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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.
Astonish Me by Maggie Shipstead
4.0
I really loved Maggie Shipstead's "Seating Arrangements"and thought that novel was a fresh and often crazy look into a family during the wedding weekend of the oldest daughter.
"Astonish Me" is about professional ballet which I have to say besides thinking it looks very pretty and often breathtaking I know nothing about at all.
This novel focuses on Joan. Joan helps a professional ballet dancer named Arslan defect from the USSR in 1975. Though Joan loves to dance and loves Arslan she realizes that she is never going to be a prima ballerina and just remind a dancer in the corps. Her relationship begins with Arslan suffers due to this and she finally decides on a different path for herself.
I have to say that Maggie Shipstead can still turn a phrase. I loved how she put words together in "Seating Arrangements". It was seriously a pleasure for my eyes and brain. Readers will definitely get an in depth look at the world of ballet. I loved movies like Center Stage and Step because they give you just a minor glimpse at how hard it is to be a ballet dancer and actually continue on in this career. Reading about the rigors of ballet dancing and the many things that dancers go through with regards to their diet, their forms, how damaged their bodies and feet get. I really loved that insider's glimpse that Shipstead provided.
That said I only gave the novel 3.5 stars just because the the shifting chronology at times was a bit much to take in. I am never that big a fan of a story being told with shifting timelines unless it is done well. In this particular novel, it was not done well for me. Additionally, I wish that Shipstead had went a different way with Joan's child, Harry. I don't want to spoil for potential readers but as soon as you find out certain details you can start to call what is going to happen in the rest of the story. I am always disappointed when I can guess which way an author is going while reading a novel. I love to be surprised. It doesn't have to be a storyline that is totally out of left field but at least not something that you can read in a dozen other novels.
Please note that I received this novel for free via the Amazon Vine Program.
"Astonish Me" is about professional ballet which I have to say besides thinking it looks very pretty and often breathtaking I know nothing about at all.
This novel focuses on Joan. Joan helps a professional ballet dancer named Arslan defect from the USSR in 1975. Though Joan loves to dance and loves Arslan she realizes that she is never going to be a prima ballerina and just remind a dancer in the corps. Her relationship begins with Arslan suffers due to this and she finally decides on a different path for herself.
I have to say that Maggie Shipstead can still turn a phrase. I loved how she put words together in "Seating Arrangements". It was seriously a pleasure for my eyes and brain. Readers will definitely get an in depth look at the world of ballet. I loved movies like Center Stage and Step because they give you just a minor glimpse at how hard it is to be a ballet dancer and actually continue on in this career. Reading about the rigors of ballet dancing and the many things that dancers go through with regards to their diet, their forms, how damaged their bodies and feet get. I really loved that insider's glimpse that Shipstead provided.
That said I only gave the novel 3.5 stars just because the the shifting chronology at times was a bit much to take in. I am never that big a fan of a story being told with shifting timelines unless it is done well. In this particular novel, it was not done well for me. Additionally, I wish that Shipstead had went a different way with Joan's child, Harry. I don't want to spoil for potential readers but as soon as you find out certain details you can start to call what is going to happen in the rest of the story. I am always disappointed when I can guess which way an author is going while reading a novel. I love to be surprised. It doesn't have to be a storyline that is totally out of left field but at least not something that you can read in a dozen other novels.
Please note that I received this novel for free via the Amazon Vine Program.
The Witches of the Blue Well by Paula Brackston
4.0
I loved Paula Brackston's "The Winter Witch".
This short story references a blue well and the main character of that novel finds it and uses it to become a powerful witch. This prequel discusses the first witches who came upon the blue well and one witch in particular that harnesses it's power.
The main character in this story is Ceri who has been told by her grandmother that she has magic in her blood. A pestilence causes her to lose her entire family except for her sister. Fleeing the sickness the two head towards the ocean and come across the blue well.
This story clocks in at 69 pages and also includes some of Brackston's thoughts on writing "The Winter Witch". I did like the short story and only wish that this could have been expanded since I became attached to the character of Ceri.
