Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Book Review: Stolen Heir by Sophie Lark

Title: Stolen Heir
Author: Sophie Lark
Series/Standalone: Brutal Birthright Series (Book #2)
Genre: Romance, Adult Fiction, Mafia, Dark
Pages: 430
Publisher: Self-Published
Year Published: 2020
Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"They murdered my father, so I stole their daughter....

She's my captive, my little ballerina who dances only for me.

Nessa is sweet and innocent. She doesn't deserve any of this. But that's how our world works- the wolves eat the lambs, no matter how gentle they may be.

I'll use her to get my revenge. Unless I give in to my hunger first..."

My Rating: 3.5/5

This wasn't as good for me as the first one in the series. Sometimes when authors pull out retellings I love them and other times it feels a little too in your face. This one was the later. I found that over and over the author appeared to be saying, "See it's a retelling, look it, did you forget the retelling aspect" and to that, I said woah, let me enjoy it for what it is. I will be continuing the series because the smut is great, the side characters are fascinating and the story overall is fantastic. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Book Review: Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

Title: Greenlights
Author: Matthew McConaughey
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography
Pages: 289
Publisher: Crown
Year Published: 2020
Format: Audiobook

"I've been in this life for fifty years, been trying to work out its riddle for forty-two and been keeping diaries of clues to that riddle for the last thirty-five. Notes about successes and failures, joys and sorrows, things that made me marvel and things that made me laugh out loud. How to be fair. How to have less stress. how to have fun. How to hurt people less. How to get hurt less. How to be a good man. How to have meaning in life. How to be more me.

Recently, I worked up the courage to sit down with those diaries. I found stories I experienced, lessons I learned and forgot, poems, prayers, prescriptions, beliefs about what matters, some great photographs, and a whole bunch of bumper stickers. I found a reliable theme, an approach to living that gave me more satisfaction, at the time, and still: If you know how, and when, to deal with life's challenges- how to get relative with the inevitable- you can enjoy a state of a success I call "catching greenlights."

So I took a one-way ticket to the desert and wrote this book: an album, a record, a story of my life so far. This is fifty years of my sights and seems, felts and figured-outs, cools and shameful. Graces, truths, and beautifies of brutality. Getting away with, getting caught and getting wets while trying to dance between the raindrops.

Hopefully, it's medicine that tastes good, a couple of aspirin instead of the infirmary, a spaceship to Mars without needing your pilot license, going to church without having to be born again, and laughing through the tears.

It's a love letter to life.

It's a guide to catching more greenlights- and to realizing that the yellows and reds eventually turn green too.

Good luck."

My Rating: 3.5/5

I didn't know what to expect from this memoir, but it was certainly fascinating to hear about how this incredible author a) got his start and b) how he varied in his work while c) what he believes behind it all. In my teens, I mostly watched Matthew McConaughey in romantic comedies, and I had seen him in a few more dramatic roles since then, but hearing about his methods and also how he travelled and is a little bit of a hippy, was surprising. I had a good time reading it, but it wasn't a favourite, I would recommend if you want to know about the man behind the actor, or maybe need a kick in the ass to go and chase your dreams. Fun, entertaining and in some ways inspiring I enjoyed it overall.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny



Monday, December 16, 2024

Book Review: Brutal Prince by Sophie Lark

Title: Brutal Prince
Author: Sophie Lark
Series/Standalone: Brutal Birthright Series (Book #1)
Genre: Adult Fiction, Romance, Dark, Mafia
Pages: 376
Publisher: Self-Published
Year Published: 2020
Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"He's No Prince Charming....
Callum Griffin is the heir to the Irish Mafia. He's ruthless, arrogant and he wants to kill me. 
We got off on the wrong foot when I set a (very small) fire in his house.
Our families believe a marriage pact is the only thing that will prevent all-out warfare.
I think I might need to murder him while he sleeps.
This would all be a lot easier if Callum wasn't so damned good-looking.
But I've got a lockbox around my heart. Because even if I'm forced to marry him...
I could never love a brutal prince."

My Rating:5/5

I think this is the first romance that I've read that has fallen under the mafia category and I feel like it was a great starting pick. If you want something that lands right between contemporary and dark romance, this is it I think. It still has the shock value, the plot, the intrigue, but without as many triggers I would say it is a dark romance. I LOVED IT! I can't remember the last time I finished a book (that wasn't an audiobook) in such a short amount of time. I immediately resubscribed to Kindle Unlimited to binge this series.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Saturday, December 14, 2024

Review: Shame: Conception Pt. 1

Title: Shame: Conception: Part 1
Author: Lovern Kindzierski
Artist(s): John Bolton
Series/Standalone: Shame Series (Vol. 1)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Adult Fiction, Horror
Pages: 60
Publisher: Renegade Arts Entertainment
Year Published: 2011
Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"When the purest woman on earth allows herself one selfish thought it is enough to conceive the most evil woman the world has ever known.

From the imaginations of award winning creators: Lovern Kindzierski, John Bolton and Todd Klein, is born the dark faery tale trilogy of shame."

My Rating: 1/5

I don't think I realized what this graphic novel was going to be, and after reading it, I'm still not sure I can describe it. The feeling of, "What the hell did I just win?" is still rattling around in my skull. I didn't find it to be in my wheelhouse and for that reason, I won't be continuing on with the series.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Saturday, December 7, 2024

Book Review: The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore

Title: The Pumpkin Spice Cafe
Author: Laurie Gilmore
Series/Standalone: Dream Harbor Series (Book #1)
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Smalltown, Adult Fiction
Pages: 286
Publisher: One More Chapter
Year Published: 2023
Format: Audiobook

"A spicy small-town romance and TikTok phenomenon, perfect for fans of Hannah Grace and Stephanie Archer.

When Jeanie's aunt gifts her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Cafe in the small town of Dream Harbor, Jeanie jumps at the chance for a fresh start away from her very dull desk job.

Logan is a local farmer who avoids Dream Harbor's gossip at all costs. But Jeanie's arrival disrupts Logan's routine and he wants nothing to do with the irritatingly upbeat new girl, except that he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her.

Will Jeanie's happy-go-lucky attitude win over the grumpy-but-gorgeous Logan, or has this city girl found the one person in town who won't fall for her charm, or her pumpkin spice lattes...."

My Rating: 4.5/5

This was so much fun! It was exactly what I wanted it to be this was an absolutely excellent time. I finished the audiobook in one day and had an absolute blast with it. If you want a story that is so much set in a place like Star Hollow from Gilmore Girls with the quirk characters, and the small-town vibes, without some of the less savoury plot lines, this is the perfect read for you. Although there is a pretty serious case of Insta-love, it was such a great hallmark-eque read. I can't wait to get into the next one!

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Huntress by Kate Quinn

Title: The Huntress
Author: Kate Quinn
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Historical Fiction, Adult
Pages: 560
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Year Published: 2019
Format: Audiobook

"In the aftermath of war, the hunter becomes the hunted...

Bold and fearless, Nina Markova always dreamed of flying. When the Nazis attack the Soviet Union, she risks everything to join the legendary Night Witches, an all-female night bomber regiment wreaking havoc on the invading Germans. When she is stranded behind enemy lines, Nina becomes the prey of a lethal Nazi murderess known as the Huntress, and only Nina's bravery and cunning will keep her alive.

Transformed by the horrors he witnessed from Omaha Beach to the Nuremberg Trials, British war correspondent Ian Graham has become a Nazi hunter. yet one target eludes him: a vicious predator known as the Huntress. To find her, the fierce, disciplined investigator joins forces with the only witness to escape the Huntress alive: the brazen, cocksure Nina. But a shared secret could derail their mission unless Ian and Nina force themselves to confront it.

Growing up in post-war Boston, seventeen-year-old Jordan McBride is determined to become a photographer. When her long-widowed father unexpectedly comes home with a new fiancee, Jordan is thrilled. But there is something disconcerting about the soft-spoken German widow. Certain that danger is lurking. Jordan begins to delve into her new stepmother's past- only to discover that there are mysteries buried deep in her family... secrets that may threaten all Jordan holds dear."

