Review: One With You

Title:  One with You
Author: Sylvia Day
Series: Crossfire (#5 Final)
Rating: 5/5

Summary:

Gideon Cross. Falling in love with him was the easiest thing I've ever done. It happened instantly. Completely. Irrevocably.

Marrying him was a dream come true. Staying married to him is the fight of my life. Love transforms. Ours is both a refuge from the storm and the most violent of tempests. Two damaged souls entwined as one.

We have bared our deepest, ugliest secrets to one another. Gideon is the mirror that reflects all my flaws ... and all the beauty I couldn't see. He has given me everything. Now, I must prove I can be the rock, the shelter for him that he is for me. Together, we could stand against those who work so viciously to come between us.

But our greatest battle may lie within the very vows that give us strength. Committing to love was only the beginning. Fighting for it will either set us free ... or break us apart.

Heartbreakingly and seductively poignant, One with You is the breathlessly awaited finale to the Crossfire® saga, the searing love story that has captivated millions of readers worldwide.

Review:

I picked up the first book in this series two or three years ago.  At first, I didn't have high hopes for it; I thought it was just going to be a slightly less kinky version of Fifty Shades of Grey.  I was so wrong!

This series was beautiful most of the time.  I admit the third and fourth books were slow compared to the rest, and I complained in the past about the repetition of relationship issues, but this book more than made up for those instances.

My favorite was the last 200 or so pages when Gideon and Eva finally seem to just click in that magical way we've always been craving.  The ultimate last hurtle for them was amazing as well.  And Lucky was the cutest little sidekick ever.

I really recommend reading this entire series.  There is some sex scenes, sure, but they by far do not overshadow the genuine writing and relationship between characters.

Review: Captivated By You

Title:  Captivated By You
Author:  Sylvia Day
Series:  Crossfire (#4)
Rating:  4/5

Summary:

Gideon calls me his angel, but he's the miracle in my life. My gorgeous, wounded warrior, so determined to slay my demons while refusing to face his own.

The vows we'd exchanged should have bound us tighter than blood and flesh. Instead they opened old wounds, exposed pain and insecurities, and lured bitter enemies out of the shadows. I felt him slipping from my grasp, my greatest fears becoming my reality, my love tested in ways I wasn't sure I was strong enough to bear.

At the brightest time in our lives, the darkness of his past encroached and threatened everything we'd worked so hard for. We faced a terrible choice: the familiar safety of the lives we'd had before each other or the fight for a future that suddenly seemed an impossible and hopeless dream...

Review:

I LOVE this series.  Seriously.  I hate the idea and writing of everything that has to do with Fifty Shades of Grey, but the Crossfire series actually has substance on top of the sex scenes.  Gideon is just... wow, what a man.  His demons just make me love him more.  And Eva, she's perfect in all of her imperfections.

There are two reasons why I gave this book a 4 out of 5 instead of the full rating:  POV shifts and lack of problem resolution.  First, the POV shifts aren't big, just jumping one chapter for Gideon and one for Eva and so on, however it's kind of a pet peeve of mine and it wasn't done in the first three books of the series.  On the second point, I mean it's the repetitive problems we've been seeing for four books now with little to no progress, but there was some progress I suppose.

All in all I cannot wait to read the fifth and final book which just came in the mail!

Review: Go Set A Watchman

Title:  Go Set A Watchman
Author:  Harper Lee
Rating:  2.5/5

Summary:

Maycomb, Alabama. Twenty-six-year-old Jean Louise Finch--"Scout"--returns home from New York City to visit her aging father, Atticus. Set against the backdrop of the civil rights tensions and political turmoil that were transforming the South, Jean Louise's homecoming turns bittersweet when she learns disturbing truths about her close-knit family, the town and the people dearest to her. Memories from her childhood flood back, and her values and assumptions are thrown into doubt.

Featuring many of the iconic characters from To Kill a Mockingbird, Go Set a Watchman perfectly captures a young woman, and a world, in a painful yet necessary transition out of the illusions of the past--a journey that can be guided only by one's conscience. 

Review:

I was so very stoked for this book to come out as soon as I heard the manuscript was found after Harper Lee's sister died.  I'm not sure I've really ever been so disappointed in a sequel before.  To Kill A Mockingbird was one of my ultimate favorite books, so naturally I was skeptical (as well as the previous excitement) about a book with my favorite characters that had apparently been previously rejected by the publishers.

I hate to say it, but they were right to originally reject it.

