M.L. Sparrow's Blog, page 5
February 6, 2019
Master of Solitude
Master of Solitude, (Mountain Masters and Dark Haven Series', Book 8), by Cherise Sinclair
Blurb:Since childhood, Mallory McCabe has dreamed of falling in love with a hero. And then one saves her life. He’s honest…and blunt. Deadly, but filled with pain. Overpowering, yet ever so gentle with her. Oh yes, she’s found her hero. Taking him to her bed is simply…right. As is losing her heart. How could she have known he’d want nothing more to do with her? His indifference hurts. She vows to forget him…then he buys the land next to hers. Released early from prison, all Sawyer Ware wants is to put his life back together. His police detective brother houses him while he makes plans. But when a violent gang targets his brother, Sawyer puts his future on hold. He’ll have to take on the gang first. After a decade as a Navy SEAL, he won’t–can’t–walk away if someone he loves is threatened. His mission is likely to prove bloody. He sure can’t afford to get involved with a woman, especially his captivating neighbor. He hungers to be near her, to enjoy her clear laugh, her easy friendship, and the peace she brings wherever she goes. A relationship is absolutely out of the question. Why won’t his heart obey orders? My ReviewAnother Cherise Sinclair book that I enjoyed. :-) I put off reading this series for a while, even though I love her Shadowlands Series, simply because the first two books didn't hook me, however, after reading Not A Hero as soon as it came out, I wanted to continue binge reading some of her books and this and a couple of others were the only ones I hadn't yet read! It was good. Very enjoyable. With her trademark romance that I love and great sex scenes. I really do love how she writes BDSM, she makes it so easy to see why the characters feel the way they do and she is very careful to make it obvious where dominance stops and abuse begins and her heroes are always the type that would never overstep the mark. When I read her books I don't have to worry about her heroes ending up as possessive, controlling arseholes, who claim their behaviour is simply being 'protective' or because they are a dom. And I definitely don't have to worry about simpering women who let their guys walk all over them. This author knows that submissive, even outside the bedroom, does not mean doormat. Mallory is a good example of this; although not a fighter the way some of Sinclair's heroines are, she has a strong characters and a sense of pride and dignity, yet she's still vulnerable in ways that are just so relatable. Sawyer was also a great character, however, I just couldn't reconcile the Sawyer we have in this book, to the one we saw in the previous book while in prison and I also felt like his emotions about his past could have been explored more... Despite that though, a solid story, it had romance, sex and some action. A good edition to the series! It also made me very intrigued about Morgan and I really want him to have a book, although he hasn't really shown much interest in the BDSM scene throughout the series... 
Blurb:Since childhood, Mallory McCabe has dreamed of falling in love with a hero. And then one saves her life. He’s honest…and blunt. Deadly, but filled with pain. Overpowering, yet ever so gentle with her. Oh yes, she’s found her hero. Taking him to her bed is simply…right. As is losing her heart. How could she have known he’d want nothing more to do with her? His indifference hurts. She vows to forget him…then he buys the land next to hers. Released early from prison, all Sawyer Ware wants is to put his life back together. His police detective brother houses him while he makes plans. But when a violent gang targets his brother, Sawyer puts his future on hold. He’ll have to take on the gang first. After a decade as a Navy SEAL, he won’t–can’t–walk away if someone he loves is threatened. His mission is likely to prove bloody. He sure can’t afford to get involved with a woman, especially his captivating neighbor. He hungers to be near her, to enjoy her clear laugh, her easy friendship, and the peace she brings wherever she goes. A relationship is absolutely out of the question. Why won’t his heart obey orders? My ReviewAnother Cherise Sinclair book that I enjoyed. :-) I put off reading this series for a while, even though I love her Shadowlands Series, simply because the first two books didn't hook me, however, after reading Not A Hero as soon as it came out, I wanted to continue binge reading some of her books and this and a couple of others were the only ones I hadn't yet read! It was good. Very enjoyable. With her trademark romance that I love and great sex scenes. I really do love how she writes BDSM, she makes it so easy to see why the characters feel the way they do and she is very careful to make it obvious where dominance stops and abuse begins and her heroes are always the type that would never overstep the mark. When I read her books I don't have to worry about her heroes ending up as possessive, controlling arseholes, who claim their behaviour is simply being 'protective' or because they are a dom. And I definitely don't have to worry about simpering women who let their guys walk all over them. This author knows that submissive, even outside the bedroom, does not mean doormat. Mallory is a good example of this; although not a fighter the way some of Sinclair's heroines are, she has a strong characters and a sense of pride and dignity, yet she's still vulnerable in ways that are just so relatable. Sawyer was also a great character, however, I just couldn't reconcile the Sawyer we have in this book, to the one we saw in the previous book while in prison and I also felt like his emotions about his past could have been explored more... Despite that though, a solid story, it had romance, sex and some action. A good edition to the series! It also made me very intrigued about Morgan and I really want him to have a book, although he hasn't really shown much interest in the BDSM scene throughout the series...
