Absolutely wonderfully written and researched with the author's usual flare for detail. Hannah weaves a realistically fascinating story of one young wAbsolutely wonderfully written and researched with the author's usual flare for detail. Hannah weaves a realistically fascinating story of one young woman's struggles during one of the darkest times in US history. I loved how well the author moved Frankie's story from her society family to her love of nursing and desire to make her family proud of her Army service; then to the traumatizing tour in Vietnam and her subsequent return home. I ached for her every time someone told her 'Women didn't go to Vietnam', but I cheered as she finally stood up and said that they were lucky if they didn't see a woman in Vietnam because it meant they weren't wounded! Her romantic struggles were heartbreaking and her hitting rock bottom and then triumphant recovery. So very well written, I loved this whole book!...more
This was a mesmerizing, absolutely delightful and well-researched read! I was hooked from day one and thoroughly loved Patsy's character and her entirThis was a mesmerizing, absolutely delightful and well-researched read! I was hooked from day one and thoroughly loved Patsy's character and her entire story. What a strong woman she was and is portrayed in this story.
My favorite passage, that I saved is thus: "For if I wanted to hold my family together. If I wanted my children to survive. I could neither be tired nor ill. If I wanted to carve out anything for myself or anyone I loved, I couldn't lean or waver. I'd have to be the pillar to hold it all up."
And hold it up, she did! At the sacrifice of love and a completely different life; at the sacrifice of an abusive and weak husband and at the sacrifice of her own beliefs and mind.
Such a well-written story and to find that it was thoroughly researched and closely accurately portrayed was even more a delight. ...more
This. This is why I diligently join the Pick it For Me challenge every month! Because someone inevitably picks a book I would never have found or readThis. This is why I diligently join the Pick it For Me challenge every month! Because someone inevitably picks a book I would never have found or read otherwise and it just sticks to me. I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down once I started reading it on the plane for the holidays! What a wonderful rebirth, awakening and redemption story for both Isabel and Ren! So much packed into so little time, oh and by the way, they're in the most bucket-listed destination ever, Tuscany, Italy! Oh how I enjoyed the story, the history, the supporting characters, the secondary story about Tracy and Harry - honestly, how often does someone's ex-wife/husband make a solidly great supporting character? Bravo, very well done! This one's going to my recommends list for sure! ...more
I'm really glad I was able to get this book so fast via my audio library! I was surprised how much I enjoyed it and just couldn't put it down! I was hI'm really glad I was able to get this book so fast via my audio library! I was surprised how much I enjoyed it and just couldn't put it down! I was hooked and the only reason it took so long to finish is because life kept getting in the way! I loved Macy's and Elliot's lost and reunited love story and especially how they came together. Elliot's life-long commitment to Macy and his willingness to stand aside while she sorted her issues out was just so swoon-worthy! And her ultimate conflict! OH! I ached for her and for the two of them! How one moment can change/alter and destroy a life for so long! It was truly heartbreaking to read. But then to watch them get back together in such a tender fashion. Ah! Solid five here and definitely on my faves list now! ...more
Absolutely wonderfully written - and then I find out in the Author's notes that this is based on a real person! Major bonus! So very well written and Absolutely wonderfully written - and then I find out in the Author's notes that this is based on a real person! Major bonus! So very well written and fascinating. I absolutely loved Nancy's character! Definitely highly recommend and definitely will be looking for the autobiography by Nancy Wake! ...more
An absolutely surprising and entertaining read! There was just so much here and I’m so glad I listened to the audiobook as well as read the book. The An absolutely surprising and entertaining read! There was just so much here and I’m so glad I listened to the audiobook as well as read the book. The narrated had a wonderful reading voice and did the most amazing accents so well! I just could not stop listening/reading and I’m eager to read books 2 and 3 in the series! Highly recommend!...more
Five glorious, squishy, wonderfully satisfying stars! My happy ending need has definitely been satisfied. This was a pleasant and really well-written Five glorious, squishy, wonderfully satisfying stars! My happy ending need has definitely been satisfied. This was a pleasant and really well-written surprise! It took me a few days to get into it only because life (and exhaustion) kept getting in the way. I had time over the weekend to focus and I really enjoyed it! I ended up reading the majority of it between Saturday and Sunday mornings and finishing it yesterday afternoon - because I had to!
