sarahsbookstack's Reviews (2.55k)

This was my first book by Ali and though I'm not super big into werewolves- the fact that this is an arranged marriage between a vampire and a werewolf was what sold me on reading it.

I didn't have much of a problem with this but kind of didn't like the "insta-love" when it happened and how it happened. I really liked the character of Ana, she was so cute. Misery kind of bugged me. I did like marriage of convenience. There's a lot to like I think and a lot that could have been improved too.

All in all, I'm glad I took a chance on it

A small island is the setting for this unsettling story. It gives it the perfect atmosphere though!

Theresa/Tessa was the only surviving girl of a mass murder 5 years ago. She's still plagued with nightmares. But she needs them to stop, so she rents the place where that very real nightmare happened and she is going to spend a month to try and chase the ghosts away while writing a book.

What she gets is the feeling that she's being watched. She finds a very tight knit community where all is not as it seems and people she's not sure if she can trust or not.

I have to hand it to Tessa, I could never go back to a place where she experienced something just so horrific. 

The mystery is this story became bigger than I thought it might and it was a perfect, spooky  and tension filled ride. 

I love romance with a little bit of mystery. Verity is a private investigator in London where no one would think a lady could do that type of job. Nathaniel is a Bow Street Runner who literally runs into Verity on the night she is with her friend and her wealthy parents and they are robbed.

Now it's up to Nathaniel to figure out the why and also why Verity keeps cropping up in the investigation. They soon start to work together. 

I love the tension and thrill of the chase. The way that Nathaniel truly cares about Verity's safety. The teasing and banter. I loved Verity's truest skill of recognizing and remembering faces so well. I even laughed at Verity's cantankerous Grandmama's scenes. 

It was nice to get back to this world- this time with Briar, Fi, Red and Shane traveling to a hidden city of witches to break free from the prison of The Spindle Witch.

They are hunted by witch hunters through a journey to find a long lost book that has a spell they need to break free. 

I'll admit that I almost gave up on this second book. I didn't feel connected to the characters much this time around.... UNTIL a certain point and then I flew through. The ending makes me very excited (and a bit worried) to see what book 3 brings 

Boy is this book a trip! It's one of those things where you are think "WHAT am I even reading? but like a curious looky lou at an accident where you can't look away!)

A unique time loop, on a school trip, where only 3 people are going through it (Emma, Bradd yes two D's, and Max- though more characters are around and one of the time loopers has been going through it for a decade) but they go through it differently. An immortal octopus too and a mysterious dad/daughter on a small island.

I have to admit that I could myself chuckling at the ridiculousness of everyone, especially Bradd... That dude is unhinged! Lol

I think the Eiffel Today is such a fascinating piece of history, especially if you know all the scientific and physics applications it possesses (if you don't, read up on it, I think it's so fascinating).

But this was a look into the daughter of Eiffel, Claire. Not much is really known of her so this is an imagining of her life. She was a help to her father in so many ways- became a mother figure at age 14 to her siblings and helped her father in his business.

The sights and sounds of Paris come through in this book, I could just imagine being there and watching the Tower go up. I had no idea that Eiffel was taken to court for another project so I learned some new things in this story. 

Though I haven't read the book Emma, I have seen the movie and that was enough for me to enjoy this retelling of it. 

Melody is called back from school to run her father's business while he's ill. It's a lot to take for her, hang to deal with an employee who doesn't like her much, trying to find ways to bring in more money and all the whole she still tries to matchmake for her other employee Harriet.

Melody is meddlesome and always thinks she  knows what's "best" for others though she almost always is gravely mistaken. She really does think she means well though so it's fun to see her bumble her way through some things.

This book though was entertaining and I laughed at certain parts that are very in line for some characters on here that are portrayals of certain ones from Emma. I will read the following books in the series though I'm not as familiar with most of Austen's works.

A moving family drama during the 2008 recession is an interesting thing to read about. This family has always been able to get by and have nice things but their world collapses during this time period of strife but also because of what the parents boss did. 

Lisa inherits a ranch from an Uncle meanwhile and moves the family down to rural Texas where they will be tested as a family and as a couple. Her husband Michael rebels and kind of becomes this jerk to his family. 

My favorite character of all was their new ranch neighbor Carl. He was just so loving and kind and helpful. There are some ladies that become Lisa's friends that are great too. 

As a mother, this book consumed my heart and I really felt for each of these women. 

Hannah- makes a mistake that anyone could have but with grave consequences which result in her kids being taken away by the state to foster care. 
Julie- the foster mother just tries her best to help these sweet girls while their mother gets help.
Elaine- Hannah's own mother who was not the best at always being there for her daughter and it makes Hannah scared for her girls that she might get custody. 

Motherhood is hard and I really like the portrayal of the kids. They are central characters to this book and their feelings are validated through Julie I thought.

Such a great debut !