Twisted by Helen Hardt

Twisted by Helen Hardt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this series!! She does a great job pulling you into the series. You for sure have to read the brother's book all at once, because she does a great job leaving the story hanging on.

300 Pages

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Unraveled by Helen Hardt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh wow, this ended with a bang. I could see some it coming but there was so many surprises that I didn't even see coming!!

288 Pages

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Waves by Ingrid Chabbert

Waves by Ingrid Chabbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was touching and emotional. It’s beautiful and painful, both the story and the artwork.

It’s the story of a young woman, and her wife, who want to have a child but are struggling to successfully do so. This graphic novel is so well done that it takes very few words, paired with the gorgeous and easy to understand illustrations, to help tell a strong, emotional story.

The artwork uses color and shading as a tool to help indicate shifts in mood and tone, which is very interesting and effective.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review an early copy of this graphic novel, which will release on May 7, 2019.

With the diversity, emotional artwork, and excellent storytelling, this should be an automatic purchase for all adult graphic novel collections. It brings something new to the table, and I could see this drawing in new and different readers who have never experienced a graphic novel before.

Pages: 96

Pilu of the Woods by Mai K. Nguyen

Pilu of the Woods by Mai K. Nguyen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

At it’s heart, this is a story of grief, friendship, and moving forward

The artwork for this graphic novel is always clear, and it has a muted palette for scenes from the past (which I really enjoy). It sets the tone well for the story, and the artist does a great job of showing me the world/setting.

The story is fantastic, because it says a lot, with as few words as possible, which I find delightful. After having just slogged through two really text heavy graphic novels with too much telling, I loved how this graphic novel just showed me the story. I found myself rushing forward and often had to slow myself down, so I could really enjoy the scenes and artwork.

This was perfection. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this title in advance.  It releases on April 17, 2019, so go pre-order your copy today. 

Pages: 160

The Emperor's Blades (Unhewn Throne, Book 1) by Brian Staveley

The Emperor's Blades (Unhewn Throne, Book 1)
by Brian Staveley

480 pages

4/5

In The Emperor's Blades by Brian Staveley, the emperor of Annur is dead, slain by enemies unknown. His daughter and two sons, scattered across the world, do what they must to stay alive and unmask the assassins. But each of them also has a life-path on which their father set them, destinies entangled with both ancient enemies and inscrutable gods.

Kaden, the heir to the Unhewn Throne, has spent eight years sequestered in a remote mountain monastery, learning the enigmatic discipline of monks devoted to the Blank God. Their rituals hold the key to an ancient power he must master before it's too late.

An ocean away, Valyn endures the brutal training of the Kettral, elite soldiers who fly into battle on gigantic black hawks. But before he can set out to save Kaden, Valyn must survive one horrific final test.

At the heart of the empire, Minister Adare, elevated to her station by one of the emperor's final acts, is determined to prove herself to her people. But Adare also believes she knows who murdered her father, and she will stop at nothing―and risk everything―to see that justice is meted out.

The pacing of this book was a little rough at the beginning, but it straightened itself out about midway through.  It follows three main characters, who are siblings, but not evenly.  The two brothers definitely get more page time, but the story is written in such a way that I feel the sister is going to blow up in the second book - which I'm all for.  Her character arc in this one was small, but important.

Overall, 4/5 for the slow start.  But I've already ordered the second book and can't wait to read it.

Mary, Mrs. A. Lincoln by Janis Cook Newman

Abraham Lincoln's widow was committed to Bellvue asylum by her son Robert in 1875. In this novel, she starts writing a journal about her life to drown out the noise of the other inmates. In these notes, although she held séances in the White House and drove her family deeply into debt because of compulsive shopping, she maintains she is perfectly sane.

Mary was born to southern slaveholders in Kentucky, moved to Illinois when she was 20 to live with her sister and met Abe at a cotillion. She lost three sons and her husband, and began to use shopping expeditions to accumulate things that would "protect" her family, seeing them as talismans against disaster. In his statement to the "insanity" lawyer, her son Robert said, "I have no doubt my mother is insane. She has long been a source of great anxiety to me. She has no home and no reason to make these purchases."

