3 stars Two and one-half years ago, I read The Chronicles of Koa boxed set—books one through three. As a set, I naively believed it was the complete series. I loved books one and two, but by the time I got to book three, I saw it as little more than a set-up for book four, which didn’t exist. All this time later, book four is finally released. And it, too, ends on a cliffhanger. Here’s the biggest problem. With so much time between books, I don’t remember who half of the characters are. I considered re-reading books one through three, but one thing I have learned reading KN Lee’s books is that she loves cliffhangers. To be honest, I didn’t want to invest the time in reading the books again, only to reach the end of this one and find out it wasn’t really the end. So I opted to continue reading while trying to make sense of what was going on. Perhaps when the conclusion to the series is available, I will re-read the entire thing. Meanwhile, I’m glad this one wasn’t too long because I would be even more annoyed than I currently am, thinking I had wasted even more time. For now, I’m giving the book 3 stars. When the series is complete, I’ll feel more confident in offering a full review. At the moment, I’m more inclined to offer a partial review to reflect the partial state of the story. April 3, 2021
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4 stars I received an ARC of Aiden which is one story in the full collection. I’m familiar with Dark Moon Falls from previous books and I always enjoy a return visit with new characters. This time, Emma is a mortal determined to seek vengeance against the vampire who killed her husband and Aiden is a werewolf seeking vengeance against the same vampire for killing his sister. Coincidentally, they discover they are mates. Emma is a strong female who spent over a year in training to prepare herself for this confrontation with a vampire. Her commitment and savvy are inspiring, although I don’t think vengeance is a healthy motivator. I guess the positive about it, in this case, is that it brings these two characters together when they would not have otherwise met. Overall, I enjoyed the story. April 26, 2021 4 stars Overall, I am giving this collection four stars, because although a few of the books included rate five stars, the rest were not appealing to me. These are sweet romances and most of the characters depicted seemed very young. I received an ARC of this collection from one of the authors. 4-21-2021 The Last Single Girl - Bria Quinlan 5 stars No surprises to this story, but it's funny, sweet, and well-told and enjoyable. I liked it. Sarah is driven by a desire not to be the last single girl in her group of friends. As she tries dating a variety of men (losers) through a dating app, John is the one reliable man in her life. He witnesses a series of disasters with each man who comes to meet Sarah at his cafe and he commiserates with her. After a while, she starts to realize he is actually the best man for her, but she doesn’t know if he feels the same. To no one’s surprise, he does. 4-22-2021 Finding Faith - Bridget Baker 4 stars Another fun story in this collection. Mary is an accountant who has decided she will never have children. Luke is a widower with two young children. Told entirely from the POV of Mary, the plot explores her conflicting feelings because she is slowly falling in love with Luke AND his children. Turns out, her reasons for thinking she'd be a bad mother are completely unfounded. 4-20-2021 Fake Marriage to Her Best Friend - Kat Cantrell 5 stars This is a fun story which, through alternating POVs, explores the hopes and fears of Nomi and Malone, best friends who secretly desire something more but are afraid of risking their friendship. Dialogue is realistic and the characters are believable and relatable. There’s quite a bit of backstory for both of them—heartache from totally different causes. Malone is driven by a desire for revenge and a need to protect himself. Nomi is driven by guilt and regret. Nomi doubts herself while Malone has built up a wall around himself, vowing to never love again. Luckily, they are best friends so they are part-way toward overcoming both of their issues. 4-23-2021 The Right Resolution - Kristen Etheridge 2 stars This book was okay at the beginning, but I found it more and more of a chore to finish it. It became overly religious and sappy, and ultimately, predictable and boring. Meh. 4-24-2021 The (Not So) Perfect Day - Maggie Dallen 5 stars Ian and Ellie are best friends and in love with one another. Of course, neither of them is willing to admit to it, even to themselves. Ellie plans to marry Marcus and Ian is determined to support her decision, and neither of them is happy about it. The ending is predictable, but the journey is engaging. I enjoyed this one—the plot, the characters, the shared emotions, and the message. 