Latest Book Reviews and Comments
I really love Michael Connelly books but I don’t like the Stilwell books as much. It is not the character, I like Stilwell. This novel had two parallel cases which keeps you interested. The chapters were short and jumped back and forth between cases but I thought it flowed well. I recommend reading, it will hold your interest throughout but I didn’t really like the way either case ended due to lack of details and downgraded my rating.
I’ve read all the Jesse Stone novels and find them easy to read and very enjoyable. This Spenser novel, my first read in this series was also easy to read. The Spenser in this first book is a wise ass and somewhat lacking in moral fiber. Not yet the character/hero type portrayed in the TV series but there are many more books for him to grow. There were also a couple scenarios that were totally unnecessary, like the satan worshipers. Overall, I still liked the book and plan to keep reading the series.
Overall, I liked the book. I liked the way the author shifted back and forth in time to develop the story. The story was somewhat predictable but there were a couple of twists near the end. Even though I liked the book, I didn’t really cheer for the characters, they were too rich and privileged.
I liked this novella. It was my first read of Gillian Flynn. I don’t ordinarily like any horror but found this short 40 pages suspenseful with unexpected twists for such a short story.
This was my first novella by this author but I had enjoyed a couple much shorter short stories by her previously and had high hopes for this since it sounded fun. This book met my expectations and was a really enjoyable Retelling of Cinderella full of fall vibes, wonderful sounding desserts, and interesting characters. I loved getting to know both Celine "Cinder" and Mouse and seeing Celine realize her growing feelings for him. This story also has a lot of fun side characters including the other baker's in the competition. Celine's step mother as well as her step sister Eugenie were extremely unappreciative of all Celine did for them but her step sister Felicity wasn't as bad. The epilogue was a fun look into the future and I plan to read more by this author.
This book definitely has a horror element to it. It starts slow as it develops three different characters that are seemingly unrelated. It speeds up as the stories intertwined but I think the story is unnecessarily gory/ gruesome in description. Despite my dislike for this, I liked the overall story.
This was a really sweet story about Conrad & Linnea. This story can be read as a standalone but it's nice to have a little more familiarity with the town and background characters. Conrad & Linnea were really cute together and I enjoyed seeing the two of them find their HEA. I didn't see a lot of Thumbelina references but may have missed them but either way I loved the story. I look forward to reading more books in this town including Guinevere and Gideon's upcoming story Once Upon A Bear.
Overall, I liked the book. Easy to cheer for the main character despite her infidelity. I liked that she eventually confessed to her husband and they worked to resolve her problem. My biggest beef is that the fight with the big bad brute sent to kill her was not realistic. Would have been better if husband or Private Investigator friend came to her rescue.
Overall, I liked the book. I liked that it got right into the action. The book was basically revenge based where the main character created his “terminal list” of those he had to kill for killing his Seal team, family, and friends. The action carried through the whole book. I found it was weak in character descriptions for some of the characters on the list, the details of why they were included on the List. Could have reduced some unnecessary details also. I do plan to read subsequent books in the series, this was his first novel and have heard the author has improved in subsequent ones.
This was a really enjoyable standalone story set in the small town of Harmony Glen that focuses on Thallos (Satyr) & Marigold (Human Florist). Both characters have complicated emotional issues from their pasts that they help each other work through and I enjoyed seeing how they developed as individuals as well as how they developed as a couple. This story also features characters from previous books in this series but it isn't necessary to have read them to enjoy this story. The epilogue at the end was a lot of fun and I look forward to reading many more books by Honey Phillips in the future.
Dated Gothic fiction that can can be difficult for the contemporary reader to follow.
I really like Hurwitz but I did not enjoy this book anywhere near as much as his others. The story seemed very slow developing the characters. Once into the action, it held my interest. However, the story that a 30 something nurse, not particularly in shape, and injured could outrun, outlast and outsmart an international jungle terrorist was too far fetched for me.
