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496 reviews
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
I received an e-copy of this book from the publishers on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sometimes one just gets in the mood for a little science fiction with a lack of all the mushy romance hindrances. That is the mood I was in when I decided to pick up Red Rising from my embarrassingly large pile of review books. I was intrigued by the blurb across the cover that compared the book to the Hunger Games and Game of Thrones. Both book series have found a special place in my heart and I needed to see if Pierce Brown's debut novel would find a home among these great works of literature.
In the world created by Brown, humanity has become divided. There is a hierarchy between the people who now inhabit Mars. They are known by colors. All Darrow knows is his home as a Red miner. He has a dream of being the best Helldiver, reckless driller of the boiling mines, he can be and winning favor from his superiors the Golds. It is only when his stubborn wife tries to teach him to pull his head from the sand and look around at the injustice they suffer in their world that Darrow starts to wonder if there is more than just his little slice of Mars he calls home.
Soon Darrow realizes he and his people have been lied to all their lives. There is much, much more to their world than what they are shown. The Golds must be taken down in order for the Reds to escape their binds of slavery. It is only when Darrow meets the Sons of Ares that he is given a chance to play a vital role in the shift of society. Darrow is transformed and implanted into the Gold's world as a spy. He is meant to get through the Institute, the Gold's school, and find a place in their political structure so he can find a way to bring about an end to the power hungry color in charge.
What Darrow didn't know was that the enemies he thought were enemies may actually turn out to be the best of friends he could ask for while others live up to their color's reputation to bring about nothing but pain and pride. Darrow must find a way to make it through the Institute without being killed while also being mindful to keep up the facade he has adorned. Will Darrow abandon the color of his birth for the color of new allies?
I have to admit, all the information that went about in the book sometimes left me scratching my head. I had to flip back a few pages and figure out what the "bloodydamn" was going on. I thoroughly enjoyed the book though. It does seem to have that Hunger Games vibe to it with Darrow fighting against "the man" while also in a game of survival. However, where it differs is in the intricacies of the writing. There is strategy within these pages that was exceedingly light in the book it's compared to.
I have never had a book fill me with such rage as this one did. I could literally feel the anger and resentment Darrow felt leap off the pages and sock me in the stomach. I wanted him to succeed, I wanted him to murder and maim, and I wanted him to find peace in the end. Darrow crawled under my skin and remains there even after I finished the last page and set the book aside. Not many books can do manage that feat. Especially not from a debut author.
Red Rising will have you bouncing in your seat and howling for blood, vengeance, love, and glory.
Review Posted on: http://www.ladybugliterature.blogspot.com
4.0
I received an e-copy of this book from the publishers on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sometimes one just gets in the mood for a little science fiction with a lack of all the mushy romance hindrances. That is the mood I was in when I decided to pick up Red Rising from my embarrassingly large pile of review books. I was intrigued by the blurb across the cover that compared the book to the Hunger Games and Game of Thrones. Both book series have found a special place in my heart and I needed to see if Pierce Brown's debut novel would find a home among these great works of literature.
In the world created by Brown, humanity has become divided. There is a hierarchy between the people who now inhabit Mars. They are known by colors. All Darrow knows is his home as a Red miner. He has a dream of being the best Helldiver, reckless driller of the boiling mines, he can be and winning favor from his superiors the Golds. It is only when his stubborn wife tries to teach him to pull his head from the sand and look around at the injustice they suffer in their world that Darrow starts to wonder if there is more than just his little slice of Mars he calls home.
Soon Darrow realizes he and his people have been lied to all their lives. There is much, much more to their world than what they are shown. The Golds must be taken down in order for the Reds to escape their binds of slavery. It is only when Darrow meets the Sons of Ares that he is given a chance to play a vital role in the shift of society. Darrow is transformed and implanted into the Gold's world as a spy. He is meant to get through the Institute, the Gold's school, and find a place in their political structure so he can find a way to bring about an end to the power hungry color in charge.
What Darrow didn't know was that the enemies he thought were enemies may actually turn out to be the best of friends he could ask for while others live up to their color's reputation to bring about nothing but pain and pride. Darrow must find a way to make it through the Institute without being killed while also being mindful to keep up the facade he has adorned. Will Darrow abandon the color of his birth for the color of new allies?
I have to admit, all the information that went about in the book sometimes left me scratching my head. I had to flip back a few pages and figure out what the "bloodydamn" was going on. I thoroughly enjoyed the book though. It does seem to have that Hunger Games vibe to it with Darrow fighting against "the man" while also in a game of survival. However, where it differs is in the intricacies of the writing. There is strategy within these pages that was exceedingly light in the book it's compared to.
