Ann's bookshelf: 2018-bnb-reading-challenge en-US Sun, 23 Jun 2024 01:12:39 -0700 60 Ann's bookshelf: 2018-bnb-reading-challenge 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[The Lost Symbol (Robert Langdon, #3)]]> 6414097
What was lost will be found...

Washington DC: Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned at the last minute to deliver an evening lecture in the Capitol Building. Within moments of his arrival, however, a disturbing object - gruesomely encoded with five symbols - is discovered at the epicentre of the Rotunda. It is, he recognises, an ancient invitation, meant to beckon its recipient towards a long-lost world of hidden esoteric wisdom.

When Langdon's revered mentor, Peter Solomon - philanthropist and prominent mason - is brutally kidnapped, Langdon realizes that his only hope of saving his friend's life is to accept this mysterious summons and follow wherever it leads him.

Langdon finds himself quickly swept behind the facade of America's most historic city into the unseen chambers, temples and tunnels which exist there. All that was familiar is transformed into a shadowy, clandestine world of an artfully concealed past in which Masonic secrets and never-before-seen revelations seem to be leading him to a single impossible and inconceivable truth.

A brilliantly composed tapestry of veiled histories, arcane icons and enigmatic codes, The Lost Symbol is an intelligent, lightning-paced thriller that offers surprises at every turn. For, as Robert Langdon will discover, there is nothing more extraordinary or shocking than the secret which hides in plain sight...]]> 18 Dan Brown 0739319175 Ann 3 It was really interesting and informative but almost to the point that it read like a history text book because I really didn’t care about any of the characters.
I wasn’t crazy about the narration either...but I will continue with the series.]]> 3.61 2009 The Lost Symbol (Robert Langdon, #3)
author: Dan Brown
name: Ann
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at: 2018/02/19
date added: 2024/06/23
shelves: dtb-i-own, audiobooks, overdrive-books, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, read-in-2018
review:
I loved the first 2 books in this series and thought I’d love this one too but it was just okay for me.
It was really interesting and informative but almost to the point that it read like a history text book because I really didn’t care about any of the characters.
I wasn’t crazy about the narration either...but I will continue with the series.
]]> <![CDATA[They Both Die at the End (Death-Cast, #1)]]> 33385229
Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: There’s an app for that. It’s called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure—to live a lifetime in a single day.

Adam Silvera reminds us that there’s no life without death and no love without loss in this devastating yet uplifting story about two people whose lives change over the course of one unforgettable day.]]> 389 Adam Silvera 0062457799 Ann 4 3.76 2017 They Both Die at the End (Death-Cast, #1)
author: Adam Silvera
name: Ann
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2018/03/27
date added: 2023/07/31
shelves: i-really-want-to-read, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, audiobooks, penpal-olympics, scribd, read-in-2018
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Day of the Duchess (Scandal & Scoundrel, #3)]]> 31329331 The one woman he will never forget�
Malcolm Bevingstoke, Duke of Haven, has lived the last three years in self-imposed solitude, paying the price for a mistake he can never reverse and a love he lost forever. The dukedom does not wait, however, and Haven requires an heir, which means he must find himself a wife by summer’s end. There is only one problem—he already has one.

The one man she will never forgive�
After years in exile, Seraphina, Duchess of Haven, returns to London with a single goal—to reclaim the life she left and find happiness, unencumbered by the man who broke her heart. Haven offers her a deal; Sera can have her freedom, just as soon as she finds her replacement…which requires her to spend the summer in close quarters with the husband she does not want, but somehow cannot resist.

A love that neither can deny�
The duke has a single summer to woo his wife and convince her that, despite their broken past, he can give her forever, making every day The Day of the Duchess.]]> 405 Sarah MacLean Ann 5 The relationship was so different than most stories with this trope. I actually sympathized with a character type that I normally despise.
I’ll definitely be reading more of her books!]]> 4.14 2017 The Day of the Duchess (Scandal & Scoundrel, #3)
author: Sarah MacLean
name: Ann
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2018/01/16
date added: 2023/01/18
shelves: favorites-of-2018, overdrive-books, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, read-in-2018
review:
I loved this book!
The relationship was so different than most stories with this trope. I actually sympathized with a character type that I normally despise.
I’ll definitely be reading more of her books!
]]> <![CDATA[Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot, #10)]]> 6251564 275 Agatha Christie Ann 3 And there was a mystery literary device used that I despise.]]> 4.21 1934 Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot, #10)
author: Agatha Christie
name: Ann
average rating: 4.21
book published: 1934
rating: 3
read at: 2018/01/07
date added: 2020/07/05
shelves: own-on-kindle, won-in-a-giveaway-or-contest, dtb-i-own, i-really-want-to-read, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, own-on-audible, read-in-2018, 100-books-bucket-list
review:
I was really disappointed in this book because so many people loved it and I just thought it was okay. The characters fell flat. The story was predictable.
And there was a mystery literary device used that I despise.
]]> <![CDATA[Dr. ER (St. Luke's Docuseries, #2)]]> 36115489 From the New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of TAPPING THE BILLIONAIRE comes a new three book series of Romantic Comedy standalones.

