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stinas_fav_books's reviews
159 reviews
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
4.0
The title of the book is spot on. Bitter & Sweet. Great read!
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
5.0
Set in the early 1100’s! 973 pages of suspense, intrigue, devastation, lose, love, revenge, humanity, betrayal, forgiveness, and just an overall no-holds bar look into the lives that were affected by war, greed, poverty, and richness. Ken wrote this book in a way that pulls you into the lives of many fascinating people all with different stories, morals, and beliefs. I was captivated from the start. Never a dull moment. Just when you think there has been success in a character’s life there is always another force of some kind around the next corner to be dealt with. Just as it is today!
Side note – This was my first Ken Follett book, but will not be my last! I am currently reading World Without End, which takes place in Kingsbridge, England as well about two decades later. Although I am sad to know that some past characters will not be present in this book, I am excited to meet new characters and hopefully be reminded of Prior Phillip, Tom, Ellen, Aliena, and Jack. Who knows, maybe their children Tommy & Sally will make an appearance.
Side note – This was my first Ken Follett book, but will not be my last! I am currently reading World Without End, which takes place in Kingsbridge, England as well about two decades later. Although I am sad to know that some past characters will not be present in this book, I am excited to meet new characters and hopefully be reminded of Prior Phillip, Tom, Ellen, Aliena, and Jack. Who knows, maybe their children Tommy & Sally will make an appearance.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
2.0
I have been an avid reader for about 15+ years now and in this time frame I have only not finished less than a handful of books. I find myself always wanting to give the book a chance to "see if it gets better". With that being said I am so very disappointed in this book. I just couldn't wait to finish the book I was reading to start this one when it came in the mail. My expectations were maybe a little to high? The hype was misjudged? I'm not sure what it is but I just can't force myself to finish it. It's very slow. I feel it is giving way to much insight on each day in the life of the characters (which gets so very repetitive) that I am starting to feel like there will not be a "point" to the storyline. What is the storyline? I wanted drama, suspense, an overview of the characters but then move on to the action. I'm ten chapters in and unfortunately putting it down. I hate to say this but I think we need to add a DNF labeling option tab as I just had to start my very first custom DNF tab :(
Unholy Murder by Lynda La Plante
4.0
When I look for a really great thriller, it's something exactly like this book!! Unholy Murder keeps moving with twists and turns, intrigue and suspense. Just when you think you know, you don't and I absolutely love that writing style. All the emotions you would want/expect to feel are very present in this storyline, which was great and had very exciting moments. I was hooked on the characters the moment the were introduced. The author really did a wonderful job at keeping my attention and made the wait almost impossible to see how the book was going to end. I have read lots of murder, mystery, triller books over the years and this one ranks right up there with some of the best I have read. I would love to see this turned into a series. I will definitely follow this author and can not wait to read more. This book was well worth the time and this review.
Affliction by Laura Hall
4.0
How sad would it be too not be able to live your true authentic life? To have to hide who you really are for so long? Worse yet, to be a child and see your parent have to do this?
While reading this book my heart broke on more than one occasion. Living a life that the rest of the world feels you should live, instead of the one you know in your heart is the right one for you, is tremendously heartbreaking.
Laura, really brought to light the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community in the early 1900s, some of which are still present today. This story is written in such a way as to transport you into this family, their struggles both individually and as a unit, and the strength, courage, and loyalty it takes to continue on living when life seems too hard.
This one was truly a page turner, tear jerker, and ultimately excellent read. Thank you Laura for this masterpiece!
While reading this book my heart broke on more than one occasion. Living a life that the rest of the world feels you should live, instead of the one you know in your heart is the right one for you, is tremendously heartbreaking.
Laura, really brought to light the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community in the early 1900s, some of which are still present today. This story is written in such a way as to transport you into this family, their struggles both individually and as a unit, and the strength, courage, and loyalty it takes to continue on living when life seems too hard.
