This is another one of those books I read earlier this year and then forgot to write a review for it, even though I greatly loved the book! Ariane, th...moreThis is another one of those books I read earlier this year and then forgot to write a review for it, even though I greatly loved the book! Ariane, the main character, is a girl with a lot of rules: important rules that are there to save her life. The story is also told by Zane, a fellow high school student.
The best part about these two characters is how real they seemed. I've been in a reading funk lately, not really "falling in love" with the characters in my books, but these two are just amazingly written and are great fun to read. Not only that, but the minor characters are just as much fun, from Jenna, the ditzy best friend you just love to hate, to her classmates who torture Ariane.
The book has a great pace, and then there's a great twist at the end that you probably won't suspect, and it just kills me not to talk more about it but it'll completely spoil the book.
I received a copy of this book for free from netgalley.(less)
I read this book a while ago, and honestly don't know why I haven't blogged about it until now.
The book is a medieval sci-fi/fantasy type of book, and...moreI read this book a while ago, and honestly don't know why I haven't blogged about it until now.
The book is a medieval sci-fi/fantasy type of book, and from a Christian author no less. I enjoy reading books by Christian authors because the books are always "clean". I was also interested in the book because it is the first in a series called "Merlin's Immortals".
The book is about Thomas, a young man who rescues 3 people from death, and their individual struggles. Thomas makes mistakes, but I think most of this book is about his private struggles with belief in God.
Overall I enjoyed the book, but I didn't like the pace (I felt it was too slow), didn't really particularly care for Thomas (I felt he was very stand-off-ish), and I just couldn't get into the storyline - perhaps why this title sat so long before being reviewed. There was nothing wrong with the book - it was very well written - but some books just aren't for everyone, and unfortunately this title ended up being that for me.
I picked up this book to read for my nook from my local library, when I wanted something quick & fast to read. I didn't realize it's young adults...moreI picked up this book to read for my nook from my local library, when I wanted something quick & fast to read. I didn't realize it's young adults (and considered middle school at that, which I don't normally read too much of) so the book was a lighter than I had planned, but overall was a great read.
Poor Jane - she falls in love with a man vastly unsuited for her, and from almost the very beginning of the book does everything she can to make him love her even more. Very true for its age, this drove me nuts throughout the book. Daughter of a doctor, I kept expecting her to take care of people, which never happened, which also drove me nuts.
All of that being said, however, I just loved Jane. You couldn't help but groan at her whenever she made (another) bad decision but you couldn't help routing for her all the same.
So you are probably wondering why I gave this book 4 stars, when I am not exactly raving about the book so far? Well, it's Miss Hepplewhite - the schoolteacher who teaches Jane how to be a proper young lady. So much of Miss Hepplewhite's teaching comes from a book actually written at the time, and it's fascinating to me some of the things she teaches. Though I knew women were raised to be docile and servants to men, it always amazes me to read that women actually acted that way! (less)
I received this book as part of a book tour - a book tour that unfortunately was forgotten about, in the midst of everything going on with Jon. I had...moreI received this book as part of a book tour - a book tour that unfortunately was forgotten about, in the midst of everything going on with Jon. I had started reading the book before he got hurt, but had to start from the beginning again when it came time to finish & write the review. My apologies to the author & to the rest of the book tour - there's a reason why I seldom sign up for tours ;/.
This historical fiction book is about midwife Lizzie Boylston and her friendship with Abigail Adams - yes, that Abigail Adams! As such, this book is a bit unique - it's about the founding mother's of our country, not the founding fathers.
The book is excellently written, beginning with being introduced to Lizzie and her husband, who she very shortly loses. She is distantly related to Abigail through her husband's side of the family and after she loves Jeb, she begins to become closer to the Adams family. The surrounding ladies at first don't take kindly to Lizzie, whose father was a Tory judge, but she proves to everyone she knows her stuff, and they soon accept her as one of them.
I don't want to say more than that, and spoil the book for yourself. It's well written, the characters are great - I was pleased to see that there wasn't a hundred characters to keep track of!, and the story moves at a great pace, though (for me) got a little slow in between the storyline/characters being established, and when the events really starting getting going.
Why 4 stars? As much as I greatly enjoyed reading about Lizzie (and reading about a time & place I don't often read about), I didn't really fall in love with any of the characters, and that's what truly defines a 5 star book for me.
All in all, this book is great and fast read.(less)
I grew up a huge Piers Anthony fan, and I keep trying to remain one as an adult. I still do consider myself a fan, even though I'm always vastly disap...moreI grew up a huge Piers Anthony fan, and I keep trying to remain one as an adult. I still do consider myself a fan, even though I'm always vastly disappointed when I read one of his books.
This is the 3rd book in the geodyssey saga. I've read all of them before, and this one is a reread. You can read the books in order or as a stand alone.
The premise sounds cool on paper - follow one family through history and see what happens. Anthony picks various events in history, explains a bit of back story and reveals his thoughts behind why he writes each chapter the way he does. The first half of the book I found quite enjoyable, but the latter half I was simply bored with. Not sure if it was because the characters were just not evolving, or because I was bored with the historical events he was talking about, or a combination of other things, but the second half simply dragged. I ended up skipping most of one chapter completely because I could not get interested in the story, at all.
So, what's good about the book? Well, it's an Anthony book and as I already explained, he's got a built in fan in me. I love history, and I enjoy what he's trying to do in this book. I like the fact that the characters all have flaws, though he places way too much emphasis on physical flaws and repeats that emphasis in each and every chapter. I like the fact that the book spans such a huge span of history - including the future (though it's way too Romeo & Juliet for me). I like the fact that it's part of a series.
But I just never get behind any of the characters, though I didn't dislike any of them, either. I think because there are six major characters in the book (all being a major character in a few individual chapters and being a minor character in others), plus husbands, wives, kids, and various enemies, there are just too many people to keep track of.
So all in all, I have mixed feelings about the book. I like it enough that I have to give it 3 stars, but I dislike it enough that I can't rate it any better.
I borrowed this book from my dad, who introduced me to Piers Anthony in the first place.(less)
I've always wanted to read this series, so I finally borrowed a copy to read on my nook. With reviews like "brilliant and masterful" how could you not...moreI've always wanted to read this series, so I finally borrowed a copy to read on my nook. With reviews like "brilliant and masterful" how could you not be dying to read it?
I was hooked on the very first page, greatly enjoyed the first few chapters, and then... I honestly just got bored. I liked the story line enough to keep reading it, but the pace was just so slow for me, and I was just expecting MORE. I just did not like Meghan Chase and I definitely didn't like Puck & didn't find him funny. Ash was shallow, selfish, and immature.
I don't find the storyline terribly original, the storyline isn't compelling, and added to the fact that I just didn't like the characters, I have to say I won't bother reading any more. The only reason why this one is rated 3 stars is because I did like it enough to finish it.(less)
I was intrigued by the description of this book, "I didn't even know my mother's real name", and so I borrowed this book from the library to read on m...moreI was intrigued by the description of this book, "I didn't even know my mother's real name", and so I borrowed this book from the library to read on my nook.
all in all, it was an interesting read. The book tells of Helen's family & the secrets Helen's parents kept from her and her sister her whole life, until she somehow finds out she's actually Jewish (the book never really explains to my satisfaction exactly how she discovered she was Jewish & that her mother was lying to her). There's also a lot of past / present back and forth in the book which I'm not a huge fan of, but it was also definitely the best way to write this type of book.
The book's pace was a bit slow to me and there are parts that feel repetitive, but I felt the unique nature of this biography offsets the negatives in the book. That being said, why only 3 stars? I feel it was not only cruel, Helen's relentless pursuing of truths her family didn't want revealed, but not only that - she writes a book & publishes it, revealing to the world all of her families dirty secrets. Writing the book I think helped her deal with the truths, which I understand, publishing was still cruel.(less)
I was asked to review this book by the author & I was thrilled to agree. I knew a few things about the massacre, but not a lot, and I'm always int...moreI was asked to review this book by the author & I was thrilled to agree. I knew a few things about the massacre, but not a lot, and I'm always interested in learning more about other faiths & religions, so I was doubly eager to read.
Unfortunately, almost from the very beginning, this book failed to deliver. Though it's very well written, the book is so incredibly - and badly - biased against Mormons, that it's very distracting, and one can't get into - or enjoy - the story, because you are so busy virtually throwing up at the hatred of Mormons that's so evident in each and every page.
I'm the first to admit I don't know a lot about Mormons or their belief system, but I definitely don't believe that a major Mormon figure would drink alcohol in public where anyone could see them, and I definitely don't believe all the sexual garbage that's written into the story, whether you are talking about the main male lead, the Mormon missionaries or any of the Mormon followers.
