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vivalibrarian's reviews
519 reviews
Last Days by Adam L.G. Nevill
4.0
'This is not some ghost story for the masses, my boy. Some haunted house you can film and then speculate about on cable television. Some paranormal fantasy you can go and film with your friends. For the festivals and fans. The freaks.' Max smirked. 'It's more, much more. This is real. It always has been. Which is why you couldn't walk away from it.'
100,000 pounds is a lot of money and is the catalyst that Kyle Freeman, guerrilla filmmaker, needs to get himself out of debt and his life back on track. Squashing his concerns about his benefactor Max and his honesty about the project he takes on the history of Sister Katherine and her morbid demise in the Temple of the Last Days cult massacre of 1975. Starting with their roots in London, moving to France and then winding up in Arizona, Kyle and his filming partner Dan experience things they cannot explain. Uncovering more than they dreamed possible Kyle and Dan find themselves fighting for their sanity and lives.
Fantastic imagery, sympathetic characters and a fast-pace will take you on a visceral, emotional and terrifying ride from beginning to almost the end. The ending almost blew it for me but I still couldn't sleep after I finished. You've been warned.
100,000 pounds is a lot of money and is the catalyst that Kyle Freeman, guerrilla filmmaker, needs to get himself out of debt and his life back on track. Squashing his concerns about his benefactor Max and his honesty about the project he takes on the history of Sister Katherine and her morbid demise in the Temple of the Last Days cult massacre of 1975. Starting with their roots in London, moving to France and then winding up in Arizona, Kyle and his filming partner Dan experience things they cannot explain. Uncovering more than they dreamed possible Kyle and Dan find themselves fighting for their sanity and lives.
Fantastic imagery, sympathetic characters and a fast-pace will take you on a visceral, emotional and terrifying ride from beginning to almost the end. The ending almost blew it for me but I still couldn't sleep after I finished. You've been warned.
Heart of Iron by Bec McMaster
2.0
Vampires rule.
Verewulfens drool.
In an alternate steampunk universe where vampires(the Echelon)rule over everyone-blood taxes, thralls (women who are kept by vampires as consorts and/or blood donors) and those that resist are a regular part of life. Lena Todd, human, walks among the Echelon hoping to get a thrall contract or maybe provide some convert information to the humanist resistance. Will Carver, resident verewulfen, has a bounty on his head and little control over his impulses. He will do anything to protect Lena from the trouble she creates. You know where this is going, right? While the romance and the action are supposed to be what keeps the reader's attention, I found myself more focused on the terrifying hopelessness one would feel being a woman in such a world as this.
Verewulfens drool.
In an alternate steampunk universe where vampires(the Echelon)rule over everyone-blood taxes, thralls (women who are kept by vampires as consorts and/or blood donors) and those that resist are a regular part of life. Lena Todd, human, walks among the Echelon hoping to get a thrall contract or maybe provide some convert information to the humanist resistance. Will Carver, resident verewulfen, has a bounty on his head and little control over his impulses. He will do anything to protect Lena from the trouble she creates. You know where this is going, right? While the romance and the action are supposed to be what keeps the reader's attention, I found myself more focused on the terrifying hopelessness one would feel being a woman in such a world as this.
Fever by Mary Beth Keane
4.0
Typhoid Mary, what do you really know about her? Mary Mallon was an Irish immigrant that worked hard to raise herself to the status of head cook with many predominant families in Manhattan. Often spending days or even weeks away from her lover Alfred, nothing came before her desire to cook. Nothing.
This book is my Gone Girl of 2013. I struggled to find anything sympathetic in the main character even though this is very much a character-driven novel. A compelling, accurate and utterly maddening read. That my emotional involvement was so high is a strong indication that it is incredibly written-I just wanted to throw the book across the room on more than one occasion.
