Snow

Snow by John Banville
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I do have to say this book was well-written. The author did a great job of drawing the reader into the environment of the book. Languid, fat snowflakes drifting through the grey leaden sky characterized the whole book. No one seemed in a hurry. There was no sense of urgency to solve the crime or find those responsible for the gruesome murder of a Catholic priest. At one point Strafford remarks upon how the snow seems to have distorted time. I felt the same way, reading the book. It felt VERY slow. Strafford also remarks, more than once, about how everyone he encounters gives him the sense of actors in a play, portraying their assigned roles. I agreed with him, there, as well. Everyone felt intentionally stereotypical--they knew how they were expected to act. The problem with that was that I, as the reader, really felt like there was much more going on under the surface which was never addressed. Who were these people, and who were these people really supposed to be? Despite all this, I really didn't have a huge issue with the book until the flashback "Interlude," told from the Catholic priest's point of view. It was completely unnecessary. This may be a bit of a spoiler, but I knew exactly what had happened to the priest and why it happened way before I got to this part in the book. "Hearing" the priest's actions in his own words didn't serve any purpose other than to horribly graphically describe things that the reader already surmised had been going on. From this point on, for me, everyone in the book just seemed depressed, sad, and hopeless. The flash-forward ending didn't help matters. I was left confused. Was this a mystery, a commentary on the abuses of the Catholic Church, a tale of people who let other's expectations and the fickleness of fate dictate their lives? While the author did a very good job of transporting the reader to 1950s Ireland in the dead of a snowy winter, I would not recommend this book at all.


View all my reviews

Invisible Girl

Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I could not--and didn't want to--put it down. We know a girl is missing. We don't know what happened to her, or who all was involved. There are several potential "suspects," and it is very intriguing to read along and try to unravel the clues. Saffyre is a great character, and as the book moved to its conclusion I was really rooting for her, and I was worried about what had happened to her. Owen was really interesting as well. The character development for everyone was great. Even the ending seemed perfect. Some of the content, especially the "intel" stuff, might not be for everyone, but I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense, mysteries, and thrillers.


View all my reviews

The Second Wife

The Second Wife by Rebecca Fleet
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
This was an interesting book. After reading the first bit, the book quickly changed and became something I wasn't quite expecting, but it was still engrossing to read. The mystery of what really happened the night a family home burned down was twisty, unexpected, and hard to put down. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries, suspense, thrillers, or just a fun read.


View all my reviews

The Lost Apothecary

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book was not for me. For some reason I just had a hard time connecting with the characters. I felt like I could see bad things were going to happen to them way in advance, and they were all just not making smart decisions. Others may really enjoy this book, but I did not.


View all my reviews

Hush (Hush: #1)

Hush by Dylan Farrow
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I tried to like this book, but I could not figure out this book. In the beginning I felt I had a handle on what was going on, the world the author was trying to create, and the challenges Shae was facing. But once Shae left her home to try to find answers and her place in the world, the book seemed to become a completely different story. Everything took a sharp turn and I felt completely confused. Things began to happen that didn't make much sense, and the world the author was creating felt very different from the world in the beginning of the book. Character development really took a back-seat, and I didn't have much of a connection to the characters. When I put the book down I did not want to pick it back up. I did not enjoy this book and would not recommend it.


View all my reviews

Before the Ruins

Before the Ruins by Victoria Gosling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
This was a very interesting book, full of lies, intrigue, secrets, resentments, and mistrust among a group of friends. Watching them go from children to adults, and how the decisions they made as teenagers affected who they would become, was engrossing. I enjoyed this book.


View all my reviews

To Tell You the Truth

To Tell You the Truth by Gilly Macmillan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I enjoyed this book. There was a creepy atmosphere that, combined with the feeling that the narrator was unreliable, created a very unsettling feeling. I wasn't sure who would turn out to be the "villain/villains," which kept me reading late into the night. The ending was fitting for the book, even if it left some questions and issues open for interpretation.


View all my reviews

Magic Lessons (Practical Magic: #0)

Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
This was an interesting book. I am not sure what exactly I think about it. I enjoyed the first half. It was engrossing to watch Maria grow from a young girl in England, learning about healing and helping those in need, to a teenager in Curacao trying to find her way in the world while being true to herself. When I got to the middle of the book, however, Maria made MULTIPLE decisions that were just plain stupid. I really wanted to yell at her and shake her by the shoulders. After about the sixth awful decision I just stared rolling my eyes and really began to dislike Maria. I started to feel like she was incredibly selfish, short-sighted, and not very smart. I kept reading though, and towards the end of the book I began to change my feelings. It also helped when I reminded myself that Maria was still a teenager when she was making all of her terrible decisions.
I have not read the other two books in this series, and only saw the movie version of "Practical Magic" many years ago. Reading this book definitely made me want to go back and see how Maria's actions in this book went on to affect her descendants centuries later.


