This is not the kind of book that I would normally have picked up; I bought it on the recommendation of a friend, and I'm glad I did. It was warm and...moreThis is not the kind of book that I would normally have picked up; I bought it on the recommendation of a friend, and I'm glad I did. It was warm and funny and human and sweet and made me care about the characters despite the teenage drama which is the sort of thing I usually have no patience with. The perfect read for a hideous day when I needed to go imagine I was in France drinking hot chocolate.(less)
I enjoyed this story very much, especially the non-typical characters for historical. But let's just put this up front: I failed to read the blurb, so...moreI enjoyed this story very much, especially the non-typical characters for historical. But let's just put this up front: I failed to read the blurb, so I spent most of the story asking, But who are these brothers Sinister? Is Hugo one? If so, are his other brothers going to show up at some point? Is the next one about THIS Duke of Clermont? Because he's a douchecanoe and about as sinister as a weed. In fact, I've met more sinister weeds. And so on, which I could've spared myself if I'd read the damn blurbs before buying the series. (I kept meaning to read Courtney Milan and they were on sale so I bought without looking closely.) So just in case you fail to read the blurb, you find out who the Sinister Brothers are at the end in the epilogue. This story is a prequel. And very good in its own right. And The Duchess War features an entirely different Duke, not a weedy douchecanoe. Also Hugo is such an awesome hero that I wish I'd gotten to read more of him. (less)
Oh, Harry, death didn't solve any of your problems, did it? If you want to know how to keep a series going after killing your protagonist, watch Jim B...moreOh, Harry, death didn't solve any of your problems, did it? If you want to know how to keep a series going after killing your protagonist, watch Jim Butcher work his magic through Harry Dresden.(less)
Oh, Mercy. May your adventures continue indefinitely because they just keep getting better. Starts off with a bang (okay, a car wreck) and never lets...moreOh, Mercy. May your adventures continue indefinitely because they just keep getting better. Starts off with a bang (okay, a car wreck) and never lets up.(less)
The fun continues. I really loved the Ocean's 11 style casino job at the end, masterminded by the heroine. I love capers, witty historical, and dreamy...moreThe fun continues. I really loved the Ocean's 11 style casino job at the end, masterminded by the heroine. I love capers, witty historical, and dreamy romance. All three in one book? Take my money.(less)
Just when you thought historical romance wasn't going to produce another Julia Quinn-type comic romp, here's Sarah MacLean to the rescue! I giggled th...moreJust when you thought historical romance wasn't going to produce another Julia Quinn-type comic romp, here's Sarah MacLean to the rescue! I giggled through this and the cliffhanger ending made me immediately purchase the sequel. #3 is on pre-order. Is it November yet?(less)
You know you can finally get this in the US, right? So why haven't you bought and read yours yet? Then as soon as you do that, start pestering Megan/C...moreYou know you can finally get this in the US, right? So why haven't you bought and read yours yet? Then as soon as you do that, start pestering Megan/Caitlin for the sequel. Like I'm doing. Seriously fun 80s camp, a terrific mystery, a terrific romance. Warning: may make you listen to Adam and the Ants, Duran Duran, and feel nostalgic for ripped Flashdance sweatshirts.(less)
Lots of stuff here leading to some possible resolution for the long-standing issues of the vampires and their lost souls, resolution for the demons, m...moreLots of stuff here leading to some possible resolution for the long-standing issues of the vampires and their lost souls, resolution for the demons, maybe even resolution for a non-business relationship between Rachel and Trent but we'll all have to wait for the next book to find out. (less)
I really enjoyed this series although for me the first book had all the impetuous and the subsequent books were just for the fun of hanging out with t...moreI really enjoyed this series although for me the first book had all the impetuous and the subsequent books were just for the fun of hanging out with the characters in a very well-realized setting. There are some plot quibbles (it's never explained how a supernatural could become mortal and then non-mortal again, magic wand waving, do not look behind the curtain) but if you want to sink into some southern gothic YA, this is for you.(less)
Finished this morning! Very fun to see what happens to everybody after Isabella and the "I want to murder you" dynamic between hero and heroine is wha...moreFinished this morning! Very fun to see what happens to everybody after Isabella and the "I want to murder you" dynamic between hero and heroine is what Chase does best. I think her very best early regency is The Devil's Delilah but they are all well worth the read.(less)
Read this months ago, how far back does my failure to update GR extend? Sigh. I love her old regencies and have been chasing them all down for years....moreRead this months ago, how far back does my failure to update GR extend? Sigh. I love her old regencies and have been chasing them all down for years. Now finally they are available as ebooks, rah!(less)
Best friends to lover romance I've ever read. Fun, emotional, sexy, meltingly romantic, this is a terrific read. If more contemporaries were like this...moreBest friends to lover romance I've ever read. Fun, emotional, sexy, meltingly romantic, this is a terrific read. If more contemporaries were like this, I'd read way more of them. LOVED. Predict sales of Wreck This Journal spike after this book comes out, everybody is going to want their own Wreck This Life list complete with the perfect ending.(less)
