Book Review - Bonita Faye

Bonita Faye by Margaret Moseley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was pleasantly surprised as I began this one. I wasn't quite sure what to expect but I really liked it. There isn't a ton of mystery to it, but a few questions that we get some answers to. I like how the story is told from her perspective. We see how she evolves and grows throughout the novel. She's optimistic and brutally honest. I really loved her friends and Harmon. Claude wasn't my favorite, I was routing from Harmon the entire time. There is some romance, war, crime, lots of trips to France and lots of small town country moments. It wasn't super fast paced but it didn't bore me at all. There were some parts that began to lag and I found myself skimming over some parts. I was able to put it down, it wasn't edge of your seat kind of book, but I was eager to pick it up again.
Bonita Faye is a strong woman who claws her way out of undesirable circumstances and changes her life for the better. The characters were all likeable unless they were meant to be hated. I liked how everything didn't go perfectly for her, and that was alright too. It made me chuckle but I wouldn't compare this to Janet Evanovich, I didn't find myself laughing out loud throughout. This was a light and easy read that kept me entertained.

View all my reviews

Book Review - W

W by John Banks
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I was definitely in the minority with this one so far. Oh man, this book.
I'm sure where to begin. It was a mish-mash hodge-podge hot mess. I could not find any plot throughout this book. It was impossible to follow. There are numerous stories going on, which don't seem to have any purpose. The Norway story was my favorite and had that been the novel itself, I think I would have enjoyed it. I feel John Banks is definitely talented, but I'm not sure what he's doing with that talent. I don't find this to be anything like Mark Twain as others have suggested. I feel like the author took all his talents and abilities and wrote every random thought, poem, conversation that popped into his head. There was no order, the wording, style, characters all jumped from here to there without any explanations or meaning. I like to read for entertainment and fun and this did not fit the bill. I might consider this author again, but this book was certainly not for me.

View all my reviews

Book Review - Broken Promise (Sons of Broad #3)

Broken Promise by Tara Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the third in the Sons of Broad Series by Tara Thomas. I received this book from Netgalley and after I started it, I knew I had to start from the beginning. I hunted down the first two and finished them before diving back into Broken Promise. I did not read any of the prequel novellas which may have been helpful for some more backstory. Each of the books in the series focuses on one of the Benedict brothers. In the last book we are introduced to Kipling. I had a feeling the older mature and seemingly playboy brother was more deep than he let's on.
The romance begins between him and Alyssa, the police officer from the previous books. The romance isn't a surprise, there's a lot of playful banter and sexual innuendos from Kipling in the other books but the feelings behind them aren't introduced until this final installment. A lot of questions are answered in this one. We found out the who and why of the Gentleman which fills in a lot of blanks. I wonder if there's a novella from the POV of the Benedict's mom? That would be an interesting read.

I would definitely read the series in order, otherwise the finale built up in the first two is spoiled in book three. I liked Alyssa. She was a strong heroine but not perfect, you saw the flaws too. I do wonder, whatever happened to her partner from the first book? She originally has a partner, then he just stops coming and no more mention of him. Generally if a department runs two deep, they don't just stop. I also felt her decision to leave the department felt pretty rash. I definitely saw her leaving, but there wasn't much in the way of her decision, just that she made it.
I will say each of these girls seem to come from a home with a rough father.

SPOILER ALERT!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!


The loose ends from the other books all seem to tie up at the end. Some questions I had with the ending is Kipling's injury. We aren't ever really told what happens with him, he seems alright, like he's faking but then ends up in a coma and needing physical therapy? For what?! Also, Jade seems to have no problem being shot since it's no longer mentioned again. The part with Tilly's dad is a bit confusing. It's talked about that he's a hindrance to the Gentleman, but then that's it. So did he plant the evidence? It wasn't very clear. And the decision he made for the Benedict parents was surprising, considering his motive behind it all.

In the end it was a good book, a good series and I am definitely interested in reading more from this author, and perhaps I'll check out the novellas as well.

Thanks for the opportunity!

View all my reviews

Book Review - Deadly Secret (Sons of Broad #2)

Deadly Secret by Tara Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second novel in the Sons of Broad series by Tara Thomas. I actually received an ARC for the third in the series and started it. Since I ended up enjoying it I tracked down the first two.
This was probably my least favorite of all three. I didn't read any of the prequel novellas so I might be missing some of the back story to these.

What I didn't like as much in this one was our heroine, Bea. I liked Knox, he wasn't my favorite brother but I liked him a lot more than Bea. The first half of the book drove me nuts.

**Spoiler Alert!**
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER

She was so adamant about not letting her fear of this madman move her from her home, but this was the same guy who's keeping her from who she loves? She won't let him dictate where she sleeps at night (which would keep her alive), but she's willing to give up her husband because he said so? What kind of a woman is this?

Rant over.

She was a little too trusting of Jade in my opinion. Not to say that Jade didn't need someone in her corner, but Bea was a bit too naive to stay alive without Knox.

The suspense was good, the madman was hate-able, the mystery was there. There are some open ends, some from the first are weaved in, but new ones are formed. For me, it wasn't so bad since I had all 3 books at once. I was able to pick up book 3 when this was over so it didn't leave me hanging.

There is romance, sex scenes, some language and mature content like in the last, an adult read for sure. On to the next in the series!

View all my reviews

Book Review - Darkest Night (Sons of Broad #1)

Darkest Night by Tara Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This author was new-to-me and I'm pleasantly surprised with the result. I haven't really gotten into romantic suspense until now. I actually received an ARC from Netgalley for the third book in the series. I began reading it, and then since I liked the story, I had to hunt down the first two. I have not read any of the author's other work under her pen name or through her novellas.
The Benedict boys each have their own angle and personality and each one will have their own book. The first begins with the youngest, Keaton and his childhood neighbor Tilly. This was a sweet and quick romance that skips the instalove feeling since they were childhood friends and crushes until a tragedy ripped them apart for years. They are later reunited and all the old feelings rush back.
As soon as they are reacquainted, the bodies and danger start showing up at Tilly's door. Keaton's desire to protect her was sweet. The suspense moved quickly and kept me thoroughly engaged. Sometimes the pacing and change of POV threw me, I'm not sure if that was because of the ARC format though.
The gentleman was a character I loved to hate, and I know there is something much deeper for him in all this. The characters weren't super deep, but I could get a good glimpse of them. This book really focuses on a few, I'm imagining the other books each focus on different characters. The only character I wasn't a fan of were the twins, and one of their quick 180 in personality. It just felt forced.
There were some sex scenes, some language, and mature content, it wasn't over the top but definitely an adult read. There were a few references that had me wondering and perhaps there is something in a previous novella that accounts for those details. A few loose ends when this was over, however, it's a series. It wasn't a cliff-hanger, but enough to make me wonder how they will connect in the next book. I will definitely continue in the series and I'm eager to find more from this author.

View all my reviews

Book Review - The Mermaid and the Shoe

The Mermaid and the Shoe by K.G. Campbell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I thought this was a sweet and beautiful book focusing on how every child is unique and special in their own way. Sometimes their talent lies hidden from others for a time and that doesn't make them any less special. King Neptune's 50 daughters all had amazing talents except for little minnow. Minnow doesn't seem to do anything right and just asks way too many questions. These questions lead her on an adventure as she searches for the answers. I loved the beautiful whimsical pictures of this book. My daughter loves mermaids and this book was no exception for her. It's a quick and easy read and we read it multiple times before bed one night. Definitely will keep an eye on this author in the future.