Mary was eventually released to her sister, and want to Europe for four years. When her health failed, she returned to her sister’s house, where she died shortly after seeing her son for the first time since he committed her.

636 pages

The Turquoise Lament: A Travis McGee Novel by John D. MacDonald

Once upon a time, treasure hunter Ted Lewellen saved Travis McGee's life in a bar fight. So when Lewellen's daughter Pidge calls McGee from Hawaii and tells him she desperately needs help, he flies out to see what he can do. Pidge thinks her husband is trying to kill her, and needs McGee to find out if he really is, or if she's losing her mind. He can't find anything wrong, chalks it up to paranoia, and heads back to Fort Lauderdale. But once back there, he realizes he overlooked some clues, and Pidge might be in real danger.

305 pages

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A Purple Place for Dying: A Travis McGee Novel by John D. MacDonald

Travis McGee does a favor for a friend and flies out to Texas to meet with her friend Mona. Mona is married to an older man, but has fallen in love with someone else and wants to leave him. However, her wealthy husband tells her that her trust fund has been depleted, and she thinks he has stolen it. She wants Travis to help her prove it. Travis does like her at all, and doesn't see how he can help, so he turns her down. But as they are talking, she is shot by a sniper. So of course he has to has to stay and find the killer.






241 pages

The Quick Red Fox: A Travis McGee Novel by John D. MacDonald

 

Travis McGee is recruited to help a Hollywood star find and stop a blackmailer who threatens her career and prospective marriage with explicit photos of an orgy in which she participated. Travis takes the case on his usual contingency basis and sets off with the star's female assistant for New York, California, Nevada and Arizona to track down everyone who attended the party. Along the way, they find murdered body after murdered body, until solving the mystery.


226 pages

All the Light we Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

 

Marie-Laure is 12 years old when she and her father flee  Paris after the Germans invade France in

World War II. They go her great-uncle's home in Saint Malo, where she remains after her father is imprisoned by the Nazis. She has been blind since she was six, and has to navigate this new world without her father, who has always been her navigator.

Werner Pfennig is a small 14 year old when he is accepted into a Nazi training school. He is a genius with radios, and although smaller than most of the other students, does well at the school. It is chilling to see how these children were groomed for the war machine. He is assigned the task of finding radio transmissions by the resistance.

The story follows both through the war; their lives intersect at the very end of the book, although it is clear that will happen as you read. This is a sad book that reminds us of the horrors of war for everyone, not just soldiers.


545 pages

Shattered by Helen Hardt

Shattered by Helen Hardt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

More twists and turns just keep coming with this series....

304 Pages

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A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes, #2)

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

#BecRereads2019

I'm rereading this in preparation for finally reading the third book (yes, I know I'm way behind).

I mostly enjoyed it the second time through, but it drags some and doesn't possess the full magic that is book one, which I'm absolutely obsessed with. This feels a lot more like a transition book, where everything is more about putting all the pieces in the right places, rather than it just being a really solid story.

Most of the story is spent endlessly journeying, and new characters are introduced left and right without being fully fleshed out, which is frustrating. I did have to force myself to power through a few sections where things really lagged, because I'm convinced that book two is just a one-off, and book three is going to be as amazing as book one is (I really hope so).

Pages: 452

PREVIOUS REVIEW:
This didn't move in the direction or at the speed I expected. I loved book one to extremes, and I confess I was quite sick and very distracted as I listened to this on audiobook. I probably should have waited, but I was anxious to read book 2. I am not sure if my love decreased due to the story or due to my poor reading behaviors and attention span while consuming this story.

Overall, I still enjoyed it, though it didn't make as much progress, in terms of the storyline, as I thought it would. I think I will listen to it again, right before book 3 is published, at which point I may change my rating.

I still love these characters and am fascinated by the world.

The villains are incredibly well-written and truly horrific.

Pages: 464

Not So Nice Guy by R.S. Grey

Not So Nice Guy by R.S. Grey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Omg another great read!! But he is an amazing guy! Swoon for Ian...

262 Pages

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An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of those 5 star books that makes me feel like I need to reevaluate all other 5 star ratings I've given in the past.

But I'm not going to do that, so the conclusion is that this is really more of a 6 Star book. It has that extra something special that is so captivating, despite the stark ugliness and brutality of this world.

The writing is gorgeous, and so is the narration, which means I highly recommend this on audiobook.

This is one incredible read, so I'm happy to be revisiting it and suspect this won't be the last time I revisit this one.

Book 47 read in 2019

Pages: 446

PREVIOUS REVIEW:
Brutal and gorgeous.

In an empire of harsh, martial law, a soldier is no freer than a slave, and both are disposable.

This YA fantasy is lush and epic, with an intense plot, disturbing twists, and strong characters.

The most upsetting part about reading a debut novel is that after I adore it, I can't run out and get my hands on other books by the author. . . yet.

Love, in English by Karina Halle

Love, in English by Karina Halle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! Even with the drama and the fact that he is/was married. That is something that I am normally not a fan of. However, this book made me fall for them even with all of that.

439 Pages

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White-Hot Hack by Tracey Garvis Graves

White-Hot Hack by Tracey Garvis Graves
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the ending to Kate and Ian story. I did enjoy this book more than the first one, because you get to see more of what they do for their work. It sounds like something that would be so much fun to do!!

328 Pages

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Courting Darkness (Courting Darkness Duology, #1)

Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I loved what was delivered, but be aware that even at 512 pages, you’re only receiving 75% of a story. This takes you right up to the climax point and provides absolutely no resolution to anything. The last 25% of the story was hacked off, I suspect due to unnecessary length and also to create a cliff-hanger that will force readers (who aren't too frustrated) to pick up the next book.

Quite frankly, I like a well-developed, well-edited, and complete story, and that is what inspires me to read the next book that an author writes.

Now, that all being said, I absolutely adored the His Fair Assassin Series, and this partial story is equally well done. My only complaint is that everything is too drawn out and drags on for far too long. I would rather have had a bit of the excess cut away, so that there would have been time and room for the final expected elements of any story. This effectively stops right at ACT III. In fact, the final sentence would be what I consider to be the start of ACT III, so there is effectively no finale.

Beyond that, the writing is strong, the characters are oh so distinct and lovable, and it even brings back some of your favorite characters from the previous trilogy, with Sybella staring as one of the two major POVs for the novel.

Now, do I recommend that you read this despite it not being a complete story?

Absolutely.

Did I enjoy it up to the point where it abruptly ended?

Absolutely.

And am I still disappointed to have received only a partial novel, when the 3 previous works I’ve read by this author wrapped up so well?

Absolutely.

This book releases on February 5, 2019. I highly recommend that you read it, especially if you love the His Fair Assassin trilogy, but since this is a duology, you should consider your own personal reading preferences. If you struggle with issues of story structure or hate cliff-hangers that arrive before there is any real resolution (I actually love cliff-hangers. They are deliciously torturous, but first I want and deserve a bit of resolution and satisfaction), then it would be in your best interests as a reader to just wait another year until book two is published and read them both together. I think this was likely one very long novel, and instead of editing it down to fit publishing standards, it was chopped up into two parts.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC for my early review. This would be 5 stars if there had been any amount of resolution to any of the major plotlines of the story. Only one minor subplot involving Sybella’s siblings was resolved, and it was a subplot that honestly drug on far too long and was not really that interesting or necessary to the story. If that whole thread had been cut out, then we probably would have received a more fast-paced and complete story.

Honestly, the more I think about it, the more I wish someone had killed a few more darlings, because this could have been a far stronger novel if it had pushed the action forward with more determination. I didn't necessarily mind that it drug on and meandered about, because I enjoy the characters and world so much that I had limitless patience while reading. However, I do think I may have loved it even more, and even potentially excused the lack of ending, if some of the unnecessary scenes had been cut away to allow the story to move forward at a better pace.

I believe that readers like, want, and deserve a bit of payout, especially after reading 512 pages. When you spend all that time, desperate to know how all the major issues of the story are resolved, it's disappointing and frustrating when none of them are, not even in the most minor ways, which is why I've settled on 3 stars, even though some part of me wanted to be able to give it at least 4.  

