This book packed an emotional punch. Crazy Madly Deeply pulled me into the story right from the first page and kept my unwavering attention*4.5 Stars
This book packed an emotional punch. Crazy Madly Deeply pulled me into the story right from the first page and kept my unwavering attention until the very end. While this is a new adult romance at its core, I think what struck me and affected me the most was the relevant and timely message that it delivered.
Tranquil Falls was a town that was divided into two parts: the rich, privileged side, and the poor side. This division was also present in the local high school, where football reigned supreme and your parents’ paychecks and influence decided your worth. It was a landscape of trying to fit in by any means possible, or risk being ostracized by the in-crowd. Holden Bishop was an outcast. He never felt the need to fit in. He knew who he was and walked to the beat of his own drum, much to the chagrin of his fellow classmates. His lack of interest in being like the rest of the athletic/popular herd put a target on his back among the bullies.
It was impossible not to root for Holden. He was such a gifted, self-aware young man whose heart was bigger than that whole town. The only things that mattered to him were his art and his family, especially his younger sister. But it didn’t seem to matter how good of a person he was, or that he just wanted to finish his high school years and leave that corrupt town behind, Tranquil Falls and its entitled citizens just seemed to be a dark cloud hovering over him, hindering him at every turn and opportunity.
As I was reading this book, I could visualize every little detail and scene. I was immediately invested in the characters and the story. There were characters who touched my heart, some I wanted to high five, some I wanted to give an encouraging pat on the back, and a few others that, well, I wanted to see get their comeuppance. I loved the author’s description of being large and small. It demonstrated how the characters who were living the largest were actually the smallest.
Crazy Madly Deeply was a suspenseful, raw, gritty, emotional reading experience, one that I won’t soon forget. This was my first book by this author, and I have since added her other books to my to-be-read list.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via NetGalley).
Merged review:
*4.5 Stars
This book packed an emotional punch. Crazy Madly Deeply pulled me into the story right from the first page and kept my unwavering attention until the very end. While this is a new adult romance at its core, I think what struck me and affected me the most was the relevant and timely message that it delivered.
Tranquil Falls was a town that was divided into two parts: the rich, privileged side, and the poor side. This division was also present in the local high school, where football reigned supreme and your parents’ paychecks and influence decided your worth. It was a landscape of trying to fit in by any means possible, or risk being ostracized by the in-crowd. Holden Bishop was an outcast. He never felt the need to fit in. He knew who he was and walked to the beat of his own drum, much to the chagrin of his fellow classmates. His lack of interest in being like the rest of the athletic/popular herd put a target on his back among the bullies.
It was impossible not to root for Holden. He was such a gifted, self-aware young man whose heart was bigger than that whole town. The only things that mattered to him were his art and his family, especially his younger sister. But it didn’t seem to matter how good of a person he was, or that he just wanted to finish his high school years and leave that corrupt town behind, Tranquil Falls and its entitled citizens just seemed to be a dark cloud hovering over him, hindering him at every turn and opportunity.
As I was reading this book, I could visualize every little detail and scene. I was immediately invested in the characters and the story. There were characters who touched my heart, some I wanted to high five, some I wanted to give an encouraging pat on the back, and a few others that, well, I wanted to see get their comeuppance. I loved the author’s description of being large and small. It demonstrated how the characters who were living the largest were actually the smallest.
Crazy Madly Deeply was a suspenseful, raw, gritty, emotional reading experience, one that I won’t soon forget. This was my first book by this author, and I have since added her other books to my to-be-read list.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via NetGalley)....more
Nobody writes a sports romance like Ginger Scott. She captures the hearts of her athletes perfectly. You don’t have to be a fan of the sport*4.5 Stars
Nobody writes a sports romance like Ginger Scott. She captures the hearts of her athletes perfectly. You don’t have to be a fan of the sport or know anything about it, her words and storytelling will pull you in, let you visualize every move, and have you completely captivated by her characters.