Dr. Erotic.
That’s what they’ve decided to call me, Scott Shepard, the head of St. Luke’s Hospital Emergency Department.
Just thinking about it makes me smile.
As the new face of the reality docuseries, The Doctor Is In, I plan to take his power and recognition right to the streets of New York City and into the pants of willing women.

Well, that was my plan.

Until her—feisty, beautiful, and addictively sexy Harlow Paige.
A gossip columnist that just loves writing about yours truly, she’s everything I thought I never wanted and then some.
She drives me crazy.
Problem is, she doesn’t want to be anything when it comes to me—not friends, not lovers, not even adversaries.
God, I love a good challenge.
Get ready, Harlow. Love is contagious.
]]> Max Monroe Ann 4 The narration was just okay for me.]]> 3.70 2017 Dr. ER (St. Luke's Docuseries, #2)
author: Max Monroe
name: Ann
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2018/02/20
date added: 2019/10/18
shelves: audiobooks, hoopla-books, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, read-in-2018
review:
This was a cute book. Raunchy and silly like I’ve come to count on from a Max Monroe book.
The narration was just okay for me.
]]> Atheists Who Kneel and Pray 35186206
She dates men who need her, but always moves on to something new, never staying in one place for very long.

David Lisey is in need of a muse.

A talented musician lacking lyrical inspiration. When he first sees her, he knows he's found what he's been looking for.

Yara believes she can give David exactly what he needs to reach his full potential:
A broken heart.

David’s religion is love.

Yara’s religion is heartache.

Neither is willing to surrender, but religion always requires sacrifice.]]> 327 Tarryn Fisher Ann 4 4.18 2017 Atheists Who Kneel and Pray
author: Tarryn Fisher
name: Ann
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2018/03/25
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: i-really-want-to-read, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, penpal-olympics, read-in-2018
review:

]]> Bossypants 11021913 Librarian note: an alternate cover for this edition can be found here.

In her acceptance speech for Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, Tina Fey announced that she was proud to make her home in "the 'not-real America'". It is perhaps that healthy sense of incongruity that makes the head writer, executive producer, and star of NBC's Emmy Award-winning 30 Rock such a cogent observer of the contemporary scene.

Bossypants, her entertaining new memoir, shows that strangeness has been her constant companion. Fey's stories about her childhood in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania are only appetizers for LOL forays into her college disasters, honeymoon catastrophes, and Saturday Night Live shenanigans. Most funny read of the month; the best possible weekend update.

]]> 290 Tina Fey Ann 4 3.99 2011 Bossypants
author: Tina Fey
name: Ann
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2018/03/20
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: own-on-kindle, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, penpal-olympics, dtb-i-own, read-in-2018
review:

]]> From Lukov with Love 37683751
After seventeen years—and countless broken bones and broken promises—she knows her window to compete in figure skating is coming to a close.

But when the offer of a lifetime comes in from an arrogant idiot she’s spent the last decade dreaming about pushing in the way of a moving bus, Jasmine might have to reconsider everything.

Including Ivan Lukov.]]> 493 Mariana Zapata Ann 5 4.5/5 stars 4.19 2018 From Lukov with Love
author: Mariana Zapata
name: Ann
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2018/03/14
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, penpal-olympics, ku, read-in-2018
review:
4.5/5 stars
]]> <![CDATA[A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic, #1)]]> 22055262
Kell was raised in Arnes—Red London—and officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see.

Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see. It's a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand.

After an exchange goes awry, Kell escapes to Grey London and runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.

Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive.]]> 400 Victoria E. Schwab 0765376458 Ann 5 4.5/5 stars 4.04 2015 A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic, #1)
author: Victoria E. Schwab
name: Ann
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2018/03/08
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, overdrive-books, penpal-olympics, read-in-2018
review:
4.5/5 stars
]]> <![CDATA[At the Stroke of Midnight (The Naughty Princess Club, #1)]]> 36440663 Meet the Naughty Princess Club: a brand new series from USA Today bestselling author Tara Sivec that introduces readers to Fairytale Lane and the hilarity—and romance—that ensue when three women start a new business to make it rain.

Once upon a time Cynthia was the perfect housewife. Between being the President of the PTA and keeping her home spotless without a hair (or her pearls) out of place, her life was a dream come true. Her husband was once her knight in shining armor, but now he’s run off with all their money…and the babysitter.

Dressed as a princess at the annual Halloween block party on Fairytale Lane, she meets two other “princesses� also facing money troubles: antique store owner Ariel and librarian Isabelle. When the women are invited to wear their costumes to a party where they’re mistaken for strippers, Cindy, Ariel, and Belle realize that a career change could be the best way to make their money problems go bippity-boppity-boo.

