I really wanted to love this book, but it was just kind of okay for me. I decided to giThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I really wanted to love this book, but it was just kind of okay for me. I decided to give it a try after seeing quite a few positive reviews and the fact that it has been named Barnes & Noble’s Book of the Year and Amazon’s Best Book of 2023. I saw the book described as a murder mystery and I expected a murder mystery. It would be a stretch to call this book any kind of mystery so my expectations were a bit off.
The story is very well-written. The bulk of the book is set in a small area of Pennsylvania called Chicken Hill during the 1930’s. This area is home to a quirky cast of Black and Jewish residents. Throughout this novel, we meet many characters and learn their backstory. It was interesting to see how interconnected this community was. I liked some characters more than others but I found something interesting in each of their stories.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Dominic Hoffman did a fabulous job with this story. I believe that this is the first time that I have had a chance to listen to this narrator’s work and I was very impressed. He handled the vast cast of characters quite well which helped maintain my interest. I am certain that his performance is a big reason why I liked this book as much as I did, and I hate to admit that I am not sure that I would have finished without his narration.
This book is going to work a lot better for many readers than it did for me. I spent most of the book waiting for someone to die so we could explain the bones found at the very beginning. Unfortunatly, the author doesn’t circle back to those bones until the very end of the story and by then I didn’t care anymore.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Riverhead Books and Penguin Random House Audio....more
Initial Thoughts I just loved Landon and Casey! Landon gets called up to the NHL and meets one of the star players, Casey, who happens to be a very friInitial Thoughts I just loved Landon and Casey! Landon gets called up to the NHL and meets one of the star players, Casey, who happens to be a very friendly man. Casey eventually invites Landon to live in his house while he plays with the team until the injured goalies can return. They are both dealing with some issues. Casey hates being alone, which is a problem when you live by yourself in a huge house. Landon is working his way through grief after losing someone close to him. As they spend more time together, they form a friendship and huge crushes on one another. I thought that the chemistry between this pair was very well done. The romance is a little more slow burn but it was nice to see things build between the pair. I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrator did a great job with the story.
Review copy provided by the publisher. Full review to be posted soon....more
I loved this! Who knew that the world of chess could be so exciting?! It definitely didThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I loved this! Who knew that the world of chess could be so exciting?! It definitely did not seem exciting when I sat at tournaments all day when my daughter was on the chess team. Sorry, kiddo. I actually found myself drawn to the part of the book that talked directly about the world of chess and the stress of the game. Ali Hazelwood has done a fantastic job with her YA Debut!
I liked Mallory and Nolan a lot and thought that they were great together but I really felt like this was Mallory’s story more than anything. She has incredible talent but gave up chess and feels like it is her responsibility to take care of her family. When she gets pulled back into the chess world, she promises herself to look at it as only a job. Nolan and Mallory had a whole lot in common and I loved watching them grow closer over the course of the story.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Karissa Vacker did an amazing job with the story. I loved how much emotion was was able to add to her voice which really pulled me into the story. This narrator is quickly becoming a favorite of mine and this book is a perfect example of her work. I am certain that her performance only added to my enjoyment of this book.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a wonderful romance featuring characters that were easy to like. Mallory and Nolan had both been though a lot and I had a great time watching them find happiness with each other.
I received a review copy of this book from G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers and Penguin Random House Audio....more
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. Iris’s sister, Stella, disappeared a year ago and she This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. Iris’s sister, Stella, disappeared a year ago and she wants to know what happened. Everyone seems to think that Stella ran away but Iris doesn’t believe it. When her ex-girlfriend, Heather, goes missing, Iris knows that she needs to find out what is really happening. We get to experience the podcast Heather did about Stella’s disappearance while we follow Iris and her friends as they try to solve this newest crime.
I liked Iris and her friends. I appreciated the fact that they were determined to try to figure out what happened. Since the police were quick to label Iris’s sister a runaway the year before, I understood why they felt that they would need to take action. They do take some big risks, especially Iris. I liked the way that podcast was woven into the story. The mystery kept me guessing until the very end.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Mia Hutchinson-Shaw and Gail Shalan did an amazing job with this story. I thought that the production was very well done and love how authentic the podcast felt. I felt like these narrators expertly brought this story to life which added to my overall enjoyment. I had a great time with this Young Adult mystery and will be recommending it to others.
I received a review copy of this book from Little Brown Books for Young Readers....more
This was fun, just like I expected it to be. Finlay and Vero are in trouble again. TheyThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was fun, just like I expected it to be. Finlay and Vero are in trouble again. They need to get to Atlantic City to save Vero’s friend and work something out with the loan shark after Vero. As soon as the whole family decided to join in on the road trip, I knew things would get interesting. Yes, the book was over-the-top silly at times but it was a whole lot of fun.
Finlay and Vero decide to go on a road trip so what could go wrong, except everything? They end up traveling with the entire family in tow, including Finlay’s ex-husband and mother. It doesn’t take long for these two ladies to find themselves in a whole heap of trouble. When Finlay’s cop boyfriend shows up, I wonder how they would keep things together. This book had all of the humor that I have come to expect from the series, along with a fair bit of action, and a mystery that kept me guessing.
I would recommend this book to others. I would recommend that this series be read in order since the events of the previous books lay the groundwork for this installment. I did feel like this would be a natural place to stop the series since many of the plot threads from previous books were wrapped up nicely in this installment, but if the author decides to continue the series, I wouldn’t hesitate to read more of Finlay Donovan’s adventures.
I received a review copy of this book from Minotaur Books....more
I had a great time with this book! This is the first book by Ashley Winstead that I havThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I had a great time with this book! This is the first book by Ashley Winstead that I have read but it will not be the last. I was hooked by this story from the very start. Ruth and Ever had a lot to hide and I couldn’t wait to learn all of their secrets. The mystery kept me guessing until the very end. I found this to be an incredibly entertaining novel.
Ruth and Ever were great characters who faced terrible, but very different, situations in their home life. Ruth is the daughter of the most powerful man in the town, Pastor James Cormier. Everett is the son of the town drunk. Their lives intersect during a tragic moment and they become best friends. I liked Ruth and Ever even though they were incredibly flawed characters. I was pulled into the story right away and loved the fact that there were a few unexpected turns. I could have never guessed the direction that the story would go.
I switched to the audiobook when I was about halfway done with the story and thought that Sarah Welborn did a great job of bringing the story to life. I believe this was the first time I have had the chance to listen to this narrator’s work and I was impressed. I found her voice to be very pleasant and I had no problem listening to this book for hours at a time. I am certain that her narration only added to my overall enjoyment of this story.
I would recommend this book to others. I found this book to be quite addictive and hated to put it down when I had other obligations. I loved the fact that this story was able to keep time guessing until the very end. I cannot wait to read more of this author’s work!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Sourcebooks Landmark and Tantor Audio....more
This was fantastic! T. Kingfisher has packed this novella with such an interesting and This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was fantastic! T. Kingfisher has packed this novella with such an interesting and magical story. This is a different kind of Sleeping Beauty story and I couldn’t help but like our protagonist, Toadling. I was drawn into this story right away and couldn’t wait to see to story unfold. T. Kingfisher is quickly becoming an auto-buy author.
Toadling has been along for a very long time until she meets Halim. As we slowly learn what happened all those years ago, we learn just how much everyone has lost. I thought that the descriptions in this story were incredibly well done so that I could clearly imagine just what the characters were experiencing. I felt like things ended in a very hopeful manner which added to the magical fairy tale feel of the story.
I would highly recommend this book to others. It was an incredibly well-done story that felt like a big story despite its limited number of pages. I am adding this one to my keeper shelf since I can easily see myself picking it up to read again in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Tor Books....more
I loved this book! At this point in the series, I have been through a lot with Harry anThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I loved this book! At this point in the series, I have been through a lot with Harry and I feel like he is one of my old friends. I care about the things that happen to him. Once I started reading this one, I was obsessed and couldn’t put it down until I made it to the last page. I had such a great time reading this book and Love the way that each book seems to get better and better.
