sam doesn't need any problems so when Delaney shows up claiming to own half of the land the ranch is built on, he isn't thrilled about it. Delaney isn't looking for anything that isn't rightfully hers. Sam was only able to buy the land because Delaney's ex-husband forged her signature on the deed. Unfortunately, the town is closed for the week and Delaney's car needs some repairs so they will have a week to spend together before anything can be settled.
I liked Delaney and Sam. Both of these characters were really good people and neither wanted to hurt the other. They had fantastic chemistry from the start and I thought that it just got stronger as the book progressed. I really thought that these two fit together perfectly and their relationship just felt right. They were both dealing with some bigger issues that were a bit of an obstacle and I enjoyed watching them work through their issues.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a really well-done romance filled with wonderful characters and a bit of excitement. I can't wait to read more of this delightful series!
I received a review copy of this book from Forever Yours (Grand Central Publishing).
Initial Thoughts I liked this one. Sam and Delaney were great characters and I enjoyed watching them get to know each other. I thought that they had wonderful chemistry and their personalities just seemed to fit. ...more
This was a fantastic installment in a much-loved series! This is the fifth book in the VThis review can also be found atCarole's Random Life in Books.
This was a fantastic installment in a much-loved series! This is the fifth book in the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries series which is a series that is best read in order. I have been with Veronica since the beginning and am finding that I like this series more and more with each installment. I read this book in just a couple of days and found it to be incredibly entertaining. I really had a great time with this book.
I have grown to love Veronica, Stoker, and some of the other recurring characters in this series. Veronica and Stoker work very well together and obviously are quite good at solving mysteries. They also have a lot of chemistry. We have been gradually watching the heat grow between these two since the beginning of the series and while I do sometimes wish things would move a bit faster, it is obvious how much they care about each other.
The mystery in this book was a bit unexpected. Veronica's heritage is a well-kept secret. Because of her connections, she is asked to look into some of the dealings of the prince. He has given a piece of jewelry that can be traced back to him to a woman who runs a scandalous club and his family wants it back before anyone can find out about it. Of course, things are never easy and Veronica and Stoker must navigate a pretty dangerous situation before everything is settled. Throw in the famous Jack the Ripper murders which are happening and you have quite an exciting story on your hands.
This book had everything that I hoped it would have. There were some rather light-hearted moments and some pretty intense scenes. I loved the chemistry between the characters and am loving the way Veronica and Stoker are slowly working their way towards each other. There were a few surprises in this book and I really enjoyed the fact that the Jack the Ripper murders were a part of this story. I thought that the pacing of the story was very well done and I found the book hard to put down.
I would highly recommend this book to others. This is a smartly written mystery series with incredibly wonderful characters. I cannot wait to read more of Veronica and Stoker's adventures!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts I loved this book! I think that this series just keeps getting better and better. The characters are so well done and I love the chemistry between Veronica and Stoker. I thought the mystery in this book was quite good and I liked that the story touched on the crimes of Jack the Ripper. ...more
I liked this one! I am always on the lookout for new Urban Fantasy series to try and I This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I liked this one! I am always on the lookout for new Urban Fantasy series to try and I just couldn't resist a story about a necromancer with a resurrected pet pig named Bacon! This book is a collection of 6 different novella-length stories that all tie into a larger story. I did like some of the stories much more than others but I had a good time with the collection overall.
I loved Octavia! She had a lot of spunk and was just a lot of fun. Every time she put her pet pig, Bacon in a baby carrier under her shirt and pretended to be pregnant, I couldn't help the smile that would work its way onto my face. She was tough and rather resourceful. I liked seeing her handle herself in such a wide variety of settings.
In this collection, we see Octavia encounter a lot of different challenges. Each story was different but sometimes things from a previous story would carry over. I liked some of the stories a lot more than others which is normal for a collection of shorter pieces. I liked the stories at the beginning and the end of the collection the best and found that the middle stories dragged a bit. This audiobook did keep the beginning and ending credits for each of the six shorter works which I found somewhat unexpected.
