This was good. I had a bit of a rough start with this book but I am so glad that I kept reaThis review can also be found at https://www.goodreads.com/
This was good. I had a bit of a rough start with this book but I am so glad that I kept reading. The story is told from 3 very different points of view from 3 generations. Lily’s story starts in the late 1990s and takes us through the first years of the new millennium. Her son, Nick’s story takes place in the 2020s and proved to be the highlight of the story for me. Mei’s point of view gave us the backstory needed to understand how this family came to live in America.
This book is told in three sections and almost reads like three stories that happen to feature the same group of characters. It was interesting to see how each of these characters dealt with the issues they faced. I was especially interested in how each of these characters saw their ethnicity and how their experiences differed. The story had a lot of interesting elements including a bit of magic which added a lot to the overall story.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Louisa Zhu, Eric Yang, and Eunice Wong did a fantastic job with this story. Each narrator read a section of the book and I thought that each of them did a great job of capturing the essence of the characters. I thought that all three narrators had pleasant voices and complimented each other’s nicely. I felt like they were able to add just the right amount of emotion to their reading which added to my overall enjoyment.
I would recommend this book to others. This was a book that covered some important topics that made me think. I grew to care about this group of characters and hoped that things would work out for them in the end. I do hope to read more of this talented author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Knopf and Penguin Random House Audio....more
Initial Thoughts I picked this book up over the weekend just to take a look at it. I was in the middle of another book so I didn't plan to read this onInitial Thoughts I picked this book up over the weekend just to take a look at it. I was in the middle of another book so I didn't plan to read this one but my eyes caught on that first page and I just didn't want to put it down. The group of characters don't remember anything about their past and have no idea what is going on but they all have a special skill. I had a great time trying to figure out what was going on with these characters and they moved through a dangerous world. I am only sorry that it took me so long to give this book a try.
Review copy provided by the publisher. Full review to be posted soon....more
I enjoyed this one! I love a good puzzle as much as the next guy, but Mike Brink is a sThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I enjoyed this one! I love a good puzzle as much as the next guy, but Mike Brink is a savant in the realm of puzzles, and this story is a doozy of one. Quite a few things are going on so the reader needs to pay close attention to keep track of all the threads in this story. I liked the various twists and turns worked into the plot that kept me guessing and I couldn’t wait to see how everything would come together before this story drew to a close.
Mike Brink’s life changed on a football field when a brain injury left him with acquired savant syndrome. He loves puzzles and can’t resist the one involving a woman serving time for murder. The mystery at the center of this story is pretty complex and takes more than one unexpected turn. Mike was a great character, and I couldn’t wait to see him figure out what was happening.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Edoardo Ballerini did a wonderful job with the story. I believe that this may have been the first time that I have listened to this narrator’s work and I must say that I was impressed. He did a great job of bringing Mike Brink and the rest of the characters in this story to life. I found his voice to be very pleasant and had no problems listening to this audiobook for hours at a time. I am certain that his performance added to my overall enjoyment of this story.
I would recommend this book to others. I was completely entertained by this intelligent and action-packed story that left me questioning everything at times. I hope to read more of this author’s work very soon.
I received a review copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio....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
Initial Thoughts This was a rather bleak story. Cassie has a job that she thought would be wonderful in Silicon Valley. Unfortuately, it is a very toxiInitial Thoughts This was a rather bleak story. Cassie has a job that she thought would be wonderful in Silicon Valley. Unfortuately, it is a very toxic environment when she can never work hard enough or make the supervisors happy. Her personal life isn't any better. I felt bad for Cassie and wanted to see her stand up for herself and go find a happier life somewhere else. I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrator did a great job with this story.
Review copy provided by the publisher. Full review to be posted soon....more
This was just so much fun! I loved everything about the book from the Villain to the roThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was just so much fun! I loved everything about the book from the Villain to the royal sign-holding frog named Kingsley. I think I had a big smile on my face the entire time I read this book which was a wonderful feeling. I am always on the lookout for something different so I loved the cozy fairytale setting that didn’t take itself too seriously. Honestly, there isn’t a single dull moment in this entertaining novel.
