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Katwalk by Maria Murnane
5.0
I have read other novels by Maria Murnane prior to this novel, Katwalk. For the most part, I really enjoyed the other series of books she wrote about Waverly Bryson, start with novel #1, Perfect on Paper: The (Mis)Adventures of Waverly Bryson.
In this newest novel, Ms. Murnane introduces readers to a new character, Katrina Lynden. Katrina lives and works in Silicon Valley, CA and finds herself unfilled at her job as an accountant. When her best friend suggests that they quit their jobs and go and live in New York City for a couple of months Katrina agrees. One problem though, Katrina's best friend ends up not quitting and Katrina is jobless. After some prodding she does go to New York City and meets new people and gets to explore the city that never sleeps. Katrina's new friends start to call her "Kat" and as Kat, Katrina finally starts to find herself.
I have to say that I really did like/love this novel. It is a fairly typical fish out of water tale but in my mind had a great deal of heart infused throughout the novel. I felt for Kat since she has been told what to do all of her life but her parents and did not feel good enough to try her hand at painting. Even though she was successful at her previous job she was lonely. Getting to read about New York through this character's eyes made me want to hop a train and go visit NYC. Ms. Murnane manages to provide so many details on people and places that you feel as if you are hanging out with Kat as she sees these places for the first time.
There is also some romance interwoven in this novel, but I was glad to see that it was not the main plot of this novel. The main plot really was Kat finding herself and just having fun. I don't know if Ms. Murnane plans on re-visiting Kat and the other characters we meet in future novels but I really would enjoy a sequel.
Please note that I received this novel for free via the Amazon Vine Program. This novel will be released on August 12, 2014.
In this newest novel, Ms. Murnane introduces readers to a new character, Katrina Lynden. Katrina lives and works in Silicon Valley, CA and finds herself unfilled at her job as an accountant. When her best friend suggests that they quit their jobs and go and live in New York City for a couple of months Katrina agrees. One problem though, Katrina's best friend ends up not quitting and Katrina is jobless. After some prodding she does go to New York City and meets new people and gets to explore the city that never sleeps. Katrina's new friends start to call her "Kat" and as Kat, Katrina finally starts to find herself.
I have to say that I really did like/love this novel. It is a fairly typical fish out of water tale but in my mind had a great deal of heart infused throughout the novel. I felt for Kat since she has been told what to do all of her life but her parents and did not feel good enough to try her hand at painting. Even though she was successful at her previous job she was lonely. Getting to read about New York through this character's eyes made me want to hop a train and go visit NYC. Ms. Murnane manages to provide so many details on people and places that you feel as if you are hanging out with Kat as she sees these places for the first time.
There is also some romance interwoven in this novel, but I was glad to see that it was not the main plot of this novel. The main plot really was Kat finding herself and just having fun. I don't know if Ms. Murnane plans on re-visiting Kat and the other characters we meet in future novels but I really would enjoy a sequel.
Please note that I received this novel for free via the Amazon Vine Program. This novel will be released on August 12, 2014.
The Accidental Proposal by Matt Dunn
2.0
I can honestly say that I really did enjoy the first novel of Matt Dunn's that I read, The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook: Eddie will do whatever it takes to become her Mr. Right. I was happy that I had found a new author to read and sat down and promptly bought the next two novels starring Ed Middelton and his best friend Dan. The second novel, Ex-Girlfriends United: Dan used to get the girls. Now the girls are getting him back. could have been a brilliant novel if only it had been told from Dan's point of view. Having Ed still going around and acting insecure through a second novel was just a bit too much for me to deal with. Not to mention that he was being really dumb how he handled things with his ex and current girlfriend.
This novel is book three starring Ed and Dan and how I am wishing that I had never bought it at this point. Matt Dunn can definitely write. He definitely knows the male brain and it would be great to read about the inner workings of a male mind while in a relationship. If this novel had been told from a different point of view's than Ed's I probably would have enjoyed it more.
The novel begins with Ed telling Dan that he is engaged since his girlfriend of a couple of year's Sam asked him while they were in bed one night (Quick Aside #1 I honestly don't think that Sam asked him to marry her, but was just chatting about marriage and the future and since Ed is dumb as a bag of hair he did not get that) and with Ed quickly becoming insecure that Sam may not want to marry him. Ed eventually proposes to Sam, but he still thinks that she asked him first. None of this is ever resolved in the course of this novel and it becomes a moot point anyway so I have no idea why it was even brought up as a thing throughout the novel.
Ed throughout this entire novel just ran around acting insecure and just stupid (once again) due to the fact that his ex-girlfriend dumped him via a letter and cheated on him with someone else. I have never in my life yelled at a fictional character the way I did Ed. I said at least 20 times
"For all that is holy, GET OVER IT!"