In Kyoto, there is a mysterious clinic where patients suffering insomnia and various other personal problems seek psychological help. To their surprise, regardless of their ailment, they receive a prescription for, say, 10 days of cat care. There are many different kinds of cats. The book is a warm-hearted, feel-good story that embodies magical realism. It is full of charming details about cats and their behavior, presented in a Japanese style and spirit. Highly recommended for cat lovers, though others will certainly enjoy it as well.
I won't spoil this for those who have not started the series, but I will say that this sequel is superior to the first book in every way. It introduces a host of fascinating new characters, both human and alien, and sends familiar characters into surprising (even shocking) uncharted places. Carryx civilization is further illuminated for the reader and the more we learn, the more I want this to be more than just a trilogy. I rated the first book - The Mercy of Gods - a little lower than this one but it is definitely worth reading to set up this excellent book and what I anticipate will be a remarkable finale. Anyone who read The Expanse is aware that James S.A. Corey knows how to stick the landing.
Emilia Hart’s The Sirens is a work of magical realism that reaches from the present day into history. The story is set in coasts of Australia and at sea, told through the lives of two pairs of siblings. One set of siblings lives in the present, the other in the 1800s. The sea is a powerful element in the story, which centers on family and relationships with their old traumas. Although I’m not a reader who typically focuses on relationships, the story had enough magic and the scent of the sea to keep me entertained. Perhaps a touch of more fantasy would have been nice, but it was fine as it was. The historical setting added its own colour.
Evie Woods’ The Lost Bookshop is a story of magical realism that spans two different eras. In the 1920s, Opaline takes control of her own life, but the attitudes of the time toward women present obstacles for her. In the present day, Martha, fleeing an abusive husband, and Henry, searching for a lost manuscript, meet. All three main characters are united by their love of books. Emily Brontë features prominently, as does a mysterious library that appears and disappears. There are just the right amount of plot twists, without any over-the-top romance, and I liked the outcome.
I really enjoyed this book (listened on audio). While it was easy to figure out who the villain was, it really held my interest waiting and wanting the main character to figure it out. I liked the flow of the story in that she described why key people behaved the way they did after the main event with only hints in the main body. I plan to read more of her books.
Another solid thriller from Taylor. He brings back a nemesis from the past in “the Ghost”. The plot had the terrorists developing multiple attacks in multiple countries with diversions. As always, lots of action particularly for the second half of the book. I liked that the details of the planned attacks were vague as it keep me more interested until the real action started. I also liked that that while the main character, Pike Logan is a hardass, he also cares about his team.
This was a really enjoyable story that can work as a standalone although I am sure it's even better if you are more familiar with the side characters. I haven't read much from this series yet but am adding several more to my TBR list after reading this. I enjoyed getting to know Graham & Meera in this story and seeing how everything came together for them. The epilogue at the end was a lot of fun and I hope to read more about Emmett and his daughter in the future.
Overall, I thought the story was decent. The story held my interest and had a good lead-in to the next book in the series. However, for the described potential of the Omnimetal, the story seemed unrealistically “local”. A couple relatively small companies fighting for mineral rights where something with so much financial and military value would be universally fought for. The characters were well described and defined, but they were not all a necessity in the story and distracted me. I would have liked to have the action scenes to be longer. It was like this nice lead up and then, “bam”, it was over. I am not sure I will continue with the series but I just might to find out if and how the story goes national and/or global.
Thought it was a good story. Straight forward, no real surprises. Charley Stevens and Kathy Frost were the main characters, Mike Bowditch was not part of the story. Charley was still a warden and Kathy was very early in her career so this should be much lower than #15.5 in the series. Worth the read.
This looks like a fun new series that ties in with the Cyborgs on Mars while still being able to stand on it's own overall. I enjoyed getting to know both Rhyx & Alina in this story and seeing how they overcome the various obstacles they face. The epilogue set 2 months later gives a nice peak into their future and I look forward to reading the next book in this series Ice Dragon's Heart later this summer.
I really enjoyed getting to finally read about Thatcher & Ysathea (Ysa) after seeing hints about them previously. Ysa is such a fun character and the family bond she has formed with the two other engineers (Ivo and Grunn) is a fun element to see come into play as Thatcher becomes more involved with them. I look forward to continuing this series and finding out what happens with Flack.