Harry is faced with some impossible situations in this book. He has so many things to juggle and he is determined to protect and care for the people he cares about. When all of the powerful forces decide to meet in Chicago, Harry not only has to deal with his responsibilities to Mab but also is a part of the wizards’ security team. Before things even get started, there is an assassin to deal with. Let’s just say that Harry has his hands full. This book had all of the action and excitement that I have come to expect from the series.
James Marsters continues to do an amazing job with this series. He does such a great job in bringing these characters to life. I feel like he is Harry at this point. I love how much emotion he is able to add to the narration and how realistic the character interactions feel. I do believe that audio is the way to go with this series and would highly recommend it to others.
This is a favorite series that I have found to be incredibly enjoyable. I feel like I know this group of characters and always enjoy watching them work together in whatever situation they are facing. This is the sixteenth book in the series and I would recommend reading the series in order. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and purchased a copy of the audiobook.
Initial Thoughts So I kind of loved this book. At this point in the series, I have been through a lot with Harry and I feel like he is one of my old friends. I care about the things that happen to him and he is faced with some impossible situations in this book. He has so many things to juggle and he is determined to protect and care for the people he cares about. I switched back and forth between the audiobook and the digital book. James Marsters continues to do an amazing job with this group of characters. I cannot wait to read the next book in this amazing series....more
This was such a great historical romance! I have been a big fan of Lisa Kleypas for manThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was such a great historical romance! I have been a big fan of Lisa Kleypas for many years so I was pretty eager to read this book. I had pretty high expectations for this book since I love the author's writing and have enjoyed other books in the series quite a bit. I was not disappointed. I really enjoyed reading Cassandra and Tom's story.
This is the sixth book in the Ravenels series but it works perfectly fine on its own. Readers of the series will appreciate the opportunity to check in with well-loved characters but this book tells its own story. This book tells Cassandra and Tom's story. Cassandra's twin has just been married and she wonders if she will have the chance to do the same. She wants to marry for love but most of her suitors only seem to see her as a pretty face. Tom is a self-made man. He is extremely wealthy and intelligent but many still look down on him because he lacks a title.
I loved Tom and Cassandra together. I thought that they had wonderful chemistry with each other and I loved the way they were able to learn from each other. They both seem to be the type of people to jump in and help when that is what is needed regardless of what others might say. They also try to do the right thing which was perfectly illustrated in how they were with the orphan boy who entered their life. At first, nobody believed that these two were suited for each other and it was interesting to see them try to stay away from each other. These two really were meant to be together.
I would highly recommend this book to fans of historical romance. This was a wonderful tale filled with fantastic characters, wonderful chemistry, a few laughs, and a swoon-worthy romance. I can't wait to read more of Kleypas's work very soon.
I received a digital review copy of this book from HarperCollins - Avon via Edelweiss.
Initial Thoughts This was great! I loved Cassandra and Tom. I think that Tom was an especially interesting character and Cassandra was perfect for him. These two thought that they couldn't have each other and tried to find someone that would be considered more suited but they were meant to be. ...more
What a great book! I am so glad that I finally got around to tackling this book. I had This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
What a great book! I am so glad that I finally got around to tackling this book. I had a feeling that I would like this book and boy was I right! It was easy to lose myself in the story and I felt myself caught up in the characters’ lives more and more as I worked my way through the book. I am so glad that I decided to grab the audiobook since the narrators really took this book to the next level.
This book is told from three points of view. All three of the women at the heart of the story were strong women facing a pivotal moment in their lives. Throw in a natural disaster and you have the makings of a fantastic story. I really liked all three of the women in this book but I have to admit that Helen held a special place in my heart in this story. The paths of these women cross at a small diner in Key West and I couldn’t wait to see how they would meet again.
I loved the characters in this book. Helen is a waitress at the restaurant where she meets the other women. She is heavily pregnant and married to an abusive husband. Mirta stops in the restaurant fresh from Cuba with her new husband and is just trying to make sense of her new life. Elizabeth makes her way to Key West to find a man only to learn that he is most likely to be found at one of the veteran’s camps. These three women are all facing major challenges and I really enjoyed seeing them find their own inner strength.
