Category: Reviews


Aug
2017

Fiction Friday: Book Review- Spellbound and Ever After by Nora Roberts

categories: Books, Reviews

Spellbound & Ever AfterSpellbound & Ever After by Nora Roberts
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I think this book was a good read but just not a very realistic one. Both stories deal with the supernatural and of course love is the answer for these two couples. However while Nora Roberts normally uses these elements flawlessly, I found this novel difficult to follow.
The first story, “Spellbound” tells of a couple who have been separated through death and are now brought together. But while Bryna accepts their destiny together (since she has always known Calin is the one for her), Calin is far more disbelieving (which is ridiculous considering he had a childhood of the supernatural). However the story betwen Bryna and Calin is sweet and well-developed despite it’s relatively short length. I really enjoyed this story.
The second story, “Ever After” was just a really painful read. There was too much of insta-love and I did not find any of it believable. The characters seemed weak and I found the entire story to be over-done.
I warn anyone considering this book to proceed with caution.

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Aug
2017

Fiction Friday: Book Review- Firsts by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

categories: Books, Reviews

FirstsFirsts by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mercedes has an unusual after-school activity. She helps virgins learn how to have sex. Mercedes believes other girls should have the special first-time experience she never did and so she coaches their boyfriends. But Mercedes’ life is about to get more complicated. As she tries to stop her unique service, things don’t work out as planned and everything starts to spiral out of control.

I absolutely loved loved loved this book. It was so well-written and the characters are so well-developed. Mercedes seems like a foolish girl but it’s hard to not feel sympathy for her. I especially liked how sweet Zach was no matter how often she pushed him away. This book was a great coming-of-age novel and I will definitely be reading it again. I recommend this to all fans of YA and contemporary fiction.

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Jul
2017

Fiction Friday: Book Review- Lying Out Loud by Kody Keplinger

categories: Books, Reviews

Lying Out LoudLying Out Loud by Kody Keplinger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sonny lies about everything. It’s her way of regaining control over her life. So when her nemesis, Ryder messages her instead of his crush, her best friend, Amy, she doesn’t bother to fix his mistake. However a real connection developed between Ryder and Sonny and Sonny is now forced to stop her lying ways. But Ryder hates her in real life and telling the truth would mean ending things between them permanently.
I absolutely hate stories/movies where there is a lying character who, for whatever reason, is unable to confess to the truth. It pisses me off because literally all you have to do to fix everything is TELL THE DAMN TRUTH.
As much as I enjoyed this book, I was incredibly frustrated with Sonny. She was incapable of telling the truth throughout the book and it just annoyed me.
Like “Run”, this also had a really strong female friendship which I loved. I also enjoyed seeing Wesley and Bianca again.
This was a great read (with the exception of annoying, lying Sonny) but the ending was a bit too open for me. Like in “Run”, I needed to know more about the future of these characters. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a quick read.

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Jul
2017

Book Review: One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

categories: Books, Reviews

One of Us Is LyingOne of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and took ages to read it because I thought it would let me down. I had built this book up in my head to be totally amazing and I was scared that it wouldn’t meet my expectations. Luckily, I was wrong. This book was enthralling and I could not stop reading it. I actually felt sad once it ended because I had grown so attached to the characters (Death does tend to bring people closer. Just read this book if you don’t believe me).
Five very different students end up in detention after a misunderstanding…and then one of them dies. Simon’s death is quick and very carefully planned. The question is who did it? Simon ran a gossip blog and was not very well-liked. Anyone could have killed him. Unfortunately for the other student’s who were in detention with Simon, he knew secrets about them that he had planned to reveal the very next day.
This book should be called “All of Us are Lying” because everyone here has secrets which makes for an incredible story with several plot twists. This is a well-written book with characters that you can’t help but feel sorry for.
The ending was pretty obvious to me but it didn’t make it any less shocking. This was a beautiful, gripping read and I DEMAND THAT EVERYONE READS IT. EVERYONE!!!I don’t care who you are or what your reading preferences are. Just read this book. I promise you won’t regret it.

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Jul
2017

Fiction Friday: Book Review- Run by Kody Keplinger

categories: Books, Reviews

RunRun by Kody Keplinger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Bo and Agnes should not be friends. Bo is the town’s typical bad girl while Agnes is considered a sweet angel by the town. They’re total opposites. Or are they?
When Bo and Agnes meet, they become fast friends. One day, things get too bad for Bo at home and she decides to run away. Agnes joins her. Their journey away from their small town and the events leading up to it form part of this story.
I thought this was an interesting story but it felt a bit lacking. There were several questions I had that were left unanswered at the end of the book. This was a quick read but I enjoyed it and I could not put it down. I loved how different Bo and Agnes were from each other. It was refreshing to see such a deep bond between females.
The characters in this book were all amazingly well-written and well-developed. I just wish that the ending was more complete. Reading this book was incredible but the ending left me feeling a bit empty.

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Jun
2017

Fiction Friday: Book Review- A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3)

categories: Books, Reviews

A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3)A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m not sure how to review this without spoilers but I’m going to try anyway. This review may contain spoilers for the first two books in the series but I’m guessing you read them already if you’re reading reviews for ACOWAR (if you haven’t read them, go read them. They’re amazing and well-written and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THEM SO VERY MUCH!!!).

