BOOK REVIEW: "His and Hers"

This was definitely a thrilling ride. Just when you thought you knew what was coming, you realized you didn't!

The book is told from 3 POVs: an Insoector's, a reporter's, and the killer's. And I had no idea who was the killer till the very end!

I listened to the audiobook, and I loved that there were different narrators for each of the 3 POVs - the killer's distorted voice was distorted and creepy, which added to the mystery.

I wasn't emotionally invested in the 2 POV characters, especially because I was wondering if either was the killer, so I didn't really care about them. Evenso, the twisty story kept my attention till the very end.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free ALC in exchange for my honest review.

BOOK REVIEW: "White Out"

I would describe this book was part police procedural, part thriller, light on the investigative techniques and heavy on the dramatic fiction and suspense.

The reader is definitely kept in the dark until the very end. As I navigated through the mystery via the amnesiac and investigative characters, there is no way to figure out the big reveal, so it was engaging, constantly dangling the "who-done-it" to keep me turning the pages.

However, I'm not a huge fan of creating tension by keeping info hidden, as in had a character not kept a secret in the beginning, the story would have been over pretty quickly.  Like, if Lily had disclosed her amnesia early on, or when Iver & Mike discovered the birthmark in the pic, why didn't they immediately call Milliard to explain? It would have totally exonerated him. And 2 characters with selective amnesia specific to the night in question, thus preventing them from disclosing relevant info, was just a little much.

The pace of the action was fast, but almost too fast.  I would just finish processing one big event and then another would happen almost simultaneously. And there were just a few too many characters to keep straight; I kept losing track of which member of the law enforcement "small town good ol boy network" or "old nemesis from highschool" I was reading about.

There were definitely some areas where reality slipped a bit: our poor Lily was always getting physically battered and/or attacked by multiple people, being beaten up almost every other chapter and learning that she's being targeted by an unknown killer and she is like unfazed, mentally & physically, even though she was a survivor of previous abduction and abuse. She was apparently a heavy drug abuser, but experienced no withdrawals from quitting cold turkey. Her job wasn't mentioned beyond coworkers recognizing she'd been in some kind of accident, and even though she was injured she was expected to jump in on a medical emergency, but then she never worked again. Also, I felt like there was not enough tidying of loose ends (What happened with that jerk Kevin? And what actually happened with Iver's ex in the parking lot?). 

But overall, this was an entertaining read and the mystery was definitely twisty, as long as you're willing to overlook some things, not take it too seriously, and just go along for the bumpy ride.

3.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

BOOK REVIEW: "Little Secrets"

I stayed up until almost 2 a.m. to finish this book!

That being said, I don't know how to feel after everything! This was not so much a thriller as it was a suspense novel, but boy did it get me emotionally vested in the characters...as in I hated them! 

Marin, a successful business woman in her early 40's suffers a mother's worst nightmare when her son is kidnapped right out from under her nose. And then her POS garbage husband cheats on her with an absolute piece of trash home-wrecking whore in her 20's.

At first, I was very sympathetic towards Marin, I mean, how much suffering could the poor woman take? But as she started making super-stupid decisions, I found myself liking her less and less.

And no spoilers, but I am so pissed about the bag and shoes at the very end of the story. I mean, what a dumb-ass decision on Marin's part. On that note, I think I'm most upset that I don't feel like justice is served. At all. And that bugs me.

But for a book to sink its claws in me so deeply that it gets my heart racing with fury and compels me to forsake sleep, I have to admit the author has done an amazing job.

It's a gripping and entertaining read, so pick it up for a twisty ride. 

BOOK REVIEW: " The Hollow Ones"

This was an interesting blend of horror and police procedural, and as these are a couple of my favorite genres, I enjoyed it.

The action was pretty well-paced and constant, with revelations happening as we go along through the different characters' perspectives, and in different time periods until it's all resolved in the end.

I actually wasn't a fan of the jumping POVs and story lines, as they were jarring, (from 2020 to the 1500's) and forced me to "re-set" often throughout the book and I couldn't stay immersed.

Also, I still don't have a good sense of what the Silence/Blackwood character is all about, although that may have been left to explore in future installments.

Overall, it was an entertaining read, and I am definitely interested in reading the next book in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

BOOK REVIEW: "Splinters of Scarlet"

This book, with its beautifully lush world   hinting of forbidden magic and its focus on two orphans as they move into a mansion, will trick you into believing it's a fairytale. But you'd be wrong because this historical fantasy is so much more than that!

