The Girl Who Married an Eagle: A Mystery (Amanda Brown #4)

 The Girl Who Married an Eagle: A Mystery (Amanda Brown #4)
by Tamar Myers
Pages: 272
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Based on actual events from the writers childhood, this is the 4th and final book in this mystery series set in the Belgian Congo.
A young, naive girl from Ohio volunteers to be a missionary in the Belgian Congo is totally unprepared to be in charge of an all-girls boarding school primarily made up of runaway child brides from the local native tribes. Julia Newton must defend not only the school but the lives of the girls and her own from the angry chief, Big Chief Eagle whom her newest student is supposed to marry but she is only 8 years old. With the help of Cripple, Amanda Brown and the beautiful young girl herself these women will learn how to save themselves.

14 by Peter Clines

 14
by Peter Clines
Pages: 372
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This is a unique book. It's a bit of a mystery, some adventure, some fantasy, some science fiction, some steam-punk all blended into one well-written story. 

Nate's new apartment is surprisingly cheap and in an historic building. It also some oddities that he soon notices such as padlocked apartments, mutant cockroaches, no cell service inside and no one who seems to really own the building. But Nate has other things on his mind when he moves in. He hates his job but has no money in the bank to live off of while looking for a new job. Soon he starts meeting his neighbors and they start discussing odd stuff about the building. A group quickly forms to work together to figure out the mystery of their home. Little do they know how dangerous this quest while be and that there is at least one spy among them

The Wright Boss by K.A. Linde
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Landon Wright comes home after his divorce and decides that he is ready to go after a crush that he has had since high school. Then he becomes her boss, and things fall apart from there. 

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320 Pages

Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina Lauren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So I really didn't think that I would like this book, because I didn't know how I would feel about Luke. He was Mia's ex from book one. However, I am glad that I did read it because Luke was nothing like I was thinking he would be.

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384 Pages


The Wager by Rachel Van Dyken
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Omg, Jake and Travis's grandma is so funny.. I didn't see what her plan was in this book until half way through and I was like oh boy this is going to be great! I laughed so hard during this book. Poor Jake!

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256 Pages


Elite by Rachel Van Dyken
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really didn't know what to think of this book at first. I was super confused on the setting behind this story. It started to come around by the middle of the book. I will move onto book 2, but if it doesn't get any better then I will not move any further.

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277 Pages


The Wright Brother by K.A. Linde
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The billionaire has a tortured past and a crazy ex-wife who still wants him back. The beautiful women he is attracted to happens to be his brother's ex girlfriend from 10 years ago.

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382 Pages

Beautiful Secret by Christina Lauren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Niall Stella, he was one of the kindest guys in the series. I had a hard time seeing him being Max's brother.

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401 Pages


Beautiful Boss by Christina Lauren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a nice short little book about Hanna and Will. This is a great understanding that when you first have disagreements, it can be hard to figure things out.

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144 Pages


Beautiful by Christina Lauren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Pippa she was just super sweet!! She was just the crazy that Jensen needed. I also enjoyed that you get to hear about the ending for all the other couples.

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416 Pages

Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a pretty good follow up to book one, but I was a bit lost at the beginning, as I couldn't remember who anyone was or what had actually happened in book one. None of the references were making any sense to me. That was partly poor planning on my part, but I didn't want to reread book one and didn't take time to read a recap. Oops.

Also, the audiobook volume was cued incredibly low, so I struggled to hear well at max volume no matter which headphones I used. As a result, I missed a lot of things and rewound a lot until I settled in. All of that impacted my overall view of the book, which may be partly why it got 4 stars.

I was settled in pretty well once I hit the midpoint, and I thought the last half was solid. This is a cute series.

Book 175 read in 2018

Pages: 352

Gumballs and Murder: Candy Store Mysteries, Book 1 by Wendy Meadows

SUMMARY: Margaret and her son, Zach, leave the big city to open a candy store in a nice, small, quiet town. It doesn’t take long, though, for Margaret to find herself investigating the murder of a neighbor. Guess small town life isn’t quite so quiet after all.

REVIEW: The writing is at an elementary level with stilted dialogue and an unrealistic plot. I'd skip this one unless you want a quick read to pass the time.

