aly36's reviews
2188 reviews

The Pram by Joe Hill

challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

 Willy and Marianne lose a child and decide to move to Maine. Willy finds a lonesome bridle path near their new home and daydreams of a child that was not meant to be. He is loaned a old baby stroller from years past to carry groceries home in one day. While using the stroller he daydreams of the baby lost. Is that crying coming from the stroller? Or cooing? This can not be, can it? This book was a bit scary and a good short story into the mind of Joe Hill. I learned that Joe Hill is Stephen King's son and have wanted to try one of his books ever since. This book did not disappoint! 

Midlife Magic Hunter by Shannon Mayer

adventurous challenging dark funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

 Dating in your forties is not any easier for Bree. When you love bad boys, anything and everything can go wrong. Bree knows how to find trouble and trouble finds her. This is a great series and I think this series could be a great TV show or movie! I would LOVE to see it. Bree is in a love triangle and she needs to decide who she loves, eventually. As Bree tries to stop the dark counsel from making a spell that will end the world, action is around every corner. Can she stop the spell without losing more friends? This is a wonderful story and I also listened to most of it as a audio book, Lauren Fortgang is a great narrator. I'd love to learn from her. Anyone interested in action and ghosts, fey, witches, goblins, and more, you need to read this series! 

Ransomed to the World by Stacey Brutger

adventurous challenging dark funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book was the final book in the trilogy.  I loved everything about it! So much action and more sexy scenes between Annora and her men. In this book, Annora has to try to get the Phantom world to accept her pack.  She also goes on trying to get each of the guys packs to accept her. A huge story in these pages but so much excitement and fun.  There is something for all in these books. I enjoyed the whole trilogy and would love to see a TV show or movie.  I know if would be epic to make so much for the phantom world and dark matter work in a TV show or movie but done well it would be, did I say EPIC?  I would read more books from this author, her writing grabs me and keeps me coming back for more.

Fragments of the Lost by Megan Miranda

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Jessa Whitworth tried to help pack up her ex-boyfriend Caleb’s room. The memories of their relationship coming back to her. Maybe things were not how she thought they were.  Did she remember things that maybe were not as "obvious" before to her? How well did she know this guy? This book was an interesting book full of twists and turns. I enjoyed the book. 

Just Like Mother by Anne Heltzel

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I was hoping to like this book more than what I did. I guessed some of this book and the ending so it made it a little bit, boring in that way. It was well written and a little scary and I did like that.  Overall, it was a okay read for me. I thought character raised in a cult would be a good book idea.  When Maeve's cousin reappears, I looking forward to what happens next.  But I wanted the author to pull me into the story a bit more. *This book was given to me for free at my request from NetGalley and I provided this voluntary review.*

The Night Shift by Natalka Burian

adventurous challenging dark inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

 This book was not bad! I was intrigued to learn about shortcuts in New York City. I think that is a wonderful idea and I would love to try one some time. This book caught my attention and kept me wanting to read more about these shortcuts and the mystery in the pages of this story. I was hooked to read more. *This book was given to me for free at my request from NetGalley and I provided this voluntary review.* 

Good Girls Stay Quiet by Jo Cassidy

challenging dark emotional

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I enjoyed this book because it showed how much people can endure and still bounce back.  Cora had a rough life and was sheltered by her "Dad". When Cora got to go to school for the first time as a teenager, she had rules like Don't EVER attract attention, no boys, and no friends. I loved the ending of the book and how Cora's new life is soo much better than before.  Even though Cora had a lot of adversity in her old life, her life was so very different and amazing in comparison.  I have not read this author's books before but I will read more from Jo in the future. 

The Poisoned Forest by Yasmine Galenorn

adventurous inspiring

5.0

I enjoyed this book.  This is the first book of a new series. We meet Storm and her family in this book and they are dragons. Storm and her sisters live a sheltered life but when her sister gets sold into slavery, Storm decides to get her back.  Storm must venture out into a strange new world, but she meets friends along the way that help her to learn about this new world.  This book is full of fun, adventure and excitement.  Does Storm save her sister?  What can dragons do and what powers, if any, do they have?  You can find out this and more if you read this book. Check it out!

Midlife Witch Hunter by Shannon Mayer

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I enjoyed this book very much.  I listened to the audio version the most and I enjoyed the narrator bring the story to life.  Bree always finds a bit of trouble in each story but she is true to her friends. In this book we travel with Bree and her friends to south of France on a hunt for the first witch.  We meet some new friends and say a fair well, in a sense, to old friends.  Can Bree find and protect the first witch?   Why is she looking for her?  Find out when you read or listen to this next adventure in the Forty Proof series.  Great book!

Omens Bite by Kristin Cast, P.C. Cast

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

 

Welcome back to Hunter and Mercy with Sisters of Salem. I really want to like this series and I love these authors very much. I feel this book had some ups and downs for me as I read it. I fell we got to know the characters better in this book but I did not feel a connection with them like I wanted to. I guess for me I am missing the spark I found in the House of Night series and the characters there. 

All in all the book was ok for me I will keep reading this series just because I love the authors and can't wait to hear what else is in store for this story. But I am looking for the spark I fell in love with in some of the other work these author produce. I hope to find it in their next works.