Isabelle Joshua's Blog, page 8
October 11, 2016
Review: After Dark (Night Owl Series Book 3)
After Dark by M. PierceMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was very much engrossed in the story and characters by the 3rd book. This book is finally the one where Matt and Hannah have to deal with many of their relationship issues. But they don't do it well. They both lie and hide from each other, and after a year together, their communication is weak. This book also highlights how unhealthy their relationship is. The psychiatrist eventually says that Hannah is good for Matt and all his issues (very Fifty Shades), but I find that false. I can't imagine a medical doctor not trying to work more on the negative co-dependent and enmeshed relationship they have. There is a point where he questions Matt's possessiveness, dominance, and preference for degradation of Hannah. The doctor's questions became a growth moment for Matt, and I liked his character more for it. It dealt with some very heavy issues including death and isolation (but the other did as well), and while it was written well, the resolution to these issues was not so clear.
Hannah resorted to childish behavior when she was angry (so does Matt) and doesn't talk about her feelings well, more often she does the same things back to him to show why she was mad, but then screws that up by also saying it turned her on. They are both f*cked up and immature.
Again, the similarities in plot to Fifty Shades is substantial, but M. Pierce is a better writer than E.L. James. Although Hannah was reduced to nonverbal shyness at the awesomeness and sexy body of Matt, it wasn't irritating like the many Anna (from Fifty) idiosyncrasies.
So if you like Erotic novels, then you might want to check this series out.
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Review: Last Light (Night Owl Series Book 2)
Last Light by M. PierceMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book exposed Matt as extremely manipulative and insecure. The storyline was interesting and although Night Owl ended weird only because of the epilogue which set this book up, this book was good. I read each book quickly and immediately after ending the last, so they run together as far as what happened in each.
I disliked Matt some in this book because of the deception, even more than in the first book. Hannah's character grew but only because she was forced out on her own. This relationship is about as healthy as eating donuts every day. Their relationship is extremely enmeshed and codependent, that I don't see it working as well in reality.
So while I had issues with it, I still was engaged and interested in continuing to read and finish it quickly. Again, this is an erotic novel and in the genre of Fifty Shades.
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October 8, 2016
Review: Beat
Beat by Vi KeelandMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I thought this was one of the best I've read of Vi Keeland, but I've only read four or five of her titles. I read it all through the night and it was very steamy! The story was engaging and I liked the characters a lot. She also built up the long foreplay between the two main characters that it was electrifying when they got together.
There were times that the sentence structure was clunky but overall it was an enjoyable book.
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October 1, 2016
"The Swallow" Reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views (09/16)
The Swallow
Isabelle Joshua
CreateSpace (2016)
ISBN 9781530520275
Reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views (09/16)
“The Swallow” is the first book in the Caged Beauty Series, and the debut novel by author Isabelle Joshua.
Special Agent Kathryn Bryant was tricked and coerced into working for the NSA by her ex-boyfriend, Evan, who is now her boss. Espionage isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and after one too many missions extracting sensitive data from disgusting lowlifes, Kathryn vows to make an escape, and begins careful deliberation of her secret exit to her new life. One more mission, that’s what she keeps telling herself, but her latest target, Alex, is unlike any she has ever known. After spending a week with Alex, Kathryn realizes that he is the perfect person to help her escape, but how can she convince him, and will she sacrifice the mission in the process?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Thoroughly. A bit of espionage, a bit of intrigue, a bit of romance – what’s not to like? The writing is straightforward, deliberate, and often brash, pulling the reader deeply into the story, either through a glimpse into Kathryn’s innermost thoughts or through the witty dialogue between the characters.
Ranking closely second to the writing style, are the delightful characters created by Ms. Joshua. Kathryn is a strong female lead, confident and sexy, down to earth and playful, but also mean, and sometimes nasty, especially in the second half of the book. Alex is every woman’s dream guy – thoughtful, caring, gorgeous, sensitive, strong, manly, and forgiving, almost to a fault - I could go on, but you get the idea. I felt like a fly on the wall watching their relationship develop, and the sex scenes – the perfect mix of romance and steam - sultry, inviting, and hot, without being sappy, insulting, or slutty. The supporting characters are genuine and create a nice balance, aiding the protagonists through a steadily moving plot.
I don’t usually do this, as I believe in the old adage of not judging a book by its cover and all, but I have to add that in addition to a fantastic story, the book cover is quite exquisite – simple, yet beautiful, clean and enticing.
“The Swallow” by Isabelle Joshua is a creative, intriguing story, and sets a solid foundation for a spectacular series, a bit different from anything currently on the market. That said, I was disappointed to learn that there is only one more book in the series, scheduled for production in 2017. Overall, I highly recommend this book and look forward to the upcoming conclusion, “The Bluebird.” One can always hope Joshua’s fans can change her mind by urging her to continue this incredible series!
