Tuesday, December 30, 2014

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

The NightingaleThe Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really don't have anything bad to say about this book, other than I finished it at work and had to try very hard not to cry in front of my co-workers. That's always a tad embarrassing. I have not read any of Hannah's other books but have heard from a few people that she always does high caliber work. If you are as familiar, this book should not disappoint. If this is virgin territory, prepare yourself for total immersion and extreme depth of character connection. There may be similar stories out there but this is a side of WWII that I have not read about. Although this is a novel, it reads very realistically and not at all over the top. I can see why this book is getting a lot of praise. It's not often I agree with such assessments but I'm happy to be part of the herd this time around.

This review is based on a free e-galley received from Netgalley.com

View all my reviews

Friday, December 26, 2014

As You Wish by Cary Elwes

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess BrideAs You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I'm sure I'd been to the movie theater before I was 11 years old, but my first movie memory is of my parents taking me to the old Hollywood Theater (built in 1936) in our small town to see The Princess Bride. It was a first love in many different ways. My first favorite film (still is my favorite), a favorite story (I sought out and read the book a few years later), a first crush (seriously, Wesley, what's not to crush over), my first touch of jealousy (I was a tomboy but still would have killed to be Buttercup)....The Princess Bride was my first "twue wuv." I heard about this book and I couldn't wait to read it. It was really heartwarming to read about a movie that so many people have grown attached to from the point of view of Elwes. He is such a key component it's hard to imagine the movie without him, so it's fascinating to read about his insecurity and worries about the role and his ability to rise to the task. Most touching of all were his tales of Andre the giant, who's heart seemed to have been even bigger than his frame.

I can't talk to you into reading this book. If you love the movie, you should grab on to it and enjoy. It will bring many smiles to your face. If you don't love the movie, well, that's just inconceivable.



View all my reviews

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

The Bane Chronicles

The Bane Chronicles (The Bane Chronicles)The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I had higher expectations. I don't think the short story format does any of these tales justice. There was a decent amount of humor in the first part of the book but it sharply drops off as you go through. After a while it seemed like the only redeeming factor of the collection had pretty much disappeared. I like this author and I like this series, but this could have been better.



View all my reviews

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Evernight

Evernight (Darkest London, #5)Evernight by Kristen Callihan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This was a fun read. Even though it is book 5, the author crafted it so you don't have to have read the others in order to be able to enjoy this one. I would like to go back and read the others though. This is a nice little package of supernatural, steampunk, and romance. There is also good humor, it doesn't take itself too seriously. All in all, a very pleasant surprise and I think a lot of people would really enjoy this author's work.

This review is based on a free e-galley from Netgalley.com



View all my reviews

The Secrets of Life and Death

The Secrets of Life and DeathThe Secrets of Life and Death by Rebecca Alexander

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Well, this started off interesting but it just spiraled downward with the weight of its ridiculousness. It held my interest when it was dealing with symbology but when it switched over to vampirism and added a superfluous love story plot line, it lost its hold over me. If I had not received the book free in exchange for this write up, I wouldn't even have bothered finishing it. The one thing that redeemed this story was the allusions to historical figures like John Dee and Erzsébet Báthory. I had not heard of either of these people before (oddly enough, John Dee was mentioned in a TV show I was watching during the time I was reading this book) and I would be interested in reading some non-fiction accounts of their lives.

This review is based on a free copy I received from bloggingforbooks.com.



View all my reviews

Sunday, December 7, 2014

The Bone Clocks

The Bone ClocksThe Bone Clocks by David Mitchell

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This was a bit slow at times, something that can be problematic in a book that is so long. The whole first half was a lot of (granted, necessary) build up before you finally get a taste of the sci-fi aspect of the story. The next 150 pages or so is spent waiting for that more interesting aspect of the story to come back. By the time you get near the end, it feels a bit rushed for all the build up. Taking all this in to consideration, the style was not unlike Cloud Atlas in its structure. The premise itself was pretty interesting (I don't want to give anything away) but I wish more time could have been spent on the sci-fi aspect, as that's where the unique action was going on. The other portion of the story (the more novel aspect) did provide a nice balance however. It's a complicated story and it's really hard to describe or review without giving too much up.



