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| 0316225940
| 9780316225946
| 0316225940
| 4.34
| 74,265
| Nov 01, 2016
| Nov 01, 2016
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it was amazing
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Another Stellar Harry Bosch novel. Michael Connelly is a brilliant storyteller and Harry Bosch has become a trusted friend over the years. Michael Con Another Stellar Harry Bosch novel. Michael Connelly is a brilliant storyteller and Harry Bosch has become a trusted friend over the years. Michael Connelly’s “The Wrong Side of Goodbye” is another book in the Harry Bosch series. Amazingly enough, Michael Connelly doesn’t just churn them out, in a formulaic fashion, like some mystery/suspense authors (whose names I won’t mention here). His novels, his characters have become like old friends that you want to keep by your side always. Nowadays, Harry is both an unpaid Reserve Officer with the San Fernando Police Department, while also working as a Private Investigator, on his own cases. As a PI, he is hired to find an heir to a billionaire’s fortune, which leads him on a lengthy trail across generations. As a Reserve Officer, with the SFPD, Harry investigates crimes simply because he loves the work. There, he gets called in to investigate a serial rapist before he strikes again. This dual role shows Bosch at his best: going out of his way to help people simply because he feels in his gut that it’s the right thing to do, and chasing after bad guys because he can’t leave any stone unturned and he’s brilliant at his job. This book also showcases his relationship with his daughter, Maddie and his stepbrother, Mickey Haller (of The Lincoln Lawyer fame), which is a bonus. For those of you who haven’t read books by Michael Connelly, you are missing out. He is perhaps, the best mystery/suspense author out there and Harry Bosch is one of the most beloved characters ever. Published on Goodreads and Amazon on 1/3/17. ...more |
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Dec 26, 2016
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Dec 28, 2016
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Dec 26, 2016
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Hardcover
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| B01D8VHOY2
| 3.81
| 22,978
| Jan 03, 2017
| Jan 03, 2017
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it was amazing
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Addicting. Gripping. Suspenseful. The Must-Read Thriller of the Year. Who is the real Hattie Hoffman? She’s a High School Student. A Good Daughter. A G Addicting. Gripping. Suspenseful. The Must-Read Thriller of the Year. Who is the real Hattie Hoffman? She’s a High School Student. A Good Daughter. A Great Student. An Actress. A Paramour. The Quarterback’s Innocent Girlfriend. In short, she is whoever she thinks you need her to be, and in playing those roles, she has no idea who she really is. It’s playing all of these different roles, that lands her dead. This suspenseful thriller is told from three perspectives, Hattie Hoffman, Del Goodman (the Town Sheriff) and Peter Lund, (the High School English teacher) starting from present day, rolling back several weeks prior to the murder of Hattie Hoffman. The author, Mindy Mejia’s use of different POV’s is extremely effective in keeping the reader glued to every single word and detailing the events leading up to the crime itself. While I didn’t want to say too much for fear of giving too much away of the story away, let me say this: Everything You Want Me to Be is the must-read thriller of the year. Mesmerizing, fresh and totally scintillating. Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, Emily Bestler Books and Mindy Mejia for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 11/27/16. ** Will be published on Amazon on 1/3/07. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 20, 2016
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Nov 24, 2016
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Nov 20, 2016
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Kindle Edition
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| 1101982241
| 9781101982242
| 1101982241
| 4.14
| 13,308
| Jan 10, 2017
| Jan 10, 2017
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it was amazing
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My heart is broken. And many tears were shed. Lucky Boy is a gut wrenching, soul searching novel by Shanthi Sekaran that keeps a tight grip on you and My heart is broken. And many tears were shed. Lucky Boy is a gut wrenching, soul searching novel by Shanthi Sekaran that keeps a tight grip on you and won't let go until long after you've read it. This story is about two women: mothers, who love the same little boy. But only one can will be able to keep him when all is said and done. And who is to say what's fair, what's right or wrong, when a little boy's life and when love is at stake? Soli is an illegal immigrant from Mexico and she is also the birth mother of Ignacio "Nacho." While living in Berkley, CA, she gets into trouble with the law and loses temporary custody of her child. Kavya, becomes Ignacio "Iggy's" foster mother, along with husband, Rishi. Kavya and Rishi love and are able to provide good a life for Iggy, one in which he won't want for anything. For years, Kavya and Rishi struggled to have a child and had come close to giving up when they found Iggy. Their lives are close to perfect; Soli's however, has fallen apart. But she will stop at nothing to be reunited with her child. This leads to the age old question of which home is in the best interest of the child. The author, Shanthi Sekaran, did not make this plight an easy one. But boy, did she make us invest in it. Her storytelling is masterful, her words, beautiful. Further, all of the characters in the novel are extremely rich, well written and full of heart. While I felt that a bit of the novel was extraneous, all in all I absolutely love it and wished it never had to end. I will say, that for me personally, I was upset at the book's resolution and wish it had ended differently. My feelings on this however, did not detract from the loveliness of the novel. This book would be perfect for a book club or anyone who loves great literary fiction. 