I have never had a book fill me with such rage as this one did. I could literally feel the anger and resentment Darrow felt leap off the pages and sock me in the stomach. I wanted him to succeed, I wanted him to murder and maim, and I wanted him to find peace in the end. Darrow crawled under my skin and remains there even after I finished the last page and set the book aside. Not many books can do manage that feat. Especially not from a debut author.
Red Rising will have you bouncing in your seat and howling for blood, vengeance, love, and glory.
Review Posted on: http://www.ladybugliterature.blogspot.com
More Than This by Jay McLean
I received an e-copy of this book from the publishers on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I've found this fantastic feature on Goodreads that offers suggestions for books that are similar to others. So, on a whim I decided to let the suggestion fates choose my next book to read. I randomly went to a book I had loved and looked to see what books were listed as suggestions that I had for review. This was one of those gems. Low and behold, it was also the beginning book in a four book series! Well, if that doesn't drive me to try it out and see what I think, I don't know what else would!
Mikayla has an unimaginable tragic and emotionally wrecking prom night. She not only gets betrayed by two people she thought were her best friends and confidants but then she loses her entire family in a random act of violence in the same night. She is left with no clue how to survive without her family and the people she was closest too. The only saving grace is that Jake was there the night her world shifted and went to hell.
Jake noticed Mikayla the moment they entered the restaurant. He was inexplicably drawn to her and when her date turned out to be a class-A asshole, he was more than happy to take her under his wing and try to save her night from ruin. Little did he know that he would start developing feelings for her that are stronger than he ever imagined. Jake's appearance in Mikayla's life could not have come at a better time and despite Mikayla's resistance to getting involved with him after everything that happened in her life, their love may just be too strong to resist.
For the most part, I liked this book. I cried for Mikayla and her craptastic life and was rooting for her to get together with Jake. However, there were parts where I felt that the story could have gone a different way and would have made the characters a little more believable. Small critique since the story was almost tragically flawless in its portrayal. I kept waiting for Jake to get tired of Mikayla's shenanigans and move or at least try to since she was so steadfast to keep them from connecting fully. I would have liked a little more story behind Mikayla's family trauma instead of it just being mentioned in the beginning and end of the story. It would have made the story more than just a simply romance in the face of devastation.
Despite all this, More Than This was heart wrenching and tragic in a way that it could squeeze tears from stone easily.
Review Posted on: http://www.ladybugliterature.blogspot.com
3.0
I received an e-copy of this book from the publishers on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I've found this fantastic feature on Goodreads that offers suggestions for books that are similar to others. So, on a whim I decided to let the suggestion fates choose my next book to read. I randomly went to a book I had loved and looked to see what books were listed as suggestions that I had for review. This was one of those gems. Low and behold, it was also the beginning book in a four book series! Well, if that doesn't drive me to try it out and see what I think, I don't know what else would!
Mikayla has an unimaginable tragic and emotionally wrecking prom night. She not only gets betrayed by two people she thought were her best friends and confidants but then she loses her entire family in a random act of violence in the same night. She is left with no clue how to survive without her family and the people she was closest too. The only saving grace is that Jake was there the night her world shifted and went to hell.
Jake noticed Mikayla the moment they entered the restaurant. He was inexplicably drawn to her and when her date turned out to be a class-A asshole, he was more than happy to take her under his wing and try to save her night from ruin. Little did he know that he would start developing feelings for her that are stronger than he ever imagined. Jake's appearance in Mikayla's life could not have come at a better time and despite Mikayla's resistance to getting involved with him after everything that happened in her life, their love may just be too strong to resist.
For the most part, I liked this book. I cried for Mikayla and her craptastic life and was rooting for her to get together with Jake. However, there were parts where I felt that the story could have gone a different way and would have made the characters a little more believable. Small critique since the story was almost tragically flawless in its portrayal. I kept waiting for Jake to get tired of Mikayla's shenanigans and move or at least try to since she was so steadfast to keep them from connecting fully. I would have liked a little more story behind Mikayla's family trauma instead of it just being mentioned in the beginning and end of the story. It would have made the story more than just a simply romance in the face of devastation.
Despite all this, More Than This was heart wrenching and tragic in a way that it could squeeze tears from stone easily.
Review Posted on: http://www.ladybugliterature.blogspot.com
Take Me for Granted by K.A. Linde
Sometimes, in my life as a new mom, I need to look back on what it meant to be young and carefree. New Adult has been my genre of choice when I need an escape back to simpler times without adding in the teenage angst (yuck, who wants to relive that?). I have had a few K.A. Linde books slide across my electronic review desk but have never indulged in her writing until now. I had high hopes that I wouldn't be disappointed in my choice as my reading schedule has been precarious with a demanding newborn.
Grant is the stereotypical lead singer rocker dude. He sleeps around, drinks, smokes weed, and typically could not care less about anyone but his very limited inner-circle. Every woman he meets is simply a means to an end, a quick lay before moving on to yet another of the same. Groupies flock to him from every angle and he is more than accommodating... for the first 20 minutes at least. However, he meets his match when he expects 'easy' from Aribel.
Aribel has no desire to be another notch on Grant's rather whiddled down bedpost. She has her goals in mind: study as hard as possible to make the grades to graduate and do something productive with her life. That does not include getting tangled in Grant's sheets... despite the heat he brings with him in every cocky gesture or teasing remark.
Grant and Aribel are two of the most unlike people to become involved with each other. But some how the fast and loose rocker and the uptight and shy recluse find solace in each other's company. Grant, running from his past, and Aribel, sprinting towards her future, were not looking for any sort of entanglement. But sometimes love can be found in the most unlikely of people.
I am a sucker for books about troubled rock stars being changed (usually for the better) by good, well-meaning girls. Every woman wants to believe they can change a bad boys vices for the better and I am no exception. I found myself more and more frustrated with the groupie population. Any woman who has no self respect really doesn't deserve any from me (in my opinion). I watched Grant be surrounded by these women who believe the best way to tame the beast is by warming his bed. Yeah, because that always works.
I loved that Aribel didn't swoon every time Grant hit on her. I liked that Grant found the strong-willed nerd intriguing to the point of pursuit. The major fault I had in the book is one I can't devulge. I can't spoil a paramount plot aspect by discussing it in this review. However, I will say, that I found Grant's 'demons' to be immature. The reason the situation happen was due to a crippling condition. A little understanding from Grant would have made it a more believable hook for the story. Instead, it just seemed like Grant was faulting an otherwise good person for an uncontrollable characteristic. This cost Grant quite a few cool points in my book. When you lose interest in the opposite sex protagonist it can be to the detriment of the book as a whole.
But, that is not to say that I didn't enjoy the book. I truly did. Grant was hunky despite, what I feel, is a immaturity on his part and Aribel was delightful. Nothing makes this book addict sit up and take notice then when the most unlikely of beauties can tame the most debauched of beasts.
Review Posted on: http://www.booksabrewin.blogspot.com
4.0
Sometimes, in my life as a new mom, I need to look back on what it meant to be young and carefree. New Adult has been my genre of choice when I need an escape back to simpler times without adding in the teenage angst (yuck, who wants to relive that?). I have had a few K.A. Linde books slide across my electronic review desk but have never indulged in her writing until now. I had high hopes that I wouldn't be disappointed in my choice as my reading schedule has been precarious with a demanding newborn.
Grant is the stereotypical lead singer rocker dude. He sleeps around, drinks, smokes weed, and typically could not care less about anyone but his very limited inner-circle. Every woman he meets is simply a means to an end, a quick lay before moving on to yet another of the same. Groupies flock to him from every angle and he is more than accommodating... for the first 20 minutes at least. However, he meets his match when he expects 'easy' from Aribel.
Aribel has no desire to be another notch on Grant's rather whiddled down bedpost. She has her goals in mind: study as hard as possible to make the grades to graduate and do something productive with her life. That does not include getting tangled in Grant's sheets... despite the heat he brings with him in every cocky gesture or teasing remark.
Grant and Aribel are two of the most unlike people to become involved with each other. But some how the fast and loose rocker and the uptight and shy recluse find solace in each other's company. Grant, running from his past, and Aribel, sprinting towards her future, were not looking for any sort of entanglement. But sometimes love can be found in the most unlikely of people.
I am a sucker for books about troubled rock stars being changed (usually for the better) by good, well-meaning girls. Every woman wants to believe they can change a bad boys vices for the better and I am no exception. I found myself more and more frustrated with the groupie population. Any woman who has no self respect really doesn't deserve any from me (in my opinion). I watched Grant be surrounded by these women who believe the best way to tame the beast is by warming his bed. Yeah, because that always works.
I loved that Aribel didn't swoon every time Grant hit on her. I liked that Grant found the strong-willed nerd intriguing to the point of pursuit. The major fault I had in the book is one I can't devulge. I can't spoil a paramount plot aspect by discussing it in this review. However, I will say, that I found Grant's 'demons' to be immature. The reason the situation happen was due to a crippling condition. A little understanding from Grant would have made it a more believable hook for the story. Instead, it just seemed like Grant was faulting an otherwise good person for an uncontrollable characteristic. This cost Grant quite a few cool points in my book. When you lose interest in the opposite sex protagonist it can be to the detriment of the book as a whole.