This was the first time that I have listened to Brenda Scott Wlazlo narrate a book. I thought that she did a marvelous job with this one. I probably enjoyed this book a bit more because of her narration. She made the story come alive and everything flowed beautifully. I loved that when Octavia sang, we got to hear it. I hope to listen to more of her narration work.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a very well done collection of stories with great characters and just the right amount of humor. I would love to see what comes next for Octavia, Bacon, and friends!
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author via Caffeinated Services.
Initial Thoughts Probably more of a 3.5 star read. I liked this book and had some fun with it. This is a collection of 6 novella-length stories that come together to tell a larger story. I liked some of the stories much better than others. I did like the characters and thought that the narrator did an amazing job. ...more
This was a very good end of the world story. I spent a lot of time in the past year listening to books in this genre and am always on the lookout for This was a very good end of the world story. I spent a lot of time in the past year listening to books in this genre and am always on the lookout for something new. I was pretty excited to give this one a try. It is a really quick listen with plenty of action to keep the story moving forward. I am glad that I decided to take a chance on this book.
Illness has wiped out most of the population. There are still smaller groups trying to make a better world to survive in but there are other groups that have taken advantage of the situation. Thomas takes his responsibilities seriously. He takes care of a young boy, passing him off as his younger brother. He was in the military before the world fell apart and hope to gain the rank of soldier in his new group. He is put in charge of a mission that is important and dangerous.
This was a pretty exciting story with a lot of action. The mission wasn't as straightforward as I first thought it might be. There were plenty of surprises along the way to keep things very interesting. There were some pretty horrible circumstances that he encountered in this story. Thomas was very smart and able to think through situations very quickly.
My only issue with the story is that there are a few sections of the book where Thomas has flashbacks to his life before. I did enjoy these parts but I thought that the transition to them could have been much stronger. It would have been nice to know that the narrative was jumping to a point in the past and I do wonder if it might have been indicated in some way in the written story. I tended to find myself wondering what was happening for a minute before I would realize that the story had shifted to one of Thomas's memories.
Matthew Crow did a good job with the story. He isn't my favorite narrator but I thought he handled the story well. I was not a fan of his female voices but this was really a very minor complaint. I wouldn't hesitate to listen to his narration work again in the future.
I would recommend this book to fans of end of the world stories. I thought that this was a well-done story that kept me entertained from beginning to end. I wouldn't hesitate to read more of Robert Wilson's work in the future.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author/narrator via Audiobook Boom and have voluntarily left this review.
Initial Thoughts I have now finished my second listen of this book and I think I liked it a bit more this time. I am not sure that I was feeling great the first time I listened to the book. This book follows Thomas in a world nearly destroyed by illness most likely a result of biological warfare. Thomas is part of a group trying to rebuild and he is working his way up the ranks, hoping to soon be classified as a solider. This book had a lot of action and it was easy to cheer Thomas on as he worked to complete his task. I thought that the narrator did an okay job with the story. I found his voice pleasant enough but I wasn't a fan of a few of the voices. There were a few flashbacks in the story and there were times that I found myself wondering what was going on then realizing the book had jumped to the past. It would have been nice if it was somehow more clear that the book had switched to past events. All in all, a good end of the world story....more
I had a good time with this book. After listening to the first book in the series, I waThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I had a good time with this book. After listening to the first book in the series, I was pretty eager to see what would happen next to Austin, Savannah and the rest of the group. This is a series that needs to be read in order since it is a continuation of the same overall story arc with each book building on the previous installment. I thought that this was a very well done installment.
This book had a bit of a different feel. The shock of the EMP has passed and the group has made it to a place that should be safe so their focus has shifted to learning to live together and be self-sufficient. This is a big group and they don't necessarily blend together easily so just living together is going to take a lot of work. It was really quite interesting to hear the plans they were making on how to survive and sustain such a large group.
There was some excitement to keep things interesting as well. Most of the action occurred later in this book but I enjoyed the lead-up. It sometimes seems that this group just cannot catch a break. They have to try to figure out if the data they hold could make a difference and stop the group responsible for the EMP and they have to fight to stay safe. It seems like there is one challenge after another.
