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amandasbookreview's Reviews (966)
Dark Winds Rising by Mark Noce is the second book in the Queen Branwen series. I have not read the first book in the series but this book seems to pick up right when the first book left off.
Queen Branwen discovers she is with child. Since her last pregnancy was tough, she fears for this pregnancy and does not tell her husband, King Artagan. Even though her husband seems carefree, he is a great warrior and king. However, the Tribes of Wales are always at odds with one another. War can break out at any moment. Right when things seem to be going well, news of an invasion by the Picts reaches the Queen and King. King Artagan is eager to defeat these legendary warriors. While he rides off for battle, Branwen and her son are attacked. The attacker was not looking to kill her, but to kill her son. With her son’s assassin on the loose, she will go to any lengths to save him.
Check out the rest of my review at www.amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com
Queen Branwen discovers she is with child. Since her last pregnancy was tough, she fears for this pregnancy and does not tell her husband, King Artagan. Even though her husband seems carefree, he is a great warrior and king. However, the Tribes of Wales are always at odds with one another. War can break out at any moment. Right when things seem to be going well, news of an invasion by the Picts reaches the Queen and King. King Artagan is eager to defeat these legendary warriors. While he rides off for battle, Branwen and her son are attacked. The attacker was not looking to kill her, but to kill her son. With her son’s assassin on the loose, she will go to any lengths to save him.
Check out the rest of my review at www.amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com
I am usually not really into political thrillers. However, Need to Know by Karen Cleveland took my breath away! The reader is introduced to Vivian, a wife to Matt, mother of 4 children and a CIA analyst. She works extremely hard to balance her home life and her job. One day while looking through files on Russian Sleeper Spies, she opens a folder and finds a photo of her husband. Stunned, she immediately confronts him and her worst fear is confirmed. Her husband is a Russian Spy. Now she must make the extremely difficult choice, her country or her family.
My book synopsis may sound typical or predictable, no. I just don’t want to give spoilers. The book starts off pulling the reader in right off the bat. There is no skipping a beat. There is a constant change of events that kept me awake. I could not put this book down. Vivian is an incredible character, not just as a CIA Analyst. She is a mother, first and foremost. The author really knows the depths of motherhood; the struggles, pregnancy loss and the sacrifice. This book really dives into how a mother will do absolutely anything for her children. Anyone who is a parent will be able to relate to Vivian.
There is already quite a lot of buzz about this book. Before the book was even published there was a bidding war for the rights of the book. This book is now scheduled to be made into a movie starring Charlize Theron! (Who is exactly who I picture as Vivian!) I am so excited for this adaptation and any more possible books from Karen Cleveland. This is Karen Cleveland’s first novel and who used to be an actual CIA Analyst, which makes the feel of this novel so realistic! I definitely recommend this book to those who like thrillers, spy novels or just reading in general. There is something for everyone to appreciate in this story. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars!
Thank you, Goodreads, Karen Cleveland, and Ballantine Books for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
My book synopsis may sound typical or predictable, no. I just don’t want to give spoilers. The book starts off pulling the reader in right off the bat. There is no skipping a beat. There is a constant change of events that kept me awake. I could not put this book down. Vivian is an incredible character, not just as a CIA Analyst. She is a mother, first and foremost. The author really knows the depths of motherhood; the struggles, pregnancy loss and the sacrifice. This book really dives into how a mother will do absolutely anything for her children. Anyone who is a parent will be able to relate to Vivian.
There is already quite a lot of buzz about this book. Before the book was even published there was a bidding war for the rights of the book. This book is now scheduled to be made into a movie starring Charlize Theron! (Who is exactly who I picture as Vivian!) I am so excited for this adaptation and any more possible books from Karen Cleveland. This is Karen Cleveland’s first novel and who used to be an actual CIA Analyst, which makes the feel of this novel so realistic! I definitely recommend this book to those who like thrillers, spy novels or just reading in general. There is something for everyone to appreciate in this story. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars!