View all my reviews

Saturday, December 6, 2014

If the Viscount Falls

If the Viscount Falls (The Duke's Men, #4)If the Viscount Falls by Sabrina Jeffries

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Sabrina Jeffries is always a lot of fun to read. It's not exactly literature but she's a good enough writer that you can't just peg her to the smut pile. She actually has good plots to all her stories and this book stays true to form. She's very reliable, you always know what you're in for, and she never disappoints. I haven't read any of the other books in this series but that fact didn't detract from the story for me, you can easily read this as a stand-alone if you want. I would like to go back and read the first three stories though.

This review is based on a free e-edition from Netgalley.com




View all my reviews

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

The Art of Asking: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help by Amanda Palmer

The Art of Asking: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People HelpThe Art of Asking: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help by Amanda Palmer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book has resonated with me on so many different levels I'm not even sure if I'm aware of them all. Maybe it's because we're the same age or we both love Neil Gaiman (on admittedly different planes), or because at my core I consider myself a self-doubting artist/photographer. I relate to the problem with asking for help that Amanda Palmer has dealt with. We all have at some level. For me, I feel in my bones and my veins and my breath that I need to pursue photography. I know what I'm doing. I know what I'm looking for when I put my eye to the lens. Despite this,it's impossible for me to ask for work. I need to put myself and my work out there. This may well give me the courage to try. When something resonates with you (as this book did with me) it's a plucked string left to vibrate. You can either just let it go until it eventually dies, or you let it be the first note of a masterpiece. I need to take more photos. Thank you Amanda.

Coda

I wrote the above portion when I was about 3/4 of the way through this book. They were immediate impressions and I wanted to get them down. I really think they sum up pretty well a lot of the feelings I have for this book but now that I'm done, I feel I should note just a few more things. While the theory in this book is almost anti-self-help, the practice of it is very much the opposite. By learning to ask others for help, you very much help yourself by opening yourself up to trust and love. It feels like a profound lesson when you read it and let it sink in but it's a little sad that we need to teach ourselves these things at all. We need to be kinder to ourselves. It's also a meaningful lesson in acknowledging that the "crowd" is always made up of individual living, breathing, human beings. Whether the crowd is a kickstarter group, the twitter masses, or the residents of Ferguson, MO. It's so easy in this day to forget that and convey hurtful messages to the crowd, forgetting that individual human beings will read those words.

So....if you have trouble asking for help or taking it when it is freely offered, read this book. If you are feeling a disconnect from the rest of the world, read this book. If you have trust issues, read this book. If you are a human being, read this book.


This review is based on a free e-edition received from Netgalley.com. Lack of money being exchanged in no way influenced this review.



View all my reviews

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Sessions Vol I by Kailin Gow

Sessions Vol. 1:  The Sex Shrink of SeattleSessions Vol. 1: The Sex Shrink of Seattle by Kailin Gow

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


The thing about this type of book is that you need for the main character to be engaging in some way. This guy just comes off as an egomaniacal prick who, if he were real, would be riddled with disease. To top it off, it's only the first part of the story. Who knows how long this will go on for. It now holds the dubious honor of being the first book I've permanently deleted from my kindle. But at least it was a fast read.

This review is based on a free e-edition from NetGalley.



View all my reviews

Saturday, November 15, 2014

The King by J. R. Ward

The King (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #12)The King by J.R. Ward

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


It's not great literature but sometimes a gal just wants to read a book where all the male characters totally worship the females.
I do enjoy this series. It's a lovely break.



View all my reviews

Saturday, November 8, 2014

So, Anyway.... by John Cleese

So, Anyway...So, Anyway... by John Cleese

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A very good book for Cleese's fans. This spans from his early years up to the beginning of Python, and lightly touches on those years and the recent past. Also a very nice story of the friendship with Graham Chapman. Plenty of laugh out loud tales and I added some of the books he mentioned to my wishlist. Read and enjoy!

This review is based on a free advance e-edition from NetGalley.com.



View all my reviews

Thursday, November 6, 2014

A Brief History of Seven Killings: A NovelA Brief History of Seven Killings: A Novel by Marlon James

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


I really wanted to like this book. I loved The Book of Night Women and I was interested in the subject of this book but I couldn't get in to it. I made it about a third of the way through before I finally gave up. Perhaps I'll pick it up again later.



View all my reviews

Sunday, October 26, 2014

North: The New Nordic Cuisine of Iceland

North: The New Nordic Cuisine of IcelandNorth: The New Nordic Cuisine of Iceland by Gunnar Gíslason

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


To me, cookbooks should be about usefulness. Anything else is usually just a bonus. This book is very beautiful and has some wonderful anecdotes and interviews, but the recipes are not very utilitarian. Here's what you need to know if you are considering buying this book:

Most of the recipes in this book require you to make part of it ahead of time, usually an oil or dairy sauce, some of it needing a day or weeks.
Many recipes require ingredients that are obscure and difficult to find. I spent a great deal of time searching the internet for substitute ingredients for those I could not find, and I did look in many different stores.
Not all the equipment used to make these dishes was familiar to me, that's not to say that I have an extremely extensive knowledge of kitchen equipment or gadgets.
I'm confident this is not your everyday Icelandic food cookbook. It would be great if you want to make a meal that will make an impression on dinner guests, but not so much for everyday use.

I did make one recipe from the book, it's really the only one I felt I could even attempt and, even then, I modified it quite a bit.
I made the fried goose breasts. My dad had just happened to get a freezer full of goose from a hunting buddy of his wo it worked out quite well in that regard. Unfortunately, I didn't really study the recipe itself ahead of time, just the ingredient list. I didn't realize I needed to make one of the oils a day in advance so I had to fudge that a bit. I'd also never heard of an immersion circulator so I did not attempt the celery root puree. Despite all this, the goose turned out very good. I might make this again if I wanted to make something that looked fancy but otherwise I probably would make something more simple. I didn't time how long it took, but it was somewhere in the one-two hour range.

All in all, a very beautiful book but only useful for special occasions.

This review is based on a free copy received from BlogginForBooks.com. It no way influenced this review.



View all my reviews

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

The Legend of Sleepy HollowThe Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I've seen several movies of this story but I'd never actually read it before and figured it was about time. The movies have been very faithful over the years. If you've seen the Disney cartoon version, that's pretty much it. The one thing that I'd never noticed before is how much Disney's Beauty & the Beast borrows from this tale. Kind of interesting side note.



View all my reviews

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Outpost by Christopher Hill

Outpost: Life on the Frontlines of American Diplomacy: A MemoirOutpost: Life on the Frontlines of American Diplomacy: A Memoir by Christopher R. Hill

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


When I heard about this book, I thought it would be interesting to learn about how the life of a diplomat works but I expected it to be somewhat dry and boring in the telling. Quite the opposite with this book. Well, half opposite, it was still very interesting. This book covers the entire span of Hill's career, starting with the Peace Corp on up to his time in Iraq in 2009. It's a good look at how this portion of the political machine operates as well as being a fascinating snapshot of some pivotal moments in recent history.

This review is based on a free copy obtained from GoodReads First Reads.



View all my reviews

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Nora Webster by Colm Tóibín

Nora WebsterNora Webster by Colm Tóibín

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Some books you read slowly because you just can't get engaged, or maybe you find yourself slowing down to process all the information. I found myself reading this book slowly because each chapter felt like a poetry collection. I had to pace myself and allow myself a dollop of a chapter from time to time so I could have the proper amount of time to savor and appreciate what I'd just read. It's been a long time since I've read a novel and wondered at the beauty of the phrasing.
Nora herself is a very interesting character. She is quietly strong, considering the story is told from her perspective. Her husband is also an interesting character. You learn very little about him even though his influence on the tale is pervasive.
Really, an exceptional book. I need to look for more by this author.