I loved Chelsea's story. Her struggles, her shutting herself off after her mother died and the juxtaposition of Chelsea's and Jason's personalities. (Come on, just by the description, you gotta know they end up together!) OH the story though! The way Chelsea went about rediscovering herself, but the version of herself after the loss she went through. It just hit all the feels! How she and Jason ended up connecting and their slow and gradual friendship, turned romance, turned love. Oh the feels! Straight up on my list of recommends, this one and I'm so glad I got to read it!...more
I basically spent the whole weekend reading this book because I could NOT put it down! I really enjoyed the creative way the author put these two MCs I basically spent the whole weekend reading this book because I could NOT put it down! I really enjoyed the creative way the author put these two MCs together and how Laurie's whole perspective on Jamie changed as she got to know him. It was a sweet and entertaining twist on the hate to love theme and I really enjoyed it. I loved how Laurie didn't have to sacrifice her hard work for Jamie and Jamie didn't have to sacrifice his beliefs (except the asinine one about not believing in love) - omg omg the scene in Lincoln where Jamie asked Laurie how she knew she was in love with someone... I squirmed because obviously we all know who he's asking about, but STILL it was so cute and sweet that he was the goner first!
I also really loved how Laurie was able to stand up to her toxic relationships and didn't back down or knuckle under, with her father, Dan, the office witch. YES! I cheered for her! I also cheered for her connection with her mother and her realization of who she really fell in love with 18 years previously. That was a great, empowering truth that many women just don't realize!
Also, what I really did appreciate reading was Laurie. Her biracial history made for a refreshingly modern and more realistic story. Her Martinique heritage really brought up some interesting conflicts that added to the story, but not in a negative way. I loved her personality and her views on the whole thing and how she took most of it in stride with sort of a resigned optimism. Such a wonderful character - I cheered for her so many times!
Great story with all the feels! Definitely going on my recommend list!...more
The only reason this book took me so many days to finish it is because I started it during my first week working home on this Stay at Home order and IThe only reason this book took me so many days to finish it is because I started it during my first week working home on this Stay at Home order and I’ve been so busy with work and having both kids home that I kept falling asleep trying to start the book! Finally got to get into it Saturday night and I literally could NOT put it down! I finished it between Saturday and Sunday, spending most of Sunday reading! LOL
There is such a thrilling combination of excitement in this book. The military Special Forces, a lawless country on the African horn, warlords, terrorists, drones and rescues AND a fascinating and well-written account of an archeological find, a 3-million year old humanoid skeleton similar to the real one found in Ethiopia! And if that wasn’t enough, a mystery surrounding a missing geologist who may have found a hidden aquifer under the Djiboutian desert! And top it off with some serious chemistry between the hero - with adorable caveman and modern tendencies, and heroine - who is one badass chick! And this was a recipe for a late night of reading! I’ve already put myself on for the rest of the series and am seriously hoping the author keeps going!
All the danger and drama and the FUN! Great read and great recommendation! ...more
This was such a great read! Funny, poignant, emotional, sweet read and totally satisfied all my buttons. I just could not put it down! I loved Calla'sThis was such a great read! Funny, poignant, emotional, sweet read and totally satisfied all my buttons. I just could not put it down! I loved Calla's voice, her conflict and her eventual metamorphosis to the woman she was meant to be. The process she had to take to get there, whew! I loved the supporting characters in Calla's life - her step-dad Simon was my favorite! I also fell in love with the Alaskan village of Bangor and it's people. Agnes was a clear favorite and I'm sure there was more to her story, but the author did a fabulous job of making these secondary characters important without distracting with their stories. She was essential and a wonderful contribution to the story.