But, that is not to say that I didn't enjoy the book. I truly did. Grant was hunky despite, what I feel, is a immaturity on his part and Aribel was delightful. Nothing makes this book addict sit up and take notice then when the most unlikely of beauties can tame the most debauched of beasts.
Review Posted on: http://www.booksabrewin.blogspot.com
Elect by Rachel Van Dyken
I received an e-copy of this book from the publishers at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The first book in this series, Elite, finished on a moderate cliffhanger. By moderate cliffhanger I mean that I was anxious to see what happened next but I didn't feel I would die if I didn't find out as soon as humanly possible. I wanted to see what happened with Nixon and Tracey after all they had done in hopes of being together. I was worried that there was going to be something else that came along and ruined things for them and after reading the synopsis... my fears were realized. Still, I needed to know why on Earth Nixon would push Trace into his best friend, Chase's, arms. So began my excursion into the Eagle Elite world once more.
Nixon was happy with Trace. He still worried that their relationship would raise questions and peak the interests of the enemies he still had. He was afraid that he was going to lose her all over again but this time more permanently. He felt he had to do what was for the best and that was to pretend that Trace and him were not together. Instead, he wanted the world to think that Trace was actually with his best friend, and right hand, Chase. It was not long before Nixon realized this may be a huge mistake. Chase had feelings for Trace and while Nixon wanted to believe that his best friend would never betray him, he knew of Trace's allure. Despite wanting to rip his best friend's head off for laying hands and lips upon his property, Nixon watched with his heart breaking every moment they were together.
Chase struggled between being Nixon's best friend and wanting to be the man that Trace loved wholeheartedly. He didn't want to betray his childhood friend but Trace seemed to be the air he breathed and he didn't want to let her go. Chase fully embraced the mission to pretend to be Trace's boyfriend and hoped that over the course of time that Trace would choose him over Nixon in the end.
This book read a lot like Twlight by Stephanie Meyer. With the best friend hungry for more drooling over the naive heroine and the hero letting his woman go in hopes of saving her from certain doom. Really, it almost felt EXACTLY like Meyer's book. As a person who is not really a fan of Twilight this book was lackluster for me. I found myself rolling my eyes at the whole "leaving her for her own good" and "choose me even though you kinda only love me as a friend" situations. I was kind of disappointed with this sequel.
Also, I really didn't like the changing narrators. I had to constantly flip back to the beginning of the chapters to see who was talking each time. I liked the first book because it stayed as Trace being the narrator. It didn't change every five seconds. Changing narrators seems to be a lot of work for readers, in my opinion. Instead of getting lost in the world we are having to make sure we focus on who's point of view we are witnessing things through. I am all for getting the male perspective in books, but I would have liked to see what Trace was thinking periodically.
I think that Elect has fallen into the tumultuous group of being a disappointing sequel. It happens a lot in series. If the first book didn't end in a cliffhanger, I would advise skipping this book. However, if you are into the whole love triangle that is really reminiscent of Twilight then have at Elect.
Review Posted on: http://www.ladybugliterature.blogspot.com
2.0
I received an e-copy of this book from the publishers at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The first book in this series, Elite, finished on a moderate cliffhanger. By moderate cliffhanger I mean that I was anxious to see what happened next but I didn't feel I would die if I didn't find out as soon as humanly possible. I wanted to see what happened with Nixon and Tracey after all they had done in hopes of being together. I was worried that there was going to be something else that came along and ruined things for them and after reading the synopsis... my fears were realized. Still, I needed to know why on Earth Nixon would push Trace into his best friend, Chase's, arms. So began my excursion into the Eagle Elite world once more.
Nixon was happy with Trace. He still worried that their relationship would raise questions and peak the interests of the enemies he still had. He was afraid that he was going to lose her all over again but this time more permanently. He felt he had to do what was for the best and that was to pretend that Trace and him were not together. Instead, he wanted the world to think that Trace was actually with his best friend, and right hand, Chase. It was not long before Nixon realized this may be a huge mistake. Chase had feelings for Trace and while Nixon wanted to believe that his best friend would never betray him, he knew of Trace's allure. Despite wanting to rip his best friend's head off for laying hands and lips upon his property, Nixon watched with his heart breaking every moment they were together.
Chase struggled between being Nixon's best friend and wanting to be the man that Trace loved wholeheartedly. He didn't want to betray his childhood friend but Trace seemed to be the air he breathed and he didn't want to let her go. Chase fully embraced the mission to pretend to be Trace's boyfriend and hoped that over the course of time that Trace would choose him over Nixon in the end.
This book read a lot like Twlight by Stephanie Meyer. With the best friend hungry for more drooling over the naive heroine and the hero letting his woman go in hopes of saving her from certain doom. Really, it almost felt EXACTLY like Meyer's book. As a person who is not really a fan of Twilight this book was lackluster for me. I found myself rolling my eyes at the whole "leaving her for her own good" and "choose me even though you kinda only love me as a friend" situations. I was kind of disappointed with this sequel.
Also, I really didn't like the changing narrators. I had to constantly flip back to the beginning of the chapters to see who was talking each time. I liked the first book because it stayed as Trace being the narrator. It didn't change every five seconds. Changing narrators seems to be a lot of work for readers, in my opinion. Instead of getting lost in the world we are having to make sure we focus on who's point of view we are witnessing things through. I am all for getting the male perspective in books, but I would have liked to see what Trace was thinking periodically.
I think that Elect has fallen into the tumultuous group of being a disappointing sequel. It happens a lot in series. If the first book didn't end in a cliffhanger, I would advise skipping this book. However, if you are into the whole love triangle that is really reminiscent of Twilight then have at Elect.
Review Posted on: http://www.ladybugliterature.blogspot.com
Rock the Heart by Michelle A. Valentine
Rock star romance has become a mainstream fascination in today's book market. I am not the only groupie of the genre but I am possibly one of the most fascinated. Throw in a bit of sexual angst with the common issues every rock god has to deal with while on tour and you got the makings of a book I am willing to binge over and over again.
Lane hadn't given her first love, Noel, much thought since they had broken up four years ago. But when she sees him back stage at a concert he is at and gets the cold brush off, she remembers why they parted ways in the first place. Little did she know though that Noel wasn't finished with her. He calls her marketing company and demands Lane head up his charity but only if she comes on the road with him and his band. Lane tries to find a loop hole but must eventually decide between her career and her dignity.
Noel has been trying to forget his heartbreak from the moment Lane left him. He buries himself in booze, drugs, groupies, and music. When Lane breezes back into his life he wants to pay her back for all the pain she set upon him. He wants to get under her skin and into her pants as soon as humanly possibly. He wasn't counting on the resistance Lane puts up nor the game she wants to play. Can either of them get out with their hearts intact?
Noel was one of those main characters where you don't know from one page to the next whether you're going to hate him or love him. One minute he was being deliciously seductive in his pursuit of Lane and the next he was being a complete and utter douchebag. That is the male gender though. It takes a lot for me to actually feel connected to the female character of a story. Lane was delightful in her determination to show Noel she didn't want a thing to do with him while desperately trying to fight the feelings that are rearing their ugly head.
Rock the Heart will rock your world and leave you sweaty, sore, and desperate for an encore.
Review Posted on: http://www.booksabrewin.blogspot.com
4.0
Rock star romance has become a mainstream fascination in today's book market. I am not the only groupie of the genre but I am possibly one of the most fascinated. Throw in a bit of sexual angst with the common issues every rock god has to deal with while on tour and you got the makings of a book I am willing to binge over and over again.
Lane hadn't given her first love, Noel, much thought since they had broken up four years ago. But when she sees him back stage at a concert he is at and gets the cold brush off, she remembers why they parted ways in the first place. Little did she know though that Noel wasn't finished with her. He calls her marketing company and demands Lane head up his charity but only if she comes on the road with him and his band. Lane tries to find a loop hole but must eventually decide between her career and her dignity.
Noel has been trying to forget his heartbreak from the moment Lane left him. He buries himself in booze, drugs, groupies, and music. When Lane breezes back into his life he wants to pay her back for all the pain she set upon him. He wants to get under her skin and into her pants as soon as humanly possibly. He wasn't counting on the resistance Lane puts up nor the game she wants to play. Can either of them get out with their hearts intact?
Noel was one of those main characters where you don't know from one page to the next whether you're going to hate him or love him. One minute he was being deliciously seductive in his pursuit of Lane and the next he was being a complete and utter douchebag. That is the male gender though. It takes a lot for me to actually feel connected to the female character of a story. Lane was delightful in her determination to show Noel she didn't want a thing to do with him while desperately trying to fight the feelings that are rearing their ugly head.
Rock the Heart will rock your world and leave you sweaty, sore, and desperate for an encore.
