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amandasbookreview's Reviews (966)
So when someone tells me a book is the most disturbing book they have read…I am going to read it. I heard that Verity by Colleen Hoover is dark and shocking, so I immediately bought it. It is about a struggling author named Lowen. Her mother just passed away and bills are piling up. She is approached by a man named Jeremy, the husband of a famous author Verity Crawford. Verity cannot finish her book series since she is severely injured from a car accident and they want Lowen to complete the series. Lowen agrees, mainly because it will help her get back up on her feet financially. Lowen goes to live at the Crawford home in order to research Verity’s notes for the books. Verity discovers her autobiography manuscript. It is full of Verity’s darkest secrets. Secrets that could end her marriage to Jeremy. Lowen can’t help but be attracted to Jeremy, but she also doesn’t want to add to his grief. However, Lowen can’t help but think there is more to Verity than her injury.
DUUUUUUUDE! What a trip! I loved this book! It is all sorts of dark and twisty. For me, it doesn’t try too hard. Sometimes that kills a story for me. But not with this book. I love how the book is told from Lowen’s perspective, but then we see each chapter of the manuscript from Verity’s perspective. It flows perfectly and allows the reader time to think about what is happening.
Now, before I go any further. Verity is psychotic. No matter if you believe the manuscript or not. So if you are uncomfortable with abortion discussions, violence against children, etc… this may not be the book for you. That being said, if you have watched Criminal Minds or a lot of crime shows then you are totally fine. I love reading and watching crime thrillers so her admissions were definitely dark but not exactly shocking for me. I do appreciate the very real portrayal of post-partum psychosis. I have met a couple of people who have had this and it is very real. Heartbreaking and difficult to understand, but real.
Then there is just the general creepy factor. Verity is almost in a vegetative state, but Lowen knows something is off. There were moments where I actually got the chills. The author does a great job of adding a layer of eerie behavior from both Lowen and Verity.
Overall, I am STILL thinking about this book, so that is a great sign. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I am not sure my bookclub feels the same but we shall see when we meet up!
DUUUUUUUDE! What a trip! I loved this book! It is all sorts of dark and twisty. For me, it doesn’t try too hard. Sometimes that kills a story for me. But not with this book. I love how the book is told from Lowen’s perspective, but then we see each chapter of the manuscript from Verity’s perspective. It flows perfectly and allows the reader time to think about what is happening.
Now, before I go any further. Verity is psychotic. No matter if you believe the manuscript or not. So if you are uncomfortable with abortion discussions, violence against children, etc… this may not be the book for you. That being said, if you have watched Criminal Minds or a lot of crime shows then you are totally fine. I love reading and watching crime thrillers so her admissions were definitely dark but not exactly shocking for me. I do appreciate the very real portrayal of post-partum psychosis. I have met a couple of people who have had this and it is very real. Heartbreaking and difficult to understand, but real.
Then there is just the general creepy factor. Verity is almost in a vegetative state, but Lowen knows something is off. There were moments where I actually got the chills. The author does a great job of adding a layer of eerie behavior from both Lowen and Verity.
Overall, I am STILL thinking about this book, so that is a great sign. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I am not sure my bookclub feels the same but we shall see when we meet up!
I love a good mystery and I have seen The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton all over Bookstagram. I decided to get an audiobook copy from Libby. The book is narrated is Jot Davies. Where to begin? Well, Stephen Bell wakes up in the forest with no memories, except for the name Anna. He wanders through the forest until he comes to a manor called Blackheath. He meets a wide cast of characters. One character, in particular, is disguised in a plague doctor’s mask. He informs him that he isn’t Stephen Bell at all. His named is Aiden Bishop and tonight Evelyn Hardcastle will be murdered and it is his job to find out who commits the murder. Every day he will go into a new host until he solves it. If he doesn’t, the mystery starts over again. However, there are others who will do anything to make sure the mystery is never solved.
