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Children's chapter book about a child adjusting to a host of new circumstances: moving from the suburbs to the city, starting at a new school, downsizing from a house into a small apartment, the absence of her father, and her stay-at-home mother taking a job. Protagonist is only six years old, a bit young for a chapter book. Also too bratty for my personal taste. This is the first book in the Lily chapter book series.

I think the time that it took me to read this book is a testament of how much I liked it. To be honest, I enjoy these books much more than I should be allowed. Elle Kennedy, the author, made me laugh through the entire length of the book. There some honest comedy and some of the corniest lines I've read in a while. I think I enjoyed this book mostly because it's in a college setting. I felt much more connected to it than I did with Fifty simply because I could envision myself going through the same thing even though I've never watched a hockey game in my life. Anyway, the characters are great and the story is relatable to some extent. Read it as a past-time. I'm looking forward to reading the next part.

At the end of the book, Brandon Mull mentions that he has been overworked and was on a deadline for this book (as well as his other series). It is clear that being overworked lead to him producing what is probably the weakest book he has ever written. This entire book was dry, dull, and boring. One of the things I liked about the Five Kingdom series is the characters tended to grow and develop over the books. This had none of it. Readers were instead treated to lengthy sections where only Cole is traveling around the Echolands. This would be great, but Cole doesn't grow or change as a person. He just moves from point to point. There are literally dozens of other characters that we have hardly seen or interacted with. We're coming up on the fifth book soon and we have had a handful of interactions with the princesses and Hunter (Cole's brother). A frustrating aspect of this book is literally the writing/plot flow. This entire book can be summed up as - Talk to person who points them to point A Travel to point A to find out they missed X individual but they speak to person who tells them to go to point B Go to Point B just missed the person, find someone who tells them to go to point C Go to point C just missed the person, find someone who tells them to go to point D You get the point. It was literally just walking around going from point to point with no point (sorry for the pun) to it. The pointless plot was made even more frustrating by the pages and pages and pages of question and answers. 75% of Cole's conversations involved him asking questions. A typical convo was something kind of like this - Cole: Can you help me: Person: No I cannot help you. But Sam can. Cole: Who is Sam? Person: Sam is a shaper who lives in the echolands. Cole: What are the Echolands? Person: Explains Echolands Cole: Why do the Echolannds exist? Person: Explains Cole: How do I get to the Echolands? One or two convos like this would have been fine, but it was the entire book. Oh and there is a whole cross reference to Mull's other series, which might be nice for those who liked that series, but it really just feels forced. I wish Mull had talked to his publishers and respectfully asked for deadline extensions if he felt overworked/tired. This is not up to par with the rest of the series.

Klassikko vanhojen tyttokirjojen joukossa. En ole aiemmin naita kirjoja lukenut, mutta nyt vanhat tyttokirjat ovat jostain syysta kiinnostaa. Tama oli aika hauska kirja siina mielessa, etta vaikka se on kirjoitettu lahes 100 vuotta sitten, se on edelleen joiltain osin ajankohtainen, eika lainkaan vanhentunut. Tietysti lukiessa heraa sellaisia kysymyksia kuin etta miten rikkaita tyttojen perheiden taytyykaan olla ja miten he saavat kaikkea, mika suurelle osalle sen ajan ihmisista oli saavuttamatonta unelmaa. Kaikesta huolimatta hauska kirja.

Surprisingly good I am not really a fan of zombies, but I really enjoyed this book and I'm excited to read Hollowmen!

One of the better wordless stories I've read!

This is more like a 4.5, very close to a 5 star book. It had a few predictable parts, but it was super good and I enjoyed it.

A well-written story of a young blind woman in the late 1800s, of her struggles to live after her fiancee's rejection after her accident. Noelle Kramer is a young woman under great duress but living with courage. Then her first love comes back to town, and the tension begins as they still love one another but do not admit it. There is still anger about how their relationship broke up. Gradually clarity comes, and they begin to move on. This is a lovely romance, told with warmth so that readers identify with the protagonists. My only complaint was that the author drags the final days of this tension out almost to the extent of torture of her readers. Perhaps romance readers enjoy this kind of torture, but I felt the book should have ended about two-thirds the length it is.

Samantha Jayne, you are a constant delight.

rwyh mrbkh lqry'h shkr bthynh :)))

Can't put it down, re-read it three times

see full review @ Katie's Corner As promised this Monday, I'm covering the sequel of Wedding. The story takes place 5 years after the original story and features Mimi as a single mother. The motherhood didn't really change Mimi as the is still as manly as before and is in charge of education her son, who is a total cutie. I should not forget to mention that her late husband's family has tried to kidnap her kid many times and the last kidnapper happens to be no one else but her late husband who lost his memory and became a bandit. So how will everything play out? Will Mimi get her son and husband back? That's for you to find out. But trust me, this sequel is, even more, fun and offers a lot deeper relationship between our characters. And of course, the cutie playing a matchmaker is just adorable! Enjoy it to its fullest and don't forget to share your thoughts below! Stay tuned for more reviews as well as promos! Don't miss your next favourite book or manga! Happy reading! XOXO Katie

I can see why this is a classic.

DNF. Bleah.

One of those culture-clash-relationship stories, in this case a woman who marries a powerful man (high ranking Palestinian diplomat, photos of him at Arafat's side, etc. So the author is swept off her feet, and lives the fast life in a whirlwind of high-level politics, etc. so, fast forward to the inevitable divorce, the kids are living with the father on the West Bank, and (big surprise) he won't return them to her. So she stays in the Middle East for years to be around her kids, and writes the stories of women married to Arab leaders (interesting reading) -- she eventually gets the kids when they are evacuated during a Palestinian uprising. I'm not sure I agree with the review that this book shows the behind-the-scenes efforts of the women married to these leaders to work for peace, but I did enjoy looking at their lives. I sometimes think things we read move us to say "aha" and see how the story reinforces our beliefs...I worry that I am way too set in my ways and ideas and not nearly open-minded enough especially about politics...but a big thing of mine, reinforced for me by this book, is Actions Have Consequences. Good reading about politics, families, relationships.

I wasn't supposed to read these books. I think I must have brought one home and Mom pronounced it a bad influence. So I read who knows how many at the library and hid them in my bag. With the wisdom of adulthood behind me, I now know Mom was right. These books are horrible. It's true, they do contain adventure plots. However, they encourage all that is shallow, short-sighted and unrealistic about teenage life. Not recommended.

Hyva ja mukaansatempaava dekkari, jossa loppuratkaisu ei paljastu liian aikaisin, eika poliisi ole yli-ihminen. Aluksi tuntui myos virkistavalta se, etta paahenkilo oli raitis. Se, etta Harry paljastui lopulta alkoholistiksi, oli kuitenkin turhan tavanomainen ratkaisu. Ryyppaamaan ratkenneita poliiseja kun mahtuu rikoskirjallisuuteen 13 tusinaan... Tasta huolimatta tartun kylla varmasti jatkossakin Nesbon kirjoihin.

this book was just rushed, meh....unlikely at best. At least it was a quick read.

I think I expected too much of this book; I wanted a fast paced fantasy book with interesting and loveable characters to cry over. But the novel was a bit slow, it didn't hold my attention and I was annoyed by most of the characters. The cover is beautiful and there are some quite cool concepts and ideas - like the sin eating - but in the end I just didn't really care about much that was happening. Twylla is a bit of an ineffectual character. She doesn't really do much. She had a bit of angst but then there was a super-massive plot twist half way through which then kind of negated the angst in her character. Everyone else was doing things and she was sort of observing them, and I guess she cracked the evil plan at the end, but she didn't really do anything else. She was boring, if I'm honest. Merek is selfish, or at least he treats Twylla as if he is so. He uses her as a pawn as much as his mother does; he is always asking something or her or making her do something to help him. He doesn't let her mourn his sister, because he's too busy mourning his step-father. He does not realise that even though he may have wanted her for 11 years, he has never done anything to show her this; they've barely had a conversation before the book begins. He may want what is best for the country, but he wants to use Twylla to get it; he never does anything for her. Lief is a fairly cliched character; the plot twist wasn't much of a twist, and has been used in other novels (though I can't actually think of any right now). He could've been complex and interesting, but there was just nothing to his character. We only see him from Twylla's point of view, and we don't see that much of his character. Like, he's always there but we don't see much of his character. We just sort of know she loves him - instalove, I might add. I really didn't understand the epilogue?? I think it's probably my fault, not the book's - I had started to read faster towards the end because I was getting bored. This book is full of plot twists and unexpected turns, but at the same time it's quite slow paced and not much actually happened. I wanted to love the characters and the world but I actually found it disappointing. I didn't like most of the characters, and I felt like the world was sometimes confusing - certain things weren't explained well.