But can structured Cindy approach a stripper pole without sanitizing wipes? And could the blue-eyed anti-prince that has been crossing her path become Cindy’s happily ever after? At the Stroke of Midnight is a hilarious, empowering story where princesses can save themselves while slaying in stilettos.]]> 269 Tara Sivec 1250137209 Ann 3 4.06 2018 At the Stroke of Midnight (The Naughty Princess Club, #1)
author: Tara Sivec
name: Ann
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2018/03/07
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, own-on-kindle, penpal-olympics, read-in-2018
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Text Me When You Get Home: The Evolution and Triumph of Modern Female Friendship]]> 35268117 Girls to Parks and Recreation to Bridesmaids, the female friendship has taken an undeniable front seat in pop culture. Text Me When You Get Home is a personal and sociological perspective - and ultimately a celebration - of the evolution of the modern female friendship.

Kayleen Schaefer has experienced (and occasionally, narrowly survived) most every iteration of the modern female friendship. First there was the mean girl cliques of the '90s; then the teenage friendships that revolved around constant discussion of romantic interests and which slowly morphed into Sex and the City spin-offs; the disheartening loneliness of "I'm not like other girls" friendships with only men; the discovery of a platonic soul mate; and finally, the overwhelming love of a supportive female squad (#squad).

And over the course of these friendships, Schaefer made a startling discovery: girls make the best friends. And she isn't the only one to realize this. Through interviews with friends, mothers, authors, celebrities, businesswomen, doctors, screenwriters, and historians (a list that includes Judy Blume, Megan Abbott, The Fug Girls, and Kay Cannon), Schaefer shows a remarkable portrait of what female friendships can help modern women accomplish in their social, personal, and work lives.

A validation of female friendship unlike any that's ever existed before, this book is a mix of historical research, the author's own personal experience, and conversations about friendships across the country. Everything Schaefer uncovers leads to - and makes the case for - the eventual conclusion that these ties among women are making us (both as individuals and as society as a whole) stronger than ever before.]]> 7 Kayleen Schaefer 0525527532 Ann 5 It was so interesting and I loved it.

Also...thank you to my best friend for telling me about it! ]]> 3.44 2018 Text Me When You Get Home: The Evolution and Triumph of Modern Female Friendship
author: Kayleen Schaefer
name: Ann
average rating: 3.44
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2018/03/05
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: audiobooks, penpal-olympics, scribd, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, read-in-2018
review:
This is the ultimate girl power book. It makes you think, seriously think, about your female relationships and their value...and to look at them in a different way. And to look at other women’s relationships with each other and how they can be vilified...even by other women...and how the reasons for that are steeped in our patriarchal history.
It was so interesting and I loved it.

Also...thank you to my best friend for telling me about it!
]]> <![CDATA[Wonder Woman: Warbringer (DC Icons, #1)]]> 32336276 Daughter of immortals.

Princess Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law—risking exile—to save a mortal. Diana will soon learn that she has rescued no ordinary girl, and that with this single brave act, she may have doomed the world.

Daughter of death.

Alia Keralis just wanted to escape her overprotective brother with a semester at sea. She doesn’t know she is being hunted by people who think her very existence could spark a world war. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer—a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery.

Together.

Two girls will face an army of enemies—mortal and divine—determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. Tested beyond the bounds of their abilities, Diana and Alia must find a way to unleash hidden strengths and forge an unlikely alliance. Because if they have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war.]]> 374 Leigh Bardugo Ann 4 I am conflicted with how I felt about the twist at the end and I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to reconcile my feelings on it.
]]> 4.05 2017 Wonder Woman: Warbringer (DC Icons, #1)
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: Ann
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2018/02/27
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: dtb-i-own, my-signed-books, i-really-want-to-read, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, overdrive-books, read-in-2018
review:
This had a slow start but then I ended up loving it. I love love loved the girl power theme and Diana’s goodness and innocence.
I am conflicted with how I felt about the twist at the end and I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to reconcile my feelings on it.

]]> <![CDATA[Cupid Has a Heart-On (The Holidays, #2)]]> 28595681
Cupid hits a few roadblocks on the way to Sam and Noel's hearts after their whirlwind Christmas romance. Nipplegate 2016, a stray stripper and a regrettable mix-up with narcotics are just the tips of the arrow when it comes to shooting these two with happily ever after. Nothing seeing a grown man wearing an adult diaper and wings can't fix...hopefully.]]> 113 Tara Sivec Ann 3 I wasn’t crazy about it but I didn’t hate it.]]> 4.23 2016 Cupid Has a Heart-On (The Holidays, #2)
author: Tara Sivec
name: Ann
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2018/02/22
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, own-on-kindle, read-in-2018
review:
This one was cute but there were a couple of parts that seemed almost like “breaking the fourth wall� to me and I don’t like that as a literary device.
I wasn’t crazy about it but I didn’t hate it.
]]> <![CDATA[Notorious Nineteen (Stephanie Plum, #19)]]> 15797070 Stephanie Plum is back in all-new adventure from #1 bestselling author Janet Evanovich.]]> Janet Evanovich 0307932559 Ann 4 It was pretty much everything I’ve grown to love about this series...but some parts (the ever present Joe/ Ranger love triangle) is starting to feel a little stale.
I really liked it and plan to continue with the series.]]> 3.52 2012 Notorious Nineteen (Stephanie Plum, #19)
author: Janet Evanovich
name: Ann
average rating: 3.52
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2018/02/21
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: dtb-i-own, i-really-want-to-read, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, audiobooks, overdrive-books, read-in-2018
review:
At first I wasn’t crazy about this audio because the narrator’s voice sounded a little too old to be Stephanie to me...but as soon as she started getting into Lula, I didn’t even care about that. Her Lula was so so good!
It was pretty much everything I’ve grown to love about this series...but some parts (the ever present Joe/ Ranger love triangle) is starting to feel a little stale.
I really liked it and plan to continue with the series.
]]> The Beau & the Belle 36992205
I met him when I was a junior in high school, a time that revolved exclusively around bad hair, failed forays into flirting, and scientific inquiries into which brand of toilet paper worked best for stuffing bras.