View all my reviews

A Golden Fury

A Golden Fury by Samantha Cohoe
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I got about 1/3 through this book and was not impressed. So I came to Goodreads to see what other readers thought. And when many of them said the last half of the book was no where near as good as the first half, I thought to myself, "Wow--I don't even like the first half!"
This book was not for me. I felt like too much attention was paid to the alchemy aspect and not enough to the characters. There were numerous long descriptions of ancient alchemical texts and old philosophers and chemical processes, which was good as it showed an attention to detail on the author's part. Despite all this, I did not feel as though I had a handle on the bigger "world" that the author was trying to build. It felt as though it was being taken for granted that the reader knew how alchemy would fit into 18th century Europe. The characters also felt flat to me and didn't have much rooting value. I didn't feel like I knew them. I don't think I would recommend this book.


View all my reviews

The Bitterwine Oath

The Bitterwine Oath by Hannah  West
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I am rounding up from a 2.5 stars... This book was just not for me. I really tried to like it. I loved the setting and the "mystery" seemed very intriguing. But as I read I felt like I was being told things instead of shown. A lot of the characters felt mechanical and the situations felt contrived. The kids in the book did not act like any teenagers I know. I also needed the author to kind of pick a tone--sometimes the book was spine-tinglingly creepy, and sometimes everyone was just acting like ridiculously air-headed high schoolers. I just could not get into this book.


View all my reviews

The Wife Upstairs

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I would give this 4.5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I wasn't quite sure what to expect, other than knowing it was based on "Jane Eyre," and reading the title. What I found was a modern soapy psychological Southern thriller about the mysterious disappearance of a wealthy self-made life-style brand maven and the young girl with a shadowy past who (perhaps?) inadvertently seems to take her place. While one of the mysteries in the book is pretty obvious--just read the title--there are other things going on that the reader can't be sure about until the very end; new tidbits are revealed throughout the book. Is there someone upstairs? How did she get there? Why is she there? Who put her there? Who is in danger? Who is the villain? I had a very hard time putting this down. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries, thrillers, domestic suspense, or books about the South. I loved it!


View all my reviews

Into the Heartless Wood

Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
This book had a fairy tale quality that should have been great, but to me, just didn't quite work out. The tone and writing style attempted to convey the feeling of something like a bedtime story being related much after the events occurred. I think this was to reinforce the magical otherworldly aspects of the story, but it just came across as lacking depth. The characters didn't feel "real," and their emotions didn't feel complex. I had a hard time feeling a connection with them. It was just like I was watching players on a stage, instead of going on a journey with them. I do understand what the author was trying to accomplish, but it was just not successful in my opinion. The world-building was interesting, but I needed more detail to really understand the background of what was going on. And the ending was nice, but I didn't really "get it." I am not sure that I would recommend this book.


View all my reviews

The Princess and the Rogue (Bow Street Bachelors: #3)

The Princess and the Rogue by Kate Bateman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
The premise of this book was very promising, but it just fell flat for me. I couldn't quite connect to the characters. Anya didn't feel very organic--the constant mentions of how things were in Russia, how people treated her in Russia, what her life had been like in Russia, etc., seemed crammed in at unnatural places and came across to me as awkward; they always took me out of the story. I also didn't really like the hero. Sebastien's actions during his first meeting with Anya were not very pleasant, and didn't get much better. He seemed to demand lots of things from her that she didn't really want to give. And then all of a sudden they couldn't keep their hands off each other. Their actions just didn't seem to ring true. I was not a fan of this book.