Maxwell Zener did a great job with this book. I think that he stayed really consistent with the character voices that he used in the two books in the series. This series has a really large cast of characters and I love how varied and unique each voice was. I thought that he added a lot of excitement and emotion into the reading.
I would recommend this book to fans of apocalypse stories. This was a very enjoyable addition to the series with a nice balance of action and emotional scenes. I look forward to reading more of this exciting series.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author/narrator via Audiobook Boom and have voluntarily left this review....more
There was a time in my life where I read a lot of true crime books. I haven't picked one up recently but something made me decide to give this book a There was a time in my life where I read a lot of true crime books. I haven't picked one up recently but something made me decide to give this book a try. I always find it interesting to learn a little more about individuals capable of committing terrible crimes. I just couldn't resist listening to the story of Katherine Knight who is a known killer. I found this book to be rather interesting.
The bulk of this audiobook looks at the time before Katherine actually killed her boyfriend. The book first takes a look at the life of Katherine's mother and then paints a picture of the home Katherine grew up in. The book then takes a look at Katherine's relationships and we see some of the violence she was capable of. It was kind of amazing how much she was able to get away with over the years. The actual murder is pretty much explained in the book's description so there weren't a lot of surprises to be found there.
I thought that Steve White did a fantastic job with the narration. I am sure that I enjoyed the book more than I would have if I had read a print copy due to his narration. He had a very pleasant voice and read the book at a very nice pace. I wouldn't hesitate to listen to his work again in the future.
I did find myself wondering about the author's sources. I would have liked to know where the information was coming from and if there was anything new that was learned about Katherine or her crimes. I think that the book would have been stronger if sources for the information would have been included since I found that I wondered how the author would have known some of the things included in the book.
I think that fans of true crime will enjoy this book. It was a quick look at a killer that I knew nothing about before picking up this book.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author/narrator via Audiobook Boom and have voluntarily left this review.
Initial Thoughts Although I haven't read any true crime books lately, there was a time when I read a lot of the genre. I am not sure what it says about me but I was pretty eager to give this book about a cannibal killer a try. It was a pretty short book and the narration was very well done. The actual murder that this book leads up to is pretty much described in the book's description so there weren't a lot of surprises there. It was an interesting look at a killer that I didn't know anything about before picking up this book. I found it to be an interesting way to spend a few hours....more
I thought that this was really good. I decided to read this book on impulse. I hadn't hThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I thought that this was really good. I decided to read this book on impulse. I hadn't heard of it before but I thought that it sounds like it would be worth a try. And I was right. I was pulled into the story from the very beginning and it held my interest until the very end. I am so glad that I made the decision to pick up this book.
At the start of the book, Maureen is checking herself out of the hospital and she honestly isn't in the best shape. To make matters worse, when she gets home her husband has moved someone else in and wants to end their marriage. I wondered how this middle-aged woman who was still recovering from a pretty severe injury would handle a new case but I had nothing to worry about.
Maureen works for a special department within the FBI that deals with paranormal issues. An old friend and co-worker wants her help at the retirement home he just bought so she moves in. Let's just say that Maureen doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the residents. Of course, the residents are a quirky group of individuals led by a pretty uptight manager.
The action started in this book early on and it never let go. I loved the fact that since there were paranormal elements to the story anything could happen and sometimes did. I thought that the mystery was really well done and I wasn't quite sure who was responsible for everything until it was revealed. I thought that the mystery was pretty complex and I liked the fact that everything was wrapped up nicely by the end of the book.
Teri Clark Linden did a great job with the narration of this story. I thought that the really did a great job with the various character voices and was able to add a lot of life to the story. She has a very pleasant voice which is easy to listen to for hours at a time. Her reading only added to my enjoyment of this story.
I would recommend this book to fans of paranormal mysteries. I thought that this was a very well done story filled with fantastic characters and some interesting paranormal elements. I wouldn't hesitate to read more of this fun series!
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author/narrator via Audiobook Boom and have voluntarily left this review.
