I enjoyed this one. The description of this book really appealed to me from the start sThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I enjoyed this one. The description of this book really appealed to me from the start so I thought it would be worth a try. I was really curious about how the ability to see when your relationship with someone would end would play out in a story, and I think that it worked pretty well. This was a really quick read, and I found it to be quite enjoyable.
When Quinn touches someone for the first time, she sees how that relationship will end. She knows if it will be a long term relationship or if it will end quickly. I thought that this was a really interesting ability and it made sense that it would have a big impact on Quinn's life. Do you go out on a date with someone you know will break your heart? Unfortunately, even though she knows what is going to happen, she can't do anything to stop it.
Quinn meets Griffin at an art gallery. They are both there to find inspiration: Quinn for her photography and Griffin for his music. When she touches him, she sees that he will die soon while telling her that he loves her. As fate would have it, she soon learns that he lives in the same apartment complex as she lives with her grandmother. They are drawn to each other and love spending time with each other but Quinn is afraid that she might be the cause of his upcoming death.
I liked the characters in this book. Quinn had been through a lot in her life and her special abilities have not made things any easier for her. Griffin has had his own challenges and is trying to start fresh on his own in a different state. It really seemed like these two needed each other and I thought that they were good together. Quinn's friend Olivia was a good source of support for her and her new boyfriend, Jack, seemed like a good guy as well.
I do wish that we would have had the chance to see Quinn have to deal with her powers more often in this book. I only remember it happening twice in the story and I think it would have made the story more interesting if it came up more often. I didn't find the mystery to be too hard to figure out but I was still eager to see how things played out. There were a couple of times in the story when things felt a little too convenient but nothing that I couldn't look past.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a fun story with an imaginative premise. I wouldn't hesitate to read more of this author's work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Entangled: Teen via NetGalley....more
Oh, I had a lot of fun with this book! I jumped at the opportunity to read this book beThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
Oh, I had a lot of fun with this book! I jumped at the opportunity to read this book because the description sounded like something I would really enjoy. I have read a couple of books written by Angie Fox and knew that I like her style of writing so I felt like this book would be a good bet. It was so easy to slip into this book's world and I couldn't wait to see how things would work out.
Petra is a physician working in a MASH unit that is in place to treat injuries in the neverending war between the gods. She has been drafted to serve for the rest of her life or until either the war ends (which it probably won't). Everyone thinks that she is just a regular mortal but she has one little secret, she can see the dead. She saves the life of a demigod on her table who learns her secret and her life suddenly changes.
I really liked the characters in this book. Petra was a strong woman who worked really hard to do whatever good she could in the world. Galen was awesome. He seemed to take everything in stride but was always there ready to save the day when he was needed. Rodger just wanted to be able to be back with his family but was a good friend to Petra. Petra was not eager to jump into a relationship with Galen so it was fun to see how things ended up developing between the pair.
I think that this book was very well written. I really liked the fact that there was a good dose of humor sprinkled throughout the book. I loved the banter between the characters and thought that it added to the appeal of the story. There was a great balance of excitement, romance, and humor throughout the book and the pacing was very well done. This was a book that was very easy to read for hours at a time.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a fun story that kicks off a promising series that I look forward to reading more of in the near future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Moose Island Books via NetGalley....more
This was fantastic! I tend to enjoy time travel stories so I was drawn to this series fThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was fantastic! I tend to enjoy time travel stories so I was drawn to this series from the start. Once I started reading the series, it became evident that this was something really special. I was really looking forward to this installment and it delivered on every level. I found this book to be a wonderful escape and really enjoyed going along with Xanthe during this adventure.
Xanthe is a Spinner, which is the term used for individuals with the special skill of being able to spin time. Certain objects sing to Xanthe and pull her into time so that she can set things right. When Xanthe finds an antique wedding dress, she knows that it has a story to tell. She also must continue to deal with Fairfax who is determined to get what he wants from Xanthe at any cost and in any time.
I loved the characters in this book. There were some pretty big developments for Xanthe in her personal life in this story and I loved seeing how supportive everyone in her life turned out to be. I found the characters in the past to be just as likable and I found myself hoping that Xanthe would be able to help their situation. I loved getting to know Xanthe better as she learned more about her abilities.
I would recommend this book to others. I found this to be a very well done and exciting story that kept me glued to the pages until the very end. I do have to say that the ending has left me very eager to read the next installment in this wonderful series.
I received a digital review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts This was fantastic! I really enjoyed the first two books in this series and was eager to see what adventures Xanthe would be a part of in this installment. There were a lot of discoveries in this book and I am enjoying watching Xanthe really learn to use all of her abilities. This story went in a direction that I could have never expected and the ending has left me excited to read the next book in the series. ...more
I thought that this was really good! This is only the second Colleen Hoover book that IThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I thought that this was really good! This is only the second Colleen Hoover book that I have picked up. I loved Regretting You when I read it last year so I was really excited to read more of her work. I tend to really enjoy paranormal stories so I was especially drawn to this book. I found this to be a really fast read that I enjoyed.