This short story references a blue well and the main character of that novel finds it and uses it to become a powerful witch. This prequel discusses the first witches who came upon the blue well and one witch in particular that harnesses it's power.
The main character in this story is Ceri who has been told by her grandmother that she has magic in her blood. A pestilence causes her to lose her entire family except for her sister. Fleeing the sickness the two head towards the ocean and come across the blue well.
This story clocks in at 69 pages and also includes some of Brackston's thoughts on writing "The Winter Witch". I did like the short story and only wish that this could have been expanded since I became attached to the character of Ceri.
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
1.0
I can honestly say that this was one of the most painful reads for me this year.
To recap this novel is part of the USA by the book that I am participating in this summer. I really loved the first novel that I read as part of USA by the book but this one was awful.
This is a YA novel that takes place in a fictional future where love has been outlawed. Apparently it has been found that love can lead to all kinds of diseases such as being bi-polar and heart disease.
All citizens have to undergo the Cure which will make them incapable of love. The main character of this novel is Lena who is happy that she will be undergoing the Cure. She sees love as a dangerous thing that led to her mother's death. While about to undergo treatment an incident causes Lena's cure to be delayed which leads her to meet the mysterious Alex and find out what love can lead to.
I gave this novel one star because as I said above, it was awful. The only reason why I gave it one star were that the chapters were short.
First, I can't even get behind the science that would say that love is bad and can lead to as many diseases as the novel claims. Maybe if there was more information provided by the author in this novel that can show why love is such a horrible thing and why anyone in the world would go along with a supposed cure that would turn your emotions off.
Second, the world building in this novel was shallow at best. One reason that I like dystopian novels is that an author can make up an entirely new world. It's cool to read someone else' words and get to know what strange world have they created. One of the many reasons why I loved the novel Dune so much.
With regards to Delirium, there is no real sense of the world the author has created. This novel takes place in Portland, Maine and there is some references to other cities, but that's about it. I hate it when an author does not describe a place and it ends up sounding like Everytown, Usa.
I could maybe understand how the Cure happened if we had any explanations of why this occurred and how a large population of people agreed to do such a thing for 64 years. Maybe if the timeline of the novel had been expanded, i.e. it has been a 100 years or 200 years since the first person underwent the Cure and it is a normal way of life now. But for some reason 64 years seemed to be such a short time-frame for people to willingly undergo the Cure and the science as mentioned above made no sense. I think Ms. Oliver lost a golden opportunity to invent other cities, places, perhaps a Great War which lead to people trying to stop human beings from killing one another.
I understood and got engrossed with the Hunger Games and how those events occurred and were let to continue because of the Capital and how the games were used to stop any potential uprisings. Maybe in the second and third books in this trilogy it will be explained further. I can honestly say that I have no plans to read either of those novels.
Third, the main character of Lena is freaking annoying. The way that she is written she is the drippiest character ever. It also doesn't help that the author uses such overwrought language throughout the whole novel. For example:
"Of course we aren't yet totally free from the deliria in the United States. Until the procedure has been perfected, until it has been made safe for the under-eighteens, we will never be totally protected. It still moves around us with invisible, sweeping tentacles, choking us."
I could put more quotes from the book in this review but I like to spare you all. The entire novel needed to be toned down. I have never seen so many adjectives or adverbs in my life in just one novel. All I wanted to do was scream, "just say it's yellow, quit saying it looks like a golden halo with dew sprinkled upon it. Just say yellow!" Quick aside, it's never good when I start yelling while reading a novel.
Fourth, the romance between Lena and Alex had me rolling my eyes. I had more chemistry with the guy at Starbucks who I buy coffee from everyday. If you want the readers to root for the main protagonist and a guy you have to believe they really are in love. I felt like Lena's feelings for Alex were shallow at best and Alex was written very one dimensional. He did not feel like a real person to me while reading. What almost killed me while reading was that of course when Lena falls in love with Alex the writing becomes even more painful to get through.
I do not recommend this novel.
