Darlene

This coming of age novel is a pleasant, unexpected surprise. Set in the 70s, it tells the story of 14 year old Mary Jane's summer nanny job that introduces her to people different from any she has ever known and opens her eyes to the flaws of the society in which she lives. Through her experiences of that summer, she discovers a lot about who she is and who she wants to be.

Mary Jane has led a sheltered life with rigid, non-affectionate parents. She expects adults to behave a certain way. Her experience with the Cone household shows her that there are different kinds of people with different life experiences, and she learns to accept those differences as being okay and maybe even preferable to the life she has been raised expect. She meets a rock star heroin addict and his TV star wife who show her that just because people have made mistakes they aren't necessarily bad people. Life in the Cone house is messy and sometimes chaotic, but there is so much love and joy there that doesn't exist in Mary Jane's household.

There is clear contradiction between the two main families in this book. The Cones are a lovable bunch with all their unique personalities and eccentricities. Their celebrity houseguests are flawed but so beautiful and full of life. In contrast, Mary Jane's parents are stiff and formal and do not let Mary Jane see their personalities. There is no affection in the Dillard household. Mary Jane comes to realize the flaws in her parents' beliefs about people of other races and backgrounds. As a reader, I much prefer the Cones, which of course is what the writer wants.

This book does a great job showing the messiness of real life. There are drugs, sex, alcohol, infidelity, and other indiscretions in the plot of this story. The topics are all handled maturely. These issues are balanced with acceptance, love, family affection, and many other positive experiences.

This book succeeds as a coming of age story that captures the reader's heart while teaching acceptance and love. I definitely recommend this book.

This is my first Brandon Sanderson book, and I must say it did not disappoint. I am pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this read, even though I am not much of a science fiction fan. It has likable characters and an engaging plot which kept me interesting all the way through.

The characters are the best part of this book. Spensa, aka Spin, is young woman fighting against a lot of obstacles, both internal and external. I enjoyed following her journey of discovery. The secondary characters are a diverse bunch with many interesting traits and personalities. The AI character of M-Bot brings some needed humor to the story in times of conflict and crisis. It's just a great cast of characters.

The plot has enough twists and turns to be engaging throughout the book. The flight scenes are exciting and tense, while the everyday scenes with Spin, Rig, and M-Bot bring some humor and light-hearted banter to the story. My only complaint is the revelations about the enemy in the end. I find them quite far-fetched and a bit a let down after all the build up. Other than that, I enjoyed the plot.

Overall, I am glad I decided to try this popular author, and I am glad I chose this book as my starting point. It was an easy, engaging read with an exciting plot.

The Soulmate Equation is a really enjoyable contemporary romance about a single mom and a seemingly unfriendly scientist who are matched by a DNA-based dating app. The story follows the two as they begin a fake dating experience that could become more.

Jessica Davis is a single mom who has decided not to focus on dating until her daughter gets older. Her priority is being a good mom. River Pena is an innovative scientist behind the new dating app GeneticAlly, which claims to be able to match people to their soulmates via DNA analysis. When Jess submits her DNA on a whim, she learns that she is a 98% match with the River, who she knows as an unfriendly, rude café patron that she sees every morning. When the company offers to pay her to explore the match, she begins a fake relationship with River. The focus of the story is whether the two of them actually are compatible. Will they fall in love?

The characters in this book are extremely likable. Jess is a funny, down to earth protagonist. Her independence and dedication are admirable. River, though he seems standoffish, is actually a genuine, likable man. Their chemistry is believable. Secondary characters in this book are perfectly complementary to the main characters. Jess's best friend is hilarious, and her grandparents are so sweet and compassionate. The characters really stand out as an asset to this story.

In terms of plot, the book does a good job of taking subject matter that is a bit unbelievable (matching through DNA) and making it seem realistic. There are some moments when the science and math talk is a bit much, but it is necessary to make the events believable. The conflict that arises to possibly derail the romance is completely believable in the context of the plot. It is not overdone and exaggerated, which I appreciate.

Overall, this is one of Christina Lauren's best books in a while for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and look forward to what they create next!