4.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group, Putnam and Shanthi Sekaran for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 11/20/16. **Will be published on Amazon on 1/10/17. ...more |
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1
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Nov 13, 2016
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Nov 18, 2016
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Nov 13, 2016
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Hardcover
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| 3.92
| 131
| May 07, 2013
| May 09, 2013
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it was amazing
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Wild, Crazy and Simply Fantastic. This Mystery/Suspense novel by T. V. LoCicero had me on the edge of my seat wondering what could possibly happen nex
Wild, Crazy and Simply Fantastic. This Mystery/Suspense novel by T. V. LoCicero had me on the edge of my seat wondering what could possibly happen next. This is an interesting one my friends. T. V. LoCicero did a masterful job of describing vivid scenes in short movie like bursts that kept me captivated throughout. You don't want to miss it. The story starts with a car bomb that kills a woman and her two children. Immediately afterwards, her husband, Anthony Peoples goes missing. The difference between this suspense and other crime novels, is that it's told from the perspective of the newscaster who wants to solve the mystery because he has a story to tell. Frank DeFauw is an aging newscaster who thinks he's the sh&t and will stop at nothing to find out what happened - especially since his bosses think he's a washed up has been and a drunk to boot. He's also a ladies man (even though he's married and he's not all that attractive anymore). Regardless, he has this ability to get people to talk, which aides him in finding the story, but it also gets him into trouble too. What makes this book so captivating is the sheer force of the characters and especially that of Frank. He's conceited, dynamic, and completely insane. And to be frank (no pun intended), this is one of the few instances in which I've read a book that I thought was an excellent read, wherein I disliked the main character (and thought he had very few redeeming qualities) yet liked how he was written. All supporting characters (most of those in the newsroom and Frank's family) added to the story quite well and were expertly written. The use of illustrative words in each chapter helped create the scenes perfectly in my mind. This novel would, in my opinion, work very well as a movie. The chapters were also extremely short which made the novel a quick easy read. It is rare for a mystery/suspense to be so effective in so many ways. I tried not to give too much of the story away here as I would like for you all to read it. This is a must-read for those who love a good thriller. Thank you to T. V. LoCicero for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed it immensely (which should be obvious) and will definitely add the rest of your books to my Amazon queue. Published on Goodreads and Amazon on 11/15/16. ...more |
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1
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Nov 04, 2016
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Nov 12, 2016
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Nov 04, 2016
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Paperback
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| 1501160486
| 9781501160486
| 1501160486
| 4.33
| 98,526
| Aug 24, 2015
| Nov 01, 2016
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it was amazing
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Fredrik Backman: You brought me to my knees. This novella had me sobbing, smiling, laughing and in bewildered awe of the beautiful words that you are
Fredrik Backman: You brought me to my knees. This novella had me sobbing, smiling, laughing and in bewildered awe of the beautiful words that you are able to write so melodically on a page. You capture emotion between characters so exquisitely. In this incredible novella, Grandpa and Noahnoah (his grandson) have a very special relationship. They understand each other perfectly. It is this perfect relationship, that makes Grandpa's plight harder and harder each day. Harder because at first, Grandpa doesn't know how to explain what is wrong with him, and then has trouble remembering it. Noahnoah loves his Grandpa more than anything. And he will do whatever it takes to help his Grandpa remember everything he can about his life, including reminding him about the love of his life, and what its like to fall in love (which took my breath away and left me an emotional wreck). To say that this story is special is an understatement. Fredrik Backman, is in my opinion, the most gifted author I have come across in years. I have loved all of his books desperately and hold each one very close to my heart. Each character is a delight in and of itself. In this novella, "And Every Morning The Way Home Gets Longer and Longer" I found Grandpa and Noahnoah to be truly unique. Noahnoah is so very bright, gifted and special. Grandpa's love and affection for his wife makes me wish and hope that someday, I will lucky enough to find something that even closely resembles that. To think that Fredrik Backman wrote this to help cope with a real life situation. First, I am so sorry; and second, thank you for sharing this amazing story. It touched me in ways I can't even begin to describe. Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Fredrik Backman for an ARC of this incredibly beautiful novella in exchange for an honest review. It was my honor and privilege to read and review it. Published on NetGalley, Amazon and Goodreads on 11/4/16. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 02, 2016
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Nov 04, 2016
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Nov 02, 2016
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Hardcover
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| 0525955100
| 9780525955108
| 0525955100
| 4.20
| 60,183
| Aug 2016
| Sep 20, 2016
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it was amazing
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Win, or Windsor Horne Lockwood, III, has always known exactly where home was. He just hasn't been there in a while. Home is where his best friend Myro
Win, or Windsor Horne Lockwood, III, has always known exactly where home was. He just hasn't been there in a while. Home is where his best friend Myron Bolitar is. Myron is Win's true north. Always has been. Always will be. In Home, by Harlan Coben, Win needs Myron's help, not the other way around. While in London, Win sees a boy, one who looks like one of two young boys who went missing 10 years prior (Patrick Moore). The other young boy (Rhys Baldwin, Win's nephew) is nowhere to be found. In trying to rescue Patrick and find Rhys, Win knows he can't do it alone. He knows he needs help from his best friend and the only person he can trust in this world: Myron. Together, they make a formidable team. In trying to solve this mystery, and find the boys and bring them home, Myron and Win enlist the help of Esperanza, Big Cyndi and even Mickey Bolitar, Ema and Spoon, because, well, they are better together. I won't spoil this for anyone who has not read it, but let me just say, that I devoured this book and loved every second of it. I don't recall having read a Myron Bolitar book where Win's point of view was in the first person, but I really enjoyed it and felt liked I was getting to know him more intimately. While I adore Myron, I will admit that Win is my absolute favorite character, simply because he loves Myron unconditionally. Harlan Coben out did himself with this one. This is without a doubt his best novel to date and is his best Myron Bolitar/Windsor Horne Lockwood III, novel. It had heart and soul and was a great mystery to boot. I laughed, and cried, more than once. I absolutely loved it and loved that Myron and Win had to get the team back together in order to figure this one out. Big Cyndi was prominently featured and was a hoot as always. What was obvious from the first chapter was that these characters are the heart and soul of Harlan Coben and they have never left him, and neither will we. Thank you Mr. Coben, this was worth the wait! Published on Goodreads and Amazon on 9/26/16. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 20, 2016
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Sep 21, 2016
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Sep 26, 2016
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Hardcover
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| B01AQO0IHY
| 3.80
| 37,531
| Oct 06, 2016
| Oct 11, 2016
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it was amazing
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Brilliant, Delightful, Intelligent.. and altogether Fearless! In this brilliant novel, Margaret Atwood re-tells Shakepeare’s The Tempest (as part of th Brilliant, Delightful, Intelligent.. and altogether Fearless! In this brilliant novel, Margaret Atwood re-tells Shakepeare’s The Tempest (as part of the Hogarth Shakespeare series) and completely captures the heart. Atwood makes Shakespeare quirky, funny and easy to read, yet altogether new and thought provoking. In this bewildering tale, Atwood stages the Tempest in a Federal Correctional Facility, directed by Mr. Duke (a/k/a Felix – who was once a well-known Artistic Director of the Makeshiweg Theatre Festival at a neighboring town before being ousted by his former colleagues for his outlandish ideas) with the prisoners performing the play. At once, Felix identifies a way to exact revenge on his former colleagues - and delight and wit ensue (so many parts of the novel were extremely catchy, and downright amusing – I can’t help but smile at the thought of them). Felix is a tough and tormented soul who is at heart, a good natured man. Anne-Marie is a sweet, kind hearted girl who believes in the goodness of everyone. The prisoners are funny, raucous and quite talented. In short, I loved them dearly. Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood quickly captured my attention. I was constantly amazed by the fact that such an incredible novel was adapted from a Shakespeare play, which quite frankly, I have always had a hard time reading. In addition, I have read several books by Margaret Atwood (all of which have been the science fiction genre) and was further delighted by the fact this book was a complete departure from those and yet was so engrossing and intense. It was without a doubt, one of the best books I’ve read this year. A HUGE thank you to NetGalley, Crown Publishing, Hogarth and Margaret Atwood for an ARC of this incredible novel. I absolutely loved it. 5 stars. Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 10/3/16. **Will be published on Amazon on 10/11/16. ...more |
