Ria

I rather enjoyed this, though it dragged a bit in the middle, I still found this a well written mystery. Some of the writing felt stilted and off, and a few characters annoyed me (Mrs. O'Brien for example) and I found the ending nicely wrapped up with potential but unsure of a sequel. I'm new to reading Amanda Flowers work, and while the religious themes within irritated me (forcing a young woman to church after she lost her brother is just all kinds of wrong especially if she has no interest in church) and the sexism was on point for the time period, this was otherwise a really decent mystery with a hint of suspense flung in. I'm giving this a strong 4.5 ⭐.

Is it bad that I couldn't get through the first chapter? I couldn't stand Eleazar, and I just wasn't enjoying it at all. I tried. 1 ⭐.

Nope. Dnf'ing this series. I tried; but the boring descriptions, and the terrible writing I'm done and calling it quits. 1 ⭐.

One most people seem to dislike, I have mixed feelings. It was bad but I saw a possible potential? Maybe? I hope so anyway, as my grandmama gave me the whole paperback set and said she liked the series and wanted to know what I thought.

Initially? Bad writing, terrible descriptions, and unsure how to feel about the main character, Kinsey Millhone. I'm going to read books two and three to see if it gets better (or worse) and hopefully the series will improve. I'm crossing my fingers at any rate, because this is one of the worst mystery written books I've read in a long time. Generously giving it 2.5 ⭐.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 ⭐ for bonus cover points. I needed something short, nice, and easy. I hadn't realized this was middle grade, but it's a good read, even though it felt a bit too simple at times. Good writing with decent characters but not quite for me.

I've had this on my shelf for easily 5+ years. I'm trying to get through my tbr vets (books that have been on my shelf for longer than a year) and slowly am succeeding in reading books I already own. This was picked because it's first of a series, and the hype made me want to read it but also it's been compared to Last of the Mohicans and I think Outlander if I recall correctly.

Iain MacKinnon is a good highlander, saving his family, saving damsels in distress, and trying to do right in the world.

Annie is a woman that's a virgin whose been terrorized by her disgusting uncle who killed her mother, married her for life, and treated her like she*t.

Iain saves Annie from indians and from there a romance blossoms.

It's good writing, great characters, and perfect setting all wrapped up in one.

4.5 ⭐!

It wasn't at all bad, but I just wasn't in the mood for it. I may come back and reread it again when I get more interested in fantasy again. A solid 3 ⭐.

Merged review:

It wasn't at all bad, but I just wasn't in the mood for it. I may come back and reread it again when I get more interested in fantasy again. A solid 3 ⭐.

I'm not sure how to review this. On the one hand, the first few chapters drew me in.

She closed her eyes. Why didn't her mother pick up the phone?

Then, towards the halfway point, I started growing bored. Yes, it was good writing, but there was nothing really gripping me. It was the barest hint of suspense and I just wanted it to be done. At 45%, I dnf'd.

I really wanted to like this more than I did. I enjoy a good mystery, but I don't enjoy a long, drawn out who dun it.

3.5 ⭐.

This tried so hard but didn't quite keep my interest. And Jude's mother was just appalling. I managed about 40% of the book then dnf'd due to the annoying heroine that tried being strong but wound up being an annoying girl. A solid 3 ⭐.

This book took me longer to read than the others because the first few chapters were hard hitting and close to home for me. But towards halfway, it didn't feel as strong an impact. I'm still giving this five stars like all the rest.

This is one of the strangest and unusual reads I've read in a long time. Weird, slightly disturbing of a woman slicing her partner in half again and again, it is definitely memorable and I'm giving this 3.5 stars rounded up.

I didn't really enjoy this as much as I thought I would. The story felt forced and cramped. It would have been made better as a novel instead of a short novella. Though I liked Jeff and Nico, I was rather bored by most of it. 2.5 rounded up to 3 ⭐.

Alright, I'm calling it quits on this series. After one particular scene with Alec and an older woman using magic against a naive sixteen boy (Alec) I'm done. I'm not enjoying it beforehand either. I'm sorry but this isn't the series for me.

I'm feeling the odd one out again. Or maybe I'm just not in a grimdark mood.

Sabrina Jeffries continues to delight and deliver a great historical romance with wonderful characters and plenty of action. 4.5 ⭐!

Wow. Just wow. New favorite I was NOT expecting! Hello Stacy Reid, I'm about to devour everything on your backlog! I sincerely hope her other books are also available on kindle unlimited. No, scratch that. I'm checking them out of the library, then buying physical copies! Holy cow! 5 swooning ⭐! It's been a long while since I read a Beauty and the Beast retelling handled so brilliantly! Fantastic read, can't wait for the next one!

My first Netgalley book of the year done! It started out strong, then kinda dragged in the middle and wrapped things up nicely at the end. RTC soon!

3.5 ⭐ rounded up to four. I tried guys but I think I'm the odd one out. Good writing but I felt no connection with the characters at all. RTC soon.

Dnf and not for me. 3 ⭐.

A wonderful adventure and a great re-read. I'm delighted to have started off 2023 with an old favorite and I hope to continue with the series soon!

It's always nice finishing off a trilogy despite when the series becomes more than three books. This was good but the first book, Daughter of the Forest, remains my top favorite. Still, an author that continues to delight and deliver great stories remains an auto buy author for me. 4.5 ⭐.

One of my all time favorite fantasy series. Re-reading, due to the fact that I have never made it past book seven. This start of an epic adventure begins with the Chosen One being discovered, a group of young adults being tossed together for unexpected toil and a background romance or two, along with prophecies, ancient enemies, and old tales all thrown into a pot and stirred well to serve up a delicious adventure as grand as The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien. 5 out of 5 stars!

Another decent short story. 3 ⭐.

Not a favorite but a decent short featuring dragons. 3 ⭐.

This was simply beautiful. Excellent writing, great characters and a nice lovely take on Mad Maudlin. 5 ⭐!