People We Meet on Vacation is a sweet and uplifting contemporary romance. It delves into more than just the topic of love. It explores life decisions and goals and how they may need to be revisited when life becomes unfulfilling.

Poppy and Alex have been friends since college, and they routinely take a summer trip together. However, it has been two years now since they have seen or spoken to each other due to something that happened on their last summer trip. Now, Poppy is determined to mend their friendship, so she plans a summer trip with Alex to Palm Springs. The story follows them on their trip trying to get back to the way things were before they messed things up. But along the way, they also confront deeper feelings they have for each other and what those feelings mean for their friendship.

The relationship between Poppy and Alex is so sweet and loving. They both accept the other person's flaws and eccentricities. They support one another's dreams and ambitions, and they are there when the other needs them. Alex is especially supportive and kind. It is clear that they love each other deeply and do not want to jeopardize a beautiful friendship. However, it is also clear that their friendship cannot stay as is. There are emotions that must be dealt with and life decisions that have to be made.

It is easy for the reader to root for Poppy and Alex. Though there are obstacles in their path, mostly created by their individual issues, they insist on working on their friendship because it is important to them. It is easy to see that they each want the other to be happy above all else. It's a relationship the reader can respect and appreciate. I, for one, love that this book does not create conflict for the characters just for the sake of having conflict. The conflicts that do arise are organic and believable in the situations.

I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone who enjoys contemporary romance stories that are focused on real, believable relationships between complex, self-aware individuals.

The Thursday Murder Club is both charming and funny with very likeable characters. The characters are the best part of this book because of their quirkiness and wit. The plot is good, but a bit too complicated in the end for my liking.

The Thursday Murder Club is a group of elder individuals who all live in a retirement community. They enjoy trying to dissect and solve older crimes, and they are actually quite good at it. At the beginning of the story, a crime takes place that connects to their community, so they befriend a police detective and work their way into the investigation. The reader is left to wonder who will solve it first, the retirees or the detectives.

This book is an enjoyable read largely because of the characters. The members of the Thursday Murder Club are quirky and endearing, although frustrating for the police. The dialogue between the older characters and the police detectives is amusing. The reader can understand the detectives' annoyance with the elderly characters, yet cannot help laughing at the humor of it all.

The mystery plot starts out strong with a logical set of suspects. However, as it progresses, more suspects enter the mix, and it begins to get a bit too complicated. There are too many distracting suspects that end up not to be guilty. It muddies the waters too much. There could have been a much simpler solution that could have kept the book to a shorter page length. I found myself getting bored toward the end.

Overall, this was a fun read. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy a complicated mystery with a large cast of entertaining characters.

This book is a fun and engaging mystery with a down to earth protagonist who just cannot seem to avoid mishaps in her life. One event after another goes horribly wrong until Finlay Donovan is stuck in a situation that could rip her whole life to shreds. While this sounds tragic, the story manages to remain light and funny. To put it simply, this book a good time.

Finlay Donovan's life is in complete disarray as the story opens. She is divorced from a cheating ex-husband who is currently threatening to take primary of custody of her children. The deadline for her latest book, which she hasn't even begun writing, is fast approaching. While discussing her book with her agent, a woman overhears the conversations and mistakenly believes that Finlay is a hitwoman and hires her to kill her husband. From there, chaos ensues.

Finlay's life is a disaster, but it is so entertaining to read about. She is a humorous character who takes life's punches and still keeps getting back up. She laughs off some things, but also panics when things get out of hand. Just as most normal people would. The witty banter between her and Vero, her nanny, keeps things light-hearted, even though the subject matter is anything but. As a reader, I felt a little guilty laughing at Finlay's mishaps, but the dialogue was so funny that it was impossible not to do so.

The twists and turns in the plot are pretty far-fetched, but somehow completely believable within the context of the story. One of the best things about the book is how certain coincidences lead to some pretty crazy situations for Finlay. She manages to find a way out of many situations, not because of skill but because of luck and coincidence.

I love that this book takes situations to an almost farcical extreme and uses humor to lighten the mood. It is not a believable chain of events, but it is definitely entertaining. I would recommend this book to just about anyone.