Jonah... Oh my goodness I'm not sure how anyone can write an anti-hero, antagonist better than Jonah. He was such an ass to Calla when she first arrived and he constantly got under her skin, driving her crazy! He was terrible and hateful! But omg how much I loved his character! The author did a wonderful job of slowly revealing his true character bit by bit, while still driving Calla crazy, until you couldn't imagine how you didn't immediately love him on sight! I laughed SO many times at the jabs he and Calla continued threw at each other. The angry yeti! The sheering of the yeti. OMG I was giggling so hard! What a well-written character and a fabulous compliment to Calla's character!
I can't even with this book! I kept watching the percentage status and wondering when and how this book was going to wrap up so soon! I kind of felt like the last few chapters were rushed, BUT I think they were still well-written and emotional and perhaps, looking back, I wouldn't want too much more detail around Calla's dad than there already was. It was hard enough to read, but very satisfying! I wouldn't have minded more time with Calla and Jonah's relationship, but I think their relationship had been well-established by the time the last few chapters came around. Also, I knew there was another book and now I'm desperate to get to it!!!
Fantastic read. Straight to the top of my faves!...more
Such a fun read! I'd been wanting to read it for a long time now, but never got around to it. So glad I finally did!
Forget all the techy terms,Epic.
Such a fun read! I'd been wanting to read it for a long time now, but never got around to it. So glad I finally did!
Forget all the techy terms, the pop-culture references (though some of them... okay a lot of them were seriously awesome), this was, at heart, a solidly written book. I simultaneously listened to the audiobook (because how could I pass up the opportunity to hear Wil Wheaton read it, and read it well!) and I followed along with the Kindle book. There was a clear and fascinating conflict, lots of drama, imaginative and well-thought-out resolutions, intense climax and a very satisfying ending. I think the best way to read those terms or references you don't get is with the proverbial grain of salt. I certainly had no idea what some of those games were and I grew up in the 80s and 90s! I don't think it distracted from the overall story because the author did a great job of explaining the important references, as well as pulling small tidbits that seemed irrelevant at the time, into the climax and ending of the story. I LOVED the Pac-man scenes (view spoiler)[and had an idea that quarter would be important later on! (hide spoiler)]
"In real life, I was nothing but an antisocial hermit." It should be noted I loved video games and played them often growing up. We owned an Atari, the first Nintendo and Sega consuls as well as the original Game Boy and a Commodore 64. I played and loved it all, but technology was never my strong bit. It was fun, and a great distraction when I didn't want to go play in the rain! I think I've only ever actually completed one game though. Eep! (view spoiler)[It was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game, circa 1990, that I played maniacally with my godbrother! (hide spoiler)]
I am totally fascinated with the idea of the OASIS and the realistic setting of the book, though it saddened me at the same time. Wade's character is so very realistic, as are Ar3timis and Aech, and many of the other characters here. It was great fun to watch them grow together, develop and complete the story, especially the way it did! (view spoiler)[ "... as terrifying and painful as reality can be, it's also the only place where you can find true happiness. Because reality is real."(hide spoiler)] Bravo Halliday. Such wisdom only comes with age and I'm glad he shared it.
This was part futuristic dystopia, part mega video game within a game, part coming to terms, part walk down memory lane and part epic battle over a very creative and frighteningly realistic evil. What a fun ride! ...more
All the feels right here! This was an angsty, bitter hate to love story that hit all my buttons!
Dusty... man this girl kept taking a beating - even aAll the feels right here! This was an angsty, bitter hate to love story that hit all my buttons!
Dusty... man this girl kept taking a beating - even a country song would consider her story tragic! This girl had some grit though and I totally got and applauded her stubborn, do-it-myself streak. The number of times she took a physical, mental or emotional beating and kept getting back up.... whew! She kept saying she wanted to give up, but it was clear she didn't have 'give up' bone in her body! She also wanted to fly under everyone's radar and blend in and she just wasn't meant for that, especially where the drool-worthy Stone was concerned.
