Review | "Scottish Witches" by Lily Seafield

This week's review is a short one over a relatively difficult to find, Scottish, non-fiction book "Scottish Witches" which I bought on a whim in Edinburgh in February.
I don't have a Goodreads description this time around, so I will just get right into my thoughts.
Right away, I think this is a good book for people who are interested in the witch hunt periods throughout history or people who like lore and legends.  However, this isn't the most elaborate reference. It's a concise introduction that gives the reader enough information to have a better understanding or jump into more research.
The book itself had a few technical problems.
There were a few typos and missing words in sentences. It got repetitive at times and jumped around in ways that didn't stick to the chapter topics.
I enjoyed the book, it was a quick read, and it was fairly inexpensive when I bought it. Is it a must read for the topic it deals with? No, but if you have the chance, I would recommend giving it a try.

Review | "Losing Hope" by Colleen Hoover

If you've been following my blog for a while, you know that in 2014 I read and later (much later as in this case) reviewed "Hopeless", a new adult (though all the characters are in high school) book by Colleen Hoover. I liked that book, it was a very addicting read that I finished in a few days...but there were a few things that I could see bothering people.
Well, as most of you probably know, there is a "sequel"- an alternate POV if you will, and that's "Losing Hope", essentially, it's the same story, told from Holder's perspective.
Before I get into my review, here's the book's Goodreads description:

In the follow-up to Colleen Hoover’s #1 New York Times bestseller Hopeless, the charming and irresistible Dean Holder tells the passionate story that has melted thousands of hearts.
In Hopeless, Sky left no secret unearthed, no feeling unshared, and no memory forgotten, but Holder’s past remained a mystery.
Still haunted by the little girl he let walk away, Holder has spent his entire life searching for her in an attempt to finally rid himself of the crushing guilt he has felt for years. But he could not have anticipated that the moment they reconnect, even greater remorse would overwhelm him…
Sometimes in life, if we wish to move forward, we must first dig deep into our past and make amends. In Losing Hope, bestselling author Colleen Hoover reveals what was going on inside Holder’s head during all those hopeless moments—and whether he can gain the peace he desperately needs. 

The short version of this review:  If you liked "Hopeless" you'll like this book.
Now to get into more details. There were some issues to be had with this story, but less of those problems were with Holder...his intensity was a complaint in the first book, so I knew to expect it- and it was written well enough to not be so annoying I need to mention it again here. That being said...he was more off-putting and ridiculous in general. 
Holder's narration makes the whole story seem even more far fetched.
I think some...most of the background characters (professors, students, etc) were far too insensitive about what happened to Holder's sister and how he must be feeling. 
The Grayson ordeal from the first book seems even more pointless from his perspective. 
Technical critiques are that the story seemed slower from this perspective and some scenes that I really loved from the first book (the flea market shopping spree, for example) which I was looking forward to here weren't even mentioned, let alone played out. The ending also felt quite a bit more rushed and was too neatly put together with Holder's need for closure.
I recommend this book to fans of the first novel, but I do advise you to wait a while between books unless you absolutely loved the story. I waited around a year and still found myself struggling not to speed read because I was re-reading a lot of the less crucial scenes from "Hopeless" all over again. 
While this could technically be read as a stand-alone, I recommend reading the books in their published order because some things might not make complete sense if you're just reading them here.

Review | "All My Life" (First Things #1) By Rucy Ban

This week's review is over another Amazon free download that I recently read while travelling. It has a 3.5 star average on Goodreads, a 2.5 star rating from me, and two companion novels.
Before I go into more details as to my thoughts, though, here is the Goodreads description:

Seventeen-year-old Kari meets Neil Mars. “Neil as in Armstrong and Mars…as in Bruno.” A boy who beats every vampire, werewolf, highlander fantasy Kari has ever had. But she knows she can’t get close to him. Not ever. Because that would mean telling him everything. Coming clean. And Kari can’t bear the idea of changing the way Neil looks at her. Like she’s the only girl in the world. His reverence is something too precious to lose. Perhaps even at the cost of losing him.

But Kari doesn't know why Neil calls her his ‘Angel’ and when she finds out, she realizes what love is all about. Boundless joy, unending longing and a fuckload of heartache.

***
Full length New Adult Contemporary Romance. 

I had a few issues with this book.
That isn't to say it was horrible, but I definitely have a few thing to mention here. 
The writing itself was a little lacking. It read like someone trying too hard to seem like a teenager and the plot contained a lot of faulty reasoning that only served to push the story onward.
Really, this novel could have been wrapped up 20 pages in and it was frustrating to me personally that the characters seemed to lack the common sense to realize that. 
Also, the main character is 17, yet she's being let into clubs and parties that she shouldn't be allowed inside, which threw me off a little (but that's a technicality and could easily be ignored). 
The characters themselves weren't that likable. Kari was annoying, there were major cases of insta-love and insta-friendship (I admit that the latter is very possible, but it wasn't done in a way that seemed organic). 
The storyline all of a sudden goes insane. Twists and and action and plot points that are meant to shock, but once that wears off, just left me confused. 
In the end, I read the book in once sitting. It was a fast read, but I admit I had to skim through some of the more eye-roll worthy parts. 
This is the first book in a series, but it really should have stayed a stand alone, I think- and I don't plan on continuing on with the rest of the books.  