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This book is my Gone Girl of 2013. I struggled to find anything sympathetic in the main character even though this is very much a character-driven novel. A compelling, accurate and utterly maddening read. That my emotional involvement was so high is a strong indication that it is incredibly written-I just wanted to throw the book across the room on more than one occasion.
http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr06/2013/6/7/13/anigif_enhanced-buzz-13834-1370625730-12.gif
Trapped by Kevin Hearne
3.0
Atticus is the last remaining Druid on earth but luckily, his apprentice Granuaile is ready for the binding ceremony that will also make her a Druid. Before this can be accomplished, many of Atticus' enemies discover he really is alive when they thought he was dead and chaos (quite literally with the God Loki) ensues.
The 5th book in the Iron Druid Chronicles, it stands well on its own. The story is very plot-driven and is full of dark humor that will make the reader either groan or laugh out loud. I did both. The characters are clearly developed over the course of the series, tho a fan favorite has to be Oberon, the trusty Wolfhound that can communicate with Atticus telepathically. It's all about the treats, you know? In direct contrast of the silly is the remarkable job Hearne does with the mythological aspects. Settle down and enjoy the ride...only, really Hearne? Is bugfuckery really a word?
The 5th book in the Iron Druid Chronicles, it stands well on its own. The story is very plot-driven and is full of dark humor that will make the reader either groan or laugh out loud. I did both. The characters are clearly developed over the course of the series, tho a fan favorite has to be Oberon, the trusty Wolfhound that can communicate with Atticus telepathically. It's all about the treats, you know? In direct contrast of the silly is the remarkable job Hearne does with the mythological aspects. Settle down and enjoy the ride...only, really Hearne? Is bugfuckery really a word?
The Boleyn King by Laura Andersen
3.0
What if Anne Boleyn had born a healthy son to King Henry VIII? King William is on the brink of his eighteenth birthday and is faced with all the political intrigue we expect from a Tudor universe. Keeping the King grounded is his oldest friends Dominic, Minuette and of course Princess Elizabeth. Alternative perspectives from each of the four friends gives us a glimpse into the different aspects of life in the castle, the battlefield and in the romantic entanglements of the characters. Once you adjust to the alternative history aspects of Anne Boleyn living and Elizabeth not being Queen...yet, there is much here to entertain. The characters draw you in and the intricate plot moves so quickly you don’t realize how well researched the novel is until you’re done.
Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare
4.0
The Duchess of Halford has a problem. She needs grandchildren. Desperately. She is desperate enough that she drugs her only son, Griff, and drags him to Spindler Cove with a challenge: Pick anyone and if I make her Duchess material, you. will. marry. her. Griff picks the least likely candidate in Pauline Simms only to quickly realize he has no idea who he is dealing with when it comes to both the women now in his life. A funny, emotional and clever historical romance with engaging characters you won’t soon forget.. My Fair Lady meets Cinderella meets Downton Abbey.
Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman
4.0
Teddi Overman has had a gift for restoring furniture since she was a young child, so owning an antique store in Charleston, South Carolina is a dream come true. When her mother dies unexpectedly, family secrets start cropping up that force Teddi to deal with the emotional upheaval brought on by a long presumed dead missing brother and a mother she never really understood. Southern charm, strong character-development and a moving storyline make this a powerful yet soft read.
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
4.0
"The thing about being catapulted into a whole new life-or at least, shoved up so hard against someone else's life that you might as well have your face pressed against their window-is that it forces you to rethink your idea of who you are."
Louisa isn’t really big on ambition or seeing the world outside of her small English village. When she takes a job caretaking for Will Traynor, a former international man of mystery and current paraplegic-her only goal is to keep her family financially afloat. It quickly becomes apparent that neither of them is ready for the life changing influence they will have on each other. This isn’t a romance but it is a disarming and unexpected love story. Oh and here’s a tissue-you’re going to need it. No, no…take the whole box.
Louisa isn’t really big on ambition or seeing the world outside of her small English village. When she takes a job caretaking for Will Traynor, a former international man of mystery and current paraplegic-her only goal is to keep her family financially afloat. It quickly becomes apparent that neither of them is ready for the life changing influence they will have on each other. This isn’t a romance but it is a disarming and unexpected love story. Oh and here’s a tissue-you’re going to need it. No, no…take the whole box.
