Tag: Review

[New Post] Review: The Leaving Year

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Title: The Leaving year

Author: Pam McGaffin

Page count: 352

Published: Aug 14, 2018

Publisher: SparkPress

Genre: Historical Fiction / YA

Received: From Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Rating:  3.5/5

Summary:

A coming-of-age YA novel about the daughter of a Pacific Northwest fisherman, whose presumed drowning in 1967 has her searching for answers, including whether or not he’s really dead.

As the Summer of Love comes to an end, 15-year-old Ida Petrovich waits for a father who never comes home. While commercial fishing in Alaska, he is lost at sea, but with no body and no wreckage, Ida and her mother are forced to accept a “presumed” death that tests their already strained relationship. While still in shock over the loss of her father, Ida overhears an adult conversation that shatters everything she thought she knew about him. This prompts her to set out on a search for the truth that takes her from her Washington State hometown to Southeast Alaska, where she works at a salmon cannery, develops love for a Filipino classmate, and befriends a Native Alaskan girl. In this wild, rugged place, she also begins to understand the physical and emotional bonds that took her father north and why he kept them secret—a journey of discovery that ultimately brings her family together and helps them heal. Insightful and heartfelt, The Leaving Year is a tale of love and loyalty, family and friendship, and the stories we tell ourselves in our search for meaning

My Thoughts:

I’m not really a fan of historical fiction but being a YA book, I thought that I would give this a try since I read Fawkes and really enjoyed the magic element in that one.

This on the other hand had more of an emotional side. It was beautifully written, I was intrigued from the first chapter. It was a little on the slow side but that didn’t bother me to much in this case. This book is set in the late 1060’s and to think that things happened back then is crazy because we really only think of the year that we were born and beyond, anything past that is odd.

This book goes on Ida’s journey after hearing that her father is presumed to be lost at sea after she over hears a conversation what her mom is having. Her mom and dad have been keeping secrets from her due to this she decides to leave an get the answers that she is looking for.

I did have one issue with this book. I didn’t feel connected to Ida until the second half of the book. That being said I still enjoyed it.

This kind of reminded me of The Long Way Home Series by Jasinda Wilder when Ava’s husband Christian gets lost at sea.

[New Post] Review: The Moon Shines Red

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Title: The Moon Shines Red

Author: Pamela Sparkman

Page count: 266

Published: May 2017

Publisher:  N/A

Genre: YA / Fantasy

Received: From the author in exchange for an honest review

Rating: 3/5

Summary:

Lord Lochlan was cursed in the womb, condemned by the perceived crimes of his parents.

On the thirteenth year of his birth, the red glow of the moon washed over land and sea like a faded bloody stain. A constant reminder of the curse that marked him before he was born. Every night he gazed at it like he was lured and haunted by it. It followed him, it beseeched him. It called out to him. Just once he wanted to see the moon glow as everyone else saw it. Bright and illuminating. But he knew that would never be possible.

The all too familiar feeling of despair suffocated him, like long gangling fingers squeezing his neck, cutting off his air. He fell to his knees and begged for the sky to fall on him. He had suffered long and tirelessly and he was desperate for it to end. And yet, he fought to breathe. He fought to stand back on his feet. Because fighting back was as instinctual to him as breathing. He had come too far to let his loneliness and despair get the best of him now. He was battle worn and weary, but he still had a reason to live.

Or so he hoped.

He stood back on his feet and he fought against the doom that hovered over him since the day he was born and he stared up into the darkened sky.

At the moon that shines red only for him.

I should have stayed away from him. But I couldn’t.
HE was my love…my life. And he just might kill me.
I suppose that means…he may also be my end.

My Thoughts:

Reading this book being that it is a fantasy book, its not my normal go to genre. After reading this book I have to say that it is making want to read more fantasy books. This is so engrossing, I read this book on one sitting because I needed to know what had happened.

That being said let’s get into my review.