Review | "Love Handles" (Oakland Hills #1) by Gretchen Galway

This week's review is over a romantic comedy, women's literature read that is available for free download from amazon (or was at the time I read it in March of this year).

This book averages around a 3.5 star rating on Goodreads, and my opinion falls just below it at a 3 star rating. Before I get into my thoughts, here's the book's description courtesy of Goodreads:

The world of fitness apparel isn't ready for Beverly Lewis. She hates the gym, is nice to everybody, and shops at Ross Dress for Less. When she's not teaching preschool, she's wearing yoga pants . . . to nap in. So when she inherits her estranged grandfather's fitnesswear company in San Francisco, nobody expects her to keep it. Fite Fitness needs a heartless suit to save it from bankruptcy, not a thirty-year-old woman who cries when her students leave for kindergarten.
Someone like Liam Johnson. A former Olympic swimmer, Liam is Fite's executive vice president. Unlike Bev, he's devoted his life to Fite's success. Managing one little preschool teacher--and his attraction to her--shouldn't be an issue. Right?
But Bev's tired of being underpaid and underrated, and refuses to step aside as an obedient figurehead. To everyone's shock and horror, she moves up to San Francisco, sets up an office, and dives into the business. Nothing--not mockery, not exercise, not sabotage, not a disastrously hot night with her aggravating VP--is going to scare her away.
As Liam realizes she's tougher than she looks, he discovers that losing Fite might not be nearly as bad as losing her . . .
A story about the pursuit of love, happiness, and the perfect yoga pants, Love Handles will speak to anyone who's ever had to face what scares her most. 

As you can probably tell, this book isn't trying to be the next great american novel, like a lot of these books, it's supposed to be a fun read. 
That being said, I noticed some things that bothered me: 
For one, I couldn't understand how the company, the central point of the storyline, the cause of the conflict and resolution etc, could have been still in business to begin with. Everyone is annoying, not just in the first few chapters, but throughout the entire novel. I couldn't stand anyone and no one really seemed to be doing any work. 
I also noticed that there were a shocking amount of "heartless" characters. I know the world is cruel and not everyone is nice, but this was a little extreme. A preschool director said that teachers shouldn't care for their students...I mean, really? And whoever wasn't heartless was far too quirky to be real. Not everyone can be a manic pixie dream girl.
There was a lot of useless dialogue and arguing just for the sake of arguing without any real conflict. In fact, Bev kept defending people she's never met as if she's known them for ages while Liam doesn't act the way he should around someone who holds his career in their hands. 
I didn't buy the tension between the characters as a budding romance, and I can't stand the "guy with deep relationship issues who only dates girls he can't stand so they can just have flings" cliche. And it is, I've read far too many books now that use it as a plot crutch, and I'm sure I'll come across that plot tool again. It doesn't usually make the character endearing, usually whoever it is (guy or girl) come off as a creep.
These grown adults don't communicate....
The love scenes were a little....iffy. 
The whole thing wraps up a little too nicely and in a non-nonsensical sort of way.

In the end, it was free, I had a lot of free time when I read it, and I got the book over with pretty quickly, but I won't continue with the series if I have to purchase the books and I definitely say you can skip it.

Review | "From the Kitchen of Half Truth" by Maria Goodin

This week's review is over  2012 debut novel "From the Kitchen if Half Truth" released in English also under the title "Nutmeg" and "The Storyteller's Daughter".
While a cute story, it isn't the type of book I would find myself reaching for typically, however in February Sterling & Kupfer publishing house released a "blind date line" of books for Valentine's Day. Each book was wrapped to cover all the information about the book, leaving only a short description about what type of reader or story it was- and I was pleasantly surprised.
Before I get into my thoughts, here's the book's Goodreads description:

Infused with the delicious warmth of Chocolat and captivating feeling of School of Essential Ingredients, FROM THE KITCHEN OF HALF TRUTH is the warm, tender story of Meg, who can’t convince her cooking-obsessed, fairy-tale loving mother to reveal a thing about their past, even as sickness threatens to hide those secrets forever. Driven to spend one last summer with her mother, Meg must face a choice between what’s real and what we make real, exploring the power of the stories we tell ourselves in order to create the lives we want. 

I enjoyed this book, but I did notice a few things that made me less excited to read it (in fact, it took me over a month to finish and I had to put it down to read something else multiple times until I got around a third of the way through). 
Right away Mark's character was off-putting. He was a jerk. I don't know if he was intended to come across like that or not- but it made believing Meg was utterly in love with him difficult. 
If Meg's life was that out there the way she was described, someone would have noticed and done something/understood why a young girl believes imaginary events to be true whole-heartedly the way Meg is said to have. 
Meg's grudge over something that happened to her in the 5th grade feels a little far-fetched, and as a scientist, she should know the difference between "impossible" and "improbable". 
Meg as a character wasn't too likable. She came across as rude and condescending while also lacking common sense she thinks she has.