This book is a real page turner that keeps the reader wanting to continue uncovering clues. From one chapter to the next, the reader is left wondering if the narrator is lying to the reader, to herself, or to both.

The main character, Emma, is returning to Camp Nightingale fifteen years after being a camper there during a tragedy. Three girls disappeared from the camp back then, and Emma was their roommate. Since then, Emma has been haunted by the memories of these girls, especially Vivian, the leader of the group. Emma decides to return to the camp as an instructor in order exorcise her demons by uncovering the mystery of what happened to her bunkmates.

The characters in this book are all suspect, which makes for a great mystery/thriller. The narrator is unreliable, and the secondary characters all give the reader some cause to doubt them. It leaves the reader constantly uncertain of who can be trusted, thereby creating suspense.

The pacing of the plot is pretty close to perfect. The chapters are just long enough to provide appropriate details and just short enough to keep the reader moving at a good pace. I found myself in the “one more chapter” mood the entire time I was reading the book. It is hard to put down.

The resolution is strong and not easily predicted. I did have an idea of who the culprit was and ended up being correct, but it was not obvious and did not spoil my enjoyment. The ending is satisfying and flows logically from the events of the plot. Nothing is far-fetched or unbelievable.

Overall, this mystery/thriller is a very enjoyable read. It is suspenseful and engaging. I would highly recommend it to readers who enjoy a good story involving lies and unreliable characters.

Talia Hibbert's romances are quite enjoyable and funny. This second installment in the Brown Sisters series is an easy, fun read with a very likable love interest. Even though the main character, Dani, is frustrating as a character, I really liked reading this book.

Dani Brown doesn't do romance, but she is all in for a purely physical relationship with ruggedly handsome Zafir, a former rugby player who currently serves as the security guard at the university at which she teaches. The two begin a “fake relationship” for publicity purposes in order to help get Zaf's foundation off the ground. Zaf is a romantic who hopes he can break through Dani's tough shell.

Dani has many hang ups about romance and relationships. Some are warranted and some seem a bit of an overreaction to events in her past. Her denial of her own feelings is frustrating for the reader. Zaf, on the other hand, is completely open to love and is very patient with Dani. He is an extremely likable character.

The sex in this book is quite steamy, so the reader should be prepared for that. The romance is sweet when the main character allows it to be. The conflict toward the end, which is a staple of all romances, feels really unnecessary. I found myself quite annoyed by Dani's behavior.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. There are elements of it that I find frustrating, but the reading experience was pleasurable.

While this book is marketed as a historical fiction, it reads much more like a romance to me. That being said, I did enjoy the reading experience.

When the story begins, we are introduced to a scene between a woman and a man. The man is recruiting the woman to be a spy for Britain while she is living in Venice. The reader then expects to read a book about about a brave woman spying for her government. Instead, the story is mostly about Juliet's romance with an Italian man she cannot have and the city of Venice. The war and the spying does not really enter the book until the last 20% of the book.

The best aspect of this book is the Venice setting. The descriptions of the city and its canals and churches are beautifully detailed and create a lovely image for the reader.

The characters in this book are quite likable. Juliet is a protagonist for whom the reader can feel sympathy. She is talented and kind, and she tries to do what is right in most situations. Her love interest can be a bit frustrating at times because of his lack of concern for decorum. He often does not seem to realize the pain he is causing Juliet.

There is also a modern timeline featuring Juliet's great niece who travels to Venice after Juliet's death to scatter her ashes there. She learns a lot about her aunt's history while in Venice and even meets some relatives of Juliet's lover. This timeline is not as interesting and entertaining to read as the one that occurs in the time of the second world war.

Overall, I can say that enjoyed the book. However, it is not the story I was expecting to read based on the start of the novel and its synopsis.

Every once in a while, I get a craving to read history. When I do, I prefer a book that tells the history like it's a story, which all history really is. I am very satisfied with my experience with this book about the Lincoln assassination. The factual events of this tragic incident and all the things that lead to it are told in a very readable narrative style.

The thing that stands out most when reading this account of the assassination is the fast pace narration. The reading experience is akin to reading a fictional thriller. The chapters are mostly short and focused and move quickly from one important event to the next. I was never bored with the storytelling.