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1
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Sep 16, 2016
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Oct 03, 2016
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Sep 16, 2016
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Kindle Edition
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| 3.81
| 36,503
| Oct 18, 2016
| Oct 18, 2016
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it was amazing
| Beautiful, Haunting and Gut-wrenching. We cannot imagine the horror of those who experienced the atrocities of World War II. To read about them is ext Beautiful, Haunting and Gut-wrenching. We cannot imagine the horror of those who experienced the atrocities of World War II. To read about them is extremely difficult and evokes such strong emotion. I, for one, can’t imagine going through it. The German Girl is based on a true story of what happened during that time. Hannah Rosenthal is the German Girl. She is a twelve-year-old, blond hair, blue-eyed German Girl. And she is also a Jew. The year is 1939 and the place is Berlin. All Hell starts to break lose as Nazis invade Berlin and other parts of Germany and Europe. Some of their friends are taken in the night, never to return. Hannah’s life as well as that of her best friend Leo, and their families are caught in the cross fire. They hide in their homes or slink around when they have to go out, hoping they don’t get snagged. They fear for their lives and work to find a way out of Berlin. Eventually they obtain visas to travel on the St. Louis, a ship offering Jews safe passage to Cuba. The ship and the voyage is unlike anything they have ever experienced and they all believe their futures to be bright but upon arrival in Cuba they are told that the government has rescinded their offer and that passengers will no longer be allowed to disembark and will need to return to Europe. All hope is lost for Hannah and Leo, (who promised themselves to each other) as well as their families and everyone else on the ship. After tense negotiations, only 27 passengers are allowed to disembark, Hannah and her mother are two of them, leaving Hannah’s father and Leo on the ship, to return to France, Great Britain and other parts of Europe, where there is little hope for their futures. Years later, in New York, Anna Rosen receives mail from Hannah Rosenthal, an Aunt she never knew she had. Anna’s father, passed away on September 11th leaving no known family. The mail contains photographs to a history that Anna yearns to know about, including a photograph taken for a magazine of “A German Girl.” In analyzing the photographs, Anna and her mother search for Hannah and discover family they never knew they had and aide to help Hannah heal from the pain of the past and find peace. The German Girl is based on the true story of the St. Louis. It honors the lives lost in World War II. Armando Lucas Correa wrote such an incredibly beautiful story, and he told it with such sensitivity. The novel switches between the past and present day, with Hannah narrating her side of the story and the past up to the present day and Anna narrating her side of the story in the present day. Hannah and Anna are both such incredibly strong young women and both touch me in immeasurable ways. Though the novel was hard to read at times, it was incredibly well told, is a stunning book and I enjoyed it immensely. I can’t recommend it highly enough and think it would be great for a book club read or those who enjoy true literature. Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Armando Lucas Correa for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 9/6/16. **Will be Published on Amazon on 10/18/16. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 2016
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Sep 06, 2016
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Sep 01, 2016
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Kindle Edition
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| 1476799261
| 9781476799261
| B01CO34I62
| 4.00
| 37,058
| Feb 09, 2017
| Nov 01, 2016
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it was amazing
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Alice Hoffman’s “Faithful” is a novel about Shelly Richmond, a young woman, who has her whole life ahead of her. It’s about fate and prevailing when a
