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amandasbookreview's Reviews (966)
"This book will keep the reader on their toes!"
Check out my review at:
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2018/july-august/viewer/desktop/#page/102
Check out my review at:
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2018/july-august/viewer/desktop/#page/102
"This romance sizzles!"
Check out the rest of my review at:
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2018/july-august/viewer/desktop/#page/104
Check out the rest of my review at:
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2018/july-august/viewer/desktop/#page/104
Thank you, Goodreads, for a copy of this book!
Imagine That by Mark Fins is a story about love, family, and forgiveness. Mark Leonard is 8 years old with a very vivid imagination. It is post-World War II America and mark is fascinated with war. He is always pretending to defeat Nazi’s and wage battles with his toy soldiers. He also develops a fascination with fire that lands him in trouble, not just with his parents but also his school. His father is dealing with a lot of stress from work and that stress seeps onto his family. When they move, Mark is devastated. Until he means an elderly man named Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Hawkins understands Mark and cares for him when he truly needs it.
At first, this book is hard to get into. The beginning is quite slow and there are many times when it is slow throughout the book as well. However, I am so glad that I continued on. This family may live in the 1950’s but their experiences can be relatable this day in age. The stress in the workplace overflowing onto the family at home is very real for many people. This book gives a reminder that our kids pick up on these struggles and that the stress affects them as well.
My favorite character is Mr. Hawkins. He is a wealthy, elderly man who takes Mark under his wing when he takes notice of Mark’s vivid imagination. While at home, his imagination is seen as a problem, Mr. Hawkins just sees him as a child. He nurtures him and cares for him. In the process, he also helps the family.
“Just when you think she dislikes you the most, shock her with an act of kindness or do a good deed. Then see what happens. Oh my, it can be such fun!”-Mr. Hawkins, page 200
I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I love the messages that this story brings. I loved how it challenges readers to look into the mind of a child. However, the pacing is slow. If you can get past the pacing, it is so worth the read!
Imagine That by Mark Fins is a story about love, family, and forgiveness. Mark Leonard is 8 years old with a very vivid imagination. It is post-World War II America and mark is fascinated with war. He is always pretending to defeat Nazi’s and wage battles with his toy soldiers. He also develops a fascination with fire that lands him in trouble, not just with his parents but also his school. His father is dealing with a lot of stress from work and that stress seeps onto his family. When they move, Mark is devastated. Until he means an elderly man named Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Hawkins understands Mark and cares for him when he truly needs it.
At first, this book is hard to get into. The beginning is quite slow and there are many times when it is slow throughout the book as well. However, I am so glad that I continued on. This family may live in the 1950’s but their experiences can be relatable this day in age. The stress in the workplace overflowing onto the family at home is very real for many people. This book gives a reminder that our kids pick up on these struggles and that the stress affects them as well.
My favorite character is Mr. Hawkins. He is a wealthy, elderly man who takes Mark under his wing when he takes notice of Mark’s vivid imagination. While at home, his imagination is seen as a problem, Mr. Hawkins just sees him as a child. He nurtures him and cares for him. In the process, he also helps the family.
“Just when you think she dislikes you the most, shock her with an act of kindness or do a good deed. Then see what happens. Oh my, it can be such fun!”-Mr. Hawkins, page 200
I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I love the messages that this story brings. I loved how it challenges readers to look into the mind of a child. However, the pacing is slow. If you can get past the pacing, it is so worth the read!
I cannot put into words how much I enjoy The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas. I have read this book several times and every time I pick it up it is like spending time with an old friend. The book whisks readers off to Paris during the reign of Louis XIII. A man named d’Artagnan wants to join the King’s Musketeers. Thus begins an adventure with memorable characters such as Treville, Athos, Porthos, Aramis, Constance and Milady de Winter. Athos, Aramis, and Porthos help d’Artagnan as he uncovers a plot by the evil Cardinal Richelieu. This classic that is a must-read.
Check out the rest of my review at:
https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/2018/07/16/the-three-musketeers-by-alexandre-dumas-review/
Check out the rest of my review at:
https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/2018/07/16/the-three-musketeers-by-alexandre-dumas-review/
Heart Fabric is a collection of poems written by Beverly Holoka. I have reviewed her work before and have always enjoyed it! She always writes from the heart and lets her emotion run free through her works.
A few of the poems that I enjoyed are:
My Heart Right Now, Joy and Pain, Only Time Can Mend a Broken Heart and Prisoned.
This collection is centered on relationships and betrayal. The author’s emotions are laid out for the world to see in these poems. People who have been devastated at the end of a relationship will really be able to relate to these poems. There is a raw anger and the feeling of betrayal. In a relationship, if one party is not careful with the other’s heart, pain ensues. There is the feeling of loneliness and the challenge to move on. The author discusses all of these concepts in this collection. The words and feelings are real. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars! Check it out!