This is a light read that shouldn't be analyzed too much, because then you notice all these little things that bring the book down some. I think this is a good summery read that has enough heart to pull at your emotions, but isn't life changing.

Book Reviews | "Quidditch Through the Ages" and "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by J.K. Rowling

This week's review is a two for one over two of the three "Hogwarts Library" books I bought while visiting the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Tour. I figured this would be a good way to make up for the little break I took since June while I was away travelling.
For those of you who may have forgotten, both "Quidditch..." and "Fantastic Beasts..." are mentioned as being texts from the Harry Potter series. In fact, throughout both books, there are notes from the characters or little elements that make the books really seem like part of that world.
Before I start to reveal too much, here is the Goodreads description for "Quidditch Through the Ages":

If you have ever asked yourself where the Golden Snitch came from, how the Bludgers came into existence or why the Wigtown Wanderers have pictures of meat cleavers on their robes, you need Quidditch Through the Ages. This edition is a copy of the volume in Hogwarts School Library, where it is consulted by young Quidditch fans on an almost daily basis. 

Both of these books are very short, easily read during one sitting, and they are written to be non-fiction seeming, so there isn't much to review.
I liked how the history of quidditch was easily paralleled to the development of our 'muggle sports'. If you know some sport history, you notice a lot of similarities to how things evolved. 
I would have liked, however, for there to have been more "technical" drawings and diagrams to help give better visuals for the chapters about strategy and formations etc. 



"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" :

A copy of Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them resides in almost every wizarding household in the country. Now Muggles too have the chance to discover where the Quintaped lives, what the Puffskein eats and why it is best not to leave milk out for a Knarl.

Proceeds from the sale of this book will go to Comic Relief, which means that the pounds and Galleons you exchange for it will do magic beyond the powers of any wizard. If you feel that this is insufficient reason to part with your money, I can only hope that passing wizards feel more charitable if they see you being attacked by a Manticore.

- Albus Dumbledore

"Fantastic Beasts..." seems to be the least favorite among readers of the Hogwarts Library books, but I think it was my favorite of the three. The added annotations from Ron specifically made this a very cute read. 
I liked the text book feel of the book, it made it more authentic seeming, but it wasn't written in a dry, boring sort of way. 
Like "Quidditch" I wish there had been more pictures/illustrations to go with the beast descriptions. 
Also, Dementors were missing, are they considered beings? Hmmm...

Anyway, I enjoyed both books. The proceeds go towards a good cause, and they're great for any Harry Potter fan. However, if you just like the series, or are new to the books, you can pass or wait to pick these up.

Review | "The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August" by Claire North

This week's review is over a 2014 science fiction release by Claire North ( a pseudonym for Catherine Webb, who also writes under the pseudonym Kate Griffin). This is the first book by this author that I've read, but I noticed it getting a lot of attention- and when I saw it in a bookstore in February, I decided to pick it up.
Before I get into my thoughts, here's the book's Goodreads description:

No matter what he does or the decisions he makes, when death comes, Harry always returns to where he began, a child with all the knowledge of a life he has already lived a dozen times before. Nothing ever changes.

Until now.

As Harry nears the end of his eleventh life, a little girl appears at his bedside. ‘I nearly missed you, Doctor August,’ she says. ‘I need to send a message.’

This is the story of what Harry does next, and what he did before, and how he tries to save a past he cannot change and a future he cannot allow. 

I don't know how long it's been since I've read a time-travel sort of book, so I was really excited to see how the author would twist that sci-fi subgenre. 
I don't have many notes about the book, but here's what I noticed. The book is written in a very descriptive sort of way, which makes the story a little dense and hard to get into, and since the story is mostly Harry recounting his various lives, it slows down quite a bit at times. It's done strategically- along with with the non-linear recounting- so the reader will be taken on a journey, however, it doesn't necessarily make sense when you get to the ending. What I mean by that is, the entire point of the story, once you finish it, would have been more concise and to the point, and thus, it would have made more sense for the narrator to tell the story in chronological order. The way the story is told is good for the reader, but not so much for the the narrator's intended audience. 
I found myself struggling through the second half of the book because it's quite slow, so I would keep that in mind. It's a thought provoking sort of read and would be great for reading groups, but be aware that it's not the quickest story in the world. 

Review | "Marina" by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

This week's review is over a book in one of my favorite genres, the gothic fiction/fantasy/magical realism. I first saw "Marina" in a bookstore in October, and after going home to do my research, I jumped at the chance to buy it on sale while visiting London this past February.
Here is the book's Goodreads description before I get further into my thoughts:

In May 1980, fifteen-year-old Oscar Drai vanishes from his boarding school in Barcelona. For seven days and nights, no one knows his whereabouts....