Book 50 read in 2019

Pages: 512

Archenemies by Marissa Meyer

Archenemies by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was every bit as fast-paced, action-packed, and gut-wrenching as book one. I even had to shout at a couple of characters on several occasions, not that any of them ever listened to me.

This has a dramatic conclusion which will leave you feeling desperate for book 3, in order to see how the story moves forward. That being said, book two did a great job of pushing the overall series forward. It also sticks a knife in and twists it, just when you think you can't take anymore.

Book 46 read in 2019

Pages: 560

Renegades by Marissa Meyer

Renegades by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#BecRereads2019

Superb! This one gets 5 Super stars, with bonus magical powers.

I’m so happy to be rereading this one, in preparation for reading book 2 for the first time.
I adore how this explores the same situation from different perspectives. It walks that fine line between what is right and what is wrong, as well as who is good and who is bad. It’s a reminder that most of the world and life exists in the gray areas, not in the black and white areas.

Book 45 read in 2019

Pages: 552

PREVIOUS REVIEW:

A book about superheroes and villains, you say?





This was so much fun!





Until it wasn't.


And it was full of brave and powerful heroes and villains...





...assuming you can figure out which are which.


And the ending:





This was another incredible book by Marissa Meyer, assuming you like to feel like this while reading:





Here's how long you'll be willing to wait for book two:







Book 46 in 2018

Pages: 556

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was not sure what to expect, but this is very different from the movie (which I probably haven’t seen in 20 years, so my memory could be sketchy). There’s a good amount of telling and passive sentences up front, which was at first off-putting, but then I got used to it and stopped fixating on it. It helped once there was more dialogue.

Holly Golightly is an eccentric, fanciful, and sometimes shallow individual. She seems to be all talk and no real substance, though there are moments where she also seems to take action or to see things on a deeper level. I can’t decide if those are accidental, or if those are the true Holly. She’s definitely self-centered and selfish at times (so she’s human), but she’s also a woman who was trying to be who she wanted to be in a time in which it was much harder to achieve that. She seems flighty sometimes, but she also seems to grab life by the throat and really live it, in a way most people are scared to do.

Maybe all the versions of her are true. I shifted frequently between disliking her, feeling sorry for her, trying to understand her, and being amused by her. One moment I would feel disappointed, and the next impressed. Then I considered that the story seems to be entirely told from male perspectives, which could have skewed or romanticized who Holly really was. They often talk about her like this mythical creature, which means they potentially only saw the most surface level versions of her.

Considering how much time I spent pondering this short novel, I think that means that it’s still a decent read, after all these years. It gave me something to think about and was entertaining.

Based on this story, I think Capote must have been a clever man. He has this way of throwing out dialogue that sounds light, but if you really pay attention, it is littered with comments that have real depth or that really mean something. It’s easy to overlook, because there will be something profound tucked right in the middle of some lighthearted rambling.

I was prepared to be disappointed, but overall I was intrigued by all the idiosyncrasies.

Book 44 read in 2019

Pages: 142

These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

Summary: "A young woman in nineteenth-century New York City must struggle against gender and class boundaries when her father is found dead of a supposed suicide, and she believes there is more than meets the eye, so in order to uncover the truth she will have to decide how much she is willing to risk and lose."

Jo's story is fun, intriguing and action-packed. I loved every second of reading this book, and I never wanted it to end! 

Favorite Quote: 
"'I'd hardly called this gallivanting. And besides, I couldn't stay at the party. It was too dangerous. I nearly died.' 

'From what?'

'Boredom.'"

487 pages

MOBIUS | goodreads

Heart-Shaped Hack by Tracey Garvis Graves

Heart-Shaped Hack by Tracey Garvis Graves
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a funny little story! I don't know that I would have been open to Ian and the way that he tracked her down...but it was at the same time sweet.

340 Pages

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Pucked Series

Pucked by Helena Hunting
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was so funny and racy that I had to limit listening to it in public, due to spurts of laughter, often followed by blushing.

Violet is really awkward and has a way of blurting out what she honestly thinks at all times, which is hilarious.