View all my reviews

Book Review - The Song of Blood and Stone

Song of Blood & Stone by L. Penelope
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this one and felt it wasn't like anything I've read lately. It was a very easy read, fast paced and intriguing. I finished it within a day. I definitely felt that this book was hitting on a lot of different major issues all at once. It hits racism, refugees, interracial couples, f/f couples, sexual assault, political conflict, and moral dilemmas just to name a few. Race/cultural differences between the opposing sides plays a huge role in this book. I really enjoyed reading how there were good and bad on both sides and not singling one side out as good/evil. One could definitely take this book with a political view but I read for entertainment so I leave politics out of it.
I loved the characters. I found myself rooting for both main characters and connected with them each in different ways. I would loved to have read about Jasminda's life with her family before. I loved her connection to them, but some added memories of her twin brothers or her parents would have really brought them to life. I really liked how independent she was, how she was terrified and strong at the same time. I loved Jack. His identity wasn't a complete surprise by the time it is made known but it didn't detract from the story. I really enjoyed Nash and Usher and hope they make more appearances and perhaps some more depth in the future.
I would not classify this as a YA but more NA. It has some pretty descriptive sex scenes for YA, not too detailed, but way more than I would feel comfortable sharing with my teenager. There are also scenes of attempted rape that are pretty descriptive. There wasn't any language and in between these scenes, it was YA suitable.
The fantasy in this one was light and easy. It didn't get too complicated when speaking of magic, which makes it a fast read. Sometimes too much fantasy can weigh a book down and make it work to get through. This was not one of those. I really loved how the magic is connected to each other, to the earth.
This was a great and easy read and I am glad I was given the opportunity to review it. I will definitely follow the author and I'm eager to read what comes next!

View all my reviews

Book Review - Don't Dangle Your Participle

Don't Dangle Your Participle by Vanita Oelschlager
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a fun easy read that explained participles. She uses hanging funny participles with pictures to show how to word your sentence to link the participle to the correct noun. It was really useful to my older elementary and middle school kids. My younger kids thought it was funny to read and it gave them a great introduction into participles. Vanita does a great job turning some difficult grammar concepts into a fun experience. She makes them easier and more fun for children to learn and understand. The illustrations are bright and fun!

View all my reviews

Book Review - Birds of a Feather

Birds of a Feather: A Book of Idioms and Silly Pictures by Vanita Oelschlager
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I LOVED this book! It was perfect for my daughter with autism! She has the hardest time grasping idioms. She takes everything so literal. This was perfect, I love the illustrations. My only negative was that it wasn't longer! There was a few idioms that I would have loved to seen added. This was also perfect for my younger kids who don't really understand a lot of idioms.

View all my reviews

Book Review - Knees

Knees: The mixed up world of a boy with dyslexia by Vanita Oelschlager
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a super cute book explaining dyslexia and then helping each child realize that everyone has different talents and potential. I read it with my son who has ADHD and he really enjoyed it. We also have a child with autism and it eased into a conversation about how everyone has different challenges in life. These challenges sometimes makes things hard, but they also come with gifts and skills that others don't have. My daughter with autism is a very gifted artist and has an amazing memory. It was great for him to recognize that just because certain things are hard, it doesn't have to define us. I really enjoyed this book and it's subject. Very uplifting, great illustrations and a quick and easy read for everyone in our family. I will definitely keep watching this author.

View all my reviews

Book Review - Ashley Bell

Ashley Bell by Dean Koontz
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I have read a ton of Dean Koontz and I traditionally love them. Every now and then though, he throws one out there that I just can't get into. Ashley Bell was one of those. It was SOOOOOO slow and tedious. I was not intrigued or interested, the characters, the plot, nothing did it for me. I found myself skimming through and even that dragged on. It was quite the letdown because I really am a huge fan of many of his books. I will continue with this author, but this one was definitely not for me.