Leeds and Layla seem like they are meant for each other from the moment they first see each other. They meet at a wedding where Leeds was playing the bass with the band and Layla is enjoying herself by dancing, badly. They clicked right away and the chemistry between them was amazing. Then there is an incident that leaves Layla fighting for her life and everything changes. Leeds hopes to help her heal so he takes to her to the home that they met at during the wedding. That is when everything gets really weird.
This book was different than anything I have ever read. I liked the way that the story is presented with some glimpses of things to come interspersed with Leeds and Layla's chronological story. I liked that we knew that things would get really weird from the start and I was eager to see just how it would happen. I will say that there were some points in this book that I wasn't sure that I was going to like where it was going. There were some twists that I did not see coming which made everything work out so much better than I could have hoped for.
I would recommend this book to others. Both the story and the characters intrigued me and kept me guessing until the end. I definitely plan to read more from this talented author.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Montlake Romance via NetGalley....more
I loved this book! I have been a fan of this series from the start and it seems to justThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I loved this book! I have been a fan of this series from the start and it seems to just get better with each installment. I started reading this book just as soon as a copy made its way into my greedy little hands just because I couldn't wait to see what was next for Veronica and Stoker. I found this installment to be incredibly entertaining and have a fantastic time with it.
Veronica and Stoker learn about a female mountain climber and they suspect that her untimely death may not be the accident that it has been believed to be. Soon after they inform the Princess of their suspicions, the Princess goes missing and Veronica is asked to step in and take her place. Things get really interesting very quickly with Veronica posing as the Princess while still investigating the death of the mountain climber.
I found this book to be incredibly exciting. I had a lot of fun watching Veronica and Stoker step into a different role even for a little while. They both have such strong personalities so it was very entertaining to see them act differently than they would naturally. The mystery itself was very interesting and much more involved than I thought it would be at the start of the story. There were a few times that I worried if Veronica and Stoker would be able to get out of this situation unscathed. I really loved seeing the relationship between Veronica and Stoker grow during this installment. These two really care about each other and can be quite protective of each other.
I would highly recommend this series to others. This is a series that I would recommend reading in order if at all possible since each installment builds on the events of the previous books. I have found each book to be incredibly well-written and entertaining. I cannot wait to read future installments in this fantastic series.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts This book was so good! I have been a fan of this series from the start and I think that these books just keep getting better and better. Veronica and Stoker are both awesome as always but I loved seeing the changes in their relationship and how they have grown together through everything. There was even a scene or two that might have melted my heart more than a bit. The mystery was very well done and I continue to be entertained by the situations this pair seems to find themselves in. I had a wonderful time reading this book....more
I had a good time with this book! I really liked the sound of this book and I have had This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I had a good time with this book! I really liked the sound of this book and I have had luck with some of Chloe Neill's other works so I was pretty excited to give this book a try. This book sounded pretty unique and I couldn't wait to see this female captain take command of her ship. I was quickly hooked by this story and found it hard to set aside at times. I really found this book to be an enjoyable story.
Kit Brightling is the captain of a ship in the Isle Queen's Command. The Queen decides to send Kit's ship on a mission to rescue a man being held captive. The Queen doesn't send her alone, instead, she sends Grant, a titled man who has served in the war, along on the mission. These two don't see eye to eye at the start but I did enjoy watching them learn to work together and eventually trust each other.
I really liked all of the characters in this book. It was great getting to really know both Kit and Grant through the connections in their life, their actions, and their history. It was really powerful to see Kit do things that made it clear that she cared about those on her ship. The crew on the ship were great characters as well and I liked how they all seemed dedicated to working together. Grant had to balance the demands of home with his orders from the Queen and I liked the way he took his responsibilities very seriously.
This book was exciting. There are some pretty intense scenes that had me quite worried about the characters. I also really liked the politics that were a part of the story, especially the challenges that Kit faced because of her gender. I was pretty excited to find that there was a bit of magic worked into the story and I thought it was a nice touch. I thought that the quieter parts of the book that focused on relationships were well done and helped to balance the story.
Danielle Cohen did a great job with the narration of this book. I thought that the accent that she used was perfect for the story. I thought that all of the character voices that she used were very well done and I thought that she was able to add a lot of excitement to the story through her reading. I found myself wanting to listen to this book for hours at a time and I believe that her narration added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a fun story filled with great characters and a lot of surprises. I definitely plan to read more of Chloe Neill's work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this audiobook from Tantor Audio via NetGalley....more
I really enjoyed this book! I have had pretty good luck with C.J. Tudor's books so I waThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I really enjoyed this book! I have had pretty good luck with C.J. Tudor's books so I was really excited to read her newest offering. I went into this book rather blindly which I think might be the best way to experience this wonderful novel. This book was one of those books that I found hard to put down and appreciated each and every surprise during the reading journey.