Book 36 read in 2019

Pages: 380

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Pucked Up by Helena Hunting
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story centers around trust and issues with trust. The characters in book two are very distinct from the characters in book one, which is always a good sign. This is also pretty funny and blush-worthy.

Book 38 read in 2019

Pages: 375

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Pucked Over by Helena Hunting
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Whew! *fans self*

This may be my favorite in the series so far, though I have enjoyed them all. There are so many other couples that I want to read about that I'm not sure which story I want next.

Book 39 read in 2019

Pages: 350

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Forever Pucked by Helena Hunting
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was fun, as I enjoy Alex and Violet, but I would have rather had the stories for the other hockey players. This book wasn't really necessary, but all the same, I generally liked it. It did have a few laugh out loud moments.

I would have enjoyed it more overall if this one didn't fall so hard into the only HEA is one that includes marriage and kids for all the couples in the series, whether or not they seem like the type to need/want to be married and/or have kids. The whole doing what society expects, regardless of personality or life choices things is always a bit meh for me with the romance genre.

If a storyline doesn't really need to end in everyone getting married and having kids, then it just feels like wasted energy making me read it all. I get that a lot of romance readers want that though, so it seems to happen in so many books/series. I just personally don't really need or want to know a couple's future history and the names of all their kids, if it isn't relevant to the current storyline. If it was that important to me to know they get married and have kids in the future (and it never is), then I would imagine it for myself.

I think that's why this one just didn't interest me quite as much. It was too much about wedding planning and the extended HEA, and I don't want to read about that crap. It's not a real plot, in my opinion. The interesting story for me was the first one, where two people came together, despite issues and challenges. This was just excess.

Book 40 read in 2019

Pages: 308

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Pucked Under by Helena Hunting
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this novella just because Lily and Randy are my favorite couple in the series. It is also not exactly necessary to the series, but for an extra, it's nice and short.

Book 41 read in 2019

Pages 188

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Pucked Off by Helena Hunting
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My previous review statement was premature. This is now my favorite book in the Pucked series, and I only wish there could have been even more of it.

This one is dark, complicated, and twisted, so obviously I loved it. It's also mired in mental health issues and the impacts of mental health issues. That sounds a bit unromantic, but it's absolutely not. Because Lance finally finds someone to be in his life who isn't abusive and unstable, and that made me very happy for him.

Book 42 read in 2019

Pages: 400

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Pucked Love by Helena Hunting
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this one a lot, as well. It seems like the issues in these last two books were greater and darker, and that was more compelling.

Book 43 read in 2019

Pages: 278

Hot as Puck by Lili Valente

Hot as Puck by Lili Valente
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this, but I have read another book that was pretty much the same story line. I just think that it could have been much better or something more in the story to draw me in.

330 Pages

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Rhythm, Chord & Malykhin by Mariana Zapata

Rhythm, Chord & Malykhin by Mariana Zapata
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book, but it was just very slow pace for me. Felt like it took so long to get to the to point of the book. Just a lot of missing pieces for me.

398 Pages

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To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a YA retelling of The Little Mermaid with a few delightful twists. It starts off strong, dark, and violent, which is captivating. The ending is also solid and dramatic, though I would have loved just a bit more wrap up.

Overall, this is an excellent read full of brutal sirens, charming pirates, royal drama, and a thorough amount of deception.

Book 35 read in 2019

Pages: 352

Bright Lights by Christine J. Darcy

Bright Lights by Christine J. Darcy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was lucky to get an advanced copy of this book!! I had a hard time stopping once I started, but life got in the way :) I’m dying to see what happens next for her, she has had a rough year and come out so strong in the end! I hope that maybe in next book she will get that happy ever after!!! Now I will have to wait to see!!! I won’t give any spoilers, but I hope they find her a new love interest or a guy that has been hiding in plain site...

268 Pages

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Montague Siblings Series

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#BecRereads2019

This is so darned charming and heartfelt, while still being full of adventure. I could read it a hundred times and never get sick of this one.

Book 33 read in 2019

Pages: 513

PREVIOUS REVIEW:
This novel has so much voice, the kind that’s funny and unapologetic. I really do want to hug this book, which is problematic since I listened to the audiobook.