Alice Hoffman’s “Faithful” is a novel about Shelly Richmond, a young woman, who has her whole life ahead of her. It’s about fate and prevailing when all seems lost. Shelby Richmond is a High School Senior when tragedy strikes and she and her best friend Helene Boyd get into an accident. She walks away, her life completely intact. Afterwards, Shelby loses her mind, her friends and loved ones and her sense of self. She finds love in animals who need rescuing and a new friend, Maravelle, whose family needs taking care of. Shelby, reaches the depths of despair and slowly but surely finds her way back by saving those who need her as much as she needs them. Alice Hoffman’s Faithful was beautifully written. The book flowed from her fingertips, with characters you couldn’t help but care about. Her ability to make the character of Shelby extremely believable, yet lonely, awfully tragic and vulnerable, was exceptionally well done. I felt Shelby’s pain and heartache, but couldn’t help but love her and rally for her throughout the novel. The characters of Maravelle and Sue were also very well written and assisted in Shelby’s growth as a character. Faithful is a book about friendship and love, conquering your fears, surviving things you don’t think you can survive, and most of all, finding compassion for yourself. I must say that I absolutely adored this novel. I found myself sobbing throughout the last few chapters of it. It wrecked me in the best way possible. If you’re looking for a novel you can jump into heart and soul, this is it. If you’re looking to bring a book with you for an afternoon in the park, or if you need a book for a book club – I can’t recommend this one highly enough. Thank ever so much to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and Alice Hoffman for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on: 8/3/16 ** Will be published on Amazon on release date of: 11/1/16 ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 25, 2016
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Aug 03, 2016
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Jul 25, 2016
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Kindle Edition
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| 1476712778
| 9781476712772
| 1476712778
| 3.80
| 1,496
| Apr 01, 2014
| Apr 01, 2014
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it was amazing
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Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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not set
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Jul 22, 2016
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Hardcover
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| 1496702492
| 9781496702494
| 1496702492
| 4.18
| 533
| Jul 2016
| Jul 26, 2016
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it was amazing
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An Absolutely Stellar Debut! Poignant, Gut-wrenching and beautifully written. One of the best books I’ve read this year. Danny Johnson’s The Last Road An Absolutely Stellar Debut! Poignant, Gut-wrenching and beautifully written. One of the best books I’ve read this year. Danny Johnson’s The Last Road Home is a coming of age novel that explores the harsh realities of race relations in the South in the 1950 and 60’s. Junebug Hurley is eight years old when he loses both parents in a tragic accident and is sent to live with his Grandparents on a farm in North Carolina. At a tender age, he learns to farm the land and the tobacco fields and almost immediately learns how to become a man. There, he befriends Fancy Stroud and her twin brother Lightning, both of whom live on a neighboring farm, and are children of black sharecroppers. Year after year, tragedy continues to befall Junebug, yet somehow he perseveres. The one constant in his life through it all, is Fancy. During this time, their friendship develops into something more and though they know it’s dangerous, they cannot fight their feelings. The Deep South however, is no place for a relationship such as theirs and Fancy decides to leave home and see what else life has to offer. This leaves Junebug alone once again. Shortly thereafter, he decides to take a journey to far off places in order to find peace within himself. The Last Road Home is a beautiful, emotional and incredibly sweet novel. It is a book about the trials and tribulations of a young boy in the South and his ability to adapt, survive and thrive in the worst of times. Junebug is a kind, lovable and conflicted character who you can’t help but sympathize with and Fancy is a strong willed young girl who becomes an amazing woman. All of the characters in this book are extremely well developed (when reading it you feel as though you are in the characters shoes and are feeling what they are feeling). For me, it was hard to believe that this was a debut novel. It is truly an amazing book and was an exceptionally well written and was an enjoyable easy read. This is a great book for a book club as it explores such topics as race relations, forbidden first love, war and perseverance when all seems lost. I can’t recommend this book highly enough! A huge thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Danny Johnson for giving me the chance to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Published: July 21, 2016; Published on Goodreads and NetGalley. Published on Amazon on 7/28/16. ...more |
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1
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Jul 18, 2016
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Jul 21, 2016
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Jul 18, 2016
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Paperback
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| 3.73
| 220,099
| Jun 28, 2016
| Jun 28, 2016
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it was amazing