That is, until Beau moved into the small guest house just beyond my bedroom window.

A 24-year-old law student at Tulane, Beau was as mysterious to me as second base (both in baseball and in the bedroom). He was older. Intimidating. Hot. Boys my age had chicken legs and chubby cheeks. Beau had calloused hands and a jaw cut from steel. Our interactions were scarce—mostly involving slight stalking on my end—and yet deep down, I desperately hoped he saw me as more of a potential lover than a lovesick loser.

Turns out, I was fooling myself. My fragile ego learned that lesson the hard way.

Now, ten years later, we’re both back in New Orleans, and guess who suddenly can’t take his eyes off little ol� me.

My old friend, Mr. Fortier.

But things have changed. I’m older now—poised and confident. My ego wears a bulletproof vest. The butterflies that once filled my stomach have all perished.

When I was a teenager, Beau warned me to guard my heart.
Let’s hope he knows how to guard his.]]> 346 R.S. Grey Ann 4 I felt like there was a disconnect between Part 1 and Part 2 that I felt could have been rectified by the 2 main characters having some contact with each other in their time living in different states.
It seemed like when they reunite they are instantly close and yet they hardly knew each other before...I would’ve liked it if there was more in the middle to give a reason for that.
Also, there was less humor in it than I’m used to with her.
But I did think Part 2 was really cute and I liked the characters and the setting.
Overall I liked it a lot but not as much as her other books.]]> 3.75 2018 The Beau & the Belle
author: R.S. Grey
name: Ann
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/02/19
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: i-really-want-to-read, ku, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, read-in-2018
review:
RS Grey is one of my top 10 favorite authors but this was definitely not my favorite of her books.
I felt like there was a disconnect between Part 1 and Part 2 that I felt could have been rectified by the 2 main characters having some contact with each other in their time living in different states.
It seemed like when they reunite they are instantly close and yet they hardly knew each other before...I would’ve liked it if there was more in the middle to give a reason for that.
Also, there was less humor in it than I’m used to with her.
But I did think Part 2 was really cute and I liked the characters and the setting.
Overall I liked it a lot but not as much as her other books.
]]> <![CDATA[Changeless (Parasol Protectorate, #2)]]> 6933876
But Alexia is armed with her trusty parasol, the latest fashions, and an arsenal of biting civility. So even when her investigations take her to Scotland, the backwater of ugly waistcoats, she is prepared: upending werewolf pack dynamics as only the soulless can. She might even find time to track down her wayward husband, if she feels like it.

CHANGELESS is the second book of the Parasol Protectorate series: a comedy of manners set in Victorian London, full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.]]> 374 Gail Carriger 0316074144 Ann 4 I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!! ]]> 3.99 2010 Changeless (Parasol Protectorate, #2)
author: Gail Carriger
name: Ann
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2018/02/17
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, read-in-2018
review:
This started out so slow for me that after reading the first 10 pages I kept passing it over for other books. But once I finally got into it I loved it...and that ending!!!
I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!!
]]> <![CDATA[Clean Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles #1)]]> 20263225
And now, something with wicked claws and deepwater teeth has begun to hunt at night....Feeling responsible for her neighbors, Dina decides to get involved. Before long, she has to juggle dealing with the annoyingly attractive, ex-military, new neighbor, Sean Evans—an alpha-strain werewolf—and the equally arresting cosmic vampire soldier, Arland, while trying to keep her inn and its guests safe. But the enemy she’s facing is unlike anything she’s ever encountered before. It’s smart, vicious, and lethal, and putting herself between this creature and her neighbors might just cost her everything.

***Notice: This is a special Collectors Edition, trade-paperback volume, which includes Black and White original illustrations. It is a short novel, of approximately 60,000 words in length/227 pages***]]> 227 Ilona Andrews 1494388588 Ann 5 4.14 2013 Clean Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles #1)
author: Ilona Andrews
name: Ann
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2013
rating: 5
read at: 2018/02/13
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: dtb-i-own, my-signed-books, i-really-want-to-read, hoopla-books, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, read-in-2018
review:
I loved this book. Ilona Andrews is (are) on my top 10 fave authors list and they did not disappoint with this new to me series. It’s so fun and different and I can’t wait to read the next one!
]]> <![CDATA[Three Blind Dates (Dating by Numbers, #1)]]> 36572433 "Good Morning Malibu, it’s another beautiful day on the west coast! I'm Noely Clark, your host: and I'm in the market for love…�

When the publicity team of the new local restaurant, Going in Blind, began their search for a hot, local celebrity to promote the wildly popular eatery, they couldn’t have found a better person than me.