The story was really exciting. There were some pretty scary moments for these women and there were times that I wasn’t sure how things would work out. I loved that there was a bit of romance worked in because I think it added a lot to the story. There was a bit of a puzzle as to how these three lives would come together and as the pieces snapped into place, I was sometimes quite surprised.
Kyla Garcia, Rachel L. Jacobs, and Karissa Vacker did a wonderful job with the narration of this book. I liked the fact that their voices were all very different because that made it very easy to tell whose point of view the story had moved to. I think that they all were able to voice multiple characters quite well and I loved how much emotion and excitement they were able to add to their reading. I believe that their narration added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. This was a very well-told story that featured some remarkable characters. I love that some events from the past that I had never heard of were woven into the story. I will definitely be looking out for futures books by Chanel Cleeton.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via Edelweiss and purchased a copy of the audiobook.
Initial Thoughts This was quite good! This book follows three women in the Florida Keys leading very different lives. I liked all three points of view but must say that I tended to enjoy Helen's part of the book just a bit more. Each of these women was incredibly strong and dealt with impossible situations remarkably well. The three narrators did a fantastic job with the book and added to my overall enjoyment of the story. I would definitely recommend this book to others....more
I just loved this book! Jill Shalvis is an author that I tend to turn to when I am lookThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I just loved this book! Jill Shalvis is an author that I tend to turn to when I am looking for a fun, romantic read. Her books are reliably good and this book was no exception. Once I started reading this book, I found it hard to put down. This is the fourth book in the Wildstone series but each of the books in the series read as stand-alone novels so don't hesitate to jump into the series anywhere! I had a great time with this story and am thrilled that I decided to give it a try.
Piper takes care of people. She took care of her younger brother and sister after their parents and grandparents died. She works as an emergency medical technician where she works to rescue those in need of help. She has also made a habit of checking in on her neighbor who has been diagnosed with diabetes and trying to get him to eat better. The only person Piper doesn't take great care of is herself but she is finally ready to go after her dreams and get the degree that she has always wanted just as soon as she sells her grandparents' property.
Cam is used to taking care of people too. He works as a DEA agent and also is in the Coast Guard Reserves. He has a take-charge attitude and seems to be able to handle just about any situation. He feels responsible for making sure that everyone is safe. He is home to visit his dad, who happens to be the neighbor that Piper checks up on daily.
I felt like Piper and Cam were a great pair! From the moment that they met at the very beginning of the book, I felt a strong connection between them which only got stronger the more that I read. Cam never seemed to be phased by some of the crazy that was happening in Piper's life. They really seemed to understand each other and I loved their chemistry. These two just seemed to fit together perfectly.
The other characters in this book were equally amazing. Piper's siblings, Gavin and Willow, had some pretty major things going on in their lives. This book gave us not just one romance, but two! Gavin and CJ were such a great pair and I loved that their romance was such an important part of this story. Willow's life is at a crossroads with some major changes ahead. It was fun to watch her work to make changes and deal with some of the things that she has been through. Cam's dad was a fun character that also added to the story.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I think that this is this book is my favorite book in the Wildstone series yet. I fell in love with these characters and couldn't wait to see things work out for them. I cannot wait to read more of this amazing author's work.
I received a review copy of this book from William Morrow Paperbacks.
Initial Thoughts This was really good. Probably a 4.5 star read for me. I am going with 4 for now but might round up after I have some time to process the book. I loved the characters in this book and it was nice that we got to see each of them grow over the course of the story. Cam and Piper were meant for each other and had really strong chemistry. Everyone in this book is dealing with some pretty tough issues and they all handled them in their own way. I loved that there were two romances told in this wonderful book....more
I loved this book! I really enjoyed the author's previous novel, The Marsh King's DaughThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I loved this book! I really enjoyed the author's previous novel, The Marsh King's Daughter, so I was really excited to get the chance to read this book. Unfortunately, when this book was released, I was in the process of moving so I couldn't get to it right away but I never forgot about it and made sure to work it in just as soon as I could. I was hooked by this story right away and had a very hard time putting it down. This book was just as good as I had hoped it would be.
Rachel has spent the past fifteen years in a mental institution. Nobody believes her but she knows that she killed her mother and deserves to live this limited existence. Then she gets some new information that leaves her doubting everything she thought she knew. She decides to check herself out of the institution and go back to her family home to see what she can remember from all those years ago.
This story is told from two different points of view. Rachel's point of view is set in the present day with some flashbacks to her memories from when she was growing up. We also get to see things from Jenny's point of view which is set in the past starting with Diana is very young. Jenny is the mother of both Rachel and Diana. We see how much of a challenge Diana is and how hard her parents work to keep her calm and under control. I really felt for Jenny and wasn't sure what decisions I would make if I were put in her situation. Eventually, these two timelines come together and things get really intense.
I was completely taken with this story. I wanted to see what Diana would do and how her parents would handle the situation. I couldn't imagine living with someone so unpredictable and dangerous at times. I was equally invested in Rachel's story. I felt just how desperate she was to figure out what really happened to her parents. This story was violent at times, including injuries to animals and children, so it may not be for everyone but I thought it was an excellent read.
I thought that the two narrators, Kristen Sieh and Andy Arndt, did a phenomenal job with this audiobook. I thought that the two voices worked very well together in this book and that each narrator did a great job in bringing the characters to life. I thought that they added a lot of excitement and emotion to the story and that their narration added to my overall enjoyment of the book.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a fantastic book that kept me guessing throughout the story and worrying about what would happen to the characters next. I kept my headphones glued to my ears with this book and look forward to reading more of Karen Dionne's work soon.
I received a digital review copy of this book from G.P. Putnam's Sons via Edelweiss and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library....more
I loved this book! Last year, I read David Joy's previous novel, The Line That Held Us,This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I loved this book! Last year, I read David Joy's previous novel, The Line That Held Us, and was blown away and knew that I needed to read more of this amazing author's work. Well, I finally had the chance to sit down and read his newest book and found it to be equally impressive. This was one of those books that I did not want to put down once I picked it up and felt moved by the story.
This book deals with the difficult topic of drug abuse. I found the descriptions to be incredibly vivid and sometimes eye-opening. Several different perspectives come together to tell this tale of desperation. From an addict, we see the uncontrollable need for the next high and how the entire focus on his life has become centered on doing whatever necessary to get the drugs he needs. From the parent of an addict, we see how much they want to help and their frustration with how little they are able to actually do. We get to see law enforcement take steps to cut off the supply and how slowly the system move.
This book is set in the mountains of North Carolina and I really felt those mountains come to life in this story. The characters were very well-developed and the descriptions were incredibly vivid. The writing was beautiful despite the rather harsh reality of the story. I was really drawn into the story and wondered how things would eventually work out for these characters that I had grown to care about.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I found this to be a beautifully written tale of desperation and the need to take steps towards change. I am now considering myself to be a card-carrying member of the David Joy fan club (is there such a thing?) and will definitely be planning to read more of his work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from G.P. Putnam's Sons via Edelweiss....more
This was great! This book threw me right in the action from the very beginning and the This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was great! This book threw me right in the action from the very beginning and the pace never let up. It was one of those stories that are almost impossible to set aside. As horrible as the case they were dealing with was, I couldn't help but think about the fact that something like this could actually happen and the authorities would probably have a difficult time getting to the culprit. This was a really entertaining read from beginning to end.
The culprit in this case was truly frightening. The Midnight Man has entered several family homes in the middle of the night while the family is sleeping. He kills the father and then the mother leaving the children with a message. The victims appear to be random and the criminal takes all evidence from the scene. The whole community is on edge. The more that Caitlin and her team along with the local authorities learn about the individual responsible for these crimes the scarier it becomes.
I love seeing Caitlin and the rest of the team at work. It was great getting to see how each piece of the puzzle fit into the making of their profile. There are some pretty intense scenes that left no doubt as to how tough Caitlin really is. The FBI team is a really cohesive unit and they all put everything they had into finding the suspect. I thought that some of their ideas were pretty creative and I liked the way that everything came together.