4-25-2021 Jesse and the Ice Princess - Michelle MacQueen 3 stars Jesse and Charlotte (Charlie) are an unlikely pairing because Charlie’s father is the hockey coach and has explicitly forbidden any members of the team from dating his daughter. Dubbed the “Ice Princess” because she is a figure skater and inaccessible to the other students, it quickly becomes apparent that Charlie is unhappy because she loves hockey as much as figure skating but her parents have chosen what she can do and when. I understood they were seniors in high school, but I was shocked when it was revealed that Charlie was already 18. It was a wonder she hadn’t stood up to her parents sooner. I don’t think there can be too many spoilers in a book like this because it’s obvious Jessie and Charlie are going to end up together. There were a few things I found unbelievable, however. First of all, Charlie’s best friend Hadley had a crush on Jesse, but then she told Charlie she was passing her crush on to her. What? You don’t pass your crush to someone else. Suddenly, we’re to believe that Hadley no longer has a crush on Jesse and she’s cheering Charlie on to be with him? The second problem is that Charlie’s parents are presented as one particular way from the beginning, and then because of an outburst from Charlie (and a conversation Jesse has with her father), they suddenly change their entire outlook and become supportive of Charlie doing what she loves. And dating Jesse! I guess the biggest problem is that I had trouble relating to any of the characters. I had nothing in common with any of them, thankfully. I had empathy for them and I felt their struggles were realistic, but it didn’t tap into any of my emotions. April 25, 2021 5 stars This is an immersive, nail-biter of epic proportions. Riasg and October seem to be the stars of this one, but Gavin, Bramble, Adahy, Leanag, Soyla, Sgleo, and a few others feature prominently. Raven appears more too. Diva takes over Population Zero, and despite being October’s best friend, she does not share the same philosophy for humanity, planning instead for their annihilation. A plague to kill off most of humanity makes an appearance, likely inspired by current events, as much as the environmental issues that have been highlighted throughout the series. There are no wasted words in this book. Ms.Birt manages to be poetic without superfluous verbosity, which sometimes leads to beautifully crafted, precise sentences, but sometimes leads to confusion. There were a few times when I found myself needing to read sentences repeatedly to decipher their meaning. Reading one of her books is not for the lazy reader, but if you’re willing to put in the effort, the reward is significant. For me, there was no way to predict what would transpire next. I didn't know where the various characters would go or with whom they would go. I didn’t know how many people would die and whether any of them would be significant members of this “family.” I didn’t know what to expect in terms of the relationships between October, Adahy, and Riasg. So, everything was a surprise. Except for one thing: I loved it and I highly recommend this series! April 17, 2021 5 stars Arpad is surprisingly complex and thoughtful. Unfortunately, he’s also extremely controlling and always thinks he’s right. Don’t they always? It was a little hard for me to get past the fact that all of Arpad’s behaviors are on the warning list for an abuser, but then, I guess you could say that for most of the Seven. If you can ignore the warning bells, the relationship between Arpad and Karina is actually endearing. Edward is also showing his more thoughtful side. At one point, while discussing the kidnapping and long-term mental consequences with Arpad, Edward tells him, "Some of them burrow under your skin and make themselves at home and then they become a part of you, something you don’t want to let go anymore, because you’re dependent on them. In a way, your identity is linked with the story and if you let go of it, you don’t know who you are anymore." The story is told in a way that is empathetic and delves into emotions that are often hidden. Ultimately, Arpad (like all of the rest of them) is forced to face his feelings and admit that his life is meaningless without the love of his life. (I don’t think it affects my review, but I feel I should mention, I edited this book.) April 17, 2021 5 stars I have to give this collection 5 stars overall, not because every story is worth 5 stars, but because each story has something different and valuable to offer. 