Reverend Jack Brooks has been reassigned to the small town of Chapel Croft. Jack's 14-year-old daughter Flo isn't any more thrilled by the more than Jack is but they are going to try to make the most of it. The church that Jack has been assigned to has a lot of history being the site where martyrs were burned at the stake. Residents still leave burning dolls to honor them. Jack was sent to Chapel Croft to replace a vicar who suddenly committed suicide a couple of months earlier and the town also holds the mystery of a pair of teen girls who disappeared years ago without a trace.
Jack and Flo try to fit in but some things just feel off. They both are starting to make friends and trying to connect to the community but they can't stop themselves from digging a little deeper into the mysteries surrounding the events that have occurred in the town. I loved the way that this book was able to keep me guessing until the very end. I really liked both Jack and Flo and found myself rather worried about both of them at several points in the story. This story was really intense and I felt like it straddled the line between mystery and horror which is something that I really appreciated.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I think that this was a fantastic novel that had me glued to the pages and invested in the welfare of the characters. I will definitely be reading C.J. Tudor's work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts This was really good! Reverend Jack and teenage daughter, Flo, are sent to a church with a lot of history in a small town. They do their best to make things work and fit in but some things feel off. I loved the fact that this book kept me guessing from beginning to end with plenty of twists and turns. I really liked Jack and Flo and found myself worrying about them quite a bit over the course of this story. I will say that this story straddled the line between thriller and horror at times which is something that I appreciated....more
I loved this book! I thought that it was an excellent conclusion to a trilogy that I reThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I loved this book! I thought that it was an excellent conclusion to a trilogy that I really enjoyed. I get excited about a lot of books but every once in a while, I get my hands on a book that I just cannot wait to read and it gets moved to the top of the pile. This was one of those books. Once I had it loaded on my reader, I couldn't help but to start reading it and once I started there was no stopping.
This is the third book in the Bring Me Their Hearts Trilogy which really needs to be read in order since the book picks up right where the previous one ended. Zera is still Heartless and now her heart is held by a new witch. This witch happens to be the man she loves, Prince Lucien. Zera, along with Lucien, Malachite, and Fione are all determined not only to stop Varia from destroying the world with her control of the Bone Tree but to save her while doing so. They face a lot of really big obstacles in this story but I loved seeing their resolve and I think that they worked really well as a team.
The relationship between Zera and Lucien has been developing throughout the trilogy. I really do like them as a couple and felt like not only do they have fantastic chemistry but that their personalities fit together really well. Things definitely progress in this book beyond simple flirtation into a full relationship. I think that the friendships between all of the members of the group grew a lot over the course of the story and I found it touching how much they would each be willing to risk for each other.
I thought that the overall mission in this story was very well done. There is plenty of excitement in this story that kept me glued to the pages. I loved the way that the story was able to keep me guessing and there were plenty of completely unexpected developments to keep things very interesting. I thought that the series came to a very satisfying conclusion and the epilogue was phenomenal. Can I just say how much I love a well-done epilogue? Well, this epilogue blew me away.
I would highly recommend this trilogy to others. I thought that this was a very well done story that captivated my attention from beginning to end. I definitely plan to read more of Sara Wolf's work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Entangled: Teen via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts I loved this book! I adored the first two books in this series so I just couldn't wait to see how the trilogy would end. This book picks up where the previous book ended and I couldn't wait to see Zera, Lucian, Fione, and Malachite work together to save the day. It has been great to see how much each of the characters have grown over the course of the trilogy. Everything was very well done. The story was exciting and kept me guessing. The romance was fantastic. And the epilogue blew me away. ...more
I loved this book! I am a huge fan of this series so I went into this book with rather This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I loved this book! I am a huge fan of this series so I went into this book with rather high expectations and I am happy to report that they were all met. I was so excited to check in with Casey, Eric, and the rest of the Rockton residents and to find out what their next adventure would be. This was a book that I didn't want to put down once I started reading. I had a fantastic time with this book!
Casey and Eric encounter a wounded woman in the woods who is in very bad shape. It looks like the rest of her party has died and they are not sure what might have happened to the woman they are caring for in town. Rockton soon receives an important visitor, who brings a few answers but a lot more questions. Casey and Eric need to figure out what happened to the woman and what is going on with their town.
This book kept me guessing! There was a lot of excitement in this story and the mystery element was very well done. It was so good to finally get some answers to some of the bigger mysteries surrounding the town of Rockton. I wasn't sure how everything would be connected but I loved that we saw so many characters and elements from previous books play a role in this installment.