Not A Hero
Not A Hero, (Sons of the Survivalist Series, Book 1), by Cherise Sinclair
Blurb:In the Alaska wilderness, four streetwise boys became men—and brothers Now the crazy ex-military survivalist who plucked Gabriel and three other boys from an abusive foster care home has died. But the sarge leaves them a final mission--to revive the dying town of Rescue. Gabe is done with being a hero. Wounded in body and soul, the retired SEAL simply wants to remain holed up in his isolated cabin. He sure doesn’t want to be chief of police in some defunct town. But he has his orders.Audrey needs a place to hide After the Chicago librarian discovers a horrendous crime, she wakes to an assassin in her bedroom. Injured and terrified, she flees, covering her trail every inch of the way. New name, new ID. New home. As Audrey learns to survive in Rescue, she begins to fall for the town…and the intimidating chief of police who protects it. Can the shy introvert and the deadly police chief find a life together? Despite the discord in town, Gabe is finding his own peace…with the quiet young woman who seems to have no past. She’s adorable and caring and so very lost. But how can he trust someone who lies to him with every breath she takes?My ReviewAfter reading Defiance, the short story that was meant to introduce this series, I thought I wasn't going to like it; I wasn't keen on the short story and although intrigued by the four brother, it didn't hook me. However, since I'm a Cherise Sinclair fan, I dutifully preordered Not A Hero and began reading the day it appeared and I ended up really enjoying it! It's not hardcore BDSM like her other books, in fact although the hero, Gabe, is definitely an alpha male, there is no BDSM play, which, I'll be honest, was a little disappointing, since Sinclair is the only BDSM author I truly enjoy - her books not only have hot, kinky scenes, but also well developed characters, great writing and (for the most part) interesting plots, not just sex like so many other BDSM books. However, I do like that she's decided to make this series more mainstream and I don't think it takes anything away from the story, it's just different for someone who's used to reading her other books. In no way does it effect the heart wrenching romance and connection between the hero and heroine, which is actually the reason I like her writing so much anyway! As usual, Sinclair didn't disappoint with her characters! I loved Gabe and Audrey was brilliant, too! The secondary characters, as usual, really added to the story and I'm now very defiantly hooked on this series and can't wait until the next book comes out. Apparently it's going to be Caz's story, which I kinda guessed when Z (yes, Master Z shows up in this book!) takes him aside for a chat. :-)
Blurb:In the Alaska wilderness, four streetwise boys became men—and brothers Now the crazy ex-military survivalist who plucked Gabriel and three other boys from an abusive foster care home has died. But the sarge leaves them a final mission--to revive the dying town of Rescue. Gabe is done with being a hero. Wounded in body and soul, the retired SEAL simply wants to remain holed up in his isolated cabin. He sure doesn’t want to be chief of police in some defunct town. But he has his orders.Audrey needs a place to hide After the Chicago librarian discovers a horrendous crime, she wakes to an assassin in her bedroom. Injured and terrified, she flees, covering her trail every inch of the way. New name, new ID. New home. As Audrey learns to survive in Rescue, she begins to fall for the town…and the intimidating chief of police who protects it. Can the shy introvert and the deadly police chief find a life together? Despite the discord in town, Gabe is finding his own peace…with the quiet young woman who seems to have no past. She’s adorable and caring and so very lost. But how can he trust someone who lies to him with every breath she takes?My ReviewAfter reading Defiance, the short story that was meant to introduce this series, I thought I wasn't going to like it; I wasn't keen on the short story and although intrigued by the four brother, it didn't hook me. However, since I'm a Cherise Sinclair fan, I dutifully preordered Not A Hero and began reading the day it appeared and I ended up really enjoying it! It's not hardcore BDSM like her other books, in fact although the hero, Gabe, is definitely an alpha male, there is no BDSM play, which, I'll be honest, was a little disappointing, since Sinclair is the only BDSM author I truly enjoy - her books not only have hot, kinky scenes, but also well developed characters, great writing and (for the most part) interesting plots, not just sex like so many other BDSM books. However, I do like that she's decided to make this series more mainstream and I don't think it takes anything away from the story, it's just different for someone who's used to reading her other books. In no way does it effect the heart wrenching romance and connection between the hero and heroine, which is actually the reason I like her writing so much anyway! As usual, Sinclair didn't disappoint with her characters! I loved Gabe and Audrey was brilliant, too! The secondary characters, as usual, really added to the story and I'm now very defiantly hooked on this series and can't wait until the next book comes out. Apparently it's going to be Caz's story, which I kinda guessed when Z (yes, Master Z shows up in this book!) takes him aside for a chat. :-)
January 18, 2019
Educated
Educated, by Tara Westover 
Blurb:Tara Westover grew up preparing for the End of Days, watching for the sun to darken, for the moon to drip as if with blood. She spent her summers bottling peaches and her winters rotating emergency supplies, hoping that when the World of Men failed, her family would continue on, unaffected. She hadn’t been registered for a birth certificate. She had no school records because she’d never set foot in a classroom, and no medical records because her father didn’t believe in doctors or hospitals. According to the state and federal government, she didn’t exist. As she grew older, her father became more radical, and her brother, more violent. At sixteen Tara decided to educate herself. Her struggle for knowledge would take her far from her Idaho mountains, over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge. Only then would she wonder if she’d travelled too far. If there was still a way home.My ReviewIt took me a while to read this book, mostly because I've been really busy, but also because it's a book you can't help but stop and think about. It actually isn't a book I would have picked up myself, I not usually too keen on memoirs, but someone gave me this book and insisted that I read it and I loved it. It was shocking and amazingly well written and it's just astonishing to think that the author isn't actually that much older than me (nine years I believe which is nothing if you think about it) and yet reading about how she grew up felt like reading something set in a completely separate time.I just found this book mesmerising, awe inspiring and truly heartbreaking at time and I have nothing but respect for Tara Westover, not only for how she grew up and what she overcame, but for having the courage to tell her story. Really, all I can say about this book is, go read it! 