Outgoing? Check.
Single? Check.
Open to finding love? Check.

I signed up immediately.

A hopeless romantic with an exceedingly demanding schedule, I've found it impossible to find the man of my dreams � so Going in Blind seems too good to be true! That’s until they start setting me up on dates � three very different, very attractive, very distinct blind dates � and only one thing is for certain...

I’m in big trouble.

Good Morning Malibu,
I'm Noely Clark, and I have a choice to make.
The question is who will I choose; the suit, the rebel, or the jock.]]> 386 Meghan Quinn Ann 4 I was expecting to love this one as much as I loved the Binghamton series but I didn’t.
It was cute but nothing special. I didn’t feel connected to the characters and didn’t feel their connection to each other...until the very end.
It was cute, but not spectacular. I will probably read the next one in the series though.]]> 4.01 2018 Three Blind Dates (Dating by Numbers, #1)
author: Meghan Quinn
name: Ann
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/02/12
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: ku, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, read-in-2018
review:
3.5/5 stars
I was expecting to love this one as much as I loved the Binghamton series but I didn’t.
It was cute but nothing special. I didn’t feel connected to the characters and didn’t feel their connection to each other...until the very end.
It was cute, but not spectacular. I will probably read the next one in the series though.
]]> In a Dark, Dark Wood 24885470
Leonora, known to some as Lee and others as Nora, is a reclusive crime writer, unwilling to leave her “nest� of an apartment unless it is absolutely necessary. When a friend she hasn’t seen or spoken to in years unexpectedly invites Nora (Lee?) to a weekend away in an eerie glass house deep in the English countryside, she reluctantly agrees to make the trip. Forty-eight hours later, she wakes up in a hospital bed injured but alive, with the knowledge that someone is dead. Wondering not “what happened?� but “what have I done?�, Nora (Lee?) tries to piece together the events of the past weekend. Working to uncover secrets, reveal motives, and find answers, Nora (Lee?) must revisit parts of herself that she would much rather leave buried where they belong: in the past.

In the tradition of Paula Hawkins's instant New York Times bestseller The Girl On the Train and S. J. Watson’s riveting national sensation Before I Go To Sleep, this gripping literary debut from UK novelist Ruth Ware will leave you on the edge of your seat through the very last page.]]> 10 Ruth Ware 1442390506 Ann 5 I didn’t want to stop listening even when life was happening and I had to set it aside.
The character development was superb and the relationships were fantastic. I loved the witty banter and it was brought to life so amazingly by the narrator. She was so great. I really loved this one and can’t wait to read another book by this author!]]> 3.55 2015 In a Dark, Dark Wood
author: Ruth Ware
name: Ann
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2018/02/11
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: audiobooks, scribd, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, favorite-audiobooks, read-in-2018
review:
This book was amazing! I was intrigued by the story and so so curious from the very beginning. I wanted to know what happened and then once I knew what...I wanted to know who did it.
I didn’t want to stop listening even when life was happening and I had to set it aside.
The character development was superb and the relationships were fantastic. I loved the witty banter and it was brought to life so amazingly by the narrator. She was so great. I really loved this one and can’t wait to read another book by this author!
]]> <![CDATA[Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss, #1)]]> 30138646 As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and listeners - have long awaited?
From the Compact Disc edition.]]> 11 Stephanie Perkins Ann 5 It was super YA and very syrupy sweet...and I couldn’t get enough.
I didn’t want the story to end.]]> 3.30 2010 Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss, #1)
author: Stephanie Perkins
name: Ann
average rating: 3.30
book published: 2010
rating: 5
read at: 2018/02/10
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: dtb-i-own, gift-exchange-gifts, audiobooks, overdrive-books, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, favorite-audiobooks, read-in-2018
review:
I loved this book so much! I adored the characters, the story, and the narration.
It was super YA and very syrupy sweet...and I couldn’t get enough.
I didn’t want the story to end.
]]> A Walk to Remember 3473 A high school rebel and a minister's daughter find strength in each other in this star-crossed tale of "young but everlasting love" (Chicago Sun-Times).There was a time when the world was sweeter....when the women in Beaufort, North Carolina, wore dresses, and the men donned hats.... Every April, when the wind smells of both the sea and lilacs, Landon Carter remembers 1958, his last year at Beaufort High. Landon had dated a girl or two, and even once sworn that he'd been in love. Certainly the last person he thought he'd fall for was Jamie, the shy, almost ethereal daughter of the town's Baptist minister....Jamie, who was destined to show him the depths of the human heart-and the joy and pain of living. The inspiration for this novel came from Nicholas Sparks's sister: her life and her courage. From the internationally bestselling author Nicholas Sparks, comes his most moving story yet....]]> 240 Nicholas Sparks 0446693804 Ann 3 I liked the story okay...though I felt like I’ve read it before. It almost seemed like a B version of a John Green book. The coming of age so often in JG’s books was inserted into a 1950s setting and written not quite as well.
The story was predictable and I nearly despised the main character. His transformation into the redeemable character seemed sudden and not at all believable. And there was way too much religion in there for me.
However...I was expecting worse, so I guess I was almost pleasantly surprised.]]> 4.16 1999 A Walk to Remember
author: Nicholas Sparks
name: Ann
average rating: 4.16
book published: 1999
rating: 3
read at: 2018/02/08
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, overdrive-books, read-in-2018
review:
This was my first Nicholas Sparks book as I tend to steer away from overly sappy romance books.
I liked the story okay...though I felt like I’ve read it before. It almost seemed like a B version of a John Green book. The coming of age so often in JG’s books was inserted into a 1950s setting and written not quite as well.
The story was predictable and I nearly despised the main character. His transformation into the redeemable character seemed sudden and not at all believable. And there was way too much religion in there for me.
However...I was expecting worse, so I guess I was almost pleasantly surprised.
]]> Alex in Wonderland 36560674 From New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Max Monroe comes a new, sexy, and exciting twist on fairytales.