I would highly recommend this series to others! I do think that this is a series that is best when read in order since each book builds on the events from previous installments. I had a great time with this page-turner and believe that readers will find this to be a book filled with great characters and a nicely plotted mystery. I cannot wait to find out what will happen next in Rockton!
I received a digital review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts I am a huge fan of this series so I went into this book with pretty high expectations and they were all met. I was drawn into the mystery and couldn't wait to see how everything would come together in the end. There were some pretty unexpected developments and enough action to keep things very interesting. I do think that this series needs to be read in order since a lot of the things that they are dealing with in this book tie into previous mysteries. It was nice to check in with Casey, Dalton, and the rest of the Rockton crew....more
I really enjoyed this book! I read the first two installments in the Gunnie Rose seriesThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I really enjoyed this book! I read the first two installments in the Gunnie Rose series about a year ago and I couldn't wait to get to read more of this fun series. I couldn't resist reading this book just as soon as it found its way into my greedy hands. I will admit that my expectations were pretty high for this book and I am happy to report that I was not disappointed in the least.
When Lizbeth learns that Eli is being held in jail, she knows that she needs to see what she can do to help him. Before you know it, she is in the Holy Russian Empire working to help in any way that she can. This will not be an easy rescue and she faces one obstacle after another. Things get complicated pretty quickly and there is more than enough excitement to keep things entertaining.
I had a lot of fun watching Lizbeth navigate a new environment while working towards her goal of setting Eli free. I love how unique each part of the country is in this alternate universe. There were some familiar characters back for this installment and we got to meet a lot of new ones as well. I especially enjoyed getting to know Eli's family and see them work together under pressure.
This is the third book in the Gunnie Rose series which I do think is best if read in order since events from previous books seem to come into play quite frequently. The relationship between Eli and Lizbeth undergoes some pretty big developments in this installment and I am eager to see how things will play out moving forward. This was a really exciting book that I found to be hard to put down so I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to others.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Gallery / Saga Press via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts I really enjoyed this book! I read the first two books in the Gunnie Rose series during the past year and was pretty excited to join Lizbeth on her next adventure. When Lizbeth learns that Eli is in prison, she knows that she has to see what she can do to help. Soon she is in the Holy Russian Empire working to help in any way she can. There were some familiar faces and some new ones as well. I enjoyed trying to figure out exactly what was going on along with Lizbeth and enjoyed all of the excitement along the way. This really was a fun quick read!...more
I loved this! I was so excited to have the opportunity to read an early copy of this boThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I loved this! I was so excited to have the opportunity to read an early copy of this book and I was not disappointed. I remember thinking that was going to be a fun series with limitless possibilities when I read the first book in this series and seven books in, I believe I was right. This is a series that I would recommend reading in order if at all possible since the character relationships have grown and changed and there are a few ongoing story arcs. Each book has been a lot of fun so you wouldn't want to miss one anyway!
It looks like an assassin is out to get Irene. At the start of the book, Irene and Vale are off on a quick mission together when things get messy. Irene sets through a magical door only to discover a man that she thought was dead. Meanwhile, Kai and Catherine are facing challenges of their own. Irene, Kai, Vale, and Catherine must work to find out who is behind the assassination attempts and learn exactly what is going on.
This book was exciting and the mystery kept me guessing. There were several times that I wondered if Irene would be able to find a way out of difficult situations. I had no idea who was behind everything which made the book very hard to put down. I liked what Catherine added to the story. I wasn't quite sure if she would be trusted but I thought that she grew a lot over the course of this story and eventually proved herself.
I would recommend this book to others. I found this to be a very exciting and entertaining read filled with fantastic characters that I have grown to love. There were some pretty big revelations in this book which have left me incredibly eager to get my hands on the next book in this fantastic series!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts I loved this! I was so excited to have the opportunity to read an early copy of this book and I was not disappointed. Irene, Kai, and Vale are on the case once again and this time they have a couple of additional characters along to help. The story was exciting and intelligently written. There were some pretty big revelations toward the end of the story that has left me quite eager to see what will happen next in the series. ...more
Another winner from Tiffany McDaniel! I read her first book The Summer That Melted EverThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
Another winner from Tiffany McDaniel! I read her first book The Summer That Melted Everything when it was released four years ago and was blown away so I was pretty eager to get my hands on her newest novel. Both books are set in the same town of Breathed, Ohio and there were a few quick glimpses of some familiar characters but otherwise, these were two very different stories. I ended up loving this book just as much as I loved her previous novel.
It did take me a long time to read this book. One reason is that my life has been absolutely crazy for the past few months and time to read has been hard to come by. Another reason, and probably a bigger one, was the fact that I really needed to process some of the scenes in this book. This book is based on the life of the author's mother which made it even more heart-wrenching. This was a book that I wanted to savor every moment of and I am glad that I took my time and really gave Betty the time that she deserved.
This book tells the story of Betty and the rest of the Carpenter family. We see Betty's mother and father meet, marry, and bring their children into the world. Betty's father is Cherokee and she is darker like him which makes life difficult for her in 1960's Ohio. Her family was poor but they made things work. Her father had a garden that helped to feed the family and used his knowledge of plants and herbs to make medicines for the local community. We see the challenges that all of her family members face through Betty's eyes and hear their stories through Betty's ears. I was often just as horrified as Betty was.
The writing was just as fantastic as the story. I love the way that the author was able to share an event in such brilliant detail that I felt like I could actually see what was happening. Betty's family was quite large but I felt like I knew her brothers and sisters almost as well as Betty. The story had a wonderful and I found myself wanting to go over certain passages more than once just because I felt the power and beauty of the words.
I would highly recommend this book to others. This was a wonderful story of resilience and strength even when things were at the lowest point. Tiffany McDaniel has cemented her position as an author I plan to follow.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts Ummm, wow! I am blown away by this fantastic novel. It did take me a very long time to read it and while I blame most of that on my life right now, there were some parts in this book that I needed time to process before I was ready to move on. I felt for Betty and grew to love most of the Carpenter family. The fact that this story is based on the life of the author's mother makes the story even more moving. The writing was beautiful and the story knocked my socks off. ...more
This was fantastic! I really enjoyed the first book in the Ice King series so I was preThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was fantastic! I really enjoyed the first book in the Ice King series so I was pretty eager to get started with this second installment. I ended up enjoying this book even more than the first. This was one of those audiobooks that I found incredibly hard to put down. I thought that this was a really delightful story from beginning to end.
Mikah and Paisley were great characters. I loved the fact that they had admired each other but hadn't actually met until the start of this story. Mikah has bigger problems to deal with in this story than hockey, namely the baby that was left on his doorstep. He was unsure at first but Paisley was right there to help and reassure him. I just loved Mikah and thought it was wonderful to see him embrace caring for his son.
Meg Price and James Cassidy did a fantastic time with the narration of this book. I have no idea whether Mikah's accent was authentic but to my untrained ears, I thought that it added a nice element to the story. I really thought that both of these narrators did a great job bringing the characters to life and I really enjoyed the fact that they were able to add a lot of emotion into their reading.
I would definitely recommend this book to romance fans. I thought that this was a very well done romance with characters I couldn't wait to see fall for each other. I cannot wait to read more of this great series!
I received a digital audiobook review copy of this book from Spectrum Audiobooks via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts I liked this book even more than the first book in the series. Mikah and Paisley were fantastic characters and I thought that they had wonderful chemistry together. I thought that the baby on the doorstep was a very interesting and well-done premise. The way that these two handled everything made it hard not to love them. The narration was very well done and I found myself wanting to listen to this book for hours at a time. I am looking forward to checking out the next book in the series. ...more
Oh, this was fun! It should come as no surprise to anyone that follows my reviews that This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
Oh, this was fun! It should come as no surprise to anyone that follows my reviews that I like a good hockey romance. Stacey Lynn was a new author to me but I was willing to take a chance on this first installment in the Ice Kings series. I was not disappointed. I was hooked by this story from the very start and couldn't wait to see how everything worked out.
Jude and Kate were both wonderful characters. I am a fan of second chance romances so I was thrilled by the fact that these two have a history. The chemistry between them was amazing and I really felt their connection from the start. They do each have some things to deal with and it was fun to take the journey with them.
I thought that Liam DiCosmio and Stella Hunter did a great job with the narration. I really enjoy books that use a different point of view for each character because I feel like it really helps to bring the story to life. I found this to be a very easy listen and both narrators had a very pleasant voice. I wouldn't hesitate to listen to either of these narrators again in the future.
I would recommend this book to fans of sports romance. There isn't a whole lot of hockey in this book but Jude is pretty focused on doing what needs to be done to get back into the game. I found this to be a wonderful romance featuring characters that were easy to fall for.
I received a digital audiobook review copy of this book from Spectrum Audiobooks via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts This was just what I was looking for! I have been having such a hard time concentrating and decided that I needed a lighter fun listen to get me back on track. I was also really curious about how audiobooks from NetGalley worked and thought that this book would be the perfect one to try out the new app. I love second chance romance and hockey romances are a favorite so this book was a win for me in more than one way. Jude and Kate were fantastic characters and I thought that their chemistry together was amazing. I think that the narrators did a good job with the story even though I wasn't a huge fan of the voices the male narrator used for the female characters. ...more
I have been a fan of Laurell K. Hamilton for a very long time. I live in the same area This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I have been a fan of Laurell K. Hamilton for a very long time. I live in the same area as the author so I have been lucky enough to go to quite a few bookish events and have waited hours to get my book signed more than once. Over the years, I have been distracted by other books and authors and have missed some of the books in this series but I would still consider myself to be a fan. It pains me to say that I didn't enjoy this book.
