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cortnyjoy's reviews
40 reviews
The Bell of the Bar by Liz Gordon
4.0
This one will stick with me. Listening to music the other day, “Promise to Love Her” by Blane Howard came on and I immediately thought of Brandon and Kate, as though we’re friends. The trope is one of my favorites—triumph and healing after tragedy. And the details—military, close family, rural Montana, a dog—only made it richer.
Kate and Brandon meet at her family’s brewery. He’s smitten, but she is hesitant. It doesn’t take long for Brandon to catch on to Kate’s quirks and develop a genuine concern for her. He’s enticed by her mystery, but the more he gets to know her, the more he’s attracted to her spirit and the way he feels around her. She’s a tough egg to crack though, and earning her trust takes time and patience.
I loved that most of this story was told from Brandon’s perspective. He’s a simple, salt-of-the-earth military veteran. I appreciated the way his narration was believable for his character and also emotionally captivating, even if I sometimes found myself hungering for more depth (which is almost always my contention, and usually even more with books written in first person.) The storytelling felt very authentic to Brandon, and the portrayal might have lost some of that authenticity if it had been more flowery and complex.
Read this story if you are into military romance, protective male MCs, slow burns, second chances, suspenseful undertones, digging into a character’s history instead of glossing over it, pubs/breweries, a dramatic climax, loving (sometimes overbearing) family, beautiful Montana scenery.
There are some editing kinks to overlook, which usually brings me to a much more critical rating, BUT the degree to which Brandon and Kate wove themselves within my heart and mind left a really positive lasting impression. I can’t wait to read your next book, Liz!
Kate and Brandon meet at her family’s brewery. He’s smitten, but she is hesitant. It doesn’t take long for Brandon to catch on to Kate’s quirks and develop a genuine concern for her. He’s enticed by her mystery, but the more he gets to know her, the more he’s attracted to her spirit and the way he feels around her. She’s a tough egg to crack though, and earning her trust takes time and patience.
I loved that most of this story was told from Brandon’s perspective. He’s a simple, salt-of-the-earth military veteran. I appreciated the way his narration was believable for his character and also emotionally captivating, even if I sometimes found myself hungering for more depth (which is almost always my contention, and usually even more with books written in first person.) The storytelling felt very authentic to Brandon, and the portrayal might have lost some of that authenticity if it had been more flowery and complex.
Read this story if you are into military romance, protective male MCs, slow burns, second chances, suspenseful undertones, digging into a character’s history instead of glossing over it, pubs/breweries, a dramatic climax, loving (sometimes overbearing) family, beautiful Montana scenery.
There are some editing kinks to overlook, which usually brings me to a much more critical rating, BUT the degree to which Brandon and Kate wove themselves within my heart and mind left a really positive lasting impression. I can’t wait to read your next book, Liz!
The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
4.0
A well-written, witchy read to satisfy a Halloween craving, light on spookiness and depth, THE EX HEX was a fun, seasonal book. If you’re looking for profound character development, a compelling plot, and a thought-provoking prose, this isn’t for you. BUT, I don’t think it was intended to be super rich, rather entertaining and light-hearted and a bit magical. And on those fronts, it scored. Also, the banter between ALL the characters was often laugh-out-loud funny. Mildly steamy, somewhat romantic, satisfyingly witty, and just right for fall.
Lycanthropia Americana by Billy Russell
4.0
Lycanthropia Americana came highly recommended to me by the real-life Kevin, and it lived up to the hype! Knowing one of the characters certainly added to my interest, but the story more than stood on its own. Dark, poignant, and engaging, it’s a young-adult novel about three high school boys whose lives are forever changed after a violent encounter in the hills of Anza. Throughout the entire novel, there’s this very subtle, eerie, almost somber sense that Kevin, Brad, and Chito, though mischievous young men who know how to have fun, carry a bigger weight on their shoulders than one might wish for 18-year-olds. It’s this intangible pulse that drives and underpins the entire story, making for a horrific yet beautiful read as well as lovable characters. LA is well-balanced with teen spirit, vivid description, young love, brotherly bonds, figurative language, suspense, and bloodshed. The ending packs a punch and will leave you trying to understand the deeper metaphor. Definitely a story I won’t soon forget. Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You & I, Rewritten by Chip Pons
3.0
After following Chip on Instagram for a couple of years, knowing he is an avid reader, and hearing how personally he wrote YOU AND I, REWRITTEN, I was really excited and hopeful to read his debut novel. I've written this review numerous times and ways, putting off the posting until now. It pains me to say it, but I was very underwhelmed.