Review Posted on: http://www.booksabrewin.blogspot.com
Stray by Natasha Stories
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Sierra Kline. The gifting on this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
I had never reviewed an audiobook before but had enjoyed them immensely when I first started listening to them. The emotional inflection that the narrators can put on a simple statement or description of an action can really set the scene more than one's own imagination can even fathom. Stray seemed like the perfect chance to branch out into reviewing a totally different and exciting forum of literature.
Erin Timms is a mess of a woman, but she has every right to be. She uprooted her entire life in an attempt to escape the dramatic state of affairs she left behind only to be saddled with a snarky assistant, an absentee superior, and a staggering lack of a social life outside of the animals she tends to on a daily basis as a veterinarian. The small town she moved to for the happy name and its close-knit community seemed so welcoming but it seemed this small town had its own issues. The town of Sunshine was at war with the big-wig conglomerates who are slowly decimating the town in order to expand their ski resort. And there seems to be a name at the forefront of the out-of-towner vacation spot tyrants: Jon Miles.
Jon Miles is not what the citizens of Sunshine believe him to be. Unlike his father he wants to preserve the sanctity of the small town and stop the expansions in their steps. However, the only way to achieve this goal is to cozy up to the head of the committee and his spoiled rotten daughter. Suffer through a false relationship to sever the snake at the head. Easy, right? Then he meets Erin and it's anything but easy. He finds himself smitten with her and the injured dog he hit with his car which caused their meet cute. But what will win out: the life he could have with Erin and the pooch or the need to do right by the town of Sunshine?
I truly enjoyed Stray. The narrations were clean and clear to the point of me believing they were Erin and Jon. The story as a whole was the typical cozy romance read that had only just enough turmoil to keep the reader invested. While I normally lean towards the high drama reads, this one was refreshing. It was a palette cleanser and a book that gave that token sigh of contentment when the last chapter ended. The only issues I had with the story was that the wrenches thrown into the mix that caused the drama were padded so they didn't really cause a gasp or a whimper of anxiety. That read a little unrealistic as when something emotion happens in a book you want to feel it in your soul. My soul remained intact, but it wasn't a deal breaker as far as my level of enjoyment. All in all, I would say Stray is an absolute must read for anyone who loves romance with a softer touch.
Review Posted on: http://www.booksabrewin.blogspot.com
3.0
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Sierra Kline. The gifting on this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
I had never reviewed an audiobook before but had enjoyed them immensely when I first started listening to them. The emotional inflection that the narrators can put on a simple statement or description of an action can really set the scene more than one's own imagination can even fathom. Stray seemed like the perfect chance to branch out into reviewing a totally different and exciting forum of literature.
Erin Timms is a mess of a woman, but she has every right to be. She uprooted her entire life in an attempt to escape the dramatic state of affairs she left behind only to be saddled with a snarky assistant, an absentee superior, and a staggering lack of a social life outside of the animals she tends to on a daily basis as a veterinarian. The small town she moved to for the happy name and its close-knit community seemed so welcoming but it seemed this small town had its own issues. The town of Sunshine was at war with the big-wig conglomerates who are slowly decimating the town in order to expand their ski resort. And there seems to be a name at the forefront of the out-of-towner vacation spot tyrants: Jon Miles.
Jon Miles is not what the citizens of Sunshine believe him to be. Unlike his father he wants to preserve the sanctity of the small town and stop the expansions in their steps. However, the only way to achieve this goal is to cozy up to the head of the committee and his spoiled rotten daughter. Suffer through a false relationship to sever the snake at the head. Easy, right? Then he meets Erin and it's anything but easy. He finds himself smitten with her and the injured dog he hit with his car which caused their meet cute. But what will win out: the life he could have with Erin and the pooch or the need to do right by the town of Sunshine?
I truly enjoyed Stray. The narrations were clean and clear to the point of me believing they were Erin and Jon. The story as a whole was the typical cozy romance read that had only just enough turmoil to keep the reader invested. While I normally lean towards the high drama reads, this one was refreshing. It was a palette cleanser and a book that gave that token sigh of contentment when the last chapter ended. The only issues I had with the story was that the wrenches thrown into the mix that caused the drama were padded so they didn't really cause a gasp or a whimper of anxiety. That read a little unrealistic as when something emotion happens in a book you want to feel it in your soul. My soul remained intact, but it wasn't a deal breaker as far as my level of enjoyment. All in all, I would say Stray is an absolute must read for anyone who loves romance with a softer touch.
Review Posted on: http://www.booksabrewin.blogspot.com
Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout
I had heard marvelous things about the Lux series for some time now and had yet to allow myself to delve into their world. I was worried I would get too thoroughly enthralled in their world and would find myself unable to function normally, as some really good book series do. It turns out that I was right to be worried. “Obsidian” was, by far, one of the best books I have read this year.