I haven’t watched a boxing match on television since I was a young girl. If I’m being honest, I wasn’t really paying too much attention to it then, either. My grandfather and father were big fans of the sport, and I couldn’t tear my eyes off of them while they were watching it. They would duck, bob and weave as if they were the opponents in the ring. As a young kid, I found that highly amusing. But I remember my grandfather commenting on how the boxers were as light on their feet as some of the finest dancers. Ginger Scott recreated this image for me as I read about Memphis Delaney.
I adored Memphis. Every time I read a novel by this author I end up falling a little bit in love with the male protagonist. He was hard-working, strong, kind, and had so much heart. It didn’t seem to matter what life had thrown at him, he was determined and fully committed to hone his craft and be the best that he could be. He was an admirable man in so many ways. He wasn’t deterred by a bit of hard work or a challenge, which ended up coming in handy when he was trying to get to know Liv Valentine.
This author’s strength is in her ability to create characters. I feel for them, I live the story right alongside of them, and I always find myself in their corners cheering them on. Liv Valentine was a strong, resilient, brave woman. She had experienced her own share of knock downs in her life, but just like any good fighter, she got right back up again. The last thing that she ever wanted to do was get involved with a man like her father – a professional boxer. She knew that lifestyle too well, and she didn’t need to do a repeat of her mother’s life. But Memphis wasn’t like dear old dad. His fortitude and goodness were challenging all of her original beliefs. I just wanted to reach through my Kindle and give her a little push in the right direction – his direction.
I always get a little something more out of Ginger Scott’s novels. As I mentioned, you don’t need to be a sports fan to be a fan of her novels. She will win you over with her heartfelt stories and her perfectly flawed, realistic characters. For Memphis and Liv, regardless of their upbringings or their challenges, they dusted themselves off and got back into the ring, choosing to be the better people. We could probably all use a bit of an athlete’s mentality when dealing with life. Believe. Persevere. Triumph.
Merged review:
*4.5 Stars
Nobody writes a sports romance like Ginger Scott. She captures the hearts of her athletes perfectly. You don’t have to be a fan of the sport or know anything about it, her words and storytelling will pull you in, let you visualize every move, and have you completely captivated by her characters.
I haven’t watched a boxing match on television since I was a young girl. If I’m being honest, I wasn’t really paying too much attention to it then, either. My grandfather and father were big fans of the sport, and I couldn’t tear my eyes off of them while they were watching it. They would duck, bob and weave as if they were the opponents in the ring. As a young kid, I found that highly amusing. But I remember my grandfather commenting on how the boxers were as light on their feet as some of the finest dancers. Ginger Scott recreated this image for me as I read about Memphis Delaney.
I adored Memphis. Every time I read a novel by this author I end up falling a little bit in love with the male protagonist. He was hard-working, strong, kind, and had so much heart. It didn’t seem to matter what life had thrown at him, he was determined and fully committed to hone his craft and be the best that he could be. He was an admirable man in so many ways. He wasn’t deterred by a bit of hard work or a challenge, which ended up coming in handy when he was trying to get to know Liv Valentine.
This author’s strength is in her ability to create characters. I feel for them, I live the story right alongside of them, and I always find myself in their corners cheering them on. Liv Valentine was a strong, resilient, brave woman. She had experienced her own share of knock downs in her life, but just like any good fighter, she got right back up again. The last thing that she ever wanted to do was get involved with a man like her father – a professional boxer. She knew that lifestyle too well, and she didn’t need to do a repeat of her mother’s life. But Memphis wasn’t like dear old dad. His fortitude and goodness were challenging all of her original beliefs. I just wanted to reach through my Kindle and give her a little push in the right direction – his direction.
I always get a little something more out of Ginger Scott’s novels. As I mentioned, you don’t need to be a sports fan to be a fan of her novels. She will win you over with her heartfelt stories and her perfectly flawed, realistic characters. For Memphis and Liv, regardless of their upbringings or their challenges, they dusted themselves off and got back into the ring, choosing to be the better people. We could probably all use a bit of an athlete’s mentality when dealing with life. Believe. Persevere. Triumph....more
Normal People is an interesting, thought-provoking novel that follows a young “couple” as they finish high school and maneuver into university life. ANormal People is an interesting, thought-provoking novel that follows a young “couple” as they finish high school and maneuver into university life. At a mere glance, it may seem like a typical romance story between two people from different sides of the tracks, but to be honest, there is nothing really typical about this story.
