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2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
Rating: 3.5/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (death, violence, gore, sexual references)
Pages: 320
Author Website
Amazon Link
Disclaimer: None, I got the audiobook with my own audible credits!
Synopsis: On her eighteenth birthday, Princess Evelayn of Eadrolan, the Light Kingdom, can finally access the full range of her magical powers. The light looks brighter, the air is sharper, and the energy she can draw when fighting feels almost limitless.
But while her mother, the queen, remains busy at the war front, in the Dark Kingdom of Dorjhalon, the corrupt king is plotting. King Bain wants control of both kingdoms, and his plan will fling Evelayn onto the throne much sooner than she expected.
In order to defeat Bain and his sons, Evelayn will quickly have to come into her ability to shapeshift, and rely on the alluring Lord Tanvir. But not everyone is what they seem, and the balance between the Light and Dark comes at a steep price.
Let’s start this off with this: this was one of the cheesiest YA books I’ve ever read and it had oodles and oodles of YA tropes… but it was actually surprisingly okay. The plot was pretty good and the writing was pretty well done and it did well making the language stick to the time period.
However, as you can see above, I didn’t talk about a lot of the usual things I do. The book was actually a struggle to get through the first 41 chapters. The world building wasn’t there, the characters weren’t developed outside of two of the main characters, and the book was really confusing to follow at times. Things happened or the characters did things that I didn’t understand what for. I was for sure I was going to give the book a 2 star rating until the last chapter. The last chapter surprised me so much with its misdirection and its terror that I had to bump up the score significantly. I’m going to read the sequel based solely on the last chapter. Honestly, that chapter should have come sooner in the novel as the rest of it feels so awful in comparison. I feel that the book is one big prologue to an amazing novel… aka the sequel.
Verdict: Plie your way to the last chapter and then to the sequel.
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (death, violence, gore, sexual references)
Pages: 320
Author Website
Amazon Link
Disclaimer: None, I got the audiobook with my own audible credits!
Synopsis: On her eighteenth birthday, Princess Evelayn of Eadrolan, the Light Kingdom, can finally access the full range of her magical powers. The light looks brighter, the air is sharper, and the energy she can draw when fighting feels almost limitless.
But while her mother, the queen, remains busy at the war front, in the Dark Kingdom of Dorjhalon, the corrupt king is plotting. King Bain wants control of both kingdoms, and his plan will fling Evelayn onto the throne much sooner than she expected.
In order to defeat Bain and his sons, Evelayn will quickly have to come into her ability to shapeshift, and rely on the alluring Lord Tanvir. But not everyone is what they seem, and the balance between the Light and Dark comes at a steep price.
Let’s start this off with this: this was one of the cheesiest YA books I’ve ever read and it had oodles and oodles of YA tropes… but it was actually surprisingly okay. The plot was pretty good and the writing was pretty well done and it did well making the language stick to the time period.
However, as you can see above, I didn’t talk about a lot of the usual things I do. The book was actually a struggle to get through the first 41 chapters. The world building wasn’t there, the characters weren’t developed outside of two of the main characters, and the book was really confusing to follow at times. Things happened or the characters did things that I didn’t understand what for. I was for sure I was going to give the book a 2 star rating until the last chapter. The last chapter surprised me so much with its misdirection and its terror that I had to bump up the score significantly. I’m going to read the sequel based solely on the last chapter. Honestly, that chapter should have come sooner in the novel as the rest of it feels so awful in comparison. I feel that the book is one big prologue to an amazing novel… aka the sequel.
Verdict: Plie your way to the last chapter and then to the sequel.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from KidLitExchange in return for my opinion. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 3/5
Genre: YA Mystery/Thriller
Recommended Age: 15+ (murder, high school drama, and violence)
Pages: 320
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: A gripping reimagining of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood and the brutal murders that inspired it
November is usually quiet in Holcomb, Kansas, but in 1959, the town is shattered by the quadruple murder of the Clutter family. Suspicion falls on Nancy Clutter’s boyfriend, Bobby Rupp, the last one to see them alive.
