Skip to main content

Mini Reviews (16)




I really like Nora Roberts; her books are a little cheesy but they're nice, light, fun reads.  However, this one didn't really do it for me.  It had a creepy mystery at the beginning but the story kind of fell flat from there.  The middle was slow and full of non-stop home renovation descriptions and the big mystery was SO obvious.  I figured it out at the very beginning and I never figure that kind of stuff out.  And it felt like I was watching an episode of Criminal Minds complete with the BAU agents (I love that show but it just made the big seem unoriginal).  I did love the characters and the setting; I really want to live in that town and have everyone be my friend.   3 stars.



I have been wanting to read this book for a long time and I'm so glad I finally got around it to it.  It was riveting and heart-breaking and made me so mad all at the same time.  I felt so bad for the author; it seemed like everyone in her life failed her instead of protecting her.  I honestly can't decide if I hated her step-father or her mother more.  I am fascinated by the stories of people who escape cults/polygamist sects and this is one of the best books I've read on the subject. It upsets me so much that there are still fanatical sects that suck people in to such horrible lives.  The one shining light in all the chaos was the sibling relationships; even though Ruth was the caretaker of her siblings, there was just so much love there and they really helped save each other.  4 stars.


The Queen's Daughter by Susan Coventry

I have owned this book for a long time and I can't believe it has taken me so long to read it.  It completely sucked me in from page 1.  I'm fascinated by Eleanor of Aquitaine so it was a real treat to read a book about her daughter.  I loved that the story kind of took the reader on a tour of 12th century Europe; it was fun to read about all the different places Joan traveled to.  Princess Joan was such a neat character; smart and strong-willed but still somewhat naive in her youth.  I did feel bad for her because, holy cow, her family was dysfunctional.  All of her family members were so complicated and it was hard to decide who was trustworthy.  The romantic side of the story was sweet without overpowering the rest of the story which I liked.  Overall, an excellent YA historical read! 4 stars.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Mailbox Monday (49)

It's time for another Mailbox Monday post!  Once again I could not resist the cheap ebooks that Amazon and Barnes and Noble were promoting this week.  I really need to stop!  I already have more than I can read.  I also was able to spend a little time browsing at the library and I came home with a nice stack of books.  These days, I hardly ever get to spend time at the library by myself for more than a minute or two so it was wonderful to have time to just wander and see what I could find. Purchased (for kindle): The Color of Secrets by Lindsay Ashford The One I Was by Eliza Graham House of Bathory by Linda Lafferty   Purchased (for nook): One Night in Winter by Simon Sebag Montefiore  Becoming Queen Victoria by Kate Williams From the Library: The Messenger by Daniel Silva   The Ripper's Wife by Brandy Purdy Hotel Moscow by Talia Carner Brazen by Katherine Longshore What books did you get...

Review and Giveaway: "This Son of York" by Anne Easter Smith

Synopsis: Now is the winter of our discontent, Made glorious summer by This Son of York…” — William Shakespeare, Richard III Richard III was Anne’s muse for her first five books, but, finally, in This Son of York he becomes her protagonist. The story of this English king is one of history’s most compelling, made even more fascinating through the discovery in 2012 of his bones buried under a car park in Leicester. This new portrait of England’s most controversial king is meticulously researched and brings to vivid life the troubled, complex Richard of Gloucester, who ruled for two years over an England tired of war and civil strife. The loyal and dutiful youngest son of York, Richard lived most of his short life in the shadow of his brother, Edward IV, loyally supporting his sibling until the mantle of power was thrust unexpectedly on him. Some of his actions and motives were misunderstood by his enemies to have been a deliberate usurpation of the throne, but thr...

Mailbox Monday (38)

It's my first Mailbox Monday of the new year!  I hope everyone's year is off to a great start!  I got some great books this week and can't wait to see what everyone else got! From the Library: Prince Lestat by Anne Rice Purchased:   Bellagrand by Paullina Simons Like Chaff in the Wind by Anna Belfrage For Review (from HFVBT): The Towers of Tuscany by Carol M. Cram What books did you get this week?