Victoria
by Daisy Goodwin
Informative & engaging (10/31/2016)
This was not my first novel by Daisy Goodwin and I really love her writing style and Victoria was no exception! I found the book to be insightful as well as informative. It had all the pertinent aspects of what made Victoria become the leader she was while still presenting this in a thoroughly engaging novel format. I found myself wanting to know more about her and I would say any novel that does that is well worth reading.
Miss Jane
by Brad Watson
Excellent, unique, & masterfully written (4/11/2016)
It is not often that you happen upon a book so eloquently written, interesting in subject matter and overflowing with emotions. Simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking, this wonderful novel tapped every single feeling possible. Ultimately I came away with a tremendous sense of the strength of a human spirit that would not embrace defeat and heartache but instead choose to live the best life possible in the circumstances presented. I highly recommend this beautifully written, superb novel that held my interest from start to finish.
The Language of Secrets
by Ausma Zehanat Khan
Interesting yet unsatisfying (11/10/2015)
While this book had some interesting aspects, I never could quite connect with the characters or the storyline. It is often frustrating to read books in a series and not start with the first book. I had so many questions and nearly all of them went unanswered. What happened between Khattak & his friend? How did Khattak's wife die? Why does Rachel dislike her mother? These may not seem important in the overall storyline, but they are important to character development. The actual mystery was alright, although not the type of mystery you could figure out yourself. The novel was woven with poetry and poetic references which I'm sure had hidden meaning, although not to me. It was a mystery but not one which I could try to decipher on my own and not one which would lead to an "ah ha" moment. Ultimately, it was just a story and the unraveling of the mystery became an afterthought.
Trust No One: A Thriller
by Paul Cleave
Very interesting premise (6/15/2015)
I was somewhere in the middle on this one. Parts of the novel were very engaging while other times I thought it went on too long. Ultimately I felt the need to keep reading in order to learn the final outcome. It was definitely a very unusual & clever take on early onset Alzheimers with really interesting character development.
Dangerous When Wet: A Memoir
by Jamie Brickhouse
Enjoyable reading (3/13/2015)
As a fan of witty memoirs, I can certainly say this one didn't fail to amuse me. It was touching and entertaining. The author has an excellent writing style and the book was absorbing. I enjoyed it!
The Secrets of Midwives
by Sally Hepworth
A fast, entertaining read (12/7/2014)
What can I say about a book I finished in 2 days? I really enjoyed the storyline, the characters and was thoroughly engaged from start to finish. It was a light but well developed plot and hearing from the different characters point of view held my interest. Often, I judge a book based on how often I want to go back to it to find out what's going to happen next. I polished this one off in two days so I would definitely categorize it as highly enjoyable, entertaining & even informative.
House of Bathory
by Linda Lafferty
Good but never reached full potential (1/2/2014)
While I found the historical aspects to this novel extremely fascinating, I could not relate to the modern day story tie-in. The events and subsequent dialog were often juvenile or seemed contrived. Eastern Europe in the 1500s would, in and of itself, make for a rich and mesmerizing tale. The modern twist was just not as riveting and sometimes bordered on the silly. The intrigue within this story rested solely on the historical Bathory legend and I must admit if the book had focused exclusively on building and exploring this period alone, it may have been wonderful.
Doing Harm
by Kelly Parsons
Interesting premise (11/11/2013)
I found the subject matter in this novel to be very intriguing yet for some reason I was not as "hooked" as I should be in a suspense novel. Revealing the antagonist half way through a book is an interesting approach but ultimately it lacked a "shocking" element to it. Nonetheless, it was an entertaining and light novel that would be perfect as a beach read.
Bitter River: A Bell Elkins Novel
by Julia Keller
At times entertaining...at times annoying (7/6/2013)
I enjoyed the character development & the building mystery found within the beginning of the book. Learning about the characters in this small town was initially intriguing although at times I found them difficult to keep straight.
What I could not understand and did not enjoy was the story sub-plot. I found it ultimately irrelevant and distracting. In the end, I never got that "ahaaa" moment I was so hoping for.
Close My Eyes
by Sophie McKenzie
Highly enjoyable, with predictable & unpredictable plot twists (4/9/2013)
This novel gripped me from the very beginning and often kept me reading way past my bedtime. I found myself accurately predicting some aspects of the plotline while also being highly suprised with others. It's a really interesting and suspenseful read that kept me hooked until the very last page.
Rage Against the Dying
by Becky Masterman
Began with so much promise (1/3/2013)
Without a doubt, the beginning of this novel had me hooked. Unfortunately, I could not hold that feeling all the way through. While certain elements were crafty and unusual, I didn't feel the "thriller" aspect come through. Ultimately, I walked away with serious motive questions and couldn't get past the sometimes goofy dialog. On occasion a novel is so good you forget to eat or go to sleep, but not in this case.
Indiscretion
by Charles Dubow
I really wanted to love this one... (10/22/2012)
But, alas, I could not. Although the book was a quick read, I found myself questioning the motives & personalities of the characters. Often the scenerios just didn't seem plausible & I just didn't discover anything new or refreshing in the telling of this ancient tale. In fact, in certain respects, I've heard this story before in real life. I kept waiting for something earth-shattering to occur and by that time, for me, it was too little, too late.
And When She Was Good: A Novel
by Laura Lippman
An absolutely riveting read! (7/21/2012)
I thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of this book. It grips you from the very beginning & is a bonafide page-turner that I could not manage to put down. A thrilling and compelling read that'll hook you until the final pages. A definitely must read for anyone who enjoys a well done thriller.
The Language of Flowers: A Novel
by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Stunning (6/13/2012)
A simply gorgeous read that was riveting & engaging from the very beginning. It had me pondering the significance of what it means to be a mother or a daughter. Stayed with me for days & captured my heart forever. By far one of the best books I've read in years....
Niceville: A Novel
by Carsten Stroud
Holds your attention...most of the time. (5/14/2012)
In all honestly, I would like to give the book 3.5 stars. It's definitely a unique supernatural suspense thriller that had me sometimes riveted and sometimes bored. It was a challenge to keep the characters straight as there were SO MANY of them! It also took quite a while to see how everyone was connected, which was sometimes frustrating. But the characters were very interesting, quirky, well developed and so unusual!
Finally, I must mention that I finished the book with quite a few questions left unanswered. That is always a problem for me, I need everything resolved to truly rate any book as a "must read". But it definitely was entertaining.
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