I’m Matt Hadder.
I’ve been called ruthless, savage—even brutal—by the men and women who work for me. And I’ve earned my reputation.

Wonderland Inc., a party planning organization for every major player in the world, is Oz, and I’m its Wizard. I can make anything—drugs, prostitutes, deals—appear for a night and disappear just as quickly.

This doesn’t make me good or bad—it makes me essential.

Wonderland Inc. was my life, until a beautiful contradiction of innocence and impurity, obedience and rebelliousness named Alex Little stepped in and turned both of our worlds upside down.

Welcome to Wonderland, Alex.
A place where everything appears normal.
But we’re all mad. ]]> 9 Max Monroe Ann 3 I loved the Billionaire Bad Boy series and I love fairytale retelling, so I was super duper excited for this book.
And was let down.
The story was okay, but the sex talk was a little over the top and did not seem organic to the story.
Also, his nickname for her was cringe worthy.
And I did not like the narration at all. For neither Alex or Matt.
I did like the retelling bit and how they turned Alice in Wonderland into this modern erotic romance. So even though I wasn’t crazy about this one, I’ll probably still read the next one when it comes out.]]> 3.66 Alex in Wonderland
author: Max Monroe
name: Ann
average rating: 3.66
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2018/02/08
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: audiobooks, hoopla-books, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, retellings, read-in-2018
review:
2.5/5 stars
I loved the Billionaire Bad Boy series and I love fairytale retelling, so I was super duper excited for this book.
And was let down.
The story was okay, but the sex talk was a little over the top and did not seem organic to the story.
Also, his nickname for her was cringe worthy.
And I did not like the narration at all. For neither Alex or Matt.
I did like the retelling bit and how they turned Alice in Wonderland into this modern erotic romance. So even though I wasn’t crazy about this one, I’ll probably still read the next one when it comes out.
]]> <![CDATA[The Weight of Rain (The Weight of Rain, #1)]]> 25604762 One night changed my life—one that I barely remember.

When I close my eyes, my mind paints a picture of his smile and shades the contours of his hands, the deep scar around his bicep.

I'm an artist, yet my hands are unsteady. With his presence, he has unknowingly broken that something inside of me that makes me who I am.

Being around him is like standing in a rainstorm. First the drops tickle my skin, and then they coat me, refusing to be ignored. Finally, they soak into me, reaching parts of me I don’t think anyone has ever touched.

When dreams turn into reality, will the picture in my mind transfer to paper?]]> 344 Mariah Dietz Ann 3 I did like the story (though it was basically very predictable), but the character development seemed a bit lacking. And I felt like I was constantly reminded how much art was a part of her life. In the tell, not show kind of way. Yes...I get it...she’s an artist and it’s very important to her. But I did like the story as a whole.
I found myself almost more drawn to the supporting cast than the main characters.
So with that being said, I will probably read the next book to get their stories.]]> 3.91 2015 The Weight of Rain (The Weight of Rain, #1)
author: Mariah Dietz
name: Ann
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2018/02/07
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: i-really-want-to-read, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, read-in-2018
review:
I was hoping to like this one a little bit more than I did. It kind of fell flat for me after reading so many good things about it.
I did like the story (though it was basically very predictable), but the character development seemed a bit lacking. And I felt like I was constantly reminded how much art was a part of her life. In the tell, not show kind of way. Yes...I get it...she’s an artist and it’s very important to her. But I did like the story as a whole.
I found myself almost more drawn to the supporting cast than the main characters.
So with that being said, I will probably read the next book to get their stories.
]]> <![CDATA[Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles, #1)]]> 6391211 There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.]]> Kami Garcia 1600248462 Ann 4 There were some things that irked me, one being that at 16yo the main character says he is over 6� and has been wearing the same shoes for 3 years. My mom brain screamed that there was no way that he was wearing the same size at 16 that he wore at 13...and I just couldn’t stop thinking about it even though it meant nothing to the plot. I don’t know why that bothered me at all...or why I fixated on it so much.
Another thing that I didn’t like was that it seamed like that fact that They lives in the south was constantly thrown in the readers face. Even towards the end when we clearly know, they are in the south.
With that being said...I really liked everything else about the book.
The story felt unique to me and I loved the little historical facts and moments that intertwined with the main plot. I liked the characters. Was sympathetic to them.
I will definitely continue with this series.