To recap this novel is part of the USA by the book that I am participating in this summer. I really loved the first novel that I read as part of USA by the book but this one was awful.
This is a YA novel that takes place in a fictional future where love has been outlawed. Apparently it has been found that love can lead to all kinds of diseases such as being bi-polar and heart disease.
All citizens have to undergo the Cure which will make them incapable of love. The main character of this novel is Lena who is happy that she will be undergoing the Cure. She sees love as a dangerous thing that led to her mother's death. While about to undergo treatment an incident causes Lena's cure to be delayed which leads her to meet the mysterious Alex and find out what love can lead to.
I gave this novel one star because as I said above, it was awful. The only reason why I gave it one star were that the chapters were short.
First, I can't even get behind the science that would say that love is bad and can lead to as many diseases as the novel claims. Maybe if there was more information provided by the author in this novel that can show why love is such a horrible thing and why anyone in the world would go along with a supposed cure that would turn your emotions off.
Second, the world building in this novel was shallow at best. One reason that I like dystopian novels is that an author can make up an entirely new world. It's cool to read someone else' words and get to know what strange world have they created. One of the many reasons why I loved the novel Dune so much.
With regards to Delirium, there is no real sense of the world the author has created. This novel takes place in Portland, Maine and there is some references to other cities, but that's about it. I hate it when an author does not describe a place and it ends up sounding like Everytown, Usa.
I could maybe understand how the Cure happened if we had any explanations of why this occurred and how a large population of people agreed to do such a thing for 64 years. Maybe if the timeline of the novel had been expanded, i.e. it has been a 100 years or 200 years since the first person underwent the Cure and it is a normal way of life now. But for some reason 64 years seemed to be such a short time-frame for people to willingly undergo the Cure and the science as mentioned above made no sense. I think Ms. Oliver lost a golden opportunity to invent other cities, places, perhaps a Great War which lead to people trying to stop human beings from killing one another.
I understood and got engrossed with the Hunger Games and how those events occurred and were let to continue because of the Capital and how the games were used to stop any potential uprisings. Maybe in the second and third books in this trilogy it will be explained further. I can honestly say that I have no plans to read either of those novels.
Third, the main character of Lena is freaking annoying. The way that she is written she is the drippiest character ever. It also doesn't help that the author uses such overwrought language throughout the whole novel. For example:
"Of course we aren't yet totally free from the deliria in the United States. Until the procedure has been perfected, until it has been made safe for the under-eighteens, we will never be totally protected. It still moves around us with invisible, sweeping tentacles, choking us."
I could put more quotes from the book in this review but I like to spare you all. The entire novel needed to be toned down. I have never seen so many adjectives or adverbs in my life in just one novel. All I wanted to do was scream, "just say it's yellow, quit saying it looks like a golden halo with dew sprinkled upon it. Just say yellow!" Quick aside, it's never good when I start yelling while reading a novel.
Fourth, the romance between Lena and Alex had me rolling my eyes. I had more chemistry with the guy at Starbucks who I buy coffee from everyday. If you want the readers to root for the main protagonist and a guy you have to believe they really are in love. I felt like Lena's feelings for Alex were shallow at best and Alex was written very one dimensional. He did not feel like a real person to me while reading. What almost killed me while reading was that of course when Lena falls in love with Alex the writing becomes even more painful to get through.
I do not recommend this novel.
The Look of Love by Bella Andre
1.0
Never again.
I am just tempted to just repeat those words over and over in this review but I decided to explain myself. This is probably one of the most awful books I have read in some time. I am all for red hot romances and sex scenes, but if that is all your supposed contemporary romance has to offer I am going to get bored real quick and make sure that I don't go and read any of your books in the future. If it was not for the Kindle Unlimited I would never have read this author since I have become leery about purchasing many of the books that are in the $1.99 range. It doesn't mean you don't come across gems, but most times you are going to end up with a poorly put together book like this one.
Ms. Andre has created a series based on the Sullivan family. Apparently the Sullivans' have super awesome genes since not only are the eight brothers and sisters exceeding everything in their lives they are also the most handsome people in the world.
