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karlabrandenburg's reviews
495 reviews
Highland Healer by Willa Blair
4.0
Caught between a rapacious war lord and a highland laird, healer Aileanna has to look out for her own best interests as a talented healer. Should she stay with the evil man who has protected her for the past two years, or trust the highlander who treats her with the respect and deference she deserves?
I liked it. The characters were strong enough to hold my attention and their motives were believable. If you love a Scottish historical (as I do), this is worth the read.
I liked it. The characters were strong enough to hold my attention and their motives were believable. If you love a Scottish historical (as I do), this is worth the read.
Forever Young: Blessing or Curse by Morgan Mandel
3.0
So there were two questions that I could 't get past . . . Where was the FDA during this highly public "trial", and how come Dorrie's *old* friends didn't make any comment on her drastic appearance the first time they saw her?
Loose Ends by Terri Reid
5.0
I loved this story!
Mary O'Reilly is a former cop, shot in the line of duty, and revived from death as a result of her experience. Now she's a paranormal investigator, helping ghosts cross over as a result of her near-death experience. Mary is wise-cracking and tough as nails, but now she's uncovered a scandal neatly hidden for the past 24 years. She's a loose end and The murderer wants her dead.
The Illinois setting was familiar to me, although the often misspelled JoDaviess County was misspelled by this native. That is the only fault I Could find with this well-crafted mystery filled with suspense and intrigue. Can't wait to read more Mary O'Reilly mysteries.
Some of the other reviews I noticed were critical of errors and amateurish writing. I tend to be overly critical myself at times, and I also noted those same people added that they'd pick up the next in them series. That should tell you that the story redeems itself from any minor writing glitches, and I've seen as many and more snafus in traditionally published novels. I actually had to go back and double check that this was an indie. Again, I say we'll done.
Mary O'Reilly is a former cop, shot in the line of duty, and revived from death as a result of her experience. Now she's a paranormal investigator, helping ghosts cross over as a result of her near-death experience. Mary is wise-cracking and tough as nails, but now she's uncovered a scandal neatly hidden for the past 24 years. She's a loose end and The murderer wants her dead.
The Illinois setting was familiar to me, although the often misspelled JoDaviess County was misspelled by this native. That is the only fault I Could find with this well-crafted mystery filled with suspense and intrigue. Can't wait to read more Mary O'Reilly mysteries.
Some of the other reviews I noticed were critical of errors and amateurish writing. I tend to be overly critical myself at times, and I also noted those same people added that they'd pick up the next in them series. That should tell you that the story redeems itself from any minor writing glitches, and I've seen as many and more snafus in traditionally published novels. I actually had to go back and double check that this was an indie. Again, I say we'll done.
The Empire's Edge by Kelly McCrady
4.0
I'm not a big fan of fantasy, and when I started this one, I was nervous that I would struggle through it. Once past the first two chapters, however, the book drew me in.
The main characters are drawn into a familiar struggle, duty to family and country. The hero is an army officer struggling with his self doubt, the heroine young and inexperienced, sent to ferret out a spy. Their obstacles, including the arranged marriage, are believable, and the relationship develops at a very realistic pace. The detail with which Ms. McCrady describes her world is woven seamlessly into the story, bringing the land and its people to life on the page.
I very much enjoyed the story and would highly recommend it.
The main characters are drawn into a familiar struggle, duty to family and country. The hero is an army officer struggling with his self doubt, the heroine young and inexperienced, sent to ferret out a spy. Their obstacles, including the arranged marriage, are believable, and the relationship develops at a very realistic pace. The detail with which Ms. McCrady describes her world is woven seamlessly into the story, bringing the land and its people to life on the page.
I very much enjoyed the story and would highly recommend it.
What Happens At Christmas by Victoria Alexander
4.0
This story was so ridiculous as to be brilliant, much like the characters.
Camille wants to marry a prince, so she makes cooks up a scheme to hire a fake family to impress a prince for Christmas. What happens from there can best be described as a melodrama. My imagination was not willing to stretch to accommodate the story line, and yet, with each addition of absurdity, I found myself howling with laughter. At the heart of it all was a tender romance nearly lost to pride and arrogance.
The story is about a Christmas farce, and the story itself resembles a farce, but it is keenly written and ultimately entertaining.
Camille wants to marry a prince, so she makes cooks up a scheme to hire a fake family to impress a prince for Christmas. What happens from there can best be described as a melodrama. My imagination was not willing to stretch to accommodate the story line, and yet, with each addition of absurdity, I found myself howling with laughter. At the heart of it all was a tender romance nearly lost to pride and arrogance.