Ed remarks about Jane and Sam constantly to Dan, in his inner meanderings, and to Wendy the waitress at he and Dan's favorite pub. There is very little plot going on besides Sam and Ed planning the wedding and Ed pouting like a child because Sam wants to have a smaller wedding and Ed wants to have a huge big celebration in a church.
With Ed questioning whether Sam really loves him and if she is cheating on him (Quick Aside Two: I have never hoped for an affair so much in my life) the novel became tedious. Seriously, the entire novel is just Ed whining to Dan about Sam and Dan using common sense to get Ed to come to his senses about Sam. When I eventually finished the novel I just felt relief combined with annoyance that I wasted my time finishing this novel. I would still recommend, The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook but would not read beyond that novel.
This novel is book three starring Ed and Dan and how I am wishing that I had never bought it at this point. Matt Dunn can definitely write. He definitely knows the male brain and it would be great to read about the inner workings of a male mind while in a relationship. If this novel had been told from a different point of view's than Ed's I probably would have enjoyed it more.
The novel begins with Ed telling Dan that he is engaged since his girlfriend of a couple of year's Sam asked him while they were in bed one night (Quick Aside #1 I honestly don't think that Sam asked him to marry her, but was just chatting about marriage and the future and since Ed is dumb as a bag of hair he did not get that) and with Ed quickly becoming insecure that Sam may not want to marry him. Ed eventually proposes to Sam, but he still thinks that she asked him first. None of this is ever resolved in the course of this novel and it becomes a moot point anyway so I have no idea why it was even brought up as a thing throughout the novel.
Ed throughout this entire novel just ran around acting insecure and just stupid (once again) due to the fact that his ex-girlfriend dumped him via a letter and cheated on him with someone else. I have never in my life yelled at a fictional character the way I did Ed. I said at least 20 times
"For all that is holy, GET OVER IT!"
Ed remarks about Jane and Sam constantly to Dan, in his inner meanderings, and to Wendy the waitress at he and Dan's favorite pub. There is very little plot going on besides Sam and Ed planning the wedding and Ed pouting like a child because Sam wants to have a smaller wedding and Ed wants to have a huge big celebration in a church.
With Ed questioning whether Sam really loves him and if she is cheating on him (Quick Aside Two: I have never hoped for an affair so much in my life) the novel became tedious. Seriously, the entire novel is just Ed whining to Dan about Sam and Dan using common sense to get Ed to come to his senses about Sam. When I eventually finished the novel I just felt relief combined with annoyance that I wasted my time finishing this novel. I would still recommend, The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook but would not read beyond that novel.
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
5.0
The novel takes place on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. A teenaged girl named Helen Hamilton who is unusually tall does her best to hide at school and in public. She feels like part of her is some monster and never understands why some people stop and stare at her.
The whole island is turned upside down by the arrival of the Delos family from Spain. Helen doesn't know why but even hearing the name "Delos" makes her irritated. She starts hearing vague whispers and keeps seeing the image of three women calling out to her. When Helen lays eyes on Lucas Delos all she feels is rage and the urge to kill him. Through a slow reveal Helen begins to realize why she finds herself drawn and repelled by Lucas.
I really don't want to spoil any potential readers but I loved the reveal by the author about who Helen really is and how she fits in with the Delos family. The author working in Greek mythology along the way and also twisting some of the stories that many readers know very well to fit into her world building really works.
Additionally, the love story portrayed in this novel is very poignant and I can honestly I seriously swore when I got to the end of the novel since I was left worrying about what becomes of Helen and Lucas. This also caused me to run right out and buy the next novel in the series, Dreamless Awakening.
I definitely recommend to other first-time readers!
The whole island is turned upside down by the arrival of the Delos family from Spain. Helen doesn't know why but even hearing the name "Delos" makes her irritated. She starts hearing vague whispers and keeps seeing the image of three women calling out to her. When Helen lays eyes on Lucas Delos all she feels is rage and the urge to kill him. Through a slow reveal Helen begins to realize why she finds herself drawn and repelled by Lucas.
I really don't want to spoil any potential readers but I loved the reveal by the author about who Helen really is and how she fits in with the Delos family. The author working in Greek mythology along the way and also twisting some of the stories that many readers know very well to fit into her world building really works.
Additionally, the love story portrayed in this novel is very poignant and I can honestly I seriously swore when I got to the end of the novel since I was left worrying about what becomes of Helen and Lucas. This also caused me to run right out and buy the next novel in the series, Dreamless Awakening.
I definitely recommend to other first-time readers!
Dreamless. Nell'aldilà ogni notte è per sempre by Josephine Angelini
4.0
Dreamless (Awakening), is the second novel in the Starcrossed series. I will say that I really did love the first novel in this series, Starcrossed and though I liked/loved this novel I still have to say that book #1 was my favorite.
Dreamless (Awakening) now has Helen Hamilton coming to terms with the fact that she is a Scion (a descendant of a Greek god and mortal) who has the power to descend into Tartarus as well as a few other powers that the people descended from her House can lay claim to. Helen also is dealing with her love for Lucas Delos and another Scion named Orion who she can be with in a way that she cannot be with Lucas. Helen, Orion, and the other characters that make up the Delos clan with Helen's mortal friends Matt and Claire do their best to help Helen on her quest to destroy the Furies.
Once again I have to say that Ms. Angelini has her Greek mythology down pat throughout this novel. We find out more about Helen and Helen's mother Daphne in this novel. The only reason that I gave this novel three and a half stars is the dreaded love triangle set up in this novel and the dumbing down of characters.
Seriously I loathe love triangles in novels for a variety of reasons but in this novel it was 100 percent not necessary. First of all there was already a lot of moving parts going on in this novel and I didn't really need to have one more thing thrown at me as a reader. Reading about Helen and how much pain she was pointing herself into every night trying descending into Tartarus in order to fight the Furies was really all I needed to read about. I have no idea why every Young Adult novel I read always has a love triangle (looking at you Hunger Games and Twilight) going on.
The other plot point that I thought was seriously goofy is that in this novel Helen and Lucas are led to believe something that if anyone with basic math should have known was a lie. I thought it was beyond dumb myself and then the Ms. Angelini clues in the readers to the lie as well which I also didn't think was a good idea. If anything all it did was increase my frustration. First, I can do math so I already knew that this plot point was a lie. Second, it caused me to get really annoyed with everyone in this novel who can somehow decipher ancient Greek texts and have the power to fly and swim under water without breathing but adding 1+1 together was too hard.
I still really liked this novel and was glad to see the appearance of some other Greek gods and goddesses in this novel. I would recommend to fans of Starcrossed in order to find out what happens to Helen.
Dreamless (Awakening) now has Helen Hamilton coming to terms with the fact that she is a Scion (a descendant of a Greek god and mortal) who has the power to descend into Tartarus as well as a few other powers that the people descended from her House can lay claim to. Helen also is dealing with her love for Lucas Delos and another Scion named Orion who she can be with in a way that she cannot be with Lucas. Helen, Orion, and the other characters that make up the Delos clan with Helen's mortal friends Matt and Claire do their best to help Helen on her quest to destroy the Furies.
Once again I have to say that Ms. Angelini has her Greek mythology down pat throughout this novel. We find out more about Helen and Helen's mother Daphne in this novel. The only reason that I gave this novel three and a half stars is the dreaded love triangle set up in this novel and the dumbing down of characters.
Seriously I loathe love triangles in novels for a variety of reasons but in this novel it was 100 percent not necessary. First of all there was already a lot of moving parts going on in this novel and I didn't really need to have one more thing thrown at me as a reader. Reading about Helen and how much pain she was pointing herself into every night trying descending into Tartarus in order to fight the Furies was really all I needed to read about. I have no idea why every Young Adult novel I read always has a love triangle (looking at you Hunger Games and Twilight) going on.
The other plot point that I thought was seriously goofy is that in this novel Helen and Lucas are led to believe something that if anyone with basic math should have known was a lie. I thought it was beyond dumb myself and then the Ms. Angelini clues in the readers to the lie as well which I also didn't think was a good idea. If anything all it did was increase my frustration. First, I can do math so I already knew that this plot point was a lie. Second, it caused me to get really annoyed with everyone in this novel who can somehow decipher ancient Greek texts and have the power to fly and swim under water without breathing but adding 1+1 together was too hard.
I still really liked this novel and was glad to see the appearance of some other Greek gods and goddesses in this novel. I would recommend to fans of Starcrossed in order to find out what happens to Helen.
Goddess: A Starcrossed Novel by Josephine Angelini
3.0
Goddess by Josephine Angelini is the last novel in the Starcrossed Trilogy. I absolutely loved the first novel in the series (Strarcrossed) and except for a few plot elements in the second novel (Dreamless) really enjoyed that one as well. However, the third novel had a bit too much going on for me to really enjoy.
Goddess has Helen with her Scion and mortal friends doing their best to stop the 12 Olympians who are now able to roam free from Mount Olympus from destroying them and the rest of the world.
Let me start off with what I thought was done excellently in this novel.
First, the major plot with Helen and company battling the Olympian gods and goddesses to protect themselves and Earth was nicely done.
Second, the character of Helen grew. We have Helen growing up a lot more in this novel and actually fighting instead of passively sitting by and letting things happen to her while waiting for Lucas and Hector to save her. There is a bit of Mary Sue about her (seriously her constantly evolving powers got old after a while) but I was able to ignore that for the most part since Ms. Angelini did set up why Helen's powers were evolving due to the events in Dreamless.
We also get more backstory into the Helen of Troy and several other key figures such as Guinevere and Lancelot whom ended up being descended from Helen of Troy and Paris of of Troy as well.