Private detective Kipsey finds himself dragged into a case he wants no part of. He must fight to know who to trust as he struggles to get to the bottom of a murder and finds his world threatened. This is an action packed, steam punk style story, which I happily pick up every now and then. Kip makes for an interesting hero for the story: moral, someone who sticks to his principles. His path to solve the mystery set before him was interesting and easy to follow. My problem comes in the details of the story. This is definitely not a story for younger readers. While I was reading, I even thought I was a little young for the language used. Four letter words are sprinkled throughout the narrative, not frequently but enough to put me off. There is also attempted rape on the part of a secondary character, and a whole lot of blood. For readers who don't mind language and more adult themes, this is an alternate-history tale that might appeal to them.

Need some time to ruminate over this one. Don't know how I feel about it yet. Update: Ok. So here's the deal. I don't like the way E. Lockhart has written this book. The sentence breaks seem to be there just for the heck of it... I didn't see the relation with the story in any way. Also, the purple prose really got to me. The story had so much potential, but it meandered too much. And by the time it reached the big reveal, the story is over. Pfft. I'm disappointed.

I loved this book from the start as we get right into the action where we meet Cas who's picking up a hitch hiking ghost, hmm not so bad you might say but when he's trying to drive you off the road. Cas on the move again after a ghost who he couldn't resist Anna Korlov aka Anna Dressed In Blood, and she's just as evil as she sounds, who kills everyone who enters her house, well almost everyone except Cas. But it's not as easy as he thought to get rid of her. I love Anna, and as the story goes on we start to realise why she does the things she does. I've already bought the second book which I can't wait to read!!!

I won this book from Flatiron books- which was an extra bonus- as it's well worth buying. "The Fact of a Body "blends the genres of true crime and biography perfectly. The Author has a fresh voice, and weaves seamlessly between her own perfect looking on the outside past and the crimes of someone who tried in vain to be stopped from what he knew he was going to do. It's not obvious that these two narratives would weave together so well, but they do, and add up to one very special book, told by a special new voice.

I had high hopes for this Anything Could Happen. I love reading LGBTQ+ fiction, and was immediately drawn in when I saw there was a gay MC. Pair that with his being in love with his straight best friend, and I was hopeful for a lot of the themes that could be explored. I ended up feeling disappointed and found the story a little jumbled. Firstly, there was a lot going on in this story and I found the plot lacking in focus. There are so many elements thrown into this story that aren't developed enough for my liking, possibly because of how short the book was. Tretch's love of dancing is pointed to on numerous occasions, but it's something we only really get to see as readers during one scene. Family dynamics are explored, but the story really only scratched the surface on those issues and I found myself having a hard time caring. Which brings me to my second point, in that I could not attach to the characters. Tretch felt like a blank slate. I couldn't get a sense of his personality, or the personalities of those around him including friends and family. Everyone felt very flat. Because we didn't see any depth, a lot of the problems they are facing throughout the book didn't pull at my heartstrings, because I didn't have any connection to the characters or their back stories. Lastly, I felt that most of the issues were resolved too quickly and easily. For example, Tretch 'comes out' a few times in the story (I won't say to who or the circumstances surrounding it) and all of the reactions were the exact same. I enjoyed that the characters didn't make a big deal out of his orientation, but at the same time, I expected some differences in the reactions. Instead, his coming out was very much glossed over and everyone moved on in less than a paragraph. While I know that does happen in real life, I also felt it was unrealistic for a story in which it was never hinted that the people around him knew about his orientation before he told them. Also, there are some friendships made far too quickly in this book. Tretch goes from feeling ambivalent or even negatively about various side characters to suddenly being friends over the course of a scene. I just found a lot of the situations in this story to be too easily resolved. Additionally, and this may not be a problem for every reader, but this story also included one of my pet peeves in contemporary fiction: too many references to modern pop culture. Artists like Taylor Swift and Ellie Goulding are referenced numerous times (the title of the book actually comes from an Ellie Goulding song). While I'm okay with that a little bit, as that is the nature of contemporary fiction, that device has to be used sparingly and I felt it was overdone in this book. Overall, this was a quick and easy read. The characters, while simple and bland, were overall good people and some of my favorite themes like family dynamics and self-discovery were explored. Ultimately though, I felt this book did fail in it's execution and I was expecting more from it. I picked up an ARC of this book at BEA 2015. All opinions are my own. This review was originally posted on Thoughts on Tomes

This book is just okay. It's about a little girl who has to declare herself friendly at the beginning. The font is horrible, btw. This girl has to deal with her best friend playing with a boy instead of her at recess. She becomes "flabbersmashed" at her best friend. Blah.

Nora Hesper is an ambitious reporter with a secret: during the day she reports on crime, but at night she fights it. Nora is Indigo, a dark protector with mysterious powers that she is still learning to control. Pitting her skills against a deadly cult, Nora finds that her fight with the Children of Phonos might be more personal than she first realized. -When I first heard about this book, I was naturally impressed with the list of authors involved in this project. I have no idea how Charlaine Harris, Christopher Golden, Kelley Armstrong, Seanan McGuire, and the six others all got hooked together on this project, but this is a Justice League level author team-up here! -Once I started the book, I was hooked. I'm a sucker for a good superhero origin story, especially when there's more than a touch of darkness in play, and this gifted vigilante who literally cloaks herself in shadow more than fits the bill. I have to admit that after the promising beginning, I was kind of let down by the rest of the story. I felt that the plot got really bogged down: to me it just seemed like a constant rotation of yelling, fighting, falling into shadows, fighting, internal conflicts, and fighting. In the end, this was an entertaining urban fantasy which was not as good as I had hoped, given the stellar writing team. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

See full review for Destined for an Early Grave at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... Cat finally got her happy ending. She quit her special FBI team to live her life with her husband Bones. They've been traveling the world, enjoying their honeymoon. But she forgets that whenever she's happy something is just around the corner to screw it up. And this thing comes in the form of dreams. She's been having nightmares lately where she's running from Death and almost into the arms of a vampire who isn't Bones. She thinks they're just dreams, but Bones and Menchares know better. The dreams she's having are being sent to her by a vampire named Gregor, a Dreamsnatcher - if Cat touches him in her dreams she will be snatched away in the real world to wherever he is. So why has he taken an interest in her? Well, apparently when she was sixteen Gregor came for her, having visions of the awesomeness that she would be capable of, and whisked her away to France for two months. The problem is, Cat doesn't remember this time with him, and that's because Menchares wiped her memories of that time, which he shouldn't have done. Gregor is making a claim on her now, saying that he is her true husband and not Bones. To say that it causes problems between Bones and Cat is a massive understatement.

4.5 So many elements all rolled up into one great story stars! Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Author and Inkslinger PR First off, Rachel Van Dyken, I adore you and applaud you. Everyone time I'm blown away with your ability to capture my interest and let me get lost into whatever world you are writing. With you it doesn't matter if its humor, mafia, paranormal, or plain ol' contemporary. Each and every time I get lost. I will admit normally mafia story lines wouldn't catch my fancy but each and every time I read one of your mafia stories, I'm enthralled and enveloped into that world. RIP is technically considered a standalone, but it is a spin off and part of the same world as the Eagle Elite Series. If you haven't read Elude (Eagle Elite #6) yet from that series, like I hadn't then be warned, that you may find out things you weren't ready to see yet. :( This book is based in the dark and the whole time you are trying to figure out all the elements that are being unveiled. Thankfully for each other dark worlds, they have a bit of light. Which is each other, but both don't know that yet. Maya Petrov is the daughter from a ruthless man, who also part of the Russian mob. She wants nothing to do with that life. She just wants to be a scientist and move forward with her life. Needing to finish her schooling, she makes a meeting with her idol and research subject Nikolai Blazik. Her first meeting is a dream that quickly turns into a nightmare, and she finds herself locked within a situation, she doesn't know how to get out of, nor want out of for some strange reason. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. Good Looking? Check. Brilliant? Check. Rich? Check. Possible sociopath? Double check. Great. I was dining with Ted Bundy. Nikolai, has many demons, more then most. But under his darkness, he does have a heart. A heart that didn't beat until he met Maya. With only wanting to save her and them, he makes a deal with the devil. Now he has to figure out a way, to keep her safe from the devil and himself. So many elements have to be brought to the surface before choices can be made. "Do you really know so little about the man who stares at you as if you hung the moon and stars while simultaneously dancing naked in the rain?" So much fear, that once the truth comes out that there will be more darkness. "I'll gift you with both. The pain must happen. Otherwise, we will both be killed. But I can give you pleasure so that when you dream . . .it's not of darkness. . . " He reached for my hand and sucked each finger before kissing my open palm. "But of light." . . . wanting so badly to tell her the truth but drowning in the fear of what that would mean for both of us. But hope, love and light can be seen through darkness, if its given a chance. "Try not to die, Nik. Love has a way of making things seem less dark. . . I would hate for you to stop breathing before you get the chance to experience sunlight for the first time." Even though this is based in the world of the Russian mafia, and it would have been fine without the boys from our favorite Elite Italian mafia. It did however, make it so much better that we got to see much more from our favorite boys from the other side of the country. "Phoenix may have let it slip where he was going . . . and we like killing as a family . . . it's more meaningful that way," The truth always comes out! But sometimes you just have to let it come out and see how the chips fall after. Take a leap of faith, you never know where you will land. "One of the greatest lies you will ever believe is that you can sin in silence and get away with it. Because most of the time silence is the loudest, it demands to be known, to be heard." Did I like this book? Yes, very much. Is it my normal genre? No , but you can't but get lost in this darker world. Did Nikolai win me over? Yes. Was Maya strong? Thankfully yes, even when she kept getting hit with shit storm after shit storm. If there is more from this series will I read more? You couldn't stop me. Loved it!

Ok, my John Green books in order of most loved are: The Fault in Our Stars, An Abundance of Katherines, and a distant third, Looking for Alaska. (I haven't read Paper Towns yet). I love Mr. Green's development of his characters; they are charming, fallible, sweet, and good-hearted.

Picked up a copy from a thrift store - must say it's the best $3.50 I've spent in a while! It's 1940 and the Beresfords, Tommy and Tuppence, are middle-aged and longing for something to do. Their grown-up children are part of the war effort but they themselves have been left out in the cold. But before they know it, they're recruited to the seaside town of Leahampton. Their mission: to sniff out who among the hotel guests are subversive agents. It's nice to meet a book set during WWII that isn't all blood and guts and concentration camps. It's still a mystery at heart, and the characters are all the people that you'd expect from an Agatha Christie outing. This continued to be great fun even after I spotted the solution, which is a testament to the lively writing and the warmth and good humour imbued in these characters.

This book answered a few questions about the technical details of battles in between Stalingrad and the Nazi's full retreat. I didn't learn anything new about the nature of war or the psychology of the leaders. Battles are confusing and this book's maps and illustrations did not help the confusion much. I found myself reading the troop dispositions and movements over and over again and comparing them to maps on the internet to help get perspective. Until I read it several times, it seemed like the Germans won again and again but lost anyway because the Russians had more guys. This was kind of true, but the reality was that the Russians got better at fighting and had a few leaders that hadn't been executed by Stalin and once the Germans realized the Russians weren't going to give up, they fell back. The details of "this ridge" or "that town" really don't matter. The Germans advanced, could not protect their flanks, and then withdrew. Even with the fine-grained details of the battles, Operation Citadel does not fill up a book. This book is filled with supporting material such as the personalities of the leaders involved, the technical details of the equipment, the history of the battles before and after Kursk, partisans and the effect of events elsewhere such as the invasion of Sicily. For example, there was a good read about how the Russians took apart all their tank and ammunition factories and put them on trains and moved it all east of the Ural mountains and reassembled them.

3.75 stars..not my favorite in the series, not bad though.

The Duchess Deal opens up with a great meet-cute. The Duke of Ashbury was wounded and severely scarred in a battle. He now lives in seclusion - hiding his damaged face from society. His fiancee was unable to stomach his altered appearance. Ash has just realized that he will need a wife to sire an heir to his title and considerable fortune. Then Emma shows up at his door wearing a wedding dress that she had created for the wedding that will no longer take place. The ex-fiancee refuses to pay for the work and Emma is in dire financial straits. She demands payment from the Duke but he makes a tempting counter-offer. So, the "marriage of convenience" is agreed to. It turns out that Emma is anything but a malleable miss. She falls in love with her husband and does everything she can think of to bring him out of his shell. Emma is aided in her efforts by the Duke's staff who love him and wish him to return to the man he used to be. The two main characters are vividly drawn by Ms. Dare. The humor is laugh out loud funny. And the sex is sizzling. This is the first book I have read by this author but it will certainly not be the last. She is a talented romance writer.

See full review for Lola and the Boy Next Door at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... Lola has always had a colorful personality. It has to deal with what she wears. She wears crazy outfits and always pairs them with a wig. No one really knows the real Lola. She has two dads who love her desperately. She has a best friend who takes her eccentric nature in stride because she's heavily into detective novels. And she also has a boyfriend, who is in a band and also happens to be 22. Her dads don't like him, they think he's too old for her, but know better than to forbid her from seeing him so they have a strict policy. Mandatory check ins when they are on dates and a mandatory weekly brunch where the dads grill him endlessly. It is at one of these brunches when the worst thing happens. A new family moves in next door, but they're not really new. They've been there before and Lola knows them well. There is Calliope Bell - the famous figure skater - who she used to be friends with in elementary school before Cal became to cool to hang out with her anymore. And then there's the other twin - Cricket - who did something so unspeakable to Lola that even her dads know that a nervous breakdown is about to happen. Except it really doesn't. Lola has convinced herself that she has moved on from all of that. From being rejected from her first love. That is until she sees him and realizes that she hasn't moved on, at all. Anyway, I didn't think I was going to like this book at first. Lola was a tad over dramatic for my tastes and her boyfriend Max wasn't all that great to be honest with you. Plus there was this whole Cricket thing that she was being super vague about so I assumed the worst right off the bat. However, when Anna and St. Clair make their appearance and the truth about what happened between Lola and Cricket years ago surfaces I have to admit, I was hooked again.

m hw lHb ss ?

I hated this book when I first picked it up. I put it down, and for months I grimaced every time I saw its shiny, brittle cover. A uncomfortable, stubby book, difficult to hold open; a display of intellectual masturbation, in multiple languages. I thought: 'Eco knows too much, is too clever, to be a truly good author'. I thought him a wannabe Calvino or Borjes I was wrong. Many worthwhile books take some effort to get into, but The Name of the Rose really tests its reader; you must pay an admission fee. But once you're inside it is truly an immersive experience...layers and layers and layers of meaning... meaning cascading in all directions. And, Eco furnishes the language of his medieval chronicle splendidly. The long theological dialogues, christian paraphernalia, and historical consistency in language and thought - was the result of two years of (pre-internet) research. Instead of complaining to myself I should have been thanking Eco for helping me navigate the complexity the little ways he could. First, the title of the chapters tell the reader what is going to happen in the chapter. You are constantly being told what is going to happen. The atmosphere is thick with premonition. Events can't unfold fast enough, as if being squeezed out of a narrow aperture. Second, there are several diagrams included that help orient events in space. Almost nothing is invented here, and yet you get the impression of reading a story that takes place in a fantastical and mystical land where nothing is as we know it. Brilliant. There is a beastly, despicable character named Salvatore who uses a mishmash of European languages. Much of his speech consists of phrases he has heard before; he rarely speaks an original sentence. Even so, is it possible for Salvatore to say something original? When spoken in its new context each repeated phrase, aptly used by Salvatore, carries with it a sought of collateral meaning. It is arguably a more artful way to speak, but the first impression of Salvatore is the stereotypical raving-though-prescient lunatic. An Eco story writes a thousand books.

I was somewhat disappointed with book 10 of inspector Pitt and his wife Charlotte mysteries. I got annoyed with the main protagonists, but not the murders and the following investigation. The idea I especially find ridiculous was Pitt's declining his promotion to the chief inspector and much higher income. Both Pitt's whining about the loss of the job he loved for the sake of his family and Charlotte's sweet insisting on his declining of better prospects and income for the sake of his happiness were grating on my nerves. Why did Anne Perry introduce the idea in the plot which was so implausible? A man in the victorian times wouldn't have rejected the promotion which would mean improving the standard of living of his family, especially when his job involved daily risks of his losing his life in the line of duty and leaving his wife a penniless widow. Moreover, he and his wife would both have thought about the future of their children and the prospect of having more children in the future (there weren't any contraceptives available then). They wouldn't have lived complacently, enjoying their life without any worry about the future. However, apart from this issue the book is a good victorian mystery, providing quite a lot of interesting details about that era, this time focusing on women's suffrage, but also describing how much women's lives were governed by men and women's lack of many fundamental rights.

I feel like I may have missed something. Why is this such a beloved book? Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more as a child.

So I finally finished it. I can't say how many times I thought about telling my co-workers that it's not humanly possible to actually finish this book and just quit. But I did finish it and came out alive. Barely. I have nothing bad to say about the mythology in this book, it had potential but the actual story line and the characters.. Let's start with Edens character, I'm all in for those ladies who can be independent and still want children but Eden wasn't actually independent at all. Her character was flawed in so many levels I've lost count. At one point she was saying how she don't need no man and the next she was helpless without Ashur. Everything about her inner monologue was just so cringey. Ashurs character was no better. If this is the kind of men women romanticize about, I'm ashamed. Ok, I can understand the appeal for "bad boys" but Ashurs character was far from it. This possessive/over-protective shit is not romantic! For the love of god, why would you romanticize someone who treats you like they own you but the second they discover that they are actually destined to be with you they leave you, how lovely! I could go on about the flaws in this book but I don't know even where to start. From the fact that these two people thought they were in love after few days even though anyone could understand that Eden just thought she was in love cause she finally got proof for the supernatural and Ashur was in love just cause Eden was something he could not have(thought he could not have*), to the fact that all of the plot lines were super easy to figure out with out much thought even though the characters obviously were too busy being so "in love" to actually figure shit out. I don't know why this review sounds like I had much faith in the book, I did not, but still I'm bothered that some people read this and then go out to the real world and try to find themselves a Ashuriel the Black(ugh). All in all, I'm glad that the pain I went through reading this book is shared with my co-workers and that when they finish it I'll just laugh at their expressions. I feel free now. At least it is over.

This book is one of the only books that I've ever read that made me fall in love with all the boys equally. I can not pick a favorite. They are all my book boyfriends and I really don't care if that makes me a book-slut. I loved Blue too and her crazy clothes and her paper trees. I loved her mom and her moms besties. I loved it all.

This is the third book in a series about Detective Hazel Micallef, and I did feel a little bit like I wanted to read the first two. There is definitely some back story there. A local handyman, friends with most of the small town, is found dead. Questions about his murder lead to a horrifying crime. The story is fast paced and several of the characters' are compelling.

Frank is always late for everything. He always has a story to explain why he's late. Usually, it involves him helping in outrageous situations like bunnies being bullied by ogres or being roped into a dance off for those with two left feet. I didn't really like it very much.

See full review The Beauty of Darkness at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... Another book in this series where I am undecided. I liked how this book tied everything together. I liked how Lia redeemed herself not only to her own people, but with the Venda as well. I even liked how the love triangle was resolved. But, there were a few times during The Beauty of Darkness that I felt that Lia, Rafe, Kaden and the others were just...there. Sometimes their chapters felt more like placeholders then plot forwarding.

I love this author. Very sad the books are so short.

Andrew Topel brings me back to when I used to play with Legos, making not what the instructions told me I should do, but whatever it was that I felt like. Playful shapes and structures that I formed out of the feel of the blocks, almost going where they wanted to. And that's what it seems Topel loves to do as well. Letting the shapes, curves and angles of our alphabet guide him in creating wild and ever-interesting formations. Magical patterns, kaleidoscopic canvases, snowflake stunners, and one page is even an entire interactive maze made out of the T, I, and 1, begging you to find your way through. LETTERS PATTERNS STRUCTURES is must for typography fans. Definitely check it out.

Selected #9 of the top 100 mysteries of all time by the American Mystery Writers of America (www.mysterywriters.org and see also World Magazine January 12/19, 2008, pg. 27). Intriguing. Reads like a ball of yarn unrolling. After I was done there were large sections I wanted to read again to understand with hindsight. However, I found the ending somewhat unsatisfying and cautionable.

Interesting telling of the story of tortoises on the Galapagos Islands. The story starts with the first tortoises finding their way to the islands and finishes with the very last of one of the tortoise species that developed over hundreds of years on the islands.

More inspired, poetic rants from Hakim Bey. Worth the wait,

I enjoyed this collection of 14 new cases investigated by Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson. That is, the cases are new--written by Lyn McConchie--but the clients are old. The stories start out with background and then move on to the new cases, which vary and are interesting. And most importantly, they have the flavor of Holmes mysteries, including background. It's not easy writing sequels, and I think she did a great job. (I'm always happy when that happens 'cause it's not often that it does...) Stories include: A Question of Presence, A Perfect Jewel, A Lie Once Told, On the Cliffs, and The Button-Box.

Hilarious. Sometimes you just feel like you need a funny, light read and this was just what I was after.

Without the Before Watchmen label, I honestly believe that Minutemen could have done better in terms of sales and the number of nerdy discourses it could have sparked. Darwyn Cooke has crafted a beautiful yet downright dark and heavy story about this group of masked vigilantes. In many ways, Minutemen mimics what the Alan Moore has done excellently in Watchmen: that is the character interactions that ultimately led to the implosion of the gang itself. It is a multilayered clash of persona that kept the Minutemen interesting to read. I also believe that Darwyn Cooke (may he rest in peace because I still cannot move on to the reality that the devil 2016 took a great person's life) deserves recognition from this work. The way he reveals (or hides) things to his readers, on how he messed with our minds, is simply no less than brilliant storytelling. In the end, as what the Comedian has also explained in a meta-ish way, there are many versions of the truth. So even though the series did not give its readers the "real" truth, we just have to settle for the one that gives us comfort. You should really, really have to read Before Watchmen's Minutemen. The other BW series are entirely optional, but certainly not this.

I marathoned all three books in three days, if that tells you anything. And I pulled an all-nighter to finish this one -- so it's time for me to go to bed. PS: I LOVED IT! MY LUNAR CHRONICLES DISCUSSION VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZizJB...

From the Book THE NIGHT BEFORE I LEFT Scared, my suitcase locked on the bed, I walked downstairs to tell him. Down all three levels I moved through all the things he'd earned to find him in the den alone, the lights off, drinking a diet cola and bourbon, watching the late movie. My lips trembling, I sat down near him and started to speak, when he leaned up and touched my arm, saying, This is the good part coming up, where these natives in New Guinea think... the first time they saw an airplane, they thought it was God. They think an airplane is God. I still see him, bending to the screen, hair white, his glasses silver globes crossed by black clouds, watching natives once again dig a tiny runway of dirt, build a tower of sticks, then sit down on their heels in the dust to watch the sky and wait the way their fathers did and their fathers before them. PIT PONY There are only a few left, he says, kept by old Welsh miners, souvenirs, like gallstones or gold teeth, torn from this "pit," so cold and wet my breath comes out a soul up into my helmet's lantern beam, anthracite walls running, gleaming, and the floors iron-rutted with tram tracks, the almost pure rust that grows and waves like orange moss in the gutters of water that used to rise and drown. He makes us turn all lights off, almost a mile down. While children scream, I try to see anything, my hand touching my nose, my wife beside me--darkness palpable, like a velvet sack over our heads, even the glow of watches left behind. This is where they were born, into this nothing, felt first with their cold noses for the shaggy side and warm bag of black milk, pulled their trams for twenty years through pitch, past birds that didn't sing, through doors opened by five-year-olds who sat in the cheap, complete blackness listening for steps, a knock. And they died down here, generation after generation. The last one, when it dies in the hills, not quite blind, the mines closed forever, will it die strangely? Will it wonder dimly why it was exiled from the rest of its race, from the dark flanks of the soft mother, what these timbers are that hold up nothing but blue? If this is the beginning of death, this wind, these stars?

3.5 I don't give many authors a second chance but with this one I'm happy I did. As you all might know, book 1, Storm, wasn't a hit for me (I rated it 2.5 stars) - yeah I know I'm picky with books, especially biker books. But anyhow, I gave Fierce a chance and I've to say I enjoyed it way more than Nina's debut. The plot development was stronger and characters were more likable; also the reading flow was more cohesive than in book one. Sure not everything was perfect, but overall I enjoyed reading it and the story itself more. Nina's writing was stronger and she's proof that sometimes a 'negative' review helps a writer to improve. I'm happy she did and I'm pretty sure that her following books will be even better!! Scott is definitely hot and I liked his alpha attitude....and how such a sweet buttercup as Harlow could turn his world upside down. It was cute reading their back and forth, how they tried to deny the obvious lol But also Harlow did a 180... her checklist, ha forget it. How did she say:"Scott Cole was the kind of man that women like me threw their checklist out of the window for ... [he] was bound to be heartbreak on legs." Yeah, Nina created a great setting with her hot Storm bikers and I'm hooked. I def can't wait to read book #3, Nash's story (he's frigging hot!!). You might wonder why I continue reading the serial. I know for many 3-3.5 stars is not a lot but in my case a 3.5 for a romance/biker book it's a lot. I'm picky and not fast hooked on romance/biker books in general and if I rate such a book over 3 stars I'll def continue. But if you're a fan of BIKER ROMANCE then I know you'll love her series for sure!! Pls note that her books should be read in order!!

just finished. An enjoyable read though sometimes the writing style made it difficult.

I'm sure there's some moral imperative here that I just wasn't picking up on. Parts of this book are truly inspired, and worth mulling over ... the rest is really, REALLY, boring biblical allegory.

While it wasn't as amazingly good as I remembered, I enjoyed re-reading "River Quest" and venturing into the hidden land of Dinotopia again. Honestly, this is such an entertaining book. I can remember being a kid and thinking that falling asleep against a boy's shoulder while huddling under a boat sounded like the most romantic thing ever, lol.

I loved this book from cover to cover!!!...it did have a feeling like the movie Labyrinth...but I loved this book sooooo much more!!! For a while I thought it might have turned into a love triangle...between Meagan...Puck...and Ash...characters whom I immediately fell in love with!!! But the book took a different turn...and I am definitely going to read the test of the books in the series!!! I must find out what happens next in the UnSeelie Court...let the reading begin!!!

Total fantasy. Everything on this "deserted" island is handed to the "survivors" on a silver platter. Animals and foodstuffs from at least 4 continents were abundant, even an "Eve" is provided for one of the "Adams". Interesting descriptions, but give me a break.

Ein Kleidungsstuck als "schwul" zu bezeichnen ist echt bescheuert und in ein Buch fur Kinder ab 9 Jahren, gehort so eine Beschreibung schon mal gar nicht. Es gibt ja wohl genug andere Adjektive die man benutzen kann, um etwas zu beschreiben was man nicht mag. Ich werde diese Reihe ganz sicher nicht mehr weiterlesen.

I read all John Grisham's books and most of them are excellent reads, but I found this particular book a bit hard going in places. It is a hard-hitting story of the death penalty and the killing of an innocent man, mainly because the people involved in law enforcement and courts were too eager to pin the crime on a black man and too wrapped up in their own positions to care about the truth. It makes you examine your own thoughts on the death penalty, death row, and what it means for the men held there for years. I can appreciate all the research and hard work that has gone in to writing this novel, but I must admit to skipping paragraphs and I felt the story lost its way a bit towards the end.

Although I don't love every poem in this collection of concrete poetry, I love several of the 19 poems quite a lot. For instance, I simply adore "Skyscraper" for its visual appeal but also for the words the poet has chosen to describe that lofty structure. I also love "Dachshund," "Giraffe," "Weeping Willow," and "Big Cat," among others. The mixed media illustrations complement the poems quite well, enhancing them in creative, stylish fashion. Teachers should find this one useful in introducing concrete poetry or in stretching their students' conceptions about what poetry should be. This is an excellent addition for a classroom poetry shelf or for anyone who enjoys dabbling with word play.

Another thrilling book by the talented Allen Eskens, whom I've just discovered. Nothing like his first novel, but Max Rupert does figure in this one as well, which was a nice surprise. It's about stolen identity, high stakes blackmail and murder by a really sickening hit man. I couldn't put it down!

This book was so, so fun and cute! I picked it up on a whim when I saw it was available through my library's overdrive, and I am so glad that I finally did. I have never watched a K drama before, but this book has really made me interested in them (and there's a beginner's guide to them in the back that I may be referring to!). The premise itself just sounds amazing and honestly, so relatable: Desi, a senior in high school has never been good at flirting, so when she meets a guy she really likes she begins studying K dramas and realizes that there is a formula for the main characters to fall in love in the K dramas. She writes down the steps and tries them out on the guy she likes. I laughed out loud so many times at Desi's attempts to win over Luca, and their relationship ended up being so sweet. I didn't really like Luca at first because he seemed pretty self-absorbed (and honestly he's still not my favorite) but I warmed up to him as the story went on. Desi's relationship with her friends, Fiona and Wes, was also really great. I loved how supportive they were of each other, and it's also nice to see a platonic male/female friendship in YA (though the scenes where Desi and Wes were pretending to date were absolutely hilarious). I related so hard to Desi with her failed flirting attempts and also her drive to be the best. Her narration was so funny and really made this story stand out. I definitely recommend checking this story out if you're looking for a fun, light read with a lot of heart, especially if you're a fan of K dramas! This was exactly the book I was in the mood for and I flew through it.

The first two volumes of McCoy's Doctor Who DWM comics are mediocre, but there are some good reasons: the magazine had lost the ability to portray most of the companions from the TV show; it was occasionally reprinting kids' comics from The Incredible Hulk; and it wasn't doing much in the way of continuing stories because there was the fear that it was on the verge of going under. The result was companion-less one-offs that were totally forgettable That all turned around with "Train-Flight" in the previous volume, and the new trends continue more strongly here. Ace comes onboard, finally giving us some continuity with the TV show, and the comic shifted back to longer stories, with the six-part-ish "The Mark of Mandragora" even picking up a plot thread from "Train-Flight". So times were good again (or at least better), if you liked continuity and continuing stories. Fellow Travellers (164-166). This story plays up the new TV connection even more because it's written by script editor Andrew Cartmel. Perhaps the most interesting bit is that we discover that the Doctor has a house in England that he returns to now and then. As he says, "It's nice having a place in the country. Especially when there's someone who can look after it properly ... when circumstances force one to travel." It's not named, but this is surely the House on Allen Street that we meet again in the New Adventure Cat's Cradle: Warhead ... written by none other than Andrew Cartmel. Beyond that, the plot is nicely moody with delightfully unusual and spooky art that's totally unlike most of what's seen in Doctor Who Magazine. Seeing Ace for the first time in the comic is great ... and unsurprisingly she's characterized well, since it was Cartmel doing the writing! [7/10] The Mark of Mandragora (167-172). Fellow Travellers felt a bit like a preview of the New Adventures, but this is a more staid DWM comic strip. With that said the bit where the corridors of the TARDIS get tangled up with a location down on Earth reminds me a bit of Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible with its similarly fouled TARDIS corridors. This is another story that makes good use of the late TV show's Doctor and Ace dynamic. The use of UNIT is also good, but this is a time period where the use of the Brigadier is more troublesome because it follows his retirement in Mawdryn Undead. However, its helpfully set in 1998, so perhaps he takes UNIT back over following The Dying Days, which was itself set in 1997. Beyond that, this is a fun story because (1) it tries to tie back to the previous adventures and the extraordinary number of aliens coming to Earth to create a bigger arc; (2) it features the return of the Mandragora and thus some nice continuity stretching back to the 4th Doctor; and (3) Dan Abnett is a good writer. [6+/10]. Party Animals, The Chameleon Factor (173, 174). Two short and shallow stories, though the first has lots of nice cameos, and the second has a nice memory of the Second Doctor that makes me wish for Second Doctor comics [5/10]. The Good Soldier (175-178). Although not as striking as Cartmel's earlier piece, this comic does a great job of not just bringing back the original cybermen, but putting them in the 1950s, resulting in a fun story [6/10]. A Glitch in Time, Seaside Rendezvous (179, Special). Another pair of forgettable one-offs. "Glitch" is a fun bit of timey-wimey, albeit with horrible art [6/10]. "Seaside Rendezvous" is sadly a little bit of nothing [4/10]. That's the end of the comics in this volume, but there are also two short stories. Teenage Kicks! (163). Another Paul Cornell story, this one is unsurprisingly about Seven and Ae and is a nice preview of the maturity of the New Adventures. It's thus a nice companion to "Fellow Travellers" and showing how the New Adventures books were linking to the comics [7/10]. Scream of the Silent (Special). An OK short story, but not really what I'm looking for in a book of comics [5/10]. Overall, not a great volume of DWM comics, but perhaps the "most improved" volume.

Fair stories, but nothing really original.

A truly wonderful graphic novel series that will make you laugh and then make you cry (or at least tear up a bit) all with NO (or very few words). I highly recommend it even if you aren't into graphic novels. Very sweet and gentle. Great for kids of all ages.

**copy given by author in exchange for honest review** Stormy Surrender was a really great romance about two people; one that searched for new hope and one that found unexpected hope . It was bliss to read how step-by-step Martha and Joe's love story developed. Both characters felt real, nothing fancy or overly dramatic. Even though I never experienced anything they did I could feel for them and that's what I like to read in a romance book. Both were their rocks and made each other better persons willingly. I loved to read how Martha became such a fun and confident woman nothing compared to the Martha she used to be. Joe encouraged her and made her a braver woman while she on the other hand evoke feelings inside of him, which he thought he wasn't able to feel. Marrying her high school sweetheart, which turned out to be a total douche after 15yrs of marriage, Martha lived a dull and boring life. She gave up her dreams to support her husband and neglected her own dreams and goals. Their marriage was a lost cause; no more passion, caring, or love left -all gone. Instead he started an affair and didn't see the need to visit Martha in the hospital while she had a miscarriage. After leaving the hospital Martha was determined to leave Vermont to start fresh, with husband, to save what's their to save. Little did she know he tricked her and never planned to join her on this new journey. Martha's new home of choice is the town New Hope where she soon finds a house to remodel, to make it her very own- a project to keep her busy. Her joy of buying a house is short lived because her jerk of husband files the divorce and she realizes she's not only feeling alone as before, she is for the first time all alone. Joe a self-declared bachelor swore to himself never to make the same mistake again -falling in love so that a woman can rip again his heart out. Therefore, Joe got himself a reputation in New Hope. He never sleeps with a woman twice, no sleeping over and no feelings attached. When by accident Martha falls into his arms, little did he know that she would turn his life upside-down. Soon he realizes that she's everything he never knew he wanted and he's everything what her ex never was. Stormy Surrender is a great story and a faced-pace read. The story and characters were real and I liked that a lot. Their romance made a great development throughout the story and it was fun to read from both there POVs how step-by-step they fell for another. Joe was a real sweet heart; all the small things he did for Martha made my heart melt. Little did he know at the beginning how much those little things mean to her. Martha turned into such a happy and blissful person; no comparison to the once boring dull version. Joe brought out the new confident and fun Marti; so not only did the house get a new make-over but also Martha ;) The story ends with somewhat of a cliffhanger, nothing dramatic though, but when you read it you know it means nothing good will follow. I just hope no hearts get broken and Joe keeps a straight mind!! I definitively recommend this book because I liked that I could read how their romance slowly but blissfully developed. For more reviews visit our blog: http://hookmeupbookblog.blogspot.com.au/ Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HookMeUpBookBlog

Very cute mystery book with talking rats and badgers and other animals. I found the story fast moving and the characters entertaining. Granted I wouldn't recommend this to people who don't like children's stories but this is PERFECT for the age group it's meant for. I loved the way that Cox intertwines geography, and history and culture without making it feel like you're teaching the kids. It was a fun story and I'd gladly read the other books in this series as I know there will be more. Besides who can pass up talking badgers from Scotland!

Story: 3 stars Art: 4 stars An elephant and a parrot leave the jungle of Africa to search for their friend, a chimpanzee, who was captured and taken to America. The elephant is young and naive while the parrot is more worldly and serves as an advisor. Still, the pair manage to stumble into a lot of mishaps. This first graphic novel in the Elephants Never Forget series doesn't have a complete story arc; you have to continue reading the series to see whether or not the friend is ever found. Since there is no resolution to the major dramatic question, the conclusion does not feel satisfactory to me.

4.5/5 Stars This book has been hyped up a lot over the past few months, but it definitely lives up to it all! When Dimple Met Rishi was such a sweet and fun story about following your heart, even if it's a difficult path. Dimple, one of the main characters, is ecstatic that her parents let her spend the summer at a coding program. She later finds out that letting her go there was actually a ploy for her to meet and fall in love with Rishi, the other protagonist. Dimple insists that she will never fall for him and give into her parents' wishes, but things don't go exactly as she planned. The story in told in alternating points of view between Dimple and Rishi, and the sections are pretty short which makes the book fly by. Also, side note, I listened to this as an audiobook for a section in the middle on a long car ride and the narrators were pretty good if anyone is interested in that! My favorite part of this story was Dimple's struggle to break away from her mother's expectations. She thinks that her mother only values her for her appearance and her ability to land a husband, and the two of them have a pretty strained relationship. I loved the way the two of them worked through their issues and began to see the others' side of things. Rishi's storyline with his family was also interesting. He felt like he needed to be the perfect child and follow the exact lifestyle his parents wanted him to in order to make up for his younger brother not following their traditions at all. It put a lot of pressure on Rishi and I was so happy to see him grow throughout this story and gain the courage to pursue his dreams. Dimple and Rishi were both such great characters overall, and I loved their relationship. Both of them were flawed and made some mistakes, but to me, that just made them more real and human. No one is perfect in real life, why should we hold fictional characters up to unrealistic standards and expect them to never make mistakes or hurt anyone? Dimple's spirit was honestly invigorating. I loved how she always stood up for herself but was also willing to admit when she made a mistake. Rishi was the biggest sweetheart and I totally fell in love with him. His art was so personal to him and I loved seeing him open up about it to Dimple and eventually everyone else. The relationship between Dimple and Rishi felt very real and I was so happy that we got to see them as a couple in the story instead of having to wait till the end for them to finally get together like in a lot of other books. This book definitely had some moments where it felt kind of childish (ie, the fight after the talent show, and some parts in the narration) but it felt very serious and adult at many points too. The childish part makes sense, they're 18 and barely out of high school, and I also really liked the more serious conversations about culture and careers that were present throughout the story. It's tough to balance the two sides, but this book managed to do it very well. If you have doubts that this book doesn't live up to the hype, I was with you, but I swear it does! It was such a unique story (which is hard within the realistic fiction genre) with great and diverse characters. I will definitely be picking up Sandhya Menon's next book, because it sounds just as good as this one was!

For a Debut novel it wasn't nails on the chalk board bad. Chelsea has the potential to be a very good writer, her descriptions of characters, places and scenes is not overloaded with so much information it would make the eyes burn. She has a delicate hand and I could tell from this story, that she loves cars. Her passion seemed to spill through which gave the book a dynamic edge I wasn't sure at first sight it would have. While the story starts off a little patchy, it took a turn for the better catching my attention and giving me a clear picture of how Chelsea weaved it all together into a nice relaxing read. I loved the plot, the storyline and how she had developed a unique contrast between a mans love of the fast life and fast cars, restoring them to his hearts content turned into how he treated his women, ultimately finding his most prized woman. It is this delicate balance that gave the novel a more life-like feel for me and pleasurable to read. The only downsides that stuck out, was I felt like it could have been a little more smoother. In the beginning it was choppy, took the book a few chapters to get a good flow. But for a Debut novel that isn't entirely too bad. Chelsea is just getting her feet wet and I am sure we will see better from her in the future.

When a good friend said this was the best book of 2015, maybe even the best book she has ever read, I was a little skeptical. It took several weeks before I had a day where I decided was just going to sit down and read it. It. Is. Amazing. It took some time to get used to the format of the story being told: that of 'found documents' being presented. Once I was hooked, though, there was no chance I was stopping. I read the whole thing straight through, and it blew my mind. The story is amazing. The artistry of the pages (as other readers have rhapsodized about) is stunning. It was a roller coaster ride from start to finish, and I want Book 2 now.

it's strange how London of 20 years ago can sometimes feel almost as alien the patchwork oddity of London Below. so yeah, my first Gaiman. "modern-day fairytale" is a pretty good description of this. he's a very clear writer, with a wonderful imagination and fantastic turn of phrase.

I loved The Vincent Boys... I was hoping I would feel the same about this book but I just don't. Beau was a real character with feelings and conflict...easy to read. Sawyer changed so much, so drastically. The change was forced and it did nothing for me. Sawyer got on my nerves and I used the word "prick" more times than I'd like....horrible story. Horrible ending. Not impressed

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. The Sham starts off on a very dark note, which the author even gives a warning about in the synopsis. It never really lightens up, but thankfully the rest of the book isn't as graphic as the first chapter. The book mainly focuses on Emily and the mysterious new boy in town, Jack. She soon discovers that Jack is extremely sick, and that he may be hiding something dangerous. When Emily's classmates start disappearing and are found dead, everyone points to Jack. Emily doesn't know what to believe, but she remains loyal to Jack. I wasn't really sure what to expect when I started reading, but I was quickly pulled into the story. The twist definitely caught me by surprise, and that bumped my initial two-star rating up to three stars. In short, The Sham was a quick and intriguing read, and I would recommend to readers who enjoy darker YA books that include a touch of mystery.

Sounds like a cliched plot line at first glance but the lyrical prose is surprisingly and touchingly beautiful. If you are waiting for the next Song of Ice and Fire installment, this series will help you more than pass the time.

3.5/5. I love it when different X-groups team up! This book features two team-up stories, one with Alpha Flight, the other with the New Mutants. Both stories involve Loki and Asgard. I wasn't very interested in the Alpha Flight story and was slightly bored while reading it. I think my main issue is the Cyclops/Madelyne Pryor/Rachel Grey relationship because I don't care for it. I found the New Mutants story to be much more interesting. I was really disappointed in how little Storm was involved in this volume, considering she is the reason the New Mutants are in Asgard. Storm becoming the new god of thunder was the main reason I wanted to read this in the first place so I was sad to see that she didn't have a lot to do. Otherwise, this is a fantastic story for literally every member of the New Mutants, even for readers who are unfamiliar with who they are.