New Yorker Carly Fleming, new to the small Midwestern town, is an outsider. She tutored Nancy, and (in private, at least) they were close. Carly and Bobby were the only ones who saw that Nancy was always performing, and that she was cracking under the pressure of being Holcomb’s golden girl. The secret connected Carly and Bobby. Now that Bobby is an outsider, too, they’re bound closer than ever.
Determined to clear Bobby’s name, Carly dives into the murder investigation and ends up in trouble with the local authorities. But that’s nothing compared to the wrath she faces from Holcomb once the real perpetrators are caught. When her father is appointed to defend the killers of the Clutter family, the entire town labels the Flemings as traitors. Now Carly must fight for what she knows is right.
Okay so I’ve not read Capote’s In Cold Blood… but is it anything like this book? Let me explain: this book was okay but the synopsis of it had me wanting more than what I got. I liked that the book had really short chapters because it really made me read it faster. I like how we jumped into the action of the book and I felt that for the most part the writing was fantastic and it sucked you into the book.
However, I didn’t like that the characters had so little back story to them and that there were a lot of characters that easily were forgotten. The main character was wrote really bad. She kept making the same mistakes over and over again and it became really irritating after awhile and it made her very unlikable, but she was already unlikable with some of her other qualities. Lastly, the ending was way too quick and neat for this type of book.
Verdict: I feel like this book was okay, but it could have been better.
Rating: 3/5
Genre: YA Mystery/Thriller
Recommended Age: 15+ (murder, high school drama, and violence)
Pages: 320
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: A gripping reimagining of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood and the brutal murders that inspired it
November is usually quiet in Holcomb, Kansas, but in 1959, the town is shattered by the quadruple murder of the Clutter family. Suspicion falls on Nancy Clutter’s boyfriend, Bobby Rupp, the last one to see them alive.
New Yorker Carly Fleming, new to the small Midwestern town, is an outsider. She tutored Nancy, and (in private, at least) they were close. Carly and Bobby were the only ones who saw that Nancy was always performing, and that she was cracking under the pressure of being Holcomb’s golden girl. The secret connected Carly and Bobby. Now that Bobby is an outsider, too, they’re bound closer than ever.
Determined to clear Bobby’s name, Carly dives into the murder investigation and ends up in trouble with the local authorities. But that’s nothing compared to the wrath she faces from Holcomb once the real perpetrators are caught. When her father is appointed to defend the killers of the Clutter family, the entire town labels the Flemings as traitors. Now Carly must fight for what she knows is right.
Okay so I’ve not read Capote’s In Cold Blood… but is it anything like this book? Let me explain: this book was okay but the synopsis of it had me wanting more than what I got. I liked that the book had really short chapters because it really made me read it faster. I like how we jumped into the action of the book and I felt that for the most part the writing was fantastic and it sucked you into the book.
However, I didn’t like that the characters had so little back story to them and that there were a lot of characters that easily were forgotten. The main character was wrote really bad. She kept making the same mistakes over and over again and it became really irritating after awhile and it made her very unlikable, but she was already unlikable with some of her other qualities. Lastly, the ending was way too quick and neat for this type of book.
Verdict: I feel like this book was okay, but it could have been better.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free through KidLitExchange in return for a review. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 8+ (dark and a little scary for some younger readers)
Pages: 108
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Who wants to be awake forever?
Life has changed for eight-year-old Merel. Since the birth of her sick baby brother, her parents seem to have forgotten she exists. But when she finds a tiny silver violin in her bedroom rug, things take a turn for the worse.
Merel learns that her sleep has abandoned her and that she must embark on a perilous journey to recover it or stay awake forever. Together with her devoted toy sheep Roger, tired Merel sets out in search of Lullaby Grove. Before long, she finds herself haunted by a scary stranger.
Follow Merel into a surreal world. Meet a sleepy king with an obsession for feathers and a transparent old man on a night train going nowhere. Discover why the moonfish cry, why you should never walk across the Great Yawns ― and if poor Merel can escape her pursuer, win back her sleep, and realize what matters most in her life.