Check out my other reviews at www.amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com
A few of the poems that I enjoyed are:
My Heart Right Now, Joy and Pain, Only Time Can Mend a Broken Heart and Prisoned.
This collection is centered on relationships and betrayal. The author’s emotions are laid out for the world to see in these poems. People who have been devastated at the end of a relationship will really be able to relate to these poems. There is a raw anger and the feeling of betrayal. In a relationship, if one party is not careful with the other’s heart, pain ensues. There is the feeling of loneliness and the challenge to move on. The author discusses all of these concepts in this collection. The words and feelings are real. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars! Check it out!
Check out my other reviews at www.amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com
"There is no putting this suspenseful romance down!"
Check out my full review in InD'Tale Magazine:
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2018/october/viewer/desktop/#page/90
Check out my full review in InD'Tale Magazine:
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2018/october/viewer/desktop/#page/90
I am not always a huge fan of horror. I do, however, love dystopian novels. The Darkening by Chris Sarantopoulos is both. The book is about a post-apocalyptic world but instead of a fear of darkness, it is a fear of light. It is the light that destroys all. This leaves people struggling to survive in the darkness. There is a rise in cannibalism, which makes it even harder to travel to find resources. The book follows John, a man consumed with guilt after letting his family die. He is confronted by a young girl who glows. She convinces him that they need to travel to a village. However, the Raider’s are on their trail and it is just a matter of time before they are captured.
Overall, I like the main storyline. I love the twist on the usual post-apocalyptic world, where light is to be feared. I think that is clever and it kept me intrigued throughout the story. However, I feel like a lot of the information is very repetitive. The pace of the story is pretty slow. There are many moments that were unnecessary or could have been shortened. I also was not a fan of the main character, John. He is not very likable and I didn’t see much growth in him throughout the story. I did enjoy how the author discusses the concept of guilt and the fight to survive. Overall, I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. This story is enjoyable and unique. The author is fantastic at creating horror in this post-apocalyptic world.
Overall, I like the main storyline. I love the twist on the usual post-apocalyptic world, where light is to be feared. I think that is clever and it kept me intrigued throughout the story. However, I feel like a lot of the information is very repetitive. The pace of the story is pretty slow. There are many moments that were unnecessary or could have been shortened. I also was not a fan of the main character, John. He is not very likable and I didn’t see much growth in him throughout the story. I did enjoy how the author discusses the concept of guilt and the fight to survive. Overall, I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. This story is enjoyable and unique. The author is fantastic at creating horror in this post-apocalyptic world.
Into the Black Nowhere by Meg Gardiner is the 2nd book in the UNSUB series, however, it can be read as a standalone novel as well. This was my book club’s October selection and I think it was quite the perfect selection for this month. Caitlin Hendrix is an FBI profiler and is called to Texas to investigate a series of murders. These murders occur on Saturday night and are all blonde women in their early twenties. These women vanish without a trace, some at the movie theaters, at a train stop and even from their own homes. When their bodies are found, they are in the forest dressed in a white nightgown surrounded by polaroids. This killer is good, he leaves no evidence, so it is up to Caitlin and her team to dive into the killer’s mind and determine his identity before anyone else is killed. He is escalating and time is of the essence.
I want to read every book in this series now. I loved every minute of reading this book.
Check out the rest of my review at:
https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/2018/11/02/into-the-black-nowhere-by-meg-gardiner-review/
I want to read every book in this series now. I loved every minute of reading this book.
Check out the rest of my review at:
https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/2018/11/02/into-the-black-nowhere-by-meg-gardiner-review/
"This book has it all--romance, history, and suspense!"
Check out the rest of the review in InD'Tale Magazine!
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2018/november/viewer/desktop/#page/72
Check out the rest of the review in InD'Tale Magazine!
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2018/november/viewer/desktop/#page/72
Today's post will be short and sweet since I am currently attending InD'Scribe Con and Book Festival. I recently read a collection of poems called Addicted by Beverly Holoka. Before continuing on, I will warn you that these poems discuss themes such as depression, addiction, substance abuse, and suicide.
One of the things that I love about Beverly Holoka's works is that she is honest. Everything she is feeling is right there on the page. This makes her works so relatable as she talks about some difficult topics.
I have a few favorites in this collection that really moved me:
Night Terror
Ashes of Life
Invisible
As always, Beverly Holoka does a wonderful job at putting intense emotion down on paper. So definitely check it out if you are interested in poetry!
One of the things that I love about Beverly Holoka's works is that she is honest. Everything she is feeling is right there on the page. This makes her works so relatable as she talks about some difficult topics.
I have a few favorites in this collection that really moved me:
Night Terror
Ashes of Life
Invisible
As always, Beverly Holoka does a wonderful job at putting intense emotion down on paper. So definitely check it out if you are interested in poetry!