Tag: library book

Book Review: Into the Drowning Deep (Rolling in the Deep #1) by Mira Grant

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Thriller / Horror
Length: 440 pages
Author: Mira Grant
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: November 14th, 2017
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Seven years ago, the Atargatis set off on a voyage to the Mariana Trench to film a “mockumentary” bringing to life ancient sea creatures of legend. It was lost at sea with all hands. Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a maritime tragedy.

Now, a new crew has been assembled. But this time they’re not out to entertain. Some seek to validate their life’s work. Some seek the greatest hunt of all. Some seek the truth. But for the ambitious young scientist Victoria Stewart this is a voyage to uncover the fate of the sister she lost.

Whatever the truth may be, it will only be found below the waves. But the secrets of the deep come with a price.

THIS WAS SO GOOD.

What’s a genre I never read? HORROR. But this book came highly recommended and I was told it’s a must because MERMAIDS and y’all, it delivered.

I loved that there was so many points of view. The people above the ocean and the creatures below the ocean. There were many different angles and types of thoughts on this ship and I loved that this showed every nuanced side of the story. It made everything feel real and authentic to how things would probably be going down in this situation.

This was definitely giving me Jurassic Park (a favorite of mine) + murderous mermaids and I was easily convinced that I needed to read it. I loved the morality discussions and how much gray area was being brought about as research needed to be accomplished.

Things were intense, spooky and I could not stop listening. I do think my enjoyment level was increased because of the audiobook. The narrator did a FANTASTIC job of giving every character their own style and it brought the book that much more alive in my mind. Highly recommend that route if you’re interested.

I don’t want to say much more because it’s filled with twists and sinister turns that are best brought out by reading it on your own. Just know, this is an easy recommendation for me to give.

Overall audience notes:

  • Horror / Thriller
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: quick fade to black / closed-door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: high contents of gore and blood, multiple deaths, gun violence, poisonings, etc.

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Book Review: Promised by Leah Garriott

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Regency Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Leah Garriott
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Release Date: February 18th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Margaret Brinton keeps her promises, and the one she is most determined to keep is the promise to protect her heart.

Warwickshire, England, 1812

Fooled by love once before, Margaret vows never to be played the fool again. To keep her vow, she attends a notorious matchmaking party intent on securing the perfect marital match: a union of convenience to someone who could never affect her heart. She discovers a man who exceeds all her hopes in the handsome and obliging rake Mr. Northam.

There’s only one problem. His meddling cousin, Lord Williams, won’t leave Margaret alone. Condescending and high-handed, Lord Williams lectures and insults her. When she refuses to give heed to his counsel, he single-handedly ruins Margaret’s chances for making a good match—to his cousin or anyone else. With no reason to remain at the party, Margaret returns home to discover her father has promised her hand in marriage—to Lord Williams.

Under no condition will Margaret consent to marrying such an odious man. Yet as Lord Williams inserts himself into her everyday life, interrupting her family games and following her on morning walks, winning the good opinion of her siblings and proving himself intelligent and even kind, Margaret is forced to realize that Lord Williams is exactly the type of man she’d hoped to marry before she’d learned how much love hurt. When paths diverge and her time with Lord Williams ends, Margaret is faced with her ultimate choice: keep the promises that protect her or break free of them for one more chance at love. Either way, she fears her heart will lose.

GREAT.

I love just coming across an enjoyable read. Maybe not shout out at the rooftops worthy, but one I would easily recommend should you need a regency romance in your life (answer: you do).

This romance was super swoony and sweet. I liked how Margaret and Gregory came together. There was heated banter, some absolutely perfect regency scenes and a ball. Who doesn’t love a ball?! I thought this had a great build up and definitely had some enemies to lovers vibes.

Margaret took some time to catch on to the prospect of falling in love, but Gregory was there to woo her. I liked that the surrounding plot fit the romantic story well and the dash of a love triangle didn’t bug me.

Overall audience notes:

  • Regency Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: Dream On by Angie Hockman

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Angie Hockman
Publisher: Gallery Books
Release Date: July 5th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

What would you do if your dream man turned out to be real?