A fabulous breakout novel that makes you excited to read all that is to come from this great author. I loved this novel. It was just what I was looking for. A love story romance that made me content about life and excited for those falling in love. I loved the main characters and the love that they had and developed for each other. For a while, I wasn't sure if it was in the cards for them (don't you love that!) I read this book very quickly, which is always my sign of a great book that I am really loving to read! I would suggest you pick this baby up and sit back and enjoy the ride!

A touching, beautiful, and emotional children's tale about that attempts to explain life's great equalizer in a friendly but truthful manner. And it largely succeeds. It may be a shot little book, but it's thematic ambitions certainly transcend typical children's literature.

You have no idea how happy I am to finally be reading this series. Definitely lives up to the hype.

ZOMG! I'm not much of a contemporary romance reader, but this book...THIS BOOK! A tiny bit dated here and there (in more ways than technology) but still fabulous. Funny. Emotional. Smart. (And I typically hate both the secret baby books and sports romance. This is both!) Loved, loved, loved. Keeper shelf!!!

Catalogued this at work today, absolutely beautiful illustrations, okay story.

Little Critter has a big day ahead of him and so many things to do before school starts. A lift a flap book.

loved!!

A wonderful tale of a proper, slightly repressed woman living in America during a time of turmoil and change. When housewife Cora agrees to chaperone a wild teen on a trip to NYC in the 1920s, she hardly knows what she has signed up for. The girl is Louise Brooks, an aspiring dancer who is soon to be a famous movie star known as much for her performances off screen as on, and Cora's experience with Louise sets off a chain of events that will echo through her life. Forced to face the straight and narrow path her life is taking, Cora might just turn out to be a bigger rebel than her teenaged charge.

I need to go back and re-read the original novel to compare, but my immediate impression is that there's something lacking. Although I am glad to see the book brought back to the public eye again!

This book speaks of many problems of our teenagers nowadays. Tears didn't come, though I really wanted to cry so bad :(

This book really hit home for me. I review a lot of books that are fun, or sexy, or flirty, but sometimes a book just--- Well, look. I'm gonna share some "V stuff," so bear with me. I was born and raised a Christian. I went to church, church camp and youth group--faithfully--throughout my childhood. Then, I went away to college. And met the man who is my hubs, going on 23 years together. He is, BTW, Jewish. This was a point of consternation for, uh, some of my family. It actually took quite a long time for him to be accepted. As a goy--or worse, a shiksa--I was, in fact, not an ideal daughter-in-law candidate either. My eldest son was accused of being a "devil worshiper" and ostracized by Christian kids in his third grade class--because we celebrate both Christian and Jewish traditional holidays. My children were not recognized at my "home church" because their father is Jewish. My minister, at a church I had been a member of for 19 years at that point, would not perform my wedding ceremony because my husband was Jewish. Long point here is, I have felt the hellish finger of bigotry, cloaked in religious tenets, many times in my own life because of the person I loved and married. Lots of people ask: Why do I celebrate Jewish holidays if I'm Christian? Simple: My hubs' grandparents actually survived German work camps in WWII. They were the only Holocaust survivors of their whole families. There is no way I want my kids to feel that DAD'S religion is LESS than MY religion. That's not my way. If my kids turn out Christian or Jewish or Buddhist or Pastafarian, I really do not care--so long as they are happy. Many years ago, my hubs asked me: What would you do if one of our sons was gay? At that time, I hadn't really considered it. When I did, my only answer could be: Love him. Gay or not. Because, for me, parenthood is unconditional love. This week I came across this YouTube video (trigger warning!) of a grown man being beaten and disowned by his family for coming out. The reason? "God says being gay is a sin." Well, there are a lot of sins out there, people. I don't see parents beating their kids and putting them out on the street for theft. Or coveting. Or what-the-heck-ever other "sin" committed. For some reason, homosexuality has become a "GET OUT OF PARENTING FREE" card for some, and the very idea scrambles my brain. Books like the one I'm sharing today, SEARCHING FOR GRACE by Juliann Rich, are important--because this is REALLY happening behind closed doors by closed-hearted parents/friends all across our country, and world. If you, or someone you know, is in a bad spot due to homophobia, in the home or outside of it, please seek help. The Trevor Project (866-488-7368) and the GLBT Helpline (888-843-4564) are available for counseling and crisis intervention. Please, call for help. It is available. My Review: I can say, I was stunned reading this book. It's not a blow-you-away-with-plot-twists story. Instead it relates what I believe is an achingly real experience for many LGBTQ teens out there. Jonathan is gay. He hasn't told many people, but he did tell his counselor at Bible camp. And, of course, his fellow camp-goers knew about his boyfriend. He's home from camp now, and his mother is determined that Jonathan re-think his "choice." See, Jonathan is only 16. Clearly, he's "just confused" and she schedules him for therapy with their minister, and an intake appointment for an Ex-Gay therapy clinic. She can't handle her son's sexuality. Meanwhile, Jonathan's childhood friends are turning on him. They refuse to interact with him on the soccer field, even though he was a star player. His boyfriend, Ian, has been kicked out of his family home, and is living in foster care on a farm in Wisconsin. For Jonathan, it feels as if his life is unraveling. He steadfastly refuses to acknowledge publicly that he is gay, but does agree to starting a GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance), albeit reluctantly. Biggest problem with that plan is the school is only paying lip service to opening such a club. No teachers will stick their necks out to sponsor the group--knowing it would likely lead to termination. So, Jonathan reaches out to his camp counselor. This plan is unhappily accepted by their school, and the student involvement is more than Jonathan and his two new buds--Mason and Sketch--could have dreamed. Jonathan is no longer a pariah, but he's still in danger. He's attacked, verbally and physically, by some of his homophobic classmates. Meanwhile, Ian is pressuring Jonathan to run away with him. A stolen rendezvous leads to critical injury, and Jonathan must decide how to move forward in a life where his parents are not accepting his sexuality. There's this point where Jonathan finally tells his friends: I haven't planned this, but if I had I sure as hell wouldn't have picked the middle of a crowded cafeteria. But I guess coming out is a lot like falling in love, only you're falling in love with yourself. The minute you realize it, you need to say the words. "I'm gay," I say and wait for their shocked and indignant responses. I'm not going to reveal how this was received, but the whole book kept me riveted. Ideas like tolerance and homophobia are tackled head-on. I really appreciated the sensitivity with which these aspects were handled, actually. The evangelicals were not demonized, but they were portrayed to be stalwart, if misguided and anti-gay. That is not the case for all religious persons in this book, praise God. Jonathan's camp counselor was very understanding, and helped introduce Jonathan to a new, progressive church where at-risk gay teens were welcomed and allowed to worship in a safe space. I found this to be especially poignant because there are such places as these, and it's often helpful for LGBTQ persons to have a church family that supports them in their sexuality. In fact, in mt town we have such a house of God where gay persons are welcomed. (This is likely not the only gay-friendly church in my town, it was simply the closest one I could bike to.) The end was a good stopping point, but it was clear there is more to the story--I only hope that Jonathan continues in his growth, and in finding a suitable partner with whom to express his love. I really enjoyed Jonathan's character and found myself so in his head I kept wanting to reach through his hands and shake his mom. She isn't a bad mom, but she is terribly blinded--I was glad to see that she gained some insight in the course of this story.

I really enjoyed the amount of pure forensics envolved in this story line. It is probably not a story for the weak of heart. I felt that the plot was a bit predictable but I enjoyed it anyway. I will be looking for more books by this author.

I enjoyed this book even more than the first one, I would give it closer to 4.5 stars. The story line of this book was really good, it kept me entertained and wanting to know what was going to happen next. I also like the writing style of one chapter being the present and one chapter being in the past, even though sometimes I really wanted to know something right now and had to wait. I would recommend this book to all my friends.

Have you ever wondered if there was more to Genghis Khan? Was he just a brutal murderer or was there another side to the story. Jo Michaels brings new light into the life, love and mysteries that surround one of the world's most famous leaders. Yassa is the story of Temujin and his powerful loyalty to his wife, Borte, his family and his friends. It is also the story of betrayal, when his anda (sworn brother) Jamuka breaks Yassa - the unbreakable vow. While Temujin is set on revenge he is also torn by his own love for his closest friend. Yassa is an historical fiction novel full of action, mystery, adventure, violence and of course love. While the narration style can at times be overwhelming, leaving the reader in need of a breath the language is rich and the story engaging. It is not just for history buffs, but will delight romantics everywhere. Overall an intriguing read, I recommend it!

Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) at her finest! Some of the scenes are utterly ridiculous, and you just have to shake your head. But there were definitely some LOL moments. Even though Becky can be totally absurd, I find her to be a loveable character and I think she has a good heart and pure intentions.

Since I am not really into circuses, I was not sure if I would enjoy this book. I found myself getting sucked into the magical tale and wished I could be a patron of Le Cirque de Reves.

see full review @ Katie's Corner It's been quite a long time since I read Mi-Ri Hwang's manhwa. Last one was A tackle on my life back in January. But this one held my interest for a whole day, and I even missed going to the post office just to read it to the end and find out how it all ended. First of all, this is a historical romance, which I started by pure chance (at the time I was more engrossed in books). Truth be told I was still coming down from reading Red River twice, that's why my manga choice was to read a historical one, and I still have some on my reading list. But let me get back to the story. I really loved and enjoyed it. It was fun, with lots of action and many kissing scenes. And I guess because I took quite a long time off from reading Mi-Ri Hwang's books none of the characters felt the same and I could even remember most of their names. Plus it was a miracle that I didn't confuse anyone! Yes, it really is something to celebrate! Let me tell you the plot briefly and then I will move on some other stuff. The plot is quite simple: Shin Bia is a normal high schooler, well normal if we count that she can defeat every gangster in the high school, one day she crosses paths with a rich kid and somehow ends up jumping out of the window. Yup, she is crazy, but instead of dying she ends up in an alternate world, where she has to take the place of her alternate self (long story about the alternative Bia, so better read the story) and become the empress of Ju empire. Interesting? You don't say, as the more you get to know our characters the more fascinating the story becomes! So, let's meet our characters: Shin Bia - aka the Celestial Bia aka the crazy girl aka the glutton aka the impostor. She was a character that I wholeheartedly enjoyed. I loved her spunk and sometimes her unreasonable behaviour, but I really loved watching how she was falling in love with Yoo Baek (that's the crown prince) and then feeling awful, as she knew he loved the real Celestal Bia and not her. Are you ready to follow her on the journey in an alternate world and be present when she embarrasses herself or does something out of this world? But before I let you go to read this awesome story let us meet our male protagonist - Yoo Baek - aka the crown prince aka the tyrant aka the perverted demon. I really love the last title as he went by it in the beginning of the story. He's a really likable character and you just love how those two are together. He was a bit disappointing when he finds out that Bia is not his real Bia, but his confession made my heart flutter like crazy! There are many more interesting characters, but I won't be talking about them. Another thing that I really loved about this story was the ending. It actually has one, though I would have loved to see a bit more, it was still very satisfying. Are you ready for 19 volumes of fun, adventure, action and tons of romance? I sure hope you are! Enjoy it to its fullest and don't forget to share your thoughts below! Stay tuned for more reviews as well as promos. Don't miss your next favourite book or manga! Happy reading! XOXO Katie

Story: 2 stars Illustrations: 3 stars Murphy is a Cairn Terrier! I love dogs and that is my very favorite breed. They are not represented often in literature/film (with the exception of The Wizard of Oz and the original Ghost and Mrs. Muir movies). Unfortunately this picture book falls short of my hopes. Cairn Terriers are not typically farm dogs. I would have liked to see a typical day on the farm for Murphy, rather than a trip to the vet, which is a rare occurrence for healthy dogs. Cairn Terriers are smart, energetic, and adventurous; so Murphy's aversion to riding in a car is strange. While terriers do tend to bark a lot, training curbs incessant barking. It's not clear to me whether Murphy is sleeping in the barn as punishment, or if that is his usual place to sleep. He claims it's "not a bad place after all," but he looks very unhappy on that last page.

Cute story, even cuter monsters and a girl who is a lot like my son! Loved this book and shared it with my kids who loved it and had to read it more than once! I was given this book in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.

This is the final episode in the Will and Patrick serial, and must be read in order. Will and Patrick met in Vegas and got very drunk and very married in one night. They would have separated, but Will convinced Patrick to stick it out until he could legally untangle them without losing millions of dollars in his Good Works trust--money that would have returned to Will's mafioso family's coffers in the event of a quickie divorce. They have been through the emotional wringer back in Will's hometown of Healing, South Dakota. Patrick, a newly unemployed neurosurgeon, has been hired by the hospital Will runs and as the days and weeks and month have passed both Will and Patrick have developed real loving feelings for the other--but neither of them is brave enough to admit it to the other--both believing their marriage has an expiration date and not wanting to "humiliate" themselves by loving a man who doesn't return the sentiment. This installment is the last--and best!--and promises an HEA in the title, for goodness sake. That doesn't mean it's easy, however. Nope, this serial is all about the long game, and Will knows he loves Patrick, but he also is afraid that Patrick only loves him because of their forced proximity. When the possibility of a no-mess divorce is made real, Will wants to take it--and give himself and Patrick the space to find love on their own terms. One of those "if you love him, set him free" scenarios that absolutely flips Patrick's wig. Patrick has barely known love in his life, and Will telling him he needs this break is a club to the head. He's heartbroken and miserable and absolutely resolved on gaining Will back, once their one-month hiatus is complete. That doesn't mean he's not angry. Because he is. He needs Will in his life, and not having him is the crap frosting on the cow-pattie-pie of things in Patrick's world. Expect a very caustic man having one after the next personal and professional disappointments. Not going to belabor this. The break up is hard on both men, and the reunion is fast, furious, and a little filthy. It's a yummy ending with a pair that I almost feel at home with, after nearly 900 pages of their fictional misadventures. Such a fantastic ride. It took me a bit of time to warm to them, particularly prickly Patrick, but they are now my bosom pals and I'm so glad I stuck with the books!

We had to read 'The Silver Sword' as part of our obligatory reading list when I was in form 1 as a student. It is only now, when I decided to read it once again, that I appreciate that this book, once read, is never forgotten. I remembered most of the plot and characters with a kind of nostalgic passion that is hard to match. Considering that many years had passed since I first read it (approximately eight/seven years), that is no small feat. Serraillier managed to differentiate the war novel in a wholly engaging and unique fashion. Not only are the protagonists children, the father (Joseph Balicki) is only featured in the opening and the ending chapters, but the author manages to maintain all the emotion of the dismal conditions in Nazi-occupied Poland with some very humorous incidents serving as comic relief. Of course, this is all thanks to the brilliant creation of the character Jan. Although he is not part of the Balicki family, the latter trying to meet again together in Switzerland after an unfortunate 'division', the book would not be the same without him. In fact, in my New Windmill edition of the book, there is a whole pencil drawn illustration dedicated to him alone. Like the silver sword, Jan connects Joe Balicki's part with the rest of the plot and the younger children's quest to find their family like innumerable other Polish refugees. Despite constantly taking pride in being a thief, although his thieving ambitions were ultimately curbed by Ruth Balicki's maturity, one cannot help but to admire Jan's charm. Maybe it because he carries a 'treasure box' with him throughout the Balicki's journey without anybody actually knowing its contents, maybe it is because he must have a furry companion besides him at all times, be it a half-starved pussy cat, a mangy cock name Jimpy or a loyal dog named Ludwig or just maybe because Serraillier is an exceptionally good writer... I personally tend to go with the latter reason. Considering that this book was first published in 1956, a few years after World War 2 itself, Serraillier's style is all the more remarkable. Interspersed with many nice touches and interesting and exciting elements, like the burgomaster character, 'The Silver Sword' is truly a book for all ages, and definitely recommended on my part.

I'm honestly not sure why there are so negative reviews of this book. It isn't great but it's not that bad considering who it is aimed at. I read it quite quickly and there weren't too many occasions where the book annoyed me. Yes, there could have been more explanation and backstory but I assume that is what the next five books are about. There are plot holes but show me books that don't have them. It was never my objective when picking up this book to find the next master class novel - you just look at the blurb to know exactly what it is going to be - a tried and tested formula that works. It is escapism. And so what if it borrows themes from other books? It isn't as of there are infinite storylines in the world. I like that the author tries to introduce meanings of auras and flowers although the auras are underused in the latter half of the book - very strange considering the figure at the beginning explaining their meanings. Bottom line is, if you want to read a timeless young adult novel read Catcher in the Rye. People put standards on books that aren't intended to be anything other than what they are. I probably would have given this two and a half stars if I could but bumped up to 3 as there were so many one star reviews of it. So if you've got to the end of my rant, if you're a fan of Twilight, Fallen etc you'll probably enjoy this. The first novel is no way as intricate but let's face it, I'm of a age now where getting too involved is exhausting. ;-)