4-10-2021 Bullet 5 stars I read this book several years ago (but Amazon deleted all of my reviews), and even though I had a pretty good recollection of what would happen, I still found myself gritting my teeth and hoping that Valerie would make different choices this time. It would be easy to think Valerie was a stupid young girl who thought she could save the “bad boy,” but there was so much more to it. Reading it again, I was struck by Ethan’s manipulation of Valerie. In typical abuser fashion, Ethan was attracted to the light in Valerie and instinctively tried to smother it with his darkness. And he was an expert on making her feel guilty and responsible for his happiness. He always had an excuse for his behavior. There was always some kind of misunderstanding, and because Valerie had no experience with someone like him, she didn’t have the tools to understand what he was doing and didn’t know how to react. Ethan used her stated love for him to manipulate her into forgiving him again and again. And in the process, he destroyed her sense of self-worth. A part of me wishes I had read this before marrying my ex-husband, but like Valerie, I have to recognize that without him, I wouldn’t have my first child. And like Valerie, I cannot regret that. Luckily, escaping from an abuser can result in an HEA. (PS - My favorite line from this story was probably this one: “...I was crying his name over and over in between grunts of some other language I’d never learned but surely communicated what I was feeling.”) 4-11-2021 Everything But 5 stars I loved this story, the unlikely pairing of Riley the rock star and Erin the English teacher. The plot moves along at a steady pace, never dragging, and the conversations are realistic and propel the story. A few times, Riely does super-stupid things, but luckily, Erin is pretty understanding and forgiving. Riley’s parents are complete jerks, which becomes apparent as the story nears the end. Sometimes it takes an outsider to point out what should be obvious so it’s satisfying when Erin contronts Riley’s dad about how he treats Riley. I think one of the things I liked most about the story was when Erin used Riley’s lyrics to make a point. Of course, Riley likes that too and it helps to endear Erin to him. I expected an 80s-type romance ending (think: An Officer and a Gentleman) so I was pleased by the resolution of their relationship. There were a few clever lines in this story that I want to share. This one is easy to understand because it describes the feeling of anyone experiencing self-doubt: “She shook her head, closing her eyes and breathing in once more, as though she had to force out the garbage up there.” While Riley tries to avoid an erection in public, he thinks, “War, sewage plants…” and that made me laugh. And I really liked Riley’s explanation of why his parents were so disappointed in him: “They wanted a carbon copy of Brian and instead they got the photo negative.” This slyly-worded statement, in fact, encapsulated a boatload of hurt. I was glad Erin was able to see past it to the softie hiding behind his hardened exterior. 4-14-2021 On the Run 3 stars I had a lot of trouble getting into this one. Told from the POV of Kyle, it tells the story of the beginning of The Vagabonds and her journey from small town girl to lead guitarist of an all-girl band. She's 16-years-old and has a birthday near the end, making her 17 as they hit the road for their first tour. I might have enjoyed this more if I'd read other books in the series. Although it's a prequel, it feels like something to be read after getting to know the characters later in their lives. Unfortunately, I never felt a connection to Kyle or the other girls. I might enjoy other books in the series, but this one doesn't push me to need to read them. Love and Lies 4 stars I might have given this book 5 stars, but for the fact that I found Casey maddening. The story is told completely from her first-person POV, but I never fully understood or related to her. I don’t think that’s the fault of the author. I just couldn’t relate to Casey’s actions at all and I never really felt her pain. I read this book years ago when it was called “Then Kiss Me,” which became immediately apparent to me as soon as I started reading and recognized the character names and initial events. The description said that this book was different somehow. It wasn’t different enough to justify reading it again, since I really didn’t like Casey. There were a couple of things I liked about the book. I liked the introduction of Nicki Sosebee, the main character from Ms. Jamison’s other series of mystery books (which I haven’t yet read). I loved some of her metaphors/imagery, like this one: “My flesh crawled. If it could have, it would have jumped off my bones in an attempt to avoid his lips.” There are some