Also...I really liked the narrator. ]]> 3.46 2009 Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles, #1)
author: Kami Garcia
name: Ann
average rating: 3.46
book published: 2009
rating: 4
read at: 2018/02/05
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: dtb-i-own, my-signed-books, i-really-want-to-read, audiobooks, overdrive-books, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, read-in-2018
review:
I liked this book more than I thought I would so that was a big plus.
There were some things that irked me, one being that at 16yo the main character says he is over 6� and has been wearing the same shoes for 3 years. My mom brain screamed that there was no way that he was wearing the same size at 16 that he wore at 13...and I just couldn’t stop thinking about it even though it meant nothing to the plot. I don’t know why that bothered me at all...or why I fixated on it so much.
Another thing that I didn’t like was that it seamed like that fact that They lives in the south was constantly thrown in the readers face. Even towards the end when we clearly know, they are in the south.
With that being said...I really liked everything else about the book.
The story felt unique to me and I loved the little historical facts and moments that intertwined with the main plot. I liked the characters. Was sympathetic to them.
I will definitely continue with this series.

Also...I really liked the narrator.
]]> <![CDATA[Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, #6)]]> 36690614 In the next installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, follow Chaol on his sweeping journey to a distant empire.

Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken.

His only shot at recovery lies with the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica—the stronghold of the southern continent's mighty empire. And with war looming over Dorian and Aelin back home, their survival might lie with Chaol and Nesryn convincing its rulers to ally with them.

But what they discover in Antica will change them both—and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined.]]> 668 Sarah J. Maas Ann 4 Overall I loved the story. It made me like Chaol again (even though I’d forgotten why I was hating on him).
I loved loved loved Borte and Yeran and really hope there’s a lot more of them in the next book.
So many fantastic revelations in this book.
I’m so excited for the finale!!!]]> 4.54 2017 Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, #6)
author: Sarah J. Maas
name: Ann
average rating: 4.54
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2018/02/02
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: i-really-want-to-read, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, overdrive-books, dtb-i-own, read-in-2018
review:
I loved 85% of this book hard, but there was a lull at about 50ish % in that seemed super slow to me. I kept wondering if it was necessary to the story as a whole as I was reading it (and as it turns out...yes it was)...but it kept me from devouring this as quickly as I normally do Sarah J. Maas’s books.
Overall I loved the story. It made me like Chaol again (even though I’d forgotten why I was hating on him).
I loved loved loved Borte and Yeran and really hope there’s a lot more of them in the next book.
So many fantastic revelations in this book.
I’m so excited for the finale!!!
]]> Triptych (Will Trent, #1) 9822489
In this gritty, gripping firecracker of a novel, the author of the bestselling Grant County, Georgia, series breaks thrilling new ground, weaving together the threads of a complex, multilayered story with the skill of a master craftsman. Packed with body-bending switchbacks, searing psychological suspense and human emotions, Triptych ratchets up the tension one revelation at a time as it races to a shattering and unforgettable climax.]]> 0 Karin Slaughter 0739333550 Ann 5 I really liked this book a lot. Some great twists. A pretty awesome story. The reason it’s 4.5 instead of 5 is because I still had some unanswered questions at the end.
The narrator was pretty good too.

**edited review to add below**
The unanswered questions were wrapped up once I did a re-listen. This time I listened to the unabridged version. I really liked the parts I’d been missing out on when I unwittingly listened to the abridged version. However, I didn’t like this narrator quite as much as the narrator for the abridged version.]]> 3.71 2006 Triptych (Will Trent, #1)
author: Karin Slaughter
name: Ann
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2006
rating: 5
read at: 2018/02/01
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: audiobooks, scribd, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, read-in-2018
review:
4.5/5 stars
I really liked this book a lot. Some great twists. A pretty awesome story. The reason it’s 4.5 instead of 5 is because I still had some unanswered questions at the end.
The narrator was pretty good too.

**edited review to add below**
The unanswered questions were wrapped up once I did a re-listen. This time I listened to the unabridged version. I really liked the parts I’d been missing out on when I unwittingly listened to the abridged version. However, I didn’t like this narrator quite as much as the narrator for the abridged version.
]]> <![CDATA[Up From the Grave (Night Huntress, #7)]]> 20576529
Lately, life has been unnaturally calm for vampires Cat Crawfield and her husband, Bones. They should have known better than to relax their guard, because a shocking revelation sends them back into action to stop an all-out war....