When I started this book. It did not click. It was slow, brutally slow. I actually almost DNF’d it. Then somewhere around 15% in…, it clicked. The storyline started to pick up and I was completely addicted. I listened to this book while running and quite honestly, I could have kept running until I finished the book. This book has by far one of the most complex and intense plots I have ever read. And I don’t say that lightly because I am extremely picky when it comes to thrillers and mysteries. This book is far from predictable, which is a huge win. Some people may get distracted because there are so many different plots going on, but just keep with it. The pieces come together so perfectly. I am still in awe of how the story just comes together.
If that hasn’t convinced you this book gives off serious “Groundhogs Day” meets “Clue” meets Agatha Christie vibes. This book is so good that I plan to buy it so I can read it again and again. My husband is not a reader and I usually tell him about what books I am currently reading and even he was impressed with the storyline. We are both hoping that this book gets a mini-series! I would love to go into all the stellar characters and descriptions but I seriously don’t want to give anything away. It is that good. I would rate this book more than 5 stars if I could, but alas, it is 5 out of 5 stars.
When I started this book. It did not click. It was slow, brutally slow. I actually almost DNF’d it. Then somewhere around 15% in…, it clicked. The storyline started to pick up and I was completely addicted. I listened to this book while running and quite honestly, I could have kept running until I finished the book. This book has by far one of the most complex and intense plots I have ever read. And I don’t say that lightly because I am extremely picky when it comes to thrillers and mysteries. This book is far from predictable, which is a huge win. Some people may get distracted because there are so many different plots going on, but just keep with it. The pieces come together so perfectly. I am still in awe of how the story just comes together.
If that hasn’t convinced you this book gives off serious “Groundhogs Day” meets “Clue” meets Agatha Christie vibes. This book is so good that I plan to buy it so I can read it again and again. My husband is not a reader and I usually tell him about what books I am currently reading and even he was impressed with the storyline. We are both hoping that this book gets a mini-series! I would love to go into all the stellar characters and descriptions but I seriously don’t want to give anything away. It is that good. I would rate this book more than 5 stars if I could, but alas, it is 5 out of 5 stars.
I won When Mountains Move by Julie Cantrell on a Facebook Giveaway. I was very hesitant to read the book since it is the 2nd book in the Into the Free Series. However, I read from other reviews that I could read it as a standalone.
WARNING: SEXUAL ASSAULT TRIGGERS
The book immediately jumps into Millie’s world during World War II. She is getting ready to marry Bump, even though she has a secret. A secret that can destroy their relationship. They head west to Colorado to become ranchers. They meet different people from all walks of life. Millie’s grandmother comes to live with them too. Even still, life becomes harder than anticipated. Can their marriage survive with this growing secret and the hard work they do every day?
Other reviews rave about this book, so I got my hopes up. I was completely let down by this book. First of all, I would not recommend that this book be read as a standalone novel. I found out very quickly that I needed the information from book one. I have a feeling that if I would have read the first book that maybe, my rating would have been a little higher. However, that would not change the fact that the book’s pace extremely slow or the fact that I did not like any of the characters except for Oka and Fortner. Millie could be a fantastic character. She goes through something that is truly awful and despicable. Her assault is horrific and her reactions to the assault really tear at the reader’s heartstrings. But then she spends the whole book thinking about the man she could have chosen instead of Bump. Every hardship that she and Bump go through makes her wonder about River and talks about how much she misses him. It was extremely annoying. Don’t even get me started on Bump. Good Lord, if I could jump into the book and punch him square in the face…I would. He is awful. He is not there for his wife at all. He is selfish and I have no idea what Millie sees in him.
Now, this is a Christian story. There is a little Native American mysticism in it, which is actually one of my favorite parts of the whole book. I love the legends that Oka discusses throughout the story. Anyway, there is also the topic of abortion. This being a Christian book, I knew it would take the pro-life stance. It did. Even in a case of rape. Unfortunately, I disagree with how the author decided to portray this experience and could be hurtful for those who have been in a similar situation and make them feel judged. So if this is a topic that is sensitive for you, best to avoid this book. Between the over-dramatic storyline, slow-pacing, and unlikable characters, I have to rate this book 2 out of 5 stars.
WARNING: SEXUAL ASSAULT TRIGGERS
The book immediately jumps into Millie’s world during World War II. She is getting ready to marry Bump, even though she has a secret. A secret that can destroy their relationship. They head west to Colorado to become ranchers. They meet different people from all walks of life. Millie’s grandmother comes to live with them too. Even still, life becomes harder than anticipated. Can their marriage survive with this growing secret and the hard work they do every day?