There is so much going on in this story, there are no comfy lulls. It is a story of the love that binds siblings and makes a family, of loss and hope, and greed and sacrifice. All told with an undercurrent of unsolved mystery and sliced through with bright ribbons of danger. Told from 2 points of view, you are swept along the kept guessing until the end. 

The story takes place in the 1800's in Denmark, and the master himself, Hans Christian Anderson even makes a cameo appearance. The descriptive writing style brings it all to life, to the point I could see the places our characters visit, and could even smell the pine and smoke, and taste all the warm, flaky pastries while watching the snow fall outside.

The characters were wonderful and they all contributed to the story. And I really enjoyed the relationship growth that happened between Merit and Eve. And this book actually made me shed a tear, so it's a five-star read for me! This is an awesome stand-alone YA fantasy and I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Circle'

"Welcome to The Circle"⁣⁣

The Circle is a secret society of uber rich members who have everything they could ever want...to the point that they seek other ways to feel truly alive, and what better than life-and-death games of murder?

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Everyday good guy Doug Goodwin finds himself ensnared into The Circle, and he quickly realizes that his life options have been boiled down to just 2: kill or be killed.⁣ ⁣

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This book was a non-stop wild ride! Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, the author not only pulled the rug out from my feet, he rolled me up in it, and tossed me in the trunk! Twists upon plot twists kept me compulsively turning the pages.⁣

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The characters were well-developed, and I was almost instantly invested in Doug's predicament. The writing was fast-flowing and easy to read, making this book the perfect getaway into a world full of thrilling suspense!  There's a reason why it's been nominated for so many book awards!! 

Thank you to the author for a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

BOOK REVIEW: "Opium and Absinthe"

A killer is on the loose in the late 1800's, and it looks like victims are bled and have puncture wounds in their necks. Could it be the work of a vampire, a creature described in the newly published book "Dracula"?

As a Dracula fan, and general vampire lover, this premise really snagged me.  Unfortunately, it was not so much a paranormal mystery as it was a drawn out description of a young lady's struggle with opioid addiction.

The MC Tillie is supposed to be an intelligent headstrong and independent young lady, very much outside of the social norms of the day. She wants to investigate the deaths, while at the same time battling a drug addiction. However, she just ends up just making illogical decisions which place her in danger all the time, which was very frustrating for me.

The other characters seemed to be very one-dimensional/stereotypical of the times and societal norms and were not engaging or interesting.

For me, the majority of the book dwelled on Tillie's opioid use and not on the murder mystery. Although this type of addiction was a common occurance during this time period, I feel that too much time was spent describing this, and it slowed the story way down so it was difficult for me to stay engaged. ⭐⭐⭐

Thanks to NetGalley for a free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

BOOK REVIEW: "Boyfriend Material"

This is a "fake dating" trope, so it's pretty obvious what's going to happen, right? I mean, I was totally prepared to be underwhelmed, but I ended up completely charmed!

Our MC Lucien is a freaking hot mess. I really wanted to not like him, but he quickly grew on me and I absolutely fell hard for him! And dude has jokes! Like, I seriously laughed and snorted my way through this book listening to his stream of consciousness! And the quotes!! So many profound and witty statements in here, I love them all!!

And Luc's relationship with perfectly flawed Oliver was such a nice slow burn and achingly sweet and just <sigh>!

So yeah, predictable, but the ride was oh so fun! The supporting cast was amazing, the witty banter was superb and just everything added up to such an entertaining and light read! Absolutely loved it!

Pub date: July 7

Thanks to NetGalley and SourceBooks Casablanca for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review!

BOOK REVIEW: "Cinderella is Dead"

The premise of this book, that a young girl fights to overthrow the patriarchal kingdom 200 years after the death of Cinderella promised a captivating story.

The alternate telling of the Cinderella story was very creative, and the final twist to the story was surprising.

However, the story was told through 16-year old Sophia. She is dead-set on escaping her fate of being married off at the mandatory ball that all young women in her kingdom must attend.

She is supposed to be rebellious, but comes off as a selfish brat, with no forethought going into her vague plans for escape. Not surprisingly, this supposedly strong character ends up being a damsel needing saving. And, her savior ends up being the person she falls for instantly, despite the fact Sophia has been in love with her childhood friend for years.

The dialogue between the characters is unnatural, since it is mostly a vehicle for info dumping history and preachy feminism ideals. Therefore, the characters don't feel "real", and I couldn't connect with them. Even when characters die, it is of little consequence.

The pacing was slow, with no real tension in the story to help it along. 60% into the book, all that has happened is that Sophia she went to a ball, ran into the woods and met a witch. 

Unfortunately, for me Sophia was a shallow character, ruled only by emotion and was thoughtless, impetuous, and reckless; she doesn't exhibit any growth or intelligence.  She takes unnecessary risks that result in predictable results where others pay for her actions, which was really frustrating to me.

This book could have been fantastic had the characters been more believeable and sympathetic. But the twist in the Cinderella story was truly unique and is worth the read.

⭐⭐⭐

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

BOOK REVIEW: Elysium Girls

Elysium Girls is available now.

This story supposedly had it all: goddesses playing a life and death game with humanity as the pieces, witch magic, dustbowl setting, a daemon made human and the gorgeous steampunky horses on the cover.

The story revolves around Sal, a mis-fit girl, ostracized by the cursed town that has become a gameboard for the goddesses Life and Death. She is always trying to do the right thing, no matter how horribly or unfairly she is treated. Of course, she has magic. She eventually gets kicked out (unfairly) to die alone, but joins up with an outcast girl gang.

These girls were the predictable group of orphans who had found each other as a substitute family. Each was so devoted to one other that none really differentiated themselves, other than the big one, the small one, the mechanic, the cook, etc, and were otherwise pretty much interchangeable.

The story was meandering with long stretches where nothing of substance happens. Like, seriously, what was the point of the Laredo Boys? Totally added nothing to the story except to try to show how bad-ass the girl gang was? Except that didn't work, because they had to be saved by the male daemon, so...

Speaking of which, Asa was the only interesting character in the whole story, and the only one who showed a spark of personality.

So Sal and the girls return to the doomed city, which had left her to die, to save them from annihilation.

There was no tension and it was a slog to get through. The world is not fleshed out: the goddesses and their existence was not well-defined, the magic itself is not explained, the mob-mentality townspeople were horrible racists not worth saving and the overarching feeling of the book is dusty despair. And those awesome horses were just a cursory side note.  I could not get immersed in this story, nor did I care about the characters, so the story fell flat for me. 2.5 stars.

Thanks to Net Galley and Disney Books for the free eARC.

BOOK REVIEW: "A History of Magic and Witchcraft"

This book is a very detailed history of magic and witchcraft, covering mentions of magicians and scorceresses back to the time of Greek and Roman mythology. 

The book covers the evolution of the use of magic, from the time when magic was considered to be harmless charms and the use of healing herbs to devil worship and demonology wherein we get our familiar stereotypes of evil witches out to harm others.

The author also focuses on societal attitudes towards practictioners of magic, and how and why that has changed throughout the centuries. These were generally driven by the eventual wide-spread acceptance of Christianity and influenced by the belief of women as the weaker sex, emotional and susceptible to the influence of evil forces. 

This was a very well-researched, academic recounting, full of facts and case studies, as well as ancient text references. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to learn more about the origins of magic and witchcraft.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Shrike and the Shadows"

I was intrigued by the idea of a darker re-telling of Hansel and Gretel, and I liked the mystery of the witch in the woods picking off the villagers.

Unfortunately, the characters were not very likable and the book didn't really get interesting until the 75% mark. Hans was a complete womanizing jerk who was unhealthily possessive and verbally abusive to his sister. Greta just took whatever he dished out, too scared and dramatic to handle herself; she was a complete damsel in distress, always looking for a protector.

The first 3/4 of the book was so slow and repetitive, with nothing really happening except the twins wandering around aimlessly in the woods, hallucinating and arguing and making hasty, stupid decisions that don't make sense, considering the dangerous circumstances they were in. And they didn't learn from their mistakes.

The last 1/4 of the book was better, revealing more about the Shrike's origin (even though it is still a mystery), and the character Barin was more involved. He is really the only one with redeeming qualities, although his interest in Greta is kind of weird, with him being at least twice her age (she's 19).

Overall, this book definitely has a dark horror vibe, but I couldn't connect with the characters and the story was just too slow and meandering for me. 2.5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Parliament Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Master of Sorrows"

This is a great start to an epic fantasy!

It's the first in a series, and follows a young man who has ties to an ancient god and his magic, even though he denies it. This is understandable, seeing as how the god is, um, the dark one.⁣

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The mythology of the world is very robust, and this has all the trappings of a great epic adventure. ⁣

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I think it does get slow a little in some parts, but the story and the secrets unfold in layers like an onion, and kept me turning the pages. I can't wait for the next book!⁣ ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

BOOK REVIEW: "Witches of Ash and Ruin"

Pub date: March 3, 2020.

This was a great book featuring modern-day witches and how they band together to fight a common threat.

There were 6 POVs, and a lot of witches in the covens,  so it took me a bit to get everyone straight (I would still forget the names of some of the witches).  However, there was quite a bit of action which lulled briefly from time to time as the witches re-grouped and figured things out, but the story moved along at a nice pace.

I liked the Irish lore and the magic system, which was well-explained. The plot was interesting, and there was an element of suspense as we moved toward the inevitable confrontation.

I felt that the enemies-to-lovers part was a little forced and predictable. Also, there were times I got frustrated with the characters making dumb decisions, like if they had just used their cell phones to text or call each other with quick FYIs, or shared crucial info as they recieved it, it would have prevented a lot of the problems.

Overall, I enjoyed this story, and the ending sets up nicely for the next installment; I can't wait to see what happens next! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

BOOK REVIEW: "Cookies are Magic"

This cookbook is way more than just cookie recipes!

The "Before You Bake" section is chock-full of helpful tips about ingredients and cooking techniques, like sifting, measuring,  removing from racks, storing,  etc.. So when you encounter anything in the recipe instructions, you know exactly what you need and why.

The recipes themselves are unique and so varied, and the origin stories and the description of how you should expect each to turn out (soft and chewy, or crisp and delicate) are fantastic! I do wish that there were actual pictures of the finished cookies, but the illustrations seem pretty accurate, though.

I know I'll be using these tips and trying these recipes for years to come!

Publish Date: April 7, 2020.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown & Co for the ARC I exchange

BOOK REVIEW: "The Unspoken Name"

This was written in the style of a truly epic fantasy tale. The plot was thick with hidden agendas and violent action, all in a vast setting which encompassed Gates to multiple worlds.

The story was unique, with a few unforeseen twists and plenty of adventure. The take on the various gods, who are the source of magic, and how the mortals of each world worshipped them was interesting.

The story at times followed different characters, and was sometimes confusing. It seemed that new worlds and characters were introduced, and then explained and described more thoroughly as the story went along. This made me feel like I was playing catch-up, especially with all the strange spellings of places and people, and their relationships with each other.

This book took me a while to finish, mostly because, although it was interesting, it wasn't compelling until like the last quarter. The characters were okay, and their motivations were simplistic. Only the MC Csorwe showed any real growth.

Overall, I liked this unique story. I would have liked more depth to the characters to really get me emotionally invested, but there was plenty of action to keep them busy. 3.5 stars.

Pub date: Feb 11.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan-Tor/Forge for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

BOOK REVIEW: "A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue"

This book was a non-stop rollercoaster of action, and I loved it! Henry (Monty) Montague is the best sort of hero, vulnerable under the  devil-may-care attitude, and with a true desire to do the right thing, even if he doesn't know how and keeps screwing up.

The story follows Monty, his best childhood friend Percy, and his sister Felicity as they embark on a tour of Europe. Adventure ensues, as the group makes it way out of one scrape or another.

Although Monty is a great character, I would have like to have seen a little more depth to Percy, and even Felicity, although I know she has her own book which is the sequel to this. 

This story had me turning the pages to find out what happened next, but then also slowing down to savor the sweet love story. Loved it!

BOOK REVIEW: "Ashlords"

I really wanted to love this book, ostensibly about Phoenix horses and riders in a Hunger Games x Scorpio Races competition. Yes, please!

Unfortunately, it was more about politics and rivalries, told from the POVs of 3 characters who I found to be pretty 1-dimensional. We had the privileged girl (whose POV was annoyingly told in 2nd person and I still can't figure out why), the scrappy poor girl given the chance of a lifetime, and the brave boy fighting for something larger than himself. 

And, after 50% of the book just setting up the races and the characters' motives, they don't even interact with each other! When they finally converge, they stay in their own narratives, unaffected by the others'; no banter, no personal challenges, no understanding of the others' stories, nothing. 

Also, I couldn't get a good sense for the world. I totally understood the politics, because it was described ad nauseam the first half of the book. But the people travel by horse and carriage, have tech like YouTube and means by which to watch race contestants virtually, wear "business" dresses and suits, but carpet is a luxury. Also, gods and their priests would pop up unexpectedly, and people were kind of unimpressed with the supernatural beings, and some even made deals with them or controlled them. So gods and tech live side-by-side, but don't interact...?

The race itself felt glossed over, with most attention given to riders fighting with each other off horseback. And the phoenix horses, which are the huge draw, were like a side note, or an after-thought. They aren't given personalities and are treated like tools or vehicles.

Ultimately, the characters and the first half of the book did not pull me in, and although the race itself was more interesting, I think an awesome story concept was lost in all the politics. 2.5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Childrens for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.