My Rating: 4/5

This was such a great historical fiction read. Th different perspectives really added to the overall plot, and watching how each piece tied together fed the intrigue. I would highly recommend it, especially as an audiobook. The end itself was a bit predictable, but I have found that when it's historical fiction (if you know the history) most of the time that is the case. I look forward to reading more from the author soon.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Sunday, December 1, 2024

Book Review: When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

Title: When Stars Are Scattered
Author: Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade, Nonfiction
Pages: 264
Publisher: Dial Books
Year Published: 2020
Format: Hardcover (Library Copy)

"Heartbreak and hope exist together in this remarkable graphic novel about growing up in a refugee camp, as told by a Somali refugee to the Newberry Honor-winning creator of Roller Girl.

Omar and his little brother, Hassan, arrived in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya, seven years ago. Their father was killed the day they left home, and they haven't seen their mother since they joined their neighbours who were fleeing to Dadaab. Now Omar is eleven and Hassan is nine, and Omar has quit school to look after his brother, who has an intellectual disability.

When Omar is given the opportunity to return to school and carve out a future for himself and Hassan, he feels torn. He loves school and could have the opportunity to earn a coveted scholarship to a North American university- and with it a visa for himself and Hassan. But is it worth the risk and heartache of leaving his vulnerable brother for hours each day?

Told in Victoria Jamieson's engaging and accessible graphic-novel style and based on Omar Mohamed's gripping true story, this book is an intimate, important look at day-to-day life in a refugee camp."

My Rating: 5/5

I am currently taking courses to get my library tech diploma, and in one of my classes we were asked to discuss a middle grade age graphic novel, one of my classmates brought forward this one. What an incredibly moving and impactful novel!? For children and adults alike this offers an inside look at what being a refugee in a camp after going through incredibly traumatic life events looks like. I would highly recommend it. 

Thanks for reading,
Sidny


Saturday, November 30, 2024

Book Review: Mistake of Magic by Alex Lidell


Title: Mistake of Magic
Author: Alex Lidell
Series/Standalone: Power of Five Series (Book #2)
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Adult Fiction
Pages: 218
Publisher: Self-Published
Year Published: 2018
Format:  Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"Three trials stand between Lera and exile. Unless the training kills her first.
Quint magic has never chosen a human before, and the Elders Council is convinced Lera is a mistake.

When the quint refuses to be cleaved apart, the enraged elders give them a choice: exile from Lunos or demotion to the lowest of trainees. Subject again to the humiliations and deadly trials they endured centuries ago, the males now face a new challenge- training Lera to survive.

River, Shade, Coal and Tye will do whatever it takes to keep Lera safe. But Lera will do whatever she must to keep them together- even if it means putting herself in mortal danger."

My Rating: 3.5/5

These are super fun, pretty short romantasy reads. If you are looking for a reverse harem-style read with fae men who will burn the world down for the woman they love (whether or not all of them admit their love), this may be for you. I love picking these up and flying through the story; the smut is also fun. Overall, it was a good time! The only complaint I have is that there isn't a lot of unpredictability in the plot, which is fine if you are ok with that, but I would love just a bit more intrigue. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Book Review: Beware the Wild by Natalie C. Parker

Title: Beware the Wild    
Author: Natalie C. Parker
Series/Standalone: Beware the Wild Duology (Book #1)
Genre: Young Adult, Magical Realism, Paranormal
Pages: 327
Publisher: HarperTeen
Year Published: 2014
Format: Paperback
First Line: "It's no secret, ours is the meanest swamp in Louisiana."

"It's an oppressively hot and sticky morning in June when Sterling and her brother, Phin, have an argument that compels him to run into the town swamp- the one that strikes fear in all the residents of Sticks, Louisiana. Phin doesn't return. Instead, a girl named Lenora May climbs out, and now Sterling is the only person in Sticks who remembers her brother ever existed.

Sterling needs to figure out what the swamp's done with her beloved brother and how Lenora May is connected to his disappearance- and loenr boy Heath Durham might be the only one who can help her."

My Rating: 2.5/5

This wasn't all I hoped it to be. When I heard about it from someone reading vlogs a while ago, I expected it to be a horror book, but I would consider this more magical realism, rather than horror. I spent a lot of time reading this book trying to see if it was actual magic or an unreliable main character. Along with these factors, I do worry about the way disordered eating was dealt with within the story. I understand that this book was published a decade ago, but for those reasons alone I cannot recommend it. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Sunday, November 3, 2024

Book Review: Happy Place by Emily Henry

Title: Happy Place
Author: Emily Henry
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 400
Publisher: Berkley
Year Published: 2023
Format: Audiobook (Own Physical Copy)

"Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college- they go together like salt and pepper, honey and tea, lobster and rolls. Except, now- for reasons they're still not discussing- they don't.