Blurb:Tara Westover grew up preparing for the End of Days, watching for the sun to darken, for the moon to drip as if with blood. She spent her summers bottling peaches and her winters rotating emergency supplies, hoping that when the World of Men failed, her family would continue on, unaffected. She hadn’t been registered for a birth certificate. She had no school records because she’d never set foot in a classroom, and no medical records because her father didn’t believe in doctors or hospitals. According to the state and federal government, she didn’t exist. As she grew older, her father became more radical, and her brother, more violent. At sixteen Tara decided to educate herself. Her struggle for knowledge would take her far from her Idaho mountains, over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge. Only then would she wonder if she’d travelled too far. If there was still a way home.My ReviewIt took me a while to read this book, mostly because I've been really busy, but also because it's a book you can't help but stop and think about. It actually isn't a book I would have picked up myself, I not usually too keen on memoirs, but someone gave me this book and insisted that I read it and I loved it. It was shocking and amazingly well written and it's just astonishing to think that the author isn't actually that much older than me (nine years I believe which is nothing if you think about it) and yet reading about how she grew up felt like reading something set in a completely separate time.I just found this book mesmerising, awe inspiring and truly heartbreaking at time and I have nothing but respect for Tara Westover, not only for how she grew up and what she overcame, but for having the courage to tell her story. Really, all I can say about this book is, go read it!
December 27, 2018
Five Little Pigs
Five Little Pigs, (Hercule Poirot Series, Book 25), by Agatha Christie
Blurb: Beautiful Caroline Crale was convicted of poisoning her husband, yet there were five other suspects. 16 years have passed, and Hercule Poirot is persuaded to investigate the murder.My ReviewThis is the first book I've read by Agatha Christie and I'll definitely be reading more! This story is pretty short and simply written, but I liked that because it didn't take much brain power for me to follow along! I enjoyed how it was split into parts and I liked that Poirot doesn't give anything away until the last part where he explains what really happened, because I liked trying to figure it out for myself - I was wrong, by the way!Character wise, I liked that there was such a different array of characteristics and how everything fit in together and intertwined in the end. I have to say, I didn't find any of the characters especially likeable, but I guess that was because most of it's from Poirot's POV and even though he's focused on psychology, he's mainly focused on the people as the relate to the crime, not them as characters. l found Elsa the most interesting of all the characters and I also enjoyed Miss Williams no-nonsense, unexpectedly feminist character. All in all, I enjoyed the story and although I don't tend to read detective books (weird since I love detective TV show) I'll definitely be reading more of these. Quick point though, the title is only very loosely associated with the story, I kinda thought it would have more relevance... My favourite quotes from 'Five Little Pigs':'She was never defeated because she never gave battle.' 'He loved Caroline but he never once considered her in any way. He did as he pleased.' 'They have no doubts, the young, no fear, no pride.' 'Elsa Greer had no code to restrain her, she had the code of modernity. "Take what you want - we shall only live once!" ' ' "Never get married, old boy. Wait for hell till after this life." ' 'No one could have killed Amyas Crale but his wife. But he drove her to it. And so, in a way, it was suicide after all, I suppose.''Men have the best of this world. I hope that it will not always be so.' 'Like all men, he was a spoilt child; he expected everybody to make a fuss of him.' 'But can one expect pity from radiant youth? It is an older, wiser emotion.' 'The people who do us most harm are the people who shield us from reality.' 'I have never seen, myself, why the possession of artistic ability should be supposed to excuse a man from a decent exercise of self-control.' 'To know you have permanently injured another human being is the heaviest burden anyone could have to bear.'
Blurb: Beautiful Caroline Crale was convicted of poisoning her husband, yet there were five other suspects. 16 years have passed, and Hercule Poirot is persuaded to investigate the murder.My ReviewThis is the first book I've read by Agatha Christie and I'll definitely be reading more! This story is pretty short and simply written, but I liked that because it didn't take much brain power for me to follow along! I enjoyed how it was split into parts and I liked that Poirot doesn't give anything away until the last part where he explains what really happened, because I liked trying to figure it out for myself - I was wrong, by the way!Character wise, I liked that there was such a different array of characteristics and how everything fit in together and intertwined in the end. I have to say, I didn't find any of the characters especially likeable, but I guess that was because most of it's from Poirot's POV and even though he's focused on psychology, he's mainly focused on the people as the relate to the crime, not them as characters. l found Elsa the most interesting of all the characters and I also enjoyed Miss Williams no-nonsense, unexpectedly feminist character. All in all, I enjoyed the story and although I don't tend to read detective books (weird since I love detective TV show) I'll definitely be reading more of these. Quick point though, the title is only very loosely associated with the story, I kinda thought it would have more relevance... My favourite quotes from 'Five Little Pigs':'She was never defeated because she never gave battle.' 'He loved Caroline but he never once considered her in any way. He did as he pleased.' 'They have no doubts, the young, no fear, no pride.' 'Elsa Greer had no code to restrain her, she had the code of modernity. "Take what you want - we shall only live once!" ' ' "Never get married, old boy. Wait for hell till after this life." ' 'No one could have killed Amyas Crale but his wife. But he drove her to it. And so, in a way, it was suicide after all, I suppose.''Men have the best of this world. I hope that it will not always be so.' 'Like all men, he was a spoilt child; he expected everybody to make a fuss of him.' 'But can one expect pity from radiant youth? It is an older, wiser emotion.' 'The people who do us most harm are the people who shield us from reality.' 'I have never seen, myself, why the possession of artistic ability should be supposed to excuse a man from a decent exercise of self-control.' 'To know you have permanently injured another human being is the heaviest burden anyone could have to bear.'
December 25, 2018
If I Was Your Girl
If I Was Your Girl, by Meredith Russo 
Blurb:My name is Amanda. I’m 18. When you look at me, you might see that I’m pretty and popular; you might think my life is easy. But being me has never been easy. Because I haven’t always been Amanda. When I was born, I was named Andrew. Now, at my new school, I finally feel like myself. But do I owe my new friends the truth about my past?My ReviewSo, I want to start off by saying that I'm a cis woman, so I feel like I'm not entirely qualified to review this book and it's probably worthwhile to read some reviews by trans readers. I decided to pick this book up after a trans friend of mine asked me to recommend some books with trans main characters and I realised that I didn't actually know any. So I went online and found this book. However, although I found it interesting and I think it's a very important book, I honestly felt like it could have been so much more. It seemed to skim over a lot of details and then I read the authors note at the back of the book, about how a lot of creative license had been used, and I realised why I'd had an off feeling about it. Being a writer myself, I definitely support using creative license, but I felt like leaving so much out about such an important subject kind of did the readers, both trans and cis, a disservice... Personally, although I found the romantic part cute and fun and important, I also felt like Amanda kinda tied her value to a guy (which is portrayed in so many books and I hate), when she should have been growing as a person and figuring out how to be herself.However, no one can say that Amanda, although a little bland at time, wasn't a character you didn't feel sympathy for. The uncertainty and often shame, that Amanda felt was really heart breaking and made me consider aspects that I hadn't before.All in all, I feel like this is an important book, simply because at the moment there aren't many with trans main characters, however, I feel like when that becomes more common, which it hopefully will, this book won't be seen in quite the same light.
My favourite quotes from 'If I Was Your Girl':'Maybe he was right, but what I deserved and what I could expect from life were two different things.' '... it was hard to place too much hope in a God so many people said hated me.' 'Being a girl in this world means being afraid. That fear'll keep you safe. It'll keep you alive.' ' "I'm not brave," I said, smiling despite myself. "Bravery implies I had a choice. I'm just me, you know?" ' 'I let you run away and chose not to follow.'
Blurb:My name is Amanda. I’m 18. When you look at me, you might see that I’m pretty and popular; you might think my life is easy. But being me has never been easy. Because I haven’t always been Amanda. When I was born, I was named Andrew. Now, at my new school, I finally feel like myself. But do I owe my new friends the truth about my past?My ReviewSo, I want to start off by saying that I'm a cis woman, so I feel like I'm not entirely qualified to review this book and it's probably worthwhile to read some reviews by trans readers. I decided to pick this book up after a trans friend of mine asked me to recommend some books with trans main characters and I realised that I didn't actually know any. So I went online and found this book. However, although I found it interesting and I think it's a very important book, I honestly felt like it could have been so much more. It seemed to skim over a lot of details and then I read the authors note at the back of the book, about how a lot of creative license had been used, and I realised why I'd had an off feeling about it. Being a writer myself, I definitely support using creative license, but I felt like leaving so much out about such an important subject kind of did the readers, both trans and cis, a disservice... Personally, although I found the romantic part cute and fun and important, I also felt like Amanda kinda tied her value to a guy (which is portrayed in so many books and I hate), when she should have been growing as a person and figuring out how to be herself.However, no one can say that Amanda, although a little bland at time, wasn't a character you didn't feel sympathy for. The uncertainty and often shame, that Amanda felt was really heart breaking and made me consider aspects that I hadn't before.All in all, I feel like this is an important book, simply because at the moment there aren't many with trans main characters, however, I feel like when that becomes more common, which it hopefully will, this book won't be seen in quite the same light.My favourite quotes from 'If I Was Your Girl':'Maybe he was right, but what I deserved and what I could expect from life were two different things.' '... it was hard to place too much hope in a God so many people said hated me.' 'Being a girl in this world means being afraid. That fear'll keep you safe. It'll keep you alive.' ' "I'm not brave," I said, smiling despite myself. "Bravery implies I had a choice. I'm just me, you know?" ' 'I let you run away and chose not to follow.'
