The Wrong Family By Tarryn Fisher, A Book Review

 

It was confusing at first, trying to figure out what was going on, but I’m certain that was intended. Then it was chilling, and again, intended. As the story slowly slid into place, it was clear that not everything can be discerned from clues. Sometimes you need cold, hard facts, no matter how disturbing they may be.

Winnie, Nigel, Sam, and Juno have all struggled to live a happy, good life. Why each did what they did, though, most likely can’t be understood or put into logical order, especially for a reader who wouldn’t do what they did. But the comprehension of people’s actions cannot be reasoned out very often, so pull your thoughts tight and move on. This is what made the story disturbing, and it could very well be true. Who’s to say with what was presented? It made for an interesting read just the same.

It isn’t a can’t-put-down book, an unstoppable page-turner, but it keeps you reading just the same as you try to figure it all out. I liked the story because it wasn’t dull, slow, or crazy impossible. It was a sad story with troubled characters who are believable because the writing justifies their actions and keeps you reading.

I would recommend this to others. I only gave it 4 stars out of 5 because in my world, I need to know more. I want the characters to be understood and felt to the core, especially by the end of the book. There were too many unanswered questions for me, but I still enjoyed it.

Outworlder: A Star Wanderers Novelette By Joe Vasicek, A Book Review

 

This story was a quick read, of course, because it is a novelette, some would believe. But, in truth, some novelettes aren’t quick because the story is too poor to keep reading it, or it’s undeveloped, making it impossible to follow, or even want to.

This story was done well. The characters were developed as realistically as possible due to the space available, so I enjoyed them. Had this been a longer story, and the characters even more revealed, I would have loved them.

This book is a good, fun, and quick read. I am sure you will enjoy this one. I gave this 5 out of 5 stars

The Exception By Vi Keeland, A Book Review

 

I have read other books by Vi Keeland, and I have enjoyed every one of them. They are real stories, emotionally strong, and interesting. They aren’t written just to be explicit romance. Many of the more explicit romance books don’t have well-formed stories that embrace romance for the sake of romance and love. Hers are full of emotion, romance, and a great story to boot.

This story is no exception to the quality of her books. Well written, engrossing, and highly emotional, all of which lead to a great romantic story you’ll enjoy. The characters, Sutton and Jagger, are well-developed and enjoyable. They get tripped up on things from their past, which keeps the story interesting and endearing.

I enjoyed this book a lot. There are explicit sex scenes, so beware if you prefer less descriptive content. I would recommend all books by Vi Keeland, if you like romance, great stories, and a fun read. I gave this 5 out of 5 stars.

Slivers of Memory )Chosen Legends, #0) By A. J. Dasher, A Book Review

 

This was a fun read. The action and intrigue were non-stop. A page turner that didn’t end on the last page. Now I have to buy the sequel. Probably all of them.

The characters were being developed page after page, but leaving you wondering and yearning for more information. I love this type of writing. It keeps you glued to each page until there are no more to read.

Arctic, what a great name for this character. Once you read about him you will understand why. River, another awesome name for her. I have nothing bad to say about this book. The story, the writing, and the characters are all wonderful.

Buy this book if you like fantasy and intrigue. You will enjoy it. I gave it 5 out of 5 stars.

Year Of The Lynx By Lizze Lane, A Book Review

 

This was a long book for me. The story was interesting, but I felt like it took too long to get to the end. There were a lot of things happening, but it didn’t hold my feet to the fire, a must-see what happens next feeling. Maybe the love interest should have started sooner, I don’t know.

The main character, Morcant, I came to enjoy and feel for. But it took a long time to get there. Lizzie wrote the characters well; you knew how they thought and what they felt for the most part. They were woven into the story well, also, so I am not sure what exactly slowed me down from staying deep into it, anxious to know what would happen next.

I did enjoy the story overall; it is a good read, and others will certainly enjoy it. The writing is done well, the story is constantly moving, and history abounds, so it is an interesting read. History buffs would certainly love it. Due to the second sentence above, I gave this 4 out of 5 stars.

Dark Secrets By Ruth Milligan, A Book Review

 This story was surprising. The characters, scientists, worked at a lab in an advanced future that had destroyed our planet. That travesty caused mutations that normally occur to be amplified in animals and transferred to humans. Finding the cure was a race and fraught with ill intent, psychological trauma, and dedication to do what is right, humane and urgently needed to save lives.

Surprising, because I expected the characters to be more explored, or exposed, might be a better word. I wanted to root for them, but I didn’t have a character identified enough that I loved and cheered for. Maybe a more in-depth creation would have helped that. Anyway, if I were asked about Adam or his fellow scientists and what made them tick, I couldn’t really tell you.

It is a good story, but I feel it glides over the top of the details that would draw one into the center of it, making it memorable and wanting more. It is a page turner because you want to see if they succeed in their mission, and the pace is well done. And there is a character you instinctively dislike; writing about her was not mistaken or questioned, really.  How Ruth set the adversary up is how she should do the others.

I would still recommend reading the book; it is a good story and as I said, a page turner. I gave this 4 out of 5 stars.

Out Of The Box Awakening By Jennifer Theriot, A Book Review

 

This story is a romance novel with the older generation, but it didn’t dampen or dull the senses due to the age of the characters; it woke them up. I felt it was sometimes patronizing of the elderly, as if age mattered concerning emotions. We put the limits on what people of certain ages can or should do, so I wasn’t in favor of that subtle nuance.

The main character was lovable and fun, but almost too much. Her new companion was a great person, and a little too perfect. Together, they were fun to follow, but left me doubting it could ever be true, believable, which taints the story a bit. I want happy endings, fun lives, and exciting adventures, but real life just doesn’t walk that easy path. So I wavered. My faith in the story, the characters, and the path became questions and doubts. Olivia was strong-willed, but without the confidence to venture forth alone, no matter what she thought about it. Some of the steps in the story were left unresolved, which piled onto the already questionable actions. Ash, the compliment to Olivia, was a little too perfect. With no flaws, he became a fairytale, one you couldn’t even see in the ending as real.

I did enjoy the story mostly, but I was disappointed in the holes and doubts the characters' personalities created. I think it should be tweaked and revised to bring the reader into the story to root for and hope for their great moves to successful growth, not just happiness because of others. I felt as if the character couldn’t have accomplished this on her own; she needed the perfect Ash to get her there. It was a dependent resolution, and that was unfortunate. The writing, overall, was good, though, so I still gave it 4 stars out of 5.