This review is based on a free e-galley received from NetGalley.com



View all my reviews

Monday, October 6, 2014

A Cool and Lonely Courage by Susan Ottaway

A Cool and Lonely Courage: The Untold Story of Sister Spies in Occupied FranceA Cool and Lonely Courage: The Untold Story of Sister Spies in Occupied France by Susan Ottaway

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Wow.

Stories like these are so amazing. There have to be hundreds, if not thousands, of tales of bravery and courage by people that we have never heard of. War shows us so much of the ugly side that some human beings possess but it also shows us greatness and a depth of resolution that people might not even realize they are capable of harnessing. Truly inspirational.

This review is based on a free copy received through GoodReads First Reads.



View all my reviews

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Waistcoats & WeaponryWaistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Any book that can make me laugh out loud is excellent in my mind. I think one of the things I really enjoy about Carriger is that she seems to have so much fun with these stories. The only downside to this book is that it feels like one of those odd in-between stories. It seemed like the plot wasn't that strong on its own and was just a bridge between the last book and the next.

This review is based on a free advanced e-edition from NetGalley.com.



View all my reviews

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Shortcuts to Mindfulness: 100 Ways to Personal and Spiritual GrowthShortcuts to Mindfulness: 100 Ways to Personal and Spiritual Growth by Catherine Auman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


At first I wasn't sure about the short chapter format but it grew on me and I think it ended up working very well. You can take each story almost as a parable and there is enough information provided that you can look up more information if it is desired. Auman is very easy to read and she brings a wide range of experiences to her narrative. I think this book would be a very good starting point for people looking for answers, even if they aren't sure what their questions are yet.

This review is based on a copy obtained from GoodReads First Reads.



View all my reviews
The Knife's Edge (The Ronin Saga, #1)The Knife's Edge by Matthew Wolf

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


My feelings about this book went back and forth quite a few times as I was reading. The story was interesting but a bit slow on explanations, making it confusing in more parts than seemed necessary. This book could use a bit more editing, with liberal use of a thesaurus as I really wish Mr. Wolf would find some satisfactory synonyms for "rogue." I did enjoy the concept though and am looking forward to reading book 2 in the near future.

This review is based on a free e-edition received from netgalley.com.



View all my reviews

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Enduring Courage:Ace Pilot Eddie Rickenbacker and the Dawn of the Age of SpeedEnduring Courage:Ace Pilot Eddie Rickenbacker and the Dawn of the Age of Speed by John F. Ross

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I have to admit, I didn't know anything about Eddie Rickenbacker before I picked up this book. I don't remember learning anything about him in school and his name seemed only vaguely familiar. It was only as I started toting the book around, and people would comment on it, that I realized how well-known he was and still is. While reading his story, it put me in mind of Louis Zamperini and everything he went through. There is little wonder their ilk was nicknamed "the greatest generation." This was a very fast read for fiction and I would recommend it to anyone. I have already passed my copy on for someone else to enjoy.

This review is based on an ARC received from the publisher.



View all my reviews

Monday, September 15, 2014

A Delightful Arrangement

A Delightful Arrangement (The Gentlemen Next Door, #1)A Delightful Arrangement by Cecilia Gray

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I didn't notice how short this story was until I was reading it for the first time and got through a quarter of it in a few minutes of pre-bed reading. This would have been a very fun and enjoyable story if it had been fleshed out into full-length. As it stands, it just feels like a bit of a tease. If you do like your stories to be bite-size this would be perfect for you. It's very good, I just felt it was incomplete.

This review is based on a free e-edition from NetGalley.com.



View all my reviews

Thursday, September 11, 2014

The Oversight (Oversight Trilogy, #1)The Oversight by Charlie Fletcher

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Kind of hard to give this story an honest review as it's book 1, the story is not complete. It was compelling at times, rambling at other times. Seems like this might be a book that would do well with the young adult audience. It was fun having a supernatural (supranatural) story combined with a period piece, it seems like those are usually more modern tales now-a-days. This is a unique story so if you're looking for something different, this might satisfy your craving. I would almost rather wait until the whole series is out and read them all together. I definitely would like to read the next book to see where this goes.

This review is based on a free e-edition from NetGalley.com.



View all my reviews

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Dreams Gone Mad With HopeDreams Gone Mad With Hope by S.A. Griffin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I was worrying a backhanded scab, flicking between new stories. Pick me. Pick me. The stories called out to me but the words didn't reach. I choose these words instead.
Okay. Poor attempt at a poetic review for this book.
Read this man's words. Drink in and absorb his ideas. If you can't find this book, find another. Just read him. I was born in California and have visited a few times. I don't really like what I've been exposed to but I would go back if only to coordinate it with seeing S.A. Griffin read some of his work. And it is good S.A. does a lot of spoken word engagements as most of his poetry really needs to be read by people who walk around with their eyes closed.
"Unfuck yourself" and read some of this man's genius.

Thank you for the book, sir.



View all my reviews

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Zac and MiaZac and Mia by A.J. Betts

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I think I would have liked this book more if it weren't so easy to compare it to The Fault in Our Stars. It almost seemed like a fan fiction. That said, it was very well written on its own, despite being pretty predictable. Unfortunately, there's not much else to be said about it.

This review is based on a free copy received from the publisher.



View all my reviews

Thursday, September 4, 2014

City of StairsCity of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Wow. Actually a new idea for once. At least a new one to me. I really loved all the imagination that went into this story. I was worried it was going to be a bit too much like American Gods but it was very different. A darker, more edgy version of what happens to Gods that aren't worshiped anymore, what's more, what happens when those Gods are killed. Do humans create gods or do gods create their people? These are questions that everyone thinks about in some point in their life, I think. This was a very interesting, intelligent, and somewhat action-packed, attempt to answer those questions. It's a fun read. I almost wish this was going to be a trilogy, just so there'd be more, but that would probably ruin the tale.

This review is based on a free edition received from Bloggingforbooks.com.



View all my reviews
Some of my posts have disappeared. Frustrating......

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Close Your Eyes, Hold HandsClose Your Eyes, Hold Hands by Chris Bohjalian

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


It's a bit scary how plausible this all seemed. It was so well written it felt more like a memoir than fiction. It's very sad how easy it is for us to take blame that doesn't belong to us, it can ruin our entire life and ultimately destroy us. The part of this book that really stood out to me was the story that explained the title of this book. I'm not sure it's a true story (probably is) but it's just heartbreaking, in its context and its simplicity. I was excited to read this book as it kept popping up in "best of" lists. I don't know if I'd go that far but it was very good and I would recommend it to anyone. It's a fast read and very believable.

This review is based on a free e-book received from NetGalley.com.



View all my reviews

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

The Astronaut Wives Club: A True StoryThe Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story by Lily Koppel

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This was a really interesting subject. There are so many different aspects that taken together make for such an interesting place in time. I can't even imagine being in the shoes of these women. I just wish that there had been more consistent detail in the story-telling. I think that will make it a good tv show. In order to make the series last, they can fill in some of the gaps that would have just made this book too long.



View all my reviews

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Lucky UsLucky Us by Amy Bloom

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Another book that has been getting a lot of hype and great press and just did not wow me. It was well-written and actually a very nice story about family, those we chose and those that chose us. I just didn't see what the big deal was. I think I need to stop reading reviews, otherwise this may have impressed me more.

I received a free ARC from the publisher.



View all my reviews

Monday, August 11, 2014

CaliforniaCalifornia by Edan Lepucki

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book got a lot of hype thanks to Colbert and I was expecting something spectacular. It was pretty much just another relationship book disguised as a dystopia. Don't get me wrong, it was well written but it was nothing phenomenal. The ending was awkward. It seemed like it was leading up to a sequel and then it felt like the author changed his mind and just kinda wrapped it up. It was refreshing though to read a dystopian fiction that was targeted at adults. It seems like most novels of this sort are aimed at the young adult audience. I think White Horse is the last one I read that was worth the bother.

