22 Following
lfevansjr

lfevansjr

Currently reading

Children of Another Bible: We Were Not the Only Ones
Jonathan Maas
False Start
Alison Hendricks

Siege and Storm

Siege and Storm  - Leigh Bardugo Actual rating: 4.5 Stars

This book was was just shy of the excellence of book one in the series. The only negative thing I can say about it is that the plot lagged abit around the middle. As far as the rest it was all well done, well written and filled with Ms. Bardugo's exquisite imagery and drama. One area that she excells in is writing blockbuster finishes for each book, rather than just for the final book in a series. This book was no exception. I can't even imagine the plot twists and turns she has woven into the 3rd and final book of this series and look forward to experiencing each and every one of them. I have to say I sure hope she manages to have Mal and Alina end up together by the end. Mal is just perfect, if he were real I fall for him in a heartbeat... but falling for fictional characters never ends well... so I guess I just have to hope he and Alina make it in the end. This second book was an enthralling, exciting and very very satisfying read!

Finding Home

Finding Home - Lina Langley This was a very short (52pgs), sexy and yes sweet read. I wasn't sure the author was going to be able to pull it off when 40% in I didn't really like either MC and they liked each other less then I liked them. But, it all worked out in the end and I liked the author's use of an epilogue which meant no insta-love was required! All in all a very fun lite read!

Beneath Ceaseless Skies Issue #242

Beneath Ceaseless Skies Issue #242 - Scott H. Andrews, Tamara Vardomskaya, Hannah Strom-Martin Two stories, both with music-related themes and both excellent!

Suite for Accompanied Cello by Tamara Vardomskaya 5 stars

Just incredible… felt like I could hear the music and feel the fight to become more than the sum of her parts!

An Aria for the Bloodlords by Hannah Strom-Martin 5 stars

Wow... this story was truly an experience... the tension was built and built and built. The world though similar to ours was at the same time bizarre and filled with fear and terror. and the climax was awesome!

Beneath Ceaseless Skies Issue #241

Beneath Ceaseless Skies Issue #241 - Scott H. Andrews, Grace Seybold, Dana Beehr Trette's Bones by Grace Sebold 5 stars

This story was creepy, bone-chilling and gave me the heebie jeebies. That said the author did a exceptional job of keeping up the suspense, though I have to admit that the ending left me confused and uneasy. I am assuming that was the author's intent so would have to say she succeeded!

Forever Night by Dana Beehr 4 stars

I totally thought I had this story figured out early on... It seemed a rather obvious epic fantasy type... girl saves world and all that. Then the twist!

So a 4.5 combined rating.

Quantum Worlds

Quantum Worlds - Mathew Anderson Overall I really liked this story... the plot is well done and definitely got me into it. I am hoping there is a sequel in the works as the cliffhanger ending definitely implies one. Some of the dialogue is a bit stilted, and it would be nice to see a bit more character development if there is a sequel. I find the whole mystery of what happened and what they saw quite interesting and would love to know more.

Shadow and Bone

Shadow and Bone  - Leigh Bardugo I have read many reviews raving about just how good this books was... I have already read the Six of Crows Duology and know just how good that was and how much I loved it. Neither prepared me for the magnificence of this book. And the ending... oh oh oh my... I knew Ms. Bardugo was good... but this book puts her in the class of the greats of fiction writing. If you hadn't guessed already I loved, loved, loved, loved, loved this book. The story is intricate, complex and so richly told that the hours flew by as I just had to keep turning page after page even long after I should have been asleep. The characters feel so very real and complete that I feel as if I could just close my eyes and step right inside this incredible world the author has created. This may be my first read of 2018, however I think at the end of the year it will still be firmly in place as one of my top five reads of 2018!

Boy Toys

Boy Toys - A.E. Wasp I loved this short intro to the full story of Liam and Joey. I can't wait till March when it is released. I really like both MC's and I am looking forward to seeing where the author takes them. This was a fun read...

Cold Feet

Cold Feet - Jay Northcote I liked this book, however I will say that it was a bit too similar in some ways to Jay's other book "What Happens at Christmas". The in some ways immature lack of communication between two best friends is an issue for me which happened with both books. I mean my best friend and I sorta the the opposite to these books since we dated for 2 yrs... then realized we would kill each other is we stayed as BFs... yet to this day we are like brothers. Anyway just saying that if you are that close as friends it goes without saying that you will talk stuff out and be truthful. Anyway, the story in this one was good, I loved how they spent Christmas day with Mari... which seemed particularly good. Also I thought that Sam and Ryan were great characters even if they had trouble being adults when it came to discussing their feelings. Who knows, maybe I am hypersensitive to this stuff from having been to therapy for quite some time; learning to express what I am feeling rather then keep it secret and bottled up inside me. Over all, an enjoyable read!