RATING: 2 out of 5           PAGES: 116

Jake and Emma Mysteries by Linda Crowder

SUMMARY: Jake and Emma live uneventful lives in Casper, Wyoming, until one of their friends winds up in trouble. Then it is all hands on deck to get to the bottom of any mystery they encounter.

REVIEW: In book 2, Kristy’s past comes back to haunt her. In book 3, a thirty-year-old unsolved murder seems to intersect with the present. These books mainly focus on the mystery, but there is some light romance as well. I haven't read book 1 yet, but suspect it would be helpful to read the series in order.

RATING: 3.5 out of 5

BOOKS IN SERIES:

Main Street Murder: Book 2            Pages: 196

Justice for Katie: Bk 3                     Pages: 184

Murders, Curlers and Cream: A Valentine Beaumont Mystery, Book 1 by Arlene McFarlane

SUMMARY: Valentine Beaumont is a beautician and owner of a failing salon. When one of her customers dies while in a backroom awaiting a facial, everyone in the shop is considered a suspect. As Valentine gets closer to discovering the murderer, she finds her life in jeopardy and turns to Detective Romero for protection and perhaps a little romance.

REVIEW: A pleasant enough read, but I wasn’t impressed enough with the series to move onto book 2.

RATING: 3 out of 5           PAGES: 292

Shades of Stars: Lola Pink Mysteries, Book 2 by Gina LaManna

SUMMARY: When a model who promoted Dane’s tech company is found dead, Dane and Lola are considered prime suspects. Of course, Dane and Lola have to investigate to clear their names.

REVIEW: The fun from book one continues. This is a quick, light-hearted read. Sure hope there is a book three!

RATING: 5 out of 5           PAGES: 223

Track of the Cat: Anna Pigeon Novel, Book 1 by Nevada Barr

SUMMARY: While patrolling Guadaloupe Mountains National Park, Park Ranger Anna Pigeon stumbles on the body of a fellow ranger who appears to have been clawed to death by a mountain lion. But Anna knows appearances can be deceiving, so she conducts her own identification to find the true murderer.

REVIEW: What do you do when you land on Third Person Past Tense as a must-read? Turn to Google for popular books that fit the bill. Track of the Cat was in the top 10. I liked the outdoor nature of the book and the writing was fine, but I just didn’t feel very engaged by the main character.

RATING: 3 out of 5                           PAGES: 276

Brightwater Bay Cozy Mysteries by Carolyn L. Dean

SUMMARY: In book one, Claire’s car breaks down outside Brightwater Bay. She is forced to stay for a few days, first while her car is repaired and later when a murder victim dies on her doorstep. Being the outsider, Claire feels she must get to the bottom of the mystery to clear her name. In book two, Claire has decided to make Brightwater Bay her home. But that doesn’t stop her from being considered a suspect when another person winds up dead.

REVIEW: These are light, quick reads, but could use a bit of editing.

RATING: 3.5 out of 5

BOOKS IN SERIES:

A Little Taste of Murder, Book 1, 92 pages

A Tiny Dash of Death, Book 2, 106 pages

Cookies and Catastrophe: A Second Chance Diner Mystery by Becky Byers

SUMMARY: One of the bakers entered into the local cookie contest winds up dead and it is up to Rose and her friends to discover who the culprit is before long-hidden secrets are revealed.

REVIEW: Likable characters with plenty of suspects to keep you guessing throughout the story.

RATING: 4 out of 5           PAGES: 95

Winter Storms and Deadly Thorns by Angela C. Blackmore

SUMMARY: This book takes you back to Boston in 1901. Katherine Morgan is a socialite, married to enhance a business partnership, and is desperately unhappy. At the start of the book, Katherine has just buried her father and she has learned her own life is in danger. Can she escape before her plans are discovered?

REVIEW: I quickly found myself caught up in this adventure. Katherine is a feisty heroine. This is a prequel to the Red Pine Falls Cozy Mystery series, which I haven't read. I may give it a try, though, based on liking this book.