I secretly love books and video games that involve dreaming and exploring dreams and this book was amazing because of that. This book really reminded me of Among the Sleep. It’s dark, but still child friendly, and it has a perilous adventure involving a young child through a dream land of sorts. I really loved how well developed the characters were and how well developed the world building was. The book was absolutely inspirational and the story was so well written and developed. I definitely recommend this for any young or old reader who’s interested in this obscure genre of dream books like I am.
The only con I really have is that the ending was very abrupt and left the reader wondering and wanting more. It also left a lot of questions unanswered, but maybe there will another book?
Verdict: An absolutely beautiful and amazing book for middle graders and above.
Rating: 4/5
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 8+ (dark and a little scary for some younger readers)
Pages: 108
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Who wants to be awake forever?
Life has changed for eight-year-old Merel. Since the birth of her sick baby brother, her parents seem to have forgotten she exists. But when she finds a tiny silver violin in her bedroom rug, things take a turn for the worse.
Merel learns that her sleep has abandoned her and that she must embark on a perilous journey to recover it or stay awake forever. Together with her devoted toy sheep Roger, tired Merel sets out in search of Lullaby Grove. Before long, she finds herself haunted by a scary stranger.
Follow Merel into a surreal world. Meet a sleepy king with an obsession for feathers and a transparent old man on a night train going nowhere. Discover why the moonfish cry, why you should never walk across the Great Yawns ― and if poor Merel can escape her pursuer, win back her sleep, and realize what matters most in her life.
I secretly love books and video games that involve dreaming and exploring dreams and this book was amazing because of that. This book really reminded me of Among the Sleep. It’s dark, but still child friendly, and it has a perilous adventure involving a young child through a dream land of sorts. I really loved how well developed the characters were and how well developed the world building was. The book was absolutely inspirational and the story was so well written and developed. I definitely recommend this for any young or old reader who’s interested in this obscure genre of dream books like I am.
The only con I really have is that the ending was very abrupt and left the reader wondering and wanting more. It also left a lot of questions unanswered, but maybe there will another book?
Verdict: An absolutely beautiful and amazing book for middle graders and above.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from KidLitExchange and the publishing company. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5
Genre: YA Retelling/Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (some violence, some scary moments with animals)
Pages: 224
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Snow and Rose didn't know they were in a fairy tale. People never do....
Once, they lived in a big house with spectacular gardens and an army of servants.
Once, they had a father and mother who loved them more than the sun and moon.
But that was before their father disappeared into the woods and their mother disappeared into sorrow.
This is the story of two sisters and the enchanted woods that have been waiting for them to break a set of terrible spells.
Bestselling author-illustrator Emily Winfield Martin has created a world that sits on the border of enchantment, with characters who are grounded in real emotions that readers will recognize in themselves.
This is probably one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever looked at. Not only is the cover gorgeous, but so are the illustrations. And the book isn’t just for looks. The characters are very complex, which is surprising for a young middle grade book. The plot was also very well developed and the writing was amazing. It didn’t feel like a regular retelling, but something extra special and that’s what made the book very enjoyable.
However, the only things I didn’t like about this book was that the book pacing was very slow and I fear that a slow pace could be offsetting to some kids. And the ending was rushed really bad. Those elements really pulled me out of an otherwise fantastic book.
Verdict: Amazing book that any young child (or old child) would love. Plus it’s pretty enough to be a coffee table book.
Rating: 4/5
Genre: YA Retelling/Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (some violence, some scary moments with animals)
Pages: 224
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Snow and Rose didn't know they were in a fairy tale. People never do....
Once, they lived in a big house with spectacular gardens and an army of servants.
Once, they had a father and mother who loved them more than the sun and moon.
But that was before their father disappeared into the woods and their mother disappeared into sorrow.
This is the story of two sisters and the enchanted woods that have been waiting for them to break a set of terrible spells.
Bestselling author-illustrator Emily Winfield Martin has created a world that sits on the border of enchantment, with characters who are grounded in real emotions that readers will recognize in themselves.
This is probably one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever looked at. Not only is the cover gorgeous, but so are the illustrations. And the book isn’t just for looks. The characters are very complex, which is surprising for a young middle grade book. The plot was also very well developed and the writing was amazing. It didn’t feel like a regular retelling, but something extra special and that’s what made the book very enjoyable.