To purchase "The Swallow" click here.
Isabelle Joshua
CreateSpace (2016)
ISBN 9781530520275
Reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views (09/16)
“The Swallow” is the first book in the Caged Beauty Series, and the debut novel by author Isabelle Joshua.
Special Agent Kathryn Bryant was tricked and coerced into working for the NSA by her ex-boyfriend, Evan, who is now her boss. Espionage isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and after one too many missions extracting sensitive data from disgusting lowlifes, Kathryn vows to make an escape, and begins careful deliberation of her secret exit to her new life. One more mission, that’s what she keeps telling herself, but her latest target, Alex, is unlike any she has ever known. After spending a week with Alex, Kathryn realizes that he is the perfect person to help her escape, but how can she convince him, and will she sacrifice the mission in the process?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Thoroughly. A bit of espionage, a bit of intrigue, a bit of romance – what’s not to like? The writing is straightforward, deliberate, and often brash, pulling the reader deeply into the story, either through a glimpse into Kathryn’s innermost thoughts or through the witty dialogue between the characters.
Ranking closely second to the writing style, are the delightful characters created by Ms. Joshua. Kathryn is a strong female lead, confident and sexy, down to earth and playful, but also mean, and sometimes nasty, especially in the second half of the book. Alex is every woman’s dream guy – thoughtful, caring, gorgeous, sensitive, strong, manly, and forgiving, almost to a fault - I could go on, but you get the idea. I felt like a fly on the wall watching their relationship develop, and the sex scenes – the perfect mix of romance and steam - sultry, inviting, and hot, without being sappy, insulting, or slutty. The supporting characters are genuine and create a nice balance, aiding the protagonists through a steadily moving plot.
I don’t usually do this, as I believe in the old adage of not judging a book by its cover and all, but I have to add that in addition to a fantastic story, the book cover is quite exquisite – simple, yet beautiful, clean and enticing.
“The Swallow” by Isabelle Joshua is a creative, intriguing story, and sets a solid foundation for a spectacular series, a bit different from anything currently on the market. That said, I was disappointed to learn that there is only one more book in the series, scheduled for production in 2017. Overall, I highly recommend this book and look forward to the upcoming conclusion, “The Bluebird.” One can always hope Joshua’s fans can change her mind by urging her to continue this incredible series!
To purchase "The Swallow" click here.
September 22, 2016
Review: The Light Between Oceans
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. StedmanMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I only give it 3 stars because while I liked the book, I didn't love it. But I would recommend others to read it for themselves. The story and the idea of it are very original (husband and wife isolated on a lighthouse island desperate for children, rescue a baby without known parents and take her for their own. The resulting deception and tragedy that the child's mother is alive and grief struck with the loss of her baby and husband cause the make-shift family to fall apart.)
The storytelling dragged at times and maybe because I listened to the audiobooks, but I wasn't clear who some characters were at times. I was getting them confused. It was very sad at the end, and it ended as well as a story about such a difficult situation could end. I'm not sure why the connection and love that was apparent between Tom and Isabelle wasn't as moving as I think it should be.
CORRECTION: I thought this book was written by a man and assumed that maybe that is why I didn't connect with the emotions and writing, but M.L. Stedman is a woman, so there goes that theory about the disconnect. But I still stand by my assessment that there is a disconnect of emotions that may be because it was written from 3rd person, so there was a detachment throughout the book that mirrors Tom's personality.
I would recommend other to read the book because I think it does show interesting dilemmas concerning bitterness, hatred, forgiveness, deceit, love and redemption. So many of the characters went through these and suffered loss. It also is a portrayal of a small community and how it affects everyone in it. The townspeople and their complicity in the crime but yet denial of it.
A good book, I can't say that I would read it again but it was very thought-provoking, and I want to see the movie. I have a feeling I will like the movie much more than the book.
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September 18, 2016
Review: The Ladies' Room
The Ladies' Room by Carolyn BrownMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
Read this book because it was chosen for my book club. Wasn't my choice and I wasn't a big fan. It was an okay read. But the writing style seemed unnaturally rushed and the inner dialog was flat as one other commenter said. The dialog seemed forced and unnatural at times as well. This is the opposite of other stories where the protagonist is left with nothing and has to make it on her own. Tudy is given everything and is forced to make it own her own. I didn't think there was much development of Billy's character and Drew continues to be an ass. It was a fast read and kept my interest enough for me to finish it but I felt like she just ended it too quickly as well.