His story begins when he meets the mysterious Marina, the daughter of a reclusive painter. She takes him to a graveyard where they witness a macabre ritual. On the last Sunday of every month, a woman shrouded in black walks over to a gravestone that bears no name, only the emblem of a black butterfly.

When Oscar and Marina decide to follow her, they begin a journey that takes them to the heart of a forgotten, post-war Barcelona. Beneath the streets a dark secret lies waiting. 

As I mentioned, this is a gothic sort of tale (though it takes place in the 1980s not the gothic era). The exact genere blurs a little throughout the course of the book and I don't want to give away too many spoilers- especially because this book crafted its plot twists beautifully that truly makes not knowing what's coming next a big part of the experience.
Now, as much as I enjoyed this story, there were a few- rather minimal- things I'll bring to attention.
Oscar and Marina do quite a bit of inner city travelling, I understand that usually those costs can be minimal, but they do it often enough to make me wonder where they're getting the money. Marina's family is rather unwealthy at the time of the book, and Oscar mentions early on that he had to borrow money from a school friend.
The translations had some word repetition (specifically adjectives that were used over and over as descriptors).
The fantasy  elements are very complicated. There is a very specific design behind them that can only barely be mentioned in the short amount of time it's allotted for explanation in the book so it can be difficult to follow at times.
In the end, I'm very glad I had a chance to read this book, and if you like gothic stories, you'll enjoy this.

Review | "Haifa Fragments" by Khulud Khamis

This week's review is over a different sort of book, "Haifa Fragments" , which I was fortunate enough to win in a Goodreads giveaway.
I don't have much to say about this book, other than that I really enjoyed it, but before I get into my review, here's the book's description:

Jewellery designer Maisoon wants an ordinary extraordinary life, which isn’t easy for a tradition-defying, peace-activist, Palestinian citizen of Israel who refuses to be crushed by the feeling of being an unwelcome guest in the land of her ancestors. Frustrated by the apathy of her boyfriend Ziyad and her father Majid—who want her to get on with her life and forget those in the Occupied Territories—she lashes out, only to discover that her father is not the man she thought he was. 
Raised a Christian, in a relationship with a Muslim man and enamoured with a Palestinian woman from the Occupied Territories, Maisoon must determine her own path.  

The point of view switches some throughout the book without warning, so it takes some getting used to and at times you won't know exactly who you're reading about until other characters are mentioned.  And the story itself is a little rushed, lacking some of the exposition that would help understand the characters' history a little better.
However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The only other story like this I've read would be the "Almond Tree" a few years ago, and even then it's very different. I enjoyed both stories, but while  story follows years of development of the main character, this is a story that takes place in the present day. The situations are different, and the main idea is different, but they're both done beautifully in their own ways. 
This book read a bit like poetry and I think anyone who considers themselves a feminist, a pacifist, anyone who wants to read about self discovery without necessarily reading a coming of age novel will enjoy this book.

Review | "Taming His Viking Woman" by Michelle Styles

This week's review is over another genre I don't review too often: Harlequin romance.
I have reviewed romance novels before, but Harlequin is one of the originals- rather than a series with complex plots, these books tend to wrap up during the course of one story without continuations. I'll admit, I was a little nervous going into this book, I knew it wouldn't be the fun, gritty world of Sector Four, and I tend to get a little tired of romance if there isn't a good plot line pushing the story along.
Sadly, I wasn't pleasantly surprised by this book. I admit, I wouldn't have picked it up myself, but I won it in a Goodreads giveaway. Before I get too far into my review, here's the book's description:

The sea-king's warrior bride… 

Legendary shield maiden Sayrid Avildottar will marry no man unless he first defeats her in combat. And in powerful sea-king Hrolf Eymundsson she has finally met her match. 

Hrolf may have won her lands—and her body—but can Sayrid welcome a stranger to her bed? The world of fighting is all she knows! With a husband intent on seducing his new bride, perhaps, just this once, Sayrid will discover that surrender can bring the greatest pleasure of all… 

Okay, so a lot of my problems with this book are problems I notice a lot with indie books or books that are written in a short period of time. 
Technical things, like phrase wording being out of order and redundance.
Plot related things, such as bad dialogue that doesn't fit the characters or their time period, a forced love-hate relationship between two annoying protagonists, and writing that felt to me like it was trying too hard and had me skimming a lot throughout the story. 
The plot wasn't that original, which is only a fault when the unoriginal aspects aren't woven in a new, exciting sort of way or if someone is tired of the same tropes being used over and over within a genre. 

Did I like this book? Not particularly, but Harlequin romances have a very specific demographic. People outside of that mold can pass on this because you probably won't like it, people within it, give it a shot.