View all my reviews

Book Review - The Quick

The Quick by Lauren Owen
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I really wanted to like this book way more than I did. It was given a lot of hype and it fell very flat. To start with, the beginning dragged on incredibly slow, but some books are like that and you stick it out because the building is worth it in the end. I did love the character/relationship development between Christopher and James. I wasn't even really bothered by the shift in points of view. What I struggled with the most is the plot twist really wasn't very unexpected. I kept expecting something else to change. And when that "twist" came, the writing changed. It wasn't the same. It felt like two separate books smooshed together because they contained the same characters. My least favorite character was Charlotte, and the one I was most interested in was James, but his point of view disappears halfway through the book and it just fell flat to me. The writing itself was good and I definitely think the author has potential for greatness but this debut novel wasn't for me.
I was interested while I was reading but it was easy to stop and once I put the book down I found myself starting other books before finishing this one. It took me a very long time to get through it. There were numerous side plots that distracted from the main storyline and feels like so much of those cross streets were left undone. The ending was depressing and unfulfilling. This was perhaps done as an open ending for a sequel or series. I would like to keep an eye on this author in the future, the potential is definitely there.

View all my reviews

Book Review - Ladybug Red

Ladybug Red by Laura Yirak
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Beautiful and Fun count to ten

Cute quick little counting to ten book about ladybugs. Loved the simplicity and rhyming. Beautifully colored illustrations. My four year old daughter loved reading this on. She caught on 5e words quickly and now doesn’t need my help. Helps boost her confidence in reading. Eager to find more from this author.

View all my reviews

Book Review - The Best of Daughters

The Best of Daughters by Dilly Court
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my first introduction to Dilly Court. I must say I was very pleased with this jump into a period novel. I was fascinated with the way that Dilly was able to use accurate verbiage throughout her descriptions and found myself looking up a few words here or there. When the words are added simply to push it onto the reader that the author is knowledgeable it annoys me. Dilly doesn't do this at all. The writing flows and fits and had she used modern words in her descriptions it would have been off-putting.

This book takes you back into times right before WWI when a well-to-do family is flung into a state of trial as her father's business is swindled by his partner and forces them to flee to the countryside giving up the luxuries they once took for granted. Daisy is on the path to finding herself and begins by attending meetings and demonstrations by the suffragettes. This path is halted on their move to the countryside which has Daisy searching for another path..

Most of the characters were likable and loved the family interactions. At the beginning I really struggled with Daisy's infatuation. I really love how we see and most of the other characters develop throughout the novel. At first I thought it was moving particularly slow amidst all the dress fittings and shopping sprees but I really got more into it as the war started. I really loved how much she grew and matured.

I enjoyed the story and the ending. There were no loose ends and everything ended well. There was romance but not a lot of lusty sex scenes, just small kissing scenes. There wasn't language and the war scenes were moving but not too heavy. There wasn't a lot of angst but there was a lot of painful war scenarios.

I definitely enjoyed this one and will find more by this author. I am eager to see what else she has written.

View all my reviews

Book Review - All For You

SPOILER ALERT!! SPOILER ALERT!!

I really enjoyed this one.  It's been awhile since I picked up a contemporary romance and a military one nonetheless.  I'm glad I started with this one.  This one kept me intrigued the entire way through.  I was hoping for a little more depth into the hazing, but I realize that wasn't the focus of this novel.  I felt the author did a really good job portraying the scene and brutal truth about mental health in the military.  I also loved that she was honest that it isn't as black and white as some try to make it out to be.  The characters weren't my fav, don't get me wrong, they were written well.  Reza was a broken and flawed character, which I think she pulled off well.  At first I was annoyed by an addict hanging on to a bottle to "prove" he was strong enough since you knew it was just a matter of time.  In the end I'm glad it came around.  Emily was a decent character but I felt she was a little to naive.  How could she not possibly know what ammo and mags are?  She did say she watched every war movie she could find, and while she was a doctor, she was also in the army for goodness sakes.  I also don't know that drinking with an alcoholic is the best way to support a man you are falling for.  My personal pet peeve was the reference to her female anatomy as her "sex."  That drives me nuts, there are quite a few other words that can be used and numerous to describe the male anatomy but any reference towards her was the single word.  I enjoyed my little trip to Fort Hood and am interested in reading the rest of the series.  Overall, the good outweighed the bad and I will continue to watch this author in the future.