Evie quite literally runs into the Villain in the woods after losing her previous position. She needs a job so that she can take care of her family so she persuades the Villain to hire her as his assistant. I loved getting a peek at the office setting at Villain’s lair. There were some pretty fantastic characters including a dragon trainer, a healer, an office manager, not to mention the frog that communicates through signs.
I loved the humor woven throughout this story. There were some parts that left me laughing out loud which I rarely do while reading. It didn’t take me long to realize that the Villain wasn’t as bad as everyone seemed to think he was. In fact, he had a pretty big soft spot especially when it came to Evie. I loved seeing their relationship begin to form. On top of everything else, there was plenty of action and excitement to go around.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a really fun story filled with characters that were easy to like. I almost felt like I was reading an animated movie but one geared towards adults due to some of the topics touched on. The book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger so I cannot wait for book 2!...more
I had a fantastic time with this book! I really enjoyed the first book in this series, This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I had a fantastic time with this book! I really enjoyed the first book in this series, A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon, and was excited to get the chance to read this newest installment. This book takes place shortly after the events of the first book but features a different pair of characters. The book could be read as a stand-alone but I would recommend reading the series in order if possible since the events of the prior book play a role in this installment.
Calladia and Astaroth are enemies. At least they were enemies until Calladia, who is a witch, finds the demon Astaroth suffering from amnesia and appearing to be rather helpless. She decides to help him and as they join together on a quest, they both find that they are drawn to one another. Astaroth doesn’t remember much of his recent years and he seems like a whole new demon. As they both discover what really happened, they learn that things are more serious than they could have imagined.
I really liked the characters. Calladia and Astaroth were wonderful characters. Calladia had some pretty big issues with her mother to deal with and Astaroth’s mother was a bit of a surprise. I liked these two as a couple and thought that they had a lot of chemistry. It was obvious just how much they both cared for one another and I couldn’t wait to see them figure out a way to make things work.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Helen Laser did a wonderful job with this story. I loved the voices that she used for the various characters which really helped to bring the story to life. I thought that she was able to add just the right amount of emotion to her reading to take this story to the next level. I do believe that her narration added to my overall enjoyment of this entertaining story.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to others. I found this to be a very entertaining romance featuring wonderful characters. I loved that both had some extra abilities and seemed to understand and support each other. I hope to read more of this talented author’s work very soon!
I received a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio....more
Initial Thoughts This was good! While this book is technically a stand-alone, I feel like I would have benefited from reading the previous books beforeInitial Thoughts This was good! While this book is technically a stand-alone, I feel like I would have benefited from reading the previous books before diving into this one. The mystery is completely contained in this book but there were a lot of other things going on with the characters that I think some background would have helped. I liked Rook, Jackaby, and the rest of the characters and was eager to see what was going on with all of the disappearances going on. I loved that there was some humor woven throughout the story as well. 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
This was really good! I have been a fan of Sandra Brown’s writing for a very long time This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was really good! I have been a fan of Sandra Brown’s writing for a very long time and look forward to each new release so I was excited to have the chance to read her latest book. I was surprised to learn that this book dealt with a mass shooting but Sandra Brown handled the topic well as I trusted she would. The story took me on a bit of an emotional roller coaster since it was heartbreaking at times, and exciting at others, with just enough romance worked in to keep things very interesting.
My heart broke for some of the characters quickly after starting the book. Elle and Calder were both at the county fair when the shooting occurred and the danger may not be over. Everyone present when the shooting occurred lost something but Elle’s loss felt incredibly profound. Both Elle and Calder are committed to finding out who is responsible for everything that has happened. The story got very exciting as they encountered one dangerous situation after another while the police tried to find who was responsible for the tragedy. I liked the chemistry between Elle and Caulder and thought that they worked well as a couple.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Kyf Brewer did a great job with the story. I believe that this is the first time that I have listened to this narrator’s work and wouldn’t hesitate to pick up other books that he narrates. I found his voice to be very pleasant and thought that he was able to add just the right amount of emotion to his reading.
I would recommend this book to others. I found this to be quite the page-turner and I loved that the mystery kept me guessing until the very end. The story ended on a hopeful note which I also appreciated. I cannot wait to read more of this talented author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing....more
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