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September 17, 2016
Character and Scene Descriptions
As a writer, I struggle over descriptions and describing the scene and what my characters look like. I spend countless hours researching outfits (if it is important to the scene) or homes and the layout. For every book I've written, I have a Pinterest page where I save images, and I save homes that I scour the internet for to use as the homes of my characters. I have to picture it all in my head and then translate it down onto the page. But I also know that my stories are anemic when it comes to descriptions compared to other authors. When I write a scene, I usually plow through with the dialog or what is happening and then go back on the second draft and add more description unless it was originally pivotal to the scene. But as I reader, my focus is entirely different.
I realized this during a discussion with the book club I'm a part of. We were discussing the differences between the character described in some of our favorite books and the actor's portrayal or appearance in the movie version. I typically separate the book from the movie version because the author usually has minimal control over what happens in the movie. But the women were going on and on about the differences between who played the characters and how different his look was to the one in the book. I was baffled, I said I rarely remember what the characters look like unless it is a very prominent characteristic or mentioned frequently. They suggested that it could be that I read the books so fast it is hard to remember the details. Maybe but I think the details aren't as important to me. I like the action as a reader, and I want the story to move. And so often the story drags when it suddenly starts describing a character's outfit in the middle of the action. Especially if it doesn't add anything, I don't effing care that he is wearing epaulets unless they have some special power that saves the world, because otherwise the character need to get on with it, her friends are waiting for her to save the world!
Maybe it is just me, but I don't care what the curtain or the end table looked like or if it was some antique 2nd century whatever, does it matter to the story? No, then tell me it's an antique end table and move on!
I realized this during a discussion with the book club I'm a part of. We were discussing the differences between the character described in some of our favorite books and the actor's portrayal or appearance in the movie version. I typically separate the book from the movie version because the author usually has minimal control over what happens in the movie. But the women were going on and on about the differences between who played the characters and how different his look was to the one in the book. I was baffled, I said I rarely remember what the characters look like unless it is a very prominent characteristic or mentioned frequently. They suggested that it could be that I read the books so fast it is hard to remember the details. Maybe but I think the details aren't as important to me. I like the action as a reader, and I want the story to move. And so often the story drags when it suddenly starts describing a character's outfit in the middle of the action. Especially if it doesn't add anything, I don't effing care that he is wearing epaulets unless they have some special power that saves the world, because otherwise the character need to get on with it, her friends are waiting for her to save the world!
Maybe it is just me, but I don't care what the curtain or the end table looked like or if it was some antique 2nd century whatever, does it matter to the story? No, then tell me it's an antique end table and move on!
Crazy Reviews
I write reviews for books, but I can never come up with more than just a few sentence even if I absolutely loved the book. I probably can come up with a more thorough review when I actually do not like the book.
Then I joined a book club (excited to talk to fellow book lovers), and I expressed my amazement at other reviewers dissertations on books. I hate when reviewers rewrite the blurb that the publisher or author wrote because that is easily found usually further up the page on Amazon. But then the reviewer spends the next eight lengthy paragraphs intimately dissecting the book. How??
I mean where does all that come from. I thought maybe I lack this skill because I speed read. I can usually read a 300-400 page in a day, so the elaborate descriptions that the author painstakingly created are breezed by to get to the meat. Anyway, I've gotten off topic.
What I am amazed at is the level of detail in the reviews.
I googled "how to write great book reviews" and here is a smattering of the advice and links.
Of course, WikiHow weighs in, and it feels more like an academic exercise.
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Book-R...
Step 1: "Read the book and take notes. If possible, read the book multiple times, as repeat reads tend to lead a reader (or reviewer) to view aspects of the story, the setting and the character(s) in a new or different way." OMG, hello, I am not taking notes while I am reading this book, talk about getting out of the story.
Step 2: Think about the book's genre and/or field of study.
Really, it's YA Fiction, or Romance, or Historical Romance, or Suspense, etc. Again, this doesn't really help me.
Step 3: Determine the major themes of the book.
This step might have some merit, but I don't read a book for the theme. The characters, yes, but usually not the themes.
Step 4: Consider the author's writing style. Yes, I probably do this some and more depending on the book. Like Shatter Me, I loved the author's writing style or the protagonist's voice which was lyrical, what many describe as purple prose, but I think it worked.
Step 5: Think about how well the author develops the major areas or points in the book.
Eh, maybe. I probably talk more about how the character develops within the book or progresses, but I don't think I cover this.
Anyway, I didn't read this whole WikiHow because I realize it has three parts with a total of about 15-20 steps. Shit. Sorry, I'm not spending any more time on that site, but I have the link if any of you are interested.
The next one is probably closer to what currently do but mine are freeform, and I hate as I mentioned earlier the Step 1 on the list below. Usually, because a better description of the book is on Amazon or other book sites and I don't want to waste my time with a book summary.