And even if some of it was true, and again I say IF - it had absolutely nothing to do with the plot, other than to stir one up into hatred for the Mormon religion.(less)
One day the orphan Catalina is taken home by her lone surviving relative, Aunt Griselda. Unfortunately for Catalina, all does not quite go as expected...moreOne day the orphan Catalina is taken home by her lone surviving relative, Aunt Griselda. Unfortunately for Catalina, all does not quite go as expected. Her aunt hates her and makes her life miserable. She learns she is to be sold to Stefano the Knife-thrower and used as a human target. To escape a certain death, Catalina leaps through a mysterious crossover point and ends up in a new land called Arboroth. There, she is encounters a wolf-boy and a talking rat. She is beset by a cruel and inhospitable landscape, and all the while hunted by a pack of relentless hounds. Then Catalina discovers her aunt is also in Arboroth. And Griselda isn’t happy.
Catalina reminds me a of fairy tale, good verses evil, complete with an evil aunt who also happens to be a witch. Catalina is a very strong female lead and I think makes a great role model, which is one of the reasons why I did like the book.
The story is well written & grabs you from the first page, but unfortunately, the tale (for me) slows down a lot for most of the middle. I didn't really feel like the story was anything original - and yes, I know, everything's been done before & nothing is truly original anymore! But you just knew everything was going to work out in the end, and worse yet, I felt like I knew what was going to happen in every scene before it happened. I liked the story, I liked the characters, I liked the writing - I just didn't love any part of it. I do, however, strongly think that the intended audience (young adult) would like the book a lot more than me. This comes up occasionally - I love young adult books, but sometimes they are just a little too young for me, and that's to me actually a sign of a very well written book.(less)
An Amish Kitchen is three mini novellas. Each is a separate story, but the other characters are briefly mentioned in each story. There is also a reade...moreAn Amish Kitchen is three mini novellas. Each is a separate story, but the other characters are briefly mentioned in each story. There is also a reader's guide & lots of Amish recipes at the end of the book which would be lots of fun to try - if I were a better cook!
The first story is about Fern, an Amish healer, the second is about Hannah, who runs her family's bed and breakfast while taking care of aging parents, and the third, the longest one in the book, is about Eve and her extended family.
I think I liked the first story the best - I could relate to Fern a lot, I liked the pacing of the story, & I liked how it ended. I also liked the story about Hannah, but I didn't like the pacing of the story as much & I felt the ending was cut very, very short - so much so, that the ending actually ruined the whole story for me, and if I had to rate just the middle story, I'd only give it two stars. I felt like I was being teased, and I didn't feel like I read the whole tale. Without giving anything away, I also really felt like the conflict in the story was solved way too quickly & not very realistically.
The last story, about Eve's family, was a very emotional one for me. Her mother suffer's from Parkinson's disease, which in a lot of ways is similar to Alzheimer's, which runs in my family. I was brought to tears more than once by certain parts, and I also laughed out loud at some of the parts!
I received this book to read & review through the book sneeze program for free.(less)
Sophia Makinoff is certain that 1876 is the year that she’ll become the wife of a certain US Congressman, and happily plans her debut into the Capitol...moreSophia Makinoff is certain that 1876 is the year that she’ll become the wife of a certain US Congressman, and happily plans her debut into the Capitol city. But when he proposes to her roommate instead, Sophia is stunned. Hoping to flee her heartache and humiliation, she signs up with the Board of Foreign Missions on a whim.
This book draws you in from the very first page - you are routing for Sophia, you are heartbroken when her original plans for marriage go wrong, and you cheer for her as she falls in love with her new life as a missionary and the people she's trying so desperately hard to protect.
It's full of heartbreak and sorrow, and you can't help but cheer for the Poncas, when something good goes there way - like shoes for the children for the winter, and you can't help but cry when they begin to starve. For me, it was difficult to read these passages because you know how badly the Native American tribes were treated and you know just how many died because of starvation, hunger, cold, disease, etc.
The story, for me, first and foremost is the story of the Poncas, a tribe I had never heard of before, but it's also the love story between Sophia and Will, another missionary bent on trying to save the small tribe.
I received a copy of this book for review through the Book Sneeze blogging for books program.(less)
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