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Showing posts with label blogging for books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging for books. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

What I've read lately

(All titles link to Goodreads synopsis)

I read A TON of books again this month (FIFTEEN!!)!  I've been on a roll lately, I guess.  I have been doing one mini book review post a month for quite a while now but I'm wondering if I should start splitting them up and do two a month so it's not sooo many at once....  What do you guys think?  Would you rather me just keep things the same and list all the books I read that month in one post, or is it a bit too much information for you?  Let me know what you think!!

Paper Towns by John Green
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This was my first ever John Green read, and I still have mixed feelings about it. I really love Quentin and his group of friends, and even the interactions with his classmates because they seemed very real and like people I would have known in school. But I really didn't like Margo at all. At first she didn't seem bad but then as the story went I liked her less and less. Without giving anything away, I would like to say that I'm glad Quentin made the decision he made at the end.

Caught Up in You by Kim Boykin
My rating: 3 out of 3 stars
This one was a really quick romance read (104 pages) so I finished it in one sitting. I enjoyed it, but I also felt as if it could have used more story in some places. I think it would have been more complete with just a few more details.
(c/o NetGalley)

There Goes the Bride by Catherine Mann
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This was another really quick romance read. I think the author did an amazing job with the chemistry between the two main characters. It really sizzled. I wish it was just a teeny bit longer. I didn't feel as if I got a good feel for the characters.
(c/o NetGalley)

Down the Aisle With Bridezilla by Carli Palmer
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I've always loved books that involve weddings and Bridezillas so I was really excited about this one. I thought there was going to be a little more humor in the book than there was. It was just another demanding bride after another and Megan (the main character/wedding coordinator) always seemed completely miserable. I didn't feel any real "sparks" between Megan and her love interest at all either. It was a fun read with lots of quirky and crazy brides though.
(c/o NetGalley)

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
First I would like to say that if you are not a fan stories involving things like: graphic violence, rape, adultery, eating disorders, etc then this is definitely not the book for you. I felt as if the story started a bit slow and then got really good towards the middle and then fell flat for me at the end. I wanted a bigger punch at the end! I was waiting and hoping for something big to happen but it never did. Almost every character in this book is VERY unlikable, including the main character. But I think that intrigued me even more.
(c/o NetGalley)

Love in a Time of Monsters by Teresa Yea
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
I ended up loving this one! It was my first fantasy read in quite a while.  I loved how flawed and damaged the main character, Cat, is even though she is supposed to be the monster slaying "hero". This book is a lot grittier than I expected it to be. There were so many times that I couldn't put this one down because I needed to know what was going to happen!
(c/o NetGalley)

If You're Not the One by Jemma Forte
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I thought the concept for this book was really interesting: a woman who is unhappy with how things are currently in her life is involved in an accident that sends her into a coma where is is able to see how her life would have turned out had she chosen a different paths. It ended up dragging on a bit for me, especially when she kept going back through her and Tim's story. I couldn't stand his character at all so I had to force myself through those storylines. The story kind of ends open-ended and leaves you to sort of make up your own ending about what you think she decides to do. It ended up falling a bit short for me.
(c/o NetGalley)

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
This story was designed to be a mix between Swan Lake and Robin Hood, so I knew I would really like it.  It is a Christian novel (which I actually had no idea before starting it) so there were a lot of mentions of God, and praying, and things like that.  I don't normally read too many Christian novels but the religious undertones didn't really bother me at all.  It ended up being a pretty nice love story.
(c/o NetGalley)

Spelled by Betsy Schow
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
The really cheesy play on words got old really fast. "pix you" "oh for Grimm's sake". Once I blocked out all of those I was able to enjoy the story a bit more. The princess starts out very self centered and I hated her at first so it was nice to see her go through a bit of transformation, and grow up a bit as the story goes on.  I really liked Kato's character a lot.  I like how the ending set it up for another book.  I also enjoyed all of the references to other fairy tale characters.
(c/o NetGalley)

The Lie by C.L. Taylor
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This one definitely kept me turning the pages.  I wasn't sure what to expect out of this one and it had my heart beating like crazy during some of the "5 years ago" chapters.  You had no idea who to trust or what was really going on some of the time.  I wasn't overly surprised by the ending, however.  Once they said Leanne was alive and out of an institution I kind of figured she would be up to something.  I really liked Al's character a lot
(c/o NetGalley)

My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
It started out with so much potential but there was just something missing for me. they focus on her job in the company more than the relationship between the main two characters and then when something happens you expect for some kind of romance but it's came off more as lust. I would have liked to have seen them talk about everything that happened more until leaving it for one short talk at the very end. I didn't dislike it...it was just kind of "okay"
(c/o NetGalley)

Forward Pass by Desiree Holt
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I wasn't quite prepared for the heat factor in this one. It was much more of an erotica romance than I am used to reading but I ended up really loving it. I love stories where they have known each other all their lives. I love their witty and sarcastic banter back and forth too. The only criticism I would have is that the ending felt a little bit rushed
(c/o NetGalley)

Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey
My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
I just couldn't get into this one at all.  It sounded like such a great story: A woman from New York inherits property in Paris from a woman she doesn't even know. She tries to uncover the truth about why she inherited it instead of the family.  It started really slow and never really picked up for me, and the love story felt like it came out of no where.
(c/o NetGalley)

Faking Perfect by Rebecca Phillips
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I really liked this one. I only wish there was a little bit more about Tyler in the book. we don't know too much about him other than him having a secret hook-up relationship with the main character. he was probably my favorite character though. I enjoyed "watching" the main character grow as the book went on. going from someone that was extremely desperate to fit in into someone who realized that it's okay to be yourself.
(c/o NetGalley)

Shroud of Roses by Gloria Ferris
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I really like Bliss' stubborn and witty sarcasm but I actually wasn't found of her "boyfriend" at all. Most of the time he acted as if he didn't care about her at all or treated pretty crappy. I understand that he had issues in his past, as did she, but I wouldn't have put up with it. Other then there relationship, the mystery itself has me pretty curious but I wasn't very surprised by the ending either. I enjoyed reading it but it just fell short for me in a few areas.
(c/o NetGalley)

What have you been reading lately?  If you are on Goodreads, we should be friends!



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Tuesday, May 12, 2015

What I've read lately

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I was a reading machine this month!  This is probably the most I've read in a month EVER!  I'm actually really proud of that. lol!  Also, I've already hit my Goodreads goal for the year....so that's crazy.  Next year, I will have to pick a higher number.  I honestly thought I was going to struggle to read 20 books this year, but I've really been enjoying this a lot!  I have such a long reading list that I will probably never catch up.  I read a total of TWELVE books this month!

Down the Shore by T. Torrest
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I thought this was a really fun read. I really enjoyed Livia's character a lot because she's not the typical "damaged" or "weak" girl. She knows exactly what she wants and she's not afraid to show it. While obviously being a happy romance book, it still doesn't have the feel of a typical romance novel. Sometimes, I need a good "fluff" type of book to break up the darker ones I read.
(c/o NetGalley)

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Speaking of the darker books I read..... this is definitely one of them. I didn't end up enjoying it as much as Dark Places and Gone Girl but I still thought it was okay. I think the main thing about this one that I didn't like was that the end didn't seem quite as shocking as her other books. I had already kind of guessed who the killer was...so that kind of takes a little away for me, I guess.

Premiere: A Love Story by Tracy Ewens
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
I had never heard this author's name before but I REALLY enjoyed this book! It was such a sweet love story. I am a huge theater lover and even hold a degree in back stage theater so this one was right up my alley! It was an easy and refreshing read.
(c/o NetGalley)

Nothing Like Looking by Chris Van Hakes
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Honestly, I thought it was a little strange that the main character faked being gay to be popular at her new school. I actually went to school with quite a few gay friends and it in no way made them popular. If anything it made them more of outcasts, so that took me a little bit to wrap my head around. I think I mostly enjoyed this one because of the J R R Tolkien references. lol!
(c/o NetGalley)

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this one a lot.  I loved the dorkiness of the main character with her fanfiction, because I can totally relate to that.  lol!  (I'm a big Harry Potter nerd)  I read Attachments by Rowell last month and liked that just a teeny bit more so that's the only reason that it has one less star, but I really did enjoy their love story.

Beyond A Doubt by Nancy Cole Silverman
My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Honestly, I got about 35-40% of the way through this book and decided to give up on it. The main character, Carol, is investigating disappearances/murders of women in the area so she goes to a few nightclubs that she thinks they may have disappeared from, BUT for some unknown reason, decides to bring her underage daughter with her...??  Why would she do that?  What mother would do that?  Then she doesn't watch her at the nightclub (mother of the year award) and she ends up finding her drugged in a bathroom...duh!  Ugghh  I was just frustrated and done at that point...lol.  I only gave it a 2 star because, who knows, maybe it got better after I stopped reading.  I just couldn't get into the story at all.
(c/o NetGalley)

Don't Turn Around by Caroline Mitchell
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
This one was a lot different from the usual mystery/thrillers that I've been reading, and I really enjoyed it! It has a more paranormal story line than I'm used to but it was done in a really good, non-cheesy way. It was really creepy and had me guessing the whole time.
(c/o NetGalley)

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
I think it's safe to say that I've found a new favorite author.  I really liked Me Before You when I read it last month and I loved this one even more!  I've added a bunch of her other books to my "to read" list now too.  I can't get enough.  I love the way she writes her characters and makes you really feel every emotion that they are going through.

Damage Done by by Amanda Panitch
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This one was definitely a page-turner for me, I think I ended up reading it in one day actually!  I ended up guessing the ending before it happened but it still held the creepiness factor.
(c/o NetGalley)

Don't Get Me Wrong by Marianne Kavanagh
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I was a little bit disappointed with this one.  They were saying if you loved Jojo Moyes than you would love this one, and also that it was a sort of modern day Pride & Prejudice type of story.  I felt as if the prejudice was all very once sided in this one.  I also felt like they rushed the love at the end...  The ending wasn't much of an ending and leaves you to sort of make your own guess too.
(c/o NetGalley)

The Ice Twins by S.K. Tremayne
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
This one was super creepy!  It's a thriller about a 7 year old girl that lost her twin sister, and everyone in the family is keeping secrets from each other.  What is it about children that can end up being so scary?!  lol.  It definitely had the hairs on my arms standing up more than once. I didn't see that ending coming at all either!  I love a good twist ending.
(c/o NetGalley)

Flipped by Ines Saint
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
This was definitely the type of book I needed after that last creepy one.  It was a light fluffy type of romance book, but I really enjoyed the characters a lot.  It is actually going to be a series, going through each one of the brother's lives and I will definitely try to keep up with them because the brothers were my favorite part!

What have you been reading lately?  If you are on Goodreads, we should be friends!





Tuesday, April 14, 2015

What I've read recently

My rating: 3 1/2 to 4 stars out of 5
I would say that this book probably would be a 3 star book without that ending, I didn't see it coming at all. I enjoyed how the story was told from 3 different people's perspective and how they all weaved together. I wouldn't read it again but it was a quick, easy read that I ended up enjoying.

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
I absolutely loved this one!  I couldn't put it down.  I ended up reading it in two days.  It was such a fun, light-hearted story with realistic characters, that I was hooked.  So many of the characters could have been my friends in real life!  I had heard so many good things about this one, that I was hoping I wouldn't be let down.  This is one I could see myself reading again one day.  I am really looking forward to reading Fangirl soon (I just bought it!)



My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Uggghh, this book!  I almost abandoned it multiple times.  The story line just got more and more unbelievable and far-fetched.  It was definitely not one that I would recommend to anyone, but also not the absolute worst book I've ever read.



My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I had heard so many amazing things about this book so I knew I wanted to read this one as soon as I could.  And I was not disappointed.  I have never cried so hard over a book in my entire life!  You will definitely want to read this one with tissues on hand.  I can't tell you why I took away a star unless you've already read it, I don't want to give away any details!  So if you've read it, message me so I can't talk about it!! haha!

My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
I went into this book thinking it was going to be more of a scary ghost story, and found that it ended up being more of a romance. Which wouldn't have been quite as bad if it didn't seem so forced and the insta-love had me rolling eyes.
(c/o NetGalley)

( I received a copy of Until You're Mine from Blogging For Books and also The After House from NetGalley for free for review, however all opinions are my own)


What have you been reading lately?  If you are on Goodreads, we should be friends! ;-)

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Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Book Review: The Martian by Andy Weir

(click on book title for Goodreads synopsis)

The Martian by Andy Weir
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Martian is about an astronaut, Mark Watney, that gets stranded on Mars when his crew thinks him dead after a dust storm . He has to fight for survival and figure out ways to keep himself alive.

Quite honestly, this has probably been one of the best books I've read in a VERY long time. I couldn't put this one down! It had me on the edge of my seat and rooting for the main character every step of the way. There were even times in the book that I actually starting sweating because I was so nervous for him! You felt all of his frustrations and experienced every triumph right along with him.

The main character, Mark Watney, has a very dry sarcastic sense of humor that I loved.  It really breaks up the tension in the book and makes you relate to the character more.  I will warn you that there is a bit of profanity in the book, if you are sensitive to that kind of thing.

I have been recommending this book to everyone I know....including my husband! haha! He's started reading it and is hooked now too. Definitely a must read!

**I have received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review; this did not influence my review of this book and all my opinions and thoughts are my own.**

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Thursday, January 15, 2015

Book Review: Refinery 29: Style Stalking

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Even though I am and always have been what I like to call a self-proclaimed tom boy, I still have a bit of girly girl in me.  I didn't start really getting into fashion until after high school, and even then I still wasn't "Carrie Bradshaw material".  I am STILL learning different ways to style clothing, and that's why I was so excited to review Refinery 29: Style Stalking for Blogging for Books.

If you are someone that really loves fashion and loves learning new tips on pairing outfits, then this is a great book for you.  They cover everything from the basics, how to layer, mixing prints, and how to wear metallics.  I am completely clueless when it comes to mixing prints so that has been one chapter that I really focused on, along with the "1 Piece, 3 Ways" sections.

I will admit that some of the outfit photos featured in the book are pretty ostentatious and would make me wonder about that person's sanity; but the photography is really beautiful.

Refinery 29: Style Stalking is jam-packed with full color photography and not too long-winded in the wording department, so it makes for a very quick and easy read.  I read the whole book in one sitting!

In conclusion, I would have to say, that if you can get past some of the bizarre outfit photos to the actual fashion tips, this book is very good at igniting a creative side into your thinking when it comes to your closet.

**I have received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review; this did not influence my review of this book and all my opinions and thoughts are my own.**