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amandasbookreview's Reviews (966)
*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review*
It is 1863 in the Scottish Highlands when Anne Winton arrives at Ballencrief Hall, a place for the mad. She is sent there to tend to some of the ladies, however she hopes to help heal people while she is there. As soon as she walks through the doors she comes face to face with a handsome young man, James Drake the Marquess of Devlin or known as the Mad Marquess. James Drake has been sent Ballencrief hall due to battling his inner demons. The attraction is strong between Anne and James right from the beginning. However, Anne is naive and innocent. James also sees the opportunity to use Anne to gain his freedom. The more time they spend together the more fascinated Anne becomes with James and James realizes that there is more to Anne than meets the eye. They both need to trust each other and heal if they want to have any chance at happiness.
This book was immensely darker than anticipated! The book right off the bat, grips the reader with this grim home full of misery and hopelessness. James Drake suffers from PTSD, not from war, but from a traumatic experience and struggles with his demons. Anne is kind and is determined to help him overcome them. This was a unique aspect coming from a romance novel. The book shows how mental illness was viewed in the 1800’s. Mental illness still has a stigma to this day but Russell gives the reader a glimpse of the horror inflicted on those struggling in that time period. This aspect of the novel was fascinating and terrifying all at the same time.
The characters were unbelievably developed. The people in Ballencrief Hall aren’t the only ones who suffer. Anne struggles with confidence and self-worth. She only sees herself as a means to an end and it can be truly relatable to the readers.
This book will keep the reader on their toes and wondering what will happen next! The author really made some twists and surprising elements! This is not an ordinary romance novel but a dark and passionate mystery that keeps the reader hooked until the end!
You can find this review and more on my blog: https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/blog/
It is 1863 in the Scottish Highlands when Anne Winton arrives at Ballencrief Hall, a place for the mad. She is sent there to tend to some of the ladies, however she hopes to help heal people while she is there. As soon as she walks through the doors she comes face to face with a handsome young man, James Drake the Marquess of Devlin or known as the Mad Marquess. James Drake has been sent Ballencrief hall due to battling his inner demons. The attraction is strong between Anne and James right from the beginning. However, Anne is naive and innocent. James also sees the opportunity to use Anne to gain his freedom. The more time they spend together the more fascinated Anne becomes with James and James realizes that there is more to Anne than meets the eye. They both need to trust each other and heal if they want to have any chance at happiness.
This book was immensely darker than anticipated! The book right off the bat, grips the reader with this grim home full of misery and hopelessness. James Drake suffers from PTSD, not from war, but from a traumatic experience and struggles with his demons. Anne is kind and is determined to help him overcome them. This was a unique aspect coming from a romance novel. The book shows how mental illness was viewed in the 1800’s. Mental illness still has a stigma to this day but Russell gives the reader a glimpse of the horror inflicted on those struggling in that time period. This aspect of the novel was fascinating and terrifying all at the same time.
The characters were unbelievably developed. The people in Ballencrief Hall aren’t the only ones who suffer. Anne struggles with confidence and self-worth. She only sees herself as a means to an end and it can be truly relatable to the readers.
This book will keep the reader on their toes and wondering what will happen next! The author really made some twists and surprising elements! This is not an ordinary romance novel but a dark and passionate mystery that keeps the reader hooked until the end!
You can find this review and more on my blog: https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/blog/
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is nothing but 550 pages of intense raw emotion. I can’t even convey the depth of the characters. These characters gave me the impression that they were real. They displayed real and accurate emotion. They were relatable and determined. They all had experiences that shaped them throughout the novel. But most of all, they were hard to let go.
The book begins with the introduction of Liesal (scratch out) Actually the book begins with the introduction of the narrator. Death himself. He is the gatherer of souls. He starts the story with a fact.
“Here is a small fact: You are going to die”
He speaks so nonchalant about death to the point where it is almost unnerving. However, you come to find that he is exhausted. The book starts out in the year 1939 in Germany. The Nazi party and Hitler have risen to power and the beginning of World War II was just months away. So Death is going to be busy. He hates wars and witnessing the human race slaughter each other. Here enters our main character, almost 10 years old, Liesal Meminger. Death spots her on a train when he goes to collect her younger brothers soul. Death watches her. At her brother’s burial, one of the gravediggers drops a book and Liesal picks it up. It is called The Grave Digger’s handbook. This was the beginning of her fascination with books. She would later steal books from a book burning and even the Mayor’s wife’s library.
Her mother then takes Liesal to live with foster parents. Scared and still grieving for her brother, she is then dropped off with Rosa and Hans Hubermann. Rosa is force to be reckoned with but Hans is gentle and comforting. Liesal goes through a period of terrible nightmares and Hans goes in to comfort her each night. He also begins to teach her to read. When she starts school she meets Rudy Steiner. He would soon become her partner in crime and best friend.
The book goes through the daily life on Himmel Street and progressively shows the effects of the war. The hatred for the Jews also steadily grows worse as they are out of business then gathered and sent to concentration camps. One Jewish man, named Max Vandenburg, finds himself seeking shelter from his father’s war friend. That friends happens to be Hans Hubermann. Liesal then slowly starts to see the lack of humanity and evil in the world as she is forced to keep a secret. If anyone should find out that there is Jewish man in their basement they would be arrested or worse. Danger is rising. The war is getting closer and raid sirens become more frequent. By stealing books, reading and writing, Liesal is able to find an outlet to help her deal with these fearful times. It is hard to believe it could get much worse and no one is prepared for the end.
I wish I could write and tell you about all the chapters that spoke to me or made me think. But honestly, there are just too many. I think what makes this book so unbelievably special are the characters. As I said earlier, they are so beautifully written. In a time when evil seems to win and control everything, these characters bring faith in humanity. Hans and Death are my favorites. Hans is genuinely a good person. I feel like he doesn’t even try to be good. He just is. The moment when he painted over the racial slurs on Jewish buildings or handed bread to the Jews walking to the concentration camp was pure goodness. He didn’t think about his actions, he just helped. Even though this has a negative effect on his life, Liesal is watching and learning from him and what it is to be a good human being. I also love Death. Even though Death has seen it all, he is fascinated with Liesal and learns more about humans because of her. He gives a fresh take on viewing humanity.
This book is one that I think everyone should read. It shows that words and books can change someone’s life. It also shows what it takes to be a good person and respect human life despite our differences. We need to remember history, study history and write about history so events like the Holocaust never happen again. We need to love and support each other despite our differences in gender, race or religion. This book proves that humans can be evil but how a little goodness can go a long way.
Check out this review and more on my blog: https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/
The book begins with the introduction of Liesal (scratch out) Actually the book begins with the introduction of the narrator. Death himself. He is the gatherer of souls. He starts the story with a fact.
“Here is a small fact: You are going to die”
He speaks so nonchalant about death to the point where it is almost unnerving. However, you come to find that he is exhausted. The book starts out in the year 1939 in Germany. The Nazi party and Hitler have risen to power and the beginning of World War II was just months away. So Death is going to be busy. He hates wars and witnessing the human race slaughter each other. Here enters our main character, almost 10 years old, Liesal Meminger. Death spots her on a train when he goes to collect her younger brothers soul. Death watches her. At her brother’s burial, one of the gravediggers drops a book and Liesal picks it up. It is called The Grave Digger’s handbook. This was the beginning of her fascination with books. She would later steal books from a book burning and even the Mayor’s wife’s library.
Her mother then takes Liesal to live with foster parents. Scared and still grieving for her brother, she is then dropped off with Rosa and Hans Hubermann. Rosa is force to be reckoned with but Hans is gentle and comforting. Liesal goes through a period of terrible nightmares and Hans goes in to comfort her each night. He also begins to teach her to read. When she starts school she meets Rudy Steiner. He would soon become her partner in crime and best friend.
The book goes through the daily life on Himmel Street and progressively shows the effects of the war. The hatred for the Jews also steadily grows worse as they are out of business then gathered and sent to concentration camps. One Jewish man, named Max Vandenburg, finds himself seeking shelter from his father’s war friend. That friends happens to be Hans Hubermann. Liesal then slowly starts to see the lack of humanity and evil in the world as she is forced to keep a secret. If anyone should find out that there is Jewish man in their basement they would be arrested or worse. Danger is rising. The war is getting closer and raid sirens become more frequent. By stealing books, reading and writing, Liesal is able to find an outlet to help her deal with these fearful times. It is hard to believe it could get much worse and no one is prepared for the end.
I wish I could write and tell you about all the chapters that spoke to me or made me think. But honestly, there are just too many. I think what makes this book so unbelievably special are the characters. As I said earlier, they are so beautifully written. In a time when evil seems to win and control everything, these characters bring faith in humanity. Hans and Death are my favorites. Hans is genuinely a good person. I feel like he doesn’t even try to be good. He just is. The moment when he painted over the racial slurs on Jewish buildings or handed bread to the Jews walking to the concentration camp was pure goodness. He didn’t think about his actions, he just helped. Even though this has a negative effect on his life, Liesal is watching and learning from him and what it is to be a good human being. I also love Death. Even though Death has seen it all, he is fascinated with Liesal and learns more about humans because of her. He gives a fresh take on viewing humanity.
This book is one that I think everyone should read. It shows that words and books can change someone’s life. It also shows what it takes to be a good person and respect human life despite our differences. We need to remember history, study history and write about history so events like the Holocaust never happen again. We need to love and support each other despite our differences in gender, race or religion. This book proves that humans can be evil but how a little goodness can go a long way.