That said I still only gave this novel three stars due to the following:
First of all instead of focusing on one person's points of view throughout this novel we switch back and forth between Helen, Lucas, Helen's mother Daphne, Helen's best friend Matt. There was literally way too many people's heads I was getting a look into.I understand why Ms. Angelini had to switch over to Matt's viewpoint so that the ending would make better sense.
Second, the stupidest lie that was ever told is still believed by everyone up until the end and because of this lie a character we have grown to care about believes something that causes him to give up on himself. I was so frustrated with this entire plot point since if your characters do not have the basic rudimentary math skills I pretty much don't want them to survive in the end since they have proven that they are not that intelligent.
Third, we don't really get a chance to interact with the Olympians that much in this novel. We do get some glimpses into what makes Apollo, Poseidon, and Zeus tick (apparently raping and murdering women) but the female goddess are pretty much ignored in this novel besides a few murmurings by Aprhodite about how much she loves Helen's face.
Fourth, readers are quickly able to glean that the Olympians gods at least are not good guys (see above about rape and murder) but we still have several characters allegiances swayed because of Helen's growing powers. I really thought that this part added nothing to the novel and when we get to a crucial moment where a character we readers have followed through three books now changes I can say honestly that the set-up for it just came out of left field.
Fifth, the battle scenes were pretty much boring. I wish that things had been described better and we actually had scenes with our characters fighting. Instead things seem to be described in a general way (except for two key fight scenes) and due to that I did not feel like anyone was really in grave danger.
Sixth, though it was nice to get backstory about Helen of Troy and other famous figures in history like Guinevere I really wish that that had been brought up only once in the novel. Instead we have Helen flashbacking to these characters lives and it was distracting when we had so many things going on in the present day. For me, it kept slowing the momentum of the novel. Also when we find out Helen of Troy's main reasons for betrayal I ended up not having a lot of sympathy for the character.
All in all this was an okay read but ultimately a letdown after how well I thought books 1 and 2 were in this trilogy.
Goddess has Helen with her Scion and mortal friends doing their best to stop the 12 Olympians who are now able to roam free from Mount Olympus from destroying them and the rest of the world.
Let me start off with what I thought was done excellently in this novel.
First, the major plot with Helen and company battling the Olympian gods and goddesses to protect themselves and Earth was nicely done.
Second, the character of Helen grew. We have Helen growing up a lot more in this novel and actually fighting instead of passively sitting by and letting things happen to her while waiting for Lucas and Hector to save her. There is a bit of Mary Sue about her (seriously her constantly evolving powers got old after a while) but I was able to ignore that for the most part since Ms. Angelini did set up why Helen's powers were evolving due to the events in Dreamless.
We also get more backstory into the Helen of Troy and several other key figures such as Guinevere and Lancelot whom ended up being descended from Helen of Troy and Paris of of Troy as well.
That said I still only gave this novel three stars due to the following:
First of all instead of focusing on one person's points of view throughout this novel we switch back and forth between Helen, Lucas, Helen's mother Daphne, Helen's best friend Matt. There was literally way too many people's heads I was getting a look into.I understand why Ms. Angelini had to switch over to Matt's viewpoint so that the ending would make better sense.
Second, the stupidest lie that was ever told is still believed by everyone up until the end and because of this lie a character we have grown to care about believes something that causes him to give up on himself. I was so frustrated with this entire plot point since if your characters do not have the basic rudimentary math skills I pretty much don't want them to survive in the end since they have proven that they are not that intelligent.
Third, we don't really get a chance to interact with the Olympians that much in this novel. We do get some glimpses into what makes Apollo, Poseidon, and Zeus tick (apparently raping and murdering women) but the female goddess are pretty much ignored in this novel besides a few murmurings by Aprhodite about how much she loves Helen's face.
Fourth, readers are quickly able to glean that the Olympians gods at least are not good guys (see above about rape and murder) but we still have several characters allegiances swayed because of Helen's growing powers. I really thought that this part added nothing to the novel and when we get to a crucial moment where a character we readers have followed through three books now changes I can say honestly that the set-up for it just came out of left field.
Fifth, the battle scenes were pretty much boring. I wish that things had been described better and we actually had scenes with our characters fighting. Instead things seem to be described in a general way (except for two key fight scenes) and due to that I did not feel like anyone was really in grave danger.
Sixth, though it was nice to get backstory about Helen of Troy and other famous figures in history like Guinevere I really wish that that had been brought up only once in the novel. Instead we have Helen flashbacking to these characters lives and it was distracting when we had so many things going on in the present day. For me, it kept slowing the momentum of the novel. Also when we find out Helen of Troy's main reasons for betrayal I ended up not having a lot of sympathy for the character.
All in all this was an okay read but ultimately a letdown after how well I thought books 1 and 2 were in this trilogy.