December 22, 2018
The Hobbit
The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien 
Blurb:Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an unexpected journey ‘there and back again’. They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon.My ReviewI'll start by saying that I haven't watched any of the Hobbit movies, or the Lord of the Rings, but I finally decided to read The Hobbit, since I heard it was a much easier way to be introduced to Tolkien's work than The Ring trilogy. And I loved it! I want to dive into his other work straight away!So much happens in this story, and yet it's actually a relatively short book, because Tolkien simply skips over the less important parts with a sentence or two, before moving onto the next exciting bit, which I enjoyed, even though I'm usually a lover of the little details.I also liked that Bilbo isn't your average hero, intact he's not much of a hero at all, although he grows into the role nearer the end. I also loved that he's an older character, which I've seen very little of in fantasy, though I'm sure there's lots out there.I'm not sure what else to say really, except that the writing was engaging and amusing at times and I loved the whole cast of supporting characters and how it all tied in at the end - although the dwarfs did blur into one, I'll be honest! Plus, apart from the fact that it was THEIR QUEST, the dwarf's didn't actually seem to do much on the mission, apart from start a war at the end; it was either Gandolf or Bilbo who always got them out of trouble... Also, I just have to say, am I the only one who finds it utterly hilarious that the ring, this amazingly powerful object, is used at the end so that Bilbo doesn't have to open the door to 'unpleasant callers'? I'll definitely be reading more of Tolkien's work now! :-) My favourite quotes from 'The Hobbit': ' "Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not,' 'He liked visitors, but he liked to know them before they arrived, and he preferred to ask them himself.' '... the less inquisitive you are as you go along, the less trouble you are likely to find.' 'Their clothes were mended as well as their bruises, their tempers and their hopes.' '... the silence seemed to dislike being broken... ' 'It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.' '... the sort of rage that is only seen when rich folk that have more than they can enjoy suddenly lose something that they have long had but have never before used or wanted.' 'If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.' '... our back is to legend and we are coming home.' ' "There is a long road yet," said Gandolf. "But it is the last road," said Bildo. '
Blurb:Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an unexpected journey ‘there and back again’. They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon.My ReviewI'll start by saying that I haven't watched any of the Hobbit movies, or the Lord of the Rings, but I finally decided to read The Hobbit, since I heard it was a much easier way to be introduced to Tolkien's work than The Ring trilogy. And I loved it! I want to dive into his other work straight away!So much happens in this story, and yet it's actually a relatively short book, because Tolkien simply skips over the less important parts with a sentence or two, before moving onto the next exciting bit, which I enjoyed, even though I'm usually a lover of the little details.I also liked that Bilbo isn't your average hero, intact he's not much of a hero at all, although he grows into the role nearer the end. I also loved that he's an older character, which I've seen very little of in fantasy, though I'm sure there's lots out there.I'm not sure what else to say really, except that the writing was engaging and amusing at times and I loved the whole cast of supporting characters and how it all tied in at the end - although the dwarfs did blur into one, I'll be honest! Plus, apart from the fact that it was THEIR QUEST, the dwarf's didn't actually seem to do much on the mission, apart from start a war at the end; it was either Gandolf or Bilbo who always got them out of trouble... Also, I just have to say, am I the only one who finds it utterly hilarious that the ring, this amazingly powerful object, is used at the end so that Bilbo doesn't have to open the door to 'unpleasant callers'? I'll definitely be reading more of Tolkien's work now! :-) My favourite quotes from 'The Hobbit': ' "Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not,' 'He liked visitors, but he liked to know them before they arrived, and he preferred to ask them himself.' '... the less inquisitive you are as you go along, the less trouble you are likely to find.' 'Their clothes were mended as well as their bruises, their tempers and their hopes.' '... the silence seemed to dislike being broken... ' 'It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.' '... the sort of rage that is only seen when rich folk that have more than they can enjoy suddenly lose something that they have long had but have never before used or wanted.' 'If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.' '... our back is to legend and we are coming home.' ' "There is a long road yet," said Gandolf. "But it is the last road," said Bildo. '
Your Name
Your Name, (Volume 1), by Makoto Shinkai(MANGA)
Blurb:A story of two people determined to hold on to one another. Mitsuha, a high school girl from a town deep in the mountains, dreams of an unfamiliar life in Tokyo. Taki, a high school boy from Tokyo, dreams that he is a girl living in the mountains. As the two begin swapping lives, a miraculous story is set in motion.My ReviewThis is the bilingual copy of this manga, so it has both Japanese and English in it. I originally brought it in the hopes that, by the time I got around to reading it, my Japanese would be better. As it turns out, I'm still a long, long, LONG way from being able to read Japanese, so I'll be honest and say I only read the translations and I can only pick out a few of the Japanese characters. :-( This was a very quick read, due to the fact that there’s very little writing! I enjoyed the drawing style, but the story itself I found a little confusing, it sort of hops from scene to scene assuming the reader already knows what’s going on. I’d be interested in looking at the purely English to compare and see if something was lost in translation because a I said the copy I read is the Japanese/English bilingual version, but all the translations in my copy were… strange. They weren’t wrong necessarily and did make sense, but they just didn't sound right. The dialogue felt mismatched and just strange, quite often it also felt irrelevant as if the author had simply put it down for the sake of having something else on the page.I may try the second volume, since I did start to get into it nearer the end and I’d like to see where the story goes next, but I’m not a huge fan yet… 
