Shannon O'Connor's Blog, page 9

Your Not-So Valentine

Your Not-So Valentine by M. Leigh Morhaime

5/5 Stars

I absolutely loved this story. It was so realistic and kept you invested, I truly wanted to know Sloane’s story. She was way too relatable to my past which is maybe why I liked it so much. She’s been through somethings and she pushes people away, but then she meets someone who could change all that. Their love story is short but real, you want to root for them, you want to see them be happy. I had so many emotions on the ending that I am hoping this one day becomes a longer story. I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves love, hates love, or wants a laugh. This story will not disappoint. I personally loved Sloane because she is a fresh new character, she is unique, makes you laugh, and you want her to find happiness.

Nevermore

Nevermore by Wrenn Montgomery

5/5 Stars

I loved this book so much. This is only the second of Montgomery’s novels that I’ve read but it definitely won’t be my last. This novel was like no other, I honestly picked it up thinking it was a romance but it was so much more. It’s almost a mystery love story all rolled into one with a lot of suspense. I guessed throughout the book what would happen next and I was almost always wrong. You get invested with these characters, they are realistic which makes the story even better. There’s a love story and at times a tad unrealistic you want to root for them until the very end. I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel very soon.

Daydream

Daydream by Jillian Boor

4/5 Stars

I liked this collection a lot. This is Boor's first collection and I can only see her growing as a writer, even the poems I didn't like as much had potential to be great. Her collection was strong, I related to a lot of what she said and felt myself highlighting so many lines. This line especially hit me, "I want to be caught in thunderstorms that make my bones break. Maybe then, I’ll forget how much your fingers burned my skin.". This collection started off a little slow, but after about 25% I started to like it even more. Some of my favorite poems included 7:52pm, Daydream, Places you will always exist in, and Regrets. I hope to see more from Boor in the future.

All My Ghosts Have Heartbeats

All My Ghosts Have Heartbeats by Victoria Ellis

5/5 Stars

Late last night I got an email with this lovely collection attached. I started reading and from page 1 I was hooked. This collection was incredibly relatable for me, Ellis has a way with words and in this collection she made me feel that for once I wasn’t alone. Some of my favorites in this collection were ‘Kindred Spirits’, ‘Yes, I Still Write Poems About You’, ‘It’s True’, and ‘I Can’t Understand’. Ellis was refreshingly honest about mental illness, relationships and missing someone. Her poetry was raw in an unfiltered way that so few poets can accomplish successfully. I found myself having a variety of emotions throughout this collection; she had me laughing then crying. Several lines stood out to me; ‘His heartbeat haunts me more wildly than any obituary ever could’, ‘Yes, I still write poems about you, and I hope my memory haunts you even half as much as yours haunts me’ and ‘Life is just a series of small moments we don’t remember and big ones that scar us too deeply to forget’. Her poetry related to several of my real life experiences as well as the struggles I’ve faced with my own mental illnesses. It was beautiful the way this collection came together. This is hands down one of my favorite poetry collections of the year.

***I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review***

Things I Learned in the Night

Things I Learned in the Night by Emily Juniper

5/5 Stars

This collection of poetry was almost comically honest. Juniper doesn’t beat around the bush here, she is raw and candid in every poem. I especially loved ‘Werewolves in the City’ and ‘Pavlov’s Dog’. It is rare to find poetry these days that can make me smile and relate to positively. Juniper also had some powerful lines; ‘but thats the problem, see; I’m kneeling at your feet, offering you the skin off my back and still you need an old wives tale to prove that’s enough’. I would recommend this collection to anyone who wants unique and beautiful poetry.

Folsom

Folsom by Tarryn Fisher & Willow Aster

5/5 Stars

So this book actually made me throw my kindle across the bed in frustration. I picked it up for free in kindle unlimited because I love Tarryn Fisher’s work and thought this would be a quick read. Boy did I underestimate this novel. I had been angry throughout the novel, this is definitely not a light hearted read. It makes you think about the world we live in and how it could be a scary future, sort of an opposite gender Handmaid’s Tale. This book left me with so many questions, some I wanted to ask throughout the novel and some after I was left with that cliff hanger. This was a unique love story, it was kind of predictable from the start what would happen romantically but other than that the story was unpredictable. There were so many twists and turns you just couldn’t see coming. I loved the way the story went on, never dwelling too much on one thing, it was quickly paced. The downfall of this was that it left so many unanswered questions.

And then the ending?? I should mention, this series was never finished. So if you’re like me and planned on reading the series after this ending from hell, you’re going to be disappointed. It was 4am, I planned on going to bed, maybe starting the sequel Jackal but I was not happy to discover the second book leaves on a cliff hanger as well, only with the third book announced and never published. I’ve never been so angry with a book before, like I was actually enraged at times and had to put it down. Characters made my blood boil, but in my opinion, that’s what makes a great book. This one will definitely stay with me (even if I don’t want it too). So if you’re ready for a rollercoaster of emotions, pick up this book.

For a Rose That Blooms In Fire

For a Rose That Blooms In Fire

by Isabel Rocio

5/5 Stars

This collection was hard for me to get through, because it was so well written. This book encompasses the aftermath of an abusive relationship (something I am too familiar with). The author provided trigger warnings & I read in sections for my own mental health. The poetry is so beautifully written, I could feel every ache and pain she went through after this relationship. Feelings I didn’t know others had, making me feel validated in her words. She is incredibly brave for getting out of a terrible situation and using her healing in such a public way by writing and publishing this collection. She had so many poems I loved and lines that absolutely struck me. Some of my favorites included Certain Doubt, Taking Me, Unmasking and Talking to Myself. I highlighted so many lines like “but handing someone the tool to define me means also handing them the weapons to destroy me” and “because you were still with me in every person I tried to love”. For anyone who has been in an abusive relationship or even if you haven’t, you need this book. Rocio has an incredible voice and I hope her debut collection is the first of many.

***I received a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review***

January 2021 Wrap Up

4/5 Stars

I’m not even a fan of the bachelor but I liked this short story. It gives you a taste of Cates writing and what to expect from her novels. It is a combination of sexy and sweet.

This is a free read by signing up for Sara Cates Newsletter

3/5 Stars

Now I personally try not to read anything specifically about COVID because I like to escape reality when I read, but this author reached out and I accepted. This collection starts off with a powerful foreward, “As an aspiring author, there is nothing magnificent in this world than to be felt by people through veins of words hanging around this globe of misery and pain.”. They did preface the collection saying it was unedited for the effect but personally I do wish it had been edited a bit more as some poems could be confusing. My favorite poems were ‘sometimes i don’t try’ and ‘sequence’. Overall the collection was good but could have definitely used some trigger warnings in the beginning, as it has a very dark tone.

3/5 Stars

This is the second book of Cate’s that I’ve read and honestly, if I hadn’t read Gravity first, this might have been my last. The storyline is just okay. It has the hype to be a great age gap romance but it just falls flat. There is a lot of build up that ultimately leads to something, but it could’ve been better. The characters are supposed to have this incredible tension and although they say it, it’s not portrayed well. It seems quite forced. The writing is good, it just isn’t a story I cared about. I had a hard time finishing this book because I was bored waiting for something to happen.

5/5 Stars

***I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review ***

A pretty, quiet rebellion by Victoria Ellis & Cady Verdiramo: 5/5 Stars

I am surprised by how much I liked this story. It heavily reminds me of ‘The Handmaids Tale’. I didn’t know where this story would go but I was happily surprised by the ending. It is soft and powerful at the same time.

The House that Fed the Forest by J.R. Rogue: 5/5 Stars

This is a story unlike any other. It left me wanting more, something I hope Rogue would turn into a full length story at some point. Following the Dystopian theme you are left wondering what is happening in this world they live in. So many unanswered questions but a beautiful story of forbidden love.

5/5 Stars

***I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review***

This is my first book I’ve read by Lagasse but it won’t be my last. A lot of authors I love had recommended her work so I thought I’d give this book a try. I have to say I am so glad I did, this story was so cute. Even if you’re not a sports fan (which I’m not) this book is too sweet to pass up. It tells the heartwarming story of a second chance romance of high school best friends Isa and Jake. It is cliche and sweet and everything you want in a romance novel. I found myself smiling and laughing throughout the book, it was honestly too good to put down. If you’re looking for a modern day sports romance or a Valentine’s Day read, this is the perfect book for you. And even if you aren’t, give this book a shot.

2/5 Stars

Overall, I was disappointed in this book. I loved her first book; I Love My Love but this collection fell flat. There were a few poems that I enjoyed but they were often overshadowed by others. I felt like the poems in this collection dragged on, many poems were pages long but were repetitive in an annoying way, not one to make a point. Biddy seemed to repeat herself in many of her poems, even using the same wording throughout which I found annoying. It took me longer than expected to get through this just because it wasn’t keeping my attention.

5/5 Stars

OH MY GOD. What the hell did I just read? I’m seriously going to need a moment to collect my thoughts because wow. I honestly consumed this book because it was that good. I couldn’t put it down if I tried. A story that keeps you on your toes until the very end with a jaw dropping ending. This book has you questioning everything. I thought I was going crazy reading it. I tried the entire time reading it to figure it out and I wasn’t even close. This book keeps you guessing and you can’t put it down until you figure out the truth. Easily one of my favorites of 2021.

5/5 Stars

This collection of poetry was beautifully soft. Rogue is one of my favorite poets and this collection might be my new favorite. Lines like; “look for me in the pages of my favorite books” and “your mark is still here on my heart inked on my sleeve” are some of my favorites. She delivers a heartfelt collection that leaves you wanting to hold your loved ones close.