The Summer Wind by Mary Alice Monroe
4.0
The Summer Wind is the second book in the Lowcountry Summer trilogy. The first novel in this trilogy was The Summer Girls.
This novel continues the tale of three half sisters, Dora, Carson, and Harper. This novel focuses more on Dora though we do get some points of view from Carson and Harper. Dora is separated from her husband and still trying her best to deal with her son Nate's autism. While back on Sullivan's Island and staying at her grandmother Mamaw's home 'Sea Breeze' Dora reconnects with an old love and finally starts to come back to herself a bit. We also get Carson still struggling with her own demons and Harper starting to let go from all of the trappings from her mother's side of the family.
There really is not much tension in this novel. We do have the sisters getting mad at each other and we have Harper struggling with a major decision. However, those incidents are either quickly smoothed over except for Harper's decision. I assume that will be looked at more in the third and final novel. Speaking of Harper I feel like Mary Alice Monroe wove too many story-lines in this novel that revolved around her. I am pretty much guessing what the outcome of Harper's storyline will be but I bet I am right.
That said, readers will get a look into a character from one of Mary Alice Monroe's other novels which I welcomed. I wish that she had actually provided some more details on this character since I am wondering what is going on in her life right now based on where we left her in Swimming Lessons.
There was one plot that I think would have been great to be carried over into the third novel but was wrapped up in this novel at the conclusion. I wish that Ms. Monroe had actually had that go into the third and final novel since it felt hastily done.
Ultimately this is just what I would consider a great beach read.
This novel continues the tale of three half sisters, Dora, Carson, and Harper. This novel focuses more on Dora though we do get some points of view from Carson and Harper. Dora is separated from her husband and still trying her best to deal with her son Nate's autism. While back on Sullivan's Island and staying at her grandmother Mamaw's home 'Sea Breeze' Dora reconnects with an old love and finally starts to come back to herself a bit. We also get Carson still struggling with her own demons and Harper starting to let go from all of the trappings from her mother's side of the family.
There really is not much tension in this novel. We do have the sisters getting mad at each other and we have Harper struggling with a major decision. However, those incidents are either quickly smoothed over except for Harper's decision. I assume that will be looked at more in the third and final novel. Speaking of Harper I feel like Mary Alice Monroe wove too many story-lines in this novel that revolved around her. I am pretty much guessing what the outcome of Harper's storyline will be but I bet I am right.
That said, readers will get a look into a character from one of Mary Alice Monroe's other novels which I welcomed. I wish that she had actually provided some more details on this character since I am wondering what is going on in her life right now based on where we left her in Swimming Lessons.
There was one plot that I think would have been great to be carried over into the third novel but was wrapped up in this novel at the conclusion. I wish that Ms. Monroe had actually had that go into the third and final novel since it felt hastily done.
Ultimately this is just what I would consider a great beach read.
The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman
3.0
I have really enjoyed Alice Hoffman's previous novels but have to say that this novel was not on par with them at all.
The Museum of Extraordinary Things is set in the 1900s on Long Island in New York. The novel is told from two points of view.
The first point of view is by Coralie Sardie. Coralie is the daughter of The Professor who owns The Museum of Extraordinary Things that is located in Coney Island. Coralie's father provides regular people with the opportunity to glimpse at "freaks" and other extraordinary things that he possesses in the museum.
The second point of view is told by Eddie Cohen. Eddie is a Jewish immigrant who ran away from his father to work for a man that Eddie believes was just a con man using others for fame and fortune. Eventually Eddie happens upon a photographer who he starts to apprentice for since he loves the way that this man is able to capture people.
Eventually due to outside circumstances Coralie comes upon Eddie and finds herself for the first time thinking about a man.
I ultimately think that this novel was trying to do too much and didn't work that well.
The novel kept switching between Coralie and Eddie. One of them would tell a chapter from their first person narrative and then it would go back into the "present" day with whomever started off the chapter and that section would be told in third person. It didn't help that the first person narrative was written in cursive. It made it pretty hard to read on my Kindle at times and switching back and forth between font styles pretty much made my eyes cross after about an hour. Additionally, these two characters storylines did not really mesh at all and I felt as if I was reading two different books until they came across one another.
I think that the historical details that were sprinkled throughout the novel were at first much appreciated, but then started to bog down the novel. I happen to love the way that Alice Hoffman writes novels and like how she can just describe something in such a way that I can see in my head. However, for some reason while reading this novel I just got really tired of all of the overwrought words. I think her writing about a real time and real events that occurred (the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911) ended up taking me out of the novel. This is probably because the way that the novel told it seemed so far removed from that horrible event. It really was just used as a way to set up a further plot that I think could have been told another way since the final denouement was so unsatisfying.
I always find that each of Alice Hoffman's novels possess a bit of magic in them. I always credit this author with writing Magical Fiction novels first before Sarah Addison Allen. That element is one of the reasons why I always love to read her novels since the way she writes her books you end up thinking to yourself well maybe that could actually happen. This one however was pretty cut and dried a fictional novel with historical elements that did not make me feel as much as her other novels did such as Blackbird House.
The Museum of Extraordinary Things is set in the 1900s on Long Island in New York. The novel is told from two points of view.
The first point of view is by Coralie Sardie. Coralie is the daughter of The Professor who owns The Museum of Extraordinary Things that is located in Coney Island. Coralie's father provides regular people with the opportunity to glimpse at "freaks" and other extraordinary things that he possesses in the museum.
The second point of view is told by Eddie Cohen. Eddie is a Jewish immigrant who ran away from his father to work for a man that Eddie believes was just a con man using others for fame and fortune. Eventually Eddie happens upon a photographer who he starts to apprentice for since he loves the way that this man is able to capture people.
Eventually due to outside circumstances Coralie comes upon Eddie and finds herself for the first time thinking about a man.
I ultimately think that this novel was trying to do too much and didn't work that well.
The novel kept switching between Coralie and Eddie. One of them would tell a chapter from their first person narrative and then it would go back into the "present" day with whomever started off the chapter and that section would be told in third person. It didn't help that the first person narrative was written in cursive. It made it pretty hard to read on my Kindle at times and switching back and forth between font styles pretty much made my eyes cross after about an hour. Additionally, these two characters storylines did not really mesh at all and I felt as if I was reading two different books until they came across one another.
I think that the historical details that were sprinkled throughout the novel were at first much appreciated, but then started to bog down the novel. I happen to love the way that Alice Hoffman writes novels and like how she can just describe something in such a way that I can see in my head. However, for some reason while reading this novel I just got really tired of all of the overwrought words. I think her writing about a real time and real events that occurred (the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911) ended up taking me out of the novel. This is probably because the way that the novel told it seemed so far removed from that horrible event. It really was just used as a way to set up a further plot that I think could have been told another way since the final denouement was so unsatisfying.
I always find that each of Alice Hoffman's novels possess a bit of magic in them. I always credit this author with writing Magical Fiction novels first before Sarah Addison Allen. That element is one of the reasons why I always love to read her novels since the way she writes her books you end up thinking to yourself well maybe that could actually happen. This one however was pretty cut and dried a fictional novel with historical elements that did not make me feel as much as her other novels did such as Blackbird House.
The Place I Belong by Nancy Herkness
5.0
I previously read and really loved the prior two novels in this series. They were Take Me Home (A Whisper Horse Novel) and Country Roads (A Whisper Horse Novel).
The third novel in the series, The Place I Belong (A Whisper Horse Novel) is about Hannah Linden and Adam Bosch.
Hannah is a veterinarian that has come to Sanctuary, West Virginia, looking to hide out from her professional fall from grace and the loss of her fiancee.
Adam Bosch, is a world renowned chef, and recovering alcoholic, making due with living with a teenage son he never knew he had.
Hannah becomes entangled in the Bosch's lives when Adam's dog Trace is injured due to a thoughtless action by Adam's son Matt. Learning more about Adam and Matt has Hannah becoming involved in their lives and finding herself increasingly drawn to Adam.
I gave this novel five stars because this novel was a very nice addition to the "A Whisper Horse" series. The characters of Hannah and Adam were very well done. The heat between the two characters was believable and the love scenes were great.
I also thought the novel did carry enough tension to make it interesting. We had the character of Hannah finally standing up for herself as well as Adam's character being brutally honest about why he is an alcoholic and will always have to struggle everyday with the decision not to drink.
Also the description of the food and drink in the novel were just mouth-watering. At one point I had to stop reading and go and order some take-out since this book literally made me hungry for food.
We also get glimpses at previous couples from the other two novel, Claire and Tim, and Julia and Paul.
The third novel in the series, The Place I Belong (A Whisper Horse Novel) is about Hannah Linden and Adam Bosch.
Hannah is a veterinarian that has come to Sanctuary, West Virginia, looking to hide out from her professional fall from grace and the loss of her fiancee.
Adam Bosch, is a world renowned chef, and recovering alcoholic, making due with living with a teenage son he never knew he had.
Hannah becomes entangled in the Bosch's lives when Adam's dog Trace is injured due to a thoughtless action by Adam's son Matt. Learning more about Adam and Matt has Hannah becoming involved in their lives and finding herself increasingly drawn to Adam.
I gave this novel five stars because this novel was a very nice addition to the "A Whisper Horse" series. The characters of Hannah and Adam were very well done. The heat between the two characters was believable and the love scenes were great.
I also thought the novel did carry enough tension to make it interesting. We had the character of Hannah finally standing up for herself as well as Adam's character being brutally honest about why he is an alcoholic and will always have to struggle everyday with the decision not to drink.
Also the description of the food and drink in the novel were just mouth-watering. At one point I had to stop reading and go and order some take-out since this book literally made me hungry for food.
We also get glimpses at previous couples from the other two novel, Claire and Tim, and Julia and Paul.
That Summer by Lauren Willig
4.0
That Summer: A Novel by Lauren Willig was an intriguing read but often got hampered by having dueling storyline.
The novel takes place in 2009 and in 1849 and focuses on two women.
In 2009, readers are introduced to Julia Conley. Julia was born in England, however, a car accident when she was a child left her motherless and living in New York with her father. Due to a layoff from her job she is rudderless trying to find her way when she is informed she has inherited a house from an aunt she knows nothing about. Deciding to go to England to ascertain the value of the home and get it ready to be sold has Julia learning more about the home and she has inherited, Herne Hill.
In 1849, readers are introduced to sixteen year old Imogen.Imogen is the daughter of a vicar and has not had much to do with others in her village. One day a man named Arthur Grantham comes to her father's home inquiring about a book that he owns. Imogen finds herself falling in love with Arthur and leaving home to live at Herne Hill.
The novel goes back and forth between the two time periods with the majority of the points of view being told in the third person either from Julia or Imogen. However, at one point the novel is told from the third person point of view of another character in the 1840s named Gavin.
The novel had another plot to keep my interest but I did not find it to be a particularly compelling read. I would say that this was a very fast read for me and the chapters were not overly long. The main reason for that I think is that initially the 1840s storyline was interesting but quickly just dissolved into a very sad storyline that I was able to guess at halfway through the novel. I also think that it really didn't help that based on the times of that day in the 1840s that I rather doubted that Imogen's character could have done the things she did undiscovered for as long as she did. The 2009 storyline focusing on Julia also started off interesting but seemed to lose steam the closer to the end of the novel that I got. One thing that I really didn't care for is that one chapter would start off with Imogen or Julia and then halfway through switch to the other character and the chapter would try to end on a high note and then the next chapter would begin again with the character we left off just reading about. If the author wanted to build more suspense I think it would have been better to start off with Julia or Imogen, halfway through switch and end on that high note and then the next chapter start off with the character we did not just leave off reading about. It would have built up the suspense for me while reading.
Please note that I received this novel for free via the Amazon Vine Program
The novel takes place in 2009 and in 1849 and focuses on two women.
In 2009, readers are introduced to Julia Conley. Julia was born in England, however, a car accident when she was a child left her motherless and living in New York with her father. Due to a layoff from her job she is rudderless trying to find her way when she is informed she has inherited a house from an aunt she knows nothing about. Deciding to go to England to ascertain the value of the home and get it ready to be sold has Julia learning more about the home and she has inherited, Herne Hill.
In 1849, readers are introduced to sixteen year old Imogen.Imogen is the daughter of a vicar and has not had much to do with others in her village. One day a man named Arthur Grantham comes to her father's home inquiring about a book that he owns. Imogen finds herself falling in love with Arthur and leaving home to live at Herne Hill.
The novel goes back and forth between the two time periods with the majority of the points of view being told in the third person either from Julia or Imogen. However, at one point the novel is told from the third person point of view of another character in the 1840s named Gavin.
The novel had another plot to keep my interest but I did not find it to be a particularly compelling read. I would say that this was a very fast read for me and the chapters were not overly long. The main reason for that I think is that initially the 1840s storyline was interesting but quickly just dissolved into a very sad storyline that I was able to guess at halfway through the novel. I also think that it really didn't help that based on the times of that day in the 1840s that I rather doubted that Imogen's character could have done the things she did undiscovered for as long as she did. The 2009 storyline focusing on Julia also started off interesting but seemed to lose steam the closer to the end of the novel that I got. One thing that I really didn't care for is that one chapter would start off with Imogen or Julia and then halfway through switch to the other character and the chapter would try to end on a high note and then the next chapter would begin again with the character we left off just reading about. If the author wanted to build more suspense I think it would have been better to start off with Julia or Imogen, halfway through switch and end on that high note and then the next chapter start off with the character we did not just leave off reading about. It would have built up the suspense for me while reading.
Please note that I received this novel for free via the Amazon Vine Program
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
5.0
Have you ever just read a book that was so good that you pinch yourself a few times to make sure it's real? That was the feeling I had the entire time I was reading Old Man's War. There were some minor quibbles I had while reading the book but they were not enough for me rate this book below five stars.
We begin with one of the best opening lines in a book I have read in some time.
With that we are firmly thrust into the world of Old Man's War. Told in the first person from seventy-five year old John Perry's point of view, we follow him as he signs up to join the Colonial Defense Forces (CDF). We are provided back-story into a new Earth that has people at the age of seventy-five enlisting in the CDF with no real idea of what this means. Joining the CDF requires John to agree to join for at least two years with the understanding that he may be extended by an additional eight.
Life expectancy on Earth has improved to ninety years old but the CDF promises medical, surgical, or therapeutic regimens or procedures to enhance combat readiness. Many that sign up wonder if the CDF has found a cure for aging. What John Perry finds out is something all together different. I don't want to spoil for those who have not read this book before but I have to say that my mind was blown in quite a good way.
I loved John Perry's voice throughout this entire novel. He had a wry sense of humor even in his darkest moments. I felt like I was experiencing everything that he was and I kept my fingers crossed the last few chapters that he would end up okay.
When we have John meeting and befriending a group that is called "The Old Fart's" you find yourself in just a few sentences believing that all of the people that John meets are living breathing people. I think a lot of times when I read a book either the MC is very tightly written but the secondary characters never seem like fully realized characters to me. Or the opposite. In just a few sentences I was able to get a sense of Tom, Susan, Jesse, Maggie, Alan, and Harry. And I have to say at the end of this book I kind of wanted to find John Scalzi and kick him in the shin. This is a novel but it is also about what it means to be human and to go out and fight a war. In war there is always going to be death and I know that each time something happened it felt like I was punched in the gut.
There were so many lines that honestly had me in tears while reading. A good book in my mind can make you think; a great book can make you feel too. And I seriously felt so many emotions while reading this book.
Though there was a lot of exposition in this book provided by the MC it didn't bother me that much. This was due to there being a lot of world building that had to be explained in this book and I rather have a lot of exposition than not have things explained to me as a reader. Here is where my minor quibble comes in with this book though. I will admit the explanations or the running conversations about technology, machines, skip drives, etc. made my eyes glaze just a bit. I love science fiction novels but when you start trying to explain to me how thrusters work I find myself getting distracted. For me it's enough to explain the basics of the world the characters are in and what rules apply there. You can add on additional layers as the story goes on but reading a science book did not appeal to me in school and it does not appeal to me as an adult.
I recommend this book and even if you are not a science fiction fan I think you will enjoy it.
We begin with one of the best opening lines in a book I have read in some time.
I did two things on my seventy-fifth birthday. I visited my wife's grave. Then I joined the army.
With that we are firmly thrust into the world of Old Man's War. Told in the first person from seventy-five year old John Perry's point of view, we follow him as he signs up to join the Colonial Defense Forces (CDF). We are provided back-story into a new Earth that has people at the age of seventy-five enlisting in the CDF with no real idea of what this means. Joining the CDF requires John to agree to join for at least two years with the understanding that he may be extended by an additional eight.
Life expectancy on Earth has improved to ninety years old but the CDF promises medical, surgical, or therapeutic regimens or procedures to enhance combat readiness. Many that sign up wonder if the CDF has found a cure for aging. What John Perry finds out is something all together different. I don't want to spoil for those who have not read this book before but I have to say that my mind was blown in quite a good way.
I loved John Perry's voice throughout this entire novel. He had a wry sense of humor even in his darkest moments. I felt like I was experiencing everything that he was and I kept my fingers crossed the last few chapters that he would end up okay.
When we have John meeting and befriending a group that is called "The Old Fart's" you find yourself in just a few sentences believing that all of the people that John meets are living breathing people. I think a lot of times when I read a book either the MC is very tightly written but the secondary characters never seem like fully realized characters to me. Or the opposite. In just a few sentences I was able to get a sense of Tom, Susan, Jesse, Maggie, Alan, and Harry. And I have to say at the end of this book I kind of wanted to find John Scalzi and kick him in the shin. This is a novel but it is also about what it means to be human and to go out and fight a war. In war there is always going to be death and I know that each time something happened it felt like I was punched in the gut.
There were so many lines that honestly had me in tears while reading. A good book in my mind can make you think; a great book can make you feel too. And I seriously felt so many emotions while reading this book.
BELOVED WIFE AND MOTHER. I read those words over and over every time I visit. I can't help it; they are four words that so inadequately and so perfectly sum up a life.
Do not mourn me, friends
I fall as a shooting star
Into the next life
Part of what makes us human is what we mean to other people, and what people mean to us. I miss meaning something to someone, having that part of being human. That's what I miss about marriage.
Though there was a lot of exposition in this book provided by the MC it didn't bother me that much. This was due to there being a lot of world building that had to be explained in this book and I rather have a lot of exposition than not have things explained to me as a reader. Here is where my minor quibble comes in with this book though. I will admit the explanations or the running conversations about technology, machines, skip drives, etc. made my eyes glaze just a bit. I love science fiction novels but when you start trying to explain to me how thrusters work I find myself getting distracted. For me it's enough to explain the basics of the world the characters are in and what rules apply there. You can add on additional layers as the story goes on but reading a science book did not appeal to me in school and it does not appeal to me as an adult.
I recommend this book and even if you are not a science fiction fan I think you will enjoy it.