Book Review - The Fever

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18656036-the-fever" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Fever" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1381359885m/18656036.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18656036-the-fever">The Fever</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/29593.Megan_Abbott">Megan Abbott</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2421797879">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This one was hard to rate, I actually put it off for quite a long time. The writing wasn't bad, but it was hard to describe what this book was. It wasn't scary, it wasn't a mystery, it was..... I'm not sure. It felt like a labryinth, full of dead-end wrong turns that really have nothing to do with anything other than to distract you. <br /><br />It was full of that teenage pettiness and immaturity that's sometimes fun to endure but this time it seemed over the top. The biggest problem for me was that I felt like there wasn't really anything that happens. But I didn't want to give it a terrible review because the author can write. I could be in the situation, see the characters, watch the interactions, she can tell a story for sure. I think she's a great author, just wish the content was better. <br /><br />The characters did nothing for me, I didn't hate them or love them. They really didn't move me in any way other than making me feel that this family seems to need some therapy to deal with the issues. There was a lot of sexual content in this book for a YA novel. Not that you don't find it in YA or teenage life, but it felt almost forced. A lot of the scenes just didn't feel necessary at all. The family was weirdly sexual, not together, just the whole family seemed to have issues in one way or another. The dad was awkwardly observant of his daughter's friends and their development of the years. The brother carries this awkward relationship as he thinks about his sister in the next room when he's with the girl of the week. The sexting is pretty prevalent and almost felt extreme. Yes, it happens, but to that extent to one guy and push it so hard through the book felt forced. It seemed every situation turned sexual in one way or another or had some sexual comment or component added just to throw it in.<br />This wasn't your typical YA, wasn't much of a mystery or thriller. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this one, BUT I still intend to follow this author, because she definitely has potential since she is a good author.
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1416587-kim">View all my reviews</a>

Book Review - Lies That Bind Us

Lies That Bind Us by Andrew Hart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


SPOILER ALERT!! SPOILER ALERT!!


I enjoyed this one. It wasn't my fav, but it kept me interested the whole way through. I like how it flowed back and forth in time giving you little hints along the way. It wasn't too much of a mystery to me though, I could tell where it was going. I recognized the meaning of the word, the "mask" and who was responsible pretty early on. I wasn't a super fan of any of the characters. I struggle with feeling compassion for pathological liars and felt the relationships were so fake it was hard to connect with any character. There were a few words that felt forced, but the writing was easy to understand and flowed well. The characters, although I wasn't a super fan, stuck pretty true to their qualities. The end seemed to end too easy, it wasn't much of a mystery. I felt kind of let down the way things worked out, more like a broken puzzle but at least you had all the pieces. Even though it wasn't my favorite, it was a good jump back into fiction after I took a hiatus focusing on school and non-fiction for quite some time.
There is some language and lots of drinking involved.

View all my reviews

Book Review - Awaken the Giant Within

Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny! by Anthony Robbins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this one. It's focus relies on changing your mindset and thoughts in order to instill change in other aspects of your life. It was pretty motivational and a quick listen. I am a firm believer in the power of behavioral therapy and how mindset can really change all aspects of life. This can be applied to finances, diet/physical changes, emotional and being happy and all that's in between.

View all my reviews

Book Review - The Total Money Makeover

The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I listened to this as an audio book. I do this with numerous self-help type and nonfiction books throughout the day and in the car. My kids don't mind most of the ones I listened to, but this one my kids whined every time I put it on. As my children put it, "not the guy who yells at you!" I think he's just trying to make his point, but it does sound pretty forceful in the audio. The ideas in this book are a great starting point. I feel if you are in debt and able to stick with the plan you can definitely work your way out. My biggest gripe with this book was lumping everyone in the same category. Some of us are in debt due to circumstances like medical or loss of jobs or market crashes that were somewhat out of our control. While we are inching our way out of debt, my debt didn't come from too many lattes or clothing purchases. And the $1000 emergency fund wouldn't have covered my time in a coma on ventilators or my daughter's genetic testing. Our income is substantially lower than what his examples give, but the concept still applies, it's just going to take us a lot longer than the year or two the 20 somethings making 50k a year each in a small apartment were able to finish in. I do like the plan and the way it's laid out, I would suggest using the plan as an outline and then finessing to your specific circumstances.

