Tag: Mystery (Page 18 of 19)

BOOK REVIEW – Darkfever (Fever #1) by Karen Marie Moning

August 14, 2014 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

Darkfever (Fever #1)
by Karen Marie Moning
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

I think this is one of those reviews where less is more. There was so much going on at all times in this book and we had so much we had to learn and take in. I still don’t quite understand everything I was told, which will come more easily, I’m sure, in the next installments.

I think the basic thing I need to address is the likability of the story and the characters. As a story, I did find myself inexplicably drawn to everything that was happening. I would put the book down and then feel myself reaching for it after only five minutes of it’s absence, despite the fact that I had no clue what was going on.

No, it wasn’t a favorite of mine, but it was on the cusp of being something very….special. The ending not only surprised me, but made me want to forget that I wanted to read something else after it-I ended up going straight through to book two. I think that says something about the story.

Or maybe it’s the magnetism of the characters. Despite what I’ve heard (and read) of Mac’s vapid tendencies and inner monologue, I found I still enjoyed being inside her head. She was funny and determined, not to be so easily deterred by the brooding Jericho Barrons. Speaking of Jericho…frankly, he is the reason I am so drawn to the story. I don’t know what his deal is, but I have to find out. The whole time I just wanted him and her to kiss, to release the sexual tension that subtlety built between them. It drove me crazy-so here I am halfway through book two already-Just because I want more Barrons.

So, there isn’t much to say aside from the fact that I was pulled in and bought the story enough to move forward with the series. There is just something about mysterious characters in a faraway land (or so it seems…Ireland?? Pretty far away!) where you don’t find out enough about each person, but just have to know more. I am both excited and anxious to see where this series will go.

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
Darkfever #1 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Bloodfever #2 Reviews:	Faefever #3 Reviews: Jen Anna
Dreamfever #4 Reviews: Jen Anna	Shadowfever #5 Reviews: Jen Chelsea Anna	Iced #6
Burned #7	Feverborn #8

BOOK REVIEW – We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

August 13, 2014 / Jen / 0 Comments

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

Review:

Have you ever read a book where the style was so beautiful but you could never connect with the characters? Their emotions had absolutely no effect on you? That you were intrigued on figuring out the mystery but didn’t care if it had any ramifications? That everyone else loved it but you’re left thinking what’s wrong with me since I didn’t? Well, that’s where I am. It saddens me that I didn’t fall in love this book. Mostly because I loved the words, the descriptions, and the way the story flowed. E Lockhart’s writing style was unlike anything I have ever read before and I did truly enjoy this type of writing. That said, it doesn’t outweigh that I only enjoyed small parts here and there, that I could never bond with the characters and that even when I figured out what was going on I couldn’t force any emotion out. I have never felt so heartless before.

Every year the Sinclair’s spend their summer on their private island. They are blonde, they are beautiful, and they project a perfect life to the outside world. But inside the family, there is trouble. The sister’s fight, Grandpa tries to control situations and Cadence, Johnny, Mirren and Gat are called the Liars. But even in the midst of drama when they are on the island, the world around them tends to melt away. The Liars’ lives truly don’t exist to one another outside of the island but that doesn’t affect their friendship. So we spend our time learning how the family interacts and learning the ins and outs of what makes Cadence, her cousin Johnny, her cousin Mirren and her friend Gat tick.

I had come here to this island from a house of tears and falsehood
and I saw Gat,
and I saw that rose in his hand,
and in that one moment, with the sunlight from the window shining in on him,
the apples on the kitchen counter,
the smell of wood and ocean in the air
I did call it love.

This book is better left a mystery so I can’t say anything more about what happens except that once I slowly started putting the pieces of the puzzle together and had a good idea as to what happened my interest started waning even more. I am not a skimmer, but I wanted to skim ahead and see if my theory was correct. But I was too afraid that I would miss something important. Something that WOULD pull me back in. Something that WOULD make me feel completely immersed in the story. It never happened. BUT I know many people LOVED this book and it is a very unique read. So, to each is their own.

BOOK REVIEW – Desires of the Dead (The Body Finder #2) by Kimberly Derting

August 13, 2014 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

Desires of the Dead (The Body Finder #2)
by Kimberly Derting
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

So here I am again with a short and sweet review. Violet and Jay are only continuing their journey from book one, and there’s no need to write a long, drawn out review about their undying love for one another and Violet’s ability to ‘sense’ the unsettled dead that call to her.

More than anything, this book was based around the growth of Jay and Violet’s relationship-the trust that is earned and given between a new couple. But Jay and Violet have been best friends since they were young, so the trust is already there in spades…until she has to tell Jay what she believes about his new friend’s family, causing a rift among them they’ve never experienced before.

I loved how the ‘killer’s’ POV was represented in this story-through the seven deadly sins. I thought it was cool how she began the incorporation of the sins into the mind of the weirdo that was supposedly stalking Violet. It did become a little forced and a bit of a stretch when the sins started to dwindle down to gluttony and sloth, but I still liked what came of the story because of this creativity. I do wish the author chose to keep the identity somewhat mysterious for us to figure out as readers in each installment of this series, but the story is still good enough to keep me interested without the mystery. Even with the ‘twists’ she generally throws in, they aren’t hard to figure out. But, as I said, I still thoroughly enjoyed the story despite the lack of unpredictability.

There’s still a somewhat corny feel to the story, but I think it was less so in this second one. I am used to the writing and it’s so subtle that I can hardly complain about it-I’ve chosen to continue the series so why not enjoy the light, fun read? I still love Jay and Vi, they make an adorable couple despite their little fight that ultimately tested how strongly they felt for one another, and I am excited to finish this series with books three and four on a strong note.