This was truly a captivating story that had all the elements that I would expect in a fantasy book. There’s magic, demons, fae and of course human. There is also multiple POV’s which I know some people don’t like. I like to add that in just as a heads up. It did take me a few chapters to get into but once I did I was hooked.

I loved the map at the beginning of the book. I think it adds a segway into the story, so that you know were the characters are from. The book is also told in two parts. ( some people might not be a fan of)  I loved the curse at the beginning of the book

When what is blue turns red, your child will bring man to is knees and sorrow

For they will not see the light of tomorrow

Let it be so until the mountains move and the rivers shiver

As soon as what’s been shrouded is revealed, all wicked souls will quiver

A refusal shall mark an age of tranquility

And the restoration of balance shall bring forth a remedy.

I’m not sure what it is about that, but I loved it.

The main character Elin who happens to have powers and living with her parents, I loved when she meets Lord Lochlan, that’s when the story for me got interesting. The story did take me in for a loop an I liked that because I never knew what was coming.

Lord Lochlan is conceived out of love and because of that he is condemned. and because of that he has to live in isolation. He feels like he is going to be alone for ever, that is fate is set. That is until he meets Elin.

The romance that these two had was real. To be able to find love from the impossible situations that they were both in was nice to read

This is the first book that I have read by this author an all I have to say is wow. I cant wait to read what is going to happen next.

[New Post] Review: The Goodbye Girls

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Title: The Goodbye Girls

Author:  Lisa Harrington

Page count: 248

Published: June 2018

Publisher: Nimbus Publishing

Genre:  Teen / YA

Received: Netgallay

Rating:  2.5/5

Summary:

The students at Lizzie’s high school are notoriously terrible at breakups. Forget awkward conversations—they’re dumping each other via text. Inspired by the terrible breakups around her, sixteen-year-old Lizzie, strapped for cash and itching to go on the school’s band trip to NYC, teams up with her best friend, Willa, to create a genius business: personalized gift baskets—breakup baskets—sent from dumper to dumpee. The Goodbye Girls operate in secret, and business is booming. But it’s not long before someone begins sabotaging The Goodbye Girls, sending impossibly cruel baskets to seemingly random targets, undermining everything Lizzie and Willa have built and jeopardizing their anonymity. Soon family, friendship, and a budding romance are on the line. Will Lizzie end up saying goodbye to the business for good?

My Thoughts:

I really wanted to like this book. The synopsis of it sounded so good, I haven’t read or heard of any like it, that’s why I was so interested in it.

While reading this book, Lizzie was the best part of it although maybe a little immature at times. Willa was rather annoying, because she was always getting after Lizzie about certain things were imo she had no right to do. Also going after Lizzie’s older sister Trisha I mean she’s not the nicest person ever but I still don’t think that Willa should have said the things she said. It was really hard for me to like her.

I did like that here was a mystery to who was sending the mysterious breakup baskets.

Not sure what else to say other than… this book wasn’t for me. I really did want to like it, just felt like something was lacking.

*I was given this book by netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

[New Post] Review: The Last Wish of Sasha Cade

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Title: The Last Wish of Sasha Cade

Author: Cheyanne Young

Page count: 320

Published:  October 2, 2018

Publisher: Kids Can Press

Genre:  Teen / YA

Received: Netgallay

Rating:  3/5

Summary:

The day Raquel has been dreading for months has finally arrived. Sasha, her best friend in the whole world — the best friend in the whole world — has died of cancer. Raquel can’t imagine life without her. She’s overwhelmed and brokenhearted.

And then a letter from Sasha arrives. Has she somehow found a way to communicate from the afterlife?

In fact, Sasha has planned an elaborate scavenger hunt for Raquel, and when she follows the instructions to return to Sasha’s grave, a mysterious stranger with striking eyes is waiting for her. There’s a secret attached to this boy that only Sasha—and now Raquel—knows.