View all my reviews

A Royal Kiss and Tell (A Royal Wedding: #2)

A Royal Kiss and Tell by Julia London
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this. book.
This book was a disappointment. The heroine was unlikeable, had no rooting value, and confusing. I just could not get a handle on her. At the beginning of the book I thought maybe she was slightly air-headed or naive, to be so clueless of how to go about in society (even though the author seemed to hit the reader over the head with all the mentions of how much our heroine went about in society). Then I thought perhaps the heroine was supposed to be reminiscent of Cher in the movie Clueless, but Caroline had none of the sincere sweetness of Cher. Our hero Leo didn't like her, and I kept waiting for him to give her the severe dressing-down she deserved, so she could realize the error of her ways. I got very impatient waiting for it. The reader was finally given a clue to the reasons behind Caroline's unpleasant behavior half-way through the book. I began to feel better toward her, and wished this insight had been provided at the start of the book. But at the end of the paragraph the author revealed that Caroline was rich enough to continue to play her "games" with people and had no intention of stopping. So I went right back to disliking Caroline.
The pacing of this book was very strange, as well. The "mystery" in the plot seemed tacked on. If it had been given more attention it would have helped. The author also moved back and forth in time, and important plot points were mentioned in flashbacks when they should have been described in "real time."
I was just very frustrated with the whole book. I would say it could have been much better, but Caroline was such a confusing all-over-the-place character with no real through-line that I believe the only way to make this book better would be to have a completely different heroine.


View all my reviews

Lionhearts (Nottingham: #2)

Lionhearts by Nathan Makaryk
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series and was very excited to read this one. It followed along with the story of the first book, allowing the reader to see what many of the characters were doing as a result of the tumultuous actions in the first installment. Some of the characters are unlikeable; some of they do things that you want to yell at them about; some of them make decisions based on what they think is best when you wish they would do something completely different.
I would only recommend reading this book if you have read the first one. And I would re-read the first one right before reading this one. Without a clear memory of the characters, their motivations, and their past actions, the reader will miss out of subtleties that will really add to the enjoyment and understanding of what is happening.


View all my reviews

Chasing Starlight

Chasing Starlight by Teri Bailey Black
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
This was a quick read. I enjoyed the story of a teenaged girl forced by circumstances to go live with her grandfather, an old silent movie star who no longer enjoys the fame he once used to. The mystery aspect added to this coming-of-age/romance story. The setting of a film studio in the golden age of Hollywood was interesting, with famous names, facts, and films mentioned in passing. All in all, it could have been better and tighter, with more depth and gravity, but it was a fun summer read.


View all my reviews

Mexican Gothic

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Having read several of my mother's old copies of gothic romance back in the day, I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, especially after reading Gods of Jade and Shadow. But I was drawn in from the beginning pages, and the author did a wonderful job of creating interesting and intriguing characters and putting them in a strange and yet familiarly gothic type of story. Noemi was a great protagonist and it was fun to see her character grow and develop. The other characters in the book were suitably creepy and disconcerting. The setting, a decaying old isolated mansion filled with a very standoffish British family was unsettling and yet mesmerizing. That is how I might describe the whole book: unsettling yet mesmerizing.
The author left enough clues about what was going on in the house that I had the mechanics of what was "wrong" fairly soon. But when the motives behind what was going on were revealed just after the midway point, I was a bit disappointed--not with what was happening, but with how the author chose to fill in Noemi and the reader. I was a little unhappy for a chapter or so, but then the story drew me right back in, and kept me entranced. As the book moved to its conclusion, I really had no idea what was going to happen, or whether or not Noemi would end up safe and sound or corrupted by the strange house and its occupants. I was reading breathlessly until the very last page.
This book combines traditional Gothic tropes with ideas of Darwinism, indigenous traditions, and even some slightly Lovecraftian horror. It was just the right amount of creepy and unsettling without being truly frightening. There were some descriptions that were pretty gory that might bother some readers, but to me they really added to the themes of the story.
I would absolutely recommend this book!


View all my reviews

The Awakening (The Dragon Heart Legacy: #1)

The Awakening by Nora Roberts
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I was really looking forward to this book, but it just didn't do it for me. The plot followed the formula of countless YA fantasies I've read, so I was a bit skeptical. But I did really enjoy the first part of the book--probably because this is NOT a YA fantasy. The characters were mature, well-developed, interesting and fun to read about. I also enjoyed reading about Breen and Marco's vacation in Ireland. Once Breen was on her own, however, the story started to lose steam for me. When she met her family and traveled to her true home, I just found Breen to lose her relatability. I kind of felt like she was reverting to her previous tendency to let people tell her who she was and who she should be. I realized I didn't much care about Breen or her story anymore. I'm not sure I would recommend this one.


