Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Reason to Breathe by Rebecca DonovanMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I went into this knowing it was going to deal with abuse and that it was heartbreaking, and it was. This deals with abuse (physical and emotional). Your heart will break for Emma as you know things with her Aunt were just going to get worse and worse.
I do think this was a little longer than it needed to be. All though this deals with Emma facing the challenges of living with her Aunt and Uncle, it was also about a high school romance. There were other high school issues as well. The love story took up more of the story than the issues with Emma and her family. If you like reading a story that deals with these issues but also focuses on other things you would love this.
I do feel this story brings the opportunity to discuss abuse with teenagers (school aged children) and the importance of this topic when someone knows abuse is occurring. Emma puts her best friend and boyfriend in a complicated situation to keep her secret about the abuse occurring from her Aunt. They do not want to betray Emma’s trust, so they do not say anything. I think it is important topic to cover with our teens/kids around what to do if they know a friend who is being abused.
Overall, this was pretty good. I own the bind-up of book one and two so I will be continuing with book two in the series.
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Saturday, October 27, 2018
Something Borrowed by Emily GiffinMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I started with book two in the series without knowing it and went back and read book one. I enjoyed seeing the story from Rachels POV more than I did Darcy. Rachel was just more likable. Not much more happened for Rachel than you learn in book two, you just get a deeper look into what happened.
This was such a fast read as I read it in one sitting as well. Overall, a quick series that was ok.
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Friday, October 26, 2018
Something Blue by Emily GiffinMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I put this on, and was almost half way through when I realized it was the second book in the Darcy and Rachel story. I decided I was too far into the story to go back and start book one. I just finished this one first.
This was such a fast read as I read it in one sitting. Darcy was pretty unlikable in the beginning, but the story was intriguing enough for me to continue on to find out what happened. I loved Ethan once he entered the story. I love how he Darcy how self-centered she was, and pushed her to be better.
I do feel the story was almost surface level though. The story would jump before really digging into the plot point. I wanted a little more, but still enjoyed it.
Overall, this was cute. I hope reading book one will not make me not enjoy book one as much. I own both, so moving on to book one now!
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More Than We Can Tell by Brigid KemmererMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
1.5 Stars
This was so disappointing. I went into expecting such an amazing story following Rev and his journey. It was not anything like I was hoping it would be.
I do not feel Emma brought anything to the story. She was so unlikable, and I just did not care for any of the parts in which she was involved. Yes, her story covered some important topics but that was taken away with how bratty she was. I could have done without her throughout the whole story.
I was also expecting so much more out of Rev and his story with his father. I was expecting to have this story tear my heart into pieces, but was instead just left unsatisfied.
Overall, I just did not like this one.
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Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Good Me, Bad Me by Ali LandMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
This story was so disturbing and had so much potential. However; it fell a little short for me.
This does have triggers for abuse (physical and sexual), bullying, and child murder.
The parts around Milly and her past were thrilling. I wanted to know more and the more you learn the more disturbing it becomes. However; then you jump back to a game of mean girls at school and it just took away from the story. I was so bored with the foster family stuff in the first half of the book. Yes, there is mean girls, pranks, cheating, and scandals, but they were nothing that caught my attention. I just wanted to know more around the murders and what Milly went through. The second half did start to pick up a little. Everything does come together in the end. I predicted what was going to happen in the end, but there were still some twists I did not predict. I ended up skimming the first half to find out what happened.
I also did not love the ending. Overall, this was only ok.
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Friday, October 19, 2018
Bless Your Husband: Creative Ways to Encourage and Love Your Man by Angela Mills: Review
Bless Your Husband: Creative Ways to Encourage and Love Your Man by Angela MillsI am not one to normally reach for Non-Fiction, but I loved the idea around Bless Your Husband and decided to give it a chance. I am so glad I did.
This was amazing. I started to skim through it the day it came in the mail. I ended up wanting to start to read it that night as well. I was not expecting this to be like an interactive journal. It was my favorite part. This was not only a powerful read for myself, but it also helped start some conversations with my husband that we needed to have. I loved all the tips and topics. I enjoyed writing down my thoughts and look forward to looking through this again in a few years to see how our answers may have changed.
If you love inspirational journals, I highly recommend picking this up. I have not finished it yet, as I want to take my time going through the prayers but I loved it from page one. I think it is very beneficial to your mental strength when it comes to marriage.
Overall, this was so much more than what I was expecting.
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Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Every Breath by Nicholas SparksMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I am a huge Nicholas Sparks fan, and was excited when I got an early copy of his new release. I really enjoyed the introduction to this story from the author and where he got his inspiration for this book. I think I enjoyed this even more knowing a little about the back story and that it really based off true events.
I do feel it was different than his other work. It was not my favorite book I have read from the author, but it was still great. I loved the story between True and Hope. I liked learning about how they met, their life when they were apart, and especially when they come back together. I think the mailbox at Kindred Spirit sounds amazing and a place I would love to visit one day.
This was emotional at times when talking about the parents of both True and Hope. I was waiting for the signature heart-wrenching moment that is in all of Nicholas Sparks books. Although this was very sad at times, it just never hit that level that most of his books have in the past. I know some people hate those, but I personally love that about his stories. I was a little let down when it came to that. Do not get me wrong, there were still several times your heart will break as you learn more about their story.
Overall, this was an amazing and crazy love story. I would never have guessed that this was a real story without knowing it from the beginning. I really enjoyed it.
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Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Lie to Me by J.T. EllisonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
2.5 Stars
I did not love this as much as I was hoping. It was a little slow in places. There were times I was on the edge of my seat and others I was ready to DNF.
