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winecellarlibrary's Reviews (657)
This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library
I was immediately captivated by the cover. I could easily identify with Anna, as Mount Rainier has always captivated me. I am someone who loves hiking. The highest peak I have ever attempted was Mount Baldy in California, with a summit at just over 10,000 feet. My group had to stop at 9,000 feet due to a serious injury sustained by a hiker in another group on the mountain that required air evacuation. (The other group was only equipped with line-of-sight radios, while our leader had a radio that connected him with local law enforcement. The injured man's leg was crushed by a boulder that fell on him during an avalanche.) Even though we didn't summit, the fact that we hiked that far together in a single day, with full rucksacks and medical aid bags and crampons and rope, is one of my proudest moments. We spent the night at 9,000 feet in "ranger graves" dug into the snow and hiked back down the next morning.
I am now eager to climb Mount Rainier. I think I can do it. Enough about me, though!
Even if you are not a mountaineer or a hiker, you will appreciate Anna's determination and her desire to just be appreciated for who she is. She is far from the quiet housewife that society expects her to be, who only speaks to her husband when spoken to. Instead, she is full of vitality, adventure, intelligence, and compassion for others. She has an ability to read a person's true nature without succumbing to the collective opinion; her best friends are a prostitute and a Native American woman, and although both friendships threaten Anna's reputation as a marriageable woman, she is undeterred.
Anna feels like a burden to her grandfather and his wife and wants to find a partner, but she refuses to marry anyone who would stifle her in any way. Her grandfather and her brother are determined to marry her to a man of good means. Unfortunately, this leaves her few viable options. The only man who sees her for her is the very man her brother warned her not to fall for.
This story is one part coming of age, one part historical fiction, one part early feminism, and one part budding romance. From the first few pages, I was completely enamored with this tale, and it proved to be one of the best books I have read this year. I am simply amazed that this is a debut novel. I received a free Kindle edition as a review copy, but I discovered that the author sells signed paperback editions on her website and I will definitely be purchasing a one to cherish and reread in the future. I can't wait to have this beautiful cover grace my bookshelf!
Thank you to Book Sprout and the author for a free Kindle edition of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was immediately captivated by the cover. I could easily identify with Anna, as Mount Rainier has always captivated me. I am someone who loves hiking. The highest peak I have ever attempted was Mount Baldy in California, with a summit at just over 10,000 feet. My group had to stop at 9,000 feet due to a serious injury sustained by a hiker in another group on the mountain that required air evacuation. (The other group was only equipped with line-of-sight radios, while our leader had a radio that connected him with local law enforcement. The injured man's leg was crushed by a boulder that fell on him during an avalanche.) Even though we didn't summit, the fact that we hiked that far together in a single day, with full rucksacks and medical aid bags and crampons and rope, is one of my proudest moments. We spent the night at 9,000 feet in "ranger graves" dug into the snow and hiked back down the next morning.
I am now eager to climb Mount Rainier. I think I can do it. Enough about me, though!
Even if you are not a mountaineer or a hiker, you will appreciate Anna's determination and her desire to just be appreciated for who she is. She is far from the quiet housewife that society expects her to be, who only speaks to her husband when spoken to. Instead, she is full of vitality, adventure, intelligence, and compassion for others. She has an ability to read a person's true nature without succumbing to the collective opinion; her best friends are a prostitute and a Native American woman, and although both friendships threaten Anna's reputation as a marriageable woman, she is undeterred.
Anna feels like a burden to her grandfather and his wife and wants to find a partner, but she refuses to marry anyone who would stifle her in any way. Her grandfather and her brother are determined to marry her to a man of good means. Unfortunately, this leaves her few viable options. The only man who sees her for her is the very man her brother warned her not to fall for.
This story is one part coming of age, one part historical fiction, one part early feminism, and one part budding romance. From the first few pages, I was completely enamored with this tale, and it proved to be one of the best books I have read this year. I am simply amazed that this is a debut novel. I received a free Kindle edition as a review copy, but I discovered that the author sells signed paperback editions on her website and I will definitely be purchasing a one to cherish and reread in the future. I can't wait to have this beautiful cover grace my bookshelf!
Thank you to Book Sprout and the author for a free Kindle edition of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library
I tend to gravitate toward fiction where the main characters are forced to confront certain difficult topics while emotions run high. When I read the official review for this book on Online Book Club, I was immediately drawn to it.
Grace has come to Penrowan to finally come clean with a secret that she has kept hidden for two decades: she has a daughter—whom she quietly gave up for adoption—by her best friend Sam. Sam is married to Dixie, and he was dating Dixie at the time of his tryst with Grace. Dixie has always harbored jealousy of Grace, even though the two women are friends, so this news is sure to destroy everyone involved.
The thing is, when she arrives, she cannot muster the courage to divulge her secret right away. Each time she has an opening, she changes the subject. Her openings are becoming fewer as the days leading up to the birthday party that Sam and Dixie are hosting for Grace draw nearer.
In the midst of everything, Grace gravitates toward Sam and Dixie's 25-year-old gardener. Although he is almost two decades younger than everyone else, he is often the voice of reason, rescuing all of the older adults from themselves. He is the most loveable character by far. As for the other characters, you will have a love-hate relationship with them. Their overreactive emotions can be irksome, but with secrets of this magnitude, I really wouldn't expect anything else.
This story is not a romance, despite how it has been marketed. It would be better classified as women's fiction. There are a few quick, steamy scenes, but the theme is not one of romance.
The author chose to break up the chapters into many sections, with each section being given from a different character's point of view. Sometimes, the breaks in chapters and sections seemed to have no rhyme or reason in their placement. Aside from this, the story was well-constructed, though the conclusion could have been a little more developed; the ending felt a bit rushed after how much time was spent building up to it.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was a quick read with memorable characters.
I would like to thank Online Book Club and Book Sirens for introducing me to this author. I received a free Kindle ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I tend to gravitate toward fiction where the main characters are forced to confront certain difficult topics while emotions run high. When I read the official review for this book on Online Book Club, I was immediately drawn to it.
Grace has come to Penrowan to finally come clean with a secret that she has kept hidden for two decades: she has a daughter—whom she quietly gave up for adoption—by her best friend Sam. Sam is married to Dixie, and he was dating Dixie at the time of his tryst with Grace. Dixie has always harbored jealousy of Grace, even though the two women are friends, so this news is sure to destroy everyone involved.
The thing is, when she arrives, she cannot muster the courage to divulge her secret right away. Each time she has an opening, she changes the subject. Her openings are becoming fewer as the days leading up to the birthday party that Sam and Dixie are hosting for Grace draw nearer.
In the midst of everything, Grace gravitates toward Sam and Dixie's 25-year-old gardener. Although he is almost two decades younger than everyone else, he is often the voice of reason, rescuing all of the older adults from themselves. He is the most loveable character by far. As for the other characters, you will have a love-hate relationship with them. Their overreactive emotions can be irksome, but with secrets of this magnitude, I really wouldn't expect anything else.
This story is not a romance, despite how it has been marketed. It would be better classified as women's fiction. There are a few quick, steamy scenes, but the theme is not one of romance.
The author chose to break up the chapters into many sections, with each section being given from a different character's point of view. Sometimes, the breaks in chapters and sections seemed to have no rhyme or reason in their placement. Aside from this, the story was well-constructed, though the conclusion could have been a little more developed; the ending felt a bit rushed after how much time was spent building up to it.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was a quick read with memorable characters.
I would like to thank Online Book Club and Book Sirens for introducing me to this author. I received a free Kindle ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library
First, I would like to thank BookSirens and the author for providing me with a free Kindle ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Catch the Girl is the third book in the Mercy Harbor Thriller series. Although this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the first two novels, [b:The River Girls|42800379|The River Girls (Mercy Harbor Thriller, #1)|Melinda Woodhall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542255784l/42800379._SY75_.jpg|66565016] and [b:Girl Eight|44540572|Girl Eight (Mercy Harbor Thriller, #2)|Melinda Woodhall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553029527l/44540572._SY75_.jpg|69124713]. Although the author provides brief explanations about the events in the first two novels, much of the character development occurred in The River Girls.
Catch the Girl maintains the same level of heart-pounding suspense that I have come to expect from a Woodhall novel. We have a fantastic team dedicated to saving the lives of women and girls in danger. Despite multiple crooked cops being exposed in the Willow Bay Police Department, Nessa, Jankowski, and retired detective Barker uphold justice and continuously put the safety of these women above all else. Our other heroes, including Eden, Reggie, Leo, and Frankie, also never hesitate to act when a woman's life is on the line, frequently risking personal safety.
I was happy to see that this book contains more content about the characters' personal relationships than the previous installment. Being able to see how these events affect their personal lives makes them more relatable, and as a reader, I am cheering for each character's happily-ever-after. This is not meant to imply that this is a romantic series, because it really is not; for instance, my hope for Nessa is that her marriage will remain strong despite her long hours and limitless ambition.
On that note, I am happy that Barker is finally searching for his daughter. Taylor had walked out after her mother died, blaming her father for causing her mother's cancer with his cigarette smoking. In his search, he discovers a strange commune with shady characters, and when two girls are murdered and traced back to the commune, his desperation to find his daughter intensifies.
There are just a couple scenes that were unrealistic, which is why I cannot give this book a perfect rating. For instance, the National Guard would never let a soldier use weapons for a civilian investigation. Not in a million years. Especially since this case has absolutely zero relation to national security. Being in the military myself, this irked me. Aside from this, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am excited to embark on the newly released fourth installment, [b:Girls Who Lie|48660727|Girls Who Lie (Mercy Harbor Thriller, #4)|Melinda Woodhall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1572643610l/48660727._SY75_.jpg|74003856].
First, I would like to thank BookSirens and the author for providing me with a free Kindle ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Catch the Girl is the third book in the Mercy Harbor Thriller series. Although this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the first two novels, [b:The River Girls|42800379|The River Girls (Mercy Harbor Thriller, #1)|Melinda Woodhall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542255784l/42800379._SY75_.jpg|66565016] and [b:Girl Eight|44540572|Girl Eight (Mercy Harbor Thriller, #2)|Melinda Woodhall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553029527l/44540572._SY75_.jpg|69124713]. Although the author provides brief explanations about the events in the first two novels, much of the character development occurred in The River Girls.
Catch the Girl maintains the same level of heart-pounding suspense that I have come to expect from a Woodhall novel. We have a fantastic team dedicated to saving the lives of women and girls in danger. Despite multiple crooked cops being exposed in the Willow Bay Police Department, Nessa, Jankowski, and retired detective Barker uphold justice and continuously put the safety of these women above all else. Our other heroes, including Eden, Reggie, Leo, and Frankie, also never hesitate to act when a woman's life is on the line, frequently risking personal safety.
I was happy to see that this book contains more content about the characters' personal relationships than the previous installment. Being able to see how these events affect their personal lives makes them more relatable, and as a reader, I am cheering for each character's happily-ever-after. This is not meant to imply that this is a romantic series, because it really is not; for instance, my hope for Nessa is that her marriage will remain strong despite her long hours and limitless ambition.
On that note, I am happy that Barker is finally searching for his daughter. Taylor had walked out after her mother died, blaming her father for causing her mother's cancer with his cigarette smoking. In his search, he discovers a strange commune with shady characters, and when two girls are murdered and traced back to the commune, his desperation to find his daughter intensifies.
There are just a couple scenes that were unrealistic, which is why I cannot give this book a perfect rating. For instance, the National Guard would never let a soldier use weapons for a civilian investigation. Not in a million years. Especially since this case has absolutely zero relation to national security. Being in the military myself, this irked me. Aside from this, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am excited to embark on the newly released fourth installment, [b:Girls Who Lie|48660727|Girls Who Lie (Mercy Harbor Thriller, #4)|Melinda Woodhall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1572643610l/48660727._SY75_.jpg|74003856].
This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library
I have been looking for a new historical fantasy series to devour, but none had caught my eye until I was given the chance to read Apollo's Raven. There are few historical fantasy novels with enough conflict in the first book to be complex enough for a series. Linnea Tanner's first book in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series delivers just enough conflict and relationship discord to establish a very strong foundation for a series without overwhelming the reader.
Catrin, a Celtic princess, has an unbreakable loyalty to her family. When Roman enemies arrive on her father's lands and start making demands, she surprises herself by defending the young Roman Marcellus, whom she has never met. When Marcellus is left as a ward in exchange for Catrin's elder sister Vala, the budding romance between Catrin and Marcellus threatens to damage both her reputation and her family's bond.
Her father, King Amren, is fighting to maintain his sovereignty against both the Romans and his Celtic rivals. His son, Marrock, whom he exiled for gruesome crimes, has joined forces with the Romans and his father's Celtic rivals with the intent to overthrow King Amren. But there is someone even more sinister with even deeper resentment for the king who is pulling the strings behind the scenes.
Catrin has the ability to connect with her Raven, allowing her to meld her mind with the bird, control its body, and see through its eyes. This special magic sets her apart and establishes her as the key piece in a curse set upon King Amren decades ago. This curse is to be his demise unless Catrin can stop it.
This book has a fascinating blend of historical and magical elements, drawing from Celtic, Greek, and Roman history and lore. Female Celts are portrayed as strong—wearing battle dress, wielding weapons, leading men, and fighting in battles—stunning the patriarchal Romans. The novel is well-researched, the characters are well-developed, and the world-building is fantastic.
My only real complaints are, first, that the chapter titles are essentially spoilers. I suggest that you ignore them. Second, the scenes in which Catrin melds her mind with that of her raven are confusing. I felt that they could have been portrayed more clearly.
This book ends on a major cliffhanger. In fact, it really doesn't "end" at all, as the second book picks up right in the middle of the scene in which the first book ends. This commits you to reading the series. I do not mind this, as the book was wonderful and I have already purchased the second and third books in the series. There is enough conflict occurring in this book that it would not make sense for all of it to be resolved in a single installment, anyhow. So far, the book has five promised books, and I look forward to all of them.
-------------------------------------------
I would like to thank Online Book Club for making me aware of this exceptional book and series. I was provided with a free Kindle copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. You can find my OBC review here: Wine Cellar Library's review of Apollo's Raven
Note: Due to their Terms of Use, I can only share a link to the Online Book Club review and not the actual content of the review. Additionally, OBC has specific requirements for their reviews, hence why my personal review above is different.
I have been looking for a new historical fantasy series to devour, but none had caught my eye until I was given the chance to read Apollo's Raven. There are few historical fantasy novels with enough conflict in the first book to be complex enough for a series. Linnea Tanner's first book in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series delivers just enough conflict and relationship discord to establish a very strong foundation for a series without overwhelming the reader.
Catrin, a Celtic princess, has an unbreakable loyalty to her family. When Roman enemies arrive on her father's lands and start making demands, she surprises herself by defending the young Roman Marcellus, whom she has never met. When Marcellus is left as a ward in exchange for Catrin's elder sister Vala, the budding romance between Catrin and Marcellus threatens to damage both her reputation and her family's bond.
Her father, King Amren, is fighting to maintain his sovereignty against both the Romans and his Celtic rivals. His son, Marrock, whom he exiled for gruesome crimes, has joined forces with the Romans and his father's Celtic rivals with the intent to overthrow King Amren. But there is someone even more sinister with even deeper resentment for the king who is pulling the strings behind the scenes.
Catrin has the ability to connect with her Raven, allowing her to meld her mind with the bird, control its body, and see through its eyes. This special magic sets her apart and establishes her as the key piece in a curse set upon King Amren decades ago. This curse is to be his demise unless Catrin can stop it.
This book has a fascinating blend of historical and magical elements, drawing from Celtic, Greek, and Roman history and lore. Female Celts are portrayed as strong—wearing battle dress, wielding weapons, leading men, and fighting in battles—stunning the patriarchal Romans. The novel is well-researched, the characters are well-developed, and the world-building is fantastic.
My only real complaints are, first, that the chapter titles are essentially spoilers. I suggest that you ignore them. Second, the scenes in which Catrin melds her mind with that of her raven are confusing. I felt that they could have been portrayed more clearly.
This book ends on a major cliffhanger. In fact, it really doesn't "end" at all, as the second book picks up right in the middle of the scene in which the first book ends. This commits you to reading the series. I do not mind this, as the book was wonderful and I have already purchased the second and third books in the series. There is enough conflict occurring in this book that it would not make sense for all of it to be resolved in a single installment, anyhow. So far, the book has five promised books, and I look forward to all of them.
-------------------------------------------
I would like to thank Online Book Club for making me aware of this exceptional book and series. I was provided with a free Kindle copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. You can find my OBC review here: Wine Cellar Library's review of Apollo's Raven
Note: Due to their Terms of Use, I can only share a link to the Online Book Club review and not the actual content of the review. Additionally, OBC has specific requirements for their reviews, hence why my personal review above is different.
This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library
Today is pub day! (12.10.19)
Just look at this gorgeous cover!
I have never read any of this author's previous books. I was pleased to find that this book works as a standalone. In the series, it is listed as Book 3.5, but it is an origin story, taking place many generations before the other books. The epilogue provides information that explains why this book follows the first three rather than preceding them. It is also important to know that this is a full-length novel and not a novella.
I was immediately captivated by the prologue. The author's writing is vivid, beautiful, and even a bit quirky. I knew from the beginning that this book would be bursting with imaginative world-building and characters full of depth. I accepted this ARC several weeks ago and did not begin reading it until the other day. I did not read the synopsis again prior to reading, and I suggest that you do not either. So many beautiful surprises are in store, and it is so much better of an experience if you let the book reveal them to you!