View all my reviews

The Forgotten Kingdom (The Lost Queen Trilogy: #2)

The Forgotten Kingdom by Signe Pike
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I enjoyed the second installment of this series a great deal more than I did the first. This book was interesting, the addition of other characters and their points of view really added to the story, and the action really drew me in.
The fact that the focus was taken off of Languoreth and the voices of different characters were mixed in added a richness to this book that was missing in the first. I also really liked the "new" characters that could be recognized from Arthurian legend. I am glad that I decided to go ahead and read the next book in this series and am now eagerly awaiting the final book.


View all my reviews

The Lost Queen (The Lost Queen Trilogy: #1)

The Lost Queen by Signe Pike
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was a little tough for me. I wanted to absolutely love it because it is based on the authentic historical figures who have basis in Arthurian legend. And for the most part it was pretty good. The plot and setting were very interesting, and I think most people do not realize that there is quite a strong basis for "Arthur" hailing from Scotland. But my biggest issue with the book was our "heroine," Languoreth. I just really did not like her. She seemed actually quite dense, unappreciative, impetuous, and self-centered. Her decisions were just dumb. I kept wanting to yell at her, "Why are you doing that? Don't you know that's stupid and obviously not going to end well--for anyone?!" The middle of the book takes place when she is 14/15, and most of the important action and events take place during this time. So I guess that is the one "excuse." I just kept reminding myself she's barely 15 and being forced to make adult decisions. But it would have helped, I think, if the author had found ways to subtly remind the reader that Languoreth was so young. That would have seemed more realistic when she kept making immature and selfish decisions. For the last part of the book she was older, and while she was still a bit impetuous, but it was easier to relate to her.
This book was well-researched and I enjoyed the beginning and ending of the book, but I did not especially enjoy Languoreth. I will read the next installment in the trilogy because I am interested to see how all of this plays into the "history" of Arthur, and I am hoping we get to move the focus to characters other than Languoreth.
If you like Celtic mythology, Dark Ages Britain, Arthurian legend, and history, you may recommend this book. It is worth it if you can trudge through the main character's early teen years...


View all my reviews

Seven Lies

Seven Lies by Elizabeth    Kay
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book really drew me in and I could not put it down. I really found the characters fascinating, even though the main character had several "unlikeable" qualities. I enjoyed her unreliable narrator status. However, the ending really put me off. She went from unlikeable and unreliable to downright despicable and I found that unredeemable. I am not sure I would recommend this book.


View all my reviews

The Mountains Wild

The Mountains Wild by Sarah Stewart Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I would give this book a 4.5! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The mystery, as well as the setting, drew me in and I did not want to put the book down. The characters were great and I felt as though I really knew them all. I was continually guessing as to what could have really happened to the missing girls, and I certainly did not see the ending coming.
This was not a perfect book--there were a couple of things I might have changed, and I do wish a little bit of the final reveal could have been fleshed out just a bit, but it absolutely did not take away from my enjoyment of the book. I feel like this could be a series on TV or Netflix. I would love to watch these characters, the way they interacted with each other, and the way they worked to solve the mystery and do their jobs.
I finished the book feeling very satisfied, yet hoping the author would turn these characters into a series. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries, suspense, thrillers, or anyone who loves Ireland!


View all my reviews

Foundryside (The Founders Trilogy: #1)

Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While I enjoyed this book to an extent, I am not sure that I would recommend it or read the next books in the series. The characterization was not well-done. I wanted to know more about the secondary characters, but I found that lacking. The world-building was great, but was so well-described that it eventually became overwhelming. I did not need 2 pages on the "science" or how a character was going to be able to fly, or turn invisible, or talk to machines. If that much detail had been devoted to characters, then this book would have been much better.


View all my reviews

Mrs. Watson Wants Your Teeth

Mrs. Watson Wants Your Teeth by Alison McGhee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a great book for 1st or 2nd graders. A young 1st grader hears on the bus that her new 1st grade teachers is an alien who craves baby teeth. This is particularly frightening to our young protagonist, who has a loose tooth that could come out at any moment. The story combines with the illustrations to create a really fun book to read. My 2nd grader loved studying the pictures and it really added to the humor of the story. I would recommend this as a great read aloud.


View all my reviews

The Night Country (The Hazel Wood: #2)

The Night Country by Melissa Albert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I did enjoy the originality and uniqueness of this sequel. I did not enjoy it as much as the first book in the series, but it was still good. It made sense that our heroine would be affected by her time in the Hazel Wood and would have to readjust to her new life. She seemed to make some really strange decisions, though, and several times I found myself wondering, "Why is she doing that?" All in all, I did like this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoyed The Hazel Wood.


View all my reviews