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First, thank you to Simon & Schuster, Netgalley and Megan Miranda for an ARC in exchange for an honest review! Hold on to your hats, because this ride First, thank you to Simon & Schuster, Netgalley and Megan Miranda for an ARC in exchange for an honest review! Hold on to your hats, because this ride is a wild one. Looking for an exciting, suspenseful read that will keep you up all night? This is it. This book is one in which you can’t predict the ending, perhaps because of its structure. A backstory is provided for the characters of Nic Farrell, her brother Daniel, her ex-boyfriend, Tyler, fiancé Everett, and several childhood friends and then, it is told backwards. It jumps ahead 15 days and then counts down day by day until day one. Oddly enough, it is quite effective even though the story is told in reverse. Each prior day is narrated almost effortlessly into the next. We are told that the narrators are unreliable, thus the suspense just builds and builds. The story is extremely well executed and the characters are quite strong. The mysteries: Nic grew up in the small town of Cooley Ridge, NC and left it and her High School boyfriend, Tyler, behind after her childhood best friend, Corinne Prescott, went missing 10 years ago. She has been living in Philadelphia but is summoned home by her brother because there are problems with her dad, who has dementia and lives in a home. The night she arrives home, another girl, Annaleise Carter also goes missing. The two cases appear to be connected and everyone appears to be hiding something. Jackson, Corrine’s ex-boyfriend; Tyler, who was dating Annaleise and broke up with her the night she disappeared; Daniel; Nic and even Daniel and Nics’ dad, whose memories of past events are muddled. As much as Nic tried to escape her past and leave everyone behind it has stayed with her. Her troubled relationship with her brother Daniel, is at the core of the story and is a mystery in and of itself. The unusual structure of the story lends itself well to the mystery and the unreliability of the narrators. Both whodunits are hard to crack but I highly suggest that everyone take a stab at it. A seriously great, easy read. I look forward to seeing more from Megan Miranda in the future. Published from June 24, 2016 to the Present; Published on Goodreads, Amazon and NetGalley. ...more |
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1
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Jun 22, 2016
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Jun 24, 2016
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Jun 22, 2016
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Kindle Edition
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| 1501126229
| 9781501126222
| 1501126229
| 3.73
| 48,535
| Jun 07, 2016
| Jun 07, 2016
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it was amazing
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I! LOVED! THIS! BOOK! SO! MUCH! I! WANTED! TO! EAT! IT! UP!!! Steven Rowley.. you made me laugh fiercely, you made me cry hysterically, you made me smi I! LOVED! THIS! BOOK! SO! MUCH! I! WANTED! TO! EAT! IT! UP!!! Steven Rowley.. you made me laugh fiercely, you made me cry hysterically, you made me smile like a crazy person and ponder what is important in this life. You made me fall in love with you (or rather Ted) and with Lily. I am a dog person. I have had 3 great loves of my life and they were all dogs. I love how you (Ted) loved Lily. Thank you for this. This book might be the best book I have read this year (and yes I said that about Britt Marie Was Here by Fredrik Bachman).. but Steven Rowley's writing is ingenious. This book is beautiful, hysterical, gut wrenching, and poignant. In short, it is absolutely brilliant. This book is about Ted and his dog Lily, who he adopts and falls madly in love with when he is 29. Mr. Rowley gives Lily a voice of her own and she "speaks" to Ted, in ALL! CAPS! She plays monopoly and eats ice cream (which she LOVES! TO! LICK!) and has a mother named WITCHIE-POO (lol)! They discuss boys on Thursdays and have movie nights on Saturdays and love each other without condition. One night.. the octopus appears and Ted becomes consumed with taking care of the greatest love of his life and almost becomes unhinged in doing so. In a wondrous way, Mr. Rowley combines comic relief, fantasy, realism and heartbreak all in one book and it is truly a work of art. It had me rolling on the floor laughing and crying my eyes out, sobbing. I don't recall ever having had such a visceral reaction to a book. I was grateful that I was in my own home when I was reading it so no one saw the depths of my reactions. I have already gifted this to several friends and would recommend it to anyone who loves dogs and considers them to be our kids. It is truly one of a kind.. as is Steven Rowley and his beloved Lily. ...more |
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1
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Jun 15, 2016
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Jun 21, 2016
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Jun 15, 2016
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Hardcover
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| 0062200631
| 9780062200631
| 0062200631
| 3.91
| 61,334
| May 17, 2016
| May 17, 2016
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it was amazing
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5 Stars. An absolutely stellar novel by Joe Hill! Vastly different than all of his other books & superbly well written! I didn't want it to end. 5 Stars. An absolutely stellar novel by Joe Hill! Vastly different than all of his other books & superbly well written! I didn't want it to end.