This book takes Anita out of town to help deal with shifter involved murder case. I will say that I have had mixed feelings about some of the books that take Anita away from the cast of characters that are a part of her world at home. That being said, I tend to love books that include Edward, which this one does, so I was hopeful. Unfortunately, it felt like next to nothing happened in this entire book. There is a lot of talking but that is about it. The case seemed really easy to figure out and I had hoped that there would be some kind of surprise that would change everything but that never happened.
So what did they talk about? They overexplained a lot of things through different conversations but it seemed like the bulk of the discussions focused on Olaf/Otto. Olaf is a U.S. Marshal, like Anita, but in his free time, he is a serial killer. He has his sights set on Anita and wants to have a relationship with her instead of just wanting to kill her. Anita is not quite as eager but instead of saying no and moving on, they go on and on about what he would need to do to date her. It was agonizing.
I thought that Kimberly Alexis did a great job with the narration. I do think that her narration was one of the reasons that I was able to finish this book. She did a great job with all of the character voices and I found her voice to be very pleasant to listen to.
I wouldn't recommend this book to others. I am not throwing in the towel with this series just yet but I wish that I had skipped this book. I found this book to be rather slow and lacking any real excitement. I do have hope for the next installment in the series.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley and purchased a copy of the audiobook....more
I loved this book! I have to admit that when I found out that the Kate Daniels series wThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I loved this book! I have to admit that when I found out that the Kate Daniels series would end with the tenth book, I was heartbroken. These were characters that I loved and a world that I enjoyed visiting (even if it is dangerous most of the time) and I just did not want to see it end. This book brought me back to that world that I love so much. We get to see some familiar characters in this story but it is from a fresh, new perspective. This book was everything that I had hoped it would be and more.
Julie left Atlanta eight years ago but she's back and she is a whole new person. Julie is now known as Aurelia Ryder and is not recognizable to anyone who knew her as Kate and Curran's ward. She needs to keep her identity a secret and will go to great lengths to do so. Aurelia has acquired a lot of power and skill during the eight years she was gone while training with her grandmother. She is back in Atlanta to try to stop a prophecy that leaves her adopted mother dead. She will do whatever it takes to protect those she cares about.
There have been a string of murders that seems to be tied to the prophecy and Aurelia is in town to get to the bottom of things. Of course, things can never be easy and she runs into one challenge after another as she works to solve the case. It quickly becomes apparent that the culprit will present quite a challenge. As she works to make progress on the case, she is also trying to protect her identity while constantly running into a certain wolf from her past.
I loved the characters in this book. I thought that I knew Julie but she has grown so much over the years, she really was a new person. She is loyal to her family, highly competent, intelligent, and able to think several steps ahead at all times. She is not the only one who has changed over the years and some of the other character's transformations are just as dramatic. Some characters have grown up, literally. It was so much fun to see the younger characters, including Conlan, play a larger role and to hear about some of the trouble that they have caused over the years.
This book was very well written. It had all of the excitement and action that I have come to expect from this writing pair. I thought that the action scenes were perfectly balanced with the scenes that were more character-driven. The mystery was complex and kept me guessing and there were some pretty big surprises. Huge surprises! I loved how imaginative and unique some of the scenes were. The banter between the characters was entertaining and helped to keep the story from getting too serious.
I would highly recommend this book to others. This was a book that was next to impossible to put down once I picked it up and I found it enormously entertaining from beginning to end. I cannot wait to read more of Aurelia Ryder's adventures.
I received a digital review copy of this book from NYLA via NetGalley.
I had a really good time with this book! Even though I haven't quite finished reading tThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I had a really good time with this book! Even though I haven't quite finished reading the Iron Druid Chronicles, I was excited to see that Kevin Hearne was writing more stories set in the same world. I had originally planned to read this book on my e-reader but I ended up with the audiobook since Luke Daniels does such a good job with this author's work. I was not disappointed. I am so glad that I decided to give this book a try.
This book is set in the same world as the books from the Iron Druid Chronicles. Fans of that series will be happy to be back in the world and will enjoy seeing some familiar characters but this is also a great place for new readers to jump in. I really enjoyed getting to know these new characters and found the whole idea of the sigils to be very interesting.
Al is a great character. I love that he is an older guy just trying to do what needs to be done and get through each day. He takes special precautions to protect others from his curse. The more I learned about Al, the more I liked him. Buck added a nice touch to the story. I was quite entertained by this hobgoblin and thought that he added a really fun element to the story. The two of them make a great, but very unlikely, pair.
I thought that the story was very well done. I was really invested in the mystery and couldn't wait to see how things would work out. The sigils added a nice element to their quest to get to the bottom of things. I found the police to also be well done. I found the book to be really exciting and quite often hard to put down.