Marianne and Connell come from very different backgrounds; Marianne is from a professional, well-to-do household, while Connell was raised by a single mother who cleans Marianne’s house. Marianne is somewhat of a loner – she isn’t close to her family and she doesn’t have any friends. Connell is a popular athlete who is never lacking in companionship. Despite their differences, Connell and Marianne make a connection, they just seem to click, but their relationship is not without its many flaws and obstacles.
I’m even hesitant to call what Marianne and Connell had a relationship. They spent time together, enjoyed each other’s company, were intimate, but it was all to be kept a secret from their classmates and families. He was the golden boy, she was the plain Jane. He was a person who was lauded, she was one who was mocked or ignored. Who would possibly understand the attraction between them? I hated that she accepted this arrangement, and I hated that Connell felt it was even necessary. I do understand the weight that peer pressure can put on teenagers, and that most wish that they could fit in and cause as few ripples as possible in the social pool, but the whole scenario was quite heartbreaking.
The tables turned when they began university. He was the one who found it difficult to make acquaintances, she was the one with all of the social graces. Their whole relationship seemed to be a dance of sorts. Their relationship was never truly set in stone or official, but they always seemed to find their way back to each other. With each phase of their lives they were always circling each other, revolving back in the other’s midst.
Normal People was an intriguing story. It was a love story, but it wasn’t a romance. It wasn’t about any specific event, it was about the relationship between Marianne and Connell over the course of a few years and how they always ended up coming back together. It was both simplistic and profound in expressing how the people in our lives affect the paths that we take. It was about two young people who longed to be normal, but in all honesty, who is normal?
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via NetGalley)....more
This book came highly recommended to me, in fact, every time I was between novels and perusing my books, my husband kept insisting that I read The WomThis book came highly recommended to me, in fact, every time I was between novels and perusing my books, my husband kept insisting that I read The Woman in the Window, assuring me that it was right up my alley. Well, he was right.
Right from the beginning, The Woman in the Window had me on high alert. Call me suspicious, but I didn’t trust one character in this book. I was even beginning to have my doubts about Anna’s cat! No, not really, but you get my point. I felt as though I was bumbling along with Anna, trying to make sense of what was going on. What was real? What was a figment of her deluded, inebriated imagination? It kept my hackles rising with every new chapter.
I loved Finn’s crisp, concise writing and the shorter chapter lengths. This made for a fast-paced reading experience. It was so easy to lose track of time by reading one chapter, then another and, well, the next one is only four minutes, I might as well read that one now, too!
If you are looking for a book that reveals all of its secrets quickly, look elsewhere. The author isn’t in any hurry. He takes his time, slowly revealing details and pieces of information to his readers. As I mentioned, I was never completely sure what I could or couldn’t believe, and trusting the characters? No way!
Dr. Anna Fox was in a downward spiral. She was agoraphobic, struggling emotionally, over-medicating, and drinking excessively. She lived in her bathrobe, bathed when she thought of it, and spent her days watching old movies, in chat groups on the internet, and spying on her neighbors, all while being in a self-induced blur. While I felt for her, I will admit that some of her behavior did get a little old. The book moved along quite quickly, but after a while, all of the pill popping and merlot swilling did make the book seem as though it was just meandering along. I understand that this was probably done to solidify Anna as an unreliable character, but I gathered that early on in the book.
The Woman in the Window was an entertaining, twisty story that kept my interest from start to finish, with the final thirty percent really gaining momentum until all was finally revealed. I will definitely be on the lookout for the next book by A.J. Finn. ...more
Sitting down to read My Favorite Half-Night Stand was like sitting down with a close-knit group of friends. Once again, this writing duo has created cSitting down to read My Favorite Half-Night Stand was like sitting down with a close-knit group of friends. Once again, this writing duo has created characters that you can’t help but feel connected to. I felt as though I knew each one of them personally. This book was exactly what I had hoped it would be, it was entertaining, witty, emotional, and delivered a story that I was completely invested in.