potentially triggering themes including domestic abuse and rape. I think these are addressed in a sensitive manner and never cross over to gratuitous. They are vivid enough to paint a clear picture without going overboard. I found it interesting when an attack brings on a memory that Casey had forgotten. She wonders, “How the hell had that escaped my mind?” This was an insightful moment in the story because it reminds the reader that, as human beings trying to survive in a cruel world, we often push down the bad memories to cope, and our minds are so good at protecting us, we actually forget what we’ve repressed. Until the memory is provoked by outside forces. Although I didn’t love the book, I cannot deny it is well-written and realistic, painting a memorable picture of characters and events in a small town. It was worth reading once but it’s not a story I’d be drawn to read repeatedly. April 14, 2021 5 stars I got an ARC of this book through Netgalley and I only regret that I didn't get around to reading it sooner. It is a powerful book, complete with a bold step-by-step plan to save American democracy. This is the kind of book everyone who cares about democracy needs to read, but since I know that won’t happen, I’m going to include a few key points. First and foremost, the website for action is CommonSenseDem.org. I strongly encourage you to visit the site, then take action. The GQPGOP has four weapons against democracy—unlimited dark money, extreme partisan gerrymandering, voter suppression, and diversionary propaganda—and McVarish has a well-thought-out plan to address all of those issues. “According to the most comprehensive comparative study on democracies worldwide, the United States is now considered a ‘flawed democracy,’ ranked as the twenty-fifth most democratic in the world.” Meanwhile, the GOP playbook consists of one central concept: “All of our problems would be solved if a strong leader would restore our country to our (alleged) former glory even if certain groups will be forced to pay a high cost.” The current conflict is not one of socialism versus capitalism, much as they would like us to believe that. “The struggle is between those who seek to concentrate wealth and power versus those who want to democratize our society and create opportunities for everyone to live well and have autonomy over their lives.” Socialism shifts power to the government. “More democracy—not more government control or unfettered corporate power—is what we need.” Every chapter concludes with a long list of publications used to provide factual context for the claims made and the suggestions to fix the system. Just a few facts: “In 2017, Trump removed the words “promoting justice and democracy” from the State Department mission statement. In December 2019, Trump’s treasury overruled Congress and lifted sanctions against Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska (longtime business partner of Paul Manafort and investor of aluminum mill in Mitch McConnell’s state of Kentucky). In June 2020, Republicans in the Senate removed the requirement that presidential campaigns report offers of assistance from foreign governments. Also, that “long tradition” of the 60% threshold for the Senate filibuster has only been in effect since 1975. So, what’s the plan, you ask? Simply put, there are twelve “solutions.” 1) fix the filibuster; 2) fair representation or no taxation; 3) court reform, not court-packing; 4) Citizens United vouchers; 5) eliminate gerrymandering through instant run-off; 6) our power, our vote; 7) a representative electoral college; 8) welcome Citizen Dreamers; 9) clean slate to revitalize unions; 10) citizen-run, citizen-owned media; 11) unmasking trolls; and 12) pardons for truth (a Truth and Reconciliation Joint Committee). Obviously, there’s more to it than the listed headings would indicate. And these are not necessarily new ideas, but they are presented in a logical manner with cogent arguments for why they will work if pursued as directed. He even explains how the tenth and fourteenth amendments not only justify, but also necessitate these vital changes. For too long, we the people have been led to believe we are powerless. It’s not that we have forgotten that the politicians work for us, but we have allowed ourselves to grow lazy and give them the power that is ours. It’s long past time for us to reclaim our power and push our representatives to embrace the #DemRevPlan outlined in this book. This really is our last chance. Should Democrats squander this final opportunity, Republicans will take back control in 2024 and will never relinquish it. April 1, 2021 |
Elizabeth J ConnorWriter. Editor. Proofreader. Archives
September 2022
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