Review | "Rocky Mountain Heat" (Six Pack Ranch #1) by Vivian Arend

This week's review might be a familiar title for anyone who follows Kit Rocha on their social media. Vivian Arend it usually very highly praised by the ladies who write the beyond books, after all. When I saw that a few of her series starters were available for free download on Amazon, of course I downloaded them to see what all the hype is about.
Before my thoughts, as always, here's the book's Goodreads description:

He’s the one who taught her to ride. Now all he wants is to ride her.Blake Coleman is old enough to know that acting on impulse causes nothing but a heap of trouble. But when trouble’s a western-hat-wearing blonde with slim legs that go on forever, what’s a man to do? Wanting the sweet girl next door is just wrong. The responsible thing to do is keep his hands off.Jaxi has other plans for Blake’s hands, and his heart. She may have once considered him a big brother, but that was a long time ago. She’s all grown up now and ready to convince him that she’s perfect for him. Except he can’t seem to see past the big “don’t touch” sign that’s apparently still hanging around her neck.When Jaxi ends up living right under Blake's nose, the undeniable heat between them slides off simmer and leaps up to barn-burning levels. However, a few of the younger six-pack Colemans have decided Jaxi’s brand of trouble is worth risking a few busted bones.That is, if Blake’s finally ready to let go the reins and fight for what he wants…Warning: Sexy cowboys seducing and being seduced in trucks, pool halls and barns. Droolworthy country charm, a little double-teaming, a few secrets and a whole lot of brothers to look forward to. Anyone wanna go for a ride? 

Okay, so the description wouldn't usually draw me in, but like I said, I was going off of the praise I had read about her books. 
I gave this one a 3 star rating on Goodreads, but I had a lot of issues with it.  
To start, the writing is a little generic. There really isn't anything special or particularly captivating about the way the story is worded which makes the predictability and lack of original content that much more evident. This next one is personal taste, but I seem to have a lot of issues getting into cowboy stories that aren't  old western/alternate history/steampunk. I don't particularly know why, but I've noticed this tendency with a few books I've read or tried to read. 
The family is very close...I don't know,  the idea of brothers enjoying the thought of having sexual encounters while each other is watching seems off to me. Also, Blake got upset that Jaxi was teasing his brothers, yet he seduces her when he knows their watching- a little bit of contradiction, right? 
The set up of the love scenes was all over the places and confused. 
How do the boys not know their parents' ages? They're all grown men, blake is in his 30s, these are things he should know.
The chapters that focus on introducing other books were confusing and not well established which would throw off the writing. Also, rather than seeming like a way to let the reader know what is going on with other characters, it felt more like those parts were thrown in to have more sex in the story. It didn't really advance the plot at all.
All the tension felt like it was added in as an afterthought (especially when it came directly after passages of lovey dovey, all is perfect-ness), in fact, the conflict wasn't well established. I know it didn't entirely resolve because this is a series, so it needs to sell the other books, but it wasn't done well, in my opinion. Instead, it just seemed like the author knew the book lacked conflict or that the series needed something to tie all the books together so "poof" some underdeveloped, unnecessary drama. I will say, I was pleased that the drama was more familial than romantic- otherwise this book would have been too stereotypical romance. 
The dialogue wasn't that great at times. Especially the male dialogue. It read like a woman trying to write a male character.
The bonus chapter was a little weird. It's a prologue in a way. Told from Blake's perspective when he was 17. It shows him when he first meets Jaxi, who is 7. I don't know, I guess it could have been written a little differently or excluded entirely, I think.
Did I like the book? I guess. I was entertained, at least. Did I skim? Towards the end, yes- and kind of a lot. Would I recommend it? Sure, if it's available for free. I personally don't plan on continuing the series, though.

Review | "On The Rocks" by Sawyer Bennett

This week's review is over book one in the "Last Call" romance series by Sawyer Bennett which I downloaded from Amazon for free. Currently there are four books released in the series, with a fifth set to come out in March, so if after reading this review you're interested in checking out the book for yourself, there is some definite marathon potential.
As always, before I get into my thoughts, here's the book's Goodreads description:

He left to travel the world for fame and glory, but only after spurning Gabby Ward and crushing her young heart. Now Hunter Markham has come back home to the sand and salty breeze of the North Carolina Outer Banks so he can open up Last Call, a beach bar nestled among the dunes of the Atlantic. 
Gabby Ward is not happy that Hunter has returned. Bitter over his rebuff years before, she’s content to stay far away from him and his dangerously charming ways. 
Gabby’s well-schemed plans to ignore Hunter go up in flames when he presents an offer to her that she simply can’t refuse, throwing them together in a common quest to each reach their goals. Working together day in and day out proves to be problematic for Gabby, who soon realizes that the feelings she had for him are still very much alive. Hunter struggles to reach through to Gabby’s cold heart, all while starting a new career away from his life as a top ranked, professional surfer.
What starts out as a mutual business arrangement soon turns into a passion that neither of them can continue to deny. 
Hard choices lay ahead for both of them when Hunter is offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to return to the pro surfing tour.
Choices that could destroy what they have built or take them further than they ever had dared to hope.

