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amandasbookreview's Reviews (966)
"It was so easy to disappear, so easy to deny knowledge, so very easy in the smoke and din to mask that something dark had taken root. This was Chicago, on the eve of the greatest fair in history."- The Devil in the White City, Erik Larson
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson has been sitting on my shelf for years. I kept saying, "You will be next!" But then work happened, kids happened, other book assignments happened...time got away. So this year when I was creating my booklist for the 2018 book challenge, I made sure this book was on that list. I am going to tell you now... GO READ THIS BOOK!!!
Check out the rest of my review:
www.amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson has been sitting on my shelf for years. I kept saying, "You will be next!" But then work happened, kids happened, other book assignments happened...time got away. So this year when I was creating my booklist for the 2018 book challenge, I made sure this book was on that list. I am going to tell you now... GO READ THIS BOOK!!!
Check out the rest of my review:
www.amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com
So, fun fact. I am ALWAYS on Goodreads. I am always reading reviews and researching new books, but I also love the giveaways. So thank you Goodreads for the copy of So I Married a Sorcerer by Kerrelyn Sparks. I enjoy reading everything. However, when this book arrived in the mail, I was super skeptical. The title was just not grabbing my attention. However, I finally picked up this one from my massive TBR pile.
So I Married a Sorcerer is the second installment in The Embraced Series. The Embraced are people who are given powers because they were born when the two moons eclipsed. In the world of Aerthlan, the Embraced are seen as a threat and are hunted down and killed. So many children are protected by being sent into hiding. Brigitta is an orphan living in a convent on the Isle of Moon. When she and her adopted sisters travel to visit their eldest sister, their ship is attacked and she is kidnapped by the pirate commander Rupert, who is a known wind sorcerer.
Rupert is not who everyone thinks he is and he is determined to get what he rightfully deserves. When he kidnaps Brigitta, he knows of her lineage and believes he can use it to his advantage. He doesn't count on falling for her in the process though. Brigitta finds out that she is a princess, however, she comes from a family of murderers, who happened to murder Ruperts family years ago. She wants to right the wrongs of her family. How can she prove to Rupert that she is trustworthy?
It is safe to say that I was very pleasantly surprised by this book! I loved the world building! The author created a fascinating world with diverse countries and characters! I was actually pretty hooked when it came to the storyline as well. Brigitta and Rupert have amazing chemistry and I loved watching their relationship develop. There was a little humor when it came to certain characters which were wonderful. I also loved the side romance of Sister Fallyn and Stefan!
However, there are a few things I could not get over. The first thing... I really hate the title of the book. I feel like it just didn't fit the book and it is actually a spoiler. For some reason, I just can't get over it. The second is the authors use of "Holy Crap." There was one point where it was used 3 times on one page. It was so overused and it really didn't fit the language of the book. Every time I came to another "Holy Crap" I would roll my eyes. I would be so engrossed in the story but there were times where it just completely threw me off.
But other than that, I was thoroughly pleased with the story. It made me interested in going back and reading the first book and I will be anticipating the next book when it comes out!
So I Married a Sorcerer is the second installment in The Embraced Series. The Embraced are people who are given powers because they were born when the two moons eclipsed. In the world of Aerthlan, the Embraced are seen as a threat and are hunted down and killed. So many children are protected by being sent into hiding. Brigitta is an orphan living in a convent on the Isle of Moon. When she and her adopted sisters travel to visit their eldest sister, their ship is attacked and she is kidnapped by the pirate commander Rupert, who is a known wind sorcerer.
Rupert is not who everyone thinks he is and he is determined to get what he rightfully deserves. When he kidnaps Brigitta, he knows of her lineage and believes he can use it to his advantage. He doesn't count on falling for her in the process though. Brigitta finds out that she is a princess, however, she comes from a family of murderers, who happened to murder Ruperts family years ago. She wants to right the wrongs of her family. How can she prove to Rupert that she is trustworthy?
It is safe to say that I was very pleasantly surprised by this book! I loved the world building! The author created a fascinating world with diverse countries and characters! I was actually pretty hooked when it came to the storyline as well. Brigitta and Rupert have amazing chemistry and I loved watching their relationship develop. There was a little humor when it came to certain characters which were wonderful. I also loved the side romance of Sister Fallyn and Stefan!