When law student Cass Walker wakes up after surviving a car accident, she is flooded with memories of her boyfriend, Devin. The only problem? Devin doesn’t exist. But everything she remembers about him feels so real, like the precise shade of his coffee-brown eyes; the texture of his favorite hand-me-down scarf; even the slightly crooked angle of his pinkie, broken after falling off a trampoline in third grade. She knows he’s a figment of her imagination—friends, family, and doctors confirm it—but she still can’t seem to get him out of her head.

So when she runs into the real Devin a year later in a Cleveland flower shop, she’s completely shocked. Even more surprising is that Devin actually believes her story, and soon they embark on a real-life romance. With her dream man by her side and an upcoming summer job at a prestigious law firm, Cass’s future seems perfect. But fate might have other plans…

NOOOPE.

Y’all. This was not for me. I thought maybe, and was let down at every dang turn.

I did not like how this love triangle between brother’s was handled. It felt drama filled (and not the good kind). I continually felt annoyed with everyone involved and wish it would have been focused on her connection with one of the men.

This mostly was about the FMC struggling with her career choice. Which is fine, but the romantic plots were inherently weak and this combination took me out of the story.

NOT TO MENTION, and this may be considered a spoiler so read at will, there’s a OPEN DOOR love scene at the LITERAL last minute of the epilogue. Why is this enraging? I’m generally fine with a little bit of spice, or don’t mind skipping over, BUT, when you’ve created a book that comes off as sweet/super closed door and then add something in like that it creates a jarring effect. Don’t try to add something in that doesn’t fit with the entire vibe you’ve already created. It’ll make both camps (no spice & spice lovers) upset.

Ending this rant fest. I did not like this book and I think I’m done reading this author’s books.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: a little strong
  • Romance: one open door scene
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: short term memory loss & coma from a car crash, manipulative father

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Book Review: A Thousand Miles by Bridget Morrissey

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Bridget Morrissey
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: June 21st, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

After a decade of silence, Dee and Ben reunite for a road trip they once promised to take. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Dee Matthews is the cohost of the smash-hit podcast Did I Forget To Tell You?, where she interviews family, friends, and past lovers. Nothing is off limits, except for one man (known on the show only as Name Redacted) who happens to be her high school best friend Ben. During their senior year spring break, Dee and Ben took a road trip to visit Ben’s grandma. They buried a time capsule in her backyard, pledging to return in ten years to open it. Then their friendship fell apart in spectacular fashion. They haven’t spoken to each other since.

Ben Porter’s life since that moment has been unexciting but comfortable, until his grandma reveals a family secret that flips his whole world upside down. Her dying wish is for him to stop doing what is safest and go after what he really wants. He starts by showing up on Dee’s doorstep with every intention of fulfilling their long-ago promise. Despite her reservations, Dee can’t say no. This trip could be her chance to give her listeners the Name Redacted interview they’ve been begging for–and finally put her unresolved feelings for Ben to rest.

As the miles fly by, Dee and Ben’s friendship reignites. But the closer they get to reaching their destination, the more apparent it becomes that their attraction to each other cannot be ignored. Their last adventure ended in disaster, and they’re about to find out if any hope of a future together is in the rear view mirror.

MEH.

I’m writing this review only a few days after finishing this book and can hardly remember it. And that’s pretty much the crux of anything else I say after this point. It was fine, but not all the endearing.

I never liked the FMC, Dee. Something about her continually rubbed me the wrong way and I hated how she handled a lot of her interactions with Ben. Ben should have dropped his promise and moved right along. Admittedly, I did think there were some sweet moments. Those were very much overshadowed by everything else.

The podcast chapters were annoying. I didn’t think they added anything to the story (except for maybe the last one). It took me out and I just wanted to get back to the road trip. I did like the dual POV line-up because I love both sides of a tale.

And I think I’ve basically ran out of things to say, it was okay y’all. Moving along.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: infidelity mentioned, grief/loss depiction, death of a grandmother

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