However, the only things I didn’t like about this book was that the book pacing was very slow and I fear that a slow pace could be offsetting to some kids. And the ending was rushed really bad. Those elements really pulled me out of an otherwise fantastic book.
Verdict: Amazing book that any young child (or old child) would love. Plus it’s pretty enough to be a coffee table book.
Disclaimer: None. I bought my own book yo!
Rating: 4/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (slight gore, slight violence, cults, weird people)
Pages: 425
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The sacrifices, the drama, the horror within.
In the year of 1860, a curse was performed over the suburb of Roseway, Washington, which rests about twenty miles south of Seattle, that killed nearly every living resident. After coming back to Earth as spirits, they form a twisted plan that not only provides them with bodies of their own but also kills off all who venture into Roseway in the future.
Thirteen-year-old Rebekah Jensen has lived a fine life in Marywood, Florida with two best friends, a clique that strives to make her one of them, and a boyfriend who happened to be one of the most popular guys in her school. But all that is about to change when the date of her arrival to Roseway nears, when she starts to see things that she presumes are spirits—and she is sure that she had gone insane.
After moving to Roseway, she gets sucked into an illusion of the dead, coming to regard Roseway as some sort of cult in which they worship a mysterious being that is introduced to her as the Master. Within the months of enduring Roseway, she finds out more about herself and her purpose in the suburb. Teaming up with a friend, who has a dark secret, Rebekah must put an end to the curse before she ends up like the rest of the victims.
I like a good dark book and for the most part I really enjoyed this book. I felt the story was engaging and the characters were very interesting. The book is well written and it’s the perfect book for a spooky Halloween.
However, I do have some qualms about the book (as I always do about every book… hey no book is perfect!). I feel that the book’s plot is a bit muddled and the pacing is really slow for this type of book. I also felt that the world building could have been better. Overall though I really enjoyed the book.
Verdict: If you’re looking for a spooky read, this is it!
Rating: 4/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (slight gore, slight violence, cults, weird people)
Pages: 425
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The sacrifices, the drama, the horror within.
In the year of 1860, a curse was performed over the suburb of Roseway, Washington, which rests about twenty miles south of Seattle, that killed nearly every living resident. After coming back to Earth as spirits, they form a twisted plan that not only provides them with bodies of their own but also kills off all who venture into Roseway in the future.
Thirteen-year-old Rebekah Jensen has lived a fine life in Marywood, Florida with two best friends, a clique that strives to make her one of them, and a boyfriend who happened to be one of the most popular guys in her school. But all that is about to change when the date of her arrival to Roseway nears, when she starts to see things that she presumes are spirits—and she is sure that she had gone insane.
After moving to Roseway, she gets sucked into an illusion of the dead, coming to regard Roseway as some sort of cult in which they worship a mysterious being that is introduced to her as the Master. Within the months of enduring Roseway, she finds out more about herself and her purpose in the suburb. Teaming up with a friend, who has a dark secret, Rebekah must put an end to the curse before she ends up like the rest of the victims.
I like a good dark book and for the most part I really enjoyed this book. I felt the story was engaging and the characters were very interesting. The book is well written and it’s the perfect book for a spooky Halloween.
However, I do have some qualms about the book (as I always do about every book… hey no book is perfect!). I feel that the book’s plot is a bit muddled and the pacing is really slow for this type of book. I also felt that the world building could have been better. Overall though I really enjoyed the book.
Verdict: If you’re looking for a spooky read, this is it!
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: July 1, 2017
Genre: Mystery
Recommended Age: 18+ (violence, slight gore, mature content)
Pages: 342
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: After surviving a bullet, Angelina Bonaparte was certain she could handle any case that came her way. But when her next client walks through the door with an unexplainable seven-figure inheritance after the death of her parents, the private investigator wonders if she's in over her head. After all, when she visits her client's family attorney, Angelina discovers yet another bloody crime scene.