RATING: 4 out of 5           PAGES: 90

Christmas at the Falling-Down Guesthouse by Lilly Bartlett

SUMMARY: When Aunt Kate winds up in the hospital, Lottie and her daughter rush to keep Kate’s B&B running in hopes of achieving a coveted star from a picky hotel reviewer. Running a B&B, though, is not in Kate’s wheelhouse, not to mention the building needs a lot of work. Still, Danny, her new found friend who also doesn’t have many domestic skills, do what they can in this light-hearted romance.

REVIEW: I enjoyed Big Little Wedding at Carlton Square, so decided to give this author a second look. If you like light-hearted fluffy romances, this is a fun read! I just wish it had been longer.

RATING: 4 out of 5           PAGES: 127

Big Little Wedding in Carlton Square by Lilly Bartlett

SUMMARY: Emma is from East London while Daniel is from the aristocracy of West London. Wedding expectations are very different. Emma is determined to have a small wedding that her family can afford, while Daniel’s family wants to contribute to the wedding to make a bigger splash. Humor ensues as Emma and her friends come up with ways to have the best big/little wedding possible.

REVIEW: When I landed on “first person, present tense” as the book to read, I turned to Google to find popular titles that were light and funny that fit the bill. This one turned up in the top 10 and did not disappoint.

RATING: 5 out of 5                           PAGES: 219

Solider’s Heart: Being the Story of the Enlistment and Due Service of the Boy Charley Goddard in the First Minnesota Volunteers by Gary Paulsen

SUMMARY: Charley is only fifteen when he goes off to fight the Rebs in the Civil War. The horror of what he sees and experiences is deftly told by award-winning author Gary Paulsen.

REVIEW: This is a gritty read for middle and high school students. I noticed there are lesson plans that have been developed. I am sure this book would provide much fodder for discussions.

RATING: 4 out of 5           Pages: 130

Alexandra Barnaby Novels by Janet Evanovich

SUMMARY: Alex Barnaby teams up with NASCAR driver Sam Hooker to rescue her brother and find a sunken treasure in book 1 in the series, and in book 2 they must clear their names of murder while tracking down a new high-tech device that appears to guarantee the winner of a race.

REVIEW: Since I enjoy Evanovich’s Stephanie Plums series, I cracked these books open in great anticipation. Unfortunately, they did not live up to expectations. The plots are a little too far-fetched and the main characters are more annoying than quirky and fun. The romantic elements fizzle more than they sizzle, so I won’t even tag it as a Contemporary Romance.

RATING: 2 out of 5

BOOKS IN SERIES:

Metro Girl, Book 1:  296 pages and Motor Mouth, Book 2:   312 pages

If I Run by Terri Blackstock

If I Run by Terri Blackstock
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

This had so much potential. It started great and seemed as if it was going to be a fast paced mystery/suspense story.

Unfortunately, it then became super preachy and really started to drag. In fact, there's not even a full plot here. The main plot arc of the story never reaches the climax or resolution. You basically only get 3/5ths of a book here. They do resolve the secondary plot, but since we all showed up for the primary plot and got a big fat nothing, who really cares? There is literally no effective ending, conclusion, or resolution for this book. It just finally stops preaching and comes to a random halt. Combine that with the pacing issues, and what you get is structurally disappointing.

As for the preachiness, that would be totally fine with me if it was true to the characters. Unfortunately, characters would just randomly and suddenly behave out of character and start spouting out these poorly written monologues about the value of God, religion, Christianity and being saved. . . characters who had previously not shown or expressed any instance or moment of being religious, or even Christian. No. Just no.

I will read any well-written book with religious characters, but this is not that. It's not well-written, which is the heart of the problem. The initial concept is great, and with all the blood and excitement at the start, it's hard to look away. Then you realize that the dialogue sounds unnatural, the characters motivations don't align with who the characters are supposed to be, and the author just likes to randomly out of the blue preach religious testimony at you---and it's not even good religious testimony or convincing. It's more like that guy who stands on the corner of the street shouting out cliche comments about religion to passersby. If you are going to suddenly and randomly spew religion at me, at least make it creative or convincing.

Pair the preachiness with the poorly written story and the fact that about the last 1/3 of beats and story elements are completely missing, and all of that overpowers the fact that this was initially an interesting story concept.