Blurb:A story of two people determined to hold on to one another. Mitsuha, a high school girl from a town deep in the mountains, dreams of an unfamiliar life in Tokyo. Taki, a high school boy from Tokyo, dreams that he is a girl living in the mountains. As the two begin swapping lives, a miraculous story is set in motion.My ReviewThis is the bilingual copy of this manga, so it has both Japanese and English in it. I originally brought it in the hopes that, by the time I got around to reading it, my Japanese would be better. As it turns out, I'm still a long, long, LONG way from being able to read Japanese, so I'll be honest and say I only read the translations and I can only pick out a few of the Japanese characters. :-( This was a very quick read, due to the fact that there’s very little writing! I enjoyed the drawing style, but the story itself I found a little confusing, it sort of hops from scene to scene assuming the reader already knows what’s going on. I’d be interested in looking at the purely English to compare and see if something was lost in translation because a I said the copy I read is the Japanese/English bilingual version, but all the translations in my copy were… strange. They weren’t wrong necessarily and did make sense, but they just didn't sound right. The dialogue felt mismatched and just strange, quite often it also felt irrelevant as if the author had simply put it down for the sake of having something else on the page.I may try the second volume, since I did start to get into it nearer the end and I’d like to see where the story goes next, but I’m not a huge fan yet…
December 17, 2018
Mine Till Midnight
Mine Till Midnight, (The Hathaways Series, Book 1), by Lisa Kleypas 
Blurb:When an unexpected inheritance elevates her family to the ranks of the aristocracy, Amelia Hathaway discovers that tending to her younger sisters and wayward brother was easy compared to navigating the intricacies of the ton. Even more challenging: the attraction she feels for the tall, dark, and dangerously handsome Cam Rohan. Wealthy beyond most men’s dreams, Cam has tired of society’s petty restrictions and longs to return to his “uncivilized” Gypsy roots. When the delectable Amelia appeals to him for help, he intends to offer only friendship—but intentions are no match for the desire that blindsides them both. But can a man who spurns tradition be tempted into that most time-honored arrangement: marriage? Life in London society is about to get a whole lot hotter... My ReviewI love the Hathaways! So, the first time I read this series, I read it out of order. The second time I did exactly the same thing! Thankfully, it didn't dim my enjoyment of the series either time.As usual, the author created an amazing hero who I totally fell in love with, as well as a strong heroine that it was easy for me to feel connected with. I enjoyed reading about how Cam and Amelia, two totally different personalities, come together and fall in love despite their differences. It was also really touching when Amelia finally broke down and realised she could trust him to help carry some of her burdens. The Hathaways are a great family to read about and Lisa Kleypas weaves them together perfectly, creating all the nuances that are typically present in family life; although Amelia is much like a mother to her younger siblings, especially Poppy and Bea, it still shines through that they're sister and they bicker exactly like all siblings, despite the fact that they always look out for each other. This book is a great intro to the series, but I've always felt like the tone of this book and the characterisation, is different to the later books... In a way, I think it's more series, despite the fact that it's very much a romance, because it explores head on things like addiction and grief, whereas in the other books, those things are pretty much in the past. Also, this book has a vague supernatural theme, which I wasn't sure I totally liked; it felt too convenient and I don't like that this one had ghosts, but all the other books are firmly grounded in reality... Despite a few little things, I think it's fair to say that, Mine Till Midnight is a really good book and a great start to one of my favourite series and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a steamy historical romance.My favourite quotes from 'Mine Till Midnight': ' "The problem with bachelorhood is that it's far too easy, which makes it tedious. The only real challenge left is marriage." ' 'The pain that kills pain acts as medicine.' ' "You're not even someone I could have dreamed. You're like someone from a fairy story written in a language I don't even know." ' ' "If your situation were reversed, would you choose this for her?" Cam gestured to the gun in his hand. "I wouldn't ask that sacrifice of someone I love." '
Blurb:When an unexpected inheritance elevates her family to the ranks of the aristocracy, Amelia Hathaway discovers that tending to her younger sisters and wayward brother was easy compared to navigating the intricacies of the ton. Even more challenging: the attraction she feels for the tall, dark, and dangerously handsome Cam Rohan. Wealthy beyond most men’s dreams, Cam has tired of society’s petty restrictions and longs to return to his “uncivilized” Gypsy roots. When the delectable Amelia appeals to him for help, he intends to offer only friendship—but intentions are no match for the desire that blindsides them both. But can a man who spurns tradition be tempted into that most time-honored arrangement: marriage? Life in London society is about to get a whole lot hotter... My ReviewI love the Hathaways! So, the first time I read this series, I read it out of order. The second time I did exactly the same thing! Thankfully, it didn't dim my enjoyment of the series either time.As usual, the author created an amazing hero who I totally fell in love with, as well as a strong heroine that it was easy for me to feel connected with. I enjoyed reading about how Cam and Amelia, two totally different personalities, come together and fall in love despite their differences. It was also really touching when Amelia finally broke down and realised she could trust him to help carry some of her burdens. The Hathaways are a great family to read about and Lisa Kleypas weaves them together perfectly, creating all the nuances that are typically present in family life; although Amelia is much like a mother to her younger siblings, especially Poppy and Bea, it still shines through that they're sister and they bicker exactly like all siblings, despite the fact that they always look out for each other. This book is a great intro to the series, but I've always felt like the tone of this book and the characterisation, is different to the later books... In a way, I think it's more series, despite the fact that it's very much a romance, because it explores head on things like addiction and grief, whereas in the other books, those things are pretty much in the past. Also, this book has a vague supernatural theme, which I wasn't sure I totally liked; it felt too convenient and I don't like that this one had ghosts, but all the other books are firmly grounded in reality... Despite a few little things, I think it's fair to say that, Mine Till Midnight is a really good book and a great start to one of my favourite series and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a steamy historical romance.My favourite quotes from 'Mine Till Midnight': ' "The problem with bachelorhood is that it's far too easy, which makes it tedious. The only real challenge left is marriage." ' 'The pain that kills pain acts as medicine.' ' "You're not even someone I could have dreamed. You're like someone from a fairy story written in a language I don't even know." ' ' "If your situation were reversed, would you choose this for her?" Cam gestured to the gun in his hand. "I wouldn't ask that sacrifice of someone I love." '
December 15, 2018
Never Let Me Go
Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro 
Blurb:As children Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy were students at Hailsham, an exclusive boarding school secluded in the English countryside. It was a place of mercurial cliques and mysterious rules where teachers were constantly reminding their charges of how special they were. Now, years later, Kathy is a young woman. Ruth and Tommy have reentered her life. And for the first time she is beginning to look back at their shared past and understand just what it is that makes them special–and how that gift will shape the rest of their time together. My ReviewI always hate saying that I didn't enjoy a book that's been critically acclaimed and won prizes, it makes me feel as if I missed something, but there it is. That feeling is even worse when a friend recommended the book to you... And it's not even as if I hated this book, however, I feel very blasé about it. I thought the writing was 'meh' and I felt that even though we spend all that time looking at things through Kathy's perspective, we never really get to know her. She's quite a bland character, which in itself isn't a criticism, however, EVERYONE felt bland, as did the plot. This story is basically one long string of anecdotes and to begin with I enjoyed this writing style, but then, about half-way through, I realised 'actually this is the story, this is all it is', when I had been expecting some big twist, something more. I get that this book explores the depth of human emotions and the acceptance of things, simply because that's how they're done, but I was left feeling very flat and spent most of the book waiting for it to pick up and feeling bored... I feel like the faint sci-fi echoes could pretty much have been discarded, even though they were a central part of the story, the story wasn't about that at all, which again, in itself isn't a bad thing, however, I felt like so much more could have been done. And then there was the ending, which in a way I actually liked. The acceptance of fate and the fact that neither of them even thought of trying to fight it, or run away, was almost poetic in a way, because it reflected human nature so well. There are so many stories about the rebels who set out to change the world, which is great, I love those stories, but not everyone is a rebel; we can see it clearly in the world we're living in right now, so many people are willing to just accept what is happening to them, even if it's bad, and this story reflects that.Honestly, I think the thing I didn't like about this book was that I didn't feel for the characters. I don't think the easy plot and the skirting over the sci-fi element would have mattered to me at all, if I'd simply been able to feel what the characters were feeling...All in all, this is another one of Kazuo Ishiguro's books that I didn't particularly enjoy - I read The Buried Giant earlier in the year - and I honestly don't think I'll be exploring more of his work. :-(
Blurb:As children Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy were students at Hailsham, an exclusive boarding school secluded in the English countryside. It was a place of mercurial cliques and mysterious rules where teachers were constantly reminding their charges of how special they were. Now, years later, Kathy is a young woman. Ruth and Tommy have reentered her life. And for the first time she is beginning to look back at their shared past and understand just what it is that makes them special–and how that gift will shape the rest of their time together. My ReviewI always hate saying that I didn't enjoy a book that's been critically acclaimed and won prizes, it makes me feel as if I missed something, but there it is. That feeling is even worse when a friend recommended the book to you... And it's not even as if I hated this book, however, I feel very blasé about it. I thought the writing was 'meh' and I felt that even though we spend all that time looking at things through Kathy's perspective, we never really get to know her. She's quite a bland character, which in itself isn't a criticism, however, EVERYONE felt bland, as did the plot. This story is basically one long string of anecdotes and to begin with I enjoyed this writing style, but then, about half-way through, I realised 'actually this is the story, this is all it is', when I had been expecting some big twist, something more. I get that this book explores the depth of human emotions and the acceptance of things, simply because that's how they're done, but I was left feeling very flat and spent most of the book waiting for it to pick up and feeling bored... I feel like the faint sci-fi echoes could pretty much have been discarded, even though they were a central part of the story, the story wasn't about that at all, which again, in itself isn't a bad thing, however, I felt like so much more could have been done. And then there was the ending, which in a way I actually liked. The acceptance of fate and the fact that neither of them even thought of trying to fight it, or run away, was almost poetic in a way, because it reflected human nature so well. There are so many stories about the rebels who set out to change the world, which is great, I love those stories, but not everyone is a rebel; we can see it clearly in the world we're living in right now, so many people are willing to just accept what is happening to them, even if it's bad, and this story reflects that.Honestly, I think the thing I didn't like about this book was that I didn't feel for the characters. I don't think the easy plot and the skirting over the sci-fi element would have mattered to me at all, if I'd simply been able to feel what the characters were feeling...All in all, this is another one of Kazuo Ishiguro's books that I didn't particularly enjoy - I read The Buried Giant earlier in the year - and I honestly don't think I'll be exploring more of his work. :-(