The story is about a Christmas farce, and the story itself resembles a farce, but it is keenly written and ultimately entertaining.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
2.0
I've always enjoyed the movie and the underlying story, but to actually read ths was a chore. Long-winded, slowly dragging, there was severe "damage" to the painting after only four years. And then, Dorian's crimes were still not enumerated to give the reader sufficient cause to believe his soul could be so scarred. We see a young man living to excess, but that more a crime to himself than to society. Closer to the end, the reader gets a closer look at Dorian's debauchery and darker nature. This book was too much a commentary on idle English society that droned on and less of the interesting concept that spawned movies. Given the choice, I'd recommend the movie over the book.
Silver Lake by Kathryn Knight
3.0
Four friends reunite at a lake house after they all dream about a fifth friend who has mysteriously disappeared, with the intent to figure out what happened to her.
A ghost story with a sweet romance, there were parts of this book I liked a lot. Conversely, there were parts I didn't like-a lot. I found myself turning pages eagerly through the first half of this book, and through the second half (and isn't it usually the other way around?) I started asking myself why these people were so forgiving. I'm all for good people and a forgiving nature, but as humans, there has to be an initial reaction to betrayal to my way of thinking. The main character was far too selfless, showing that she hadn't learned anything from a bad marriage and she was still "a doormat". Then, there was the TSTL parts, where the ghost is leaving puddles of water all over the lake house, and yet they didn't guess from that that she might have drowned or been dumped in the lake? It took too long to figure out, especially with two scuba divers in residence, diving at a neighboring lake.
So in the end, did I like the book? I'll give you a lukewarm "kinda." It did keep me turning the pages, even through the improbable parts. I won't go into a technical opinion, because I liked the story well enough to overlook the technical aspects that bothered me. So three stars. It was good enough.
A ghost story with a sweet romance, there were parts of this book I liked a lot. Conversely, there were parts I didn't like-a lot. I found myself turning pages eagerly through the first half of this book, and through the second half (and isn't it usually the other way around?) I started asking myself why these people were so forgiving. I'm all for good people and a forgiving nature, but as humans, there has to be an initial reaction to betrayal to my way of thinking. The main character was far too selfless, showing that she hadn't learned anything from a bad marriage and she was still "a doormat". Then, there was the TSTL parts, where the ghost is leaving puddles of water all over the lake house, and yet they didn't guess from that that she might have drowned or been dumped in the lake? It took too long to figure out, especially with two scuba divers in residence, diving at a neighboring lake.
So in the end, did I like the book? I'll give you a lukewarm "kinda." It did keep me turning the pages, even through the improbable parts. I won't go into a technical opinion, because I liked the story well enough to overlook the technical aspects that bothered me. So three stars. It was good enough.
Im Bann deiner Zärtlichkeit by Teresa Medeiros
5.0
Cadgwick Manor is haunted by the White Lady, and Mrs. Spencer, the housekeeper wants to keep it that way. When the Future Earl who owns the place shows up, she and her band of misfits attempt to drive him off by propagating the story, but they have their hands full with this particular, brooding man who isn't afraid of anything, except losing his heart and soul.
Is the story predictable? Well, yes, but so was every Victoria Holt novel I read (and I think I read them all). I had it figured out early on, but there's still satisfaction knowing I got it right. Teresa Medeiros is one of my favorites. Well written, a story well told. I'm anxious to catch up on the Burkes, book 1 now.
Is the story predictable? Well, yes, but so was every Victoria Holt novel I read (and I think I read them all). I had it figured out early on, but there's still satisfaction knowing I got it right. Teresa Medeiros is one of my favorites. Well written, a story well told. I'm anxious to catch up on the Burkes, book 1 now.
After Midnight by Teresa Medeiros
4.0
Is Adrian Trevelyn a vampire? And in the end, does Caroline care? He's certainly captivated her, despite the fact he is expected to propose to her sister.
I read some of the disappointed reviews, always like to see what I might have overlooked, but reading is SO subjective. I enjoyed the story. The tortured hero, the selfless older siblings, the "is he/isn't he" debate. I figured he wasn't, but was surprised to find that this was, in fact, a vampire book and not one about gossip and superstition. Fun read.
I read some of the disappointed reviews, always like to see what I might have overlooked, but reading is SO subjective. I enjoyed the story. The tortured hero, the selfless older siblings, the "is he/isn't he" debate. I figured he wasn't, but was surprised to find that this was, in fact, a vampire book and not one about gossip and superstition. Fun read.