In the beginning, I would have given it four stars. By the mid-point, I was down to 3, and by the end, this was 1 star for me. I almost gave this 2 stars, since it started okay, but since I honestly wouldn't recommend this to anyone, it gets the dreaded 1 star.

Book 174 read in 2018

Pages: 174

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The Bet by Rachel Van Dyken
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was super funny! I really enjoyed Travis he was such a sweet guy and he did all this stuff to help Kacey out and she had no idea. I will move onto book two, however, I don't know how I feel about Jake after this book. I think he has a sweet side but he also has an awful side.

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240 Pages

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was every level of sweetness that exists and really creative. I love that someone wrote such an accepting world for these LGBTQIA teens.

However, I gave it 4 stars, because some things occurred to help move the plot forward that felt out of character for me. I accepted them, but the end result was that the resolution of those moments felt dishonest to me. These were relatively small moments, but since they were so inherent to the storyline, I got a bit fixated on how wrong they felt for the character, which made me step back from the book a bit and throw up my hands in distrust.

Still, I think this is a charming read, and I would definitely recommend the full cast audio version.

Book 173 read in 2018

Pages: 185

Beautiful Player by Christina Lauren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think that Hanna is my favorite character so far in all of the books. She was just super funny and said what she was thinking before she even thought about what she was thinking. The only thing I didn't like about this book is that her family was a big part of both of their life, but we never get to see what they think about them.

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432 Pages


Beautiful Beginning by Christina Lauren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh, Bennett and Chole's wedding plan and wedding was the crazy mess that I thought it would be. Funny and cute little story to finish out their story.

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208 Pages


Beautiful Beloved by Christina Lauren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Max and Sara have to learn how to deal with their new life now. This was a short and very cute story. We also get to meet Niall (Max's brother) who will be the main man in book four. I am so excited to read more about him, because he was just super sweet in this book.

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80 Pages

Slammed by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! I was shocked the way this story turned out. They go on heart stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces the relationship to a sudden halt.

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354 Pages



Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Layken and Will have learned to adapt to their life. It was nice to see that they are both taking care of their brothers. When Will's past comes back into his life, they need to begin to learn how to make it through it. Layken's mom was truly amazing, what she gave to them was just amazing!

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320 Pages


This Girl by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love when you get to hear a story from another POV, this was a neat way to learn what he felt and also there was some new details that you got to learn about.

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304 Pages

Four Letter Word by J. Daniels
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was so funny and very different from anything I have read before. It was just the perfect break that I needed to break up the deep book I was reading at the same time. I also really enjoy a book where most of the book you are waiting for the the secret to come out.

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416 Pages

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

Summary: "Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever."

Whew, this book was quite a ride! It started off a little slow for me, but then it picked up the pace. I adored Lira's spirit and her interactions with Elian. I also appreciated that the author didn't shy away from the violence and brutality associated with sirens and the Sea Queen. 

Even though some of the plot and pacing is a little off at times, this is a wonderful story overall. I would love to see more siren stories in the future! 

P.S. There are pirates in this one! Wildcard!

342 pages

Slammed Series Books by Colleen Hoover

Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book 169 read in 2018

This one has a strong thread of humor, and I love getting Will's POV.

Pages: 320

PREVIOUS REVIEW:
I butterflying loved it. I didn't think the second could be as good as the first, but it is a whole new level of awesome. It makes me crave things I don't even think I want. Good luck sorting that out. I'm in such a book haze I'm not even sure I know what I mean.

---

This Girl by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#BecRereads2018

Still delicious.

Book 170 read in 2018

Pages: 304

PREVIOUS REVIEW:
Delicious like the first two. :)

The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow this story was very deep at some points and I found that I needed a break. Mallory and Rider both had a hard and rough life. It was a amazing story to see how they could help each other out.