Other reviews rave about this book, so I got my hopes up. I was completely let down by this book. First of all, I would not recommend that this book be read as a standalone novel. I found out very quickly that I needed the information from book one. I have a feeling that if I would have read the first book that maybe, my rating would have been a little higher. However, that would not change the fact that the book’s pace extremely slow or the fact that I did not like any of the characters except for Oka and Fortner. Millie could be a fantastic character. She goes through something that is truly awful and despicable. Her assault is horrific and her reactions to the assault really tear at the reader’s heartstrings. But then she spends the whole book thinking about the man she could have chosen instead of Bump. Every hardship that she and Bump go through makes her wonder about River and talks about how much she misses him. It was extremely annoying. Don’t even get me started on Bump. Good Lord, if I could jump into the book and punch him square in the face…I would. He is awful. He is not there for his wife at all. He is selfish and I have no idea what Millie sees in him.
Now, this is a Christian story. There is a little Native American mysticism in it, which is actually one of my favorite parts of the whole book. I love the legends that Oka discusses throughout the story. Anyway, there is also the topic of abortion. This being a Christian book, I knew it would take the pro-life stance. It did. Even in a case of rape. Unfortunately, I disagree with how the author decided to portray this experience and could be hurtful for those who have been in a similar situation and make them feel judged. So if this is a topic that is sensitive for you, best to avoid this book. Between the over-dramatic storyline, slow-pacing, and unlikable characters, I have to rate this book 2 out of 5 stars.
This book had me at Lin Manuel Miranda. When I saw Gmorning, Gnight! I clicked, “borrow” as fast as I could. If you are not on Twitter then you may not be familiar with Lin Manuel Miranda’s encouraging tweets. The man behind Hamilton and all his other gifts he has given to us uses Twitter to write little words to his followers. One for Gmorning and one for Gnight. The words aren’t extravagant, they are simple, and just what people need to hear when they wake up and when they lay their heads down to go to sleep.
We do not deserve Lin Manuel Miranda. He understands emotions and his words truly make you feel his caring nature. I am one of his followers and I am not alone when I say, that I look forward to those words every morning and night.
This is the audiobook version and quite honestly, there are not enough words to describe how much I recommend this version. Lin Manuel Miranda narrates the book himself. I want to record clips of it and set it as my alarm ring so I just wake up to positive words. It is the perfect way to start and end the day. The only downside is that the book is only 45 minutes long. I never wanted it to end. This book obviously gets 5 out of 5 stars!
We do not deserve Lin Manuel Miranda. He understands emotions and his words truly make you feel his caring nature. I am one of his followers and I am not alone when I say, that I look forward to those words every morning and night.
This is the audiobook version and quite honestly, there are not enough words to describe how much I recommend this version. Lin Manuel Miranda narrates the book himself. I want to record clips of it and set it as my alarm ring so I just wake up to positive words. It is the perfect way to start and end the day. The only downside is that the book is only 45 minutes long. I never wanted it to end. This book obviously gets 5 out of 5 stars!
I have been in a thriller mood for months. When selecting my next book, I lean towards a murder mystery, crime novel, or a thriller. So it is no surprise that I picked up Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell, narrated by Helen Duff at the library. I enjoyed the last Lisa Jewell audiobook, so I had high hopes for this one as well. The book is broken up between “Then” and “Now” and follows the points of view of multiple characters. The main character is Laurel, the mother of three teenage children. They say parents don’t have a favorite, but Laurel does. Her golden girl is Ellie. She is clever and has her whole life before her when she goes to the library, but never returns. There are never any leads and it destroys her family. Years later, Laurel meets a charming man in a cafe. They begin a whirlwind romance and Laurel is shocked when she meets his daughter, Poppy. Poppy looks exactly like Ellie. There is something suspicious happening. What happened to Ellie and why does this charming stranger feel like he is linked to her disappearance?