The first novel focuses on Chase Sullivan who is a world renowned photographer (seriously though how come none of these people are ever just average or crappy at their jobs in these books). Chase is hot (of course) and at the Sullivan matriarch's birthday party we are treated to an info dump on the back-story of the Sullivans which is always fun to read (no, it never is).
Chase leaving the party comes across a damsel in distress and feels instant attraction to her though she is not a typical beautiful woman. The woman, Chloe, who though just ended a brutal and abusive relationship also feels instant attraction to Chase. So much so that a few pages later we are treated to her pleasuring herself thinking about Chase. Seriously, like maybe 2 hours have passed and Chloe is so "het" up about Chase off she goes thinking about him having her every way possible (insert my own eyeroll). Also the fact that Chloe just got out of a relationship like the one she was in and acted as she did with Chase drove me nuts. That could have been a decent plot that Ms. Andre could have worked with. Instead of two people just running around talking about how hot the other one made them throughout the entire book actually have Chloe be cautious about starting anything new or being afraid of Chase anytime they have an argument. It could have been something that elevated the book from substandard to something better.
That said the entire plot consists of this. Chloe and Chase having lots of sex with Sullivans' running around here and there. So if you want to read some badly written sex scenes then I think this book is for you. Also I would like to say that I never want to read the word "wet" or "wetness" again in my life. Or at least for a few more weeks while I recover from this book.
To sum,I would recommend skipping this and reading someone else.
I am just tempted to just repeat those words over and over in this review but I decided to explain myself. This is probably one of the most awful books I have read in some time. I am all for red hot romances and sex scenes, but if that is all your supposed contemporary romance has to offer I am going to get bored real quick and make sure that I don't go and read any of your books in the future. If it was not for the Kindle Unlimited I would never have read this author since I have become leery about purchasing many of the books that are in the $1.99 range. It doesn't mean you don't come across gems, but most times you are going to end up with a poorly put together book like this one.
Ms. Andre has created a series based on the Sullivan family. Apparently the Sullivans' have super awesome genes since not only are the eight brothers and sisters exceeding everything in their lives they are also the most handsome people in the world.
The first novel focuses on Chase Sullivan who is a world renowned photographer (seriously though how come none of these people are ever just average or crappy at their jobs in these books). Chase is hot (of course) and at the Sullivan matriarch's birthday party we are treated to an info dump on the back-story of the Sullivans which is always fun to read (no, it never is).
Chase leaving the party comes across a damsel in distress and feels instant attraction to her though she is not a typical beautiful woman. The woman, Chloe, who though just ended a brutal and abusive relationship also feels instant attraction to Chase. So much so that a few pages later we are treated to her pleasuring herself thinking about Chase. Seriously, like maybe 2 hours have passed and Chloe is so "het" up about Chase off she goes thinking about him having her every way possible (insert my own eyeroll). Also the fact that Chloe just got out of a relationship like the one she was in and acted as she did with Chase drove me nuts. That could have been a decent plot that Ms. Andre could have worked with. Instead of two people just running around talking about how hot the other one made them throughout the entire book actually have Chloe be cautious about starting anything new or being afraid of Chase anytime they have an argument. It could have been something that elevated the book from substandard to something better.
That said the entire plot consists of this. Chloe and Chase having lots of sex with Sullivans' running around here and there. So if you want to read some badly written sex scenes then I think this book is for you. Also I would like to say that I never want to read the word "wet" or "wetness" again in my life. Or at least for a few more weeks while I recover from this book.
To sum,I would recommend skipping this and reading someone else.
A Modern Witch by Debora Geary
2.0
I read this and the second book in the series and I think I am going to probably stop there. The author Debora Geary started off with a really cool idea. What if there were witches out there and based on modern times are starting to see there kind dwindle. A group of witches in CA and those in Nova Scotia have trained and been family and friends with each other for decades.