Wheee fun! Really loved Andrea's tale, and this along with the other spinoff novella has been a terrific trip into expanding Kate's world to tell the...moreWheee fun! Really loved Andrea's tale, and this along with the other spinoff novella has been a terrific trip into expanding Kate's world to tell the stories of some of the other characters. It's a big world and I really hope to see more of that while enjoying Kate's character arc and her inevitable showdown with Roland. (For instance, please tell me there's going to be a Roman book. Ohplease.)(less)
I read the original so long ago that it's hard to make a comparison (shut up, I am not old) but this was such an enjoyable and engaging retelling. If...moreI read the original so long ago that it's hard to make a comparison (shut up, I am not old) but this was such an enjoyable and engaging retelling. If only every reboot was this full of heart and carried out so skillfully.(less)
This book totally lived up to the hype. An excellent read on multiple levels, which is not easy to pull off so kudos to Mr. Scalzi. Thoroughly fun and...moreThis book totally lived up to the hype. An excellent read on multiple levels, which is not easy to pull off so kudos to Mr. Scalzi. Thoroughly fun and entertaining, insightful, inspiring, well worth my limited reading time. I expect it'll deserve the Hugo it ultimately wins.(less)
Originally I wasn't going to buy the e-arc because I know from personal experience how many errors/changes can exist in an ARC. I'm still planning to...moreOriginally I wasn't going to buy the e-arc because I know from personal experience how many errors/changes can exist in an ARC. I'm still planning to buy the final book when it releases in Nov. because in some spots sentences were incomplete/words missing and I knew I was missing important stuff. That said, the story rocked and it was so fun to see things from Ivan's perspective and to follow him. Most of the gang from prior books makes an appearance, including By Vorrutyer on page one, so I knew from the get-go it was going to be one of THOSE kinds of adventures.
As always this installment in the Vorkosigan series delivers serious fun, i.e. a good time with some profound moments that hit home all the harder for coming in the guise of entertainment.
Wonderful book, wonderful addition to the series. That said, I didn't realize it was chronologically before the events in Cryoburn and I'm still holding out hope for a series finale that addresses issues that have to follow the ending of that one.(less)
This series keeps getting better, and considering what a bang it started off with, that's saying something. Chess has some significant growth in this...moreThis series keeps getting better, and considering what a bang it started off with, that's saying something. Chess has some significant growth in this book pointing towards some resolution of her long-standing issues, a very positive sign. Also interesting revelation about Terrible. Looking forward to the next book. I really love how magic doesn't solve anybody's problems, how love takes work, how realistically Kane portrays human nature.(less)
see my review of 17. I picked this one up because the ending of 17 didn't make clear who Stephanie's choice was and I was operating under the assumpti...moresee my review of 17. I picked this one up because the ending of 17 didn't make clear who Stephanie's choice was and I was operating under the assumption that she'd made one. By the end of this book Stephanie isn't feeling very good about herself and the way she's treating both of the men in her life, and I'm not either. Enough that I really don't want to read any more. That said, there are trademark Plum moments that made this a 3 instead of a 1.(less)
I will start my review with two caveats: I'm probably not going to finish this, and while it contains some good ideas, I stopped reading when it hit t...moreI will start my review with two caveats: I'm probably not going to finish this, and while it contains some good ideas, I stopped reading when it hit total WTFery.
The basic concept here is that children learn from experience, i.e. from making choices and seeing how those pan out for good or bad, and that this process is more effective as a teaching tool than punishment. Makes sense as far as it goes, although discipline is not the same as punishment and taking the responsibility for discipline off the parent and putting it onto the child is a bad, bad idea.
This book unlike Nurtureshock is anecdotal instead of based on research and since it isn't science-based it makes some serious omissions. There is no mention of neurotypical children at all, which given the rise in autism and the fact that children on the spectrum can go a long ways without being diagnosed, worries me a lot. I picture a neurotypical child being treated to "the Uh Oh Song" and think it's the parent who is in for the Uh Oh. But leaving that aside, since neurotypical children while on the rise are still not the majority, the biggest issue in this approach is not recognizing that biologically and neurologically children are not small adults. They have still-developing brains that are not capable of the train of logic expected of one anecdotal seven year old; a nine year old, probably, but all children develop at different rates.
Bottom line: there are good ideas here but do not throw science or common sense out the window pursuing them. And if you happen to see your child punching another child, I don't think the best response is to do nothing as another anecdotal mother/son moment is describes. In fact, no, no, hell no. Parents have responsibilities to teach their children what is and isn't acceptable, that other people matter and have rights, too, and that problem-solving isn't accomplished with punching. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't leave that up to the parent of the offended party to communicate to my kid.(less)
Dystopian SF can be hard to take, but Howey manages to infuse his with mystery, romance, and very human characters that make the trip worthwhile. The...moreDystopian SF can be hard to take, but Howey manages to infuse his with mystery, romance, and very human characters that make the trip worthwhile. The story kept me guessing up to the very end and left so many more unanswered questions that I'm very happy he kept writing past the end. Looking forward to more Wool installments. (less)
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