I am very particular when it comes to multiple points of view in books. If it is not done correctly then I find the book tedious. This book transitioned from each point of view smoothly. The pace never slowed down and I was always interested in the story. Now, there are a ton of “missing girl” thrillers out there. This book definitely has a unique spin on that trope. I did find the twists very predictable. I felt that they were actually pretty obvious relatively early. However, I am actually surprised by how dark the story became. A lot of authors flirt with the disturbing line and Lisa Jewell had no problem tap-dancing on that line–which I appreciated. It kept the pace moving and it exposed more about the characters.
Speaking of the characters, they are absolutely fantastic. At first, I was not sure about Laurel. I found her typical and selfish. However, as the story goes on, her development is quite extraordinary. I love how even as her children are older, she is able to discover how to be a better mom and she learns from her mistakes.
I am still not sure how I feel about the narration. The narrator does a good job with all the different accents in the story. However, I did not like some of the voices for different characters. For instance, her voice for Laurel’s other daughter Hannah. It is very deep and low. There were times that I almost couldn’t understand what Hannah was saying because it was not enunciated as well. So overall, I rate this audiobook 4 out of 5 stars. Between the predictability and narration issues, I could not give it a perfect score. Although, I do recommend this book for those who enjoy thrillers.
I am very particular when it comes to multiple points of view in books. If it is not done correctly then I find the book tedious. This book transitioned from each point of view smoothly. The pace never slowed down and I was always interested in the story. Now, there are a ton of “missing girl” thrillers out there. This book definitely has a unique spin on that trope. I did find the twists very predictable. I felt that they were actually pretty obvious relatively early. However, I am actually surprised by how dark the story became. A lot of authors flirt with the disturbing line and Lisa Jewell had no problem tap-dancing on that line–which I appreciated. It kept the pace moving and it exposed more about the characters.
Speaking of the characters, they are absolutely fantastic. At first, I was not sure about Laurel. I found her typical and selfish. However, as the story goes on, her development is quite extraordinary. I love how even as her children are older, she is able to discover how to be a better mom and she learns from her mistakes.
I am still not sure how I feel about the narration. The narrator does a good job with all the different accents in the story. However, I did not like some of the voices for different characters. For instance, her voice for Laurel’s other daughter Hannah. It is very deep and low. There were times that I almost couldn’t understand what Hannah was saying because it was not enunciated as well. So overall, I rate this audiobook 4 out of 5 stars. Between the predictability and narration issues, I could not give it a perfect score. Although, I do recommend this book for those who enjoy thrillers.
Oh, Chirp Books, how I love thee. It gives me a chance to go back and revisit my favorite classics. I got a copy of Persuasion by Jane Austen on audio, narrated by Greta Scacchi. If you haven’t read this one, you absolutely must. Anne Elliot was once betrothed to Frederick Wentworth. However, she is convinced by her family friend, Lady Russell, that it is not a good match. So Anne breaks the engagement. Eight years later, she is consumed with disappointment and regret. Frederick Wentworth returns from the navy as a successful captain. Anne realizes her feelings are still there, but has he forgiven her? Is the love they once had for each other still there?
“You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you.”
-Captain Wentworth, Persuasion
If that line doesn’t make you swoon, then nothing will. That line is utterly iconic and is probably one of the most romantic classic scenes ever. I love everything about this book. The emotions are so strong and realistic. The characters are delightful. Anne is a wonderful heroine. She is kind, thoughtful, and usually thinks of others before herself. Of course, Captain Wentworth is perfect. He struggles with anger, confusion, and jealousy, but those emotions make sense with how he was treated.
I have read this book many times and I feel it is very under-appreciated in comparison to Pride and Prejudice. Overall, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
“You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you.”
-Captain Wentworth, Persuasion
If that line doesn’t make you swoon, then nothing will. That line is utterly iconic and is probably one of the most romantic classic scenes ever. I love everything about this book. The emotions are so strong and realistic. The characters are delightful. Anne is a wonderful heroine. She is kind, thoughtful, and usually thinks of others before herself. Of course, Captain Wentworth is perfect. He struggles with anger, confusion, and jealousy, but those emotions make sense with how he was treated.