Luke Daniels did a fantastic job with the narration. I liked the different voices that he used and thought that he did an especially great job with the voice app that Al often uses. He added a lot of excitement to the story and was able to capture each character's personality in his reading. I am glad that I decided to go with the audiobook for this story.
I would recommend this book to others. It was a very well done story with a new spin on some familiar elements. I cannot wait to go on future adventures with Al and Buck!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Random House Publishing - Del Rey via NetGalley and purchased a copy of the audiobook.
Initial Thoughts I had a good time with this book. I have quite finished reading the Iron Druid Chronicles yet but I have read enough that I knew the world that this book was set in prior to beginning the novel. I don't really feel like jumping to this series spoiled anything for me in the Iron Druid series but what do I know. I decided to go with the audiobook for this one since Luke Daniels narrates the book and I think it was a good choice. I enjoyed going on this adventure with Al and I found myself completely sucked in by the mystery. Buck helped to keep things from being too serious and was the perfect character to offset Al. I found this to be a great start to a very promising series and I cannot wait to learn more about the curses and what Al will face in the next installment....more
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I have enjoyed this series from the very beginning andThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I have enjoyed this series from the very beginning and I was really excited to finally read Brody's story. This is the final book in the series and I would recommend reading the series in order if at all possible. It was really easy to slip back into this world and fun to check in with some much-loved characters. I am so glad that I was finally able to work this book into my schedule.
Each book in this series focuses on a different couple and Maeve and Brody take the stage in this installment. Maeve is the youngest of her adopted sisters and she is feeling a bit left out since her sisters are all married and queens of their own realm. Maeve is a selkie and feels a special connection to Brody, who has the ability to change into any animal but can only hold his true form for 2 hours per day. Since she hasn't seen Brody for a while, she sets off to find him and ends up having quite the adventure.
I really liked Maeve and Brody as a couple. They have a lot of challenges to overcome in order to be together but they are both determined to make it work. It was obvious that they really did care for each other and I thought that the chemistry between them was very well done. I liked that they were both facing their own personal challenges. Maeve learns a lot about where she came from and there are a lot of revelations revealed about Brody's past.
I thought that the climax of the story was very well done. It was nice to see how everything finally worked out for all of the characters in the series. There were quite a few surprises along the way and I had a lot of fun seeing all of the key players work together to fight for what they believed in. There were plenty of exciting scenes to keep things interesting throughout the story. I really appreciated the fact that we got to see a secondary romance in this book as well.
I would recommend this series to others. I had a lot of fun with this paranormal romance filled with great characters and plenty of excitement. I will definitely be read more of this talented author's work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Kensington Books via NetGalley....more
I really enjoyed this collection of stories. I am sometimes a little hesitant to pick uThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I really enjoyed this collection of stories. I am sometimes a little hesitant to pick up short story collections since I have had mixed luck with them in the past. When I saw the group of authors that contributed to this collection, I knew that I had to give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this group of wildly varied stories. I loved the fact that there was a little bit of everything in this book and had a great time reading all of the stories.
Twilight Falls by Jonathan Maberry - 3.5 stars This was entertaining. This story was about a group of three men on a mission. There is a group that believes that in order to save the world 90% of its population needs to be exterminated. The trio goes to investigate a wiped-out village and stumble upon something they didn't expect. There was a lot of action and some pretty big surprises in this story.
Not in this Lifetime by Sharon Shinn - 4 stars I really enjoyed this story. Sasha remembers all of her past lives and her past friends which she seems to keep finding in each life. She also remembers how she dies in each life. There is one thing that she doesn't seem to remember though.
Mr. Positive, the Eternal Optimist by Larry Correia - 4 stars This was a fun little story. Someone is trying to kill Stanley and he isn't just going to let it happen regardless of how polite his assassin might be. There was a lot of action and the twist at the end was well done.
No Greater Love by Kaey Ezell - 4 stars Jennilee stays behind with one of her mother's who is in labor while her family continues on their dangerous journey. Jennilee is just a teenager but it is up to her to help her mother deliver her baby and keep them safe. When things go horribly wrong, she makes the only decision she can and is still able to protect her family.
Broken Son by Griffin Barber - 3 stars This is a futuristic story where prisoners are sent out into space to work. A scientist has a theory that could change everything and goes along with a crew to investigate. It was interesting to see exactly what their discovery was able to do.
Heart of Clay by Kevin J. Anderson - 4 stars I have read the first book in this series so I was familiar with the characters. It was nice to see Dan and his crew solve the case of the murdered golems and find a missing sword. The Renaissance Faire was filled with interesting characters and it was fun to see how everything fit together.