With the help of her new flame, Angelina follows the clues into an underworld of war-plundered artifacts, stolen treasures, and deadly consequences. As their last lead grows colder, the PI must catch the killer before an endless cycle of murderous greed gets her client killed.
Cash Kills is the second book in the suspenseful Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries series. If you like hard-as-painted-nails female detectives, historical mysteries, and twists and turns you won’t see coming, then you’ll love Nanci Rathbun’s loaded crime thriller.
Overall, I really like this mystery. I felt the characters were well developed, the mystery was really well done and while I guessed the ending I usually do in 99.9% of mysteries. I felt that the book was very well written overall and that the pacing and plot were well done and kept me intrigued throughout the entirety of the whole book.
However, I had some personal annoyances. I usually DNF books where the female character goes into depth describing her clothing and/or body, especially the intimate parts. I feel that has no place in books outside of romance or erotica novels and it personally irritates me when I read it. I feel that when a book is from a characters POV that the character shouldn’t be explaining how well they look in a mirror. It’s off-putting.
Verdict: Some off-putting elements didn’t deter me from reading this mystery book.
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: July 1, 2017
Genre: Mystery
Recommended Age: 18+ (violence, slight gore, mature content)
Pages: 342
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: After surviving a bullet, Angelina Bonaparte was certain she could handle any case that came her way. But when her next client walks through the door with an unexplainable seven-figure inheritance after the death of her parents, the private investigator wonders if she's in over her head. After all, when she visits her client's family attorney, Angelina discovers yet another bloody crime scene.
With the help of her new flame, Angelina follows the clues into an underworld of war-plundered artifacts, stolen treasures, and deadly consequences. As their last lead grows colder, the PI must catch the killer before an endless cycle of murderous greed gets her client killed.
Cash Kills is the second book in the suspenseful Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries series. If you like hard-as-painted-nails female detectives, historical mysteries, and twists and turns you won’t see coming, then you’ll love Nanci Rathbun’s loaded crime thriller.
Overall, I really like this mystery. I felt the characters were well developed, the mystery was really well done and while I guessed the ending I usually do in 99.9% of mysteries. I felt that the book was very well written overall and that the pacing and plot were well done and kept me intrigued throughout the entirety of the whole book.
However, I had some personal annoyances. I usually DNF books where the female character goes into depth describing her clothing and/or body, especially the intimate parts. I feel that has no place in books outside of romance or erotica novels and it personally irritates me when I read it. I feel that when a book is from a characters POV that the character shouldn’t be explaining how well they look in a mirror. It’s off-putting.
Verdict: Some off-putting elements didn’t deter me from reading this mystery book.
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Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: July 5, 2018
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: n/a as DNFed
Pages: 400
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: When Mage Alex Verus ends up with a position on the Light Council, no one is happy, least of all him. But Alex is starting to realize that if he wants to protect his friends, he'll need to become a power player himself. His first order of business is to track down dangerous magical items unleashed into the world by Dark Mages.
But when the Council decides they need his help in negotiating with the perpetrators, Alex will have to use all his cunning and magic to strike a deal--and stop the rising tension between the Council, the Dark Mages, and the adept community from turning into a bloodbath.
So I blame NetGalley for me requesting this book. They don’t do well at stating if a book is part of a series. I’ve never read this series before and thus I didn’t know until after I start it that it was the 9th in a series. I DNFed the book about halfway through when it felt like nothing made sense for me. I felt that while the story seemed okay, without the rest of the books I didn’t understand the motives and actions of anyone involved.
Verdict: Netgalley did it again -_-
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: July 5, 2018
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: n/a as DNFed
Pages: 400
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: When Mage Alex Verus ends up with a position on the Light Council, no one is happy, least of all him. But Alex is starting to realize that if he wants to protect his friends, he'll need to become a power player himself. His first order of business is to track down dangerous magical items unleashed into the world by Dark Mages.
But when the Council decides they need his help in negotiating with the perpetrators, Alex will have to use all his cunning and magic to strike a deal--and stop the rising tension between the Council, the Dark Mages, and the adept community from turning into a bloodbath.