BookTrust - Writer: Luisa Plaja
1) Start with a couple of sentences describing what the book is about
2) Discuss what you particularly liked about the book
3) Mention anything you disliked about the book
4) Round up your reviewhttp://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/tee...
So if these other bloggers or reviewers follow a mix of this or some other guide for the book (some provided for book clubs), I wonder why.
Do you as a reader find long reviews helpful? What steps do you think are vital? I write the review within a day or so of finishing the book and most of the time within the hour when it is fresh in my mind. What am I missing? Or are you happy with the reviews? I can't say that I will change much but I might. I'm not too old to learn new tricks! Thanks!
Isabelle
Then I joined a book club (excited to talk to fellow book lovers), and I expressed my amazement at other reviewers dissertations on books. I hate when reviewers rewrite the blurb that the publisher or author wrote because that is easily found usually further up the page on Amazon. But then the reviewer spends the next eight lengthy paragraphs intimately dissecting the book. How??
I mean where does all that come from. I thought maybe I lack this skill because I speed read. I can usually read a 300-400 page in a day, so the elaborate descriptions that the author painstakingly created are breezed by to get to the meat. Anyway, I've gotten off topic.
What I am amazed at is the level of detail in the reviews.
I googled "how to write great book reviews" and here is a smattering of the advice and links.
Of course, WikiHow weighs in, and it feels more like an academic exercise.
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Book-R...
Step 1: "Read the book and take notes. If possible, read the book multiple times, as repeat reads tend to lead a reader (or reviewer) to view aspects of the story, the setting and the character(s) in a new or different way." OMG, hello, I am not taking notes while I am reading this book, talk about getting out of the story.
Step 2: Think about the book's genre and/or field of study.
Really, it's YA Fiction, or Romance, or Historical Romance, or Suspense, etc. Again, this doesn't really help me.
Step 3: Determine the major themes of the book.
This step might have some merit, but I don't read a book for the theme. The characters, yes, but usually not the themes.
Step 4: Consider the author's writing style. Yes, I probably do this some and more depending on the book. Like Shatter Me, I loved the author's writing style or the protagonist's voice which was lyrical, what many describe as purple prose, but I think it worked.
Step 5: Think about how well the author develops the major areas or points in the book.
Eh, maybe. I probably talk more about how the character develops within the book or progresses, but I don't think I cover this.
Anyway, I didn't read this whole WikiHow because I realize it has three parts with a total of about 15-20 steps. Shit. Sorry, I'm not spending any more time on that site, but I have the link if any of you are interested.
The next one is probably closer to what currently do but mine are freeform, and I hate as I mentioned earlier the Step 1 on the list below. Usually, because a better description of the book is on Amazon or other book sites and I don't want to waste my time with a book summary.
BookTrust - Writer: Luisa Plaja
1) Start with a couple of sentences describing what the book is about
2) Discuss what you particularly liked about the book
3) Mention anything you disliked about the book
4) Round up your reviewhttp://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/tee...
So if these other bloggers or reviewers follow a mix of this or some other guide for the book (some provided for book clubs), I wonder why.
Do you as a reader find long reviews helpful? What steps do you think are vital? I write the review within a day or so of finishing the book and most of the time within the hour when it is fresh in my mind. What am I missing? Or are you happy with the reviews? I can't say that I will change much but I might. I'm not too old to learn new tricks! Thanks!
Isabelle
Review: Winter
Winter by Marissa MeyerMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
There were times in this book that were sooo frustrating. In the middle of the action, unlike in other books, she would spend so much time on descriptions or explain the characters emotions. The scene with Winter and Scarlet going to get the wolf soldiers was infuriating, Winter's craziness was not enough of an excuse for her indecision. But Scarlet rocked! I really love Cress, but she was beyond frustrating as she was paralysed with fear and then when running into Ki the author spend a paragraph on the description of his clothes. I understand that it is a technique to slow down the scene but really it is an intense action scene doesn't need to be slowed down. The characters got even better and had more depth of character. And I didn't understand why Cinder didn't use her glamour which looks like Channery to convince them all that she is Princess Selene. Over and over it says how furious and angry she is, but yet it comes to nothing. It was so nervewracking, and I was on the edge of my seat, but then I would get so frustrated because of the delay in action. But I did really like this book, and the conclusion was satisfying. I don't have the same issues that other reviewers have about Cinder's choice about Lunar. It was a really good finale to the series, and I enjoyed it tremendously.
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September 14, 2016
Review: Cress
Cress by Marissa MeyerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This might be my favorite book of all of the Lunar chronicles. I love Cress and I love Thorne. I laughed so much at spots in this book and Thorne was one of the most relatable characters of the series.
The additional characters and the complex subplots made this book extremely interesting and enjoyable.
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