The lone woman in a group of friends, Millie is just one of the guys. They all work for the same university, they are intelligent, successful, and single. When an upcoming event makes them feel as though they should each have a plus one, they decide that trying an online dating app may be the best way to go. After writing less than inspiring profiles for themselves, Millie is persuaded to write the online profiles for each of the guys, but Millie’s skill seemed to be better served for writing the profiles of others, her own, not so much. When her own profile doesn’t seem to garner any wanted attention from potential guys she’d date, she decides to make a new profile, one using her middle name, and lo and behold, her best friend Reid is a match for her. While this group of friends is as close as close can be, Millie and Reid have always been that little bit closer, even stepping out of the friend zone a time or two…or three.
When Millie, aka Cat, and Reid begin communicating through the dating app, Millie drops hint after hint to let Reid know that it’s actually her, but Reid, as smart as he is, doesn’t pick up on the many clues dropped for him. Millie is able to reveal parts of herself to Reid that she could never do face to face. Using this app has taken her guard down, and Reid soon finds himself falling for Cat, too. Mm hmm.
I’m not going to lie, watching these characters trying to maneuver in the dating world had me so glad that I’m not a part of that scene anymore. Swiping this way and that, making profiles, and wading through the endless pools of single people seems like a harrowing activity, however, reading about it in a work of fiction was just a whole lot of fun!
My Favorite Half-Night Stand was everything that I’ve come to expect from Christina Lauren. It was highly entertaining, had me laughing out loud, and had my heart pounding. I adored the camaraderie between the characters. They were brought to life within the pages of the book and, I, for one, felt like I was a part of their gang.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via NetGalley).
I was already a fan of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series, so when I heard that she was going to be writing a new series about a different tyI was already a fan of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series, so when I heard that she was going to be writing a new series about a different type of brotherhood —firefighters— my interest was more than a little piqued. This brotherhood also included a “Sister,” a feisty, strong, determined woman whose destiny and family legacy was forged in smoke and flames.
Consumed is a romantic suspense at its core, but there is so much more to it than that. The story revolves around Anne “Sister” Ashburn. She is the daughter of a highly revered, fallen fire chief, and sister of the current one. Fighting fires was all she had ever wanted to do in her life, and she was born for it. Throughout the pages, the reader gets an up close and personal view of Anne’s life: her family issues, her love interest, and the destructive nature of her career. But this book is about a brotherhood, and we also get acquainted with Anne’s fellow firefighters. We get glimpses into their lives and their relationships. They are an interesting cast of characters, each one broken, flawed, and struggling with his own demons.
Consumed started out on a pretty high, jaw-dropping note that set the stage for the rest of the story. I was intrigued and fully invested in what was unfolding in front of me. There was a great deal going on at all times, and my interest never had a chance to waver. It’s also worth mentioning that I didn’t see the story playing out the way that it did – and I love it when that happens.
As with most first books in a series, Consumed was an introduction to the setting as well as the many faces that the reader will have the pleasure of getting to know in future books in this series. J.R. Ward has done a wonderful job of introducing the characters and offering up just enough information about each of them to keep her readers curious and anxiously awaiting the next book in the series. With such a colorful group of characters, I’m already wondering which one will have the spotlight in the next book.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via NetGalley)....more
Everything about this book just screamed my name. First of all, the cover is adorable, then there’s the synopsis that hints at all of the potential baEverything about this book just screamed my name. First of all, the cover is adorable, then there’s the synopsis that hints at all of the potential banter and angst that I adore, and finally, it’s written by Samantha Young! I’m just going to get right down to it and say that I LOVED this book! I thoroughly enjoyed every second that I spent within these pages. Fight or Flight ended up surpassing my already high expectations. Don’t let that cute, whimsical cover fool you, this book packs a punch that you will feel in the pit of your stomach and right down to your toes.