Whoever edited this (because come on, we know Harper didn't have a huge part in this decision or edit) did not do a stellar job.  I'm sad that this was the last book she released before her death.  I honestly wish it hadn't been found.

What did you think?  Am I being to harsh about it all?  And rest in peace Harper Lee.

Review: Goodbye to Yesterday

Title:  Goodbye to Yesterday
Author:  Wanda E. Brunstetter
Series:  The Discovery (#1)
Rating: 3/5

Summary:

Join Meredith and Luke Stoltzfus, an Amish couple who are faced with the greatest challenge of their young lives. Financial struggles. Arguments. A suspected pregnancy. A last-minute trip to Middlebury, Indiana. A drug addict on the run. A deadly encounter at a Philadelphia bus station. Will their love and faith be enough to bring them back together again, against all odds?

Review:

I'm not saying this book is bad, but I just didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.  It's novella length, and book one of a six part series about an Amish couple.

I had two major problems with this book:  I hate things involving amnesia, and it moved slower than an Amish buggy (and I'm not being mean with that, I think Amish living is fascinating).  I didn't really realize it had to do with amnesia until the very end, but from what I read the rest of the series is heavily focused upon that aspect.

Overall, not going to read the rest of the series, but may try the author again with a different book or series.

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books I Really Love But Feel Like I Haven't Talked About Enough or In a While

Meme by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Books I Really Love But Feel Like I Haven't Talked About Enough/In a While

1. Scribbler of Dreams by Mary E. Pearson - I literally never talk about this book, and a lot of people don't know it exists.  However, this was the book that made me actually enjoy reading it!  One Mother's Day some 13 or so years ago (I was in seventh grade) I read this entire book in a day and I haven't been able to stop reading ever since.

2. A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer - This book is heartbreaking, actually far beyond heartbreaking.  This poor child and everything he went though, and is still going through as an adult survivor of horrific abuse is just amazing.  I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone with a weak stomach or under the age of thirteen.

3. I'll Be Seeing You by Lurlene McDaniel - This book is probably my favorite by this author, and I've read the majority of her books (she's written about 80 I think).  These books are always equally romantic, sweet, and heartbreaking in turn.

4. The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks - I love Nicholas Sparks books, he's one of my favorite authors.  This is my favorite book by him and I hope it never gets made into a movie!  Especially because they would never be able to do the son justice and he is a crux of the book.

5. Burning Bones by Christopher Golden - The best book of the best mystery series I've ever read.  Unfortunately these books are extremely rare, so I've only read three of the series.  One day I hope to read them all!

6. Godchild Vol. 1 by Kaori Yuki - My favorite manga series!  It's a murder mystery series.  My favorite mini-mystery in these books is the Alice in Wonderland murders.

7. Bent by Sean Michael - Guilty pleasure, end of story.  This is book one of many.

8. Dancer with Bruised Knees by Lynne McFall - I'm not sure I can ever properly explain why I love this book.  There's not even a summary on the back of the book when I bought it.  You just need to dive right in.

9. Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix - Best horror book I've every read!  And yes, I'm counting this above Stephen King books.  It's just so unique.

10. Santa's Angels by Janet Kaderli - I know none of us wants to think about winter and snow since it's finally spring, but this is my favorite Christmas book.  It's just the right amount of sweet.

2016 Reading Challenge: A Book You've Been Meaning to Read

A Book You've Been Meaning to Read

There are probably over 200 books I've been meaning to read, just in the last few years.  For this specific challenge I chose I one I've been meaning to read only for a short time:

The Martian by Andy Weir

Summary:

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive — and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills — and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit — he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

Mini-Review:

I loved this book since the moment I picked it up and finished it record time (or what passes as record time for me these days).  You can see my full review of this book here.

Waiting on Wednesday #1

Hosted by Breaking The Spine

This week I'm waiting on:

Title:  One with You

Author:  Sylvia Day

Series:  Crossfire #5

Expected Publish Date:  April 5, 2016

Summary:

Gideon Cross. Falling in love with him was the easiest thing I've ever done. It happened instantly. Completely. Irrevocably.

Marrying him was a dream come true. Staying married to him is the fight of my life. Love transforms. Ours is both a refuge from the storm and the most violent of tempests. Two damaged souls entwined as one.

We have bared our deepest, ugliest secrets to one another. Gideon is the mirror that reflects all my flaws ... and all the beauty I couldn't see. He has given me everything. Now, I must prove I can be the rock, the shelter for him that he is for me. Together, we could stand against those who work so viciously to come between us.