They broke up six months ago. And still haven't told their best friends.

Which is how they find themselves sharing the largest bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group's yearly getaway for the last decade. Their annual respite from the world, where for one vibrant, blue week they leave behind their daily lives; have copious amounts of cheese, wine and seafood; and soak up the salty coastal air with the people who understand them most.

Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth while trying not to notice how desperately they still want each other. Because the cottage is for sale and this is the last week they'll all have together in this place. They can't stand to break their friends' hearts, and so they'll play their parts. Harriet will be the driven surgical resident who never starts a fight, and Wyn will be the laid-back charmer who never lets the cracks show. It's a flawless plan (if you look at it from a great distance and through a pair of sunscreen-smeared glasses). After years of being in love, how hard can it be to fake it for one week... in front of those who know you best?"

My Rating: 3.75/5

This was a harder one for me to get into. I do love a good second-chance romance, but something about this one just wasn't for me. Maybe it was the fact that they had been together so long previously, or some of the tropes used within that, but it was hard to not be frustrated with the female main character. While I appreciated the ideas presented throughout, it was just ok for me.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Saturday, October 19, 2024

Book Review: The Distraction by Morgan Elizabeth

Title: The Distraction
Author: Morgan Elizabeth
Series/Standalone: Springbrook Hills Series (Book # 1)
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Adult Fiction
Pages: 309
Publisher: Self-Published
Year Published: 2021
Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"The last thing he needs is a distraction

Hunter Hutchin's success is due to one thing and one thing only: his unerring focus on Beaten Path, the outdoor recreation company eh built from the ground up after his first business was an utter failure. 
When his dad gets sick, Hunter is forced to go back to his hometown and prove once and for all that his father's belief in him wasn't for nothing. With illness looming, distractions are unacceptable.
Staying with his sister, he meets Hannah, the sexy nanny who has had his head in a frenzy since they met.
When Hunter's dad gets sick, he's forced to leave the city and move back into the small town he grew up in at his sister's house. Ever since he watched Hannah dance into his life, he's finding himself drifting from his goal and purpose- or is he drifting closer to them?

She refuses to make the same mistakes as her mother.

Hannah Keller grew up watching what happens when a family falls apart and lived through those consequences. When it's time, she won't make the same mistake by settling for anyone.
But when the uncle of the kids she nannies comes to stay for the summer, she can't help but find herself drawn to the handsome, standoffish man who is definitely not for her.
Can she get through the summer while protecting her heart? Or will he break through and leave her broken?"

My Rating: 3.75/5

This was a fun little contemporary romance read. The smut was fantastically written, the plot on the other hand was not all I hoped for. I did appreciate Hannah, as a character because I can relate to her a lot. I did appreciate that Hunter has his own issues, but the lack of communication from Hunter to his family members drives me insane. Miscommunication on this level is hard for me to read because I find it drags on for far too long.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny


Sunday, October 13, 2024

Book Review: Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Title: Maybe in Another Life
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 342
Publisher: Atria Books
Year Published: 2015
Format: Audiobook

"At the age of twenty-nine, Hannah Martin still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has lived in six different cities and held countless meaningless jobs since graduating college. On the heels of leaving yet another city, Hannah moves back to her hometown of los Angeles and takes up residence in her best friend Gabby's guestroom. Shortly after getting back to town, Hannah goes out to a bar one night with Gabby and meets up with her high school boyfriend, Ethan.

Just after midnight, Gabby asks Hannah if she's ready to go. A moment later, Ethan offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay. Hannah hesitates. What happens if she leaves with Gabby? What happens if she leaves with Ethan?

In concurrent storylines, Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. Quickly, these parallel universes develop into radically different stories with large-scale consequences for Hannah, as well as the people around her. As the two alternate realities run their course, Maybe in Another Life raises questions about fate and true love: Is anything meant to be? How much in our life is determined by chance? And perhaps, most compellingly: Is there such a thing as a soul mate?

Hannah believes there is. And, in both worlds, she believes she's found him."