Katy is a short, book blogger with a feisty attitude. Hmm, this sounds a little autobiographical. That being said, I connected instantly with Katy. She seemed to be the type of selfless heroine that was perfect for the story. She is a devoted friend and a morally upstanding representation of the human race. It is no wonder that our male protagonist would be curious about her. She came to West Virginia because her mother needed a change after the loss of Katy’s father. Katy herself was still wounded after her father’s passing, much as anyone would be. This painful back story may have been what caused Katy to be such a fighter in “Obsidian”. She was a delight to read.
Daemon was hard to like. Exactly how Katy felt about him was how I seemed to feel about him (seems I got sucked in so epically that I started feeling I was Katy). Sometimes I wanted to strangle him and other times he made me swoon. I only started to understand Daemon and the way he acted after I read some of the bonus material at the end of the book. Daemon is a very complex and brooding character. He is the direct opposite of Katy.
I have never been fond of books that show characters who instantly fall in love and start with the mushy talk early on in their relationships. Daemon and Katy’s relationship was fun to watch since it was a love-hate relationship from start to finish.
This book reminded me of the Roswell series that was on TV some time ago. I loved that show. “Obsidian” echoes Roswell in all the best ways. Running from an evil bent on destroying the good aliens and the humans they interact with, fighting developing emotions because interspecies dating is weird, and navigating teenage hormones and the social aspects of that age is what “Obsidian” is all about. I cannot wait to sink my teeth into “Onyx” and follow Katy and Daemon’s story as they attempt to overcome their insurmountable obstacles.
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5.0
I had heard marvelous things about the Lux series for some time now and had yet to allow myself to delve into their world. I was worried I would get too thoroughly enthralled in their world and would find myself unable to function normally, as some really good book series do. It turns out that I was right to be worried. “Obsidian” was, by far, one of the best books I have read this year.
Katy is a short, book blogger with a feisty attitude. Hmm, this sounds a little autobiographical. That being said, I connected instantly with Katy. She seemed to be the type of selfless heroine that was perfect for the story. She is a devoted friend and a morally upstanding representation of the human race. It is no wonder that our male protagonist would be curious about her. She came to West Virginia because her mother needed a change after the loss of Katy’s father. Katy herself was still wounded after her father’s passing, much as anyone would be. This painful back story may have been what caused Katy to be such a fighter in “Obsidian”. She was a delight to read.
Daemon was hard to like. Exactly how Katy felt about him was how I seemed to feel about him (seems I got sucked in so epically that I started feeling I was Katy). Sometimes I wanted to strangle him and other times he made me swoon. I only started to understand Daemon and the way he acted after I read some of the bonus material at the end of the book. Daemon is a very complex and brooding character. He is the direct opposite of Katy.
I have never been fond of books that show characters who instantly fall in love and start with the mushy talk early on in their relationships. Daemon and Katy’s relationship was fun to watch since it was a love-hate relationship from start to finish.
This book reminded me of the Roswell series that was on TV some time ago. I loved that show. “Obsidian” echoes Roswell in all the best ways. Running from an evil bent on destroying the good aliens and the humans they interact with, fighting developing emotions because interspecies dating is weird, and navigating teenage hormones and the social aspects of that age is what “Obsidian” is all about. I cannot wait to sink my teeth into “Onyx” and follow Katy and Daemon’s story as they attempt to overcome their insurmountable obstacles.
Requiem by Lauren Oliver
I had read Delirium and Pandemonium some time ago. I was a little fuzzy when I finally got a copy from the library (it took FOREVER… seriously), but after a while I remembered what I had read in the first two books. The book did not really give much detail as to what happened in the last books except when it was pertinent so it wasn’t like other books that give a refresher course at the beginning of the each book so you can make sure to be caught up.
In Requiem the focus was more on the building to a final stand between the Invalids and “Zombies”. The love story of Alex and Lena or Julian and Lena was there, of course, but it wasn’t the most important aspects of the book. In Requiem we follow Lena and her pack of Invalids (including her two confusing and equally hot boy toys) across the country as they search for a place to call their own. As their existence became known to the Cureds finally in Pandemonium the regulators start to take strides to eradicate all Invalids from existence. To the shock of the Invalids they actually are venturing out from behind their massive walls and extracting their heads from the sand to push back against the encroaching Invalids.