But our greatest battle may lie within the very vows that give us strength. Committing to love was only the beginning. Fighting for it will either set us free ... or break us apart.

Heartbreakingly and seductively poignant, One with You is the breathlessly awaited finale to the Crossfire® saga, the searing love story that has captivated millions of readers worldwide.


What book are you anxiously waiting for to be released?

Blind Date With A Book

Blind Date!

I've seen the concept of a blind date with a book across the internet for a while now, but until now none of the libraries in my local system did it, until now!

A blind date with a book is when the library wraps up books and gives you either a brief description or a picture of some sort on the front to give you an indication of the themes of the book.  You check them out and try not to look at the titles on your receipt until you get home and can unwrap them.  It's  like a Christmas present to yourself that doesn't cost you anything.  

In my trek to my local library today I found a table of them!  Here are the two I selected, wrapped and then unwrapped when I got home:

 

The clues for this book was a mystery guy emoji, and elephant, and two chemistry vials.  The deciding factor for me was the elephant!  Turns out it was a book I've been meaning to read:

Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

 

The clues for my second pic were two emojis, a sick face and a winky face.  The deciding factor for me was actually the random space picture on the newspaper they chose to wrap it in.  This book I've never heard of and turned out to be:

The End of Eve by Ariel Gore

So I shall read both of these books (along with the nine other I borrowed today) and let you guys know the results of my blind dates!

Has anyone else ever done a blind date with a book?

Top Ten Books I Enjoyed Recently That Weren't My Typical Genre

Presented by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Books I Enjoyed Recently That Weren't My Typical Genre

1. The Martian by Andy Weir

I don't really do science fiction, pretty much ever.  If I delve into that side of literature I go towards fantasy, but this book was amazing.

2. The Grownup by Gillian Flynn

I actually read this as a brand new book, that I requested through the library because it had been on the bestsellers lists (or at least the author had).  I don't typically read mainstream, new releases, but this was kind of hilarious.

3. Breakwater Bay by Shelley Nobel

Just a basic family drama/romance, not normally exciting for me.

4. Awesome Sh*t My Drill Sergeant Said by Dan Caddy

This was straight up hilarious, and nonfiction is not my favorite genre by far.

5. If You Feel Too Much by Jamie Tworkowski

Again, nonfiction, but it's from To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA), so I had to because I love them, and I loved this.

6. Raising My Rainbow by Lori Duron

Blah memoirs usually, especially whiny ones about how someone is different and life is hard, but I found this rather inspiring.

7. American Sniper by Chris Kyle

Again, memoir, but war.  I love war movies, not typically books.  This was the best book I read in 2015 hands down.

8. Entwined With You by Sylvia Day

I normally find myself embarrassed by reading books that are known to be about sex and not much more, but this series has actual plot and Sylvia Day can actually write, so I make the exception for her.

9. Who Was Alfred Hitchcock? by Pamela D. Pollak

Need I say memoir again?  I'm starting to think I read these more than I think, but this was childrens level.  If you have a child and they don't like nonfiction, introduce them to this series of books, they'll love it.

10. The Terrorist's Son by Zak Ebrahim

Memoir!  Mostly I loved it because it was related to a Ted Talk, and if you don't know what Ted Talks are, then google it.  Now.  Seriously.

Review: The Martian

Title:  The Martian
Author:  Andy Weir
Rating:  6/5

Summary:

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive — and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills — and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit — he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

Review:

I cannot express how much I truly loved this book.  I would say it was my favorite this year, but considering it's only February, that is setting myself up for a year of shitty reading that couldn't compare.  Oddly enough I was given this book as a present on a first date (awesome, right?), and I started reading it that night.  It started off for me as a book I heard was highly recommended and I wanted to read it before I saw the movie (which now I'm not sure I want to see).  It ended up being amazing though!

Yes, sure, there was a lot of technical science talk, but the humor amidst it more than made up for parts I didn't understand.  I think I would have actually been satisfied if the only point of view the entire book was from Mark, but I did enjoy seeing NASA scramble in the aftermath.

So basically I'm recommending this book to absolutely anyone I can think of who reads and hasn't read it yet.  I've already converted a few people.  Even if you don't normally like science fiction (like me) you should read this!