Feyre is back with Tamlin the Tool but this time she is determined not to let him push her aside. She is thirsty for revenge and she WILL have it. Honestly I didn’t expect much from Feyre- what was she going to do to Tamlin in his own court? Deny him sex as punishment for ruining her and her sisters’ lives? However this is not the Feyre we knew. This is no meek girl. This is the new Lady of the Night Court. She is dark and she embraces it.
My biggest issue with this book is that it was not as compelling as ACOMAF. I reread ACOTAR and ACOMAF while waiting for this to release. While ACOTAR was kind of boring at times, I found ACOMAF impossible to put down. ACOWAR however just tired me out at times and I found myself putting the book away just so I could get a break from the world (maybe Tamlin is just that boring). It was definitely difficult to read this book especially knowing that it was the end. Once things were in action, they were IN ACTION. I had to read during my breaks, during meals, before bedtime. And then the book ran out of pages and I had to go cry. What did I do with my life before I waited for ACOWAR to release? Did I even have a life?
I loved that I saw the return of so many characters that I loved throughout the series. ACOWAR also completes the first part of this series in a way that is both satisfying but still leaves room open for more. I can’t wait to read more about this world. Can the next book release already???

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Jun
2017

Fiction Friday: Book Review- Spring at Blueberry Bay by Holly Martin

categories: Books, Reviews

Spring at Blueberry BaySpring at Blueberry Bay by Holly Martin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Bella has been abandoned by her parents as a kid. She is also very broke. But when she finds a homeless man, Isaac on her doorstep, she takes him in and shares her last meal with him. What Bella doesn’t know is that Isaac is lying to her and is not who he seems to be.
I can’t say more without giving too much of the story away but if you’ve read Holly Martin’s other books then you probably will be able to predict the story. This book reminded me of Holly Martin’s other books so at first, I wasn’t really interested. It just seemed like a story that was told one too many times before. However I love Holly Martin’s writing so I pushed though and I’m glad that I did. Bella and Isaac are an adorable couple. It pissed me off that he lied to her but I eventually got over it. I loved their chemistry in this book and was really sad once it was over. Like all Holly Martin books, this one is full of colourful characters and I cannot wait to read more. I’ve developed an attachment to Bella’s cousins and would love to see them all get their happy endings.

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May
2017

Fiction Friday: Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

categories: Books, Reviews

Saint AnythingSaint Anything by Sarah Dessen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I know lots of people love Sarah Dessen’s work but I have never been one of them. Her books always seemed really boring to me (with the exception of the one book about the girl working in a cafe, I don’t remember the title but I know I loved it). In retrospect though, I blame my dislike of Dessen on the fact that I was too young to really appreciate her work.
This book, on the hand, was really great to read. I found it comforting and entertaining. The story begins with Sydney who is at a trial where her brother is arrested. Sydney has always felt invisible in her brother’s shadow and now that her brother is in prison, things are no different. Needing some change in her life, Sydney changes school and meets Mac and Layla who become her new family.
I really related to Sydney’s character which was the main reason why I liked this book so much. It felt like catching up with an old friend. This was a quick easy read and I will definitely have to go find the rest of Sarah Dessen’s books (especially the cafe one-is it called something to do with desserts? I feel like it is). I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary novels.

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May
2017

Fiction Friday: Book Review: The Bad Luck Bride by Janna MacGregor ((The Cavensham Heiresses #1)

categories: Books, Reviews

The Bad Luck Bride (The Cavensham Heiresses #1)The Bad Luck Bride by Janna MacGregor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Claire is convinced that she’s cursed. She’s lost her parents at a young age as well as had three engagements broken off in horrible ways. So when Alex comes to her with a proposal she agrees if only to save face. What Claire doesn’t know is that her most recent broken engagement was caused by Alex himself. This was a well-written read that I couldn’t put down. I was fascinated by the fact that Alex knew that he was wrong but didn’t seem to want to do anything about it anyway. I especially enjoyed Claire’s family and would love to read more about them. Alex and Claire have a very obvious chemistry which made this such a delightful book.

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Apr
2017

Fiction Friday: Book Review- Glass Faerie by Rachel Morgan (Creepy Hollow #7)

categories: Books, Reviews

Glass Faerie (Creepy Hollow, #7)Glass Faerie by Rachel Morgan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

*am holding the fifth star of my rating hostage until the rest of this series is released*
I feel like this was a really quick read and I say that as someone who’s in a severe reading slump. Glass Faerie is the third part of the Creepy Hollow series and is the story of Emmy, a faerie who has lived as a human up until now. Not only is Emmy a faerie, she is also Griffin Gifted. We all know how the Guild is towards the Griffin Gifted so Emmy’s new world just got a whole lot more complicated. I loved how there was so much mystery and uncertainty about Emmy and her background. What is she? How is she whatever she is? I liked the character of Dash but honestly I was just interested in seeing Chase again. I think he may be my favourite Creepy Hollow character of all time. I loved how Rachel Morgan shows us a different side of Creepy Hollow. It has been a while since book 6 and this one and the book clearly shows how much things have changed. I feel like the Creepy Hollow world keeps evolving and I love that! It makes everything so much more realistic and fun to read.
I flew through this book and I kinda regret that because I have no idea how long the wait for the next book is.

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