Unfortunatly, I didn’t like this quite as much as I had hoped that I would. I thought tThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
Unfortunatly, I didn’t like this quite as much as I had hoped that I would. I thought that the book was okay, but it wasn’t the stand-out read I had anticipated. I tend to enjoy magical realism so I was incredibly excited to give it a try. I was so sure that I was going to love this one that I bought a physical copy and even bought the audiobook so that I could get to it a little faster. There were a lot of things that I really enjoyed about the book but in the end, I felt like it was a fairly average read.
I thought that the book had a rather strong start. I was eager to get to know Harriet, Nessa, and Jo and enjoyed seeing them come together. Nessa is able to see the dead and her power has allowed her to find the bodies of young women that the town has seem to have forgotten. The women are determined to get to the bottom of the deaths even when they meet some resistance. There were a lot of characters to keep track of and there were times that the book felt like it was all over the place. Unfortunatly, there weren’t any big surprises in regards to the mystery.
January LaVoy did a great job with the narration. I liked the various voices that she used to tell this story. I thought that she did a great job of bringing the characters to life by adding just the right amount of emotion to her reading. I had no problem listening to her narration for hours at a time and do believe that her narration added to my enjoyment of the book.
I think that a lot of readers will enjoy this book a lot more than I did. This was an interesting tale of three women with remarkable powers coming together in a world that caters only to men. This one didn’t knock my socks off but I encourage readers to give it a try if it sounds interesting to you.
I received a digital review copy of this book from William Morrow via NetGalley and purchased a copy of the audiobook.
Initial Thoughts I liked this one but I didn't love it as I had expected that I would. I was so sure that I was going to love this one that I bought a physical copy and even bought the audiobook so that I could get to it a little faster. I wouldn't have bought a physical copy if I had waited until after I read the book. It wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. There were a lot of characters to keep track of and there were times that the book felt like it was all over the place. There weren't any big surprises in regards to the mystery. January LaVoy did an excellent job with the narration....more
This book was excellent! I have read a couple of Sarah Addison Allen’s books before picThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This book was excellent! I have read a couple of Sarah Addison Allen’s books before picking this one up so I had a good feeling that this would be a book I would enjoy. I just love the way that she weaves just a hint of magic into her stories and I really believe that she is one of the best when it comes to magical realism. It didn’t take long for me to fall for the characters in this story and I soon found this book very hard to set aside.
After graduating from high school, Zoey decides to move into her mother’s old studio condo at the Dellawisp. Another resident has recently died, leaving a condo full of paper and other items. Zoey takes on the task of clearing out the unit and is soon joined by another neighbor, Charlotte. Zoey and Charlotte work on cleaning together and eventually get to know the chef that lives in the building, Mac. I love the bonds that this group of characters formed over the course of the story. Zoey seemed to be the catalyst that was able to bring everyone together, even Oliver, who says he wants nothing to do with his mother’s things. Every character in the book had an interesting history and I really enjoyed the way those stories were worked into the story.
I really wanted to see everything work out for this group of characters. Each of them deserved to have good things in their lives. I loved that the most important thing that they gained over the course of the story was their relationships with each other. All of the characters were able to find some closure from the things from their past that has been haunting them. There is just a bit of magic sprinkled throughout the novel which kept things very interesting.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a delightful story featuring a fantastic cast of characters that I could help but root for. There were a few twists in the story that I found rather surprising as well. I definitely need to read more of this talented author’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press.
Initial Thoughts This book was really good! Sarah Addison Allen is one of the best when it comes to magical realism. I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters living at the Dellawisp. When Zoey shows up to finally live in her mother's old condo, she starts to bring all of the other residents together. Watching Zoey, Charlotte, and Mac start to form bonds was great and I loved that Oliver eventually joined their ranks. Each of these characters had their own story and I enjoyed the way that these stories unfolded in the book. There were quite a few surprises worked into the book as well. ...more
I really enjoyed this book! I liked the author’s first book, Beasts of Extraordinary CiThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I really enjoyed this book! I liked the author’s first book, Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance, when I read it several years and I was eager to read more of her work. I am happy to report that this book was just as good as her first. Once I started reading this book, I found it incredibly hard to set aside.
Zadie and Finn’s mom, Nora, disappeared years ago and nobody knows what happened to her. Finn was young enough to be placed with a family but Zadie was left to fend for herself. The sisters have a trip planned shortly after Finn’s graduation but their plans change when Finn convinces her sister to spend the time searching for their mother instead of heading to the beach. Like Zadie and Finn, I wondered what had really happened to Nora years earlier.
As much as I enjoyed going on this journey with Zadie and Finn, I worried about them during their quest to find their mother. They do encounter some interesting characters during their travels which I thought added a lot to the story. Each of the sisters has a special ability that added just the right amount of magic to the story. I loved watching Zadie and Finn grow closer and grow as individuals over the course of the book.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Anna Caputo did a fantastic job with the story. I believe that this was my first experience with her narration and I was impressed. I thought that her voice was very pleasant and worked well for the story. I am certain that her narration added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a very well-done story filled with likable and interesting characters. I was very satisfied with how everything turned out and cannot wait to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from St. Martin’s press and purchased a copy of the audiobook.
Initial Thoughts I thought that this was really good. Like Zadie and Finn, I wondered what had become of Nora. I also worried about Zadie and Finn while they traveled on their quest to find their mother. I enjoyed all the people that they connected with during their trip and was quite pleased with how things turned out in the end. I listened to the audiobook and thought that Anna Caputo did a fantastic job with the narration....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 really liked this story. I read most of the book in a single day and captivated by itThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I really liked this story. I read most of the book in a single day and captivated by it. I decided to read this book because I was intrigued by the blurb and I am really glad that I did. This was one of those books that made me want to keep reading "just one more chapter" until I had reached the end.
This book is told from multiple points of view and it works very well for this story. Every point of view in this book really added something to the add to the overall story. I really liked each of the points of view equally which was a big plus for this book. I feel like Olive's point of view was the dominant one in the book that really pushed the story forward. Laurel and Hazel's points of view were equally important and usually gave me something to think about.
I enjoyed the way the book was laid out. Some things were lost and some things were found. How did all of this happen and what does it really mean? How do you get back the things you have lost that are important to you? I found myself really thinking about these questions as the characters made their way through this story. I wasn't sure how things would end up connecting and ran into a few surprises during the story.
I liked the writing. This was my first experience reading Moïra Fowley-Doyle's work and I am quite impressed. She was able to create a large cast of characters in this book that really came to life. There was just enough unknown to keep me guessing throughout the story. The descriptions were vibrant and I could really visualize what was happening at any given point.
I would recommend this book to others. I think it is a unique story filled with an interesting group of characters. I plan to read more from this talented author in the future.
I received an advanced reader edition of this book from Kathy Dawson Books via First to Read.
Initial Thoughts I read most of this book today and did enjoy it. There were a few twists that surprised me and I had a good time trying to figure everything out. ...more
This was such a magical story. I don't read a whole lot of magical realism but it seemsThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was such a magical story. I don't read a whole lot of magical realism but it seems that I love them when I do read them. I am not sure that this book would work for every reader since there are a whole lot of strange occurrences but it worked well for me and I am so happy that I decided to pick it up.
This book tells the story of Weylyn Grey. We don't learn his story from Weylyn. Instead, we learn about him in different points in time from others that are close to him. We see Weylyn as others see him and learn all of the incredible things that play a part in his life. Each section of the book shares a very vivid snapshot of this wonderful character.
Weylyn lives a life unlike anyone else. He is different in a lot of ways. He has a certain innocence throughout the book and it is hard not to fall in love with him. I also really liked the characters in the story that shared Weylyn's story. These characters grew and changed over the course of the book and seemed to be positively changed through their association with Weylyn.
There is a bit of magic on nearly every page of this charming story. This was a strange book in a lot of ways but it was strange in the best way possible. There are so many strange things associated with Weylyn and his life that I never knew what to expect. I quickly learned not to even try to guess what Weylyn would do next and just sat back and enjoyed the journey.