Mini Review: One Today

Title:  One Today: A Poem for Barack Obama's Presidential Inauguration January 21, 2013
Author:  Richard Blanco
Rating: 5/5

Summary:

One Today is a commemorative chapbook of Richard Blanco’s inaugural poem, presented January 21, 2013 during President Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony.

Review:

A mini review for a mini book (I think it's a total of 30 pages, maybe).  I picked it up while at work on the library and read it during my break (in 15 minutes).  I love poetry and I am getting more involved with history so I enjoyed the series of poems.

I saw it as both many poems and one poem that tie us, as a nation, together for a day.  Nothing extraordinary, just a day in or lives.

I recommend for a poetry lover who doesn't want a big read or heavy interpretation.

Review: Easy

Title: Easy
Author: Tammara Webber
Rating: 5/5

Summary:

He watched her, but never knew her. Until thanks to a chance encounter, he became her savior…

The attraction between them was undeniable. Yet the past he’d worked so hard to overcome, and the future she’d put so much faith in, threatened to tear them apart.

Only together could they fight the pain and guilt, face the truth—and find the unexpected power of love.

A groundbreaking novel in the New Adult genre, Easy faces one girl's struggle to regain the trust she's lost, find the inner strength to fight back against an attacker, and accept the peace she finds in the arms of a secretive boy.

Review:

I'm going to start this review with:

OH MY GOD!!

For the first two chapters, I didn't like it and almost put it down.  BUT because a friend of mine had given it a rave review I forged on, and I am so glad I did!!

I can't put my finger on what exactly is so uniquely amazing about this book.  It has a typical-ish storyline, and the characters aren't that amazing (except for Lucas, he is a god).  It was nice to have a book that focused on a college student for once (as I am one).  There are so few books that aren't either high school and younger, or adult and older.

So, while there were portions of this book that made me mad (which is what every good book does), it didn't drag things out in a painful way.  Like the issues spanned the entire book, but the author jumped between plot lines enough that it wasn't frustrating and by the time I reached the end I wasn't just happy for a conclusion, I was actually sad to see it end.

Now on to the best part of this book:  LUCAS

He is just like the ultimate perfect man all the way from his mysterious past, to his drool-worthy tattoos, to his genius in art and school.  It's almost too much perfect for one boy, especially when he repeatedly saves Jacqueline.

Obviously I loved almost ever sentence of this book (I mean, come on.  I even went and hunted down .gif images to express my love).

So I recommend this book to EVERYONE (over the age of 17).

Review: The Chance

Title: The Chance
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Rating: 5/5

Summary:

In The Chance, New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury delves deeply into a theme that resonates with us all: It’s never too late for those willing to take a chance.

Years ago, the day before Ellie moved from Georgia to California, she and her best friend Nolan sat beneath the Spanish moss of an ancient oak tree where they wrote letters to each other, and sealed them in a rusty old metal box. The plan was to return eleven years later and read them. But now, as that date arrives, much has changed. Ellie, bereft of the faith she grew up with, is a single mom living in a tired apartment trying to make ends meet. Sometimes she watches television to catch a glimpse of her old friend —Nolan, now an NBA star, whose terrible personal tragedies fueled his faith and athletic drive in equal measure. But Nolan also suffers from a transcendent loneliness that nothing has ever eased.

Review:

I have a general hate for religious books/movies/spouting people.  BUT Karen Kingsbury is my exception to this.  She is such an amazing writer, and yes, God is on every other page.  She has this amazing way of intermingling her faith in her characters, and putting all the characters into such a position that you're not so much itching to know how the story ends, but to know what the characters have grown and learned.

Character love:

Ellie - I see her as the "sane/normal" one, I suppose because I see a lot of myself in her.  She has a hard life, but she does the best she can, and through the whole story she questions her faith every step of the way, but she never gives up on the life she's built.

Nolan - PERFECT MAN!  Yes, he's way religious, but in such a sexy way.  Is that possible?  To be religious in a sexy way?  I say yes.  He is the all american good boy who has grounded family values and life goals he actually fulfills.

Caroline - Don't have a huge opinion on her, even though she was one of the biggest catalysts of the whole book.  I believe she made a huge mistake, but I love how she never gave up on Ellie and her part in the ending.

Alan - HATED HIM until the last couple chapters.  If you read, you'll see why.

Kinzie - Best little ball of sunshine in the entire book.

A must read for everyone of any faith who wants a story with values, morals, and something that isn't written just for the sake of getting to the end and finding out the resolution to all of life's problems.