December 9, 2018
Defiance
Defiance, (Masters of the Shadowlands, Book 13.5), by Cherise Sinclair
Blurb:Z’s day begins with sadness A phone call from a dying friend leaves psychologist Zachary Grayson determined to fulfill the old survivalist’s request--a send-off that will comfort his grieving sons. And then turns deadly The death threat is only the beginning…because the letter isn’t a hoax. Z walks out of his office into a barrage of bullets. He can take being shot at, but when the second shot splinters the empty child-seat in his car, he’s shaken to the core. The horror of what would have happened if his little girl had been there spurs him to action. Master Z is a Dom, a husband, a father—every instinct drives him to protect those under his care. When the police can’t catch his stalker, he must take matters into his own hands. He must keep danger far from those he loves. Secrecy and distance is the key. The funeral in Alaska is the perfect location, especially since Z won’t be alone. The survivalist’s sons have grown into men with lethal skills. With their help, he can trap the shooter and keep his family safe. As long as his impetuous and all-too-observant wife, Jessica, doesn’t discover he’s using himself as bait. My ReviewI hate to write this review, because Cherise Sinclair is one of my three favourite authors. I was really excited when I opened this months newsletter and found out this book was out, since there had been no previous clues about us getting another Shadowlands book yet, so I immediately snapped it up and read it in a few hours, since it is only short. However, I personally felt like this book was missing something. The writing style wasn't the same, the heat was seriously damped down and the plot honestly lacked something. Also, I'm probably the only Shadowlands fan that actually didn't enjoy Z and Jessica's first book (although I loved seeing them in the other stories where they were supporting characters.) Although it was nice getting a glimpse into the characters married life and how their relationship had adapted, I honestly felt like there was little point to this book. It said in the newsletter, that the author was actually asked the write this story as a way to introduce the characters of her new series, Sons of the Survivalist, and really you could tell that her heart wasn't in it and this wasn't something she had been inspired and excited to write.I am intrigued by the new series though - although I'm desperately hoping this isn't the end of the Shadowlands series, since I can still think of characters that need stories! - and I've already pre-ordered book one, Not A Hero. Like I've already said, I love this author and I'd definitely recommend reading her work if you enjoy a bit of BDSM heat in your romance, however, I wouldn't bother with this one especially, as I personally didn't feel it added anything to the series...
Blurb:Z’s day begins with sadness A phone call from a dying friend leaves psychologist Zachary Grayson determined to fulfill the old survivalist’s request--a send-off that will comfort his grieving sons. And then turns deadly The death threat is only the beginning…because the letter isn’t a hoax. Z walks out of his office into a barrage of bullets. He can take being shot at, but when the second shot splinters the empty child-seat in his car, he’s shaken to the core. The horror of what would have happened if his little girl had been there spurs him to action. Master Z is a Dom, a husband, a father—every instinct drives him to protect those under his care. When the police can’t catch his stalker, he must take matters into his own hands. He must keep danger far from those he loves. Secrecy and distance is the key. The funeral in Alaska is the perfect location, especially since Z won’t be alone. The survivalist’s sons have grown into men with lethal skills. With their help, he can trap the shooter and keep his family safe. As long as his impetuous and all-too-observant wife, Jessica, doesn’t discover he’s using himself as bait. My ReviewI hate to write this review, because Cherise Sinclair is one of my three favourite authors. I was really excited when I opened this months newsletter and found out this book was out, since there had been no previous clues about us getting another Shadowlands book yet, so I immediately snapped it up and read it in a few hours, since it is only short. However, I personally felt like this book was missing something. The writing style wasn't the same, the heat was seriously damped down and the plot honestly lacked something. Also, I'm probably the only Shadowlands fan that actually didn't enjoy Z and Jessica's first book (although I loved seeing them in the other stories where they were supporting characters.) Although it was nice getting a glimpse into the characters married life and how their relationship had adapted, I honestly felt like there was little point to this book. It said in the newsletter, that the author was actually asked the write this story as a way to introduce the characters of her new series, Sons of the Survivalist, and really you could tell that her heart wasn't in it and this wasn't something she had been inspired and excited to write.I am intrigued by the new series though - although I'm desperately hoping this isn't the end of the Shadowlands series, since I can still think of characters that need stories! - and I've already pre-ordered book one, Not A Hero. Like I've already said, I love this author and I'd definitely recommend reading her work if you enjoy a bit of BDSM heat in your romance, however, I wouldn't bother with this one especially, as I personally didn't feel it added anything to the series...