So I blame NetGalley for me requesting this book. They don’t do well at stating if a book is part of a series. I’ve never read this series before and thus I didn’t know until after I start it that it was the 9th in a series. I DNFed the book about halfway through when it felt like nothing made sense for me. I felt that while the story seemed okay, without the rest of the books I didn’t understand the motives and actions of anyone involved.
Verdict: Netgalley did it again -_-
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: October 8th, 2017
Genre: Romance
Recommended Age: 16+ (some mature themes)
Pages: 315
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Anissa is ready to put the drama and disappointments of high school behind her and begin her first semester of college. But when she accidentally hits "Reply All" and confesses a crush on her hot classmate to her entire Physics class, her college life takes a whole new turn.
Soon she is juggling her hot-but-shy crush, a jealous ex-boyfriend, and an email chain full of nosy classmates.
But when Anissa begins receiving mysterious emails from a secret admirer and realizes she's falling for him, there's a new problem: she only has 31 days to figure out his identity or he's gone for good.
A comedic love-story-mystery told through emails and texts.
Overall, I felt that the main story was really well done. The writing is great, the story is good, and the characters are developed. I felt that the pacing was also really well done.
However, I felt that it was weird that the first half of the book was the main story, then the last half was just a bunch of bonus material. It felt odd to the reader. The last half of the book was really random and didn’t flow with the rest of the book. I feel that if the bonus material and the book were interlinked somehow it would be better.
Verdict: An interesting story and bonus stories!
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: October 8th, 2017
Genre: Romance
Recommended Age: 16+ (some mature themes)
Pages: 315
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Anissa is ready to put the drama and disappointments of high school behind her and begin her first semester of college. But when she accidentally hits "Reply All" and confesses a crush on her hot classmate to her entire Physics class, her college life takes a whole new turn.
Soon she is juggling her hot-but-shy crush, a jealous ex-boyfriend, and an email chain full of nosy classmates.
But when Anissa begins receiving mysterious emails from a secret admirer and realizes she's falling for him, there's a new problem: she only has 31 days to figure out his identity or he's gone for good.
A comedic love-story-mystery told through emails and texts.
Overall, I felt that the main story was really well done. The writing is great, the story is good, and the characters are developed. I felt that the pacing was also really well done.
However, I felt that it was weird that the first half of the book was the main story, then the last half was just a bunch of bonus material. It felt odd to the reader. The last half of the book was really random and didn’t flow with the rest of the book. I feel that if the bonus material and the book were interlinked somehow it would be better.
Verdict: An interesting story and bonus stories!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book and then bought the ebook version. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: November 19, 2015
Genre: Mystery
Recommended Age: 17+ (violence, swearing, romance that borders on erotica)
Pages: 306
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: It was supposed to be a simple photography gig. Brooke Hudson never wanted to be a pawn in an investigator’s scheme, or working with the ex-boyfriend that broke her heart. Her daily life battles used to consist of finishing college, job hunting, and avoiding traffic. But her mundane routine was disrupted by the promise of a large amount of cash to help find a missing person, and take down a crooked CEO.
If Brooke had known exactly what she was getting into from the start, she might have had second thoughts. Her idea of fun isn’t trying to captivate men she has no interest in, or appealing to their every whim. And she never thought someone would deliberately try to kill her. All she wanted was a job, and in a fit of desperation, she’s gambling in a high stakes game with her life.
For the most part I liked this book. I felt that it was a fun read. The book’s characters were well developed and the story was interesting. I also felt that the mystery/thriller aspect were well executed too. You can tell the author definitely has a talent for writing.
However, I felt that the book suffered in the romance scenes. They felt awkward and out of place and they bordered on erotica. I feel that those scenes could have been left out of the book and it would have been better for me personally. I also felt that the book was slow at times.
Verdict: Skip the romance in my opinion but the rest is fun!
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: November 19, 2015
Genre: Mystery
Recommended Age: 17+ (violence, swearing, romance that borders on erotica)
Pages: 306
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: It was supposed to be a simple photography gig. Brooke Hudson never wanted to be a pawn in an investigator’s scheme, or working with the ex-boyfriend that broke her heart. Her daily life battles used to consist of finishing college, job hunting, and avoiding traffic. But her mundane routine was disrupted by the promise of a large amount of cash to help find a missing person, and take down a crooked CEO.