This review is based on a free e-book from NetGalley.com.



View all my reviews
38 Nooses: Lincoln, Little Crow, and the Beginning of the Frontier's End38 Nooses: Lincoln, Little Crow, and the Beginning of the Frontier's End by Scott W. Berg

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book was very interesting for me because it involves the history of my home turf. The precipitating events that sparked off this story occurred very close to where I grew up and Little Crow was killed not far from where I live now. I thought this was a pretty fair telling of events. No one was blameless for what happened and it's really important to remember the mistakes that were made. The author did a really good job of intertwining the events of the Civil War that were also going on at the same time. I think this would interest a lot of history buffs, Minnesotans in particular.



View all my reviews

Friday, August 1, 2014

All the Light We Cannot SeeAll the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I'm not really sure what to make of this book. I don't have any strong feelings about it either way. I thought it was going to be much more compelling, considering it's subject matter. Perhaps it jumped around too much in time. Perhaps there were too many characters. It just seemed like I should have felt more of an emotional reaction and it just didn't come to me. The book was well written and interesting but not emotionally engaging.

This review is based on a free e-edition received from NetGalley.



View all my reviews

Monday, July 28, 2014

Talk: A NovelTalk: A Novel by Michael A. Smerconish

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I was a little worried that this might end up being boring, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was actually pretty fast paced. There's really only one fully-developed character but he is believable and human enough to make up for the one-dimensionality of all the others. I'm not sure if I would read this again or not. It's good right now because it's current. Quite a few people I know would enjoy this story so I may pass on my copy or recommend to them.

This review is based on a free copy obtained through GoodReads First Reads.



View all my reviews

Friday, July 25, 2014

The Truth Is a Cave in the Black Mountains: A Tale of Travel and Darkness with Pictures of All KindsThe Truth Is a Cave in the Black Mountains: A Tale of Travel and Darkness with Pictures of All Kinds by Neil Gaiman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I thought this might be one of his kids books when I first got this. Safe to say, it is not. Very creepy cautionary tale.



View all my reviews
William Shakespeare's The Jedi Doth ReturnWilliam Shakespeare's The Jedi Doth Return by Ian Doescher

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I think the novelty wore off. I did enjoy this but not nearly as much as the first one. It doesn't look like he will but I am curious to see if Doescher decides to do the prequel trilogy (will probably be better than the movies) and the upcoming trilogy.



View all my reviews

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

LandlineLandline by Rainbow Rowell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really enjoyed reading Rainbow Rowell's first book so I was looking forward to seeing how good this would be. I was not disappointed at all. Perhaps because this book was written for my generation, I think I actually liked this one better. Relationship difficulties is a topic pretty much everyone can relate to and identify with. And who doesn't like a supernatural/Back to the Future twist??!! I don't want to give away any more but I really did enjoy this book.


This review is based on a free copy obtained through GoodReads First Reads.



View all my reviews

Saturday, July 19, 2014

A Constellation of Vital PhenomenaA Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I wasn't sure I was going to like this at first since it was pretty depressing right off the bat but you very quickly get invested in the characters and are sucked in to their stories. I'd heard a little about what happened in Chechnya but am still admittedly ignorant. Although this was a novel, it included enough of the reality of what people went through to be interesting from a historical perspective. I've read a lot of books lately that were either character driven or plot driven but were missing the vital connection between the two. This book marries both perfectly. It reminded me of a Jenga game. It's stripped down to what is essential and is perfectly balanced. Nothing excessive left on it to make it bulky and awkward and not so much left to the imagination that the story topples. Really, a wonderful and beautiful book.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.



View all my reviews

Friday, July 11, 2014

Abandoned: America's Vanishing LandscapeAbandoned: America's Vanishing Landscape by Eric Holubow

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Absolutely stunning photographs of my favorite subject, abandoned spaces. I'm so drawn to this type of work and these places, I find it very moving. Both sad and beautiful at the same time. I'd love to visit some of these places.