My Rating: 3.5/5

This was not what I expected when I picked this one up. Taylor Jenkin Reid does a great job of creating the main characters that you root for. Hannah is no different in that regard. I obviously haven't read all of her backlog (I'm working on it). That being said, I found that there were portions of this book where the plot was a little over the top. The well-thought-out changes between the universes were incredible. The friendships we see in both timelines were excellent and overall I really enjoyed my read of it. 
Which book of hers should I read next?

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Monday, October 7, 2024

Book Review: A Photo Finish by Elsie Silver

Title: A Photo Finish
Author: Elsie Silver
Series/Standalone: Gold Rush Ranch Series (Book #2)
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Adult Fiction, 
Pages: 420
Publisher: Self-Published
Year Published: 2021
Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"I've seen every square inch of Wiolet Eaton's delectable body and she has no idea who I am.
Until now.
What happened between us online, in our chats, was meant to stay anonymous and in the past.

Until it didn't.
It's a small world, but Ruby Creek is even smaller. When I move to the tiny town, the grumpy, facade I've created slips when we're forced to live under the same roof.

Every flush of her cheeks, every time her eyes flare with what, every time she begs me not to stop, the ice I've encased myself in melts. She has me wanting things I can't want. Things I've been dreaming about since I first laid eyes on her two years ago- things I don't deserve.

But my invisible wounds have the power to ruin us both. As a former soldier, I should have the discipline to walk away, but the more I open up to Violet, the more I want to keep her.

I came back from the war a different man, but my scars are older and deeper than anyone knows- and I planned to keep it that way. I planned to keep my secrets hidden.
Until her."

My Rating: 5/5

This has been my favourite so far. Could it be the grumpy sunshine trope, could it be Elsie Silver's ability to tie together relationships from the current books with previous books, or even other series, or is it because this romance was too damn good. The long-term yearning was excellently written and the characters were unique in a way that wasn't unsettling, but also distinguishable. I look forward to continuing the series soon.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Monday, September 30, 2024

Book Review: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Title: Queen of Shadows
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series/Standalone: Throne of Glass Series (Book #4)
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 648
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Year Published: 2015
Format: Paperback (Own It)

"Everyone Calaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire- for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past...

She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galanthynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.

The fourth volume in the New York Times bestselling series continues Celaena's epic journey and builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world."

My Rating: 4/5

This was such an interesting instalment in this series. It started out really strong for me and the action near the end was well-paced as well. As a part of the series, I was surprised at the turns that the author chose to make and even more surprised that some plot lines were not pushed to go longer in the series. I am curious to see what happens next in the series. I do love the characters and that's what really keeps me going in this series. I look forward to tangent reading the next two, wish me luck.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

Title: Because of Miss Bridgerton
Author: Julia Quinn
Series/Standalone: Rokebys Series (Book #1)
Genre: Romance, Historical Romance, Adult Fiction
Pages: 375
Publisher: Avon
Year Published: 2016
Format: Audiobook

"Sometimes you find love in the most unexpected places....
This is not one of those times.
Everyone expects Billie Bridgerton to marry one of the Rokesby brothers. The two families have been neighbours for centuries, and as a child, the tomboyish Billie ran wild with Edward and Andrew. Either one would make a perfect husband... someday.

Sometimes you fall in love with exactly the person you think you should...
Or not.
There is only one Rokesby Billie absolutely cannot tolerate, and that is George. He may be the eldest and her to the earldom, but he's arrogant, annoying and she's absolutely certain he detests her. Which is perfectly convenient, as she can't stand the sight of him, either.

But sometimes fate has a wicked sense of humor...
Because when Billie and George are quite literally thrown together, a whole new sort of sparks begins to fly. And when these lifelong adversaries finally kiss, they just might discover that the one person they can't abide is the one person they can't live without..."

My Rating: 4.5/5

This is not what I expected from this series, but I couldn't be happier. Watching a main character in a historical romance have any degree of power gives me so much joy. The characters in this story are excellent, and I absolutely adored Billie Bridgerton. I also loved the side characters we were introduced to (or at least the ones we were supposed to at the very least. The only reason this book got knocked down .5 stars from five stars was one line that was said during a steamy scene that ruined the spice for me. I look forward to continuing the series on audiobooks soon. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Book Review: Only Say Good Things by Crystal Hefner

Title: Only Say Good Things
Author: Crystal Hefner
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir
Pages: 240
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Year Published: 2024
Format: Audiobook

"A raw and unflinching look at the objectification and misogyny of the Playboy mansion, a woman’s stolen young adulthood and her journey to self-acceptance, and a rare look inside Hugh Hefner’s final days.

