Category: Reviews

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

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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Fiction Friday: Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

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

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

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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Fiction Friday: Book Review- Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas (The Ravenels #3)

Devil in Spring (The Ravenels, #3)Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pandora and Gabriel are caught in a scandal and therefore forced to marry. I loved how the first chapter of this book reminded me of “Devil in Winter”. I also loved the *SPOILER ALERT* constant mentions of Pandora being a wallflower and how it amused St Vincent and Westcliff (two men who married the original wallflowers). I actually thought that this book would be a sort-of wallflower reunion but it wasn’t which disappointed me deeply. *END SPOILER*
I adored seeing Evie and St Vincent again as well as their lives together. However I feel like the “danger” to Pandora was not all that dangerous and it was just overplayed in the synopsis. I expected something more than what it was. Nonetheless I enjoyed this book. Pandora and Gabriel are a wonderfully cute couple. This novel makes me wish that we could see the rest of the Wallflowers and their families.

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Fiction Friday: Book Review- What Would Emma Do by Eileen Cook

What Would Emma Do?What Would Emma Do? by Eileen Cook
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Emma lives in a small town with a bunch of crazy people who twist the Bible for their own needs.
Okay so maybe I’m exaggerating a little but this novel hit a bit too close to home. I’ve seen people use religion to justify things or do or even worse seen religious people do bad things and be okay with it.
And that’s precisely what happens here. The popular girls at school suddenly start falling ill. The town believes it to be the work of the devil…except Emma has seen the goody-two-shoes Queen Bee and her bestie taking drugs. Does Emma risk speaking out?
Like I said before I loved that I could relate to this book. It felt like Eileen Cook had taken my life and written about it. I was not too happy with the ending but like most Eileen Cook endings it’s realistic

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(A Very Informal) Review of The DIMILY Series

“Did I Mention I Love You” is a series by Estelle Maskame that follows Eden and her on-again-off-again relationship with her step-brother. Now I don’t know about you but that description just makes the series sound cliche and odd. Here’s the thing though- Eden and Tyler meet when she goes to visit her estranged father and his new family. Eden and Tyler have never known each other before and now they’re expected to behave as family. I hated Tyler’s bad boy behaviour in book one (“Did I Mention I Love You) but unlike most bad boys, Tyler actually had a reason for his behaviour. I really enjoyed this book and was devastated when it ended-and I say that as someone who had all three books ready to read. This is a series that NEEDS to be binge-read.

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The second book follows Eden and Tyler during a holiday in New York. Tyler is trying to be a better person and it is such a great thing to see. I honestly expected him to be a bad boy throughout the series. It was refreshing to see such great character development.

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Eden irritated me in this book since she *SPOILERS AHEAD READ AT OWN RISK* kept expecting Tyler to still have feelings for her even though she was dating his best friend. I was also annoyed when she kept getting jealous over Tyler. Um, you’re dating his best friend and you don’t seem to want to end the relationship. Stop being such a selfish cow *END SPOILERS*

The ending was totally unexpected and took me by surprise and just like the first book, I was desperate to read on.

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The last book, “Did I Mention I Miss You” is a blur of feels and so enjoyable. It is far lighter than the first two books and really makes up for all of the previous sad parts.

I enjoyed this series immensely and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance. Just remember that this is a series that is best enjoyed as a binge-read.

 

Fiction Friday: Book Review- Glided Cage by Vic James

Gilded Cage (Dark Gifts, #1)Gilded Cage by Vic James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a review copy of this book on Netgalley.
Abi and her family go to work as servants for a wealthy and powerful family. But while their job is considered safer and better than working in the slave town, it still has its own horrors. Meanwhile Abi’s brother, Luke is in the brutal slave town where he is subjected to abuse. I spent the first half of the book wondering who got the worse job. Sure Abi’s job was mainly administration but the family she serves, the Jadines, are absolutely terrifying. While Luke has to work under uncomfortable circumstances, he atleast has some sort of solitude at the end of the day.
But then everyone seemed like a friend and then everyone seemed like a foe so I was just confused. Can anyone be trusted? Should no one be trusted? This book had me second-guessing every character and I loved every second of it. The writing is flawless, the plot moves quickly and the twists are unimaginable.
This is one of those books that leave you with a thousand questions. Just give me the rest of the series already. I NEED MORE!!! Go read this book. You won’t regret it.

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Fiction Friday: Book Review- The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr

The One Memory of Flora BanksThe One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. Since this was dubbed “the debut of the year”, I was really excited to review it. This was everything I didn’t know I wanted and needed in a book. Seventeen-year-old Flora has amnesia and forgets things after every few minutes. Her only memories are from before she was ten.
But then Flora kisses Drake, her best friend’s boyfriend (or ex-boyfriend but they broke up like two seconds before Flora and Drake kissed. This reminds me of Rachel and Ross’ “we were on a break argument” but never mind). When Flora wakes up the next day, she remembers that she kissed Drake and decides tracks him down because she is convinced that a) she is in love with him and b) she is convinced that he holds the key to her memory.
Honestly the first part of the book doesn’t have much in the way of plot but it’s oddly intriguing to watch Flora go through her daily life. I think she does pretty well for someone with amnesia especially when she decides to travel on her own- something her parents definitely don’t want her to do.
This book exceeded my expectations and was so different. I loved that I was unable to predict the ending. This was incredibly well-written and I finished it in one go. I couldn’t stop reading.
This is a book I would recommend to anyone who enjoys YA.

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Fiction Friday: Book Review- Three Dark Crowns (Three Dark Crowns #1) by Kendare Blake 

Three Dark CrownsThree Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So many questions. So many twists. So many characters. I have no idea what I’m going to do with my life now that this book is over. I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I’ve been obsessed with this book ever since I’ve heard what it was about and was so glad to finally be able to read it.
However I found the first 50 pages difficult to get into. Each of the three sisters have a separate love interest, friends, foes and family which made it very confusing for me. There was far too much new information all being introduced at once and I hated it. But like I said before, I waited ages for this book and I was determined to see it to the end no matter what. So I pushed through and I was glad that I did.
“Three Dark Crowns” tells the story of three sisters with three different powers. The sisters need to fight to the death in order to win control of the crown. This is a book with betrayal, deception, corruption, politics, lies and secrets. It was amazing!
I loved how different each sister was and even though I tried my hardest not to get attached to them, it broke my heart whenever I thought of any of them dying. This story left me with several questions and I need the sequel ASAP to give me answers. I think that this is a book that anyone who appreciates YA fantasy and strong female characters will enjoy.

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