What Happens At Christmas

What Happens At Christmas - Jay Northcote I'm gonna just start off by saying that over all I liked this book and am glad I read it. That said, I felt like this book spent way too much time with both guys wanting the same thing, but neither of them being brave enough to say it. Add to it that I felt live Justin's disregard for the feelings of the guy Andy was seeing, never even considering that Andy may well be lying to the new guy too; was just callous and shallow. And I don't think the fact that after he split Andy and his date up, he then kinda shoved the guy with the crush on him at Andy's now ex to try and make up for hurting him really cancels out is over all attitude. He at least owed the guy an apology once he destroyed things, in public no less. Personally based on the rest of Justin's behavior throughout the book I think his actions at the party were so out of character that it should not have happened. OK... no more ranting. LOL Because despite all this above crap I still enjoyed this book. Sean more than made up for Dustin's screw-ups, though both of them should have admitted their feeling much sooner. I think all my issues can be summed up by a quote of something Dustin says at one point in the book. "Adulting is difficult".

A Family for Christmas

A Family for Christmas - Jay Northcote Rounding up tp 4.5 stars
This book not only is a great story with excellent character development, but its pacing is absolute perfection! Zac and Rudy are not just adorable they feel so very real. And Zac's blossoming as he finally experiences not just romantic love but the love of a family for the first time is breathtaking! Definitely needed a box of tissues by my side to read this one. The author is now one who I see as becoming one of my favorites as I read through all his books!

Save the Date

Save the Date - Reegan Ellis Wow... this was so unbelievably incredible. Of course with one of the MCs being a fireman the author had me halfway already. But... she just crafted such a wonderful heartwarming tale here that I am just a bit stunned. Not only did she pull out all the stops for New Year's Eve in the final chapter, but then she added icing to the cake with a tear-inducing 3 part epilogue. Cary and Noah are just amazing, and so perfect for one another. Just loved loved loved reading this...

The Power of Peppermint

The Power of Peppermint - L.D. Blakeley This story of Noah and Jamison was a light-hearted slightly older-younger romance about a photographer who definitely needs to loosen up a bit and a very outgoing Christmas elf who is perfect to do the job. I felt like the two MCs were beautifully matched, especially since Noah early on describes himself as a serial monogamist (been there done that) which further helps his chances of snagging and snogging Mr. Too Intense Jamison. A truly awesome and fun Christmas story!

The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner

The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories - Terry Pratchett While these stories are no quite on par with the authors Discworld books it was nevertheless a very enjoyable read. There were numerous instances where I had a good laugh and once at least that I shed a few tears. Overall a very good time was delivered and more than worth the price of admission to what was happening in Mr. Pratchett's head way back when he was just a young man!

Snow on the Roof

Snow on the Roof - Sean Ashcroft Actually giving this 4.5 stars, it would have gotten the full 5 but it qwas just a tinsey bit insta-lovey. Other than that tiny complaint this book was a joyful read, filled with lots of Christmas cheer and love. Although I totally get Sunny not wanting to spend Christmas with his apathetic (his description not mine) parents, especially considering they named him Sunshine. I mean what were they smoking when they chose his name... nice to see he worked with what he was given and owned it totally. Grant is like the perfect BF, totally adorable, hot as heck and sweet as anything. Also liked the way Grant's ex, his daughter and his ex's new husband were worked so well into the whole story. Just a very fun, angst-free delightful read!

This Crazy Thing I Call My Life

This Crazy Thing I Call My Life - Jonathan  Hill This story is a hoot... I thought David's parents were insane in the first story... add in Jamie's and you've got enough to start your own nut bin! Anyway, this sweet funny short story was a joy to read and had me laughing out load more than once. What fun!!!

The Christmas Curse

The Christmas Curse - Ruby Moone This short story is in every way adorable. First off it involves a very lonely man and the dog he meets on the street and after a week or two of it walking him home every night, he finally takes it in and decides to keep it. That is when things get interesting! While a very short story the author doesn't waste a word and tells a complete and very touching story. I enjoyed it very much and would love to see this story continued since as a spy for the King it could go just about anywhere! Oh and if you don't like it... don't yell at me... for starters it is free and I have a soft spot in my heart for dogs and hot men... so sue me!