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xandra_lyn's reviews
556 reviews
The Northern Lights Lodge by Julie Caplin
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
This book was just too sad. I don't like it when the MC loses EVERYTHING, and Lucy had - her job, her apartment, her self-respect, her peace of mind, literally everything. The author kept alluding to what had happened, and it seemed like perhaps something s3xual at work that was videoed.
I could maybe deal with that, except for all the horrible things that I can already tell are going to be part of the plot: there's a crew filming the lodge of a reality TV segment, and Lucy is panicking that ppl will Google her and realize who she is because of her mysterious video that got her fired. Someone is stealing things from the hotel. The love interest, Alex, is working for the new buyer and is basically lying to her about who he is, which means she will end up feels up betrayed by him. There is just literally nothing going right and too much going wrong for me to want to invest in it. I started reading with a ton of apprehension and I'm not looking for that in a book
I'd be much more interested in a story about Hekla, one of the employees at the lodge
I could maybe deal with that, except for all the horrible things that I can already tell are going to be part of the plot: there's a crew filming the lodge of a reality TV segment, and Lucy is panicking that ppl will Google her and realize who she is because of her mysterious video that got her fired. Someone is stealing things from the hotel. The love interest, Alex, is working for the new buyer and is basically lying to her about who he is, which means she will end up feels up betrayed by him. There is just literally nothing going right and too much going wrong for me to want to invest in it. I started reading with a ton of apprehension and I'm not looking for that in a book
I'd be much more interested in a story about Hekla, one of the employees at the lodge
Prince of Song & Sea by Linsey Miller
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was such a great story!! I loved the intrigue into Eric's backstory. The only "problem" was that it did feel like the original Disney story was shoe-horned into the book.
But I loved how the author added to Ariel's personality while she was on land, as well as how she fleshed out Ariel's and Eric's relationship.
But I loved how the author added to Ariel's personality while she was on land, as well as how she fleshed out Ariel's and Eric's relationship.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Caterflies and Ice by Asia Citro
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I liked this book a lot! I really thought we'd get to the end without a third act break-up
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
It was explicit, but not long.
Dragons and Marshmallows by Asia Citro
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Super cute book! I like how the author seamlessly wove science into the story
The Midnight Blizzard: A Cinderella Retelling by Mary Mecham
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is hands down the best Cinderella adaptation I've EVER read!!!! It combined elements of the original stories in such amazing ways that I didn't see coming. And the reveal near the end!!! 🤯🤯🤯🤯 I literally screamed and had to walk away because I was so (delightfully) shocked!!!!
I loved how Noelle was a bit mischievous and flirtatious from the beginning. None of this "she was never usually like that" nonsense that a lot of female MCs do. And I also like that she was always standing up for herself. The story of Cinderella is hard for me because of the injustice, cruelty, and abuse she endures. I liked that this one was different.
This was part of a Christmas Chronicles series, but it really was a winter tale. I read it in January so it was perfect for that. Other than a few mentions of mistletoe, holly, and peppermint, it didn't have anything to do with Christmas. Again, to me this was a plus because I love winter books, but if you're looking for Christmas then save this until January.
I loved how Noelle was a bit mischievous and flirtatious from the beginning. None of this "she was never usually like that" nonsense that a lot of female MCs do. And I also like that she was always standing up for herself. The story of Cinderella is hard for me because of the injustice, cruelty, and abuse she endures. I liked that this one was different.
This was part of a Christmas Chronicles series, but it really was a winter tale. I read it in January so it was perfect for that. Other than a few mentions of mistletoe, holly, and peppermint, it didn't have anything to do with Christmas. Again, to me this was a plus because I love winter books, but if you're looking for Christmas then save this until January.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Death of parent
Noelle's dog is seriously injured at the beginning (don't worry, he gets better!!)
MultiVersus: Collision Detected #6 by Bryan Q. Miller
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A Timeless Christmas: An Enchanting Time Travel Romance by Alexis Stanton
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was just ok. I liked the movie better lol. It was incredibly slow, and I felt Charles' view of women (that they are just as capable as men, etc.) unrealistic coming from a guy from 1902. I also didn't appreciate how him going back was built up as this super emotional thing and then he just .....decides not to. It was super anticlimactic.
Journey to the Manger: Exploring the Birth of Jesus by Paula Gooder
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This was such an amazing book!! It was thought provoking and illuminating. I've grown up into the American evangelical inerrancy tradition, and I've grown up with the nativity story all my life. This has fresh, biblically and historically accurate information that combined faith with the reality of scholarship. She doesn't delve too deeply into the discrepancies of the narratives but focuses on the beauty of the overall theme: that God loves us so much that he'd do something as surprising as come down as a baby.
It was refreshing and wonderful and I highly recommend it!!
It was refreshing and wonderful and I highly recommend it!!
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death
Child death: death of the innocents
Adult/minor relationship: she makes a big deal about Mary being only 12. Most bump it to 14 (which is still not great, when you think of it), and it did leave me feeling rather ill at ease (to be fair, the author is not saying child marriage is a good thing, only it is the reality according to many historians)
Confessions of a Chalet Girl by Lorraine Wilson
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
It opened with her being hazed by having to take off her bra in front of a ton of drunk guys. It's disgusting that that's sort of sexual harassment /bullying is basically "ok-ed" by the author. The character in question is clearly uncomfortable and it's just so disgusting. No one should ever feel like they need to do something like this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment