The Golden Couple was definitely a unique one! I listened to it thanks to @librofm and it was perfect to and from work last month. Could Marissa and MThe Golden Couple was definitely a unique one! I listened to it thanks to @librofm and it was perfect to and from work last month. Could Marissa and Matthew's marriage really be perfect? Could they be the golden couple? You never know! Here's what I liked: The DC setting, especially since I live in the area. There were so many twists, turns and storylines that I was engaged the whole book. With a psychological thriller, that is super important to me. I couldn't figure out what some of the connections were, especially between Avery and Skip. I always want to be guessing. If I can figure it out, it usually doesn't work for me. Marissa was an unlikable character but I think that was the point.
Here's what didn't work for me: Romeo, the dog, and Bennett, the son, were probably my favorite characters which really shows how unlikable most of the human characters were. There were also SO many characters. Towards the end there were just too many storylines to keep track of and it didn't come together the way I hoped it would. There were some loose ends too.
This being said, I know people who absolutely loved this one and I did enjoy the story and writing style, it just fell a little flat for me....more
Chloe Davis was such an interesting character and I was rooting for her the whole time. Rightfully so, she is having flashbacks from when her dad was Chloe Davis was such an interesting character and I was rooting for her the whole time. Rightfully so, she is having flashbacks from when her dad was arrested for the murder of young girls in her hometown. She's a psychologist but no one's life is ever perfect. Even though her dad is behind bars she never feels totally safe. This book toggles back and forth from the past to the present and I thought that added a great dimension to the story. I'm really having a hard time rating this one! While I enjoyed it, I found it to be a bit predictable at the end and for thrillers, I always want to be surprised. However, it did keep me guessing throughout the book which I loved. It kept me super engaged and I had a hard time putting it down. Maybe the fact that I guessed the ending just means I read too many thrillers? I would still recommend this one. Thanks @minotaurbooks for my ARC!...more
HOLY STEAM. This was the first m/m romance I read and boy was it steamy and spicy! Onley James does a great job combining an action packed storyline wHOLY STEAM. This was the first m/m romance I read and boy was it steamy and spicy! Onley James does a great job combining an action packed storyline with equal amounts of romance. Adam and his brothers are psychopaths (literally), who were raised to murder people who have committed heinous crimes. Noah is connected to Adam through one of his recent kills and the first time they meet is quite interesting. They all work together to take down a crazy ring of child molesters. I really enjoyed this one and look forward to reading about the rest of Adam's brothers! From this book, it sounds like their stories will be just as wild and crazy. If you're looking for a suspenseful, action packed romance, this is for you!...more
This one was super cute! The whole time I was getting The Parent Trap vibes and think this would be a great book to be made into a movie. Cass and ChaThis one was super cute! The whole time I was getting The Parent Trap vibes and think this would be a great book to be made into a movie. Cass and Charlie definitely both inherited the cooking gene and both use it in different ways, Cass with the family bakery and Charlie with a cooking show. I loved seeing each of their stories pan out and I loved the epilogue even more. So many times I read a book and after I finish I'm always wondering, what comes next?! There were no loose ends in The Holiday Swap and I appreciated that! The Holiday Swap has cooking, baking, Christmas, love and family all wrapped into a pretty little box. Definitely recommend!...more
OBSESSED! I have this thing about reading the book before watching the series and I was determined to do this for Shadow and Bone ever since the serieOBSESSED! I have this thing about reading the book before watching the series and I was determined to do this for Shadow and Bone ever since the series came out on Netflix last year. I read the first third, then watched a few episodes and repeated this until I finished the book and season 1. I will say that I was super confused while watching the series because of the Six of Crows characters and storyline dispersed throughout it. I wish the series was just made on Shadow and Bone rather than the whole Grishaverse. BUT, that's a critique about the show, not the book. There was a lot o story building but also a lot of plot taking place. I found this to be an awesome part of the book. I haven't read a lot of fantasy but when the story building overpowers the plot I tend to lose interest, FAST. This wasn't the case here! Alina Starkov is a bada-- and is seriously such a strong character. I loved reading and simultaneously watching her character development and love interests develop. I was totally shocked at the twist and right after I finished book one I rushed to the library at the school I teach at and grabbed the other two. This is definitely a series I am loving! ...more
The Ballerinas was one of my most anticipated reads of the year ever since I saw the ballerinas on the cover when it became available on Netgalley. I The Ballerinas was one of my most anticipated reads of the year ever since I saw the ballerinas on the cover when it became available on Netgalley. I was super excited to have received a copy from BookSparks! I will say, I loved the imagery of Paris an The Paris Opera Ballet throughout the book. The author has a way of making you feel like you're in the studio, on the stage and dancing in the book. The challenges Delphine, Margaux and Lindsay face are all too real and represent the real issues in the dance world. I liked how the characters were written and the back and forth between the timelines worked for me and added to the dimension of the book. I REALLY wanted to absolutely fall in love with this book but in the end I found it a bit predictable. Maybe that's because I was a ballerina myself and I know all too well the types of scandals and horrors that happen in the ballet world? I'd still recommend this book I'm just not sure what genre I would have it fall under....more
