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absoluteshannonigans's reviews
187 reviews
Rage of Angels by Sidney Sheldon
5.0
As soon as I started reading this one, I couldn't put it down.
The story focuses on Jennifer, a young idealist lawyer from a small town who has moved to the big city to put away the bad guys. After a major, albeit innocent, mistake she is completely outcast from her prosecutor's office and struggles to stay in the city and become a top lawyer.
I don't want to spoil too much more then that. I had no idea what I was getting into when I read this one and enjoyed the ride. I will warn you that this is not a happy, feel-good book though, but it's very good and Sidney Sheldon has made my list of authors to check out.
I highly recommend this book.
The story focuses on Jennifer, a young idealist lawyer from a small town who has moved to the big city to put away the bad guys. After a major, albeit innocent, mistake she is completely outcast from her prosecutor's office and struggles to stay in the city and become a top lawyer.
I don't want to spoil too much more then that. I had no idea what I was getting into when I read this one and enjoyed the ride. I will warn you that this is not a happy, feel-good book though, but it's very good and Sidney Sheldon has made my list of authors to check out.
I highly recommend this book.
The Mermaid's Mirror by L.K. Madigan
3.0
[This review contains mild spoilers.]
Quick Overview:
Lena, short for Selena, is about to turn 16 years old, begins to inexplicably wake up on the beach and looking for something she can't remember. One day she sees a mermaid and her search becomes more urgent.
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This was a nice, light read. The first half tends to drag. There is a lot of focus on Lena's day to day life and certain things are revealed too early. However, Lena's quest remains compelling throughout. The second half picks up a lot and the world created is interesting. I wish there had been more time spent there. The ending is not what I would have expected, but in a good way.
Overall:
Perfect for when you want a light read with a little magic.
Review also at herfreereads.wordpress.com
Quick Overview:
Lena, short for Selena, is about to turn 16 years old, begins to inexplicably wake up on the beach and looking for something she can't remember. One day she sees a mermaid and her search becomes more urgent.
-----------
This was a nice, light read. The first half tends to drag. There is a lot of focus on Lena's day to day life and certain things are revealed too early. However, Lena's quest remains compelling throughout. The second half picks up a lot and the world created is interesting. I wish there had been more time spent there. The ending is not what I would have expected, but in a good way.
Overall:
Perfect for when you want a light read with a little magic.
Review also at herfreereads.wordpress.com
Wildthorn by Jane Eagland
2.0
*Was originally published in 2009, but was rereleased in September 2010 in paperback.*
It does a nice job at presenting the issues of various human rights, but it wasn’t for me. Might be worth a look if you are curious about the mistreatment of patients in asylums during the Victorian era or interested in GLBT teen/young-adult romance.
Full review at my book blog: herfreereads.wordpress.com
It does a nice job at presenting the issues of various human rights, but it wasn’t for me. Might be worth a look if you are curious about the mistreatment of patients in asylums during the Victorian era or interested in GLBT teen/young-adult romance.
Full review at my book blog: herfreereads.wordpress.com
Shopaholic Ties the Knot by Sophie Kinsella
2.0
[b:Shopaholic Ties the Knot|9419|Shopaholic Ties the Knot (Shopaholic, #3)|Sophie Kinsella|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165966998s/9419.jpg|2992357] has the same charm and laughs the rest of the series, however the summary on the back cover is pretty much the plot of the entire book. I had imagined the double wedding plans being initiated further along or at least her reaching a decision sooner. Instead, most of the book is about Becky being unable to choose which wedding she would like and I found myself rolling my eyes right around the halfway mark every time Becky's indecision was brought up.
It is worth reading if you are a completionist, like me, and prefer to read books in order. Otherwise, you can feel comfortable in sitting this one out.
Recommended for those that are fans of the series and plan on reading the last two books as well.
It is worth reading if you are a completionist, like me, and prefer to read books in order. Otherwise, you can feel comfortable in sitting this one out.
Recommended for those that are fans of the series and plan on reading the last two books as well.
Shopaholic and Sister by Sophie Kinsella
3.0
If you plan on reading [b:Shopaholic and Baby|9420|Shopaholic and Baby (Shopaholic, #5)|Sophie Kinsella|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165966999s/9420.jpg|3284660], I really suggest reading this one first. It precedes "and Baby" rather nicely and there are some parts that you may get a bit lost on without having read this one.