Check out this review and more on my blog: https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/
Have you ever done something you are truly ashamed of and there is not a day that passes by where it doesn’t haunt you? Welcome to Louise’s life. It is 2016 and Louise is a single mother, working on her interior decorating business. One day she gets a friend request from Maria Weston. The only problem is Maria Weston died over 25 years ago.
Check out the rest of my review at
https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/2017/09/07/friend-request-by-laura-marshall-review/
Check out the rest of my review at
https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/2017/09/07/friend-request-by-laura-marshall-review/
“You have to churn somewhat when the roof covering your head is at stake, since to sell is to walk away from a cluster of memories and to buy is to choose where the future takes place.” page 3
Set in romantic Italy, Under the Tuscan Sun is a beautiful memoir written by Frances Mayes. The memoir begins with Francis and her husband, Ed, searching for a home to buy in Tuscany. They buy a villa called Bramasole. It is a complete renovation project! Bramasole is almost 3oo years old! Mayes describes in detail their summer and winter breaks flying to Italy to oversee the renovations. They encounter scorpions, vipers, plumbing issues but also uncover beautiful frescos on their wall. Even though renovations come with setbacks. Frances and her husband Ed always find it difficult to leave and find that is where their heart truly lies.
Check out the rest on my blog: https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/
Set in romantic Italy, Under the Tuscan Sun is a beautiful memoir written by Frances Mayes. The memoir begins with Francis and her husband, Ed, searching for a home to buy in Tuscany. They buy a villa called Bramasole. It is a complete renovation project! Bramasole is almost 3oo years old! Mayes describes in detail their summer and winter breaks flying to Italy to oversee the renovations. They encounter scorpions, vipers, plumbing issues but also uncover beautiful frescos on their wall. Even though renovations come with setbacks. Frances and her husband Ed always find it difficult to leave and find that is where their heart truly lies.
Check out the rest on my blog: https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/
So you are probably wondering why I am reviewing Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Everyone knows Harry Potter, and more than likely, are absolutely in love with the Harry Potter World. (If you haven’t read Harry Potter or seen the movies, spoilers ahead.) I was a part of the Harry Potter generation. I’ll never forget watching the premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollow’s Part 2 after waiting several hours outside the theater. When the ending credits came up, our theater shouted, “Mischief Managed!”
It feels like yesterday. Since then I have had two children of my own, both boys. My oldest is 5 and I decided he was ready to have me read him the books.
My five-year old is at the beautiful stage where everything you could imagine is real. He is always pretending or imagining up wild stories. (One day I will tell you about his stories of Summer, the dragon.)
So I started the book, trying to watch his face and read to him at the same time. At first he just sat and listened with hardly any expression. Then enter Dumbledore. My son burst out laughing, repeating, “Dumbledore!” over and over again.
Check out more on my blog: https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/blog/
It feels like yesterday. Since then I have had two children of my own, both boys. My oldest is 5 and I decided he was ready to have me read him the books.
My five-year old is at the beautiful stage where everything you could imagine is real. He is always pretending or imagining up wild stories. (One day I will tell you about his stories of Summer, the dragon.)
So I started the book, trying to watch his face and read to him at the same time. At first he just sat and listened with hardly any expression. Then enter Dumbledore. My son burst out laughing, repeating, “Dumbledore!” over and over again.
Check out more on my blog: https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/blog/
*I received an audiobook copy of Sometimes I Lie from a Goodreads Giveaway!*
The last time I listened to an audiobook was when I was a young girl. We had the Disney read-along cassette tapes that we would listen to right before bed. However, I have never listened to a novel before. Sometimes I Lie is written by Alice Feeney and is read by Stephanie Racine. Stephanie Racine did a FANTASTIC job reading this book. She was able to bring every single character to life and it was absolutely wonderful to listen to! However, this book was absolutely mind blowing! I am purchasing the physical book so I can read it. The book starts with this perfect opening:
“My name is Amber Reynolds. There are three things you should know about me.
I am in a coma.
My husband doesn’t love me anymore.
Sometimes I lie”
So right off the bat, I was hooked. I could not stop listening to this book.
You will have to trust me when I say that it is almost impossible to give the plot without revealing some MAJOR spoilers! The twists and turns are absolutely unbelievable! There were times where I shouted out loud while I listened to this book! (Not exaggerating.)
The book jumps around to different points in Amber’s life in such a smooth manner. It dives deep into the complex relationships she has in her life and how it all led up to the moment where she ends up in a coma. As she lays in a coma, she can hear those around her but she doesn’t know who to believe or who to trust.
This psychological thriller was gripping! The characters were so beautifully crafted and developed. I have finished the story but I still don’t know what to think or who to believe. This is a must read!
The last time I listened to an audiobook was when I was a young girl. We had the Disney read-along cassette tapes that we would listen to right before bed. However, I have never listened to a novel before. Sometimes I Lie is written by Alice Feeney and is read by Stephanie Racine. Stephanie Racine did a FANTASTIC job reading this book. She was able to bring every single character to life and it was absolutely wonderful to listen to! However, this book was absolutely mind blowing! I am purchasing the physical book so I can read it. The book starts with this perfect opening:
“My name is Amber Reynolds. There are three things you should know about me.
I am in a coma.
My husband doesn’t love me anymore.
Sometimes I lie”
So right off the bat, I was hooked. I could not stop listening to this book.
You will have to trust me when I say that it is almost impossible to give the plot without revealing some MAJOR spoilers! The twists and turns are absolutely unbelievable! There were times where I shouted out loud while I listened to this book! (Not exaggerating.)
The book jumps around to different points in Amber’s life in such a smooth manner. It dives deep into the complex relationships she has in her life and how it all led up to the moment where she ends up in a coma. As she lays in a coma, she can hear those around her but she doesn’t know who to believe or who to trust.
This psychological thriller was gripping! The characters were so beautifully crafted and developed. I have finished the story but I still don’t know what to think or who to believe. This is a must read!
Captive Rebel is the first book in The Allegiance Series by Erin McDermott and takes place in the future. The world as we know it, is gone. The world is ruled by an elite group called The Allegient. They are favored by Zeus and Poseidon. However, a group of rebels, who live in the mountains are desperate for their freedom.
Due to a grave mistake made by her brother, Marylyn O’Conner must serve the rebellion to free her family. She is trained as a warrior and goes to live in the Allegient King’s household as a spy. However, Ariston, Prince of the Allegient, escapes from rebel captivity and seeks out the rebels who have infiltrated the castle. Marylyn makes a valiant effort as she flees but is captured.
Ariston treats his captive with kindness. They bond over their history and the pain they have endured over time. However, despite Marylyn’s growing feelings for Ariston, she has to escape. Her family’s lives depend on it.
This fast-paced dystopian fiction novel is mixed with fantasy, mythology and romance! It was such a unique blend of genres. I automatically became fascinated in the world and time period. I really wish there was a little more back story. They mention The Wars, which I assume ended modern society. Marylyn has a necklace that her mother gave her and on it is the Statue of Liberty. So the author definitely lays hints about the past. With this being the first book in the series, I can’t wait to see how the world came to this point. I also want to know how they came to worship Greek Gods. I love Greek mythology and this just made more interesting but created even more questions about this fascinating world.
I loved the two main characters. They aren’t perfect but they are both strong and determined. I love how their experiences create empathy towards each other, which then grows into something more. I love the introduction to this sweet, blossoming romance.
This book left me with wanting more. I want to know more about the history of the world and how it came to be. I also want to know more about the characters and their families. However, Book 2 of The Allegiance Series comes out November 4th 2017 and is called Immortal Rebel. I hope lots of the questions I have will get answered in Immortal Rebel. But overall, definitely a great debut novel and I will be waiting for the next installment!
Due to a grave mistake made by her brother, Marylyn O’Conner must serve the rebellion to free her family. She is trained as a warrior and goes to live in the Allegient King’s household as a spy. However, Ariston, Prince of the Allegient, escapes from rebel captivity and seeks out the rebels who have infiltrated the castle. Marylyn makes a valiant effort as she flees but is captured.
Ariston treats his captive with kindness. They bond over their history and the pain they have endured over time. However, despite Marylyn’s growing feelings for Ariston, she has to escape. Her family’s lives depend on it.
This fast-paced dystopian fiction novel is mixed with fantasy, mythology and romance! It was such a unique blend of genres. I automatically became fascinated in the world and time period. I really wish there was a little more back story. They mention The Wars, which I assume ended modern society. Marylyn has a necklace that her mother gave her and on it is the Statue of Liberty. So the author definitely lays hints about the past. With this being the first book in the series, I can’t wait to see how the world came to this point. I also want to know how they came to worship Greek Gods. I love Greek mythology and this just made more interesting but created even more questions about this fascinating world.
I loved the two main characters. They aren’t perfect but they are both strong and determined. I love how their experiences create empathy towards each other, which then grows into something more. I love the introduction to this sweet, blossoming romance.
This book left me with wanting more. I want to know more about the history of the world and how it came to be. I also want to know more about the characters and their families. However, Book 2 of The Allegiance Series comes out November 4th 2017 and is called Immortal Rebel. I hope lots of the questions I have will get answered in Immortal Rebel. But overall, definitely a great debut novel and I will be waiting for the next installment!
