I had such a good time with this book. It is no secret that I am a huge fan of Jill ShaThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I had such a good time with this book. It is no secret that I am a huge fan of Jill Shalvis’s writing so I was eager to dive into this first book in a new series. I went into the book with fairly high expectations and this story lived up to every one of them. I got the heartwarming romance that I had hoped for along with a wonderful cast of characters that came alive on the page.
This book opens with a pretty intense scene. Jane and Levi are on a gondola during a storm when things go wrong and the one in front of theirs falls to the ground. Things don’t look good for the pair and Levi places a call to his mother hoping to talk to her one last time but instead ends up telling her that Jane is his girlfriend just to make her happy. What a great way to start a story! These two bonded right away because of the situation that they survived and I felt like they seemed perfect for each other from the start.
I fell in love with Jane and Levi right away. They both had some issues to deal with and I enjoyed watching each of them work through everything. They had fantastic chemistry together and the only real obstacle to a relationship was their own fear. Add a little fake dating into the mix and I knew that I would get the happily ever after that I craved. The secondary characters were equally wonderful. Jane’s friend Charlotte has been her rock but she had her own issues to deal with. Levi’s family was just a lot of fun. They were not perfect but you could tell that they cared for each other and only wanted the best for Levi. I really appreciated the fact that we were treated to a secondary romance and I loved being able to see both couples find happiness together.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I found this to be a wonderfully written story featuring characters that were easy to fall for. I cannot wait to read more of this amazing author’s work.
I received a digital review copy of this book from William Morrow Paperbacks....more
This was great! This was the first book by Charlie Donlea that I have read but it will This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was great! This was the first book by Charlie Donlea that I have read but it will not be my last. I was hooked by this book during the first few pages and it just got better and better the more that I read. There were twists and turns on top of twists and turns that really kept my interest level high. I am so glad that I decided to give this book a try.
This book is made up of a lot of different threads and two main points of view. At first, I couldn’t see how any of the different threads could possibly tie together but in the end, everything did. One of the threads takes us into the World Trade Center on 9/11. In today’s world, a lab working to identify all of the remains from 9/11 finds a new match. This new match happens to be a woman who was about to be indicted for murder. Avery, a journalist, wants to look into the story and once she realizes it is tied to a crime, she is determined to get to the bottom of things. Of course, Avery has a few mysteries in her own life to deal with.
I loved the way that this story was able to keep me guessing. I was able to guess a few of the twists but there were quite a few that took me by surprise. I was really curious about what really happened in that murder case from before 9/11. I was also very curious how both Avery and Walt would navigate the issues in their own lives. Avery and Walt were great characters and I liked them more and more as I made my way through this book.
I think that a lot of readers would really enjoy this fast-paced book that keeps the reader guessing. There was a lot going on in this story and I thought that the author pulled everything together very well. I cannot wait to try more of this author’s work soon.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Kensington Books via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts Twists on top of twists! Just when I thought I had something figured out something else would come up that would leave me doubting absolutely everything. This one was quite the page-turner. ...more
This was a fun and flirty read! The story was pretty tame but I don’t need a lot of heaThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was a fun and flirty read! The story was pretty tame but I don’t need a lot of heat to hold my interest. This novella-length romance is part of The Introvert’s Guide series, all stand-alone stories with a few recurring characters. This is a quick listen so things get started pretty quickly and it didn’t take long for me to be hooked. I had a fantastic time with this story.
Piper is not looking to date since she is focusing all of her energy on her business. Her friends didn’t get the message through and the next thing she knows they have talked her into going on a blind date. When she shows up for her date, she realizes it isn’t quite so blind since she has already been out with Maverick, and their previous date got very friendly so she already knows what he has to offer. Maverick is a romance author writing a book that has a main character that is a baker. He needs to learn more about what goes into running a bakery plus a few recipes so Piper may be just the help he needs. As they spend more time together, sparks begin to fly and they realize that there might be something there.
I liked Piper and Maverick a lot and thought that they made a fantastic couple. They had a lot of chemistry together and seemed incredibly comfortable together from the start. It was fun to watch Maverick try to fit in with Piper’s group of friends. I loved the way that Maverick seemed to be willing to take things at whatever speed Piper needed. I found their relationship to be very believable.