If Brooke had known exactly what she was getting into from the start, she might have had second thoughts. Her idea of fun isn’t trying to captivate men she has no interest in, or appealing to their every whim. And she never thought someone would deliberately try to kill her. All she wanted was a job, and in a fit of desperation, she’s gambling in a high stakes game with her life.
For the most part I liked this book. I felt that it was a fun read. The book’s characters were well developed and the story was interesting. I also felt that the mystery/thriller aspect were well executed too. You can tell the author definitely has a talent for writing.
However, I felt that the book suffered in the romance scenes. They felt awkward and out of place and they bordered on erotica. I feel that those scenes could have been left out of the book and it would have been better for me personally. I also felt that the book was slow at times.
Verdict: Skip the romance in my opinion but the rest is fun!
Disclaimer: I received this book from KidLitExchange. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: November 1, 2018
Genre: YA Romance
Recommended Age: 15+ (romance, mature scenes, language)
Pages: 416
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In 1955, eighteen-year-old Janet Jones keeps the love she shares with her best friend Marie a secret. It’s not easy being gay in Washington, DC, in the age of McCarthyism, but when she discovers a series of books about women falling in love with other women, it awakens something in Janet. As she juggles a romance she must keep hidden and a newfound ambition to write and publish her own story, she risks exposing herself—and Marie—to a danger all too real.
Sixty-two years later, Abby Zimet can’t stop thinking about her senior project and its subject—classic 1950s lesbian pulp fiction. Between the pages of her favorite book, the stresses of Abby’s own life are lost to the fictional hopes, desires and tragedies of the characters she’s reading about. She feels especially connected to one author, a woman who wrote under the pseudonym “Marian Love,” and becomes determined to track her down and discover her true identity.
In this novel told in dual narratives, New York Times bestselling author Robin Talley weaves together the lives of two young women connected across generations through the power of words. A stunning story of bravery, love, how far we’ve come and how much farther we have to go.
Overall I thought this was a good series. It had great character development and writing. The premise sounded amazing and I loved the LGBT aspect of it and I thought it was a cute romance book. It really reminded me of the premise of Leah on the Offbeat and I think fans of that would love this book as well.
However, I do think that the two different time lines, while pretty cool with mirroring each other, does make for a confusing read for some people, me included. It’s sometimes really discombobulating and out of place in my opinion.
Verdict: A romance for the ages.
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: November 1, 2018
Genre: YA Romance
Recommended Age: 15+ (romance, mature scenes, language)
Pages: 416
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In 1955, eighteen-year-old Janet Jones keeps the love she shares with her best friend Marie a secret. It’s not easy being gay in Washington, DC, in the age of McCarthyism, but when she discovers a series of books about women falling in love with other women, it awakens something in Janet. As she juggles a romance she must keep hidden and a newfound ambition to write and publish her own story, she risks exposing herself—and Marie—to a danger all too real.
Sixty-two years later, Abby Zimet can’t stop thinking about her senior project and its subject—classic 1950s lesbian pulp fiction. Between the pages of her favorite book, the stresses of Abby’s own life are lost to the fictional hopes, desires and tragedies of the characters she’s reading about. She feels especially connected to one author, a woman who wrote under the pseudonym “Marian Love,” and becomes determined to track her down and discover her true identity.
In this novel told in dual narratives, New York Times bestselling author Robin Talley weaves together the lives of two young women connected across generations through the power of words. A stunning story of bravery, love, how far we’ve come and how much farther we have to go.
Overall I thought this was a good series. It had great character development and writing. The premise sounded amazing and I loved the LGBT aspect of it and I thought it was a cute romance book. It really reminded me of the premise of Leah on the Offbeat and I think fans of that would love this book as well.
However, I do think that the two different time lines, while pretty cool with mirroring each other, does make for a confusing read for some people, me included. It’s sometimes really discombobulating and out of place in my opinion.
Verdict: A romance for the ages.