Draco Incendia Trychophyton, aka, Dragonscale, or the 'Scale. It's kind of like a superbug that everyone catches because it's highly contagious and it's discovered by interesting black and gold markings on one's skin, causing those who are afflicted to burst into flames. It's caused by a spore that floats through the air via ash, and once everyone catches it, they spontaneously combust into flames, The premise is totally wicked. And scary as hell. The Fireman, is in my opinion the most sophisticated novel Joe Hill has written to date. The main characters are extremely well developed and well written: Nurse Harper Willowes is a fierce, strong willed, standout heroine. Allie is one heck of an incredibly tough teen who doesn't take any sh&t from anyone. The Fireman, John Rookwood's, ability to control the fire burning from within is truly amazing but all of his human flaws, that is what makes him a man. And Nick - the little boy who lost his mom and shut down against almost everyone - and then in the face of the gravest danger, does what he has to do to take care of the only family he has left. That's powerful stuff! And then there's Jakob, Nurse Willowes, husband. He's becomes obsessed; with trying not to contract Dragonscale, and trying to murder his wife because she is a carrier of the disease and is also pregnant. In my opinion, this novel flows in a way that none of his other books have yet to achieve. And even with that, I can't say that this is my favorite Joe Hill novel, though I liked it a lot. I gave it 5 stars for his writing style being much improved and for the truly interesting idea of a spore that is highly contagious causing people who come into contact with it, to incinerate. It's ingenious and the characters in the storyline are pretty interesting too. Harper, John, Renae, Allie, Nick, Father Storey, Jakob: These people: They are this story. And it is well worth the read! For me, Joe Hill's NOS4A2, was my favorite book of the last few years, no question. Vic McQueen was the best heroine ever. Every part of that book was a wild ride. But not every part was smooth and beautifully well written. NOS4A2 was a bumpy ride. And it was a ride you didn't want to get off. With five stars for the amazing characters, crazy heart stopping moments and lots of tears. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 17, 2016
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May 29, 2016
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May 17, 2016
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Hardcover
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| 1501142534
| 9781501142536
| 1501142534
| 4.09
| 172,042
| Oct 03, 2014
| May 03, 2016
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it was amazing
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Britt-Marie was Here is the best book I've read this year. Simply put, it is fantastic. Britt-Marie is difficult, frustrating and socially awkward. Sh Britt-Marie was Here is the best book I've read this year. Simply put, it is fantastic. Britt-Marie is difficult, frustrating and socially awkward. She is also insensitive and kind of rude. A minor character in My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry, Britt-Marie was instantly disliked in that book and is not well liked in the beginning of this one either. However, Fredrik Backman has this endearing way of making old curmudgeons likeable and being extremely successful at it (i.e. Ove and Britt-Marie). Her character, her ocd, her social ineptitude.. they grow on you. Here, we find out why she is the way she is and we discover that, due to her childhood and her marriage, she has felt invisible her whole life. She has trouble figuring out who she really is and is fanatical simply because it is the only thing she can control. Upon losing everything, she decides to find a job and is forced to move to a small town. In the process she finds a sense of humor, discovers that she is capable of making friends and also finds her sense of self. Fredrik Backman's A Man Called Ove was one of my favorite books ever. His writing style is smart, funny, quirky and just downright amazing. His characters are rich, well developed and beloved. In addition to Britt-Marie, Vega, Somebody, Bank, Sami and "the girl from the unemployment office" lent heart and soul to the story and gave Britt-Marie exactly what she needed: friends and reasons to go have at it. I didn't think it was possible for Mr. Backman to write another book that I'd love as much as "Ove" but if truth be told, I love this one more. It was truly phenomenal. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 02, 2016