However, there are a few things I could not get over. The first thing... I really hate the title of the book. I feel like it just didn't fit the book and it is actually a spoiler. For some reason, I just can't get over it. The second is the authors use of "Holy Crap." There was one point where it was used 3 times on one page. It was so overused and it really didn't fit the language of the book. Every time I came to another "Holy Crap" I would roll my eyes. I would be so engrossed in the story but there were times where it just completely threw me off.
But other than that, I was thoroughly pleased with the story. It made me interested in going back and reading the first book and I will be anticipating the next book when it comes out!
With this book, it is difficult for me to decide how to start this review. There is so much I want to say. I actually had to take a day to reflect after finishing this book. I guess I should start at the beginning.
Mo by S. Pearce is about a young boy, named Mo, growing up in the UK. He certainly struggles in his day to day life. His father is extremely strict and puts immense pressure on him to do well in school. He is also a Muslim and bullied at school for being different. Every day on his way to school he passes the home of a strange old man that they call the Moth Man. One day, he finds the Moth Man on the ground and not able to get up. Feeling guilty about turning his back, he goes back to help him. The Moth Man is grateful and shows him his collection of different moths and also gives him little life lessons in the process.
...check out the rest of my review at www.amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com
Thank you to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Mo by S. Pearce is about a young boy, named Mo, growing up in the UK. He certainly struggles in his day to day life. His father is extremely strict and puts immense pressure on him to do well in school. He is also a Muslim and bullied at school for being different. Every day on his way to school he passes the home of a strange old man that they call the Moth Man. One day, he finds the Moth Man on the ground and not able to get up. Feeling guilty about turning his back, he goes back to help him. The Moth Man is grateful and shows him his collection of different moths and also gives him little life lessons in the process.
...check out the rest of my review at www.amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com
Thank you to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Beckoned, Part 2: From Bath With Love by Aviva Vaughn picks up right where the first book left off, the morning after to be exact. Soren and Angela both met in Barcelona for school and happened to run into each other in London. The first book in the series goes through their stay in London and how they met in Barcelona. Now, that they are officially dating, things get even more complicated. Where do they go from here? They obviously enjoy each others company…perhaps a little too much. Soren surprises Angela with a trip to Bath, where they enjoy the Jane Austen feels and of course the food. When they get home, Angela makes plans to visit with friends while Soren is at work. However, she isn’t exactly concerned about Soren’s feelings. He finds himself feeling jealous. Angela and Soren start to realize that they are completely different. Can they find a way to be together despite the contrast of their personalities?
Check out the rest of my review at www.amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com
Check out the rest of my review at www.amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com
Out of the Ashes (The Heart of Alaska Book 2) is written by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse. This book falls under Inspirational Historical Fiction. Jean-Michel Langelier and his sister Collette just buried their father and need to get away from France. An invitation arrives for them to go to Alaska. Jean-Michael survived the war but is haunted and terrorized every night by the memories of it. Collette is a free spirit but yearns to be helpful and less selfish. This trip may the perfect opportunity for the both of them to find what they are looking for.
Katherine Demarchis also travels with her grandmother to Alaska. Her grandmother hopes this trip will heal Katherine as she was abused in her last marriage. Even though she is a widow, Katherine doesn’t feel that she will ever be the same. That is until she sees her long-lost love in the Alaskan hotel, Jean-Michel. They both hope to heal, maybe they can heal together.
I have read several Tracie Peterson books. If you are a fan of Christian fiction then you probably know her as well. This was definitely not one of my favorites. The pace was unbelievably slow. There were so many characters and the book was constantly switching back and forth. This made the whole book feel jumbled and inconsistent. I believe the authors had too much going on. They had several storylines going at once, some that were continuations from the first book that I have not read. However, it was easy to follow the storylines without reading the first book.
I was glad that the authors discussed serious themes like domestic abuse and PTSD. Talking about these subjects takes away the shame and stigma, to help those who are in need. However, it was mentioned often in the book that all they needed was God to heal them. I know these are Christian authors and I understand that helps a great many people. However, it is dangerous to presume that is all people need. Many people need to seek therapy and mental health advocates. This book was very…preachy. So much so that it came off as haughty.
Overall, I liked the potential of this story. I think there was too much to say in so little time.
Thank you, Bethany House for a copy of the book, in exchange for an honest review!
Katherine Demarchis also travels with her grandmother to Alaska. Her grandmother hopes this trip will heal Katherine as she was abused in her last marriage. Even though she is a widow, Katherine doesn’t feel that she will ever be the same. That is until she sees her long-lost love in the Alaskan hotel, Jean-Michel. They both hope to heal, maybe they can heal together.
