monikasbookblog's reviews
1222 reviews

Journey To Osm by Sybrina Durant, Travis Erwin

5.0

Have you seen Transformer movies? This novel is like that, except instead of transforming cars, its UNICORNS with metal horns. The entire book screams magic, and heart warming determination of one out-of-path unicorn BLUE. I thought it would be just a magical YA book, but the author Sybrina Durant has something magical for everyone! I really loved the prophecy gone wrong theme and the flow of story. Being my first Unicorn story, i loved it and is very fast read. Read it in less than two days. If you’re looking for fantasy magical read, this book will not disappoint you!
Thank you Voracious Readers and Sybrina Durant for sending me reader’s copy of this book. This review is purely based on my thoughts about this book.

It Started with a Miss by Lara Golden

3.0

It started with a miss is a girl meets boy sweet romance novel. Annie and James characters are lovely, relatable and heartwarming at times, but slow and dragged at some places, especially the beginning. I found myself getting into the story difficult and skimmed through paragraphs. The language is easy to understand and the flow of the story is good once you get into the story.
Thank you Inkubator books, NetGalley and author for reader’s copy of this book. This review is purely based on my opinion and not influenced.

A Spy with Scruples by Gary Dickson

4.0

I was intrigued to read this book after reading the synopsis. I really like political dramas and thrillers. But sadly, this book failed to keep me intrigued. It was a lot difficult to get into the story. I expected the characters to have the 60s depth, but they are heavily fictionalised. The world during cold war is portrayed beautifully by the author. I would recommend this book solely for understanding the complicated times during the cold war.
Thank you NetGalley, the author and River Grove Books for a reader’s copy of this book. The review is based only on my opinion of the book.

The New Normal by Tracy Brogan

5.0

The new normal is a sweet romantic novel about second chances, the hesitation of the heart to accept things that are too good to be true. Loved the character development of Ben and Carli. Their thoughts about future are so matured and hopeful. The language of the author is easy to understand and flow of the story is heartfelt. Not disappointing at all!
Thank you NetGalley, Tracy Brogan and Montlake romance for reader’s copy of this book. The review is my own opinion on the book.

Avocado Bliss by Candace Robinson

3.0

Avocado Bliss is a book that I felt a little complex, but realistic characters and situations. Sal is an avocado farm girl and Dacre is a random guy who goes to buy avocadoes. Sal and Dacre bond and their love develops. Dacre’s character was trying hard to be something more than a diabetic throughout the book. The story was slow moving for my liking, but I managed to finish the book. The ending was not upto expectation, the ending was rushed. A lot was going on in this book, i feel its too complex to be YA novel.
I received a reader’s copy through NetGalley. Thank you authors and Evernight Teen. The review is based only on my opinion of the story.

Kind of Famous by Mary Ann Marlowe

3.0

Kind of Famous revolves around Layla, our main character who manages life between her passion music and her job working around famous people for a magazine. Layla at times, sounded immature for the her age depicted and the story has a lot of emotions, which i felt confusing sometimes. It was hard for me to keep reading and to get into the story. The other characters Jo and Shane were good and I really loved how supportive Jo was towards Layla. The ending was heartwarming. Honestly, the story has a lot of potential of being a good novel, but it fell rather short on the narration part.

Honey and Venom: Confessions of an Urban Beekeeper by Andrew Coté

5.0

A humorous memoir of a NYC beekeeper. Its Cote’s journey through beekeeping and his relationship with the bees and honey! If you wanna know about bees and beekeeping, read this book. Informative, light read and a good outdoorsy book.
Thank you NetGalley, Andrew Cote and Random House publishing for reader’s copy of this book. This review is not influenced and is my own opinion of the book.

Enemy of the Gods: Sometimes, Dreams are Overrated by C. Hofsetz

5.0

This book is a perfect blend of scifi, fantasy and dystopian fiction. The story captivated me from the beginning and the characters in the story are well developed. Fast paced and overall a good work of fiction. I loved Jane so much!
Thank you NetGalley, author and publisher for reader’s copy of this book. This review is my own opinion!

You Can't Do It Alone: A Widow's Journey Through Loss, Grief and Life After by Maria Quiban Whitesell

5.0

You can’t do it alone is a self help book about passing through pain, grief, loss and the life after. The author shares her own feelings, her own experience that she went through when she lost her husband. Its uplifting that she’s talking about the pain and loss, backed by a licensed therapist. Honestly, this book is like a road map to process grief, gain control of emotions and how to keep memories alive. The book is entirely based on author’s emotions and her point of view. The language is good and I felt a little difficult to understand the therapy part, but it could be just me.
Thank you NetGalley, the author and Hachette books for reader’s copy of this book. The review is purely based on my opinion.

Vanishing Falls by Poppy Gee

4.0

Vanishing Falls is a story that happens in a town named after a falls and mystically vanishes right down a river. The town’s dark secrets that date back to 1800s comes to light when Celia Lily disappears from her home. The story and the characters are well written with suspense element and coincidences that add up seeming like its a incident that happens once in a while. But the ending seemed predictable for me and did not live upto the story build-up. I could read this book again just for the story flow and the suspense.
Thank you NetGalley, Poppy Gee, Harper Collins Publishers and William Morrow paperbacks for reader’s copy of this book. This review is my own opinion and was not influenced in any way!