Initial Thoughts This was really good. I liked that the main character was a bit older and at a disadvantage before the story even started but she didn't let that stop her. The book had a heavy dose of paranormal and a fairly complex mystery. The cast of quirky characters were very well done. The narrator did a fantastic job with the story. ...more
I loved this book! It is no secret that I adore the entire Night Huntress universe. IanThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I loved this book! It is no secret that I adore the entire Night Huntress universe. Ian has always been a great character and I was thrilled when I learned about this spin-off series featuring his character. I loved the first book in the Night Rebel series, Shades of Wicked, and couldn't wait to get my hands on this newest book. Let's just say that I went into this book with sky-high expectations and I wasn't disappointed. This book was just as good as I had hoped it would be.
This is the second book in the Night Rebel series which I would recommend reading in order. This book picks up shortly after the events of the previous book. Ian and Veritas are not together. Ian shouldn't remember any of their time together and Veritas is committed to finding all the souls that were freed in order to save Ian. There is one big problem. Ian doesn't want to forget Veritas or let her go.
I love Ian and Veritas. I was a bit frustrated with Veritas at the start of this book because I just wanted to see Ian and Veritas together and she was making things difficult. It all works out though because Ian rises to the challenge. I thought that their personalities really shined in this book and their feelings for each other made my heart happy. I think that I liked each of these characters a bit more with every page. They are both smart, tough, and willing to take risks.
I thought that the story was really exciting. Even though I feel like I know this world really well, I love that there were a few surprises in store in this book. There was plenty of action and there were times that I didn't know how things would work out. It really seemed like they were outmatched at times and it was great to see Ian and Vertias rise to the challenge.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I had a fantastic time with this book and loved that it was everything I hoped it would be. I cannot wait to read more of this amazing series!
I received a digital review copy of this book from HarperCollins - Avon Books via Edelweiss.
Initial Thoughts I loved this book! Ian and Veritas are both great characters and I just love them together. There were quite a few surprises in this story and tons of excitement. There were some key appearances by some key players in the Night Huntress Universe and we also met a few new characters. This was one of those books that I found almost impossible to put down. ...more
This was such a delightful romance! I had read a couple of favorable reviews for this bThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was such a delightful romance! I had read a couple of favorable reviews for this book so I knew that I wanted to read it and was thrilled to get the chance. I don't read a ton of historical romance but I do tend to enjoy them every once in a while so I was ready to give this Beauty and the Beast story a try. I was swept away by Thane and Astrid's story and didn't want to put the book down for any reason.
Astrid is considered a spinster at twenty-five after a scandal during her first season. Her entire focus on her sister's happiness and wants to make sure that she is able to make a good match. Imagine her surprise when her uncle makes plans for Astrid's sister to marry the man that caused her scandal. The only way that she can have any influence is to find a husband so that he can take over as Isobel's guardian. Astrid knows the right man for the job.
Thane fought in the war and came back scarred. So many scars that people call him a beast, stare, and don't want to be around him. The scars on the outside are only the beginning. His personality is a little rough and he can be rather short with his staff and those around him. When Astrid shows up with her plan, he is less than impressed.
I loved these two! Astrid was incredibly smart and didn't hesitate to make any sacrifices necessary to ensure the well-being of her sister. She didn't think that she was any less capable than any man and resented the fact that she had no rights. Thane liked to act gruff but he really had a soft heart underneath it all. He pushed people away because he didn't want them to have to deal with the scrutiny of being with the beast. I felt like the personalities just fit together and they had fantastic chemistry.
I would highly recommend this book to fans of historical romances. It was such a joy to watch Thane and Astrid fall for each other. There were more than a few moments that I couldn't seem to stop smiling. I definitely plan to read more from Amalie Howard in the future!
I received a review copy of this book from Entangled: Amara via Bookish First.