This review is based on a free e-galley from NetGalley.



View all my reviews
Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer Complete EditionPinocchio, Vampire Slayer Complete Edition by Van Jensen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I actually only got to read an "extended preview" which was about the length of most graphic novels I've read. This was surprisingly good. Better than Abraham Lincoln as a vampire slayer. Quite a good little story with some great humor. The only issue I had was some of the font was difficult to read on my Kindle.

This review is based on a free e-galley from NetGalley.



View all my reviews
The City: A NovelThe City: A Novel by Dean Koontz

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


It's been a long time since I've read anything by Dean Koontz and I remember his writing being better than this. The characters were great but the story just wasn't that engaging. I was interested in what the characters were doing and what happened to them but it seemed like the plot was secondary to their personalities. It felt like there was potential for a lot more in this story.

This review is based on a free e-galley from NetGalley.



View all my reviews

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1)The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I wasn't sure I was going to like this book but I found it quite enjoyable. The only problem with knowing how much I liked it is that it's not over yet. The world and and it's politics was interesting and believable. The characters and plot were engaging. I think this will go over huge with the female YA audience. It would also make a decent movie.

This review is based on an ARC I received from the publisher.



View all my reviews

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Jane Austen's First LoveJane Austen's First Love by Syrie James

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This wasn't bad considering it's kind of high quality fan fiction. James is a good write and spins a good, well-paced tale. The problem I have with a lot of these Jane Austen stories (not just by this author) is that they rely too heavily on the source author's own work. It seems every fictional tale about Jane Austen has references to all her novels as support beams for the plot. It would be nice to see something truly original.

This review is based on a free e-book from NetGalley.



View all my reviews

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

In the BloodIn the Blood by Lisa Unger

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This book was very well written but it just served as a reminder as to why I don't read many mysteries/thrillers, too many are too easy to figure out. No matter how good the writer is, if I can figure out the plot early I'm not going to be that impressed.



View all my reviews

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Ruin and Rising (The Grisha, #3)Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I was worried I wouldn't remember enough of the last two books since it had been a while since I'd read them but Bardugo does a good job of weaving the tale such that she doesn't really recap but she still manages to remind you of what's been going on. There is an element of predictability as to how this trilogy ends, but it is not disappointing or feel like a wasted read. I am a little sad this story is over. It's been a fun and unique ride.



View all my reviews

Monday, June 23, 2014

The Fortune Hunter: A NovelThe Fortune Hunter: A Novel by Daisy Goodwin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I liked this book better than Goodwin's last novel, The American Heiress. The characters were compelling and sympathetic. The plot was very dynamic and realistic as it followed actual events and people. I usually have 2 books going at a time right now and I kept finding myself wanting to go back to reading this one whenever I had the other in hand. Well done! I recommend this if you are a fan of historical fiction or period romance.

I received a free advance edition from the publisher.



View all my reviews

Friday, June 20, 2014

The FarmThe Farm by Tom Rob Smith

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book did a good job of keeping you guessing. I'm not a fan of thrillers I can figure out early on. I had my theories as to what was going on here but wasn't sure until the end. Better than Gone Girl if you're looking for that type of story.

I received a free ebook from netgalley.com.



View all my reviews

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

The MartianThe Martian by Andy Weir

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book is a unicorn. I had really high expectations and it exceeded them all. That just doesn't happen. You don't have to be a sci fi or space fan to enjoy this book, but it doesn't hurt if you're a bit of a geek. Great story all around. Humor, drama, cliff hangers, well rounded characters. Awesome. Going to watch for more by this author.



View all my reviews

Saturday, June 14, 2014

A Better WorldA Better World by Marcus Sakey

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I didn't read the book that precedes this one in the series but it ended up being okay. There's enough recap that you can just read this one first if you want. Pretty interesting concept. It's a bit like the X-Men, just more plausible. I'm curious to see how far he takes this series since he could run a long time with it if he wanted. Overall, good stories & realistic characters.

 I received a free ebook from netgalley.com.



View all my reviews