Savannah Peachwood and Tim Paige did a fantastic job with the narration. It seemed like we heard more from the female narrator than the male but that is due to how the book was written. I felt like both of the narrators did a great job bringing the characters to life and I like all of the different voices that they used. I do think that their narration added to my overall enjoyment of this story.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from Dreamscape Media via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts This was a fun and flirty read, although rather tame. I liked Piper and Maverick a lot and thought that they made a fantastic couple. It was fun to watch Maverick try to fit in with Piper's group of friends. The pair of narrators did a wonderful job with the story. I found this to be a nice distraction for a few hours. I cannot wait to read more of this author's work in the future....more
This was great! When I saw that the writing pair of Ilona Andrews had a novella coming This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was great! When I saw that the writing pair of Ilona Andrews had a novella coming out, I knew that I was going to have to read it. I went into the story with incredibly high expectations because I have come to expect great things from this writing pair. I am happy to report that those expectations were met. This book was everything that I had hoped that it would be and I was entertained from the first page until the very end.
Ramona and Matias were fantastic characters and I loved the fact that they were able to work together despite the fact that their families have been enemies for generations. Ramona and Matias are both secare which gives them the ability to use blades and shields from their arms with just a thought. The fighting scenes were rather intense and very exciting in this story. The pair has a lot of chemistry but they don’t act on it since they are both married, at least until they can find their cheating spouses. This story had it all: great characters, action and excitement, and wonderful sci-fi elements.
I would highly recommend this novella to others. It is a longer novella at just over 200 pages but it was still a very fast read. It is the newest installment in the Kinsmen series but would work perfectly fine as a stand-alone story. I cannot wait to read more from this wonderful writing pair!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Montlake via NetGalley....more
I have been a big fan of this series from the beginning. It has become of the books that I look forward to reading every year. I had no idea that the I have been a big fan of this series from the beginning. It has become of the books that I look forward to reading every year. I had no idea that the series was drawing to a close but as I read I just kept thinking how final everything felt. From what I read on the author’s website, the series may resume again in the future but this is the end for now. This book was just as good as I had hoped that it would be and I am so thankful for the hours of entertainment this series has given me over the years.
This series is one that I do suggest be read in order. Fans of the series will love that they will finally get all the answers they have been waiting for over the course of the series. This book had all of the excitement that I have come to expect from this series. It really seemed like the odds were stacked against Irene and her friends but they always seem to find a way to come out okay in the end. Irene is trying to learn the truth about Alberich, the Library wants her to kill him, and Alberich claims to be ready to sign a truce. To say things are complicated is an understatement and Irene’s task will take her to the very core of the Library.
I loved the characters in this book. It has been great to see this group of characters grow throughout the series. Irene is such a strong character and the bonds that she has formed with her close friends are even stronger. I really liked seeing Irene, Kai, and Vale work together as a team. They all are very good at thinking quickly and can usually find the best way out of a situation. I loved the fact that so many characters that made appearances in previous installments were featured in this book.
I highly recommend this series to others. This is a very exciting addition to an imaginative series filled with fantastic characters. I cannot wait to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley....more
This was great! I have really enjoyed this series so far so I was excited to read this This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was great! I have really enjoyed this series so far so I was excited to read this newest installment. This book picks up shortly after the events of the first book so I do recommend reading this series in order. I found this book to be incredibly entertaining and I love the historical detail and the wonderful characters at the heart of this story.
Liam was left in an uncertain situation at the end of the last book and Xanthe is desperate to do whatever it takes to get him back. She starts looking for something that will call her to him wherever in time Mistress Flyte has taken him. She finds three items and must decide which one will be the one she needs. Her choice leads her to meet some really interesting characters that end up playing a huge role in the story. She soon learns that there are some very serious things that she cannot ignore and it will test her abilities greatly.
The characters in this book were wonderful! Xanthe has embraced her role as a spinner and is doing everything in her power to do good. Liam was very understanding and I love the fact that he is willing to put himself in danger if that is what is required of him. I love the fact that Harley got to play a larger role in this book and hope to see that again in future installments. It was great meeting Elizabeth who I understand is a character from Brackston’s previous novels and I loved what she added to this story.
The mystery in this story kept me guessing. I had no idea how Xanthe and the rest of her group would pull off everything that they needed to do but I was excited to go along for the ride. There were some pretty big developments that should have a big impact on the series moving forward. I found this book to be very entertaining with a lot of excitement. The historical details also added a lot to the story.