BOOK REVIEW – Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress #1) by Jeaniene Frost

August 13, 2014 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress #1)
by Jeaniene Frost
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

*4.5 Color Me Surprised Stars*

My chin stuck out. Pride or peril, take your pick.

I’m not going to say that this was the most groundbreaking and extraordinary book I’ve ever read, but it had something I have been missing for a while now-a male lead that, while undead, was still the most loyal, sweet, endearing, and attentive guy I have read about in a while. Sure, I had to substitute his platinum hair for brown immediately….a discussion that was at the forefront of the buddy read thread since we couldn’t focus on anything but that dreadful hair color for quite a bit, but Bones managed to weasle his way into my daydreams as I sat mindlessly at work attempting to finish up so I could just get home and read. And that, my friends, was all I really wanted at this moment-a sweet guy that could take my mind off of every day life if only for a moment.

Cat is half human, half vampire. See, her mother was raped 22 years ago by a vampire, therefore setting Cat up for the ‘job’ she currently holds: killing every vampire she can get her hands on. She wants vengeance for her mother’s fragile state of mind about things that go bump in the night, and also that fact that she is part ‘monster’. Then one night she approaches Bones for her latest kill, and soon her world doesn’t seem quite so black and white as she had once imagined.

You stare straight through me as if I’m not even there. You look at me…and you don’t see a man. You see a vampire, and therefore accord me less substance”

Overall, I would have to settle my inner debate that I liked Cat. At first, I loved her. Then she started to grate on my nerves, because how many times does this awesome ~~vampire~~ guy have to save you, treat you admirably, practically drool all over you (in a non-clingy and very passionate and sweet sort of way) before you realize that he is loyal and not the monster you think his kind to be? That he is perfect for you because he has nothing but respect for you? I just hated seeing her continually hurt his feelings, and it started to become a problem for me. I liked at first that she wasn’t quick to jump in the sack with him-it’s nice to see a heroine not go all mushy right up front, but then after about 50% of the book, I was like, ‘Dude, okay. We get it-you are strong and not easily manipulated-NOW KISS HIM, YOU FOOL!!!’. Then as the story started to wind down, she started to become pretty badass, I will admit. I started to love her again, because that strong will was necessary. So, ultimately, I respected her as a character. (PS, I TOTALLY understand where Cat gets her stubbornness-Damn, but her mother annoyed the living daylights out of me)

“I’m saying I’m a moody, insecure, narrow-minded, jealous, borderline-homicidal bitch, and I want you to promise me that you’re okay with that, because it’s who I am and you’re what I need.”

It can be said that I’m a sap, that I cry at the drop of a hat, and in real life-maybe. But for books, I do have a little backbone when it comes to the tears and hysterics. FOR MOST BOOKS. Now, I knew what was going to happen at the end, because my curiosity knows no bounds and I always research just a little too much, but I STILL started to get a little misty eyed when things unraveled at the closing of the book. And I’m so happy I did-I’m so excited that I cared enough about these characters to give a damn about their well-being. It’s an accomplishment, and I will most definitely be moving forward to the next book tonight. (It should be noted that this is under my ‘tearjerkers’ shelf-I’m getting so blurry about the lines that decipher what needs to be on these shelves….for instance, this should probably be under my ‘cliffhanger’ shelf as well, but I’ve not been accurate on that shelf for a while-I don’t even know what a mild cliffhanger is like anymore because almost every book seems to have a cliffhanger now-ARRRGHHH)

So, no, this wasn’t the most earth shattering story I’ve ever read, but it made me happy. All I wanted was an escape from reality and a fluffy story where things aren’t so complex that I need to ponder them after I’m finished with each chapter, and that’s exactly what I got. A solid, fun group (or pairing) of characters in a somewhat perilous story where no one is safe…and sometimes that’s all you need.

BOOK REVIEW – One Foot in the Grave (Night Huntress #2) by Jeaniene Frost

August 13, 2014 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

One Foot in the Grave (Night Huntress #2)
by Jeaniene Frost
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Life’s a bitch and then one stabs you.

Ya know….I think these books are like a drug. I’m currently on book three (which is the best, thus far) and I can’t seem to think about reading anything else. I’m perfectly content to just daydream about Bones (the character, not the body parts, mind you) and how much he adores Cat. There’s just something so sweet about a guy who has been around for…forever, and she is the one he fell in love with. There’s just something so sweet and romantic about that and I can’t seem to get these characters out of my thoughts. Call me cheesy, but I’m right where I want to be-dreaming about Bones all day long.

“I knew without a doubt I’d fallen in love when we met. Then I knew I’d do anything to make you feel the same way.”

*spoiler for those who didn’t read book one*

The second installment starts four years after book one where we were left in turmoil of the unfavorable events of the ending of the first story. Cat has started working as a special agent in the government and is relocated in Virginia. After being threatened by Don, the man who is now her boss, she had to choose to leave Bones behind for his own safety-and her mother’s. But I think we all know that Bones isn’t so easily deterred or left behind if we remember anything from book one: If you run from me, I’ll chase you. And I’ll find you….

There’s something to be said for living instead of just existing.

Suffice to say that they find each other again and emotions are high when they do. As things begin to unravel, it becomes clear that they will need Bones’s help, and he begins to work with Cat and her team as well. This was such a funny turn of events. Not only because of the humor that came from Bones and members of her team, but just from the idea of it all: The vampire hunters are working with a vampire. lol

I opened my mouth-and had nothing to refute that with. Damn people who argued using logic. Talk about unfair.

I don’t know that there is much more I can say that wasn’t already said in my first review, seeing as how this is the same series, but I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again-Bones is something special, and he is something that doesn’t come around that often. Sure, we’ve all seen the overprotective paranormal alpha types, but there is just something that separates him from the rest. I can’t quite put my finger on it yet, but he is unique. And I just adore reading about him.