As Lena becomes more and more confused about her warring feelings for Julian and Alex, their lives become a series of strategic battles and all-out bloody wars. Lena had her heroic moments but it was always with some help. She was braver and more willing to bleed for her cause than she was in the earlier books, but she was by no means as strong a leader as Tack or Raven. I liked the fact that Oliver did not automatically stick her in a leader’s position because she got lucky in a few missions or was the protagonist of her story. She kept Lena as a strong battler, but not the figurehead of the rebellion.
Alex came out of the Crypts in Pandemonium and turned into their snarky asshat in Requiem. I understand he was a bit peeved off at the end of Pandemonium with some of Lena’s actions and choices, but did that mean he had to be as broody? I think not. I still liked Alex, don’t get me wrong. I was a fan of Lena and Alex since Delirium. I just didn’t think he had to react the way he did. I think he could have either accepted it and moved on or fought for what he wanted.
Julian. Poor, sad, forgotten, Julian. I felt for the dude. Throughout the story he was trying his damned to prove he was not like the Cureds and was made for the Wilds. This ruffled a few feathers and got to be a little desperate looking, but bless his heart… he was trying. Julian was a beta character that never did anything too stand-out-ish. Even in battle scenes he was normally forgotten.
The ending of this book felt like it was cut off at the knees. I kept expecting something more extravagant or at the very least more final. Hana, who was the other half the story, struggling with a sadist future husband and questions she shouldn’t be having, had no ending at all. She simply poofed out of the story. Okay? Hana? Where’d you go? What’d you do? I NEED ANSWERS!
I liked the book, but I think it was read more like a middle book than the final book. The ending was unsatisfactory because it left a lot of stuff hanging. Cliffhangers with no chance of answers is horrible. It weighs on my heart and makes me grab fistfuls of hair and tug screaming “whyyy?!” Although, it was a good read, I needed a bit more than what I got. More resolutions and more romance would have made this book worthy of greatness.
3.0
I had read Delirium and Pandemonium some time ago. I was a little fuzzy when I finally got a copy from the library (it took FOREVER… seriously), but after a while I remembered what I had read in the first two books. The book did not really give much detail as to what happened in the last books except when it was pertinent so it wasn’t like other books that give a refresher course at the beginning of the each book so you can make sure to be caught up.
In Requiem the focus was more on the building to a final stand between the Invalids and “Zombies”. The love story of Alex and Lena or Julian and Lena was there, of course, but it wasn’t the most important aspects of the book. In Requiem we follow Lena and her pack of Invalids (including her two confusing and equally hot boy toys) across the country as they search for a place to call their own. As their existence became known to the Cureds finally in Pandemonium the regulators start to take strides to eradicate all Invalids from existence. To the shock of the Invalids they actually are venturing out from behind their massive walls and extracting their heads from the sand to push back against the encroaching Invalids.
As Lena becomes more and more confused about her warring feelings for Julian and Alex, their lives become a series of strategic battles and all-out bloody wars. Lena had her heroic moments but it was always with some help. She was braver and more willing to bleed for her cause than she was in the earlier books, but she was by no means as strong a leader as Tack or Raven. I liked the fact that Oliver did not automatically stick her in a leader’s position because she got lucky in a few missions or was the protagonist of her story. She kept Lena as a strong battler, but not the figurehead of the rebellion.
Alex came out of the Crypts in Pandemonium and turned into their snarky asshat in Requiem. I understand he was a bit peeved off at the end of Pandemonium with some of Lena’s actions and choices, but did that mean he had to be as broody? I think not. I still liked Alex, don’t get me wrong. I was a fan of Lena and Alex since Delirium. I just didn’t think he had to react the way he did. I think he could have either accepted it and moved on or fought for what he wanted.
Julian. Poor, sad, forgotten, Julian. I felt for the dude. Throughout the story he was trying his damned to prove he was not like the Cureds and was made for the Wilds. This ruffled a few feathers and got to be a little desperate looking, but bless his heart… he was trying. Julian was a beta character that never did anything too stand-out-ish. Even in battle scenes he was normally forgotten.
The ending of this book felt like it was cut off at the knees. I kept expecting something more extravagant or at the very least more final. Hana, who was the other half the story, struggling with a sadist future husband and questions she shouldn’t be having, had no ending at all. She simply poofed out of the story. Okay? Hana? Where’d you go? What’d you do? I NEED ANSWERS!
I liked the book, but I think it was read more like a middle book than the final book. The ending was unsatisfactory because it left a lot of stuff hanging. Cliffhangers with no chance of answers is horrible. It weighs on my heart and makes me grab fistfuls of hair and tug screaming “whyyy?!” Although, it was a good read, I needed a bit more than what I got. More resolutions and more romance would have made this book worthy of greatness.