My only issue with the book, besides some spelling and grammar errors (which may have been corrected in the final release) was the first chapter. I felt that 6 year old Deona was speaking far too formally for a child of that age, while the narrative in that chapter was overly simplistic. The dichotomy was jarring. Thankfully, there was only one chapter written this way.
Based on this novel, I will definitely be reading the other books in The Balance Bringer Chronicles. After the epilogue, the author announced her upcoming book Igniting: The Balance Bringer (Book 4), so I hope to get caught up on the series before it is released!
I would like to thank Booksprout and the author for providing me with a free Kindle ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Today is pub day! (12.10.19)
Just look at this gorgeous cover!
I have never read any of this author's previous books. I was pleased to find that this book works as a standalone. In the series, it is listed as Book 3.5, but it is an origin story, taking place many generations before the other books. The epilogue provides information that explains why this book follows the first three rather than preceding them. It is also important to know that this is a full-length novel and not a novella.
I was immediately captivated by the prologue. The author's writing is vivid, beautiful, and even a bit quirky. I knew from the beginning that this book would be bursting with imaginative world-building and characters full of depth. I accepted this ARC several weeks ago and did not begin reading it until the other day. I did not read the synopsis again prior to reading, and I suggest that you do not either. So many beautiful surprises are in store, and it is so much better of an experience if you let the book reveal them to you!
My only issue with the book, besides some spelling and grammar errors (which may have been corrected in the final release) was the first chapter. I felt that 6 year old Deona was speaking far too formally for a child of that age, while the narrative in that chapter was overly simplistic. The dichotomy was jarring. Thankfully, there was only one chapter written this way.
Based on this novel, I will definitely be reading the other books in The Balance Bringer Chronicles. After the epilogue, the author announced her upcoming book Igniting: The Balance Bringer (Book 4), so I hope to get caught up on the series before it is released!
I would like to thank Booksprout and the author for providing me with a free Kindle ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library
Be careful what you wish for...
I must admit, Part Two came as a surprise. It is difficult to review a book of this nature without revealing any spoilers. Suffice it to say that not everything is as it seems, and everyone has one or two tricks up their sleeves in this domestic and psychological thriller.
Amber is simply diabolical. She is completely devoid of morals. She envisions for herself a life of grandeur and will step on anyone and everyone to get what she wants. She is as meticulously prepared as she is mercilessly unscrupulous. She's a character you will love to hate.
The relationships between the characters are impeccably crafted. Daphne's youngest daughter is so incredibly irritating and selfish that you want to smack her parents every time they cave to her whims. Daphne's relationship with her mother is strained and unfortunate. Her relationship with her husband appears so solid, it's hard to believe anyone would try to wedge herself between them. Amber is watching everyone closely, learning how to manipulate each and every person in the Parrish family.
There are some potential triggers in this novel, but naming them would spoil the story, so enter this tale with caution and thick skin. If you read this novel, please contact me, because I am bursting at the seams having to keep myself from giving too much away!
Be careful what you wish for...
I must admit, Part Two came as a surprise. It is difficult to review a book of this nature without revealing any spoilers. Suffice it to say that not everything is as it seems, and everyone has one or two tricks up their sleeves in this domestic and psychological thriller.
Amber is simply diabolical. She is completely devoid of morals. She envisions for herself a life of grandeur and will step on anyone and everyone to get what she wants. She is as meticulously prepared as she is mercilessly unscrupulous. She's a character you will love to hate.
The relationships between the characters are impeccably crafted. Daphne's youngest daughter is so incredibly irritating and selfish that you want to smack her parents every time they cave to her whims. Daphne's relationship with her mother is strained and unfortunate. Her relationship with her husband appears so solid, it's hard to believe anyone would try to wedge herself between them. Amber is watching everyone closely, learning how to manipulate each and every person in the Parrish family.
There are some potential triggers in this novel, but naming them would spoil the story, so enter this tale with caution and thick skin. If you read this novel, please contact me, because I am bursting at the seams having to keep myself from giving too much away!
First, I would like to thank Park Row (Harlequin) Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with a free Kindle ARC in exchange for my honest review.