I have read several Tracie Peterson books. If you are a fan of Christian fiction then you probably know her as well. This was definitely not one of my favorites. The pace was unbelievably slow. There were so many characters and the book was constantly switching back and forth. This made the whole book feel jumbled and inconsistent. I believe the authors had too much going on. They had several storylines going at once, some that were continuations from the first book that I have not read. However, it was easy to follow the storylines without reading the first book.
I was glad that the authors discussed serious themes like domestic abuse and PTSD. Talking about these subjects takes away the shame and stigma, to help those who are in need. However, it was mentioned often in the book that all they needed was God to heal them. I know these are Christian authors and I understand that helps a great many people. However, it is dangerous to presume that is all people need. Many people need to seek therapy and mental health advocates. This book was very…preachy. So much so that it came off as haughty.
Overall, I liked the potential of this story. I think there was too much to say in so little time.
Thank you, Bethany House for a copy of the book, in exchange for an honest review!
*I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
One Saturday night, the neighborhood women gather around a small bonfire, enjoying a night without kids and drinking a glass of wine. The next morning, everyone is feeling the effects of the wine so they all stay indoors on the cold rainy day. The next morning, the women notice that Kristen and her twins are gone. Vanished. Police come to investigate and the husband she was divorcing decides to move in. He is the most obvious suspect but he seems harmless. Soon Kristen’s secrets start to emerge from the investigation but there is still no sign of where she could be. Soon a month goes by and the case officially goes cold. The women in the neighborhood look at each other and realize they really don’t know each other as well as they thought they did.
This is a psychological novel so I will make sure the ending is not revealed. My one complaint is that there wasn’t a whole lot of suspense. I felt it was more the mystery of the disappearance and the realization of not knowing someone. This book involved lots of speculation and gossip which is probably realistic. Being a part of moms groups myself, I see how this could become out of control quickly and skepticism rises.
What I absolutely loved was the focus the story brings to domestic violence. In situations like domestic violence, the perpetrator does not usually show violent tendencies in public. Domestic violence is very much behind closed doors. I also loved how the story mentions that there aren’t options for women in these situations. This is something that needs to be fixed. I don’t want to give the story away but this aspect of the novel was right on point.
I also loved the friendship. To have someone look out for you like the women in the neighborhood do for each other is priceless. Overall, I really enjoyed the novel! I was expecting more suspense but was pleasantly surprised with the overall tone of the novel!
One Saturday night, the neighborhood women gather around a small bonfire, enjoying a night without kids and drinking a glass of wine. The next morning, everyone is feeling the effects of the wine so they all stay indoors on the cold rainy day. The next morning, the women notice that Kristen and her twins are gone. Vanished. Police come to investigate and the husband she was divorcing decides to move in. He is the most obvious suspect but he seems harmless. Soon Kristen’s secrets start to emerge from the investigation but there is still no sign of where she could be. Soon a month goes by and the case officially goes cold. The women in the neighborhood look at each other and realize they really don’t know each other as well as they thought they did.
This is a psychological novel so I will make sure the ending is not revealed. My one complaint is that there wasn’t a whole lot of suspense. I felt it was more the mystery of the disappearance and the realization of not knowing someone. This book involved lots of speculation and gossip which is probably realistic. Being a part of moms groups myself, I see how this could become out of control quickly and skepticism rises.
What I absolutely loved was the focus the story brings to domestic violence. In situations like domestic violence, the perpetrator does not usually show violent tendencies in public. Domestic violence is very much behind closed doors. I also loved how the story mentions that there aren’t options for women in these situations. This is something that needs to be fixed. I don’t want to give the story away but this aspect of the novel was right on point.
I also loved the friendship. To have someone look out for you like the women in the neighborhood do for each other is priceless. Overall, I really enjoyed the novel! I was expecting more suspense but was pleasantly surprised with the overall tone of the novel!
"Lady Abigail Rutland has never worked a day in her life..."
Check out the rest of the review at:
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2018/march/#?page=56
Check out the rest of the review at:
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2018/march/#?page=56
"Jenny Sutton leaves for Virginia for New York without telling her love..."
Check out the rest of my review at:
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2018/march/#?page=58
Check out the rest of my review at:
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2018/march/#?page=58