I really liked the way that the story was written. We spend most of our time in the book with Caitlin's point of view but there are are few other points of view that do show up at times that I think had a really strong impact on the story. I liked that we got to see more of Caitlin's personal life including some scenes including Sean. Some of the murder scenes were rather brutal and I thought that the author's descriptions made everything feel very vivid.
I would highly recommend this book to others. This was a really exciting story that kept me glued to the pages. This is the third book in the Unsub series but could work as a stand-alone. I can't wait to read more of this exciting series.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Blackstone Publishing via Edelweiss.
Initial Thoughts This was great! This continues to be an excellent series. I loved the complexity of the case that Caitlin and the rest of the team were faced with. There were more than a few surprises worked into the story that I did not see coming. Definitely an intense and exciting read!...more
I enjoyed this book! I have been a fan of James Grippando's work for a long time. I havThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I enjoyed this book! I have been a fan of James Grippando's work for a long time. I haven't read all of his books yet but I have read the majority of them. I have found his books to be consistently good and I look forward to each new release. I had a great time with this book from beginning to end.
I did want to mention that this story is a political one. I tend to go into books blindly if it is at all possible so I was a little surprised by this fact once I started reading. If I had read the book's description, I would have expected to see a lot of politics. I thought that the story raised an interesting question regarding the duty of the electors. The President in this story looked a whole lot like our current President. Too close in my opinion. I tend to enjoy characters that don't so closely resemble actual individuals but that is just my preference.
The book opens on election night and once again, everything hinges on Florida. The current President ends up winning the electoral college even though he was behind by eight million votes in the popular vote. If just a few electors cast their votes differently than their state voted, there could be a very different outcome. Charlotte is an elector in Florida and she decides that she will cast her vote for the candidate that did not win her state. Let's just say that things get very interesting for Charlotte once this decision is announced.
I enjoyed this story quite a bit. There were a whole lot of twists and turns that I did not see coming and I found the story to be very exciting. I really enjoyed all of the legal ramifications and maneuvers in the story. There were several different mysteries throughout this book and it was great to see everything start coming together as the story progressed. This book can easily be read as a stand-alone but fans of the series will enjoy checking in with Jack, Theo, and all of the other characters from the series.
I would recommend this book to others. I found this book to have plenty of action and excitement along with a very relevant premise. This was one that I didn't want to put down once I started reading. I cannot wait to read more of this author's work.
I received a digital review copy of this book from HarperCollins Publishers - Harper via Edelweiss.
Initial Thoughts I enjoyed this book. I have been a fan of James Grippando's work for a very long time. The premise of this book felt like something that could actually happen. It was more political than I expected since I rarely read what a book is about before diving in. If I had read the book's description, then I would have known that this would be a story full of politics. The President depicted in this book was a little too similar to the one currently holding the office and I have a feeling that Trump fans will not be impressed. I am not a fan but I have to say that I didn't completely enjoy the portions of the book that featured this character and felt that the similarities were just too much. I read for entertainment and enjoy characters that are unique much more than those that based on any known individual.
I really like Jack and love the way he is able to remain impartial. Charlotte was brave but made some pretty foolish decisions. There were several different mysteries playing out in this book and I was very curious to see how things would work out in the end. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting. This book can be read as a stand-alone but fans fo the series will enjoy catching up with this group of characters....more
I loved this book! It is no secret that I adore the entire Night Huntress universe. IanThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I loved this book! It is no secret that I adore the entire Night Huntress universe. Ian has always been a great character and I was thrilled when I learned about this spin-off series featuring his character. I loved the first book in the Night Rebel series, Shades of Wicked, and couldn't wait to get my hands on this newest book. Let's just say that I went into this book with sky-high expectations and I wasn't disappointed. This book was just as good as I had hoped it would be.
This is the second book in the Night Rebel series which I would recommend reading in order. This book picks up shortly after the events of the previous book. Ian and Veritas are not together. Ian shouldn't remember any of their time together and Veritas is committed to finding all the souls that were freed in order to save Ian. There is one big problem. Ian doesn't want to forget Veritas or let her go.