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Monday, October 15, 2018
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Don't Go by Lisa ScottolineMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
2.5 Stars
Torn on this one. This was my first Lisa Scottoline and so many people rave about her books. There was things I enjoyed about this one and other parts that dragged. It was not at all what I was expecting. The ending did bring everything together for me, and I ended up tearing up. It was the saving grace for the whole story for me personally. Still, not my favorite. A lot of details that really did not bring much to the mystery. Overall, this was only ok.
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Saturday, October 13, 2018
Twisted Truths by Rebecca ZanettiMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Twisted Truths is the third book in the Blood Brothers series. I did not previously read the other two books, and I had no trouble getting into this. I do want to learn more around the brothers and assume each book followed one of the brothers (but I am not sure). I plan on picking up book one soon as I enjoyed this one that much.
This started off with so much going on. You get a stolen baby, a tiny look into the backstory of the brothers, gangs, and two people on the run for different reasons. It had me hooked.
I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
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Friday, October 12, 2018
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Monday, October 8, 2018
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Scythe by Neal ShustermanMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
4.5 Stars
This is a book that everyone has been talking about, but I was really hesitant to pick it up. If you follow me, you know that I rarely grab for Fantasy or Science Fiction. I went into this with low expectations and thinking I would DNF. I was wrong.
If you want to read a story that will make you think, will make you angry, and keep your interest then I recommend giving this a try. There is a love story and a mystery also intertwined into the story which just added to why I enjoyed this so much. Even if you are not a fan of fantasy and science fiction, I recommend picking this up. I was intrigued from the beginning and the next thing I knew I was almost 200 pages in. There were times I was mad, times my jaw was dropping, and times my heart was hurting. I even shed a some tears. It really makes you think about death and what would happen in a world where death is nonexistence.
I feel everything was summed up really well, so I am interested in the story book two will follow. Let me know if I should continue on with the series?
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Saturday, October 6, 2018
Shelter of the Most High by Connilyn Cossette Review
Shelter of the Most High by Connilyn CossetteMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I am a huge Christian fiction and historical fiction fan, but I am not sure if I actually read any biblical fiction prior to Shelter of the Most High by Connilyn Cossette. I was excited to give this one a try.
I almost gave up on this one (it was me, not the story) and I am glad I did not. I picked this up, read the first page and put it down. I later picked it up again and only made it through the first chapters before putting it down again. I finally looked at it and said I needed to give it a chance. This was in part of being in a reading slump, and not from the book itself though. Once I finally picked up and pushed through I ended up really enjoying this one.
This is actually the second book in the Cities of Refuge series, but it can be read as a standalone. I never felt distant from the characters or the story from not reading book one. I have seen others mention how amazing book one is though, and I prefer starting series from the beginning.
There was so much going on with twists along the way to keep your interest. I really enjoyed the writing style as the author brings you along through this journey. I actually would like to check out more of her work based on her beautiful writing.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and am happy I gave it a chance.
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A Blackguard's Redemption by Ta`Mara Hanscom Review
A Blackguard's Redemption by Ta`Mara HanscomMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
It is no secret that I have really enjoyed the previous two books in the Caselli Family series. When I was given the chance to continue the series and received book three, A Blackguard’s Redemption I jumped on the opportunity.
Yes, this is the third book in the series. I really do recommend reading the series from book one though. I am sure you could read this as a standalone, but you really need to know the backstory of our characters to truly appreciate their story. Plus, you will fall in love with the story of Noah and Angel. It also had been a while since I had read the second book, so I had to skim the ending before jumping into book three.
I have been waiting for book three for so long to continue the story with Angel and Noah. They are my favorite part of this whole series, and I am just in love with their love story. This story starts to divulge the secrets to both about why they were kept apart during the first two books.
Overall, I just love this family and I am ready for book four.
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Friday, October 5, 2018
Delayed Justice by Cara C. Putman: Review
Delayed Justice by Cara C. PutmanMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I was lucky enough to read the second book in this series through the Booklook Bloggers program, and I ended up really loving it. When I saw the next book in the series, I knew I had to read it. I started this the day it arrived in the mail and I never wanted to put it down.
This story does deal with and has triggers around sexual abuse, PTSD, military issues, and more. I was heart broken from the first chapter. There was so much going on with our two main characters, Jaime and Chandler, that this will keep you up all night reading to know what happens. You really have three different stories going on at the same time (there is another story that is connected with Tiffany, but it really was like a third story). I would have liked to see more suspense around Jaimes story. It was also really creepy that you will get a few pages of the Uncles thoughts and manipulations.
I love when a story involves an animal, and this story does have a dog, Aslan, which is a comfort dog. Aslan helps comforts victims and helps them tell their stories. I just loved Aslan.
Overall, another winner in my book from Cara Putman.
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Thursday, October 4, 2018
All Fall Down by Jennifer WeinerMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 Stars
This follows the same path as book two in being a legal thriller. Book two followed DV, and this story is following and has triggers for sexual abuse.
I went into this a little hesitant as I had previously tried to read it and put it down. I ended up really enjoying this. This is a sneak peak into the Opiate crises we are facing today. It does not matter who you are or where you come from to find yourself dealing with an addiction.
I flew through parts one, two, and three. They were very fast paced and had my interest. Part four seemed to slow down. I was disappointed how everything was wrapped up.
Overall, this was much better than I was expecting though and I really enjoyed it.
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Ten Things We Did by Sarah MlynowskiMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have been a fan of previous Sarah Mlynowski books, so I wanted to start collecting her other work. This was a really quick and fun read. Yes, things happen that truly do not seem realistic for teens in high school but that is why I liked it. It was not what I was expecting.
This does deal with body image, cheating, abandonment, divorce, first love, drinking, and so much more. Where this was not something that would blow you away, I do recommend it if you are looking for something cute and fluffy. It was exactly what I needed at the time and I am glad I picked it up.
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