I have a decent amount of notes so I'll just get started:
The first thing I noticed was some of the wording choices were a little eye roll worthy, followed closely by the fact that Hunter doesn't come across like a rugged, make you swoon sort of forbidden guy- more like a creep. He deliberately tries to make Gabby uncomfortable to emphasize sexual tension between them/take advantage of her feelings and that's not OK. In real life he'd be looking at a restraining order more than a date. 
The story is written to be realistic, and by that I mean it's supposed to sound like a 22 year old contractor and a 27 or so year old ex-surfer, but it felt forced to try to get those voices to come through genuinely. 
Much like "In Kelly's Corner" this book tries to be edgy, which made it fall flat to me. It needs to be effortless otherwise it just seems like everything is trying too hard. 
Literally everyone except Brody and Alyssa acts like a spoiled child and refuses to communicate like they adults they are.
This is yet another book that uses sex as a way to resolve problems. That's not just unrealistic, it's also unhealthy to try to sell to readers. It's just asking for resentment to start building up, especially when, like I said, the characters aren't so great at communicating with each other. 
There's a part in the story where Gabby "Can't go over to Hunter's" because his ex is there. This isn't him imposing that rule, either- and she isn't there for them to discuss things either. She and her brother are visiting, so what is she going to do? Stay away from her guy for an extended period of time? Sure it would be awkward at first, but she should still go.
A whole group of characters try to push Gabby to sway Hunter in one way or another regarding his life choices. Apparently they all forgot that he's pushing thirty and capable of making his own decisions/trying to force anyone to do anything never works out. 
All in all, it was a quick read. Again, I read critically so I can do these reviews, but just because I had a lot of things I noticed could have been improved upon doesn't mean that I thought the book was bad. I don't think I'll continue with the series, but if it's available for free and you're up for a quick romance, there's really nothing to lose in giving it a shot.

Review | "Inevitable" by Angela Graham (Harmony #1)

This week's review is over yet another ebook available for free download from Amazon as a way to entice readers to buy the rest of the series.
Before I get into my thoughts, though, here's the book's description:

After experiencing a humiliating breakup, twenty-two-year-old Cassandra Clarke is fresh out of college and living a simple solitary life without any intentions of pursuing love anytime soon.
When the estate next door sells, the last thing Cassandra expects is the unnerving attraction she feels for her sinfully handsome neighbor, Logan West, the young and charming single father with a playboy reputation.
It’s through Oliver, Logan’s four-year-old son, who keeps popping up in her childhood tree house, that she slowly begins to catch glimpses of the compassionate and wounded man Logan has hidden beneath his strong exterior.
Cassandra knows it's wrong and that she's heading for another heartbreak. Logan will never be able to give her what she wants…love.

This book has an over 4 star average on Goodreads which was promising to me when I started reading it on a trip I took at the end of February. 
I, however, did not like this book. Almost at all. The first few chapters, while not good, were entertaining enough to keep me from closing down the book right away, but things got worse for me. 
Right away I noticed that Cassandra came across as not only a "man hater" but a woman hater as well. She was rude and came across as having very strong "slut shaming" opinions that I didn't like reading. However, a little over halfway through, she becomes sweet in a way that, to me, came across as trying to erase her less than ideal personality in the beginning. 
The dialogue was rough and the writing itself was missing something. It didn't feel like a 22 year old woman telling the story so it lacked a lot of authenticity. Also, a lot of the backstory is told through clunky exposition.
Logan is just as unlikable as Cassandra (really, all the characters are) and was very clearly inspired by the new "fifty shades" bandwagon image of a love interest. He's a rich, powerful guy who happens to be attractive and thus has no need to be a decent human being and comes across like a lowly frat boy stereotype- completely playing off the over-used "womanizer with deep issues" cliche`. 
The characters don't know how to communicate. 
There were times where Cassandra says she's acted sexy and alluring in Logan's presence, which contradicts how the story actually plays out almost entirely.
The major cliffhanger doesn't make me want to read the next book at all, and from what I've read in reviews, the sequel is lacking compared to this first installment. 

All in all, I didn't like this book and personally wouldn't recommend it, but I'm in the minority. If it's still available for free, give it a try yourself, but I wouldn't say to purchase it.

Book Review | "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho

I am one of the last people to read this week's book, it seems. First published in 1988 "The Alchemist" is an acclaimed but rather polarizing book among readers. Before I get into my thoughts on it, here is the book's Goodreads description:

Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts. 

I went into this book not really knowing what to expect. I knew a lot of people loved it, but I also knew a lot of people were less than impressed. 
I am in the middle ground. I wouldn't say it's a must read, but I didn't hate the story either. I did have a few issues, however that are the reason I didn't really enjoy the book.
The book, while trying to be deep and philosophical, seemed to drag on greatly.
 The time period is a little ambiguous, making visualizing the story difficult.
There was some repetition and word cushioning. For such a short book, it makes me wonder how much further the story might have been cut down had those not been present. 
This book is very spiritual/religious in its tones, so anyone who doesn't like those sorts of reads should be aware of that before beginning. 
The "alchemist" part shows up halfway through the book.

I can see why people like this book, but it has pretty specific demographics that not everyone will fit into. If you're interested but not ecstatic about reading it , like I was, then I say borrow it and give it a try. 

Review | "Seriously...I'm Kidding" by Ellen DeGeneres

This week's review is over another audiobook by yet another extremely talented and funny woman, Ellen DeGeneres! I've been a fan of hers for years and finally got the chance to listen to her latest book (my first experience with her published work).
I don't have much to say in this review, so I'll just get right into it, but first, the book's Goodreads description:

I've experienced a whole lot the last few years and I have a lot to share. So I hope that you'll take a moment to sit back, relax and enjoy the words I've put together for you in this book. I think you'll find I've left no stone unturned, no door unopened, no window unbroken, no rug unvacuumed, no ivories untickled. What I'm saying is, let us begin, shall we?

I'd like to say I loved this book, and had I listened to it before "Bossypants" I might have, but since that wasn't the order in which I experienced the audiobooks, that's not the case. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the book, it was a quick listen that can easily be finished in around one sitting, but I didn't find myself adoring it and laughing out loud in response to what I was listening to. 
If you're looking for a memoir, this isn't it. It's a collection of anecdotes and a few personal feel good stories, but for the most part, it's kind of like a light hearted advice book. Sadly in formatting the book to be made up of stories, it felt scatterbrained at times and didn't really resonate with me too much. I find myself struggling to remember what was in the book rather than other monologues of hers from her shows (both her talk show and her past comedy specials) or hosting appearances. 
If you're a fan of Ellen, you'll like the book, but I recommend listening to it. I think if you read the physical book, it will lose some of its charm, Ellen's voice really brings the book alive and makes it feel like a podcast. 
If you're not a huge Ellen fan however, then you can pass on it, there isn't anything so spectacular in this book that it's a necessary read.

Review | "One Sweet Summer" by Cali MacKay

Happy Wednesday everyone! It's time for another review, this time over the first book of New York Times bestselling author Cali MacKay's "Mermaid Isle Romance" series. This is the first book by this author I've ever read, and sadly, I wasn't impressed. It was yet another free download from amazon, though, so if anyone is interested in checking it out, you don't have to worry about wasting money if you don't like it.
Anyway, before I jump into the review, here's the book's Goodreads description:

Riley Carter’s never found anyone who could live up to her first love, Thorsen Black. So imagine her surprise when, twelve years later, he shows up at the unique and quirky inn she manages on Mermaid Isle, off the coast of Maine. The sweet, gangly teen has matured into a sexy and handsome man, leaving her heart desperate to pick up where they left off.
It’s impossible for her to ignore the way her body instantly reacts to his touch and he's just the distraction she needs when she finds out the owners of the Siren Song Inn are selling it to Holt Enterprises. Holt only has eyes on the bottom line and Riley knows they’ll strip the inn of everything that makes it special, ruining not only the Siren, but devastating the island economy.
While fighting to save her beloved inn, Riley falls in love with Thorsen all over again. But when she’s faced with the real reason Thorsen’s on the island and his unbearable betrayal, will she be able to save the inn and her chance at true happiness?

This book is supposed to be a light romance, perfect for the summer or for a lazy day staying in, but in trying to get that point across, the story was redundant and almost sickly sweet. The plot was, in my opinion, terribly predictable, which isn't a huge surprise for chick-lit romance, but when it's too predictable on top of everything else, it can take some of the enjoyment out of reading.
The story did try to have tension though, it just wasn't necessary conflict, so it didn't add much depth to things and the drama just seemed melodramatic and overdone.
This was another book where the characters both are adamant about "taking things slow" that then flies right out the window just a chapter or two later. Speaking of slow, the relationship between the two lover interests gets very intense very quickly. I know they're supposed to be teenage sweethearts, but it's been years since they've seen each other, the old dynamic can't be the only reasoning they have to jump head first into things the way they do- making this a fine case of literary insta-love. Also, no one finds it at all strange that these two have only just begun to get to know each other and already taking huge steps in their relationship.
Thorsen is another male character who doesn't think things through completely before acting.
While trying to force the sweetness of their love, Thorsen gives Riley a nickname that doesn't quite fit, which would be fine if it weren't constantly repeated throughout the rest of the book as if repetition would convince the readers that it was a great idea.
Riley drove me insane with her inability to communicate with the other characters, which made me annoyed with her. Both her and Thorsen's flaws made me dislike them as characters because I didn't feel like, as a reader, I genuinely got to know them through the story. Sure exposition was given, as were descriptions, but it didn't read like an introduction, and they didn't develop much during the plot.
The ending wrapped up too cleanly considering the mess of a problem (that shouldn't have existed and could have been avoided but wasn't) that hung over the characters' heads.

In the end, I don't know if I would recommend this one. It's available for free, so like I said, there's nothing to lose by trying it out, but unless you have no other options, I would say you can definitely pass on it.