This one was truly a page turner, tear jerker, and ultimately excellent read. Thank you Laura for this masterpiece!
When Cardinals Appear by Katie Eagan Schenck
5.0
What is home to you? Do you live in a way that those closest to you choose for you? Have you followed your path? Sometimes it can feel like we are living the life that someone else wants us to live, so how do we come to live our own?
This book is a true coming-of-age story following a young woman who struggles with these questions. When Cardinals Appear was a touching, sweet, and very charming read. The perfect small-town setting filled with love, loss, grief, confusion, and huge decisions to be made. I was emotionally invested through every turn of the page.
This book is a true coming-of-age story following a young woman who struggles with these questions. When Cardinals Appear was a touching, sweet, and very charming read. The perfect small-town setting filled with love, loss, grief, confusion, and huge decisions to be made. I was emotionally invested through every turn of the page.
A Daughter Forged in Fire by Jessica Leigh, Jessica Leigh
5.0
One word: INVESTED. This is what a reader wants to feel at the start of each new book. Captivated, riveted, heartstrings pulled tight as a rope, tall the emotions that send you straight into the book rooting for the characters and after revenge for those to betray them. From the plot, characters, and backstories I was pulled into this magical world where loss occurs, love happens, and the willpower to continue to move forward is so prominent that you don't want the book to end. Now, I will patiently (not so patiently) wait for book 2. What is to come? What destiny lies for Rowan and Rhiannon? What about Aine and the rest of the Tuatha tribe? Can they stop the Milesians from claiming their land and all they hold dear?
@stinas_fav_books
@stinas_fav_books
All Hallows Eve All Hallows Eve by Michael Penning
5.0
The perfect book to start off my spooky season reads. Michael is a new author to me and after finishing All Hallows Eve, I have added two more books of his to my list for spooky season.
I was a fan of horror books for many years until I started to feel that they just weren’t as spooky, creepy, scary and simply put, most were to the point of predictability. So, what did I do?!? I had gotten so disappointed (with Halloween being my absolute favorite holiday due to the spooky vibes) I quit reading anything that was labeled as “horror”, for years. That is until this book!!!
Michael’s writing style was captivating and smooth. The introduction of the characters was seamless. The shocking events, unexpected surprises, and overall storylines hooked me, spooked me, and placed me right there in the woods with the main character. You know when you are reading a good horror book when you have chills and pull your blanket around you just a bit tighter.
Thank you, Michael, for renewing my love of horror books and writing such a great story. Please keep them coming!
I was a fan of horror books for many years until I started to feel that they just weren’t as spooky, creepy, scary and simply put, most were to the point of predictability. So, what did I do?!? I had gotten so disappointed (with Halloween being my absolute favorite holiday due to the spooky vibes) I quit reading anything that was labeled as “horror”, for years. That is until this book!!!
Michael’s writing style was captivating and smooth. The introduction of the characters was seamless. The shocking events, unexpected surprises, and overall storylines hooked me, spooked me, and placed me right there in the woods with the main character. You know when you are reading a good horror book when you have chills and pull your blanket around you just a bit tighter.
Thank you, Michael, for renewing my love of horror books and writing such a great story. Please keep them coming!
The Changing Man by Tomi Oyemakinde
4.0
Okay, full disclosure coming. I used to love scary/horror/creepy books. They were my favorite. I, unfortunately, stopped reading them several years ago as I felt they were all starting to "run together". The same plot, the same overall "feel", and I didn't find them as intriguing as I once did. Well, I decided this year that I was going to give new authors of scary/horror/creepy books a chance, and WOW am I glad I did! The character building, along with the build-up of the plot in this book was spot on. I had to continue reading and did not want to put it down. The mystery that continued throughout this book was the best I have read in a while. And let's talk about the setting for a minute. For me, the setting is very important when writing a book of this genre as it sets the mood and lines up the plot and this setting was top-notch. Thank you to the author for restoring my love for this genre!