New York City at Christmas time is always so magical. I love seeing the Macys windows, the tree and catching a performance of NYCB’s The Nurcracker. TNew York City at Christmas time is always so magical. I love seeing the Macys windows, the tree and catching a performance of NYCB’s The Nurcracker. This book definitely brought that magic to life! Sabrina’s week at The Plaza brings love, knowledge and happiness as she works with Grayson on his memoir. If you love the Eloise books you will also adore this book! Ian was a character that bothered me a bit and I wish he would have just been honest up front! But, I will say I loved how the story tied together so well at the end and I really enjoyed all of the scene setting in the novel. It captured the magic of NYC during December!...more
All the stars for this one. Sonny is a 50 year old meteorologist who unexpectedly moves back to snowy Michigan and into her mom’s house, from her warmAll the stars for this one. Sonny is a 50 year old meteorologist who unexpectedly moves back to snowy Michigan and into her mom’s house, from her warm, sunny California life. She’s navigating a huge life change while also still dealing with the death of her sister many years earlier. The Secret of Snow is not only heartwarming, it’s also SO deep. It covers the different ways people grieve the loss of their loved ones and shows the power of second chances and living life to the fullest. I was expecting a cutesy Christmas love story and I got so much more. This is one of my favorite winter books of all time. I absolutely loved it!...more
William seriously must have super powers. He biked from England all the way to India and Far Sweeter Than Honey is a journal of his experiences, hardsWilliam seriously must have super powers. He biked from England all the way to India and Far Sweeter Than Honey is a journal of his experiences, hardships, perseverance and trust through this journey. The storytelling aspect of the book is remarkable as well. This is more than just a diary of his trip. William tells a story of his transformation throughout the 8000 miles he traveled. I can imagine what a culture shock it was to go from England to Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Jordan, and eventually all the way to India. He had to deal with finding food, water, a place to sleep at night, visa issues, stolen belongings and other woes, but he was also blessed beyond measure by the kindness and open arms he encountered on the road. William and Brian trusted the new people they met to make it through their journey. When his companions left and he was by himself, I was worried about William's safety but he had so much belief and trust in his journey. It was truly inspiring. The book is broken into chapters by each country William visited on his trip. I felt like I was going through each country with him and I loved that. The perseverance he showed and the mental and spiritual growth he gained during this trip was inspiring and made me curious about other countries and cultures. Bravo!...more
This was such a sweet, well written, heartwarming, and educational children’s book!
Quick Synopsis: Siblings Jamie and Billy go to an art museum with This was such a sweet, well written, heartwarming, and educational children’s book!
Quick Synopsis: Siblings Jamie and Billy go to an art museum with their grandmother. When they are become trapped within one of the paintings, they need to find their way out by using Cezanne’s art style to find their way home. Along their journey they learn about not only Paul Cezanne’s stylistic attributes, but also about other artists. Will they find their way out?
I’m always a fan of a book that can teach me something and even though this was a children’s book, Fauvism was a new type of art I did not know prior to reading this book. The colors, geometric shapes and overall look of the art was very distinct! At the end of the story there was information about each piece of art that appeared in the book, who the artist was and where in the world one could find it. This added even more depth to the book and made it more educational. The way Ted Macaluso writes about the importance of artwork invoking feeling from the viewer was really powerful. As a teacher, I can see this book being used as a learning tool that’s not only educational but also enjoyable! I’m looking forward to seeing what Ted Macaluso comes up with next! ...more
Every time I read a new one of Emma's Love Cliche books I fall in love all over again. The fact that this is the last one makes me wish I could read tEvery time I read a new one of Emma's Love Cliche books I fall in love all over again. The fact that this is the last one makes me wish I could read them all over again. One thing I love about the series is that they can be read out of order. I read all of them out of order and still loved them. I was even able to pick up on little things with the characters I didn't recognize before. Sam and Rhysand's story is SO fun. They're enemies but turn into lovers even though they try their hardest to keep hating one another. Their banter is hilariously funny, and hearing from both perspectives makes you really gett to know the characters. I love how Sam and Rhysand's stories intertwine with a certain wedding at the end of the book and there are so many parts of the wedding and the book that are incredibly heartwarming. The epilogue is MY FAVORITE EPILOGUE FOR THE SERIES EVER. It's perfect. Seriously, just read this series, you wont regret it. Better yet, listen to it because the audio is TOP FREAKING NOTCH. Also, if you like ACOTAR, there are references in the book....for obvious reasons....more
I got total Princess Diaries 2 vibes with this one! Serafina is such a fun character and the banter she has with her friend Kat, Rafe and Claudius is I got total Princess Diaries 2 vibes with this one! Serafina is such a fun character and the banter she has with her friend Kat, Rafe and Claudius is super fun to watch. I loved how the story played out, but the thing I loved the most about the book was the beginning and the ending. The way it all came together was genius. I hope there is a second book about Kat! If you love Royal fiction, this is for you!...more
The Southern Side of Paradise is the third installment in the Peachtree Bluff series and I think this may be my favorite one yet! Emerson has always bThe Southern Side of Paradise is the third installment in the Peachtree Bluff series and I think this may be my favorite one yet! Emerson has always been an interesting character to me and I think seeing her story play out in this novel gave me a better understanding of who she is as a person, an actress, daughter and future wife. She's also the best aunt to Vivi! I mean, who else has an aunt who allows them to come on a Hollywood set with them?! She is recently engaged to Mark and all I'm going to say is I'm glad the story worked out the way it did. Ansley has never been my favorite character in this series but I definitely got a better read on her during this book and grew to like her even more. I read this one in ONE day and can't wait to start the last one! ...more