[a:Annie Ward|18032962|Annie Ward|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1526498107p2/18032962.jpg]’s [b:Beautiful Bad|39873226|Beautiful Bad|Annie Ward|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1532556337s/39873226.jpg|61678543] transports the reader between third-world war-stricken countries and the small town of Meadowlark, Kansas as it follows multiple timelines. Maddie lives a life of thrills and living on the edge of danger as an instructor and travel writer in her twenties, where she meets Ian, a British bodyguard with a dark allure. Twenty-six years later, we find Maddie in the present, in which she is now married to Ian in Kansas, where they live with their young son Charlie despite Maddie’s worldly nature. We also find Diane, a patrol cop, entering an active crime scene at the couple’s home where an ominous pool of blood confirms that someone inside that house is dead.
Ms. Ward does a fantastic job of making the jumps between timelines fluid for the reader. Nothing is more aggravating than struggling to orient oneself from chapter to chapter, but Ms. Ward bridges the transitions expertly. In order to gain context for how we have come to the point where someone has been murdered, we must understand each character’s past. The reader accompanies Maddie as she visits her eccentric psychologist, who is determined to establish that Maddie has suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) at the hands of her husband, despite Maddie’s insistence that she fell. The reader follows Ian through his numerous jobs in the military and in security, where he suffers near-death and otherwise traumatizing experiences that have led to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Both Maddie and Ian live in paranoia and tend to catastrophize world events, imagining those dangers coming to their small town and destroying the ones they love.
Overall, I was completely engrossed in this book, finding myself with the urge to read at stoplights (which I avoided, painfully). Everything leading up to the end was a fantastic experience; it is just the end itself that left me feeling at a loss. Perhaps I do not agree with the author’s choice of direction, but I also feel that this was the least developed part of the book. I can see how she came to the decision to end it in the way she did, but I do not feel she expresses those reasons adequately for the reader, especially if the reader has no prior understanding of TBI or PTSD. For this reason, I feel that a near-perfect book was cheated of the perfect rating it deserved, and I feel that 4.5 stars is appropriate.
I would recommend this book for anyone interested in psychological suspense and domestic thrillers.
#beautifulbad #netgalley
[a:Annie Ward|18032962|Annie Ward|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1526498107p2/18032962.jpg]’s [b:Beautiful Bad|39873226|Beautiful Bad|Annie Ward|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1532556337s/39873226.jpg|61678543] transports the reader between third-world war-stricken countries and the small town of Meadowlark, Kansas as it follows multiple timelines. Maddie lives a life of thrills and living on the edge of danger as an instructor and travel writer in her twenties, where she meets Ian, a British bodyguard with a dark allure. Twenty-six years later, we find Maddie in the present, in which she is now married to Ian in Kansas, where they live with their young son Charlie despite Maddie’s worldly nature. We also find Diane, a patrol cop, entering an active crime scene at the couple’s home where an ominous pool of blood confirms that someone inside that house is dead.
Ms. Ward does a fantastic job of making the jumps between timelines fluid for the reader. Nothing is more aggravating than struggling to orient oneself from chapter to chapter, but Ms. Ward bridges the transitions expertly. In order to gain context for how we have come to the point where someone has been murdered, we must understand each character’s past. The reader accompanies Maddie as she visits her eccentric psychologist, who is determined to establish that Maddie has suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) at the hands of her husband, despite Maddie’s insistence that she fell. The reader follows Ian through his numerous jobs in the military and in security, where he suffers near-death and otherwise traumatizing experiences that have led to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Both Maddie and Ian live in paranoia and tend to catastrophize world events, imagining those dangers coming to their small town and destroying the ones they love.
Overall, I was completely engrossed in this book, finding myself with the urge to read at stoplights (which I avoided, painfully). Everything leading up to the end was a fantastic experience; it is just the end itself that left me feeling at a loss. Perhaps I do not agree with the author’s choice of direction, but I also feel that this was the least developed part of the book. I can see how she came to the decision to end it in the way she did, but I do not feel she expresses those reasons adequately for the reader, especially if the reader has no prior understanding of TBI or PTSD. For this reason, I feel that a near-perfect book was cheated of the perfect rating it deserved, and I feel that 4.5 stars is appropriate.
I would recommend this book for anyone interested in psychological suspense and domestic thrillers.
#beautifulbad #netgalley
This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library
"'I am not so captivated by the beautiful, monsieur.' Celine met his gaze without wavering. 'For I know beauty is only a moment in time.'"
I first encountered this book on Bookish First. After reading the sample provided, I was determined to obtain a copy. The setting is captivating: New Orleans, 1872, right around Mardi Gras. There are festivals and parades and the whole city is bright with celebration, despite the recent gruesome murder of a young girl.