All in all, a good, quick, funny, read.
Recommended to fans of the Shopaholic series.
All in all, a good, quick, funny, read.
Recommended to fans of the Shopaholic series.
Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
2.0
My least favorite of the bunch.
Sophie Kinsella's talent for keeping my attention even through the most ridiculous and hare-brained situations remains intact, but I was less charmed by this one then the others.
I was thinking the book would focus more on Becky's relationship with her daughter and how she is as a parent, but the majority of the book focuses on Becky planning a super-secret surprise party for Luke who is surprisingly absent most of the time. There were several unresolved issues. Some are clearly left open for another book (Luke's mother) and others were just completely dismissed with a half-hearted excuse (Minnie's behavior).
The ending does save the book a little, but for the most part I was pretty underwhelmed.
Sophie Kinsella's talent for keeping my attention even through the most ridiculous and hare-brained situations remains intact, but I was less charmed by this one then the others.
I was thinking the book would focus more on Becky's relationship with her daughter and how she is as a parent, but the majority of the book focuses on Becky planning a super-secret surprise party for Luke who is surprisingly absent most of the time. There were several unresolved issues. Some are clearly left open for another book (Luke's mother) and others were just completely dismissed with a half-hearted excuse (Minnie's behavior).
The ending does save the book a little, but for the most part I was pretty underwhelmed.
Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella
4.0
A bit of a let down from the first book. It felt too much like more of the same. It's still good, funny, and charming, but not quite on par with the first. Should definitely not be read in quick succession of reading [b:Confessions of a Shopaholic|9416|Confessions of a Shopaholic (Shopaholic, #1)|Sophie Kinsella|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275625832s/9416.jpg|3237433].
Worth a try if you enjoyed the first book, not recommended if you didn't.
Worth a try if you enjoyed the first book, not recommended if you didn't.
Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
4.0
I really enjoyed this book.
I'm not sure what else to say about it. It was a rather fresh approach. I've noticed that most of [a:Sophie Kinsella|6160|Sophie Kinsella|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1245821549p2/6160.jpg]'s books tend to fall into the hapless Becky Bloomwood ([b:Confessions of a Shopaholic|9416|Confessions of a Shopaholic (Shopaholic, Book 1)|Sophie Kinsella|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165966997s/9416.jpg|3237433])slump, this one went about it differently. Instead of our heroine, Lexi, being a mostly incompetent (but lovable) idiot, she starts out with 3 years of her life missing and is trying to backtrack to find out what happened and what has become of her. :)
I definitely recommend this book to all the chick-lit lovers out there!
I'm not sure what else to say about it. It was a rather fresh approach. I've noticed that most of [a:Sophie Kinsella|6160|Sophie Kinsella|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1245821549p2/6160.jpg]'s books tend to fall into the hapless Becky Bloomwood ([b:Confessions of a Shopaholic|9416|Confessions of a Shopaholic (Shopaholic, Book 1)|Sophie Kinsella|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165966997s/9416.jpg|3237433])slump, this one went about it differently. Instead of our heroine, Lexi, being a mostly incompetent (but lovable) idiot, she starts out with 3 years of her life missing and is trying to backtrack to find out what happened and what has become of her. :)
I definitely recommend this book to all the chick-lit lovers out there!
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
3.0
It should be noted, as in stated in many other reviews, there is some sex and gore in this book, the key word there being some. The graphic scenes are fairly brief (never really more then a page) and while being a bit detailed, they aren't really.
--If that makes sense. I've read far more graphic and much longer scenes then this. It wouldn't even be worth noting if I hadn't seen so many complaints/warnings about it here.
The writing is very simple, but it works for this book making it feel like the more classic fairy tales. On the one hand, I never cared too much about the characters, but on the other, it never bothered me.
Overall, it might be worth the read. It's very simply written and quick to read. If you're debating between the book or the movie, definitely go for the movie, it's one of the few movies that is better then the book.
--If that makes sense. I've read far more graphic and much longer scenes then this. It wouldn't even be worth noting if I hadn't seen so many complaints/warnings about it here.
The writing is very simple, but it works for this book making it feel like the more classic fairy tales. On the one hand, I never cared too much about the characters, but on the other, it never bothered me.
Overall, it might be worth the read. It's very simply written and quick to read. If you're debating between the book or the movie, definitely go for the movie, it's one of the few movies that is better then the book.