YIRW (why isn't it YAIR? Or YIR?) is a beautiful story of love, friendship, family, and the full-circle nature of life. It touches on many heavy, relatable themes: anxiety, step-parents, loss of a parent, substance abuse, childhood trauma, fathers and sons, lifelong friendship, being seen and chosen, military sexual trauma, grief, guilt, and others. Unfortunately, I didn't think any were explored deep enough to do them justice. (Sometimes, including them WITHOUT exploration made the approach feel like tokenism. I've heard Chip talk on this story a lot, and I'm sure that was not his intent. But, it's a risk that comes with having a lot of buzz words in a short novel.) I wanted the book to be much tighter AND THEN much longer. Ditch the repetitive, unnecessary words and give us some action...some body sensations...some intensity. Show us the emotions and experiences instead of just naming all of them.
In the beginning, I kept thinking, "Rock on, Chip! This book is full of writing sins, yet somehow, it works!" Except, it didn't work for long, despite my respect for breaking the mold and flipping the bird to all the rules we place on art. Eventually, the over-used adverbs and redundant adjectives pulled me out of the story and became more patronizing than helpful, making it read like an early draft instead of a polished novel. As I watched Chip share about YIRW, I often thought, "This timeline seems SO fast, but he must know what he's doing and have an awesome team. He is set up for big-time success, and wouldn't risk rushing this book into the world until it is as close to perfection as possible." As I read, it felt like rushing is exactly what happened, and I think all the issues I had with YIRW could have been solved with a few more rounds of intense editing--the verbosity, lack of sentence variety, plot development/depth, telling not showing, etc.
Subjectively, I care about Chip, respect how difficult it is to put such personal work into the world for everyone to assess, and admire his vulnerability. I think YIRW has the plotline of a truly great story. Objectively, I cannot rate this book based on its potential or how easy it is to like the person who wrote it.
YIRW (why isn't it YAIR? Or YIR?) is a beautiful story of love, friendship, family, and the full-circle nature of life. It touches on many heavy, relatable themes: anxiety, step-parents, loss of a parent, substance abuse, childhood trauma, fathers and sons, lifelong friendship, being seen and chosen, military sexual trauma, grief, guilt, and others. Unfortunately, I didn't think any were explored deep enough to do them justice. (Sometimes, including them WITHOUT exploration made the approach feel like tokenism. I've heard Chip talk on this story a lot, and I'm sure that was not his intent. But, it's a risk that comes with having a lot of buzz words in a short novel.) I wanted the book to be much tighter AND THEN much longer. Ditch the repetitive, unnecessary words and give us some action...some body sensations...some intensity. Show us the emotions and experiences instead of just naming all of them.
In the beginning, I kept thinking, "Rock on, Chip! This book is full of writing sins, yet somehow, it works!" Except, it didn't work for long, despite my respect for breaking the mold and flipping the bird to all the rules we place on art. Eventually, the over-used adverbs and redundant adjectives pulled me out of the story and became more patronizing than helpful, making it read like an early draft instead of a polished novel. As I watched Chip share about YIRW, I often thought, "This timeline seems SO fast, but he must know what he's doing and have an awesome team. He is set up for big-time success, and wouldn't risk rushing this book into the world until it is as close to perfection as possible." As I read, it felt like rushing is exactly what happened, and I think all the issues I had with YIRW could have been solved with a few more rounds of intense editing--the verbosity, lack of sentence variety, plot development/depth, telling not showing, etc.
Subjectively, I care about Chip, respect how difficult it is to put such personal work into the world for everyone to assess, and admire his vulnerability. I think YIRW has the plotline of a truly great story. Objectively, I cannot rate this book based on its potential or how easy it is to like the person who wrote it.
Dear Yesterday by Lindsey Ray Redd
4.0
Determining a rating had me all over the place. 3 stars feels too low, and 4 stars feels a little high. Though I wrinkled my nose at a lot of the details and more technical writing stuff, Dear Yesterday left me feeling so warm and full…the mark of a story enjoyed. It’s a very light, delicate book, even if some plot elements are heavy. Relatable in a big-picture way, it was relaxing to read. If you know or follow Redd on social media, I think you’ll find the story very authentic to her character and personality. After following her for years, I got almost exactly the story I expected. (Great job marketing this baby, Lindsey!)
LIAR LIAR HOUSE ON FIRE by Liz Gordon
4.0
I really enjoyed this story! This is my second Liz Gordon book and her ability to create storylines that satisfy is impressive. LIAR LIAR HOUSE ON FIRE is much different than THE BELL OF THE BAR in both execution and plot, yet I can see how both came from the same brain…which I love.
LLHOF is a domestic mystery with numerous intriguing themes: single motherhood, starting over, criminal investigation, infidelity, found family, small-town ambience, and the seven-year-itch. It’s told from dual POV, in both first and third person. Set in Montana during the winter, the scenery is stunning and eerie at the same time.
LLHOF is a domestic mystery with numerous intriguing themes: single motherhood, starting over, criminal investigation, infidelity, found family, small-town ambience, and the seven-year-itch. It’s told from dual POV, in both first and third person. Set in Montana during the winter, the scenery is stunning and eerie at the same time.
The Cracks Between Us by Caitlin Moss
4.0
When I read fiction, I want to FEEL something.
Wooooof. FEEL is the ONLY thing I did while reading this book. I finished it over a week ago but needed some time to disentangle all my emotions.
TCBU riled me, warmed me, confronted me, maddened me, upset me, captivated me, and pushed me to examine my own values.
You know when you watch a show or read a book WITH someone...and maybe you each find yourself rooting for different characters or outcomes...and you realize that’s because you each operate with different value hierarchies...and in the process you learn things about yourself that may or may not ruffle you...even if you come away knowing yourself better than you did before?
This book did that to me. And sometimes, I didn’t want to dig into my feelings because I didn’t feel like I had the emotional energy to sort through them all. But I did anyway because I got so sucked into the story!
The characters are lovable, provoking. The circumstances are painfully real and touching. The writing is solid and deep without being overly descriptive. I could see everything so clearly, but never felt bogged down in details. Moss is at her best when she’s writing the uncomfortable scenes. Those are my favorite moments in any book. (Ben sobbing.
Wooooof. FEEL is the ONLY thing I did while reading this book. I finished it over a week ago but needed some time to disentangle all my emotions.
TCBU riled me, warmed me, confronted me, maddened me, upset me, captivated me, and pushed me to examine my own values.
You know when you watch a show or read a book WITH someone...and maybe you each find yourself rooting for different characters or outcomes...and you realize that’s because you each operate with different value hierarchies...and in the process you learn things about yourself that may or may not ruffle you...even if you come away knowing yourself better than you did before?
This book did that to me. And sometimes, I didn’t want to dig into my feelings because I didn’t feel like I had the emotional energy to sort through them all. But I did anyway because I got so sucked into the story!
The characters are lovable, provoking. The circumstances are painfully real and touching. The writing is solid and deep without being overly descriptive. I could see everything so clearly, but never felt bogged down in details. Moss is at her best when she’s writing the uncomfortable scenes. Those are my favorite moments in any book. (Ben sobbing.
All My Roads by Cortny Joy
5.0
I have loved these characters for as long as I can remember. Fiction, to me, is so much more than make believe stories. It's a place to safely experience the entire spectrum of emotions. To be broken and then remade, without consuming fear or shame. ALL MY ROADS began from a place of personal need...for gentleness, for hope, for affection, for expression. And it grew into a story of redemption, of reminding, of healing relational wounds WITHIN relationship instead of in isolation. After pouring over this story for two years, doing my darnedest to make it perfect, I wouldn't have published it if I didn't think it was five-star BEAUTIFUL. Is it perfect? No. It's art. And I'm human. But if you're looking to experience warmth and nuance and fear and shame and pain and tenderness and calm and protection and faith and expansion and attraction and sensual passion...if you're looking for characters who are hard on themselves but gentle with each other...if you're looking to indulge in your desires while also being inspired...then ALL MY ROADS is the 'perfect' story for you. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
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