This boy, Elijah, might be just what Raquel needs to move on from her terrible loss. But can Raquel remain true to herself while also honoring her friend’s final wish?

My Thoughts:

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I absolutely loved this book. Raquel’s best friend is dying of cancer, they spend the most the time they have together . Sasha does die fairly quickly in the story but this book is more about letting us know they there is more to life after someone that we love passes.

When Sasha passes she leaves her bff one final gift, a series of things to do to help Raquel and Elijah deal wither her passing better by going on adventures. I wish that everyone would be able to experience that with there loved ones

This story was so heartfelt. You start the book with the smile on your face and as you read you feel all these different emotions, like you’re the one that lost there best friend. You see a story of love, loss, friendship and even romance.

The first few chapters were truly heart wrenching. I did get misty eyes reading it.

If you’re a lover of The Fault in Our Stars then I think you should check this book out.

[New Post] Review: Captive in the Dark

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Title: Captive in the Dark

Author: CJ Roberts

Page count: 277

Published:  August 29, 2011

Publisher: N/A

Genre:  Erotica

Received: Bought my self

Rating:  4/5

Summary:

Caleb is a man with a singular interest in revenge. Kidnapped as a young boy and sold into slavery by a power-hungry mobster, he has thought of nothing but vengeance. For twelve years he has immersed himself in the world of pleasure slaves searching for the one man he holds ultimately responsible. Finally, the architect of his suffering has emerged with a new identity, but not a new nature. If Caleb is to get close enough to strike, he must become the very thing he abhors and kidnap a beautiful girl to train her to be all that he once was.

Eighteen-year-old Olivia Ruiz has just woken up in a strange place. Blindfolded and bound, there is only a calm male voice to welcome her. His name is Caleb, though he demands to be called Master. Olivia is young, beautiful, naïve and willful to a fault. She has a dark sensuality that cannot be hidden or denied, though she tries to accomplish both. Although she is frightened by the strong, sadistic, and arrogant man who holds her prisoner, what keeps Olivia awake in the dark is her unwelcome attraction to him.

My Thoughts:

I read this book a while back and I just recently read on Facebook that it was going to be a movie. Which I can’t wait to see how they are going to put this on the big screen. I’m really interested to see who there going to get to play Caleb, I hope whom ever they pick he can do him justice. I feel like there’s a certain type of person that can play him. Its funny atm I’m typing this I can’t even think of one person that could… that’s sad.  

I bought this book when it first came out because it was recommended to me after I finished a book and the synopsis of it sounded interesting. I knew it was going to be a dark read. Fast forward a few months and looking back on it, I held off reading it for so long because I was kind of afraid to read what was going to happen with Caleb when it was a child. I pulled though an read the book and now on to my review.

The main character Caleb made me love and hate him with such anger, it was funny because it was all in a matter of a few pages that I could be going back and forth with my feelings for him. Then there were some moments that I said WTF and others I just wanted to hug him and tell him that everything was going to be alright. Caleb had a twelve year revenge plan in the making. In doing so he kidnaps Livvie

Livvie has had a hard childhood with her mom feeling like she wasn’t loved by her. When it came to Caleb I get why she felt like she didn’t know what to do with her feelings. When she wakes up from being kidnapped she is terrified because she is tied to a bed in the dark and Caleb calls her “Pet” that’s one thing that annoyed me a little bit. And the fact that he wanted her to call him “Master”

After reading this, I honestly can’t wait to see what happens with the next book. Im just conflicted with my feelings on this because I was so back and forth with Caleb. This book was a total mind fuck for me. I cant even really say what I was feeling when I read this other then udder shock and amazement. I can’t imagine the book getting any better then it already was.

I think you should all check this book out for yourselves an see what you think about it. You may love it or you may hate it. If you enjoyed 50 shades of Grey then you may like this one, this just tends to actually be 50 shades but a lot better imo.