I am always drawn to the antagonistic nature of an enemies-to-lovers romance. There is just something tantalizing about them, and this one is done to perfection. I’m not sure I’ve ever encountered a fictional character quite as rude, boorish, or brooding as Caleb Scott. Every word that he said sent my emotions into a tailspin. My blood boiled and my heart rate spiked. He infuriated me to the point that I could feel the color rise into my cheeks. But with that being said, I still couldn’t help but be intrigued and, yes, smitten with him. His accent didn’t hurt, either.
Ava Breevort was a fantastic character. She was spunky, spirited, and didn’t back away from Caleb’s biting words and actions. She was a spitfire who could get under his skin just as easily as he had embedded himself under hers. She didn’t understand how he could have such an adversarial reaction to a complete stranger, but for some unknown reason, she just aggravated him. To make matters worse, she couldn’t seem to escape his wrath, as they just kept bumping into one another. With every glimpse and interaction, their attraction grew stronger, but there is so much more to both of them than meets the eye.
It was so easy to just let myself get swept up in this story. The story is told completely from Ava’s perspective. Since I was only witnessing the events from her point of view, I didn’t know what was going on in Caleb’s head, and it made the butterflies in my stomach flutter all the more. Ava’s worries were my worries, her concerns were mine, and her feelings became my own. I felt as though I was right there with her, experiencing everything right alongside of her. This only helped to build my anticipation.
Fight or Flight had all of the tension, intensity, angst, heartache, humor, and romantic chemistry that I crave. The push and pull between the characters was some of the best that I’ve ever read. I wanted to lose myself in this story and not resurface until I reached the final page, but I also didn’t want to see it come to an end. I could have easily spent another few hundred pages with them. This book is definitely one that I will be wanting to re-read at a later date when I am searching for that all-consuming reading experience. Reading Fight or Flight has been a highlight of my reading year. It will certainly be on my list of favorites for 2018!
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via NetGalley).
I read this book from cover to cover with a big smile on my face. There’s no other way to describe it, this book is just pure fun. Between the adorablI read this book from cover to cover with a big smile on my face. There’s no other way to describe it, this book is just pure fun. Between the adorable, quirky characters, the witty banter, and the slow burning romance that was building between these two friends, I was completely immersed in this story and loving every single minute of it.
It’s always enjoyable to read a book with a cast of characters that end up feeling more like friends than simply names on pages. I felt as though I knew Hazel and Josh. Come on, who wouldn’t want to hang out with Hazel?! She was a wonderful character. She was unapologetically herself. She was well aware that she was a little out there, eccentric, boisterous, over the top, and that she was a handful, but she embraced the qualities that made her uniquely her, and she was such a refreshing character.
This friends-to-lovers romance worked on so many different levels, but what made it so much fun was that Josh was the complete opposite of Hazel. He was the organized to her chaos. He was reserved, she was a fun-loving ball of energy. She blew into his life and made herself right at home. But despite having amazing chemistry, they were determined not to date each other, no, instead they were going to set each other up on blind double dates. How did that turn out for them? Well, all I will say is that it was extremely amusing for the readers.
It should come as no surprise that this fabulous writing duo knows how to create fabulous fictional duos. This book was on my list of anticipated books of 2018, and it certainly did not disappoint. It was an absolute pleasure to read, in fact, I could have easily spent another three hundred or so pages with these special characters. There was so much to love about Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating, the only thing that I didn’t love was reaching the end, but I suppose, all good things must come to an end.
This was the first time that I’ve ever been creeped out by a Colleen Hoover book, but I loved this side of her writing! It was everything that you cThis was the first time that I’ve ever been creeped out by a Colleen Hoover book, but I loved this side of her writing! It was everything that you could want from a thriller. It was clever, gripping, suspenseful, and horrifying. I never thought that I would use the word “horrifying” to describe one of her books, but that’s exactly what it was.
Verity grabbed me from the beginning and kept me completely engrossed until the end. I wanted to keep reading it, but at times I felt as though I had to read it while peeking through my fingers. When Lowen Ashleigh was overcome with worry about reading more of Verity’s autobiography, I was right there beside her, urging her on while being filled with my own anxiety over the disturbing contents that were going to be discovered. Despite knowing that it was going to be nothing short of shocking and extremely troubling, I couldn’t quite tear myself away from it.