Initial Thoughts What a delight! This was somewhere between 4 and 5 stars for me. I am going with 4 for now but may bump that up once I have more time to think about it. I loved Thane and Astrid! Loved them! They were perfect for each other and had a lot of chemistry. Thane's scars on the inside were worse than those on the outside. And the ones on the outside were bad enough to be called a beast. Astrid has been through a few things herself and is careful as a result. I had a lot of fun with this Beauty and the Beast story!...more
This was fantastic! Honestly, can you go wrong with Sarina Bowen? I think not. And afteThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was fantastic! Honestly, can you go wrong with Sarina Bowen? I think not. And after reading this book, I feel like the writing pair of Sarina Bowen and Tanya Eby is a pretty good bet as well. I was a little hesitant to pick up this book since I haven't read the other books in the series. I decided to go ahead and try it as a stand-alone and it worked perfectly. The only problem now is that I feel like I need to go back and read the earlier books in this series. That's a pretty good problem to have.
This book was great from the start. Mac and Meg meet each other in a restaurant where she is working. She mistakes him for a stripper and tries to take his clothes off but that's just an honest mistake. When they wind up becoming next-door neighbors a few months later, sparks are definitely flying. But Mac is determined to keep his hands off since he doesn't do relationships. But he does need a date to his sister's wedding and Meg is the gal there to help him out.
I loved Mac and Meg together. These two had so much chemistry together I almost felt like sparks were going to jump off the page. I also loved their banter. This book is pretty funny at times and I felt like a big part of that was because this pair felt so real. They were really adorable together in so many ways and I loved the way they just seemed to click.
As you would expect, there was a bit of drama to the story. But it was drama that felt authentic and possible to overcome. If anything, learning Mac's past really made me like his character even more because he has had to deal with things that were pretty intense. It was a joy to watch these two work things out. I loved all of the secondary characters and how they played a part in everything.
I would highly recommend this book to fans of romantic comedies. This book was filled with wonderful characters, a swoon-worthy romance, and quite a few laughs. I cannot wait to read more of this amazing series.
I received a digital review copy of this book from the author/publicist.
Initial Thoughts Oh my gosh, this was fun! I was a little hesitant to pick up this book because I haven't read any of the earlier books in the series but it worked perfectly well as a stand-alone. Meg and Mac were both great characters and I just loved them together. I loved their banter and thought that their chemistry was fantastic. I thought that there was just the right amount of humor sprinkled throughout the story. Now I want to go back and read the first three books in the series!...more
I really enjoyed this book! If you follow my reviews, you probably already know that myThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I really enjoyed this book! If you follow my reviews, you probably already know that my taste in books is pretty eclectic. While I am willing to read anything that sounds interesting, I don't read a lot of memoirs because they rarely appeal to me. I have zero desire to read about celebrities which eliminates a lot of memoirs. A story about a normal person doing extraordinary things is exactly the kind of thing I can get into so I went with my gut and gave this book a try and I am so glad that I did. Once I started reading this book, I didn't want to stop and ended up reading the whole book in a single day.
Keena's childhood was quite unique. Her parents studied animals in their own environment and took the whole family with them. She spent the first few years of her life in Kenya but most of her childhood was split between Botswana and Philadelphia. While in Baboon Camp in Botswana, Keena and her family lived in tents and had to watch out for lions, elephants, and buffalo. While in school, she had to deal with kids who liked being mean to anyone who was a little different. From her descriptions, I would have preferred life with the lions over going to high school as she did.
I loved getting to know Keena through her stories. There were times that I worried about her and feared that she would get hurt. I sympathized with her when she struggled to fit in at school. I was a little jealous of her when she described the days that she would spend the day in a tree reading while at camp. I was amazed by her ability to think clearly in highly stressful situations. The descriptions in the book are very well done and I felt like I had a good idea of what life was like at camp. I loved that there were a few photos scattered throughout the book to help illustrate some of the things discussed in the book.
I would recommend this book to others. I found this book to be very entertaining and I feel like I learned a few things in the process. I wouldn't hesitate to read more from Keena Roberts in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing.