I would recommend this series to others. It is an incredibly well-done take on moving through time with characters that are easy to care about. I cannot wait to read more of this author’s work.
I received a review copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press....more
This was fantastic! I am a huge fan of this series and have been from the start. I lookThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was fantastic! I am a huge fan of this series and have been from the start. I look forward to each installment in this series and had pretty high expectations for this book. I was not disappointed. I have loved watching the characters and their relationships grow and change over the course of the series. I was entertained by this story from the very first page and was hooked until the very end.
Just when I thought that this series could no longer surprise me….BAM! These books just keep getting better and better. Veronica and Stoker are great together and I love seeing them work to solve a case. This case was particularly interesting because it is connected to Veronica’s past. One of Veronica’s old friends is seemingly back from the dead and she is asked to check it out to see if his claim is legitimate. Plus Stoker has the opportunity to get his hands on a specimen that he is very eager to have.
The mystery kept me guessing until the end and there was plenty of action and excitement to keep things interesting. Some of the characters introduced in this installment were wonderful while others left me shaking my head. There were fewer scenes focused on Veronica and Stoker’s relationship and I have to admit that I missed those swoon-worthy moments I have come to expect. There were some developments that left me completely shocked and I do wonder where the series will go from here.
I would recommend this series to others. This is the seventh book in the Veronica Speedwell series and I would recommend reading the series in order if at all possible. I found this book to be a solid page-turner and I am very eager to see what happens next to this wonderful cast of characters.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts Just when I thought that this series could no longer surprise me....BAM! These books just keep getting better and better. Veronica and Stoker are great together and I love seeing them work to solve a case. This book had a lot of action and excitement to keep things interesting. After that ending, I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in the series. ...more
I found this to be a well-done romance. I liked the characters right away and wanted toThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I found this to be a well-done romance. I liked the characters right away and wanted to see things work out for them. This book was a pretty quick read for me and I was hooked very early on in the story. I thought that the story tackled a lot of interesting things including dealing with a family member with Alzheimer’s needing nursing home care and a large and sometimes demanding Filipino family. I am so glad that I decided to pick this book up.
Claire visits with her grandmother daily and works in a local bookstore. Her family is a big part of her life and they can sometimes be quite demanding. She also runs a cookie decorating business which is her passion. She meets Nate when she almost hits him with her car and she has no idea who he is. It turns out that he is a well-known businessman who happens to be incredibly wealthy. He is taken with Claire right away and I loved seeing these two get to know each other.
I loved Nate. He might have been a little too perfect at times but he was the highlight of this story for me. I liked Claire to a point but she did drive me crazy at times. I understand being insecure but her inability to stand up for herself and always do what her family wanted her to do drove me crazy after a while. The parts of the story that were focused on Claire and Nate’s relationship were the strongest parts of the story but I was less impressed those focused solely on Claire.
I would recommend this book to others. I found it to be a rather enjoyable read with an interesting cast of characters and a wonderful romance. I would not hesitate to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Entangled: Amara via NetGalley....more
This was a fun romance! I was really surprised by just how much I enjoyed listening to This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was a fun romance! I was really surprised by just how much I enjoyed listening to this book. London and Oliver were wonderful characters and the narrators did an amazing job in bringing this story to life. Once I started listening, I didn’t want to stop and couldn’t wait to see this pair work things out. This was a very entertaining story!
This is the second book in The Introvert’s Guide series and even though the characters may appear in other books in the series it works as a stand-alone. I liked London right away. She is the single mom of a six-year-old boy and doesn’t have a lot of time left for dating with her son, work, and taking care of the household. Oliver is a soccer, or as he would say football, coach. London’s son, Leo, is on one of his teams and he has definitely noticed London.
I really liked London and Oliver as a couple. Their relationship develops rather slowly throughout the story and it is actually a lot tamer than I expected. I really liked the way that they both put Leo first and how much fun the three had together. There really weren’t a lot of obstacles to their relationship but I had fun going along for the ride while they figured it out.