If you’re already a fan of Colleen Hoover’s writing, you will undoubtedly enjoy this book as well. The story is unlike anything that I’ve ever read by her. She is a pro at creating interesting, unique characters, and while you may not fall in love with the characters in Verity, you will certainly feel something for them!
I’m not going to get into the details of the story. This book is a real trip. It is everything that I’ve come to expect from a book by Colleen Hoover: smart, well-written, and addictive. It’s also devious, twisted, and had my stomach tied up in knots. As a reader who likes to put herself in the characters’ shoes, I was left reeling over what was uncovered. Trust me, take the plunge and read Verity.
Can a character be creepy and charming? The answer is yes. That’s what makes this book and main character so chilling and realistic. The mos*4.5 Stars
Can a character be creepy and charming? The answer is yes. That’s what makes this book and main character so chilling and realistic. The most notorious criminals aren’t the guys who stand out or have “creeper” written all over them. It’s the good looking, charismatic, intelligent ones that go under the radar that are the scariest. Let’s be honest, no hitchhiker is getting into a car with someone wearing a hockey goaltender’s mask or dressed like a clown. They trust the normal guy, the guy who could be their neighbor or co-worker. Joe is a good looking, intelligent, well-read young man, but make no mistake about it, he is a manipulative, devious, and dangerous man. While he gives the impression of being an average guy, trust me, he is not your average Joe.
I’ll admit that it took me a couple of chapters before I really got into my reading groove. The book is told entirely from Joe’s perspective, and Joe’s mind is definitely a busy, disturbing, eerie place to be. He was a fascinating character to become acquainted with. He was as charming as he was delusional. He obsessed, stalked, and made himself right at home in Beck’s life. He fully believed that she was “the one,” and he was determined to remove anything or anyone who got in his way.
In this share-all age of social media in which people divulge their whereabouts and far too many personal details, this book should scare the bejesus out of readers. Joe used information and tools that were right at his fingertips to track his prey. It was easy to do. Beck wanted and needed to be noticed at all times and, congratulations, Beck, Joe noticed you and found out all he needed to know. She unknowingly left him all of the breadcrumbs he needed.
You is a smart, well-written, creepy reading experience. While the story itself is unnerving, the author was able to infuse humor into it as well, providing a good dose of levity to an otherwise twisted story.
Since the story is told from Joe’s perspective, I believe it gives the reader a more intimate portrayal of him. I’m almost ashamed to admit this, but despite his depravity, it made him seem more human and sympathetic. When an author can do that with a villain, I chalk that up to talented writing!
I’m always intrigued by stories that involve seemingly good people who end up making really bad decisions. What compels them to take a parti*3.5 Stars
I’m always intrigued by stories that involve seemingly good people who end up making really bad decisions. What compels them to take a particular path? How easy is it for them to push their morality and ethics aside? The Captives piqued my interest very early on. I was drawn into the characters’ lives and wanted to know what made them tick.
Whenever I’m reading, I like to put myself in the characters’ shoes. As a prison psychologist, what would I do if my high school crush walked into my office as an inmate who was sentenced for murder? After picking my jaw up off of the desk, I would like to think that I would recuse myself from being his therapist, but wouldn’t we all like to assume that we would make the best decision. After all those years, Frank still found himself captivated by Miranda. He was fully aware that he shouldn’t be treating Miranda, but since she didn’t seem to have any memory of Frank, he was too caught up in his own feelings to make the ethical decision. Oh, Frank!
I enjoyed the pace of the story and how it went back and forth between the two characters. I wanted to discover all of the details from their pasts and find out what put them in their current situations. It was almost like watching a train wreck, I already knew that nothing good was going to come of it, and yet I couldn’t really tear myself away. Frank and Miranda were both plagued by devastating events from their pasts. Both of them were trying to recover, move forward, and make something positive from their experiences, however, their road to redemption was never going to be paved smoothly.