A group of girls from various countries in Europe have landed at port and will come to live at a convent, where they will work and hope to be matched with a husband. All are escaping something in their past, making this their best chance for a good life. Celine's past is darkest of all and she is desperate to keep it hidden. However, darkness seems to follow her, and she can't help but admit her increasing attraction to it.
One of the best aspects of the novel is how it challenges the social norms of the era. For instance, minorities have positions of authority and are well-respected, and the fashionable Odette proudly wears trousers. Bastien is a minority and he is widely regarded as the handsomest of devils by everyone who looks upon him.
I had high hopes embarking on this novel. I read it over the course of a week as a buddy read on Instagram with daily discussions. Unfortunately, it wasn't as spectacular as I had hoped. The storyline is just a little lackluster, as are Celine's interactions with her two potential love interests. I was left feeling sort of incomplete after finishing the book.
The ending is a cliffhanger, and the way it concluded is compelling enough that I am excited to read the second book in the series when it is published. Overall, this was a good book, and I'm hoping that its sequel will be even better.
"'I am not so captivated by the beautiful, monsieur.' Celine met his gaze without wavering. 'For I know beauty is only a moment in time.'"
I first encountered this book on Bookish First. After reading the sample provided, I was determined to obtain a copy. The setting is captivating: New Orleans, 1872, right around Mardi Gras. There are festivals and parades and the whole city is bright with celebration, despite the recent gruesome murder of a young girl.
A group of girls from various countries in Europe have landed at port and will come to live at a convent, where they will work and hope to be matched with a husband. All are escaping something in their past, making this their best chance for a good life. Celine's past is darkest of all and she is desperate to keep it hidden. However, darkness seems to follow her, and she can't help but admit her increasing attraction to it.
One of the best aspects of the novel is how it challenges the social norms of the era. For instance, minorities have positions of authority and are well-respected, and the fashionable Odette proudly wears trousers. Bastien is a minority and he is widely regarded as the handsomest of devils by everyone who looks upon him.
I had high hopes embarking on this novel. I read it over the course of a week as a buddy read on Instagram with daily discussions. Unfortunately, it wasn't as spectacular as I had hoped. The storyline is just a little lackluster, as are Celine's interactions with her two potential love interests. I was left feeling sort of incomplete after finishing the book.
The ending is a cliffhanger, and the way it concluded is compelling enough that I am excited to read the second book in the series when it is published. Overall, this was a good book, and I'm hoping that its sequel will be even better.
This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library
First, I would like to thank BookSirens and the author for providing me with a free Kindle ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Second, I have to warn readers of the potential triggers that you will find in this book. There is discussion of kidnapping, murder, violence, and drug use. This may be distressing for some readers.
Girl Eight is the second book in the Mercy Harbor Thriller series. Although this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the first novel, [b:The River Girls|42800379|The River Girls (Mercy Harbor Thriller, #1)|Melinda Woodhall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542255784l/42800379._SY75_.jpg|66565016]. Although the author provides brief explanations about the events in the first novel, much of the character development occurred in The River Girls.
In this second installment, Melinda Woodhall has crafted yet another edge-of-your-seat thriller. I didn't know I was capable of reading so fast. As the twists and turns emerged, I found myself reading faster and faster. A young woman has gone missing, and it is clear from the beginning who has abducted her. His accomplice, however, is a mysterious figure. The abductor and the accomplice have been working together for a decade, kidnapping girls whose disappearances will not draw much attention, if any.
Eden, Leo, and the detectives from the first book work together to determine whether an abduction has actually occurred and who is responsible, and suddenly, the action builds with increasing intensity as the pieces fall into place. My heart was pounding, and I was stressed out when the characters were not privy to clues that the author provided to me, as the reader. This book was a quick read (though, admittedly, I may have been speed-reading) and I completed it in just a few intense hours.
Less attention was paid to character development in this book, so I could not form the same level of attachment to the characters as I did in the previous book. The characters are an amazing group, and I was disappointed that this book focused almost entirely on the investigation and the action rather than the characters and their relationships. Had this book portrayed the same level of care devoted to the characters, it would have easily earned a five-star rating. (It is important to note that had I not read the first book and established a love for the characters, I likely would have rated this book with three stars.)
Tomorrow I will be diving straight into the third book in the series, and I am highly anticipating the release of the fourth book in the next week! So far, this series is highly entertaining and I am fully invested in reading all of the installments!
First, I would like to thank BookSirens and the author for providing me with a free Kindle ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Second, I have to warn readers of the potential triggers that you will find in this book. There is discussion of kidnapping, murder, violence, and drug use. This may be distressing for some readers.