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May 06, 2016
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May 02, 2016
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Hardcover
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| 0316267945
| 9780316267946
| 0316267945
| 4.21
| 8,211
| Aug 01, 2015
| Apr 12, 2016
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it was amazing
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Review posted on blog:https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend... I love Joseph O’Loughlin dearly and I always have. I simply can’t help it. This is why, Review posted on blog:https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend... I love Joseph O’Loughlin dearly and I always have. I simply can’t help it. This is why, when Kaceey asked me to read the remainder of this series with her, I jumped at the chance, even though I had previously read this book and knew what would happen at the end. Joseph O’Loughlin has my heart and thankfully, Kaceey likes him too! Complex, courageous, fallible, funny, kind, and caring, logical, self-aware, and extremely vulnerable, Joe is a man who loves his family desperately. Separated from his wife Julianne, he holds out hope for their reconciliation. Far from perfect, he admits it. Joe has made a lot of mistakes and has paid for them dearly. Suffering from Parkinson's, he makes the best of every day. It is his perseverance, strength, wit, and his love for his family that makes me love him so. As a Clinical Psychologist, Joseph O'Loughlin is a profiler who works with the police to hunt down killers. This time, a mother and daughter are brutally killed in their farmhouse and it’s up to Joe to try and figure out who did it. A game of cat and mouse that becomes personal. A pulse-pounding thriller that ratchets up the suspense. A shocking end that changes everything and one that I remembered every second of from my first go-round and which, frankly, I despised. Nevertheless, I adored diving back into the life of Joseph O’Loughlin, in “Close Your Eyes” and am anxious to see what’s next. A buddy listen with Ms. Kaceey, which I’m so glad we finally got to. Posted on Goodreads, Twitter, and Instagram. ...more |
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2
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Jun 30, 2021
Apr 14, 2016
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Jul 02, 2021
Apr 30, 2016
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Apr 14, 2016
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Hardcover
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| 1501107836
| 9781501107832
| 1501107836
| 3.79
| 7,195
| Nov 10, 2015
| Nov 10, 2015
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it was amazing
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Such a brilliant, poignant, funny and masterful collection of letters to the anonymous men in Ms. Mary Louise Parker's life. I am almost speechless, I
Such a brilliant, poignant, funny and masterful collection of letters to the anonymous men in Ms. Mary Louise Parker's life. I am almost speechless, I loved this collection that much. Each letter, it seemed was better than the last. I was taken a back by the authors' charm, wit, unique characterizations and impeccable descriptions. My favorites include, Dear Miss Girl; Dear Orderly (in which Ms. Parker's descriptions of giving birth had me dying of laughter); Dear Uncle (wherein her statements re current life me stunned); Dear Doctor (touching and beyond amazing); Dear Emergency Contact (one word: Love); Dear Future man who loves my daughter (insightful, funny, moving); and finally, Dear Oyster Picker (sad, yet sweet and funny in parts). I loved each one for different reasons and they will stay with me for a long time to come. I could feel Ms. Parker's bravery emanate from each word that was written. She is an artful writer. Her words are beautiful and hysterically funny. She is insightful, lovely, poignant and extremely witty. I would love to quote her here... To leave you all with something, some of her amazing words but instead, please do yourself a favor and read them for yourself. You will not regret it. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jan 22, 2016
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Jun 13, 2016
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Jan 22, 2016
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Hardcover
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