Reprise by John G. Hartness - 4 stars This is a Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter short story. I haven't read any of the books from that series but would definitely give them a try after reading this story. This story follows Quincy Harker as he tries to stop what is going on in the local park while coming to terms with seeing a ghost from his past. I liked the characters a lot and found the story very interesting.
Asil and the Not-Date by Patricia Briggs - 5 stars This was a great story! I love Asil and the idea of him going out on these not-dates brought a smile to my face. Tami was an interesting character. There were some pretty big surprises in this story and I loved that in the end, Asil was a hero. There was even a hint of humor to go around.
In the Dust by Robert E. Hampson - 4 stars I thought that this story was very well done. We see Winnie and Jenny at key points in their life starting in their childhood. Winnie likes to tinker in the old museum while Jenny seems to have more going on in her life but they have a wonderful connection. There is a pretty big surprise in this story which I thought was very well done.
Fallen by L.E. Modesitt, Jr. - 2 stars This one was kind of confusing. The story jumps around a lot and I had a hard time keeping up. We see the main character, Estafen, in a lot of different situations but things often switched abruptly.
Working Conditions by Patrick M. Tracy - 4 stars This was a really quick story about a young man that never misses a day of work. Now that he is a vampire, it changes a few things in his working environment. I enjoyed this one quite a bit and really liked the twist.
Last Contact by M.C. Sumner - 4 stars This was a very interesting alien story. The main character is faced with a very difficult decision that can change his life forever. I really liked the descriptions and how everything played out.
Ronin by William McCaskey - 3.5 stars This was a fun little story about a warrior that I never expected. The story did go in a direction that I didn't expect which was a big plus. I did enjoy this one quite a bit.
Skjoldmodir by Michael Z. Williamson and Jessica Schlenker - 4 stars I really liked this story. I hate to admit that I have not read Beowulf but it seems that this is a Beowulf story from another point of view. I felt for this mother and everything that she has been through. Her love for her son was very evident. This was very well done.
Bonds of Love and Duty by Monalisa Foster - 4 stars This was a really big story. I loved the idea of these created soldiers. This is a story of survival and fighting until the end. I thought that Andret and the wolves were all fantastic characters. This was a very entertaining read.
Zombie Dearest by Laurell K. Hamilton - 4 stars I love Anita Blake in all of her necromancy glory. This is a story of one man that was raised from the dead a little too well and the impact that has left. I thought that this was an exciting story that would work very well for new readers and fans of the series.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. I had a lot of luck with almost all of the stories in this collection. I enjoyed reading the stories of the authors I was already familiar with such as Patricia Briggs, Laurell K. Hamilton, and Kevin J. Anderson and finding a few new authors that I would like to read more of in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley....more
I had a great time with this book! I am a big fan of the Embraced series by Kerrelyn SpThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I had a great time with this book! I am a big fan of the Embraced series by Kerrelyn Sparks. It has been a while since a new book was released due to a change in publisher. The series also has a new name, Embraced by Magic, but it is a continuation of the previous series and I am sure that the name change has everything to do with having a new publisher. I couldn't wait to dive back into this world and follow the path of one of the sisters. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end.
This book tells Sorcha's story and occurs shortly after the events of the previous book. It has been two years since I read that book so I didn't remember a lot of details about the previous books but everything is explained within this story so I had no trouble settling in. I do believe that this book could work as a stand-alone for readers new to the series.
Sorcha's brother, Silas, and his wife, Gwennore, take a group to meet with her mother but it turns out to be a trap. Most escape back to their kingdom but Sorcha and Alexsi are left behind and taken captive. Alexsi is injured so Sorcha decides to break them out but receives unexpected help from the Woodsman. The Woodsman and his crew go to great lengths to keep Sorcha and Alexsi safe even though things are dangerous at times.
I loved these characters. The Woodsman's abilities were incredibly interesting. I loved how he seemed capable of handling any situation without any trouble. He was such a kind man that really tried to do good wherever he could. Sorcha was equally amazing. She is tough and looks out for others. She is willing to risk everything for those that she cares about. I really enjoyed the secondary characters in this book as well. Alexsi plays an important role and it was fun to watch him grow over the course of the story.
I liked the Woodsman and Sorcha together. I thought that they had great chemistry from the start which seemed to grow over the course of the story. I liked that they were honest with each other. I thought that the scenes with Alexsi and Sorcha together were very well done and I had a great time watching them fall in love.
I would recommend this book to others. It was a fun romance that featured great characters and a wonderful fantasy world. I cannot wait to read more from this talented author.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Kensington Books via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts Oh, this was a fun story! I really liked the Woodsman and Sorcha. Their powers were both really interesting. I loved the way that the Woodsman and some of the other characters could communicate through the living oaks. I liked the chemistry between the Woodsman and Sorcha and was happy that we saw a bit of a second romance involving Alexsi. It was great to see some of the characters from the earlier books in the series. All in all, this was a great read....more
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