One of the witches who is apparently a complete coding genius (Nell) and her younger brother (Jamie) created a "fetch" spell in order to find new witches out there. Well due to an accident a woman who does not realize that she is a witch is fetched and has her life turned upside down.
Though the book synopsis makes it seem as if Lauren is the main character in this book she is not. Instead there are several characters who heads we pop in and out of during the course of the book with Nell and Jamie just a couple of the character's we beep bop in and out of during the course of the book.
There is a bare whisper of a plot in this book and more often than not is forgotten by describing people just eating ice cream, cookies, and disparaging eating anything that is leafy or green.
There is also barely any description of certain witches powers or what they mean and often I was just confused about what it meant to have a power fire, water power, or mind power. Also if the witches are tied to the four elements I honestly don't see what element anyone with mind powers or the power to teleport (or port as it is called in this book) comes from.
And that fellow readers is the main issue I have with this book. There is not enough backstory or explanation for anything in this first book. If you are going to world build on the scale that Ms. Geary is trying to do here there should be some explanation for things and how they all tied together. All I really learned in this book is that males can be witches too.
This and the lack of character development with anyone introduced into this book just made this a very dry and not enjoyable read for me. Every character from Lauren, Nell, Jamie, Lauren's best friend Nat, Moira (the grandmother of some but not all of the witches) has the exact same voice. You would think that Jamie being a male would be distinctive, but honestly no he and the rest of the characters all sound exactly alike. It does not help that Ms. Geary does not describe any of the characters she is talking about. Instead we hear that Jamie is tall dark and handsome. Okay, but how tall is tall? Does he have dark black hair, or dark brown hair, what color are his eyes? The same problem continues when Ms. Geary tries to describe a place (like Chicago) besides saying it is cold and wet outside I could be in any city on the east coast in the middle of winter. There is no real flavor to anything she describes.
To make the book better I think having the chapters broken up with the character who was narrating that section/chapter of the book (also the layout of the book was confusing with weird breaks here and there) so that way a reader would not get confused. Also it would have been better to keep the main plot line being about Lauren and her discovering that she is a witch. Instead we had other characters' issues bubbling up in this book and you just want to throw your hands up and say who cares. There is also no real tension or issue to resolve so that also makes it a very flat read. I am not saying you need to go up against a big bad in every book but there should be something there that is going to keep readers interest. Just reading about people using spells, coming into magical powers, and eating a lot of cookies and ice cream gets boring.
One of the witches who is apparently a complete coding genius (Nell) and her younger brother (Jamie) created a "fetch" spell in order to find new witches out there. Well due to an accident a woman who does not realize that she is a witch is fetched and has her life turned upside down.
Though the book synopsis makes it seem as if Lauren is the main character in this book she is not. Instead there are several characters who heads we pop in and out of during the course of the book with Nell and Jamie just a couple of the character's we beep bop in and out of during the course of the book.
There is a bare whisper of a plot in this book and more often than not is forgotten by describing people just eating ice cream, cookies, and disparaging eating anything that is leafy or green.
There is also barely any description of certain witches powers or what they mean and often I was just confused about what it meant to have a power fire, water power, or mind power. Also if the witches are tied to the four elements I honestly don't see what element anyone with mind powers or the power to teleport (or port as it is called in this book) comes from.
And that fellow readers is the main issue I have with this book. There is not enough backstory or explanation for anything in this first book. If you are going to world build on the scale that Ms. Geary is trying to do here there should be some explanation for things and how they all tied together. All I really learned in this book is that males can be witches too.
This and the lack of character development with anyone introduced into this book just made this a very dry and not enjoyable read for me. Every character from Lauren, Nell, Jamie, Lauren's best friend Nat, Moira (the grandmother of some but not all of the witches) has the exact same voice. You would think that Jamie being a male would be distinctive, but honestly no he and the rest of the characters all sound exactly alike. It does not help that Ms. Geary does not describe any of the characters she is talking about. Instead we hear that Jamie is tall dark and handsome. Okay, but how tall is tall? Does he have dark black hair, or dark brown hair, what color are his eyes? The same problem continues when Ms. Geary tries to describe a place (like Chicago) besides saying it is cold and wet outside I could be in any city on the east coast in the middle of winter. There is no real flavor to anything she describes.