I would highly recommend this book to fans of magical realism. I found this book to be a wonderful story filled with magic. I am very impressed by Ruth Emmie Lang's debut novel and can't wait to read more of her work in the future.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts I really enjoyed this book filled with things you wouldn't expect. This probably won't be a book for everyone but it worked well for me. ...more
This was really a great story. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started listening toThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was really a great story. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started listening to this audiobook but I soon found myself hooked. The story touched on so many difficult topics and everything worked together in a way that I wouldn't have expected. I really liked that the story was told from multiple points of view and I thought that each perspective really added an important piece to the overall puzzle. I really ended up enjoying this book.
This is a book that is really about a lot of things. It is a book that tells the story of two sisters, Lily and Rose, mending their relationship. Lily and Rose have seen very little of each other in the years leading up to the start of the book but when Rose needs Lily, she comes to help. That is just one part of the story. This book also focuses on a little girl with disabilities who has a special gift.
Antoinette was a great character. She is nonverbal but she still says so much. She is her mother's world and the feeling is mutual. She is a caring child that doesn't want to see anyone or anything ill or in pain. She is willing to do anything she can to help take care of those that she loves. Unfortunately, Antoinette's gift comes with a price that those who love her work to protect her from.
I loved how so many different elements came together to tell this story. I loved the parts from Rose's point of view that really demonstrated her love for Antoinette. Lily's struggle to fit in and the things she struggles with in her life every day was very well told. Seth and Will both added to the story with their actions in the present and they both had really interesting pasts. I enjoyed the magical realism elements that helped to tell this story.
I loved the narration. I have listened to Andi Arndt several times in the past and have always enjoyed her work. This was the first time that I have listened to Cassandra Campbell and I thoroughly enjoyed the parts of the book that she narrated. I think that using two narrators really added to the impact of the story. Andi Arndt did narrate the bulk of the story but they both did an equally wonderful job. This was an emotional story and both narrators really did a great job expressing a lot of strong feelings.
I would recommend this book to others. This is the first book by Stephanie Knipper that I have read and I am really impressed by her ability to write wonderful characters dealing with a lot of difficult issues. I would definitely like to read from this author in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from HighBridge Audio via LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
Initial Thoughts I enjoyed this story. The narration was great. I really liked the little bit of magic that made its way into the story....more
What a delightful story this book turned out to be! I am really not sure what made me request thThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.
What a delightful story this book turned out to be! I am really not sure what made me request this book when I saw it offered on First to Read. The cover is okay but nothing amazing. I have never read any other books written by Marisa Silver. Something made me request this one and I am so glad that I did. I was sucked into the story and ended up reading almost all of it in a single day. When I wasn't reading this book, I was thinking about it. This story is a definite win for me.
I will say that this is a strange book. I like strange stories so it worked out well for me but I am not sure that everyone will enjoy all the aspects of this story as much as I did. This book is almost like a fairy tale for adults with a bit of magic sprinkled throughout. I was enchanted by all of the magical realism that made up this story.
I started reading this book just before going to bed which ended up being a huge mistake because I didn't want to put it down once I started. The way that this story begins was hard to get out of my mind. I was immediately in love with the style of writing found throughout the story. As I continued to read, I started to fall in love with the characters and that love grew throughout the story.
I would highly recommend this book to others. This is a story where you can expect the unexpected and suspend your knowledge of what is real for a while and just enjoy the journey. This is the first book by Marisa Silver that I have read but I will be looking for more of her work in the future.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Blue Rider Press via First to Read for the purpose of providing an honest review.
Initial Thoughts This was a strange book...but I like strange books so it worked out well for me :)...more
I have been a fan of Jude Deveraux for a long time so when I was offered a chance to reviThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life
3 Stars
I have been a fan of Jude Deveraux for a long time so when I was offered a chance to review this book, I jumped at the chance. I read and enjoyed the first two books of this trilogy last summer so I was pretty confident that this would be a book that I would really like. For the most part, I really had a nice time reading this book. I seem to be picking up one depressing book after another lately so a nice Jude Deveraux romance was really a refreshing change.
This is the story of Hallie and Jamie. The only family that Hallie has is a spoiled step-sister who actually attempts to steal a house that was willed to Hallie. She finds out just in time and decides to go to Nantucket and care for the physical therapy client as previously arranged. One look at Jamie and she is instantly attracted and the feeling is mutual. Jamie is dealing with more than just a knee injury and it turns out that Hallie may be just the person to help.
