sarahsbookstack's Reviews (2.55k)

I really liked that we get this story from the POV of Charlie. She felt SO REAL to me. Her being Autistic gave a unique perspective and I really liked being in her mind. The way she makes and follows rules from experience or from her mom's past that she's given advice from .

Charlie, in her mind, has to find out who killed her boss because of what she knows about the people she works with (and who she loves). I really liked the journey of figuring stuff out. She's a super smart girl that I felt bad for when she felt she wasn't smart because of being duped by some people (I felt bad because it's not because of the Autism that she was duped... Even someone without that diagnosis I felt would have been duped too).  

Zia may seem timid and shy at first but she is a force! A war widow, living with her in-laws and young son and works at a library is befriended by a man who wants her to translate an Italian play. When he is gunned down on the front steps and later her beloved father in law meets the same fate, she gets a job at her cousin's illegal nightclub to find out information. But in this mob run city of lawlessness, she must be really careful or risk her own life.

I liked her being an amateur sleuth and was pleasantly surprised at how much I admired her. The author did such a good job of weaving fictional characters with real life people to make this fantastic mystery.

I haven't read many books that dip their toes into the Vietnam War as a background. But I liked reading about 13 year old Evan who has to live with her increasingly angry dad who has been to Vietnam on 3 tours, a mother who takes her older brother to Canada to avoid him being picked in a draft and a younger brother with developmental delays. She has to kind of grow up too fast to take care of Teddy because her dad can't.

As she's taken to live with her Grandma, who runs a gas station/cafe, after her mom runs off... She learns and grows with a great cast of side characters. There are so many unique challenges they all go through, even some that don't make it out the other side. It held my attention throughout seeing through the eyes of Evan.

I loved the book ok but it wasn't that memorable for me.

I did like Rose. I feel like I'm a bit like her (though I only WISH I had magical powers!) in that it's hard for her to see what she wants to do with her life. I liked her love for animals which got her in trouble for trying to "rescue" some already rescued horses but that put her in the path of the very grumpy vet Damian.

Damian is so broody! This half human/half demon had a hex from an ex in him that prevents him from falling in love... Or consequences could take his soul. I liked that despite this, these two enter into a "friends with benefits" situation and while I don't quite remember book 1, I think the spice level is ramped up in this one! 

The ending of the hex (if you don't see that coming while reading, do you NOT read romcoms?) felt a bit anticlimactic to me so that was a bit of a bummer 😕

I'm not a fan of insta-love at all but I also didn't let that not let me care for our two leads.

Gray works security at a nightclub and is intrigued when Hannah walks in (with two security of her own in tow) because Hannah just draws the eye of all. This leads Gray to become enamored in a short time. But dangers lerk in the darkness.

I appreciate the author having Gray as a genderfluid person because I've honestly not come across a character who is yet. But I was a little bugged about Hannah switching the pronouns while talking about/thinking about Gray in the same thought, but there is more I need to/can learn about genderfluidity so maybe it's not uncommon. 

While the book didn't wow me, I still enjoyed it. I'm SUPER excited for more with Kee/Grayson in the next book!

I really enjoyed getting back to these teen killers/friends as they work to figure out how they can prove Signal's innocence. I like how smart they are even going against people in power/with money.

I really, really enjoy when they are a big group. I don't much like the relationship that Signal and Erik had... It's so toxic! But why oh why do I still like it too? Lol.

The deception of people who should have cared and been good was hard to take. I can't believe who was behind the whole thing in this book. Great writing when you don't know who you can really trust.

Astrid has been living with the guilt of her sister's death for many years as she was supposed to be babysitting her, but Nina had trouble not running off. Now she's back in Heron Bay as her aunt Maude has found a letter that may change everything but when Astrid arrives, Maude seems to have been attacked.

Now that she's back, there are clues that what she thought had happened to her sister may be wrong and she may have been murdered. There are some more cryptic letters found and Astrid as a forensic document examiner (especially how people write) tries to figure out their mysteries. 

This was a fast book and can be read in a day if you concentrate. I unfortunately started it when I started to move houses so it took me longer 😞
But there were enough twists to keep me engaged at the times that I really was able to read a bunch in one session. 

Ahhhh! (Good scream, I promise!)

I have never loved a "fated mates" story more! Astelle and Chaos are perfection! I really liked knowing that Chaos had been waiting for her to find him and she had to figure it out along the way. But they just have this really magnetic pull towards each other! 😍 I love that they both could spend the whole day just reading and that's one thing that ties them together as a great couple.

I love her sister Aribelle a whole lot. The way she jumps right in for Astelle to get her out of her arranged marriage to the most arrogant and vile god, Legato, is just a great personification of sisterly love. 

Great for romantasy fans new and old!

These two have a LOT of baggage to work this and it's not always best for them to be together. But Grey is being contractually obligated to fake date Ethan to try and get him back into the spotlight from being a recluse.  Things go awry (and not for the first time) on a weekend getaway. Then they make up and then break up again because Ethan can't really handle the spotlight because of the past and losing his best friend.

There is a lot of sizzle between the two most of the time even when they are mad at each other. The tension is palpable even when the romance is  sparking.

The ending was a great way to do it. Let them get themselves to a good place, individually, before ending up with each other.

This was a beautifully written book! This YA, witchy romance was a blast to read.

Tana, a witch of a new Order, has known her whole life that she will be wed to the mainland Governor's son, Landon, to protect the coven of witches on her island. One night, she misses an important ritual to get rid of her extra magic and meets a boy, Wolfe, from the old Order who saves her life and can teach her "dark" magic. When he does, her world changes.

She no longer is sure if she wants to uphold her pre-made destiny or follow the path that makes her feel alive. 

I loved watching her wrestle with what SHE wanted. I felt bad for the lies told to her as she discovered them. The back and forth of her decisions could be a bit agonizing but powerful.