Initial Thoughts I really enjoyed this book. I don't read a lot of memoirs but when I do decide to pick one up it is usually about a normal person doing extraordinary things instead of anything dealing with a celebrity. I couldn't imagine growing up like Keena did before reading this book. I understood her love of nature and animals while struggling to fit in during her times in the United States. I thought that she did a fantastic job of letting the reader see what both aspects of her life were like. I was worried about her safety at times and her emotional welfare at others. I am so glad that I decided to give this one a try....more
What a fantastic book! I knew that this book was going to be special on the very first This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
What a fantastic book! I knew that this book was going to be special on the very first page. There is just something about the way that it is written that really pulls the reader into the story. I was completely captivated and didn't want to put the book down for any reason. I am so glad that I took a chance and decided to give this book a try.
January lives in the home of a wealthy businessman, Mr. Locke. Her mother is gone and her father works for Mr. Locke searching the world for treasures which means he is rarely around. She doesn't quite fit in but tries to be what Mr. Locke wants her to be. Her only friends are a local boy named Samual and eventually, a big mean looking dog, she names Sinbad but always addresses as Bad. January finds a book, The Ten Thousand Doors, which she knows is meant for her. The book alternates between January's story and the story told in her book. Both stories were completely compelling. I was completely amazed by the story January's book held as its true origin was revealed.
I loved January! She was tough and resourceful. She tried really hard to do what was expected until she realized that may not be her best option. She never gave up and she cared greatly for those around her. I also really loved how her dog, Bad, was a big part of the story. Bad had great instincts and was fiercely loyal to January. I was really impressed by how completely his personality was developed.
This is a fantasy and one that was very well done. I loved the idea of these magical doors that allow individuals to travel from one world to another. The descriptions were so well done, I almost felt like I could smell the air along with the characters. I thought that the author did a fantastic job of incorporating fantastical elements into a historical story in a manner that seemed completely plausible.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I loved the journey that I took with January in these pages. There were surprises, some heartache, a few moments of pure joy, and some precious hope. I will definitely be looking out for future books by this incredibly talented author!
Initial Thoughts So, I have slept on it and this is definitely a 5-star read. So, so good!
This was fantastic. I am putting 4 stars for now but might bump it up to 5 after I give myself some time to really think about it. I loved January and I was intrigued about the doors and magic in her world. There were some pretty big surprises that popped up over the course of the story. I was pretty much glued to the pages of this novel every chance that I had. I will definitely be watching for more books from this talented author.
Believe it or not, this is the first book written by Colleen Hoover that I have read. IThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
Believe it or not, this is the first book written by Colleen Hoover that I have read. I have no idea why I haven't picked her books up before now. I have read many glowing reviews of her work over the years and her books always sounded like something I would like. I already own several of her books and my own daughter has told me that I really need to read her work. But I never did until this book. Now I understand why everyone raves about her books because I loved this book! This was one heck of a story and I had a fabulous time with it from beginning to end.
The book opens with Morgan, Chris, Jenny, and Jonah as teenagers. Morgan is Jenny's older sister and Chris's girlfriend. Jenny and Jonah are dating and Jonah and Chris are best friends. They are a tight group that likes to have fun. Morgan realizes that her life may be about to change forever and she doesn't know what to think. Then the story jumps ahead 17 years and we meet Clara, Morgan and Chris's teenage daughter. Jenny and Jonah are around as well and now share a child. It looks like a pretty good life.
This book was pretty emotional at times. My heart broke for this group of characters one minute and I was angry for what they were going through the next. The relationships in this book all felt so real to me and I liked that we got to see so many different types of connections. Through Clara's point of view, we were able to see her relationship with her parents and watch as she navigated a new relationship. From Morgan's point of view, we saw a mother who wanted the best for her daughter even if they weren't always on the same page. Morgan had a lot of things to work out and I thought that the emotions that she went through all felt very real.
I would highly recommend this book to others. This was a wonderful story that tackled a mother-daughter relationship, a teenage romance, and things that are out of our control. I will definitely be reading more from Colleen Hoover very soon.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Montlake Romance via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts Well, this was amazing! This was my first Colleen Hoover book but it will not be my last. I loved Clara, Morgan, Miller, and Jonah. These characters all go through so much over the course of this story and everything they felt just seemed so real. I loved that the book surprised me at times and made me feel so many things. This was one of those books that I found myself thinking about any time I was not able to actually pick it up. ...more
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