Review | "The Pirate's Wish" by Cassandra Rose Clarke

This week's review is over the sequel to "The Assassin's Curse" (Review here) so obviously there will be spoilers for the first book if you haven't already read it (though the book's synopsis kind of spoils itself). If you're read my review over the first book, you'll know that I was a little let down. I had bought both the books because the publishing company closed recently, making them more difficult to find- usually I only buy the first book in a series to see if I like it before purchasing the others, but because there won't be any reprints, I decided to purchase both the duology together. However, I didn't really enjoy the characters or the storyline, so I wasn't too excited going into the second book.
I wish I could say it was a pleasant surprise and that I loved "The Pirate's wish", but I didn't. I didn't dislike it, but I wouldn't have missed out on much had I not purchased it to begin with,
Before I go any further into my thoughts, here's the book's Goodreads description:

 After setting out to break the curse that binds them together, the pirate Ananna and the assassin Naji find themselves stranded on an enchanted island in the north with nothing but a sword, their wits, and the secret to breaking the curse: complete three impossible tasks. With the help of their friend Marjani and a rather unusual ally, Ananna and Naji make their way south again, seeking what seems to be beyond their reach.

Unfortunately, Naji has enemies from the shadowy world known as the Mists, and Ananna must still face the repercussions of going up against the Pirate Confederation. Together, Naji and Ananna must break the curse, escape their enemies — and come to terms with their growing romantic attraction.

The first thing I noticed that stuck out to me enough for me to take note of it was the phoned in love triangle/amorous drama. When characters aren't in a relationship and haven't discussed their feelings (which is a plot tool I don't buy with this storyline when the two main characters can read each other's thoughts and Ananna is a loud mouth in every other aspect of her life) I can't get behind throwing in a love triangle unless it pushes the story. It didn't add the intended tension, it just felt thrown in.

The pirates are far too judgmental of physical disfigurations. I mean, they're pirates! I'm sure plenty of them have some physical attributes that aren't exactly considered the norm. 

Much like in the first book, most of the drama and conflict is resolved too quickly for it to add anything to the plot making it all unnecessary and tedious to consider reading about. I kept wanting the conflict to go on longer so it would bring another dynamic to the story, so it would make me feel something, but it never did. 

The ending , while not getting into spoilers, seemed like it was written under a deadline and thus wasn't elaborated enough for it to make sense and not seem rushed and thrown together.

In the end, if you liked the first book, you'll probably like this one, but if you didn't care for it, then this isn't a necessary read by any means.

Review | "Witch Hunt" by S.M. Reine

This week is a two review sort of week due to not being in town to post next Wednesday.
Anyway, this week's second review is over another book that I was able to download for free from amazon. It's the first book in the "Preternatural Affairs"  urban thriller/paranormal series by fairly well known author S.M. Reine. As a big fan of Kelley Armstrong's "Otherworld" series, I was excited to read another story with a similar format. Before I get into my thoughts, though, here is the book's Goodreads description:

A brutal murder.

There are scratches on Cèsar Hawke’s arms, a discharged Glock on his coffee table, and a dead woman in his bathtub. Yeah, maybe he brought the waitress home for some fun — he was too drunk to remember it — but he knows for a fact that he didn’t kill her. He’s an agent with the Office of Preternatural Affairs. He doesn’t hurt people. He saves them.

The cops disagree. Now Cèsar is running.

The search for a shaman.

Isobel Stonecrow speaks with the dead…for the right price. She brings closure to the bereaved and heals broken hearts. But when she resurrects someone for the wrong client, she ends up on the OPA’s most wanted list.

One risky solution.

Tracking down Isobel is the last case assigned to Cèsar before he bolts. If he finds her, he can prove that he didn’t kill that waitress. He can clear his name, get his job back, and bring justice to the victim.

She’s just one witch. Cèsar has bagged a dozen witches before.

How hard can one more be? 

Right away, I can say that I liked this book well enough. I finished in around two days and didn't really find that I had to force myself to continue the story. That being said, I don't think I enjoyed it enough to add the other books of the series to the top of my to-read list.  
Cèsar came across as a the stereotypical macho cop, kind of pushing the routine to the point that I was rolling my eyes. Also, the story starts out in a way that makes it seem like I should already know the characters- which, as far as I know, readers don't. I'm not sure if there's overlap with any of the author's other series as far as the characters are concerned, but being the first book to this story arc, it's safe to bet not all the readers will be familiar with the author's other works. 
I noticed quite a few contradictions.
There was a point of the story seemed to blame victims of abuse for being in their situations by saying the murder victim wasn't "that kind of woman" meaning she wasn't the kind of woman who would get herself into that sort of a situation. I understood the meaning the author was trying to get across, but I can also see people finding it insensitive. 
There was some dialogue that didn't seem natural. 
For being a fugitive, Cèsar really doesn't know how to lie low. 
Towards the middle of the book, the plot began to get rushed and chaotic. The characters no longer communicated with each other and there was quite a bit of awkwardly timed exposition. 

Again, this book is available for free, so that already makes it worth a try, it wasn't horrible, after all. It's far from perfect, and I personally would recommend Kelley Armstrong's books over this series. However, it's a quick, fun read, so I don't see much harm in checking it out.