Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Monday, September 14, 2015
The Neighbor by Bernadette Chapman
I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this book. I liked seeing Anders and Finn getting to know each other. I liked that Finn wasn't out to change or fix Anders just to open his horizons. It was a nice change of pace. I liked both characters, and watching them fall in love was really sweet. Just what I wanted to read on a long car ride on a dreary day. Nothing too heavy, or too complicated just a fun, short read.
mle
I liked this book. I liked seeing Anders and Finn getting to know each other. I liked that Finn wasn't out to change or fix Anders just to open his horizons. It was a nice change of pace. I liked both characters, and watching them fall in love was really sweet. Just what I wanted to read on a long car ride on a dreary day. Nothing too heavy, or too complicated just a fun, short read.
mle
Percolation, Poetry, and Passion by A.V. Sanders
I received this book as an ARC though NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this book felt more like the outline of a story than an actual story. Even for a short piece it felt incomplete, and sketchy. I never felt like I had a good feel for the characters, especially Simon. Too much of a rich stereotype, and not enough like a real person. The plot moved in fits and spurts, and it went too quickly from them hooking up to them going home to meet Beckett's family. Simon's jealousy felt over the top, and I think Beckett was too quick to forgive him for acting so possessive. The secondary cast felt even less developed than the primary, Beckett's mother in particular, and they didn't add to the story at all. I never felt like I could connect with any of this, and I never cared enough to really dislike it. There just wasn't enough there.
mle
I thought this book felt more like the outline of a story than an actual story. Even for a short piece it felt incomplete, and sketchy. I never felt like I had a good feel for the characters, especially Simon. Too much of a rich stereotype, and not enough like a real person. The plot moved in fits and spurts, and it went too quickly from them hooking up to them going home to meet Beckett's family. Simon's jealousy felt over the top, and I think Beckett was too quick to forgive him for acting so possessive. The secondary cast felt even less developed than the primary, Beckett's mother in particular, and they didn't add to the story at all. I never felt like I could connect with any of this, and I never cared enough to really dislike it. There just wasn't enough there.
mle
A Demon Inside by Rick R. Reed
I received this book as an ARC though NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to like this book. I liked the scary aspects of this very much, and the idea of the house was interesting, but the characters didn't work for me at all. I found Hunter to be a very unlikeable character. Sheltered, and naïve, but also more than a bit petulant and childish. His mood swings seemed to come out of nowhere. I might have felt bad for him at first that quickly went away when I saw the way he treated pretty much everyone else in the book. I wasn't a big fan of Michael either, and found him to be a bit too pushy. I also didn't like the way he hid things from Hunter, but still treated him like he was crazy. I found their romance to be very unbelievable, and it felt very forced to me. The ending especially felt like it came a bit out of nowhere, and it left me feeling very satisfied. I think if Michael and Hunter had remained friends it would have worked better for me.
In the end I was probably the only one, but I was rooting for the demon and the house.
mle
I really wanted to like this book. I liked the scary aspects of this very much, and the idea of the house was interesting, but the characters didn't work for me at all. I found Hunter to be a very unlikeable character. Sheltered, and naïve, but also more than a bit petulant and childish. His mood swings seemed to come out of nowhere. I might have felt bad for him at first that quickly went away when I saw the way he treated pretty much everyone else in the book. I wasn't a big fan of Michael either, and found him to be a bit too pushy. I also didn't like the way he hid things from Hunter, but still treated him like he was crazy. I found their romance to be very unbelievable, and it felt very forced to me. The ending especially felt like it came a bit out of nowhere, and it left me feeling very satisfied. I think if Michael and Hunter had remained friends it would have worked better for me.
In the end I was probably the only one, but I was rooting for the demon and the house.
mle
Dark Economy by M. Keedwell
I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this book. I loved that it was the mystery that drove the plot, and not the romance. It made for a much stronger story in my opinion. I liked the way the romance developed as well. That Cadell and Brenton had to learn to trust, and understand each other before any real romance started. There might have been attraction before, but there wasn't any of the silly instant love. I liked that the story felt very grounded in the time period, and I found the medical and police procedure really interesting. It also let me really feel how men like Cadell were treated at the time, and how that shaped the way they thought about relationships, and love. The characters were well rounded, and developed, and I liked that it extended to the secondary cast as well. There were no easy villains, and everyone was more than they first appeared to be, and this was true for both the upper, and lower cast characters. The ending was well done, and fit the story nicely. Overall a nice period mystery with a nice touch of romance.
mle
I really liked this book. I loved that it was the mystery that drove the plot, and not the romance. It made for a much stronger story in my opinion. I liked the way the romance developed as well. That Cadell and Brenton had to learn to trust, and understand each other before any real romance started. There might have been attraction before, but there wasn't any of the silly instant love. I liked that the story felt very grounded in the time period, and I found the medical and police procedure really interesting. It also let me really feel how men like Cadell were treated at the time, and how that shaped the way they thought about relationships, and love. The characters were well rounded, and developed, and I liked that it extended to the secondary cast as well. There were no easy villains, and everyone was more than they first appeared to be, and this was true for both the upper, and lower cast characters. The ending was well done, and fit the story nicely. Overall a nice period mystery with a nice touch of romance.