Avery Reid and Will Watt did a great job with the narration of this story. I really was especially partial to the accent that Will Watt used for Oliver. I thought that they both did a great job bringing the characters to life. I loved the emotion that they were able to show through their narration. I believe that their narration added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I found this to be a fun shorter romance with characters that were easy to fall for. I definitely plan to read more of this series soon!
I received a review copy of this audiobook from Dreamscape Media via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts This was fun! I really enjoyed this quick romance. It was a pretty tame romance which surprised me a bit but I thought it felt true to the characters. The narrators did a fabulous job with the narration which added to my enjoyment of the story....more
I enjoyed this audiobook so much that I have already listened to it twice! I adored AliThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I enjoyed this audiobook so much that I have already listened to it twice! I adored Alix E. Harrow’s first book, The Ten Thousand Doors of January, so I was eager to give her newest offering a try even though I don’t usually rush to pick up fairy tale retellings. This was such a fantastic twist on Sleeping Beauty’s tale and the characters were utterly amazing. I found this story to be entertaining and thought-provoking from beginning to end.
Zinnia Gray is turning twenty-one at the opening of the story. That wouldn’t be such a big deal except for the fact that Zinnia has a rare disorder that will most likely kill her before she makes it to her next birthday. Her best friend, Charm, decides to throw her a Sleeping Beauty party complete with a spinning wheel. When Zinnia pricks her finger on the spindle, she is thrust into another world where Sleeping Beauty’s life is as desperate as her own.
I loved the characters in this book. Zinnia was such a strong character. Her life has had a lot of challenges but I felt like her outlook was as positive as could be expected. I love that she wanted to help Primrose change her life and was able to rally others to make that happen. I felt like Zinnia showed a lot of growth during this story by learning to fight for herself and others. I also thought that the supporting characters were all expertly crafted, likable, and added a lot to the story.
Amy Landon did a wonderful job with the narration of this book. I loved the way that she was able to bring Zinnia’s character to life. She added a lot of excitement and emotion to the story. This was just a really great listen!
I would highly recommend this story to others. The writing was superb and I really liked the modern elements brought into the tale. I thought that the multi-verse was well done and I liked what it brought to the story. I will definitely be reading more of Alix E. Harrow’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this audiobook from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts This was fantastic! It was so easy to slip into this story and I wanted to see things work out for all the key characters. The narration was fantastic and added to my overall enjoyment. I may bump up my rating to 5 stars after I let it sit for a bit....more
This was great! This is the second time that I have picked up a book written by Tracey This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was great! This is the second time that I have picked up a book written by Tracey Garvis Graves and I have been very impressed with her work so far. When I found out that Andi Arndt narrated this book, I knew that this would be a book that I would want to listen to. I just loved the characters and appreciated all of the music references. This was an enjoyable read from beginning to end.
This was a wonderful story of moving on. Layla works as the music teacher at the local elementary school and is recently divorced. Josh has just separated from his wife and is just trying to figure out how to take care of his daughter and move forward with his life. Josh and Layla meet through the elementary school and develop a friendship that has a lot of potential. Layla and Josh were great characters and I liked seeing them together. They are both recently leaving a marriage and I liked learning how things went wrong for them in their prior relationships. They both seemed determined to take things slow and not hurt each other.
I really enjoyed Layla’s journey back into music. When she was younger she was part of a pretty successful local band and had big dreams but responsibility got in the way. It was great to see her pick up a guitar again and do something that she was passionate about. I really liked all of the music references and could really imagine her up on the stage in front of a crowd.
Andi Arndt is one of my favorite narrators and she did an amazing job with this book. I loved the voices that she used for each of the characters and really felt like she brought them to life. This book was really a joy to listen to because of the wonderful narration.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. I thought it was a wonderful story about learning to move on with enough romance to keep things interesting. I will definitely be reading more of this author in the future.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts This was great! Layla and Josh were great characters and I liked seeing them together. They are both recently leaving a marriage and I liked learning how things went wrong for them in their prior relationships. They both seemed determined to take things slow and not hurt each other. Layla's journey back into playing music was great and I loved the fact that I actually knew all of the songs that were talked about in this book. Andi Arndt did an amazing job with the narration of this book which only added to my enjoyment....more
I had a lot of fun with this book! I have had some luck with this author’s work in the This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I had a lot of fun with this book! I have had some luck with this author’s work in the past, although with another genre, so I was eager to give this romance a try. I found this audiobook easy to listen to for hours at a time. I am so glad that I decided to pick up this incredibly entertaining audiobook.