The MC is a charming rake who gets himself into mess after mess, and I adore the fact that one of the side characters is his sister. That’s so rare in YA these days…to have a really relevant character be a sibling, and for that sibling to go along on the adventure. It added a nice dynamic.

These teenagers were appropriately teenagery, and I loved how the dated time period still felt so fresh and easy to exist within. These are the kind of characters who steal away little pieces of your heart, and you don’t even mind.

---

The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is another great YA historical adventure by Mackenzi Lee.

This one has some amazing feminist undertones, though the MC, who likely feels she is one of the first feminists, has a whole lot to learn about what it truly means to be supportive of women and to advocating for their rights, while still respecting their choices and preferences. She has an amazing friend who teaches her some difficult lessons.

Plus, this one has pirates, water dragons, family legacies run a muck, amputations, and once again plenty of diversity, especially for being a historical novel. The voice is unique, and it made me so happy that Monty and Percy played a role in Felicity's story, without crowding her out of the spotlight.

Book 34 read in 2019

Pages: 450

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Creating Character Arcs: The Masterful Author's Guide to Uniting Story Structure, Plot, and Character Development by K.M. Weiland

Creating Character Arcs: The Masterful Author's Guide to Uniting Story Structure, Plot, and Character Development
by K.M. Weiland

284 pages

4/5

Have you written a story with an exciting concept and interesting characters—but it just isn’t grabbing the attention of readers or agents? It’s time to look deeper into the story beats that create realistic and compelling character arcs. Internationally published, award-winning novelist K.M. Weiland shares her acclaimed method for achieving memorable and moving character arcs in every book you write.

By applying the foundation of the Three-Act Story Structure and then delving even deeper into the psychology of realistic and dynamic human change, Weiland offers a beat-by-beat checklist of character arc guidelines that flexes to fit any type of story.

This comprehensive book will teach you:

• How to determine which arc—positive, negative, or flat—is right for your character.
• Why you should NEVER pit plot against character. Instead, learn how to blend story structure and character development.
• How to recognize and avoid the worst pitfalls of writing novels without character arcs.
• How to hack the secret to using overarching character arcs to create amazing trilogies and series.
• And much more!

I am on a 'reading about writing' kick at the moment, so I really enjoyed this take on characters and character arcs.  Weiland uses a variety of examples which are really helpful when talking about the various details of creating a well-rounded character.  Most of this book is dedicated to discussing positive character arcs, and I was left wishing she discussed the alternate types of arcs (negative, flat, etc.) more.  Overall, though, I am glad to have read it and, I did order the workbook.

The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak

The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This has a great setting (the 1980s), and it has some delightful nerd culture.

I wanted to give it more stars, but there are some things that occur that just didn't work for me at all. I'm not going to speak in depth on it, but I had some big issues with the whole last 1/3 of the book and how some of the situations worked out. I also took issue with the extreme nature of some of the characters actions and mistakes, and how easily those mistakes were brushed aside and resolved, without consequence.

Book 32 read in 2019

Pages: 285

Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby

Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After 400 days of grief, Quinn writes the recipients of her boyfriend's organs. All the transplant patients write back and gather to meet her to help her try to move forward with her life, with the exception of the person who received her boyfriend's heart.

Quinn is supposed to respect that person's wishes in regards to not meeting, but instead she seeks him out, without disclosing who she really is. After that, everything spirals, and the two get caught up in a huge web of lies.

This may be closer to a 3.5 for me, but I always round up. It probably deserves the extra 0.5 stars anyway, as it struck an emotional chord, even though I had concerns about the relevancy of a relationship created on a foundation of lies. Still, grief and hardship impact the ways in which people react, and the choices that people make, and there was room for forgiveness with this one.

Book 31 read in 2019

Pages: 304

The Things You Kiss Goodbye by Leslie Connor

The Things You Kiss Goodbye by Leslie Connor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was not what I expected. It's a story of first love gone awry. Bettina receives very little trust or respect from her father, so when she receives that in her first relationship, and worse, she doesn't at first recognize that the comments, behaviors, and treatment is wrong. Once she does realize it she stays in the situation for far too long, and for all the wrong reasons.