I love Ian and Veritas. I was a bit frustrated with Veritas at the start of this book because I just wanted to see Ian and Veritas together and she was making things difficult. It all works out though because Ian rises to the challenge. I thought that their personalities really shined in this book and their feelings for each other made my heart happy. I think that I liked each of these characters a bit more with every page. They are both smart, tough, and willing to take risks.
I thought that the story was really exciting. Even though I feel like I know this world really well, I love that there were a few surprises in store in this book. There was plenty of action and there were times that I didn't know how things would work out. It really seemed like they were outmatched at times and it was great to see Ian and Vertias rise to the challenge.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I had a fantastic time with this book and loved that it was everything I hoped it would be. I cannot wait to read more of this amazing series!
I received a digital review copy of this book from HarperCollins - Avon Books via Edelweiss.
Initial Thoughts I loved this book! Ian and Veritas are both great characters and I just love them together. There were quite a few surprises in this story and tons of excitement. There were some key appearances by some key players in the Night Huntress Universe and we also met a few new characters. This was one of those books that I found almost impossible to put down. ...more
I had a really good time with this book. This is the second book in the Nightchaser serThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I had a really good time with this book. This is the second book in the Nightchaser series which is a series that is best read in order since this book picks up shortly after the events of the first installment. I really enjoyed the first book in the series and was pretty eager to see what Tess and Shade would face in this installment. I found this book to be enjoyable from beginning to end.
One of the things that I really liked about this book is that there was a lot of action from the start. Tess, Shade, and the rest of the crew seem to always find themselves in dangerous situations and it was fun finding out how they deal with each situation. There were times that it was almost impossible to set the book aside because I was so caught up in the action of the story. I thought that the action in this story found the perfect balance with the more romantic and character-focused parts of the book.
Tess and Shade are both characters and I think that they really do make a great pair. They work well together and seem to be able to handle almost any situation. They are both able to think outside the box and will do what is needed to reach their goals and keep each other safe. I liked that this story is told from both Tess and Shade's point of view because I feel like we really got to know exactly what each of them was thinking. It was fun to watch their relationship continue to develop in this installment.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a really well-done science fiction romance filled with wonderful characters. This story had a lot of action and more than a few twists and turns to keep things interesting. I cannot wait to read the next book in this exciting series.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Sourcebooks Casablanca via Edelweiss.
Initial Thoughts I really enjoyed this book. This book picks up shortly after the events in the first book so I do think that this is a series that is best when read in order. This story was exciting with a lot of action and I loved seeing Shade and Tess grow closer to each other. I really liked seeing the whole cast of characters interact and enjoyed the addition of a few new additions. There were a lot of pretty be revelations and developments in this book and I am eager to see how things will play out in the next installment. ...more
I really enjoyed this book! I have been wanting to read Darynda Jones's work for a veryThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I really enjoyed this book! I have been wanting to read Darynda Jones's work for a very long time but just haven't fit it into my reading schedule yet for one reason or another. As soon as I saw this book, I knew that this would be one that I would have to read. I really like the fact that this is the start of a brand new series and that is a very different premise than the books in her popular series. This story hooked me from the beginning and entertained me until the final page.
Sunshine Vicram is the new sheriff in town. She's not really sure how that happened since she didn't even know she was running but that is something that her parents will need to explain. She has moved back home with her daughter, Auri, and hopes to ease herself into her new position but that is not meant to be. Before she knows what is going on, she must lead a search to find a couple of missing teenagers and deal with a few other cases hitting her small town.
I found this to be a rather exciting story. There were several different mysteries that Sunshine had to deal with and I liked how she was able to juggle the workload. I really liked the characters and appreciated getting to know about their past slowly as the story progressed. I was delighted to not only follow Sunshine on her adventures but to also get the opportunity to see things from her daughter's point of view. I really liked that the characters in this story had a wonderful sense of humor. I thought that the added humor helped to offset some of the more serious moments.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. I found this to be a wonderful start to a very promising series. I fell in love with the characters and was captivated by the rather complex mystery. I look forward to reading future installments in this series.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Macmillan - St. Martin's Press via Edelweiss.