I have read this book many times and I feel it is very under-appreciated in comparison to Pride and Prejudice. Overall, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Karin Slaughter is one of my favorite authors. Pieces of Her has been sitting on my TBR pile for about a year now. I finally got sick of staring at it on my shelf but I have not had time in my schedule to read it. So I picked up the audiobook instead. It is narrated by Kathleen Early. As always with Karin Slaughter, the book begins quite dramatically. Andrea goes out to lunch at the mall with her mother, Laura. The area explodes with bullets. Andrea watches people die and her mother get shot. However, her mother is able to distract the shooter and take him down. This event triggers a series of events that have Andrea on the run and learning that her mother is not who she has known her whole life.
If you haven’t heard this book is going to be a series on Netflix! I think that this book will translate wonderfully into a series. The beginning starts off strong and ends strong. The story consists of multiple points of view. The timeline also jumps from the present to the 80s. Between the switching of points of view and the time jumps, I have to admit the pace does slow down quite a bit. However, Karin Slaughter is pretty much the queen when it comes to weaving the story together. All the points that I thought were needless and drawn out ended up coming together in the end. I wasn’t a huge fan of Andrea, but she did grow on me. I hated Jane at first, but her character development is just superb! I can’t wait to see who they cast for the characters.
As far as the narrator goes, Kathleen Early does a marvelous job. She captures the suspense and fear in each character. I discovered that she narrates most of Karin Slaughter’s works. Good to know!!
I am so excited to see the book adapted into a Netflix series, now can they do the same for the Will Trent series!! I rate this audiobook 4 out of 5 stars.
If you haven’t heard this book is going to be a series on Netflix! I think that this book will translate wonderfully into a series. The beginning starts off strong and ends strong. The story consists of multiple points of view. The timeline also jumps from the present to the 80s. Between the switching of points of view and the time jumps, I have to admit the pace does slow down quite a bit. However, Karin Slaughter is pretty much the queen when it comes to weaving the story together. All the points that I thought were needless and drawn out ended up coming together in the end. I wasn’t a huge fan of Andrea, but she did grow on me. I hated Jane at first, but her character development is just superb! I can’t wait to see who they cast for the characters.
As far as the narrator goes, Kathleen Early does a marvelous job. She captures the suspense and fear in each character. I discovered that she narrates most of Karin Slaughter’s works. Good to know!!
I am so excited to see the book adapted into a Netflix series, now can they do the same for the Will Trent series!! I rate this audiobook 4 out of 5 stars.
Criminal by Karin Slaughter is the 6th book in the Will Trent Series. I am so determined to catch up before book 10 comes out this year! A body turns up and it shows eerie similarities to a serial killer case from years ago. When Amanda Wagner starts investigating the case she is determined to keep one of her best detectives, Will Trent, off the case. The cases are linked to his past and answer questions about his mother’s murder and his birth.
ALL HAIL THE QUEEN! The Queen being Amanda Wagner. She is my favorite character in the series and that is saying something because the characters are all fantastic. –Except for Angie. No one likes Angie. This installment goes into the case that launched Amanda Wagner’s career and her development into the amazing badass we all love. PLUS, we get all the answers to Will’s past.
This book is crazy dark, like all of Karin Slaughter’s works. Like, “a serial killer sews his victims to mattresses” type of darkness. So if you are squeamish, you may want to skip this book. However, this is like the top of the pyramid when it comes to crime thrillers. All the points come together perfectly and keep a great pace throughout the book. I ate this book up in one weekend. In fact, I read it while I was in Georgia, which is where this series takes place. I am itching to pick up the next book soon, so stay tuned. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
ALL HAIL THE QUEEN! The Queen being Amanda Wagner. She is my favorite character in the series and that is saying something because the characters are all fantastic. –Except for Angie. No one likes Angie. This installment goes into the case that launched Amanda Wagner’s career and her development into the amazing badass we all love. PLUS, we get all the answers to Will’s past.
This book is crazy dark, like all of Karin Slaughter’s works. Like, “a serial killer sews his victims to mattresses” type of darkness. So if you are squeamish, you may want to skip this book. However, this is like the top of the pyramid when it comes to crime thrillers. All the points come together perfectly and keep a great pace throughout the book. I ate this book up in one weekend. In fact, I read it while I was in Georgia, which is where this series takes place. I am itching to pick up the next book soon, so stay tuned. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
My book club selected What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty for the month of February. The book kicks off with Alice waking up on the gym floor after fainting. She hit her head and medically she is fine. The only problem it is 2008 and she thinks it is 1998 and she is pregnant with her first child. She doesn’t remember the last 10 years, and that includes her children. Now she must fill in the blanks. Some of those blanks are filled with bitterness and heartbreak. Is she better off without knowing? Will her memory ever come back?
Okay, before I go on a complete and utter rant I must say that my whole book club enjoyed this book. They had nothing but good things to say and I am so glad they all enjoyed it. I looked at a few reviews and they pretty much line up with how they all feel about the book.
Now. Prepare yourself. The rant is coming. Possible spoilers ahead.
You have been warned.
I hated this book. I don’t say that often. But it was difficult for me to read. I think one of the reasons for this is because I read Big Little Lies and I absolutely loved it. So when I picked up this one, the bar was set high. This book didn’t even feel like the same writer. The writing was very simple and extremely repetitive.
“And I’d probably have sex!
Wasn’t sex nice, Phil?
It was extremely nice.”
FRANNIE’S LETTER, PAGE 357, WHAT ALICE FORGOT
WHAT IS THAT?!?! This is the most cringe-worthy quote I have ever come across. And the book is FULL of awkward dialogue like this. The repetitive nature of this book is a constant problem. Seriously. I can’t count the number of times Alice questions the fact that she was at the gym when she hit her head.
Then there is the storyline in general. Nothing happens. Absolutely nothing. I hit page 350 and she is still explaining to people that she lost her memory. In fact, that is it. It is just about her telling everyone she comes across that she lost her memory. There is no depth, no substance. JUST FLUFF.
Then there is the problem with Alice. Ok, she loses 10 years of her memory and all of a sudden acts like she is 12 years old. She lost 10 years, not 20! She couldn’t even drive in one scene. Also, in what universe would a hospital let a woman who lost her memory go home and take care of the children that SHE DOESN’T REMEMBER by herself? Some may say, “Oh but Amanda, she lied to the doctors.” True. But you would think the doctors would ask more questions rather than, “Hey is your memory back?” NO. NO. NO. IT MAKES NO SENSE!! And what kind of father leaves his kids with his ex-wife when she tells him that she doesn’t remember her kids or even getting separated!
Then there is Frannie. She is a good character but she adds absolutely nothing to the story. She either needed to be intertwined with the story more or cut out completely. However, Elizabeth’s character is the one aspect I enjoyed about the book. Her pain, anger, and bitterness is something I can relate to when it comes to pregnancy loss. That was the only real emotion that came out of this book.
I just didn’t connect with the story. I can tell it really resonated with many readers, I just didn’t have that connection. For this, I rate this book 2 out of 5 stars.
Okay, before I go on a complete and utter rant I must say that my whole book club enjoyed this book. They had nothing but good things to say and I am so glad they all enjoyed it. I looked at a few reviews and they pretty much line up with how they all feel about the book.
Now. Prepare yourself. The rant is coming. Possible spoilers ahead.
You have been warned.
I hated this book. I don’t say that often. But it was difficult for me to read. I think one of the reasons for this is because I read Big Little Lies and I absolutely loved it. So when I picked up this one, the bar was set high. This book didn’t even feel like the same writer. The writing was very simple and extremely repetitive.
“And I’d probably have sex!
Wasn’t sex nice, Phil?
It was extremely nice.”
FRANNIE’S LETTER, PAGE 357, WHAT ALICE FORGOT
WHAT IS THAT?!?! This is the most cringe-worthy quote I have ever come across. And the book is FULL of awkward dialogue like this. The repetitive nature of this book is a constant problem. Seriously. I can’t count the number of times Alice questions the fact that she was at the gym when she hit her head.
Then there is the storyline in general. Nothing happens. Absolutely nothing. I hit page 350 and she is still explaining to people that she lost her memory. In fact, that is it. It is just about her telling everyone she comes across that she lost her memory. There is no depth, no substance. JUST FLUFF.
Then there is the problem with Alice. Ok, she loses 10 years of her memory and all of a sudden acts like she is 12 years old. She lost 10 years, not 20! She couldn’t even drive in one scene. Also, in what universe would a hospital let a woman who lost her memory go home and take care of the children that SHE DOESN’T REMEMBER by herself? Some may say, “Oh but Amanda, she lied to the doctors.” True. But you would think the doctors would ask more questions rather than, “Hey is your memory back?” NO. NO. NO. IT MAKES NO SENSE!! And what kind of father leaves his kids with his ex-wife when she tells him that she doesn’t remember her kids or even getting separated!
Then there is Frannie. She is a good character but she adds absolutely nothing to the story. She either needed to be intertwined with the story more or cut out completely. However, Elizabeth’s character is the one aspect I enjoyed about the book. Her pain, anger, and bitterness is something I can relate to when it comes to pregnancy loss. That was the only real emotion that came out of this book.
I just didn’t connect with the story. I can tell it really resonated with many readers, I just didn’t have that connection. For this, I rate this book 2 out of 5 stars.
I have been spending too much money on audiobooks recently, so I decided to give the app, Libby a try. I love it. It connects to your library card and there are many electronic ebooks and audiobooks available. I found A Dance of Silver and Shadow by Melanie Cellier, narrated by Esther Wane on Libby and I was immediately drawn to the cover. It is gorgeous. AND it is a fairytale retelling. Not just any fairytale, it is a 12 Dancing Princesses retelling. That is one of my favorite fairytales and I rarely see it as a retelling. This story is the first book in the Beyond the Four Realms series. Apparently, there is also a Four Realms series, which I already purchased the first book. Anyway, this book begins with twin princesses, Liliana and Sophie arriving on a diplomatic trip to the country of Marin. Upon arriving, they are forced to participate in an ancient tourney called by the cursed prince of Palinar. No one knew this tourney would be called, but they have to abide by the ancient laws or lose their life. No one but the princesses know what the tourney involves and they are sworn to secrecy. However, no one knows that Liliana and Sophie have the gift of telepathic communication. The princess who wins the tourney will be engaged to the cursed Prince of Palinar. Each event will test their strength, wit, courage, and compassion. Liliana is determined to win to spare her sister and the other girls from an unwanted marriage, even though it will break her heart to also lose the man she soon falls in love with…
I LOVE fairytale retellings. Are they unique? Definitely. Are they predictable? Of course. But I still love them. This version is not that different but I love it. It really highlights how there are more to these girls than pretty dresses and ballroom knowledge. These girls are fierce, smart, clever, and they care deeply for one another. I also love how the men respect them and know they are more than just a pretty face.
My favorite part is the connection between Lily and Sophie. They are sisters, twins, and already have that connection but their gift takes it a step further. They have always been together and connected. This tourney will test them and show them that they are individuals as well. They have to learn independence if they are going to thrive. As I said, I already purchased the first book in the first series so I can go through and read them all. They are quick reads or in this case, listens. Oh! That brings me to the narrator, Esther Wane. She is a wonderful narrator. She expressed the perfect amount of emotion and grasped each individual character. Bravo!
Overall, this is an entertaining read! I rate this audiobook 4 out of 5 stars.
I LOVE fairytale retellings. Are they unique? Definitely. Are they predictable? Of course. But I still love them. This version is not that different but I love it. It really highlights how there are more to these girls than pretty dresses and ballroom knowledge. These girls are fierce, smart, clever, and they care deeply for one another. I also love how the men respect them and know they are more than just a pretty face.
My favorite part is the connection between Lily and Sophie. They are sisters, twins, and already have that connection but their gift takes it a step further. They have always been together and connected. This tourney will test them and show them that they are individuals as well. They have to learn independence if they are going to thrive. As I said, I already purchased the first book in the first series so I can go through and read them all. They are quick reads or in this case, listens. Oh! That brings me to the narrator, Esther Wane. She is a wonderful narrator. She expressed the perfect amount of emotion and grasped each individual character. Bravo!
Overall, this is an entertaining read! I rate this audiobook 4 out of 5 stars.