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474 Pages

The Black Hand: The Epic War Between a Brilliant Detective and the Deadliest Secret Society in American History by Stephan Talty

The Black Hand: The Epic War Between a Brilliant Detective and the Deadliest Secret Society in American History by Stephan Talty

When the children of Italian immigrants were mysteriously kidnapped in the summer of 1903, no one knew quite what to make of it. But as the crime wave grew to include bombings that ripped tenements apart and innocent bystanders gunned down, it was determined no one was safe, even the highest members of New York society, such as the Rockefellers. The perpetrators, it seemed, were everywhere, lurking in the shadows and ready to take action at the slightest provocation. All anyone knew was that those who were responsible left a calling card: the symbol of a black hand. Joseph Petrosino, a dogged detective known as the Italian Sherlock Holmes, was determined to use his all-Italian police squad to root out the problem. Petrosino would devote his life to the cause, even going so far as to follow known members of the Black Hand back to Sicily, in order to avoid an all-out race war that he feared was inevitable.

298 pages.

The Boy Who Stole the Leopard's Spots (Amanda Brown #3)

 The Boy Who Stole the Leopard's Spots (Amanda Brown #3)
by Tamar Myers
Pages: 304
Ratings: 3 out of 4 stars

Amanda Brown has adjusted to her life as a missionary in the Belgian Congo when a decades old secret invades the peaceful town of Belle Vue. Ancient superstitions and the day of independence from Belgium add to the social upheaval for all who live there. Can Amanda and her assistant, Cripple figure out what is just a bad omen and what links back to an old murder before more lives are lost?

Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks: A Librarian's Love Letters and Breakup Notes to the Books in Her Life by Annie Spence
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book came highly recommended, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. Then I checked it out and began to immediately wish I hadn’t ever gotten my hands on it. Not for me.

The remainder of this review was redacted for this blog, as it left me so frustrated that I don't wish to discuss it further at work. This is a neat concept and might be your cup of tea, but I couldn't swallow it.

Book 172 read in 2018

Pages: 244

Pet Sematary by Stephen King

Summary: "When Dr. Louis Creed takes a new job and moves his family to the idyllic and rural town of Ludlow, Maine, this new beginning seems too good to be true. Yet despite Ludlow’s tranquility, there’s an undercurrent of danger that exists here. Those trucks on the road outside the Creed’s beautiful old home travel by just a little too quickly, for one thing…as is evidenced by the makeshift pet cemetery out back in the nearby woods. Then there are the warnings to Louis both real and from the depths of his nightmares that he should not venture beyond the borders of this little graveyard. A blood-chilling truth is hidden there—one more terrifying than death itself, and hideously more powerful. An ominous fate befalls anyone who dares tamper with this forbidden place, as Louis is about to discover for himself…" - Amazon

I was looking for a scary book and this one was recommended by more than one person.  I thought I had read it in high school, but when I looked it up on Amazon, I realized I hadn't.  Not sure what I read back then with creepy animals in it....  Anyway, I went into this with (admittedly skeptical) high hopes.  I have never been a Stephen King fan (with the exception of Eyes of the Dragon), so I am always a little nervous to read another novel by him.  And sadly, I will continue to be so.

The story was good, but my main issue (as always) lies with the flatness of the characters.  I just don't find myself caring about them.  And when you don't care about the characters of a horror novel, all of the scary seems to dissipate.  There were moments of storytelling brilliance throughout this book, but overall, I felt very 'meh'.

3.5/5

560 pages

The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh

 The Pillowman
by Martin McDonagh
Pages: 104
Rating: 3 out of 5

This script is not for the faint of heart. There is darkness present from the very beginning in the interrogation room of the police station, but the psychological twists and turns only get deeper as the suspect reveals the inspiration for his writing and discovers how his writing is tied to a number of child-murders in his town.

Artemis by Andy Weir

 Artemis
by Andy Weir
Pages: 305
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

From the author of The Martian comes a totally different science fiction adventure. Besides being set on a planet in space this novel is quite different from The Martian, much more adventure and less science. Artemis is a settlement on the moon owned by a corporation.

The main character Jazz Bashara was born on the moon and is just as tough as the atmosphere. While being smart and talented Jazz is often her own worst enemy and is still paying for some mistakes she made as a teen. Jazz is trying to make a fast buck but ends up in the middle of a conspiracy to take over the control of Artemis. But Jazz will need more than her brains and daring to commit the perfect crime, she's going to have to learn how to deal with her past and forgive herself and others to succeed.