Danica is a witch. She has the ability to fix just about anything so she puts her skills to good use in the fix-it shop that she runs with her cousin. Titus runs a bakery just a couple of blocks from the Fix-It Witches shop and he stops in for some help when one of his ovens. These two are instantly drawn to each other and they have a lot of chemistry. There is one problem that might keep them apart – Danica will lose her magic if she marries a regular mortal. Danica is under intense pressure from her grandmother to get matched up with a man with magic but her mother just wants to see her happy.
I really liked the characters in this book. Danica and Titus were both dealing with some pretty big family issues. Seeing how they handled everything helped to develop their characters. I thought that they were a very good match and the chemistry between them was rather intense. I was invested in their relationship early on and really wanted to see them find a way to make it work. I also thought that the secondary characters were very well done and added a lot to the story.
Ava Lucas did a fantastic job with the narration. I thought that she did a phenomenal job with all of the character voices and added a lot of emotion to the story. I found her voice to be very pleasant and I had no problem listening for hours at a time. I think that this was the first time that I had the chance to listen to this narrator’s work but I hope to have the chance again soon.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a well-done romance with wonderful characters and just the right amount of magic mixed in. I look forward to reading more of this promising series.
I received a digital review copy of this audiobook from Dreamscape Media via NetGalley....more
This was so good! I have to admit that I picked this book up almost entirely because ofThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was so good! I have to admit that I picked this book up almost entirely because of the adorable cover. Yep, all you have to do is put a cute dog on the cover to get my attention. Plus, the dog is actually a big part of the story which all too often isn’t the case. I was pulled into this book from the first page and found it to be an incredibly entertaining romance.
This was so good! Elinor and Levi almost married each other 3 years ago. That is until Levi dumped Elinor without any explanation. Elinor is no longer Levi’s biggest fan which is understandable. Levi spends his days chasing down Elinor’s dog, Dory, who happens to be an impressive escape artist, so the pair ends up seeing more of each other. But are those feelings still there? I really liked the characters in this book and thought that Elinor and Levi were great together. Both of them had a lot of personal issues to work through and I enjoyed watching each of them grow as a person. I loved the chemistry that these two had and was eager to see them work things out.
I would not hesitate to recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance. This is the third book in the Pine Hollow series but I read it as a stand-alone and thought that it worked well. I had such a good time with this one that I am now eager to see if I can get my hands on the other two books in the series just as soon as possible.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley....more
I am a sucker when it comes to dogs. I live with 3 incredibly spoiled canines who seem This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I am a sucker when it comes to dogs. I live with 3 incredibly spoiled canines who seem to rule my world. If I am out and about and see a dog, my heart melts just a little bit. So it is no wonder that I tend to be drawn to books that feature dogs on the cover. If they are a part of the story, that is even better. I just couldn’t resist this book once I saw the cover. It was a heavier story than I expected from the cover but it was so worth it. I am so glad that I gave this book a try.
Tessa works as a librarian driving a bookmobile all over San Juan Island. She is single but open to a relationship so when she meets Nick Payne through a dating website, she meets him for drinks and things seem to go well. They plan to get together again for dinner at his house. She wakes up the next morning having no memory of anything that happened after drinking two glasses of wine. She soon realizes something isn’t right and goes to the police to report a sexual assault. Will is a prosecutor assigned to her case. While he believes her accusation, he isn’t sure that there is enough evidence to win at trial. Will is Hope’s primary handler. Hope is a retriever trained to provide comfort to anyone going through something traumatic at the justice center. Hope has several handlers and stays very busy trying her best to make people feel better.
This was a rather emotional novel. Tessa goes through a lot in this story and it broke my heart that she had to deal with the trauma that she did. I thought that all of the women that were a part of her support group were incredibly strong and I thought that the author did a great job of showing just how much sexual assault can impact the victims. I also thought that the trial was very well done and I could understand how traumatic it would be to pursue justice after an assault.
I would recommend this book to others. It might be a difficult read for some because of the fact that it deals with sexual assault and its aftermath. I would definitely read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Kensington Books via NetGalley....more
I had a great time listening to this short romance! I kind of picked this book up on a This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I had a great time listening to this short romance! I kind of picked this book up on a bit of a whim. I was in the mood for something light and fun and I thought that this one might fit the bill. I found this to be an excellent romance and the pair of narrators were able to elevate the story to the next level. I am so glad that I took a chance on this book.
Tori and Colton do not get along with each other, at least that is what everyone thinks. They have actually been hooking up with each other for quite a while and seem to like each other pretty well when they are alone, especially between the sheets. Their friends are determined to help each of them find that special someone which might just be the push both of them needs to admit that they already have.
Tori and Colton were both wonderful characters and I really liked them together. They had fantastic chemistry with each other and it was obvious from the start that they both had feelings for each other beyond hooking up. Their group of friends was also amazing and added a lot to the overall story. It was the kind of story that easily put a smile on my face.
Savannah Peachwood and Tim Paige did a phenomenal job with the narration of this book. I thought they both did a great job capturing their characters. They were able to add a lot of emotion and even some humor to the story and I thought that their voices fit well together. I believe that their narration added to my overall enjoyment of this story.
I would definitely recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance. This was a really fun romance with characters that were easy to fall for. I plan to read a lot more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from Dreamscape Media via NetGalley....more
This was really good! I read and enjoyed The Wolf Road by the same author so I was eageThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was really good! I read and enjoyed The Wolf Road by the same author so I was eager to give this book a try. This is a very different book than that one was and I love that this author’s work is so varied. This is a thriller that paints a picture of life within an abusive relationship for Iris and her wife, Claude. This is a story about finding yourself, quite literally. I am so glad that I was able to pick up this book!
The story is told from Iris’s point of view during two different alternating points in time: before and after. Since we know where Iris ended up, it is really eye-opening to learn about her past and how she got to the place she was at. All of the events and choices in her life have made her the person she is today. Imagine her surprise when she is put face to face with another version of herself whose life looks a little different due to the different choices she has made in life.
I thought that this book was really well-done. I really liked the fact that it was really unique and different than anything else I have read before. I grew to really like Iris. She has been through a lot and I really felt for her with many of the events in her life leaving her feeling very alone. I thought that the abusive relationship was expertly illustrated in this book. I liked Iris more and more as I worked my way through this book. She had a lot to figure out so that she could move on with her life.
I would recommend this book to others. This book deals with some pretty important topics and it does it well. I found this to be a very thought-provoking book and had a hard time putting it down.
I received a digital review copy from Mobius Books via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts This was really good! I really enjoyed The Wolf Road by this author and was eager to check out her newest book. I found this book to be quite the page-turner and couldn't wait to see how things would work out for Iris in the end....more
I liked this book but I didn’t love it as much as I had hoped that I would. I went intoThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I liked this book but I didn’t love it as much as I had hoped that I would. I went into this book with incredibly high expectations which may have been unrealistic. The book has been one that I have wanted to read for a long time so I jumped at the opportunity to listen to this audiobook. There were a lot of things that I really liked about the book and I am glad that I finally got the chance to experience it for myself.
One thing that I really liked about this book is how different the vampires were compared to most vampire stories. The fact that there were different vampire subspecies and they were all different was really interesting and I think that it added a lot to the story. Atl is an Aztec vampire which is bird-like. Atl is on the run from another clan that wants to kill her. She pairs up with a human, Domingo, who is completely taken with her right away. Can they stay safe if they work together?
My favorite character in the book was Domingo. He was all in from the start and really wanted to be the support that he felt Atl needed. Atl was much more complicated. She has been through some terrible things and the odds were really against her. I did love Atl’s dog and loved how protective he was of her. I thought that most of the characters were interesting but unfortunately, I never grew to care about any of them. There was just something about this book that failed to hook me.
Aida Reluzco did a good job with the narration but I do feel like this book would have been better if several narrators were used. There were times that I wasn’t quite sure which perspective the book had switched to which could be rather confusing. I thought that she had a very pleasant voice and was easy to listen to for hours at a time.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a different kind of vampire story. This book didn’t completely click for me but I do think that a lot of other readers will really appreciate the story. I definitely plan to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this audiobook from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley....more
I loved this book! I liked the other two books in this trilogy by this one was my favorThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I loved this book! I liked the other two books in this trilogy by this one was my favorite by far. Once I started listening, I didn’t want to stop. I was captivated by Anna’s journey in this book and just had to see how things would work out for her in the end. I found this to be a very entertaining and moving story.