Then a gentler soul becomes her friend and helps to show her the ways in which the people who love her should treat her.

This story sounds hopeful, and on some level it is. But first you have to endure a lot of pain, suffering, and tragedy. It runs far deeper than I expected and stirred up a lot of emotions.

Book 30 read in 2019

Pages: 368

Sadie by Courtney Summers

Sadie by Courtney Summers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The unique concept and style is absolutely stellar. I was completely captivated, even when I didn't want to be.

This is a YA suspense story about Sadie, a teenager who goes missing after her 13-year old sister is murdered. It's told in two unique, alternating parts. One part is Sadie's POV, right up until the point at which she officially disappears. The other part is a missing person's podcast, presented just like an investigative story, as the podcaster travels, researches, and interviews people trying to piece together what might have happened to Sadie.

This story is dark, ugly, emotional, and gut-wrenching, but you won't be able to look away. It reminds me a bit of watching those hour long investigative shows that I grew up with as a child, where they try to track down answers to unsolved mysteries, murders, and disappearances.

The unique style lends itself well to an audiobook format, so I highly recommend this book on audio.

Book 29 read in 2019

Pages: 311

Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers

Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#BecRereads2019

I had forgotten how fantastic this one is! It’s full of history, mystery, romance, and ferocity, with a big twist. I’m sitting here wondering how I could go about getting my own hellequin. There just has to be a way. . .

Now, I can’t wait to dive in and read COURTING DARKNESS, out February 5, 2019.

Book 27 read in 2019

Pages: 444

PREVIOUS REVIEW:
Love this series! Different and refreshing.

Off Limits by Jules Barnard

Off Limits by Jules Barnard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I didn't find that I was drawn into this book. A situation would come up and it felt like the author didn't build from that or explain very well before she moved onto something else.

292 Pages

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Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Everneath by Brodi Ashton
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Nope. This was absolutely not for me.

With writing, there’s diving right into the action to grab everyone’s attention in a good way, and then there is diving right into the middle of something too fast without making the world, parameters, and situations clear enough for the reader to easily follow along. This book falls into the second category, and while I applaud that it wanted to grab my attention right from the start and power forward with only the most relevant action, it fell short of being clear and cohesive, so the start was rocky, which meant it actually took me longer to settle in and become invested in this one.

I initially thought this was a decent read, but that opinion degraded the longer I read. The transitions between sections and scenes feels rough and too abrupt at times. Sentences are often very clipped, which makes this book a hard to listen to. It also was hard to remember the information presented, and because I had to interrupt myself at chapter 7 to finish up three other books, I had to go back and start this book over again when I returned to it after only a 4 day break from it (as nothing stuck out or stuck with me).

Once I restarted it, I fared slightly better. I think the best solution for new readers would be to block out a decent amount of time to read and get fully invested in this story before you put it down for the first time, so that you don’t risk getting confused, or irritated, and becoming unwilling to return to it.

For someone who lived 100 years in the underworld, this MC feels pretty immature, not to mention Mr. 1000 years old. And seriously? She pined for some old boyfriend for all 100 years? I’m the queen of hanging on long past the point in which you should in regards to feelings and relationships, but even I draw the line well before a decade, let alone a century. While her voice may be appropriate for YA, something about this whole setup rang false for me.

Plus, her old boyfriend is just all kinds of boring. Meh. No thanks. I still do not even understand why she is obsessed with him, or why he even loves her, and the side characters have very little depth. I can barely even tell them apart. Most of the character development is weak, and there is no real character growth.

Also, most of the mythology is shared through long-winded sections of telling, which is about the most boring way ever to hear it, especially when the majority of it all seems to come at the end of the book, which is way too late to be interesting or relevant.

I have read far better YA paranormal novels about the underworld (Give me Sarah Fine, or give me Death—preferably both), so I don’t plan to continue on in the series. Honestly, I was ecstatic when this finally ended. I think at the end of the day, it just feels more contrived than authentic, and that made me hold the book at an arm’s length, rather than want to pull it close and get invested in the characters.

Book 26 in 2019

Pages: 370