5/5 Stars

***I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review***

I was happily surprised by how much I enjoyed this collection of poetry. It was raw and thought provoking, making me stop and pause to consider the deeper meaning of many poems. Some of my favorites were ‘Boundary Breaker’, ‘Time Bomb’, ‘Singularity’, ‘Sweet’, and ‘Forget’. These poems were powerful and left me aching; “why did i exist to leave nothing but a bruise on society”. Several lines of poetry stood out to me personally but every page was filled with beautiful and unique poetry. This collection kept me captive until the very end, leaving me to devour it in one sitting.

3/5 Stars

I really struggled with finishing this book. I liked the concept, I liked the story but I was bored? I’m not sure if that’s the right word exactly but it had the concept to be better. I liked it but I just wasn’t pulled in the way I wanted to be. I wasn’t invested in their story and it fell a little flat for me. It was one of those books where I just wanted to yell at the main character for being stupid. So many things I wanted to ask her. I just wasn’t a fan.

4.5/5 Stars

This collection was really amazing. It reminded me of a darker version of Trista Mateer & Amanda Lovelace’s poetry. Which are honestly two of my favorite poets. I picked it up and couldn’t put it down until the very last poem. It was raw and at times had me too close to home, but was so great. She uses fantastic metaphors to tell a story in each poem. I hope to read more from Tone in the future.

5/5 Stars

This collection was hard for me to get through, because it was so well written. This book encompasses the aftermath of an abusive relationship (something I am too familiar with). The author provided trigger warnings & I read in sections for my own mental health. The poetry is so beautifully written, I could feel every ache and pain she went through after this relationship. Feelings I didn’t know others had, making me feel validated in her words. She is incredibly brave for getting out of a terrible situation and using her healing in such a public way by writing and publishing this collection. She had so many poems I loved and lines that absolutely struck me. Some of my favorites included Certain Doubt, Taking Me, Unmasking and Talking to Myself. I highlighted so many lines like “but handing someone the tool to define me means also handing them the weapons to destroy me” and “because you were still with me in every person I tried to love”. For anyone who has been in an abusive relationship or even if you haven’t, you need this book. Rocio has an incredible voice and I hope her debut collection is the first of many.

5/5 Stars

This collection of poetry was almost comically honest. Juniper doesn’t beat around the bush here, she is raw and candid in every poem. I especially loved ‘Werewolves in the City’ and ‘Pavlov’s Dog’. It is rare to find poetry these days that can make me smile and relate to positively. Juniper also had some powerful lines; ‘but thats the problem, see; I’m kneeling at your feet, offering you the skin off my back and still you need an old wives tale to prove that’s enough’. I would recommend this collection to anyone who wants unique and beautiful poetry.

5/5 Stars

So this book actually made me throw my kindle across the bed in frustration. I picked it up for free in kindle unlimited because I love Tarryn Fisher’s work and thought this would be a quick read. Boy did I underestimate this novel. I had been angry throughout the novel, this is definitely not a light hearted read. It makes you think about the world we live in and how it could be a scary future, sort of an opposite gender Handmaid’s Tale. This book left me with so many questions, some I wanted to ask throughout the novel and some after I was left with that cliff hanger. This was a unique love story, it was kind of predictable from the start what would happen romantically but other than that the story was unpredictable. There were so many twists and turns you just couldn’t see coming. I loved the way the story went on, never dwelling too much on one thing, it was quickly paced. The downfall of this was that it left so many unanswered questions.

4/5 Stars

I liked this collection a lot. This is Boor's first collection and I can only see her growing as a writer, even the poems I didn't like as much had potential to be great. Her collection was strong, I related to a lot of what she said and felt myself highlighting so many lines. This line especially hit me, "I want to be caught in thunderstorms that make my bones break. Maybe then, I’ll forget how much your fingers burned my skin.". This collection started off a little slow, but after about 25% I started to like it even more. Some of my favorite poems included 7:52pm, Daydream, Places you will always exist in, and Regrets. I hope to see more from Boor in the future.

secrets of the high priestess

secrets of the high priestess by Nicole Tone

4.5/5 Stars

This collection was really amazing. It reminded me of a darker version of Trista Mateer & Amanda Lovelace’s poetry. Which are honestly two of my favorite poets. I picked it up and couldn’t put it down until the very last poem. It was raw and at times had me too close to home, but was so great. She uses fantastic metaphors to tell a story in each poem. I hope to read more from Tone in the future.

Beautiful Sinner

Beautiful Sinner by Sara Cate

3/5 Stars

I really struggled with finishing this book. I liked the concept, I liked the story but I was bored? I’m not sure if that’s the right word exactly but it had the concept to be better. I liked it but I just wasn’t pulled in the way I wanted to be. I wasn’t invested in their story and it fell a little flat for me. It was one of those books where I just wanted to yell at the main character for being stupid. So many things I wanted to ask her. I just wasn’t a fan.