Stone... oh yes Stone... I gotta admit, in the beginning, based on Dusty's descriptions of him, I kind of hated him too! But wow... this hero was so well written! Every time you thought he was being an ass, he was really just being so amazingly caring and gruffly thoughtful. And boy when he fell... which I suspect (view spoiler)[ was when he and Dusty were still friends, long before the family drama and teenage years that split them apart (hide spoiler)], boy did he fall! I actually really thought his insightful revelation around their split, in his own case was a stroke of genius on the author's part. This guy had drive and some serious motivation to get out of his family's house and into professional football. He was a rare case and a very well-thought-out protagonist to Dusty's character.
Speaking of characters, I really enjoyed the secondary characters here, though I would have liked to see more out of Siobhan and Trent. I loved how the roommates really stepped in and helped out in their way. Their indifference lead to, what I could tell, was a must stronger friendship. (I thoroughly enjoyed their confrontation with Char at the end of the book too!)
As I said, this book hit all my buttons - hate to love story? Check. Overcoming tragedy? Definitely... repeatedly! Strong female who doesn't knuckle under her hero's touch? Check. Chemistry? Without doubt! Strong support characters? Check and check! Plus the added bonus of football games and references - squee! There was a TON of emotional rollercoastering going on here, but it was so very well worth it! ...more
I have a shameless literary crush on Dean, not even sorry for it either. Whew! What a hunk and a perfect man. His town wasn't kidding, when he fell, hI have a shameless literary crush on Dean, not even sorry for it either. Whew! What a hunk and a perfect man. His town wasn't kidding, when he fell, he fell HARD! OMG OMG and he was a drummer and football coach and a math geek and wears glasses and has a devil cat named Lucifur! (I have a cat named Lucifur but she's a sweetheart!) Gaah! AAAALLLLL the feels! Yep, move over Mr. Darcy... Mr. Sexy Math Teacher Walker has taken over! LOL
What a great book! It was hawt n steamy, emotional, funny, sweet and really just an all around good read. This is why I read romances, for the buzz of the HEA at the end - okay fine and for the shameless boinky boinky somewhere in between.... whatever, it's mostly the HEA! Yeah... that's it...
I listened to this on audible and LOVED it! Loved the narrators' tone and style - especially the voice of Dean - SWOOOOON! And I loved the secondary characters too, Jason, Grandma, the Grey Army (LMAO!), all of Lainey's sisters, the kids in Dean's class. Great story and lots of fun!
Straight to my faves list for future recommendations and now I'll need to go back and read Getting Schooled! ...more
This was too fun! I listened as an audiobook and just couldn't stop! The narrator was entertaining and had a pleasing voice as well as how she changedThis was too fun! I listened as an audiobook and just couldn't stop! The narrator was entertaining and had a pleasing voice as well as how she changed her tone, pitch and accent to suit the different characters. That really helped! I really liked Lady Frannie's character and enjoyed the developing chemistry between Frannie and George as well as their working together on the case.
An interesting mystery as well! Loved the different pieces and how they came together in the end! Definitely left a cliffhanger for future editions of this series and I am already on hold for the next book, A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder!
I cannot believe I let this absolutely surprising gem of a story sit in my TBR list for so long! Another perfect example of how you just can't judge aI cannot believe I let this absolutely surprising gem of a story sit in my TBR list for so long! Another perfect example of how you just can't judge a book by it's cover. And it is quite the eye-candy of a cover, but I just wasn't sure. Well... color me chastised! Absolutely loved this book!
Theo... oh wow Theo really had so much depth to his character and he still managed to make some very blatant mistakes with Laney - though the man really knows how to make the grand gesture! WOW! Swoon my poor, old and abused heart!
I absolutely loved the instant connection between Laney and Theo, their differences and their similarities. Their chemistry didn't start off initially, but it grew so fast once they started talking. It was such a sweet story. Both character's back stories were so interesting and entertaining. Theo's older sisters! OMG and the scene where Theo and Laney accidently OD on pot. HILARIOUS! I had the hardest time giggling quietly because I was reading that part at 1am - just could not put their story down.