Thank you, Goodreads, Karen Cleveland, and Ballantine Books for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
*Thank you Goodreads for a copy of this book that I won in a Goodreads Giveaway!*
The Company of Demons written by Michael Jordan is a crime thriller based on true events! When I found out about the actual history of the novel, that only made it better! The book introduces a lawyer named John Coleman, whose father was a detective investigating the Torso murders, only to have the murderer slip through his fingers. Cleveland is haunted by the former Torso murders and the murders by the serial killer dubbed, The Butcher. When a friend is killed by what is believed to be the Torso killer, the whole city begins to panic. The daughter of the victim comes to John to handle her father’s estate. From that moment on, John begins to make mistakes that could very well lead to his death.
The fact that this book is based on true events is the greatest part of the book. The circumstances feel real and the writing is wonderful. The story starts off a little slow, but around page 150, I could not put it down! I only had 2 issues surrounding this book.
Check out the rest of the review at: https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/2018/06/11/the-company-of-demons-by-michael-jordan-review-no-spoilers/
The Company of Demons written by Michael Jordan is a crime thriller based on true events! When I found out about the actual history of the novel, that only made it better! The book introduces a lawyer named John Coleman, whose father was a detective investigating the Torso murders, only to have the murderer slip through his fingers. Cleveland is haunted by the former Torso murders and the murders by the serial killer dubbed, The Butcher. When a friend is killed by what is believed to be the Torso killer, the whole city begins to panic. The daughter of the victim comes to John to handle her father’s estate. From that moment on, John begins to make mistakes that could very well lead to his death.
The fact that this book is based on true events is the greatest part of the book. The circumstances feel real and the writing is wonderful. The story starts off a little slow, but around page 150, I could not put it down! I only had 2 issues surrounding this book.
Check out the rest of the review at: https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/2018/06/11/the-company-of-demons-by-michael-jordan-review-no-spoilers/
Thank you to Goodreads, the author and Wednesday Books for a copy of this book in exchange for a review!
Indecent is the debut novel by Corinne Sullivan. It is about a 22-year-old teacher’s assistant at Vandenberg School for Boys named Imogene Abney. She has always dreamed of going to a boarding school or prep school and now she teaches at one. She soon engages in an affair with a 17-year-old student named Adam Kipling. Soon this affair becomes more of an obsession.
Check out the rest of my review at www.amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com
Indecent is the debut novel by Corinne Sullivan. It is about a 22-year-old teacher’s assistant at Vandenberg School for Boys named Imogene Abney. She has always dreamed of going to a boarding school or prep school and now she teaches at one. She soon engages in an affair with a 17-year-old student named Adam Kipling. Soon this affair becomes more of an obsession.
Check out the rest of my review at www.amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com
"This sweet novella is everything readers want in a regency romance!"
Check out the rest of the review at:
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2018/december-january/viewer/desktop/#page/70
Check out the rest of the review at:
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2018/december-january/viewer/desktop/#page/70
"Readers will need to grab the tissues for this heart-wrenching and emotional historical fiction!"
Check out the rest of the review at:
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2018/december-january/viewer/desktop/#page/70
Check out the rest of the review at:
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2018/december-january/viewer/desktop/#page/70
Thanks to Goodreads, I was given an advanced copy of Christmas in London by Anita Hughes. I received this book back in August but I waited awhile to read it because I thought it would be the perfect holiday read and it was. When I say perfect holiday read… I mean, if you enjoy cheesy, romantic, Hallmark holiday movies then you will love this book.
The story revolves around two women whose lives change one Christmas. Louisa is a pastry chef in New York, who would love to own her own bakery. One night, she helps a man by giving him some cinnamon rolls and he invites her to London to take the place of a star chef on a TV special. So Louisa is whisked away to London. Kate is the show’s producer. Work is her life. While she is in London, she runs into an old flame from year’s past. Louisa and the assistant producer, Noah, can’t deny the attraction between them but work comes first for both of them. Kate has tried to leave the past behind her, but after running into Trevor, she can’t feel that she has made a mistake. Will the holiday end in heartbreak for both Louisa and Kate?
Like I said, this book played out like a Hallmark holiday movie. The relationships were so fragile, that if real-life situations were handed to these couples, they would never last. Everyone seemed to get their feelings hurt constantly. They had fights over nothing. But then they would forgive each other a few minutes later. The men were the worst. They were obsessive and controlling. The women were wishy-washy. Sometimes they stood up for themselves, sometimes they let the men walk over them. Also, the dialogue between the couples was not realistic. The dialogue seemed to run on and the conversations felt very awkward. However, I tend to enjoy cheesy and awkward from time to time. Since I read this like a Hallmark movie, it worked.