At just twenty-one years old, Crystal Harris’ life changed forever when she attended a party at the notorious Playboy mansion. Picked out of the crowd by Hugh Hefner, she became one of his infamous “girlfriends,” attending glamorous Hollywood parties and traveling the world. Yet this seemingly alluring lifestyle had a dark side. Hef controlled his girlfriends with strict rules regarding everything from their hair and makeup to their curfews, and Crystal was forced to compete with other women for her spot in the highly hierarchal system. Living at the mansion, she felt more like a fixture than a resident. 
 
She quickly rose to the top, but being Hef’s number one girlfriend came at the cost of Crystal’s identity outside her role in the Playboy universe. Her fate seemed sealed when Hef surprised her with a marriage proposal she could not imagine refusing. But as Crystal Hefner, she grew increasingly restless to understand who she truly was away from what she saw as Playboy’s toxic culture.

In ONLY SAY GOOD THINGS, Crystal offers a vulnerable and clear-eyed look at how her experience with Hugh Hefner catalyzed her transformative journey from someone who prized external validation over all else to a person who finally recognizes her true worth. This candid memoir provides a fascinating look behind the scenes at a powerful cultural icon and brand, and an equally empowering perspective on hard-won lessons about who we allow to determine our value."

My Rating: 5/5

I don't particularly like rating memoirs because I don't think that I can rate someone else's life. So I usually rate based on writing style or story telling style. This story is hard to read, and hard to hear but important. Because society has shifted its standpoint on things like Playboy and this kind of misogynistic behaviour we can see the clear shift in society where we speak about how this kind of thing isn't ok. It's not fair to the women, their families or girls and women watching it all happen. I genuinely wish all the best for the author, and I hope that she finds her peace as time gives her healing (along with ya know therapy, etc.). 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Book Review: Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey

Title: Unfortunately Yours
Author: Tessa Bailey
Series/Standalone: A Vine Mess Duology (Book #2)
Genre: Adult Fiction, Contemporary Romance
Pages: 384
Publisher: Avon
Year Published: 2023
Format: Audiobook

"A down-on-her-luck Napa heiress suggests a mutually beneficial marriage of convenience to a man she can't stand... only to discover there's a fine line between love and hate.

After losing her job and her fiancé in one fell swoop, Natalie Vos returned home to lick her wounds. A few months later, she's sufficiently drowned her sorrows in cabernet and she's ready to get back on her feet. She just needs her trust fund to finance her new business venture. Unfortunately, the terms require she marry before she can have the money. And well, dumped, remember? But Natalie is desperate enough to propose to a man who makes her want to kill him--and kiss him, in equal measure.

August Cates may own a vineyard, but he doesn't know jack about making wine. He's determined to do his late best friend proud, no matter what it takes. Except his tasting room is empty, his wine is disgusting (seriously, he once saw someone gag), and his buddy's legacy is circling the drain. No bank will give him the loan he needs to turn the business around... and then the gorgeous, feisty heiress knocks on his door. Natalie has haunted his dreams since the moment they met, but their sizzling chemistry immediately morphed into simmering insults.

Now, a quickie marriage could help them both. A sham wedding, a few weeks living under the same roof, and then they can go their separate ways--assuming they make it out alive. How hard could it be? There's just one thing they didn't account for: their unfortunate, unbearable, undeniable attraction."

My Rating: 4/5

I really enjoyed this second book in the series. While something I didn't enjoy the idea of a marriage of convenience trope in current times is so entertaining to me. The plot was fantastic. The characters were fun and the setting itself brings me so much joy. But during the spicy scenes, there were certain phrases that I didn't love. And the audiobook wasn't as fun as the ones I'd read in the past. I do plan on continuing to read Tessa Bailey's books as they come out, but I will keep in mind that the vocabulary she uses to describe certain body parts might not be my favourite. 