The book also appears to be well-researched. There are many details about events leading up to the assassination that make the reader feel a part of the action. I particularly enjoyed the detailed timeline of the assassination day.

The only part of the book that is a bit tedious is chapters about the end of the Civil War. The chapters are well-written and detailed, but some of the detail seems a bit unnecessary unless you are a reader that likes to read about battles. I could have done without such detail myself.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and am interested now in reading more in O'Reilly's assassination series.

After reading the First Impression excerpt on Bookishfirst.com, I was very intrigued and excited to read this book. Thankfully, I was given an ARC of it in exchange for my honest opinion. Having finished the book, I am pleased to share that I really enjoyed it. This is a well-written, heartbreaking story about a young man trying to keep what is left of his family together through one tragedy after another.

The book opens with Jack Dahl, the main character, discovering his mother's suicide. He is left with a younger brother to care for and no money or home. His main goal is to keep his brother with him, so he must find a way to feed and shelter them both. His father is in prison, but he hid a briefcase of drug money somewhere, and Jack is determined to find it. But this pursuit puts him in the path of some bad people. The only person who is helping him is a girl named Ava who just happens to be the daughter of the criminal from whom Jack's father stole the drug money.

The main characters of this story evoke a great deal of sympathy in the reader. Jack's plight is difficult to read because it is so sad and unfair. His love for his little brother Matty is endearing. He will stop at nothing to make sure Matty is with him and safe. His own well-being is an afterthought. The reader cannot help but root for these two boys. While the main characters are well fleshed out, the development of the secondary characters is lacking, in my opinion. There is not enough information provided to explain the actions and behaviors that many of them exhibit, especially the main antagonist.

The plot of the story is tense and emotional. There are not many moments of peace for the characters, and there is a good bit of violence against teenagers and children. The main negative thing about this plot is that it feels rushed at times. The friendship that develops between Jack and Ava does does not feel realistic because it happens too quickly and without explanation. Why would Jack trust this girl he doesn't know when he is so unwilling to trust anyone else?

Overall, the book is quite good. The story of Jack and his brother is both sweet and heartbreaking. I would recommend this book to readers who are not opposed to stories that are dark and violent while still revealing a powerful bond of love between characters.

Southern housewives in the 90s form a book club to read true crime novels and end up fighting a vampire in their neighborhood. What a fun ride!

Patricia is a housewife consumed by taking care of her husband and children. To bring some entertainment and friendship into her life, she joins a book club with other housewives and reads books about serial killers. When a stranger comes to town and bad things begin to happen to children, Patricia becomes convinced this stranger is evil and must be stopped. So she sets out on a mission to discover the truth and convince her friends that this man must be stopped no matter the cost.

The characters in this book are representations of the stereotype of the southern housewife. As such, they are quite entertaining, especially if you are from the south and can relate to some of their eccentricities. However, they do feel a bit more like housewives from the 50s than from the 90s. They are very dependent on their husbands and quite obedient, which is frustrating to read as an independent woman in current times. They do grow as the story progresses, though, and learn to stand up a bit more for themselves.

The plot of this story is the highlight. It's a bit like Buffy the Vampire Slayer but with southern manners and housewives instead of angsty teenagers. There are hints and clues throughout the beginning of the book that there is a vampire in town, and as a reader you are just itching for the women to put the clues together and take action. There are both humorous and gruesome events in the plot allowing the reader some time to relax between the tenser sections of the book.

Overall, reading this book was a fun, wild ride. I enjoyed every minute of it. Yes, it has some stereotypes that are a bit frustrating and it does not do a great job with black representation. That's why it's a 4 star read for me. I would recommend this book to fans of Southern Gothic writing and anyone just looking for a good time reading a vampire hunting story.

This book is a bit difficult to review because it reads almost like two separate stories. The first half of the book is about a woman's search for her father and her struggles with anxiety. The second half of the book focuses on her relationship with her significant other and brings in thriller aspects. Overall, it feels disjointed.