However, I must say that the recipes and the food in this book was beautifully described! I was always hungry while reading this book. I wanted to bake for hours after I was done reading it. And I did. 250 cookies later…
I also loved the description of London. I lived in London one semester for school and I truly loved it. Every scene was painted so perfectly, that I felt that I was back in England again. I didn’t want to put the book down for that very reason. For one moment I could read a passage, then close my eyes, and I was there again!
Overall, I enjoyed the scenery and the food. If you like Hallmark, you will love this book. I loved the Christmas atmosphere that the author brought to the book! So it was a fun, quick read!
Merry Christmas! I hope your day is filled with love, good food, cookies and happiness!
The story revolves around two women whose lives change one Christmas. Louisa is a pastry chef in New York, who would love to own her own bakery. One night, she helps a man by giving him some cinnamon rolls and he invites her to London to take the place of a star chef on a TV special. So Louisa is whisked away to London. Kate is the show’s producer. Work is her life. While she is in London, she runs into an old flame from year’s past. Louisa and the assistant producer, Noah, can’t deny the attraction between them but work comes first for both of them. Kate has tried to leave the past behind her, but after running into Trevor, she can’t feel that she has made a mistake. Will the holiday end in heartbreak for both Louisa and Kate?
Like I said, this book played out like a Hallmark holiday movie. The relationships were so fragile, that if real-life situations were handed to these couples, they would never last. Everyone seemed to get their feelings hurt constantly. They had fights over nothing. But then they would forgive each other a few minutes later. The men were the worst. They were obsessive and controlling. The women were wishy-washy. Sometimes they stood up for themselves, sometimes they let the men walk over them. Also, the dialogue between the couples was not realistic. The dialogue seemed to run on and the conversations felt very awkward. However, I tend to enjoy cheesy and awkward from time to time. Since I read this like a Hallmark movie, it worked.
However, I must say that the recipes and the food in this book was beautifully described! I was always hungry while reading this book. I wanted to bake for hours after I was done reading it. And I did. 250 cookies later…
I also loved the description of London. I lived in London one semester for school and I truly loved it. Every scene was painted so perfectly, that I felt that I was back in England again. I didn’t want to put the book down for that very reason. For one moment I could read a passage, then close my eyes, and I was there again!
Overall, I enjoyed the scenery and the food. If you like Hallmark, you will love this book. I loved the Christmas atmosphere that the author brought to the book! So it was a fun, quick read!
Merry Christmas! I hope your day is filled with love, good food, cookies and happiness!
When I received this book and decided to look it up before I read it, the book is described as a medical thriller or mystery that is based on a true story. To me, this book is a coming-of-age, fictitious memoir. Atlas of Men by David Sklar is about a man named Dr. Robert Thames. He receives a shipment of files on his doorstep. When he goes through the files, he realizes that they are photos and information about a research study that he was in during college. The only issue is, he was not aware that he was a part of the research study, and the events of that day still haunt him. The book jumps back and forth between Robert’s college days and the present. He has tried to put the past behind him, but there is also something more sinister about the research photos. As Robert contacts his old schoolmates, they must decide what to do about these files.
Like I said above, to me, this is a coming-of-age story based on true events. The events that take place to this group of men is despicable and makes you wonder how this is allowed to happen. This book is filled with emotions. This group of men was scarred for life and these events had a distinct effect on the rest of their lives. The book also discusses friendship and second chances at love.
However, the pacing of the book is extremely slow. There is no thriller or mystery aspect of this novel, in my opinion. This is clearly a book about the emotional and mental anguish of someone who was hurt and deceived. There is also a lot of medical jargon that can be a little confusing for those who are not used to those terms. The book does bounce back and forth between time periods and it does affect the pacing, Overall, this is poignant read. I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.
Like I said above, to me, this is a coming-of-age story based on true events. The events that take place to this group of men is despicable and makes you wonder how this is allowed to happen. This book is filled with emotions. This group of men was scarred for life and these events had a distinct effect on the rest of their lives. The book also discusses friendship and second chances at love.