View all my reviews

Book Review - The Smartest Kids in the World

The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way by Amanda Ripley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this one. I really liked how she compared other countries and it was quite an insight to see the differences in educational systems around the globe. What I found intriguing was the importance of teacher training in other countries and the lack of technology. While I don't feel we should eliminate all technology; I feel that technology in the school system, especially elementary, is taking away some fundamental lessons and abilities that would be beneficial to our kids. I completely agree that if my child earns a "F", that's where I want them graded. I feel teachers that are afraid to give failing grades for fear of repercussions or because a parent throws a fit are only doing a disservice to the student. With my six kids, I have had both types of teachers, and those who aren't afraid of being honest and setting the bar high are benefiting the child more than those that give everyone a passing grade. As an adult who has returned to college in my later years I am truly surprised by college students who expect a passing grade without putting in the work. My biggest gripe is that her method of comparing education was with a specific test. While this test isn't a traditional aptitude test, I felt the research was lacking in other methods of determining the ability of a new adult to function in life after school.

View all my reviews

Book Review - Grit

Grit by Angela Duckworth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this one. I love the concept of grit, that talent only takes a person so far and so often it's those who are truly dedicated, passionate and who don't give up that succeed where others may struggle or fail. I think this is an important lesson to teach my kids especially when some of the things they love, they don't fit the mold for. It also helps for my daughter who was born with talent, but doesn't care to work hard at it because she's just naturally good.
I can see where it might fall flat for others. It almost reminded me of a movie in which the trailer (TED talk) had all the good and key points and the rest of the actual movie (book) didn't add much in the end. I enjoyed the entire thing, but I didn't get a ton more from the book than I did from the TED talk. If you have the time, want a few more stories and examples then read the book; if you're short on time or just want the gist, the TED talk might do enough for you.

View all my reviews

Book Review - The Willpower Instinct

The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It by Kelly McGonigal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this one a lot. So much that this is one of those books I feel I would like to have sitting on my shelf to reference at a later date. It's a mix between the science and the practice of willpower. It's written as a class, and she suggests taking a chapter at a time. I actually listened to the entire book all the way through and then went back to focus own each chapter. I think it would be really useful for anyone trying to change a habit or addiction they are trying to overcome. Obviously serious addictions would need professional intervention but those that can be changed through personal habits would benefit from her suggestions. This book focuses more on how we can make changes than others that focus on the science behind habits itself.

View all my reviews

Book Review - The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own

The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own by Joshua Becker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this one. As I'm constantly trying to declutter but find myself holding on to "stuff" just because, Becker motivated me to take some more serious measures. This book helped me get super inspired to really go through and get rid of more than 2 carfuls of what I felt was already pretty simplistic home. He really helped me look at stuff in the sense of so much of it holding me back because who wants to spend an hour moving knick-knacks to dust and caring for extra items we don't even use? Definitely a book to read when you need motivation to let go of "things."

View all my reviews

Undead Girl Gang - Sneak Peek

Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was just a sneak peek, so I can't review the entire book. I did enjoy the first glimpse I got. We are introduced to Riley, recently deceased, by her best friend Mila. I enjoyed Mila as a character. I like how she wasn't content to just let things lie when she was not satisfied that her best friend had committed suicide. I like that she's a girl of action and isn't afraid. It felt like most of the other high school characters are going to be stereotypical cliches, so she will be mostly on her own. However, Riley's brother Xander seems like a promising character and possibly a future romance? There was a bit of language, quite a few F bombs. I can't give much more of a review since it was just a sneak peek.

View all my reviews