Rachel Childs is a reporter who has never known who her father is because her mother, who is dead now, has withheld that information. As the book begins, she goes on a search to find out who he is. In the meantime, she is sent to Haiti to cover a natural disaster and begins experiencing issues with anxiety that lead her to become a virtual shut-in. Her marriage to the love her life begins to heal her, but then a chance encounter on the street one afternoon leads to questions and doubts that begin to unravel her reality.

Rachel is a complex character. She has many issues that stem from a childhood filled with uncertainty and manipulation, and those issues only get worse when she encounters difficult situations on her job. She is mostly a likable character, and the reader can feel sympathy for her emotional reactions. The other characters in the book are less likable. Many of them either withhold information from Rachel or purposefully deceive her.

The problematic aspect of this book is the plot. It just is not cohesive. The first half of the book feels like a completely different book than the second half. Some of the things explored in the first half are barely relevant or necessary to the second half of the book. Just reading the first half of the book, I would never have classified this in the thriller genre.

Overall, the book reads easily and has entertaining moments. However, the plot lacks cohesion and focus. As a result, I would not really recommend it.

Beautifully written and life affirming...that's how I would describe The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. After reading this book, I appreciate my life for all its good and bad moments.

The Midnight Library is a realm between life and death where Nora Seeds lands after a suicide attempt. Nora's life is not happy or fulfilling, and she sees no way that it will ever be any better. But in the Midnight Library, Nora can choose any book from the shelf and experience a different version of her life where she made different decisions and had different outcomes. In the process of trying out these other lives, Nora learns much about herself and about life choices. But is it enough to make her desire to live again.

This book is a beautiful story about second chances and learning to accept life as it is. Nora's experience in each alternate life teaches her something different about herself and the world. She gets to experience so many possible versions of herself and see different aspects of her personality in both good and bad situations. This leads to important self reflection and growth. Through her experience, readers also get a chance to reflect and learn to appreciate their own imperfect lives.

I really do not have anything negative to say about this book. The language is lyrical with many quotable lines. The story is inspirational with important life lessons. The characters are memorable and relatable. I enjoyed every minute of the reading experience and would highly recommend it to any reader.

I sometimes find that I can have a good reading experience with a book but not be satisfied with the book as a whole. That is what happened to me with this book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, but unfortunately I am disappointed in the ending. If the ending had been different, this could have been a 5 star read for me.

This book is told from two perspectives, Anna and Jack. Anna is a journalist covering the murder of a woman in her hometown, and Jack is the detective leading the investigation into the murder. As the story progresses, many secrets and lies are revealed, and several possible suspects are presented. To say any more than that would be getting into spoilers.

The aspect of this book that is most appealing to me is the unreliability of the narrators. Each of them has something he or she is hiding that impacts the reader's ability to trust that person. This builds suspense and keeps the reader engaged. As a reader, I was constantly trying to decipher the clues I was receiving and make judgements about the reliability of the information I was receiving.

Feeney plants so many clues in her narrative that cast suspicion on almost all of the characters in the book. Some readers might find this frustrating, but I love it. I like that every character is a suspect, and I get to conduct my own investigation as I read. For readers that enjoy playing detective, Feeney's style will be pleasing.

This book was on course to be a 5 star read for me until the killer was revealed. I do not find that the choice of killer makes sense in context of all the things we learn in the story. My disappointment with the reveal at the end is the reason the book receives only 4 stars from me.

Even though I am not 100% satisfied with the plot of the book, I still would recommend this to fans of mystery thrillers. It has an interesting crime with numerous possible suspects and enough clues to keep the reader guessing throughout.

I am a big fan of Melinda Leigh's Morgan Dane series. This sixth book in the series does not disappoint. It has everything that makes the other books so enjoyable: a likeable cast of characters, a loving relationship, family values, an interesting crime to solve, and a fast pace.

In this story, Morgan and her P.I. fiance Lance are searching for their coworker Lincoln's girlfriend, Olivia. Olivia, a journalist, is working on a book that involves the possibility that two felons have been wrongly convicted. Morgan, Lance, and Lincoln with the help of others investigate and try to find the link between those cases and Olivia's disappearance. As with all of the books in this series, trouble finds it way to Morgan's doorstep.

As with all of these books, I love the characters. The main characters all have integrity that is admirable. Their relationships with each other are based on honesty and trust. Everything about these characters is likeable. I suppose some readers would say that is a bit unrealistic and maybe dull, but I love reading about characters I can actually feel good about rooting for. If I had to pick a favorite character, I suppose it would be Lance. He is just such a kind-hearted, protective, loving man. His interactions with Morgan's children is just so sweet.

The plot is not very original, but I did not expect it to be. Most of these books follow a similar pattern, but I like the pattern so that is okay. It is a bit unbelievable that so much bad stuff happens in this small location and that Morgan and Lance find themselves in peril so frequently. However, it is fiction and meant to entertain, so I can suspend belief for a while. I read these books more for the characters than the plot anyway.

If you have read any of Leigh's other books in this series, then you should definitely read this one. It is a good mystery with great characters.

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley. I had no idea what it was about, but I love historical fiction so I decided to give a try. I am very glad that I did. This is a beautifully written story about a garden and the women that are linked by its history.

The novel begins from the perspective of Emma, a woman who is hired to restore a garden at an estate in England. The garden was created by a famous garden designer from the early 1900's, Venetia Smith. As Emma restores the garden, the book flashes back to 1907 and 1944 and tells the story of three other women with connections to the garden, including Venetia. Through their perspectives we learn about not only the garden but the time period and social climate of the past.

All of the women from the past in this book have hopes and dreams that are limited by their gender, but they persevere to make a life that will bring them joy. There are instances of love, family obligations, motherhood, marriage, war, and more. Each woman has strength in her own way. I enjoyed their stories. It was interesting too to see how their different stories all came to be connected in the end.

The details of the garden itself and all the different kinds of plants and flowers was a bit boring to me. I am not really into gardens, so I just wasn't interested in that aspect of the story. However, for a reader that is fascinated by gardens, this will prove to be a positive quality of this book.

Overall, I would say that this book delivers what is usually desired in a historical fiction. It has multiple points of view across different time periods. The characters are strong and survive through difficult times. The historical context offers the reader a learning experience about the time and culture. I would definitely recommend it to fans of the genre.

This book is very much out of my normal genre, but I can honestly say that I found it fascinating and enjoyable.

This is the story of the three Hollow sisters who went missing as children and returned one month later with no memory of what happened to them. The sisters come back different, with white blond hair, black eyes, matching scars at the base of their necks, and special abilities. It's almost as if they are not the same children at all. When one of the three goes missing again, the two others must search for her and uncover what happened to them as children.

The main characters in this book are quite captivating due to their strange appearances and their supernatural abilities. Their strange history and odd appearance make them interesting characters. I was invested in finding out what had happened to them and what was likely to happen to them in the present. Even the secondary characters are unique, such as the supermodel boyfriend of one of the sisters whose appearance has a pirate-like quality.

The story is fast-paced and engaging. I wanted to keep reading. The plot is interesting if a bit beyond belief. But it is a fantasy/fairy-tale, so it's not supposed to be believable. There are a couple twists revealed toward the end that make for an element of surprise.

The setting straddles the real world of England and a supernatural world. The supernatural elements are very dark. This is not a light and fluffy fantasy. There are a lot of grotesque details. I do not mind that, but some readers might. It is definitely not for the faint of heart.

Overall, I enjoyed the experience of reading this book. I would recommend this to readers who like dark fairy-tale style fantasies.

My feelings about this third installment of the Arc of Scythe trilogy are very mixed. While I enjoyed the action and intrigue, I found that there was just too much going on which made it hard for me feel attached any one storyline. I feel like this book would have been better in a pared down version with more focus.

In this final book of the series, Scythe Goddard has achieved reign over much of his continent after the sinking of Endura. His influence reaches even farther into other regions of the world. His new order of scythes embraces mass gleanings and shows no conscience or mercy. The Tonists have a new prophet, the Toll, who can still speak to the Thunderhead, which has gone silent to all others. These two forces stand at odds with each other and could destroy humanity.

My main issue with this book is that there are too many story lines, and the narration jumps around too often between these story lines. It never allows the reader to connect completely with each story line before switching to a different one. Some story lines are abandoned for quite a while so that when the book comes back to them, the reader has lost touch with that story and its characters. I am aware that this may be an aspect of the book that some readers find appealing, but it is jarring to me. I can appreciate the skill that it took the author to weave these story lines together, but it just didn't work for me.

I also wish that Citra and Rowan had played more prevalent roles in this book. These characters that I grew to love in the first two books are the main reason for my continued reading of the series. To have them be so absent in this book is disappointing.

I will say this for this book: It is a wild ride. I do not regret the experience of reading it even though ultimately it disappointed me.

While this book made me laugh and kept me entertained, I was too annoyed by the main character for most of the book to be able to say I really enjoyed it.

Naomi is engaged to Nicholas, but she has come realize that she can no longer stand him. She wants to back out of the wedding, but in her mind to do so would mean Nicholas wins because she believes that he also wants out of their upcoming nuptials. So instead of calling off the wedding like mature adults, they begin a war of sabotage and pranks that is so juvenile and petty that it is hard to believe they ever loved each other.

The thing that keeps this book from being more enjoyable for me is Naomi's personality and behavior. She is excessively immature and refuses to see past her own misconceptions. She believes terrible things about Nicholas with no evidence that they are true. She never takes the time to listen to him or to accept that she may be the problem in some of the situations. She seldom considers his feelings. She is a horrible fiancé. She allows her friends to bash Nicholas in his presence and never defends him. Nicholas is a much more likable character. I felt bad for him while reading the book. Though he does participate in some of the juvenile behavior, it is mostly reactionary after Naomi has done something to him.

The last few chapters of the book are its only saving grace. Watching Naomi and Nicholas reconnect and learn the realities of their relationship is nice, especially after all the vindictiveness of the earlier parts of the book. I cannot say that I grew to like Naomi, but I stopped actively despising her.

I ended up giving this 3 stars because of the humor in some parts and the sweetness of the last section of the book. I would not recommend this book to any readers that do not like books with unlikable characters.

A book that brings together my love of sweet romance stories and renaissance fairs! What more could I ask for? Not much, actually. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

In this summer romance story, Emily volunteers to be a tavern wench in the high school renaissance fair so that her niece can participate. Emily at first takes a major disliking to Simon, the man in charge. However, as she learns more of his true personality, she finds herself drawn to him.

The characters in this book are very likable. Emily is believable as a young woman who is a bit lost after being burned by her long time boyfriend. She is not sure where she fits anymore or what she should do with her life. Luckily, she finds the renaissance fair and forms bonds that help to ground her and make her feel like part of a family. Simon is a character with a lot of weight on his shoulders, some of it self-inflicted. He is so serious most of the time, but it is fun to watch his more playful side emerge when he become a pirate at the fair. As someone who has always been serious, I completely relate to the way Simon has to take on a persona to let himself have fun. The secondary characters are all fun and charming. I especially enjoyed Mitch, the handsome charmer in a kilt.

The plot moves at a really nice pace, never getting slow or boring. There is just enough detail about the fair to be charming without becoming too nerdy. I use that word with love as I am a bit a of a nerd myself when it comes to these types of things. Some of the romance elements are a bit cheesy, but then its a renaissance fair setting. Cheesy is expected, but in a good way. I like that there is no overdramatic plot conflict between the two main characters. There is a conflict, of course, because it is a romance novel and they all have at least one. However, it is a believable, realistic conflict that feels like something lots of adults deal with in relationships.

Overall, I enjoyed this reading experience. I am rating this at 4.5 stars. I would recommend it to any contemporary romance reader, especially those with a little bit of renaissance fair fan in them.

The Project by Courtney Summers is an interesting book that explores how a cult can destroy families. The main characters' lives are greatly impacted by the influence of a charismatic leader. The book reveals how appealing membership in one of these organizations can be to individuals seeking love and acceptance, but that acceptance comes with a cost.

The main characters in this book are sisters. One sister, Lo, is in a life-threatening accident as a child. Her older sister, Bea, struggles to deal with Lo's accident and its aftermath. She turns to Lev Warren, leader of The Unity Project, to find healing and purpose. By joining the Project, she severs her ties with her sister. Lo does not understand why her sister has left her life and blames the Project for taking Bea from her. Therefore, Lo sets out as a young woman to learn and reveal the truth behind the Project. To do this, she must get close to its leader, which is a risky endeavor.

The premise of this book is interesting and engaging. The delivery is a bit chaotic, though. The story is told in two different timelines from the perspectives of Lo and Bea. It is often not clear at first which sister's storyline is being told at a given moment in the book. Some aspects of the story do not get explained well, either. Overall, I just found myself often confused.

This is one of those books that I find it hard to really like any of the characters. That's not necessarily a problem in the writing. Not all characters are meant to be likable. It just lowers a book's appeal to me in the sense that I will not likely want to pick it up again. I will admit, however, that the cult leader character is very interesting to read and well portrayed. I wish I had enjoyed the two main characters more.

I would recommend this book to fans of fiction that is focused on cults. It portrays that lifestyle and its members in a very engaging and fascinating manner.

To say I loved listening to this book might be an understatement. It was such a fun ride. Mr. McConaughey narrates the audiobook himself, and oh what a joy that is. His voice is unique and distinguishable and so much fun to listen to. His personality comes through so clearly in his narration. Listening to the audiobook is definitely the way to go with this memoir.

McConaughey's life is interesting, entertaining, and enlightening. He tells about his childhood, his travels, his acting career, and his family. His engaging storytelling voice keeps the reader enthralled in his tale. He shares insights and advice that are practical and meaningful. There are lessons to be learned from his successes and his mistakes. It's everything a good memoir should be.

Do yourself a favor and listen to this man narrate his story. It is an experience you won't regret!

I am permanently in love with the fictional Moose Springs, Alaska and all of its inhabitants. This third book in the Moose Springs series is pure delight. It is just as good and entertaining as the first two.

This installment of the Moose Springs adventures focuses on Easton Lockett, who is by far one of my favorite Moose Springs characters. He's a giant of a man but with a big heart. He loves the outdoors and makes his living as a mountain guide. He gets roped into taking a struggling actress turned director/producer, River Lane, on a dangerous climb of his favorite mountain, Mount Veil. River is full of spirit and loves adventure. She is determined to make her mark behind the film scenes with a documentary of her experience on Mount Veil. Of course, danger ensues and love develops, which makes for a very engaging romance book.

I would say this is my second favorite Moose Springs book after the original, The Tourist Attraction. The two main characters have great chemistry, and their personalities are well-suited to each other. They both love climbing and outdoor life. They both seek out adventure. I love that this book focuses not only on the budding romance but also on the climbing of the mountain and all that that entails.

The cast of secondary characters includes familiar faces from the previous two books, especially Graham and Zoe. The newly introduced secondary characters, River's coworkers, are interesting and add to the story. A lot of humor is injected into the story by these secondary characters. And be on the lookout for the lovestruck marmot!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has read the other books in the series, but also to any reader that enjoys a sweet romance with a dash of adventure.

Fantasy is not my preferred genre, but the idea of fantasy with a Romeo and Juliet retelling aspect sounded really intriguing. I can say after finishing it that I liked it well enough, but I do not think I will continue the series.

There is nothing wrong with this book or the story it tells. There is also nothing that makes it stand out to me. It is set in 1920s China where two rival gangs rule Shanghai. The two young heirs, Juliette and Roma, are from these opposing gangs and have a love/hate relationship. They must work together in the book to find a cure to an infectious madness that is spreading through their city.

Honestly, there is not a lot of fantasy in this book. The only fantasy aspect is the monster that supposedly spreads the madness. It reads more like a very fictionalized story about a volatile time period in China. The Romeo and Juliet aspect is not very prominent, in my opinion.

The characters are okay. They do not stand out to me as either likable or unlikable. They just are. The two characters I find most interesting, Kathleen and Marshall, are secondary characters with more diversity to their personalities than the main characters.

I rate this as a 3 star read because it is not going to be memorable for me, but I do not dislike it.