mle
Friday, September 4, 2015
Mad About the Hatter by Dakota Chase
I received this book as an ARC though NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this book, and how the author was able to retain the feel of the original book so well. The blend of nonsense and danger was well done, and Wonderland never felt too silly or too angsty. I had a little trouble understanding Henry at first, but once I got a feeling for his character, and his family I grew to like him. I helped that his time in Wonderland really forces him to open his eyes, and his mind, and he grows a lot over the course of the story. I liked how the Hatter was done. He was more than a bit mad, but not too over the top. He was a very human character, and I appreciated that. I liked seeing them learn to trust, and understand each other over the course of the story. It was a sweet, slow romance. The plot was well drawn, and paced, and I liked that the romance was only part of the story, and it never overtook the main plot. The ending was well done, and fit the feeling of the story well. Overall a fun ya story with a interesting cast, and plot.
mle
I really liked this book, and how the author was able to retain the feel of the original book so well. The blend of nonsense and danger was well done, and Wonderland never felt too silly or too angsty. I had a little trouble understanding Henry at first, but once I got a feeling for his character, and his family I grew to like him. I helped that his time in Wonderland really forces him to open his eyes, and his mind, and he grows a lot over the course of the story. I liked how the Hatter was done. He was more than a bit mad, but not too over the top. He was a very human character, and I appreciated that. I liked seeing them learn to trust, and understand each other over the course of the story. It was a sweet, slow romance. The plot was well drawn, and paced, and I liked that the romance was only part of the story, and it never overtook the main plot. The ending was well done, and fit the feeling of the story well. Overall a fun ya story with a interesting cast, and plot.
mle
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
The Oracle series by Mell Eight
The Oracle's Flame
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
There is something I really like about Mell Eight's books. There's a sweetness to her fantasy that's endearing rather than annoying, and I liked that as sweet as it can be the stories aren't without real danger, and consequences. I liked the characters, and I liked seeing them grow closer together. The plot had a nice arc to it, and even thought I thought some of the ending was a little out of left field I could still enjoy the story. A nice start to a new series.
art credit - Dragon Tea by freeminds
The Oracle's Hatchling
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this book. I found Ling to be a relatable character, and I liked that the cruel way in which he was treated didn't make him a hard or a cold person. I liked how he reached out to the Prince, and how the two men learned to trust in each other. The plot was well done, and I liked that it was about more than brute force, but about trust, and openness, and learning to have faith in others. The ending was well done, and fit the mood of the story, and the characters well.
art credit - Element Butterfly by GrafixGirlIreland
The Oracle's Golem
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is my favorite of the series so far. I liked the story of what happened to Golem, and the choices that the Oracle was forced to make. It added a touch of darkness to an otherwise sweet series, and gave it a nice balance. I liked how things weren't as simple as they first appeared, and sometimes bad things have to happen in order for better things to come. I liked that the story wasn't simply about Marl and Golem, but about Lichen and the Oracle as well. I really liked Marl, and how he didn't let not being the strongest stop him from learning his element to the best of his ability. The plot to this story was nicely paced, and I really liked how things turned out. Can't wait to read the next one.
art credit - Earth Dragon by koneko no arashi
The Oracle's Sprite
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this book. The characters were well drawn, and interesting, and I liked how Keir always knew that there was something special about Sprite. I liked seeing Sprite grow, and just how much Keir gives him strength. The plot was well done, and I appreciate that Sprite's home is far from perfect, and that the series has been tackling the problems there more and more. The ending was well done, and I'm really looking forward to the next book. I can't wait for Lichen to have his own story.
art credit - Blue Cloud Dragon by John Avon
mle
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
There is something I really like about Mell Eight's books. There's a sweetness to her fantasy that's endearing rather than annoying, and I liked that as sweet as it can be the stories aren't without real danger, and consequences. I liked the characters, and I liked seeing them grow closer together. The plot had a nice arc to it, and even thought I thought some of the ending was a little out of left field I could still enjoy the story. A nice start to a new series.
art credit - Dragon Tea by freeminds
The Oracle's Hatchling
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this book. I found Ling to be a relatable character, and I liked that the cruel way in which he was treated didn't make him a hard or a cold person. I liked how he reached out to the Prince, and how the two men learned to trust in each other. The plot was well done, and I liked that it was about more than brute force, but about trust, and openness, and learning to have faith in others. The ending was well done, and fit the mood of the story, and the characters well.
art credit - Element Butterfly by GrafixGirlIreland
The Oracle's Golem
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is my favorite of the series so far. I liked the story of what happened to Golem, and the choices that the Oracle was forced to make. It added a touch of darkness to an otherwise sweet series, and gave it a nice balance. I liked how things weren't as simple as they first appeared, and sometimes bad things have to happen in order for better things to come. I liked that the story wasn't simply about Marl and Golem, but about Lichen and the Oracle as well. I really liked Marl, and how he didn't let not being the strongest stop him from learning his element to the best of his ability. The plot to this story was nicely paced, and I really liked how things turned out. Can't wait to read the next one.
art credit - Earth Dragon by koneko no arashi
The Oracle's Sprite
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this book. The characters were well drawn, and interesting, and I liked how Keir always knew that there was something special about Sprite. I liked seeing Sprite grow, and just how much Keir gives him strength. The plot was well done, and I appreciate that Sprite's home is far from perfect, and that the series has been tackling the problems there more and more. The ending was well done, and I'm really looking forward to the next book. I can't wait for Lichen to have his own story.
art credit - Blue Cloud Dragon by John Avon
mle
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