Dating You / Hating You by Christina Lauren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow I was just shocked by the behavior of her boss. He was just rude and the way he treated her was just awful. I was hoping that he would get what was coming to him but I never would have thought he was doing what he was doing. Great plot twist with this one.

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350 Pages

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Summary: "The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.

But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting. He’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming....

This monster, though, is something different. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth." -Amazon

First of all, we all need to bow down to Mr. Patrick Ness.  He is a wordsmith of the ages.

This story is beautiful in it's complicated simplicity.  Conor's mother is dying of cancer, and he must learn how to face not only this monster killing her but also his feelings and future without her.  The characters have depth and imperfections and there are definitely some tearjerker scenes, especially between Conor and his mother.  I'll leave you with a quote that resonated with me in a deep way: 

“Your mind will believe comforting lies while also knowing the painful truths that make those lies necessary. And your mind will punish you for believing both.”

4.5/5

224 pages

The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a great ending to the story. It was very interesting to see all the traitors that came out. At first I was sad about the way they ended Lia's story but than the last chapter brought it all back together for me. Great series! I have already checked out another series to read!

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679 Pages

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This. Is so much. Everything. I can’t. I just. I want to find the right words to explain why, or even how this grabbed me by the throat and squeezed until I forgot how to even breathe and no longer even cared that I couldn’t. But I can’t. I’ll try, but I already know I’m going to fail to do it justice.

This YA fantasy, reminiscent of a Viking culture, is one of my favorite reads of 2018 so far, and I’m already 171 books deep and have read some pretty amazing stuff. I currently can’t name any of those other titles, because I only have eyes for Sky in the Deep right now, and as a result, everything else has suddenly paled in comparison.

This is absolutely brutal and stark, but with so much texture and depth and richness of the world that I want to throw away my flip-flops and messy bun for battle armor and braids. The MC is pure wrath and solid conviction, and I love that her level of ferocity and concept of honor is paired with so much raw emotion.

On a worse note, this novel is so incredible that it has completely crippled me with self-doubt, and I’m now floundering with my current writing project. So I both love that it could destroy me like this, and I hate that I allow myself to be made small in comparison. Probably, in a few days, after I pick myself back up off the floor and stop reeling, I’ll try to resolve this crisis of writing faith. For now, I mostly just want to pick this story back up and bury myself deep inside the world again. And then again and again.

As an aside, if you can’t handle blood, gore, battle, and violence, then you will struggle with this book, but I suggest you find a way to handle those things, if at all possible, as there is so much heart you’ll be missing out on if you pass this one up.

Book 171 read in 2018

Pages: 352

Obsidio (Illuminae #3) by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

The final installment of the wonderful and terrible Illuminae Files series! 

Illuminae is one of the most interesting books I've ever read, and it definitely had a huge impact on me. Because of this strong impact, I was less than impressed by Obsidio. I think my expectations were too high, but nothing truly unique happens in Obsidio. I found myself bored...which is an unusual feeling for this series. However, I still very much enjoyed the characters and format of the story!

I would highly recommend the entire series to anyone and everyone! 

“Live a life worth dying for.” 

613 pages

On Dublin Street Series

On Dublin Street by Samantha Young  (Book 1)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So this book won the New Adult award in Audible's March Ab-Ness challenge to find the Best Book Boyfriend in different categories. I persuaded a friend to read it first, since I've been busy. Her high level of obsession made it clear I had to read it sooner, rather than later.

This story is equal parts amusing and scorching. The love interests butt heads a lot, which means there's tons of banter and bickering, which I appreciated. There are also some real issues that have to be dealt with, and the patient persistence of the male lead is what makes him a perfect Book Boyfriend.

I recommend this one to all avid and part-time romance readers, as well as those who can't turn away from relationship status negations and/or a sexy Scottish burr.

Book 149 read in 2018

Pages: 372

Click below to read the reviews on the rest of the books in the series:

Say You'll Remember Me by Katie McGarry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such a great story! Loved it! I was happy to see that Elle was able to stand up for herself and Drix. The program still help Drix get off the path that he was on and in the end helped him to be a better person.

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