Initial Thoughts I really enjoyed this one. I feel like I would have flown through this book if the world wasn't such a strange place right now. I found this book to be a great escape. I loved Sunshine, Auri, and the rest of the characters. I really liked the fact that there were several mysteries in this book happening at the same time. The story was able to keep me guessing and I appreciate the fact that there was a decent amount of humor sprinkled throughout. I am looking forward to reading more of this series in the future....more
This was a fantastic novel! I read this author's previous book, The Roanoke Girls, and This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was a fantastic novel! I read this author's previous book, The Roanoke Girls, and fell in love with this author's writing so I knew I wanted to read this book just as soon as I saw it. I went into the book with rather high expectations and they were met. This was a book that I found very hard to put down. The story was surprising at times and emotional in others. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent reading this story.
The book opens with Eve receiving a visit from her brother Cal while working her shift at the local diner. Cal is a local police officer and is there to tell Eve that her 12-year-old daughter, Junie has been murdered along with another child. My heart broke right with Eve's. The descriptions of how she got through those first few days really got to me. Eve worked hard to be a good mother to Junie and only had her brother Cal to lean on. After Junie's death, Eve has nothing left to lose and decides she will stop at nothing to get justice for her daughter.
I thought that the characters in this story were very well done. There is a pretty eclectic group of characters represented in this story and they all felt very real to me. I found that while I was pretty shocked by some of the turns the story took, the actions of the characters always felt authentic. I really felt like I was in Eve's head and I understood her motivation to learn what happened to her daughter.
I love the fact that this book was able to surprise me. And it didn't just surprise me once because there were several times where the story took a turn that I didn't expect. I love that this story made me feel. There were times that this story really got to me. Eve was such a strong character who was put in one of the most difficult situations that I can imagine. I honestly don't know how someone could read this book and not feel for Eve. I also love that the mystery in this story really kept me guessing. I had no idea who killed those two girls but I was just as desperate as Eve to find out. I found the mystery to be complex and very well done.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I found this to be a wonderfully told story that was heartbreaking at times. I cannot wait to read more from this very talented author!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Penguin Publishing Group - Dutton via Edelweiss.
Initial Thoughts This falls somewhere between 4 and 5 stars for me. I am going with 4 for now but might bump it up after I have some time to think about it. I had a really hard time putting this book down. I couldn't imagine going through what Eve does in this story and reading about it made me uncomfortable at times. There were a few twists that I found to be rather shocking. This is one of those books that will stay with me for a while. ...more
What a delight this book turned out to be! I decided to read this book because I have bThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
What a delight this book turned out to be! I decided to read this book because I have been in the mood for a historical romance for a couple of weeks and the premise of this one sounded like something I would like. I am not going to lie, the gorgeous cover might have had something to do with my decision as well. Once I started reading, I knew that I had made a great decision. I had a great time with this book from beginning to end and found that it was rather hard to set aside.
Rob, the Marquess of Westmorland, wins the deed to a home in a rather high stakes card game. Somehow, he is made out to be the bad guy in the situation instead of the man that gambled the house away. When he finally decides what to do with the home, he sets out to take care of the situation but is gravely injured during the trip. Georgiana is staying with a friend who has just learned that her home is now owned by someone else. She goes out for a ride and finds an injured man and feels that she must save him. When she sees who the man is, she decides to say he is someone else to protect him. That one little decision ends up changing so much.
I loved Rob and Georgiana. These two were just perfect for each other. I haven't read a lot of books with a character experiencing memory loss as Rob does in this story but I thought that it was handled wonderfully in this book. Since Rob cannot remember anything about himself, we get to see who he really is at his core. I do think that the experience helped to make him a better man. Georgiana was with Rob every step of the way. She takes a lot of risks to help save him. Their chemistry is undeniable and it helps Georgiana put somethings in perspective about her own life.
I would recommend this book to fans of historical romance. This is the third book in a series but it worked very well as a stand-alone. I had a great time getting to know these characters and was eager to see them find their happily ever after even with the obstacles they faced. I will definitely be more of Caroline Linden's work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Avon Books.
Initial Thoughts This was a lovely romance. I really liked Rob and Georgiana and thought that they made a great pair. I don't think that I have read many books with the loss of memory trope but I thought that this one was well done. ...more
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