To make the book better I think having the chapters broken up with the character who was narrating that section/chapter of the book (also the layout of the book was confusing with weird breaks here and there) so that way a reader would not get confused. Also it would have been better to keep the main plot line being about Lauren and her discovering that she is a witch. Instead we had other characters' issues bubbling up in this book and you just want to throw your hands up and say who cares. There is also no real tension or issue to resolve so that also makes it a very flat read. I am not saying you need to go up against a big bad in every book but there should be something there that is going to keep readers interest. Just reading about people using spells, coming into magical powers, and eating a lot of cookies and ice cream gets boring.
Three Story House by Courtney Miller Santo
3.0
The novel is told in three parts from the perspectives of three cousins, Lizzie, Elyse, and Isobel.
Although the novel shifts voices the main character for me was really the character of Lizzie. LIzzie is trying to cope with the fact that her professional soccer career may be over. Dealing with her mother pushing her to deal with her late grandmother's home in Memphis, Lizzie and her two cousins, Elyse and Isobel go together to see about fixing up the house.
This entire novel was just an average read to me. Honestly I found the novel to also be just a bit depressing due to all of the characters going on and on about how horrible her life is/was. Lizzie's character actually drove me up the wall since she was so unpleasant about everything related to her upbringing and when you read further you don't get why she is as angry as she is about things with regards to her mother and stepfather. And unlike with "The Roots of the Olive Tree" I didn't find the writing inspiring this time. Instead I found it to be a drudge to get through and often times my mind just wandered while reading since I didn't feel 100 percent engaged in everything that was occurring for the characters.
I previously loved this author's other book, "The Roots of the Olive Tree" but this one just gets bogged down in vague family backstory that when it is explained you have ceased caring about at all.
Please note that I received this novel for free via the Amazon Vine Program.
Although the novel shifts voices the main character for me was really the character of Lizzie. LIzzie is trying to cope with the fact that her professional soccer career may be over. Dealing with her mother pushing her to deal with her late grandmother's home in Memphis, Lizzie and her two cousins, Elyse and Isobel go together to see about fixing up the house.
This entire novel was just an average read to me. Honestly I found the novel to also be just a bit depressing due to all of the characters going on and on about how horrible her life is/was. Lizzie's character actually drove me up the wall since she was so unpleasant about everything related to her upbringing and when you read further you don't get why she is as angry as she is about things with regards to her mother and stepfather. And unlike with "The Roots of the Olive Tree" I didn't find the writing inspiring this time. Instead I found it to be a drudge to get through and often times my mind just wandered while reading since I didn't feel 100 percent engaged in everything that was occurring for the characters.
I previously loved this author's other book, "The Roots of the Olive Tree" but this one just gets bogged down in vague family backstory that when it is explained you have ceased caring about at all.
Please note that I received this novel for free via the Amazon Vine Program.
Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews
5.0
This novel started off as a free book on Ilona Andrews's website. I read the entire Clean Sweep novel online except for the last couple of chapters since I wanted to remain unspoiled. The husband and wife team are leaking out chapters for the next novel in this series on their website so you should take a look at it when you have a chance.
This main heroine in this book is Dina Demille. She runs a bed and breakfast in a small town in Texas. Though Dina looks normal she is not. She is actually an innkeeper who has magic powers tied to her home which she uses to keep her guests (mostly not human) safe. Due to some strange deaths of her neighbors animals Dina realizes that something dangerous is prowling her neighborhood. Because of the deaths Dina makes the acquaintance of her neighbor Sean who is a werewolf and a vampire named Arland who is also investigating the deaths.
This book really fired for me on all cylinders. I loved the characters of Dina and Arland. I loved the idea behind the innkeepers and what makes them so powerful. I also liked that there is another layer added to the plot with Dina trying to find out what happened to her parents.