This really felt like Anna’s story. Quan is an important character in the story and there is a romance but the heart of the story was about Anna. At the start of the book, Anna spends her days trying to be what other people expect her to be. She controls her reactions so that she fits in. She has a boyfriend that she tries hard to please despite the fact that he does not treat her well. When he decides to open up their relationship, Anna signs on a dating app to find a one-night stand for herself. She ends up finding something more with Quan.
The second half of the book switches gears and we see Anna trying to deal with her family in the middle of a tragic situation. Quan and Anna spend little time together during this part of the book but he did try to support her as much as he could. Anna has spent her life trying to be the person that her family expects her to be and they are really not interested in her new diagnosis. I felt so bad for Anna as she tried to navigate this difficult situation and be allowed to be the person she really is.
This book brought on the feels. I really felt for Anna throughout the book. It was hard to imagine her playing her violin trying for the perfection that was always just out of reach. Quan had his own challenges after having a serious health issue and dealing with some stress on the job. I thought that these two were really good together and I love how patient and caring Quan was throughout the story. Some parts of the book were more difficult to read and my heart broke for Anna.
Brian Nishii and Natalie Naudus did a fantastic job with this story. I thought that they were able to bring the story to life and I loved the voices that they both used for the various characters. I felt that they both added a lot of emotion into their narration. I believe that their narration added to my overall enjoyment of this story.
I would recommend this book to others. This book is a little different than the first two books in the series but I really appreciated what the author was able to do with Anna’s story. I will definitely be planning to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from Dreamscape Media via NetGalley....more
I enjoyed this one! This book was a great follow-up to the first book in the series, ThThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I enjoyed this one! This book was a great follow-up to the first book in the series, The Afterlife of the Party. This is a series that really should be read in order since the events in this book build on everything that happened in the first installment. I thought that this story was a fun young adult take on vampires which made for a very entertaining read. I am so glad that I took a chance on this series.
Tansy is a vampire queen. She is a little different than most vampires since she is a witch-vampire hybrid, known as a striga vie. She is also a teenager dealing with all of the typical teen challenges in addition to running a vampire realm. I like Tansy a lot. She has a lot on her plate but is trying to get everything done as fairly as possible. She is taking her new position of queen seriously and is trying hard to be fair, even when it is the last thing she wants to do. She is also really forgiving. There are a few times that I thought her boyfriend and some of her friends treated her unfairly but she always seemed quick to give them a second chance.
This book was pretty exciting. Travis and his band are back using a new name and things get worse when werewolves start being killed. Tansy needs to figure out who is behind the murders while juggling the things going on in her personal life. Plus, it seems like someone wants to harm Tansy.
I would recommend this book to others. I found it to be a lot of fun with great characters, a bit of humor, and a lot of excitement. The story ended with some events that have me very eager to pick up the next book in the series!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Entangled: Teen via NetGalley....more
I loved this book! I was hooked by the story from the very start and I liked it more anThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I loved this book! I was hooked by the story from the very start and I liked it more and more as I worked my way through the book. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen to Annie next and hated to set the book aside. I thought that this book was smartly written and I loved the sense of humor throughout the book. I am so glad that I decided to pick up this book.
Annie and her boyfriend of almost 10 years just broke up and she is needing to start over. She is not happy about the break-up and would do anything to get him back. Her new life takes her to a small town upstate where she has a nice apartment and a job at the school the next town over. It isn’t long before she meets Sophie and Annie is thrilled to finally have a friend even if that friend is a little different.
I really liked the characters. Annie showed a lot of growth throughout the story. She had a lot of insecurities to work through but I think that helped to feel more authentic. Sophie was mysterious and rather glamorous. She knew what she wanted and what she liked and wouldn’t let anyone get in her way. I really loved the interaction between these two women. Ralph doesn’t make an appearance until the later parts of the book but once he showed up he stole the show.
I would recommend this book to others. I found this book an absolute joy to read and I loved the message of doing what brings you joy and standing up for yourself when necessary. I will definitely be reading more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts I loved this book! Annie was a great character and I liked Sophie and Ralph a lot. I found many sections of the book to be rather humorous and I liked the fact that I never knew what might happen next. ...more
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