However, the pacing of the book is extremely slow. There is no thriller or mystery aspect of this novel, in my opinion. This is clearly a book about the emotional and mental anguish of someone who was hurt and deceived. There is also a lot of medical jargon that can be a little confusing for those who are not used to those terms. The book does bounce back and forth between time periods and it does affect the pacing, Overall, this is poignant read. I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.
I decided to read Ready Player One by Ernest Cline for a 2018 book challenge that I participate in with some of my friends. I have to be honest, I already wasn’t feeling this book when I picked it up. However, it was my final read for 2018 and I wanted it to be a fun, entertaining read to close out the year.
The book takes place in America, in 2044. All natural resources are pretty much gone, people have fled to the cities. The cities are overcrowded and people are starving. To flee this awful place, they escape to a virtual reality game called OASIS. The creator of OASIS dies and leaves clues to an egg that will leave the winner control of the program and all his billions of dollars. However, years go by and no one can figure it out. Not until Wade finds the first key. Then it is a race between other Gunters (players participating in the hunt) and a rival internet corporation to get through the other clues to the egg. Wade doesn’t have any friends outside OASIS and even then, they are fellow Gunters so they are still rivals as well.
Okay. So I know so many people that really enjoyed the book. I can see how it is enjoyable. There are many parts that are entertaining. However, it wasn’t the most entertaining or enjoyable story for me.
Let me start off with things I enjoyed. I loved all the references to the ’80s, pop culture, movies, music…even the ones that added nothing to the story. (SO MANY) –I am curious how he talks about ALL things the ’80s but never mentions Jem and the Holograms, that is just rude. Anyway, I digress. I enjoyed the world building, the author is very descriptive and does not leave one thing out.
The things I didn’t like…
This whole “if you are not totally and completely obsessed with the ’80s then shame on you!” attitude. I have many played video games and mostly ’80s video games. My favorite part of the book is when he plays the perfect game of Pac-Man. But this attitude seemed very divisive. Not to mention, kids who lived in the ’80s are still alive and could probably put this 18-year-old Wade to shame. Just sayin’.
I also felt that there was some information that was not needed. The author was explaining things as if he was talking to a newborn who does not know what his or her hands are yet. There are just pages and pages of information that caused me to just completely zone out. It totally slowed the pace of the story down every single time.
Overall, I see this as an entertaining story that could have hooked me in a bit better. The references were awesome and the story unique but it just didn’t reel me in. I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.
The book takes place in America, in 2044. All natural resources are pretty much gone, people have fled to the cities. The cities are overcrowded and people are starving. To flee this awful place, they escape to a virtual reality game called OASIS. The creator of OASIS dies and leaves clues to an egg that will leave the winner control of the program and all his billions of dollars. However, years go by and no one can figure it out. Not until Wade finds the first key. Then it is a race between other Gunters (players participating in the hunt) and a rival internet corporation to get through the other clues to the egg. Wade doesn’t have any friends outside OASIS and even then, they are fellow Gunters so they are still rivals as well.
Okay. So I know so many people that really enjoyed the book. I can see how it is enjoyable. There are many parts that are entertaining. However, it wasn’t the most entertaining or enjoyable story for me.
Let me start off with things I enjoyed. I loved all the references to the ’80s, pop culture, movies, music…even the ones that added nothing to the story. (SO MANY) –I am curious how he talks about ALL things the ’80s but never mentions Jem and the Holograms, that is just rude. Anyway, I digress. I enjoyed the world building, the author is very descriptive and does not leave one thing out.
The things I didn’t like…
This whole “if you are not totally and completely obsessed with the ’80s then shame on you!” attitude. I have many played video games and mostly ’80s video games. My favorite part of the book is when he plays the perfect game of Pac-Man. But this attitude seemed very divisive. Not to mention, kids who lived in the ’80s are still alive and could probably put this 18-year-old Wade to shame. Just sayin’.
I also felt that there was some information that was not needed. The author was explaining things as if he was talking to a newborn who does not know what his or her hands are yet. There are just pages and pages of information that caused me to just completely zone out. It totally slowed the pace of the story down every single time.
Overall, I see this as an entertaining story that could have hooked me in a bit better. The references were awesome and the story unique but it just didn’t reel me in. I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.