Maybe Not by Colleen Hoover

Maybe Not by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This companion novella to Maybe Someday is wow.

Funny. Snarky. Emotional. Captivating.

Warren is a character I definitely wanted to know more about, and I enjoyed every second of his story. I wish it was longer.

Pages: 160

It Happened One Wedding by Julie James

Summary: "After a humiliating end to her engagement, investment banker Sidney Sinclair is done with commitment-phobic men. But when her sister winds up engaged after a whirlwind courtship, Sidney is thrown into close contact with exactly the kind of playboy she wants to avoid--the gorgeous best man. She's stuck with him, for better or worse, until her sister walks down the aisle, but that doesn't mean she has to give in to his smooth advances, no matter how tempting they are..."

It Happened One Wedding is the 5th book in the FBI/US Attorney series by Julie James. I enjoyed it so much! I actually read it earlier this summer but had forgotten to post it. I love Julie James' writing and this entire series. It makes me sad that I've caught up and now have to impatiently wait for her to publish the next one! 

Characters: Sidney Sinclair + Vaughn Roberts

292 pages

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

Summary: "Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mythical beasts still roam the wild and remote areas, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinn still perform their magic.  For humans, it's an unforgiving place, especially if you're poor, orphaned, or female. 

Amani Al'Hiza is all three.  She's a gifted gunslinger with perfect aim, but she can't shoot her way out of Dustwalk, the back-country town where she's destined to wind up wed or dead.

Rebel of the Sands reveals what happens when a dream deferred explodes--in the fires of rebellion, of romantic passion, and the all-consuming inferno of a girl finally, at long last, embracing her power."

LOVED IT! I love the title, the cover, the characters and the story. Amani is incredibly fun and interesting. I wish I had paid more attention to some of the details earlier in the book, because everything comes back in an important way. It's alllll connected! So pay attention! 

:) I can't wait for the next book! 

314 pages

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So, how many times do you want me to say Colleen Hoover is magic, and every story she writes resonates with me? Because I can just keep saying it for as long as she keeps writing novels, if I need to.

Pages: 385

The Day She Died by Catriona Mcpherson

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

A man is distraught over his wife’s leaving him. Grocery store clerk Jessie is drawn into the family and the mystery.

Audio:  9 hrs. 46 min.
Print:  301 pages

The Life of Helen Stephens: The Fulton Flash by Sharon Kinney Hanson

Helen Stephens set a world record when she won the gold medal for 100 meter sprint at the 1936 Berlin Olympics set in Nazi Germany. The Great Depression and World War II prevented her from returning to the Olympics. However, Stephens enjoyed an incredible athletic career which spanned into her golden years. Among other things, she was the first woman to manage a professional basketball team.  She championed women in the pursuit of gaining equal athletic opportunities. Her biography is fascinating because it captures the drama of Stephen’s own personal journey beginning in rural Fulton, MO, alongside the development of the modern Olympics, implementation of Title IX, and evolution of US gender perceptions. After her Olympic win, Stephens was accused of being a man – prompting random gender testing for athletes.   She was later frequently consulted on this topic.

Helen Stephens held a 3o year career as a librarian at the Defense Mapping Agency Aerospace Center in St. Louis – a fact that I, as a librarian myself, very much appreciate. Pam Miner, a professional archivist at the Missouri State Archives assisted in compiling Stephen’s enormous collection of correspondence, newspaper articles, and ephemera which were accessed in researching this biography. Many of these materials are now part of the University of Missouri’s Historic Manuscripts collection. Sharon Kinney Hanson portrays Stephens as warm, witty, dependable, and as an international diplomat for women in sports. Helen Stephens passed away in 1994 having led an fantastically full life.

262 pages

Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra

Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a dramatic and diverse story set in a cutthroat ballet world.

This is not a novel where you love all the characters. It's a story where you tolerate all the characters, while still finding their stories fascinating. You won't want to hang out with them or befriend them. This is the kind of story where you enjoy the ride but are happy the characters are stuck in the book and not part of your world.

Pages: 464

The Duff by Kody Keplinger

The Duff by Kody Keplinger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is funny, complex story, with a snarky MC.

DUFF = Designated Ugly Fat Friend

Pages: 304

"Sleigh Ride" by Heidi Cullinan

Opposites attract in this second book in the Minnesota Christmas series.  Gabriel Higgins is the lone librarian in small Logan, MN, but he loves his job.  He excels at it but hasn't really made any friends outside of the library.  When one of the library volunteers decides to raise money with sleigh rides in a real sleigh, Gabriel balks at the idea because she wants him to play Santa's elf to her son's Santa.  Arthur Anderson does not want his mother to play matchmaker, especially when she tells him that he'll be Santa with the lanky librarian playing his elf.  However, the library desperately needs the money, so both men relent.  As they get to know each other, Gabriel introduces Arthur, who doesn't enjoy reading, to graphic novels.  The best part of the book, in my opinion, is when Arthur's young nephew wants a doll, but the boy's mother refuses because of what others will say.  When Gabriel hears this, he decides to do a children's story time about it.  He brings his own dolls that he had as a child and explains to the children and parents that boys who have dolls will grow up to be loving fathers.  The author does a fabulous job with this part of the book; so well that it brought tears to my eyes.  It was a wonderful portrayal of the way good librarians, especially in small, isolated towns, can change children's lives.  229 pages (Kindle edition).

The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson

Summary: "And she [Elisa] will discover secrets about herself and her world that could change the course of history. She must rise up as champion—a champion to those who have hated her most. Riveting, surprising, and achingly romantic, Rae Carson has spun a bold and powerful conclusion to her extraordinary trilogy."

Whew! What a journey this trilogy has been! I love Elisa and her wits, determination and guile. Her strategic brain is incredibly fun to read; she is one smart girl! This series is a must-read! I loved it. Even though I was a little disappointed with some parts of the 3rd book that felt like filler. And the conclusion of Elisa's "act of service" was a bit of a let-down. BUT, the storytelling in this series has been outstanding overall!

433 pages

Ungifted by Gordon Korman

Ungifted by Gordon Korman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This MG is adorable, and I love it. It has a great message about how every person has something unique to offer to life and social situations, even if they aren't rocking a label such as gifted, or athletic, or popular.

It's funny, with an incredible cast of delightfully unique characters.

Pages: 288

Stolen: A Letter to My Captor by Lucy Christopher

Stolen: A Letter to My Captor by Lucy Christopher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story is unique, in that it is written in second person narrative, as a letter from Gemma to her kidnapper. Since second person is rare in fiction, it did, upon occasion, jolt my brain, and I'd have to reset to keep reading.

However, I enjoyed the story overall and thought it was well-written. Nothing really worked out the way I thought or expected. It's a bit intense, in a weird and twisty sort of way, and it's basically never fun or lighthearted. So don't expect that. Expect unusual with a sad undertone.

Pages: 320

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So it's a script and not a book. I say get over it. If JK wants to write a Harry Potter magazine or brochure, I would read that too. I enjoy every little taste of this world, and these characters, that I get.

Pages: 320

Hattie Ever After by Kirby Larson

Hattie Ever After by Kirby Larson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the first book, Hattie Big Sky (YA Historical Fiction), everything except the end, which I was so unsatisfied with that I almost rewrote it the way I felt it should be.

When book 2 came out, I was hoping there was a chance for a redeemed ending. But it didn't pan out.

This was an okay read, but it lacked some of the charm of the first book. AND, I still dislike this ending, even though it ends closer to what I probably wanted when I read the first book almost 6 or 7 years ago.

I felt like I went on this interesting journey, and then the book came to an abrupt happy ending, which made very little sense to me, in light of how the story was going before it ended so suddenly. I think if this book had 100 more pages, it might have been better. More things needed to be handled, addressed, and resolved.

Pages: 242

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a fun story about a female quarterback who has dreams of playing college ball. I enjoyed all the different relationships and dynamics. This was a refreshing change of pace.

Pages: 288

The Dark Elements Trilogy by Jennifer L. Armentrout

White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Part demon, part warden, seventeen-year-old Layla doesn't quite belong with the light or the dark, and both sides wish her ill will.

This was another solid story by J-Ar. It has a strong female lead, swoon-worthy guys, good world building, and some fascinating concepts.

Pages: 400


Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book 2 is my favorite in this series, which is a very strange occurrence. That almost never happens!

Pages: 464


Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a strong, if somewhat expected ending to an enjoyable trilogy. One moment, in particular, was very upsetting to me, but I won't say which.

Pages: 400

The Maddox Brothers Series by Jamie McGuire

Beautiful Redemption by Jamie McGuire  (Book 2)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jamie McGuire writes characters that are messy, have issues, and make mistakes, and she throws them into situations that are fueled by drama, excitement, and/or heartbreak. I really enjoy reading her works, as they cover the full range of the emotion spectrum, which is captivating.

Pages: 266.


Beautiful Sacrifice by Jamie McGuire  (Book 3)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another good story by Jamie McGuire about yet another lovable Maddox box. This one has some unexpected twists

Pages: 271

I LOVE THESE COVERS. :) 

A Bloodhound To Die For by Virginia Lanier

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

JoBeth leaves her ex, Bubba.  JoBeth and her dogs hunt for a woman in the swamp.  JoBeth hunts for an escaped prisoner.  JoBeth hunts for one of her dogs.

Bless Your Heart, Tramp: And Other Southern Endearments by Celia Rivenbark

Southerners know that “bless your heart” is a major insult. I would not say it to my worst enemy. Celia Rivenbark, a humorist in Wilmington, NC, however, is not afraid to speak her mind. Reading Celia’s books are like hanging out with my favorite naughty friend. They make me laugh out loud.

Bless Your Heart, Tramp is Celia Rivenbark’s first book.

220 pages

The Night Sister by Jennifer McMahon

In 1954, Alfred Hitchcock filmed “The Trouble with Harry” on location in Vermont. The film starred Shirley Maclaine in her first movie role. I enjoyed the intersection of this real-life event with the macabre mystery that is the focus of this book set in a creepy abandoned hotel in rural Vermont.

322 pages

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Claire wishes she paid more attention to her husband’s genealogy fascination, when she accidentally travels back in time to 1743 Scotland and has a memorable encounter with one of his ancestors. Claire served as a British Army nurse in WWII. One of my favorite parts of the novel is the comparison between 18th and 20th century medicine.

896 pages.

The Likeness by Tana French

Detective Cassie Maddox goes undercover to investigate the murder of her doppelgänger, a woman who has been living under one of Cassie's previous aliases. The Likeness is unique because it is both very plot driven and beautifully written.

466 pages