Six Years by Harlan Coben
3.0
Jake Fisher has no doubt that Natalie is the love of his life. This doesn't change when she abruptly breaks up with him and marries another man. At the wedding, Jake promises Natalie that he will leave the happy couple alone and does what anyone does with a broken heart-throws himself into work and tries to move forward. That was six years ago. He hasn't moved forward. When he sees an obituary for Natalie's husband Todd, he breaks his promise and goes to the funeral. Only problem is the grieving widow is not Natalie. dum da dum!
Coben provides everything you expect in a thriller-fast pace, lots of twists and turns and action that makes you go, 'holy crap, what just happened?!' What pleasantly surprised me was that the character development was pretty strong and the emotional disbelief Jake felt throughout the book was very tangible and authentic. What hung me up was the amount of conspiracies, mafia involvement, hired killers etc... Even for a thriller it was too much. I mean, come on. There were also some loose ends that didn't get tied up that left me hanging. All in all, it was ok.
I've seen comparisons to Kafka to which I say, pfff.
Coben provides everything you expect in a thriller-fast pace, lots of twists and turns and action that makes you go, 'holy crap, what just happened?!' What pleasantly surprised me was that the character development was pretty strong and the emotional disbelief Jake felt throughout the book was very tangible and authentic. What hung me up was the amount of conspiracies, mafia involvement, hired killers etc... Even for a thriller it was too much. I mean, come on. There were also some loose ends that didn't get tied up that left me hanging. All in all, it was ok.
I've seen comparisons to Kafka to which I say, pfff.
Three Sisters by Susan Mallery
2.0
Andi, a pediatric doctor, makes a rash decision after being left at the altar by her boyfriend of ten years and buys a worn down house on Blackberry Island. Renovating the house into both her new practice and her new home should provide just the distraction she needs to get over her broken heart.
Next door neighbor Deanna has what looks to be the perfect life. An amazing husband and five beautiful daughters, she does everything right. Only problem is she is so wrapped up in appearances and rules that she fails to see that her husband is ready to bolt and her kids alternate between hating her and being scared of her.
On the other side of Andi is Boston, who married her high school sweetheart and had the perfect marriage until the day they lost their 6-month old son and they both fell apart.
Brought together by fate, the three soon become fast friends as they each try to find their way to their personal happily ever after.
Sigh. There is nothing wrong with this book. There are well-developed characters and the life affirming themes of love conquers all and friendship gets you through everything is splattered everywhere. There were parts that were very repetitive. The author wanted the reader to know, over and over again, how things went down. The exact details of being left at the altar or Boston sketching her son to find a connection to him beyond death were important but after the fifth time of it, it grew thin. To me, this book has been written several times over by a group of regular writers for their fans. The names and places change, but the theme remains the same. Debbie Macomber fans will enjoy.
Next door neighbor Deanna has what looks to be the perfect life. An amazing husband and five beautiful daughters, she does everything right. Only problem is she is so wrapped up in appearances and rules that she fails to see that her husband is ready to bolt and her kids alternate between hating her and being scared of her.
On the other side of Andi is Boston, who married her high school sweetheart and had the perfect marriage until the day they lost their 6-month old son and they both fell apart.
Brought together by fate, the three soon become fast friends as they each try to find their way to their personal happily ever after.
Sigh. There is nothing wrong with this book. There are well-developed characters and the life affirming themes of love conquers all and friendship gets you through everything is splattered everywhere. There were parts that were very repetitive. The author wanted the reader to know, over and over again, how things went down. The exact details of being left at the altar or Boston sketching her son to find a connection to him beyond death were important but after the fifth time of it, it grew thin. To me, this book has been written several times over by a group of regular writers for their fans. The names and places change, but the theme remains the same. Debbie Macomber fans will enjoy.