I think I'm going to post an author profile on Karen Kingsbury next, so keep a look out for that.

Review: After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall

Title:  After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall
Author:  Nancy Kress
Rating:  1/5

Summary:

The year is 2035. After ecological disasters nearly destroyed the Earth, 26 survivors—the last of humanity—are trapped by an alien race in a sterile enclosure known as the Shell. Fifteen-year-old Pete is one of the Six—children who were born deformed or sterile and raised in the Shell. As, one by one, the survivors grow sick and die, Pete and the Six struggle to put aside their anger at the alien Tesslies in order to find the means to rebuild the earth together. Their only hope lies within brief time-portals into the recent past, where they bring back children to replenish their disappearing gene pool. 

Meanwhile, in 2013, brilliant mathematician Julie Kahn works with the FBI to solve a series of inexplicable kidnappings. Suddenly her predictive algorithms begin to reveal more than just criminal activity. As she begins to realize her role in the impending catastrophe, simultaneously affecting the Earth and the Shell, Julie closes in on the truth. She and Pete are converging in time upon the future of humanity—a future which might never unfold. Weaving three consecutive time lines to unravel both the mystery of the Earth's destruction and the key to its salvation, this taut adventure offers a topical message with a satisfying twist.

Review:

Let me start by saying I didn't even finish this book.  I got about halfway through before I couldn't take it anymore.

Usually I like the dystopian genre, and the concept wasn't that bad.  The story line was really hard to follow however, and the book just never seemed to be progressing.  After a while I was done.  Maybe some day I'll try again, but for now I just don't see anything good about it.

Recommended to... I have no idea, if you're bored and can follow it?

Review: Billy Girl by Vickie Weaver

Summary

Abandoned as in infant because of her incessant crying, Billie Girl is raised by two women who are brothers. Her life, a gender-bending puzzle filled with dark humor, is a series of encounters with strangers who struggle along with what they are given: a bigamist husband, a long-lost daughter named after a car, a lesbian preacher's wife, a platonic second husband who loved her adoptive father. Twin themes of sexuality and euthanasia run throughout. In a journey from hard-dirt Georgia farm to end-of-life nursing home, Billie Girl comes to understand the mercy of killing.

Review

This book was in no way what I expected.  We follow Billie as her life never ceases to change.  Billie rarely seems to gain any happiness through her years, but few reoccurring characters bring her peace.  Though it seems whenever she gets too comfortable something happens and/or someone dies.

The book spans seventy-some-odd years, beginning with Billie's birth and ending with her death.  You feel for her and I personally found myself attached to various characters that may not be conventionally likable characters.

I wouldn't recommend this book to those who are squeamish or shy away from dark themes.  It is thought provoking and well crafted.

4.0/5.0

Review: Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks

Summary

When her husband leaves her for a younger woman, Adrienne Willis is thrust into a devastating midlife crisis. Suddenly abandoned at 45, she reels without purpose. Lacking any clear plan, she accepts a friend's invitation and flees for a weekend to the small coastal town of Rodanthe, North Carolina. Located near the northern tip of Hatteras Island, this Outer Banks retreat seems well suited to be a quiet respite, but a brutal storm destroys any sense of sanctuary. Adrienne's stranding is complicated and relieved by the presence of Paul Flanner, a 54-year-old physician with his own shattered past.


Review

Nicholas Sparks is my absolute favorite author and I have yet to read a book by him that I did not like.  While I did see the movie before reading Nights in Rodanthe, I believe the book is much better.  Adrienne and Paul are astonishingly real and it's not hard to relate to their plights, no matter your age.  I would recommend this book to all those hopeless romantics out there, but also to anyone in need of a good cry.

5.0/5.0

Review: Room by Emma Donoghue

Summary:

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.

Review:

I was slightly skeptical about a book that is considered to be adult fiction being written in the hand of a child, but it was perfect.  The story is an in-depth look at what can happen following a kidnapping and is slightly reminiscent of the Jaycee Dugard case.

I recommend this to anyone wanting something that will open their eyes.  I admit that I take things in life for granted, but after reading this book I appreciated things more (at least for a short time).  It's hard to imagine a life where you are not even allowed fresh air, but it happens.  To have this story told by Jack we see the side of the kidnapping that is never talked about, some of the people taken want to stay as they are.  Many people who are taken young may not remember anything else.

Though it is a large book, it's easy to get through so give it a chance.  I give it a 4.5/5.0