Really a great book and definitely want to read the books about the mysterious Lance and the more-than-he-seems Troy! ...more
I've just found my next series obsession! Whew - Thank you to KathyD for the awesome recommendation!
Soon as I read the synopsis I knew I wanted to reI've just found my next series obsession! Whew - Thank you to KathyD for the awesome recommendation!
Soon as I read the synopsis I knew I wanted to read this one and I'm so very glad it was available. What a page-turning, fascinating read! The time period is futuristic, but eerily accurate to what could happen to our world in the not-so-distant future. That made it all the more realistic and very engaging for me. I really loved Eve's character, her 'cop' persona covering up some serious cobwebs. And Rourke grew on me quickly from the moment he began interacting with Eve. Their chemistry was intense and enjoyable. I really liked that Eve didn't just hop into bed with Rourke and suddenly become a moony, love-sick girl about it. She found him to the end and it was so very endearing - and I definitely don't think their conflict and relationship is solved by any means. I loved how the author put them together and how the story wound down to a very nail-biting conclusion! I cannot wait to read their next adventure and am tickled pink there are so many books to read in the series - I envision this one keeping me up late at night!
I had my suspicions, but really enjoyed how this book went down to the last moment. I kept looking at the percentage left on my Kindle thinking 'Okay they need to wind this down because I gotta know who dunnit!' Great book and anticipating a great series! ...more
OMG this book was so wonderful! I was absolutely enthralled from page one! There was so much to this book that just hit me in all the feels and I coulOMG this book was so wonderful! I was absolutely enthralled from page one! There was so much to this book that just hit me in all the feels and I couldn't put it down. Definitely tops my list for a cozy coming home story. Makes me want to visit those mystical islands and experience the real thing!
OMG this series just gets better and better! I thoroughly enjoyed the P&P vagary that was the first novel, Heartstone and couldn't wait to get to thisOMG this series just gets better and better! I thoroughly enjoyed the P&P vagary that was the first novel, Heartstone and couldn't wait to get to this book. As impatient as I was, I didn't want to wait 3 months for the ebook from my library so I checked out the audiobook instead. While I missed reading the words on the page, mostly to understand and remember things from the first book, I LOVED the audiobook version! The narrator was fabulous with her wide range of accents and different voices (I especially loved how she portrayed Akkara's voice and accent!) and the way she infused such emotion into these precious characters!
While the P&P story itself ended with the last book, White took her version of the characters on an exciting, fascinating and very imaginative all-new adventure, and completed the package with a toe-curlingly satisfying post-marriage of our beloved Darcy and Elizabeth characters, Daired and Aliza! *swoon* *sigh* Though there's nothing explicit (minor bummer), the chemistry between Alistair and Aliza is still most definitely there. Their marriage has its conflicts, but I truly felt that the hearts of both White's characters and Ms. Austen's originals were one and the same - if, of course, Elizabeth Bennet had been a bold and courageous healer and Darcy a swoon-worthy, sword-welding dragonrider... smack-deep in the mythical world of Arles.
But I digress. What a complete package this story was. There were internal conflicts aplenty with Aliza, particularly around her not being a dragonrider and worthy of the Daired name. Several conflicts between Aliza and Alistair, though they were so well resolved! And as with the first book, there were subplots built in with the main plot that were just as intriguing. Lots of mystery and myth and dragon-riding action as well. The story was of course, completely new to the characters and written with such creativity that made me want to listen to the story day and night. All matter of mythical creatures appeared (and the narrator utilized different voices and accents on them all!) from mermaids and selkies to centaurs, werewolves and completely uniquely created beings and monsters. This was Pride and Prejudice meets Harry Potter meets Game of Thrones! And so much more! It also left a gaping cliffhanger at the end and a return of that old nefarious character Wickham.... er, I mean Wydrick! Gleefully fun!
I'm eagerly awaiting either the audiobook or the ebook of Flamebringer and I'm not sure which one I want more!!...more