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amandasbookreview's Reviews (966)
Liliana's Letter: The Matchmaker Meets The Matchbreaker by Alina K. Field is a prequel to Bella's Band. We are introduced to Liliana whose job is to make sure her charge, Katie Mercer, is ready for society and marriage. During the marriage negotiations with an Earl, Liliana is introduced to the Earl's Uncle, Lord Grigsby. He is stuffy and sent to the task to make sure his nephew is married off to an heiress to save the Earldom. Liliana is not impressed by the Earl and wants to make sure that Katie is married to someone who will respect her. Lord Grigsby is stunned by Liliana and even after learning of her past he can't deny his feelings for her.
This novella is just lovely, so much so that I wish it were just a bit longer. There is a murder in the story and it goes unsolved. However, it encourages the readers to pick up the next book that solves the murder. The description of debutante society makes one feel like they are there. The descriptions of the gowns, parties, and balls are just wonderful. However, it is the characters that steal the show. Liliana is just breathtaking. She made mistakes trusting the wrong men when she is younger but owns up to those mistakes, even though they were not her fault. She does believe that women going into an arranged marriage should be married to men who will honor and respect them. Lord Grigsby desperately wants to show Liliana that not only does he respect and honor her, but he also loves her. Romance readers will just adore this short and sweet story and will keep them wanting more! Overall, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars!
This novella is just lovely, so much so that I wish it were just a bit longer. There is a murder in the story and it goes unsolved. However, it encourages the readers to pick up the next book that solves the murder. The description of debutante society makes one feel like they are there. The descriptions of the gowns, parties, and balls are just wonderful. However, it is the characters that steal the show. Liliana is just breathtaking. She made mistakes trusting the wrong men when she is younger but owns up to those mistakes, even though they were not her fault. She does believe that women going into an arranged marriage should be married to men who will honor and respect them. Lord Grigsby desperately wants to show Liliana that not only does he respect and honor her, but he also loves her. Romance readers will just adore this short and sweet story and will keep them wanting more! Overall, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars!
I read this ages ago. It is definitely time for a re-read. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is a very common banned book. It takes place in dystopian America. Books are forbidden. Because of this, no one has a grasp of basic history. Guy Montag is a fireman. He does not prevent fires, but burns books that people are hiding in their homes. He goes about daily life not thinking that anything is wrong with the world. Not until he meets his neighbor Clarisse. She is eccentric to him but has him second-guessing everything he has ever known.
This book definitely reminds me of 1984. It discusses the same themes. The main one being censorship and the dangers of technology. It is quite amazing that this book was written in 1953. He discusses technology like flat screen tv’s and earbuds, things that were not even close to existing yet.
I wasn’t super engaged in this novel. The pacing seemed to drag at certain points. Emotionally, it fell a little flat for me. However, the points the author is making about censorship and learning are very intriguing! This is the highlight of the book for me. I also loved his relationships. They show real marital struggles that I think many can relate to.
Overall, I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I have not watched any movie adaptations yet. But I plan to do so soon, so keep an eye out for any book vs. the movie reviews!
This book definitely reminds me of 1984. It discusses the same themes. The main one being censorship and the dangers of technology. It is quite amazing that this book was written in 1953. He discusses technology like flat screen tv’s and earbuds, things that were not even close to existing yet.
I wasn’t super engaged in this novel. The pacing seemed to drag at certain points. Emotionally, it fell a little flat for me. However, the points the author is making about censorship and learning are very intriguing! This is the highlight of the book for me. I also loved his relationships. They show real marital struggles that I think many can relate to.
Overall, I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I have not watched any movie adaptations yet. But I plan to do so soon, so keep an eye out for any book vs. the movie reviews!
Alyssa Palombo takes readers back to the eerie village of Sleepy Hollow in The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel. It begins with Katrina Van Tassel and her meeting Ichabod Crane. Ichabod surprises her because he is not like the other men from the village, especially Brom Van Brunt. Soon they find themselves in a whirlwind love affair. However, on All Hallow’s Eve, Ichabod vanishes. Rumors spread that he was taken by The Headless Horseman. No one truly knows. However, Katrina with the help of her friend, Charlotte, is determined to find out his fate.
Check out the rest of my review at:
https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/2018/09/18/the-spellbook-of-katrina-van-tassel-by-alyssa-palombo-arc-review/
Check out the rest of my review at:
https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/2018/09/18/the-spellbook-of-katrina-van-tassel-by-alyssa-palombo-arc-review/
It is the 10th anniversary of Nora Altman's disappearance. Friends and family gather for a memorial. No one knows what happened to Nora. Seventeen-year-old Nora vanished, only leaving behind an abandoned car. In the small town, rumors ran wild, reporters tore apart families but in the end, there were no leads. Maddie was Nora's best friend and never truly healed from losing her best friend. She is desperate for some closure. However, the opposite happens. The morning after the memorial, Nora's sister Noelle is found dead at the exact same spot where Nora went missing. Now Maddie needs answers and has difficulty trusting anyone.
Check out the rest of the review at:
https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/2018/09/14/forget-me-not-by-a-m-taylor-arc-review/
Check out the rest of the review at:
https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/2018/09/14/forget-me-not-by-a-m-taylor-arc-review/
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!
https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/2018/09/10/need-to-know-by-karen-cleveland-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!
https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/2018/09/10/need-to-know-by-karen-cleveland-review/
Yesterday was Read a Book day and I read The Black Morass by Barbara Devlin. It is a historical romance novella.
It begins with introducing former pirate Captain Jean Marc. He comes across a sinking ship with only one woman alive, her name is Madalene Davies and she needs to head to Port Royal to secure her inheritance. Little does she know that her father and evil stepmother are planning to take it from her. Meanwhile, Jean Marc wants Maddie but not in a proper sense. Will he help Maddie or just use her and toss her away?
I had high hopes for this novella. I love pirate history and pirate fiction. However, this novella didn't really have a lot of historical detail but more focused on the sexual tension between the two characters. I love romance novels as well but there needs to be a balence. I also didn't understand Maddie's fascination with Jean Marc especially when he is constantly planning to defile her. (He uses that exact phrase several times)
However, I do appreciate that the author tried to give Jean Marc some character development. I do wish that Maddie had more development as well. Her character falls very flat. For a quick read, it wasn't bad. It just needed a better balence of romance and historical detail. I rate this book 2.5 out 5 stars.
It begins with introducing former pirate Captain Jean Marc. He comes across a sinking ship with only one woman alive, her name is Madalene Davies and she needs to head to Port Royal to secure her inheritance. Little does she know that her father and evil stepmother are planning to take it from her. Meanwhile, Jean Marc wants Maddie but not in a proper sense. Will he help Maddie or just use her and toss her away?
I had high hopes for this novella. I love pirate history and pirate fiction. However, this novella didn't really have a lot of historical detail but more focused on the sexual tension between the two characters. I love romance novels as well but there needs to be a balence. I also didn't understand Maddie's fascination with Jean Marc especially when he is constantly planning to defile her. (He uses that exact phrase several times)
However, I do appreciate that the author tried to give Jean Marc some character development. I do wish that Maddie had more development as well. Her character falls very flat. For a quick read, it wasn't bad. It just needed a better balence of romance and historical detail. I rate this book 2.5 out 5 stars.
In this year’s 2018 Book Challenge, there is one category that is getting a recommendation from a family member. My sister recommended Pretty Girls Dancing by Kylie Brant! It is definitely worth the read! Kelsey Willard disappeared after having a fight with her mother years ago. She was never found, and it was suspected that she was a victim of TMK, the Ten Mile Killer. She left behind a mother, who is addicted to pain pills and alcohol, a father, who has distanced himself from his family and a sister, named Janie who struggles with severe social anxiety. Their family is barely holding on by a thread. Then there is news of another missing girl named Whitney DeVries. Special Agent Mark Foster takes on the investigation in hopes to find Whitney before it is too late, and possibly solve Kelsey’s case as well.
Check out the rest of my review at:
https://amandasbookreviewsite.wordpress.com/2018/09/03/pretty-girls-dancing-by-kylie-brant-review/
"This hot and steamy romance is filled to the brink with action! There is not a moment where the pace slows down."
Check out the rest of the review at:
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2018/september/viewer/desktop/#page/102
Check out the rest of the review at:
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2018/september/viewer/desktop/#page/102
"This contemporary romance is sweet but with a whole lot of spice!"
Check out the rest of the review at:
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2018/september/viewer/desktop/#page/70
Check out the rest of the review at:
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2018/september/viewer/desktop/#page/70
"Vampire fanatics will adore this dark romance!"
Check out the rest of the review at:
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2018/september/viewer/desktop/#page/90
Check out the rest of the review at:
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2018/september/viewer/desktop/#page/90