Girl Eight is the second book in the Mercy Harbor Thriller series. Although this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the first novel, [b:The River Girls|42800379|The River Girls (Mercy Harbor Thriller, #1)|Melinda Woodhall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542255784l/42800379._SY75_.jpg|66565016]. Although the author provides brief explanations about the events in the first novel, much of the character development occurred in The River Girls.
In this second installment, Melinda Woodhall has crafted yet another edge-of-your-seat thriller. I didn't know I was capable of reading so fast. As the twists and turns emerged, I found myself reading faster and faster. A young woman has gone missing, and it is clear from the beginning who has abducted her. His accomplice, however, is a mysterious figure. The abductor and the accomplice have been working together for a decade, kidnapping girls whose disappearances will not draw much attention, if any.
Eden, Leo, and the detectives from the first book work together to determine whether an abduction has actually occurred and who is responsible, and suddenly, the action builds with increasing intensity as the pieces fall into place. My heart was pounding, and I was stressed out when the characters were not privy to clues that the author provided to me, as the reader. This book was a quick read (though, admittedly, I may have been speed-reading) and I completed it in just a few intense hours.
Less attention was paid to character development in this book, so I could not form the same level of attachment to the characters as I did in the previous book. The characters are an amazing group, and I was disappointed that this book focused almost entirely on the investigation and the action rather than the characters and their relationships. Had this book portrayed the same level of care devoted to the characters, it would have easily earned a five-star rating. (It is important to note that had I not read the first book and established a love for the characters, I likely would have rated this book with three stars.)
Tomorrow I will be diving straight into the third book in the series, and I am highly anticipating the release of the fourth book in the next week! So far, this series is highly entertaining and I am fully invested in reading all of the installments!
This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library
What an incredible story. I am floored by the emotions this book elicited. Two—almost three—times, I was moved to tears. The main character, Karis, experiences so much in the few months this book covers. A huge, grateful thank you to Hidden Gems for providing me with an ARC of this novel. It is truly a hidden gem and needs to be more widely read.
A deadly virus has been unleashed in New York City and quickly spreads across the Eastern United States. Karis has been diligent enough to prevent herself from being infected and is happy for the quarantine when it is first mandated. At the very beginning, she has a chance to be evacuated to California, but because the airlines will not allow her to bring her dog, she stays in New York City. She cannot fathom leaving him behind where it is likely he could die. Any animal lover will understand her decision. When evacuations stop about a week later, she is determined to get to safety, but in the immediate aftermath, it is to dangerous to expose herself in an attempt to escape.
Confined to her apartment with dwindling supplies, she suffers through the loss of those close to her, the threat of being attacked by infected people or desperate and healthy stragglers, and the guilt of having to use lethal force in self-defense. There is so much emotion contained in this novel. I never would have expected that from dystopian fiction. I cried big ugly tears. My heart pounded with anxiety during intense scenes. I caught myself scanning ahead on pages where things got tense, quickly catching myself and grudgingly returning my eyes the present paragraph.
For a debut novel, this is exemplary. I cannot give it enough praise. I hope the author continues writing because after reading this book, I will eagerly devour anything she publishes.
What an incredible story. I am floored by the emotions this book elicited. Two—almost three—times, I was moved to tears. The main character, Karis, experiences so much in the few months this book covers. A huge, grateful thank you to Hidden Gems for providing me with an ARC of this novel. It is truly a hidden gem and needs to be more widely read.
A deadly virus has been unleashed in New York City and quickly spreads across the Eastern United States. Karis has been diligent enough to prevent herself from being infected and is happy for the quarantine when it is first mandated. At the very beginning, she has a chance to be evacuated to California, but because the airlines will not allow her to bring her dog, she stays in New York City. She cannot fathom leaving him behind where it is likely he could die. Any animal lover will understand her decision. When evacuations stop about a week later, she is determined to get to safety, but in the immediate aftermath, it is to dangerous to expose herself in an attempt to escape.
Confined to her apartment with dwindling supplies, she suffers through the loss of those close to her, the threat of being attacked by infected people or desperate and healthy stragglers, and the guilt of having to use lethal force in self-defense. There is so much emotion contained in this novel. I never would have expected that from dystopian fiction. I cried big ugly tears. My heart pounded with anxiety during intense scenes. I caught myself scanning ahead on pages where things got tense, quickly catching myself and grudgingly returning my eyes the present paragraph.
For a debut novel, this is exemplary. I cannot give it enough praise. I hope the author continues writing because after reading this book, I will eagerly devour anything she publishes.