The Captives was well written and intriguing. I found myself on pins and needles, waiting for everything to come to the pivotal, climactic peak. When it did, I was left feeling a little disappointed. Having enjoyed my time reading the book, the ending felt over the top and completely unbelievable to me. I know it’s fiction, and I do go with the flow with the books that I read, but it just went a bit out of my scope of possibility. But with that being said, I would read another book by this author.
Assume nothing. That’s my advice for any potential readers. Don’t assume that you are going to be able to pick this book up and read only a *4.5 Stars
Assume nothing. That’s my advice for any potential readers. Don’t assume that you are going to be able to pick this book up and read only a few pages at a time. If you’re confident that you’ll be able to see the twist coming, think again. If you believe that you’ll be able to finish this book and then not give it a second thought, good luck with that. After reading I’m Thinking of Ending Things, I should’ve known that Foe was going to be just as gripping, chilling, and mysterious. Once again, Iain Reid’s writing captivated me from the beginning and kept my curiosity piqued until the very end.
Junior and Henrietta live in an isolated, rural area. They don’t leave very often, and people don’t often come by to visit them. They seem content and satisfied with their quiet life together, but their lives get shaken up when a stranger shows up to let Junior know that he’s been selected to participate in the opportunity of a lifetime. Well, my suspicions were already on high alert. I had so many questions running through my mind. I was surprised that Junior and Henrietta were willing to even entertain what this stranger had to say, that they weren’t more inquisitive. This just made my own curiosity and frustration level rise.
Despite my limited knowledge of Junior and Hen, Foe is character driven. It focuses more on how this unusual event affects Hen and Junior, rather than on the event itself. We do get tiny glimpses into their relationship and their feelings, but only enough to spark even more questions.
I’m not going to get into too many of the details of the story. This is one journey to the country that you’re going to want to take on your own. Iain Reid’s storytelling doesn’t give much away, he offers his readers only small morsels of information, just enough to get your mind racing with all of the possibilities.
Foe is eerie, disturbing, and left me feeling uneasy. It is an addictive story that pulls the reader in, keeps them guessing, and then yanks the rug out from under them in the end. I am looking forward to reading whatever Iain Reid’s imagination conjures up next.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via NetGalley). ...more
There are certain books that come along that reinforce my love of reading, this is one such book. I wasn’t very far into All Your Perfects w*5+ Stars!
There are certain books that come along that reinforce my love of reading, this is one such book. I wasn’t very far into All Your Perfects when I knew that it was going to be special. It has all of the unique qualities that I have come to expect from this author. She pulled me in, kept me completely invested, and gave me one of the best reading experiences that I’ve had this year.
This is a truly captivating story that had my heart soaring one minute and then plummeting into my stomach in the next. It is a raw, honest, real, and utterly heartbreaking portrayal of the devastating struggle that many married couples have to face. I was torn between wanting to devour the story as quickly as possible in order to find out what was going to become of these characters, and wanting to slowly savor every word to make it last longer.
Told almost entirely from Quinn’s perspective in chapters that alternate between “Then” and “Now,” readers are able to witness the various stages in Quinn and Graham’s relationship. This back and forth drew me into their story. I was able to see how they met, the sweet, romantic moments when they first connected, to the profound love that developed between them. On the other side, it was these early, lighter moments of new love that helped to provide me with a reprieve from the heartbreaking reality that they found themselves in the “Now.”
I was rooting for these characters from the very beginning. I felt a special connection to them throughout their entire journey. I cared for them. I laughed with them. I cried with them. Ultimately, I wanted the best for them. While their love seemed perfect and unwavering, they weren’t perfect. They faltered, took missteps, and had regrets. Their issues weren’t sugar-coated or miraculously resolved for the sake of a happy ending. Hoover took her time and told the story in the most authentic way possible.
All Your Perfects is a beautiful, hopeful, deeply moving love story that will not soon be forgotten. It will definitely be gracing my list of favorite books of the year…and of all time.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via NetGalley).