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Saturday, August 31, 2024

Book Review: The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda

Title: The Only Survivors
Author: Megan Miranda
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Adult Fiction
Pages: 339
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Year Published: 2023
Format: Audiobook

"A decade ago, two vans filled with high school seniors on a school service trip crashed into a Tennesse ravine- a tragedy that claimed the lives of multiple classmates and teachers. The nine students who managed to escape the river that night were irrevocably changed. A year later, after one of the survivors dies by suicide on the anniversary of the crash, the rest of them make a pact: to come together each year to commemorate that terrible night.

To keep one another safe.
To hold one another accountable.
Or both.

Their annual meeting place, a house on the Outer Banks, has long been a refuge. But by the tenth anniversary, Cassidy Bent has worked to distance herself from the tragedy and from the other survivors. She's changed her mobile number. She's blocked the others' email addresses. This year, she is determined to finally break ties once and for all. But on the day of the reunion, she receives a text with an obituary attached: another survivor is gone. Now they are seven- and Cassidy finds herself hurling back toward the group, wild with grief- and suspicion.

Almost immediately, something feels off this year. Cassidy is the first to notice when Amaya, the annual organizer, slips away, overwhelmed. This wouldn't raise alarm except for the impending storm. Suddenly, they're facing the threat of closed roads and surging waters... again. Then Amaya stops responding to her phone. After all they've been through, she wouldn't willfully make them worry. Would she?

And- as they promised long ago- each survivor will do whatever he or she can do to save one another. Won't they?"

My Rating: 5/5

Right after I thought to myself that maybe this author's writing wasn't for me, I picked up this one and I LOVE it! Megan Miranda's ability to write a creepy and unsettling environment is really unmatched by any other author I've read in this genre. It's always the part that ties me in. And this one had the twists and turns to match! It kept me on my toes, it made sense by the end but the differing p.o.v.s, the plot and just the building sense of unease that is worked on throughout the books is what made it a five star for me! Would highly recommend!

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Book Review: Beach Read by Emily Henry

Title: Beach Read
Author: Emily Henry
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction
Pages: 361
Publisher: Berkley
Year Published: 2020
Format: Audiobook

"A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.

Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.

They're polar opposites.

In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they're living in a neighboring beach houses, broke and bogged down with writer's block.

Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She'll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he'll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no-one will fall in love. Really."

My Rating: 3/5

There were a few things that kept me from loving this book. I liked the concept, and I quite enjoyed Emily Henry's writing style. But the romance, while fun just wasn't all I wanted it to be and I couldn't ever quite get over the main character's name. What really took me out of the story was one of the sex scenes and the setting it took place in (if you know you know). I look forward to continuing to read her works, this one just wasn't the same hit as the last one I read.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny 

Monday, August 12, 2024

Book Review: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Title: The Great Alone
Author: Kristin Hannah
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Historical Fiction, Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 435
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Year Published: 2018
Format: Audiobook

"Alaska, 1974.
Unpredictable. Unforgiving. Untamed.
For a family in crisis, the ultimate test of survival.

Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America's last true frontier.

Thirteen-year-old Leni, a girl coming of age in a tumultuous time, caught in the riptide of her parents' passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family. She is desperate for a place to belong. Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man he loves, even if it means following him into the unknown.

At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. In a wild, remote corner of the state, they find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the Allbrights' lack of preparation and dwindling resources.

But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt's fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to the threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in eighteen hours of the night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: they are on their own. In the wild, there is no one to save them but themselves.

In this unforgettable portrait of human frailty and resilience, Kristin Hannah reveals the indomitable character of the modern American pioneer and the spirit of a vanishing Alaska- a place of incomparable beauty and danger. The Great Alone is a daring, beautiful, stay-up-all-night story about love and loss, the fight for survival and the wildness that lives in both man and nature."

My Rating: 4/5

Kristin Hannah, I know that everyone has been reading you forever and I'm late to the party, but damn you've done it again. After reading The Nightingale I was worried about picking up another book by the author, what if it wasn't as good, what if I didn't feel the same? And meanwhile, this book was insanely good. I think the content matter was a little hard to read, but the overall plot was incredible. The characters were dynamic and multi-faceted. The way Kristin Hannah writes is beautiful and filled with emotional impact.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny