Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Review: Timeless

Timeless Timeless by Michelle Madow
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

2.5 stars

As Chelsea finally realizes the magnitude of her actions she does everything in her power to help Lizzie survive. When the only option leads them back into the past, they discover there was more to the story than they originally thought.

This book in the series was quite slow. It had all of the elements for a good mystery but none of the suspense that put me at the edge of my seat. The addition of story plot elements seemed forced by the author to get the story out.

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Review: Vengeance

Vengeance Vengeance by Michelle Madow
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

2.5 stars

As Chelsea is feeling the cold sting of betrayal and loss she seeks solace in a witch that helps her to remember her past life. What she sees gives her hope and she makes a choice that she might soon regret.

Interesting to get a further glimpse of the story from Chelsea's point of view. This was written in a short, to the point manner. I liked seeing the story from a different view point and it makes the reader understand Chelsea's overall motives more and the reason everything after happened.

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Review: Remembrance

Remembrance Remembrance by Michelle Madow
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When Drew walks into Lizzie Davenports life she cannot shake the feeling that she knows him. She is drawn to him in a way she cannot explain. When she starts having flashbacks of Regency England her connection starts to be explained but this time they can't repeat the past.

The developing relationship between Lizzie and drew changes too quickly. There was some build up but the tension gets overshadowed. It went from I don't remember anything to an overwhelming insta-love scenario.

I thought it was interesting that this story was inspired by Taylor Swift's Love Story.

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Friday, July 22, 2016

Review: Hysteria

Hysteria Hysteria by Megan Miranda
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Mallory killed her boyfriend in self-defense but now his presence is haunting her. When she goes away to a prep school his presence follows her there.

I was confused for most of it, which I guess the reader is supposed to be. It was slow and boring, latching in character depth. I was not particularly interested in any of the characters or their lives, especially Mallory.

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Review: How to Write Dazzling Dialogue: The Fastest Way to Improve Any Manuscript

How to Write Dazzling Dialogue: The Fastest Way to Improve Any Manuscript How to Write Dazzling Dialogue: The Fastest Way to Improve Any Manuscript by James Scott Bell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Some parts of this book I found to be boring but overall I liked some of the writing exercises on dialogue. Bell's ability to concisely divulge how he had been able to develop his skill in creating dialogue was appreciated. I particularly liked the exercise of writing in novel format from a screen play, it shows how to develop a story.

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Review: Fallen Heroes: Sixteen Master Villain Archetypes

Fallen Heroes: Sixteen Master Villain Archetypes Fallen Heroes: Sixteen Master Villain Archetypes by Tami D. Cowden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I decided to get this book because I liked Cowden's The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes & Heroines so much. While I appreciate the book as a whole, I did not find it to be as comprehensive as her first one. The examples were okay but she did not delve as in-depth into the archetypes as she did for the heroes and heroines.

I still found the book to be helpful for my writing though.

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Monday, July 11, 2016

Review: Rise

Rise Rise by Anna Carey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

With rebellion on the rise Eve picks a side. Her loyalties are tested and questioned on all fronts. With heartbreak in the forefront of her mind she has to decide what she is really fighting for.

Um what?!? There wasn't much of a wrap up to this. Yes, there was a definite ending but at least to me it seems like there should have been more to the story. I thought this was the slowest book out of all of them. There are action in it but the writing did not move me to excitement.

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Review: Once

Once Once by Anna Carey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

On the run again and this time without Caleb, Eve finds the choices she has to make difficult. Getting captured was not something she was expecting and neither was the king. As life in the City of the Sand comes with an unexpected surprise rebellion is just on the surface.

The book was not as fast paced as the last. It started off slow with the pace picking up a little towards the middle but then fizzling out again. It took a direction I wasn't expecting. The relationship between Eve and the king was interesting. I like the tension and manipulating way their discussions went. They definitely had the verbal dance down to an art.


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Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Review: Eve

Eve Eve by Anna Carey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When a plague ravishes the plant few survive. Eve is one of the lucky few, taken in to go to a School for girls after her mother's death, she thinks her life is going to be everything she wants. On the day before her graduation she finds out the truth, a truth she would deny if she didn't see the proof before her. She isn't going on to lead a great life, once she graduates she is going to have to help repopulate it whether she wants to or not. With that dire realization she takes off running for her life.

I really liked the start of the book. It was an interesting concept but if something like that were to happen it wouldn't be too far fetched for an outcome. Eve was a really naive character, understandable with her upbringing. She did adapt more to some concepts than others, at times it seemed strange that she could just throw away everything she learned in the blink of an eye. (view spoiler)

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Review: The Jewel

The Jewel The Jewel by Amy Ewing
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When a plague ravishes the plant few survive. Violet is one of the lucky few, taken in to go to a School for girls after her mother's death, she thinks her life is going to be everything she wants. On the day before her graduation she finds out the truth, a truth she would deny if she didn't see the proof before her. She isn't going on to lead a great life, once she graduates she is going to have to help repopulate it whether she wants to or not. With that dire realization she takes off running for her life.

Interesting story line and characters. I really like Violet and how she went with her instincts. She was loyal to her friends even when it wasn't in her best interests and even when she had no power at all she still had spirit. She never lost her will and she didn't sell her soul to the royalty.

The ending was a bit of a surprise too.

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