In this tell-all age of social media, it’s difficult to contemplate the ease at which someone could ghost someone. We all know people who *3.5-4 Stars
In this tell-all age of social media, it’s difficult to contemplate the ease at which someone could ghost someone. We all know people who insist on posting their whereabouts at each point in their day (they're the same people who post pictures of their food at every meal). Sure, you can simply not answer your phone, not reply to a text, unfriend someone, just drop off of every social media platform, and if that certain someone happens to – God forbid – actually show up at your house and ring the doorbell, well, you can always hide behind the sofa and wait for them to leave. Ghosting is the easy, non-confrontational way out. I would like to think that most people who have experienced this disappearing act would just give up, hold their chin up, carry on with their lives, and realize that they were just not that into you. For Sarah, after spending seven wonderful, romantic days with Eddie, and fully believing that he was “the one,” she couldn’t fathom that he would just vanish into thin air.
I wanted to know what happened to Eddie. Do I think that two people can fall madly in love in only one week? I think it can happen. I’m a romantic at heart, well, a reluctant, skeptical romantic, but still a romantic. I can completely accept that Sarah would be heartbroken to believe that Eddie had ghosted her. She had been so certain that they had connected, that their feelings were mutual. It’s a big hit to the ego to find out that you were wrong, that you were far more smitten than the other person. Sarah couldn’t accept that Eddie wasn’t interested. She was sure that something must have happened to him.
I am a reader who will go with the flow. I put my trust in the author’s vision for their novel – it is their story, after all. With that being said, I hate to admit that Sarah’s behavior bothered me. She spent a week with a man, thought she had found her soulmate, but come on, girl, how long are you going to obsess over him? Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get on with your life! Yes, you may be a tad sullen and disappointed, but it was only one week out of your life. Even your friends and his friends were telling you to leave it alone. It almost became, dare I say, a bit pathetic. I know, I know, if Sarah had done what I wanted, the story would’ve been over before it really had a chance to start. Where would the fun be in that?!
Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, I did like parts of the story. The secondary characters were an entertaining, quirky bunch that definitely added a spark to the book. I had a few laughs, my heart broke a bit, and I was taken by surprise by the twist in the story. The twist helped to keep me invested in Sarah and Eddie’s story. I wanted to find out what was going to become of them. The author left breadcrumbs along the way to lead her readers in a certain direction, but then she changed course, giving her readers something a bit more unexpected. I always appreciate the unexpected.
I have been a fan of this series since the first book. While The Problem with Him is the third book in this series, it can be read as a standalone, hoI have been a fan of this series since the first book. While The Problem with Him is the third book in this series, it can be read as a standalone, however, I do highly recommend the other books, too.
Rachel Higginson has mastered the art of writing the slow burning romance. I’m not a reader who is in any hurry to get to the main event, or in this case, the main course. I prefer to take my time and let the anticipation build up to the boiling point, and let me tell you, the outcome was well worth the wait. These two characters had the push and pull, the competitive edge, the witty banter, and the chemistry that just made for an overall entertaining reading experience.
It was pretty difficult not to have a soft spot for Wyatt Shaw. While he commanded the kitchen of his award-winning restaurant with skill, dedication, and leadership, he had a soft spot for his ever-challenging sous-chef, Kaya. But she could push his buttons like no one else. Having once worked together under one of the best chefs in the country, they developed a friendly-ish relationship that seemed to thrive on their competitiveness. Now that Wyatt was in charge of the kitchen, the once co-workers were now boss and employee.
Kaya was a force to be reckoned with. She was snarky, opinionated, and knew exactly what she wanted out of life. I loved her! She knew that she had the culinary chops to make it to head chef one day, and she was determined to see herself leading a top kitchen. Even though she exuded confidence in her professional life, her romantic life was another story. If it would’ve been possible to reach into my Kindle and give her a helpful, encouraging nudge in the right direction, I would’ve. That right direction would have led her right to Wyatt.
The Problem with Him is an enjoyable read that is filled with humor, heat, and plenty of girl power. Once again, Rachel Higginson has given her readers a well-written, delectable story that makes their hearts beat a bit faster and their stomachs growl a bit louder. It’s not an easy task to read a book that is set in the culinary world when you’re trying to watch what you eat, but it was still a satisfying treat!
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