I liked both of these characters a lot. They have both been through a lot but they both keep fighting. The ghost in the house added just a hint of magic that I love in Jude Deveraux's work. I do think that the book may have been a little too busy. There was so much going on in this one. Weddings, ghosts, evil step-sisters, evil twins, naked cousins, and old crushes just to name a few. I have read the previous books in this series and I still had a hard time keeping everyone straight so I really think that this trilogy needs to be read in order to be enjoyable. I honestly think that this story would have been much stronger if it narrowed its focus.
I did have one very major problem with this book. I am not changing my rating because of the issue but I have to admit that I came very close slapping 1 star on this book for making me mad. I may end up doing just that once I think about it a little more. In this story, Jamie wakes up at night with nightmares and Hallie decides to soothe him with her touch and kisses. Sometimes he pulls her into bed and holds her like a teddy bear and one time they almost have sex. She knows that he is out of it but she still almost has sex with him. THIS IS NOT OKAY!! It would not be okay for a man to have sex with a woman who is passed out and it is not okay for this woman to even think about having sex with a man that she knows is not aware of his actions.
This was a good story except for this behavior. The section of the book that I am speaking of did cause me to have a really good conversation with my family. I really wish that authors would be more responsible with their characters behaviors. In this book, none of this was needed for the story and I don't think it added anything to the romance. I made the decision to not allow this to ruin the story for me but I am not happy with the author's decision to include this in the book.
I don't think that this is Jude Deveraux's best work but I am still glad that I read it. I don't think that readers of the previous two books int he trilogy have to read this book to reach any kind of closure but it was nice to see a few characters that I know.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review....more
I found this free short story on Amazon and decided to read it prior to reading Lost Lake. The story is very short, 38 pages according to Amazo4 Stars
I found this free short story on Amazon and decided to read it prior to reading Lost Lake. The story is very short, 38 pages according to Amazon. The majority of the kindle book is a excerpt from Lost Lake.
In this short story we meet Kate and learn a bit about her marriage. She is intrigued by a TV news report she sees and believes that the elderly man looks familiar. She is surprised to find that man walking down her street and introduces herself to Mr. Donbeet. They have a conversation over a cup of butter coffee before Kate returns home.
I loved the writing in this story and it made me eager to read Lost Lake. I believe that this short story gives some insight to Kate's character but it is not necessary to read this piece to enjoy Lost Lake.
I would recommend this short story to anyone planning to read Lost Lake. I would also recommend this to anyone who is thinking about reading some of Sarah Addison Allen's work. It is a nice example of her style of writing. I have already read Lost Lake and plan to read additional titles by this wonderful author....more
I received an advance reader edition of this book from St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for the This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life
I received an advance reader edition of this book from St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
This book was a solid 4 star read. Sarah Addison Allen definitely knows how to tell a compelling story weaving the past, the present, and a little bit of magic. Grief plays a major role in this book but this is not a sad book. Instead, I found this book to be one of hope.
The story starts with Kate waking up. Kate is not waking up from a night of sleep but from a year of extreme grief. She basically shut down when her husband was killed and has allowed her mother in law, Cricket to take over. The day that Kate is waking up is in fact also the day that she is scheduled to move into her mother in law's house. Kate's daughter, Devin, finds a postcard just before they are supposed to leave from Kate's great aunt Eby, the owner of Lost Lake. Kate feels drawn to Lost Lake and decides to take her daughter and go right away.
When she arrives at Eby's resort, she learns that her aunt has agreed to sell Lost Lake. At the resort Kate meets an interesting group of people and learns a few things about her family. She becomes reacquainted with Wes, the boy she met when she visited the resort when she was 12.
The author has created a story with wonderfully rich characters. I would love to spend a summer at Lost Lake watching Selma work her magic with the men, Devin run around in her tutu and cowboy boots, Bulahdeen planning parties, and Eby taking care of everyone. The way that Kate, Devin, Eby, Cricket, and Wes are dealing with grief was very realistic for me. Each of the characters handled things a bit differently but in an authentic manner. The only thing that the book seemed to be missing for me was a bit of unpredictability. I had a basic idea of what was going to happen in the book early on and there were no surprises.
I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. It is a great example of magical realism written by a wonderful author. ...more
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