One reason why I liked the online version so much is that they also included pictures so you could picture certain people or places in your head. What really made this book rock for me is that it also keeps some of the illustrations. Since I have a Kindle Fire the images looked really good. I would recommend trying to read this via your PC or tablet if you don't have a Kindle Fire.
The only thing that I really didn't care for that didn't work for me was the attempt to have a love triangle and that the character of Sean had so many shades of Curran (from Ilona Andrews Kate Daniels series) and the uber alpha male boss thing is getting played out for me in urban fantasy novels.
This main heroine in this book is Dina Demille. She runs a bed and breakfast in a small town in Texas. Though Dina looks normal she is not. She is actually an innkeeper who has magic powers tied to her home which she uses to keep her guests (mostly not human) safe. Due to some strange deaths of her neighbors animals Dina realizes that something dangerous is prowling her neighborhood. Because of the deaths Dina makes the acquaintance of her neighbor Sean who is a werewolf and a vampire named Arland who is also investigating the deaths.
This book really fired for me on all cylinders. I loved the characters of Dina and Arland. I loved the idea behind the innkeepers and what makes them so powerful. I also liked that there is another layer added to the plot with Dina trying to find out what happened to her parents.
One reason why I liked the online version so much is that they also included pictures so you could picture certain people or places in your head. What really made this book rock for me is that it also keeps some of the illustrations. Since I have a Kindle Fire the images looked really good. I would recommend trying to read this via your PC or tablet if you don't have a Kindle Fire.
The only thing that I really didn't care for that didn't work for me was the attempt to have a love triangle and that the character of Sean had so many shades of Curran (from Ilona Andrews Kate Daniels series) and the uber alpha male boss thing is getting played out for me in urban fantasy novels.
Love and Leftovers: A Novel in Verse by Sarah Tregay
3.0
The main character in this novel is 16 year old Marcie who moves suddenly from Idaho to her mother's family's summerhouse in New Hampshire. This is due to Marcie's mother leaving her father after he admits to having an affair and falling in love with another man.
As readers we get to see Marcie's private thoughts as expressed in her notebook. However, as many teens before her have done, Marcie has written some really bad poetry to express how she feels about her mom, her dad, and leaving her friends and boyfriend Linus behind in Idaho. For Marcie and her friends consider themselves leftovers since they really don't fit in with any one social group at their school. Though Marcie misses her friends she really misses the fact that she no longer has someone that she can kiss, hug, just be with and that causes her to feel badly about thinking about cheating on her boyfriend Linus.
So for me this was just a typical teen angst novel that with a twist due to all of the chapters being written as poetry or in some cases just exact language from IMs or conversations that Marcie has with her friends and family are written.
I think that if Ms. Tregay had told this as a straight forward coming of age story I would have liked it more. Instead I found myself getting annoyed with some of the poems that were included because it just reminded me how completely aggravating and clueless I was at that age when writing my bad poetry. And not to knock the character of Marcie or anything but she at times comes across as extremely selfish and clueless about things which makes her a tough character to side with while reading.
As readers we get to see Marcie's private thoughts as expressed in her notebook. However, as many teens before her have done, Marcie has written some really bad poetry to express how she feels about her mom, her dad, and leaving her friends and boyfriend Linus behind in Idaho. For Marcie and her friends consider themselves leftovers since they really don't fit in with any one social group at their school. Though Marcie misses her friends she really misses the fact that she no longer has someone that she can kiss, hug, just be with and that causes her to feel badly about thinking about cheating on her boyfriend Linus.
So for me this was just a typical teen angst novel that with a twist due to all of the chapters being written as poetry or in some cases just exact language from IMs or conversations that Marcie has with her friends and family are written.
I think that if Ms. Tregay had told this as a straight forward coming of age story I would have liked it more. Instead I found myself getting annoyed with some of the poems that were included because it just reminded me how completely aggravating and clueless I was at that age when writing my bad poetry. And not to knock the character of Marcie or anything but she at times comes across as extremely selfish and clueless about things which makes her a tough character to side with while reading.