A rogue CIA agent is involved in horrifying secret activities that threaten to raise tensions between humans and the undead to dangerous heights. Now Cat and Bones are in a race against time to save their friends from a fate worse than death...because the more secrets they unravel, the deadlier the consequences. And if they fail, their lives - and those of everyone they hold dear - will be hovering on the edge of the grave.]]> 8 Jeaniene Frost Ann 4 The narration was okay. Sometimes it made the story seem a little more melodramatic than I probably would’ve read it to be. But I did like it.
I love love love Cat and Bones’s relationship. They never lose themselves or their willingness to do what ever for each other and I love that.
Oh! I loved the narrator’s Marie Laveau voice. That bit was superb!]]> 4.36 2014 Up From the Grave (Night Huntress, #7)
author: Jeaniene Frost
name: Ann
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2018/01/29
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: dtb-i-own, my-signed-books, i-really-want-to-read, audiobooks, hoopla-books, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, read-in-2018
review:
I liked this book a lot and was glad to be back in the world of Cat and Bones. It had been a while because I thought I’d already read this book. Lol!
The narration was okay. Sometimes it made the story seem a little more melodramatic than I probably would’ve read it to be. But I did like it.
I love love love Cat and Bones’s relationship. They never lose themselves or their willingness to do what ever for each other and I love that.
Oh! I loved the narrator’s Marie Laveau voice. That bit was superb!
]]> She, the Kingdom 32851974 232 Olivian Pope Ann 3 What did he just say?!
Not your typical billionaire asks you to sign an NDA book.
I did end up liking it. The writing was really good.
But I didn’t really feel that connected to the characters and I’m not sure I liked the ending.
I was hoping that it would go in a different direction and the whole time knew that it wouldn’t.
Definitely worth the read.
And when the next one comes out, I’ll probably read that one too.]]> 3.83 2016 She, the Kingdom
author: Olivian Pope
name: Ann
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2018/01/26
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: ku, i-really-want-to-read, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, read-in-2018
review:
The premise of this book was so strange. I was struck dumb upon reading it...like...😳
What did he just say?!
Not your typical billionaire asks you to sign an NDA book.
I did end up liking it. The writing was really good.
But I didn’t really feel that connected to the characters and I’m not sure I liked the ending.
I was hoping that it would go in a different direction and the whole time knew that it wouldn’t.
Definitely worth the read.
And when the next one comes out, I’ll probably read that one too.
]]> <![CDATA[Florida Roadkill (Serge Storms Mystery, #1)]]> 8301218
On the other hand, there's Sean and David, who love fishing and are kind to animals -- and who are about to cross paths with a suitcase filled with $5 million in stolen insurance money. Serge wants the suitcase. Sharon wants the suitcase. Coleman wants more drugs . . . and the suitcase. In the meantime, there's murder by gun, Space Shuttle, Barbie doll, and Levi's 501s.

In other words, welcome to Tim Dorsey's Florida -- where nobody gets out unscathed and untanned!]]> 388 Tim Dorsey Ann 3 It was humorous and dark and twisted.
I likened it to Pulp Fiction on speed but with no likable characters and even more Murder and mayhem. There were quite a few unanswered questions at the end. I’ll probably carry on with the series, if not for those unanswered questions then just to see what else Serge gets up to.

One thing I adored was reading about all the landmarks and museums and popular places from the area that I’ve lived in my entire life.

]]> 3.50 1999 Florida Roadkill (Serge Storms Mystery, #1)
author: Tim Dorsey
name: Ann
average rating: 3.50
book published: 1999
rating: 3
read at: 2018/01/26
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: overdrive-books, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, read-in-2018
review:
Where can I even start with this? I can honestly say I have never read anything like this book. It was so all over the place in the beginning that it took me until about 30% in until I finally discovered the plot.
It was humorous and dark and twisted.
I likened it to Pulp Fiction on speed but with no likable characters and even more Murder and mayhem. There were quite a few unanswered questions at the end. I’ll probably carry on with the series, if not for those unanswered questions then just to see what else Serge gets up to.

One thing I adored was reading about all the landmarks and museums and popular places from the area that I’ve lived in my entire life.


]]> A Different Blue 21485210 0 Amy Harmon 1494550016 Ann 5 4.11 2013 A Different Blue
author: Amy Harmon
name: Ann
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2013
rating: 5
read at: 2018/01/25
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: dtb-i-own, gift-exchange-gifts, audiobooks, hoopla-books, favorite-audiobooks, favorites-of-2018, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, read-in-2018
review:
This book was so wonderful! The synopsis doesn’t do it justice. It was unique and heartfelt. I loved the characters, the story, the prose. And Tavia Gilbert’s narration was pretty near perfection for this book. I’m ranking this one as one of my favorites this year and one of my favorite audios ever.
]]> The Problem with Forever 30238426 Listening time 14 hours

For some people, silence is a weapon. For Mallory “Mouse� Dodge, it’s a shield. Growing up, she learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. And even though it’s been four years since her nightmare ended, she’s beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime.

Now, after years of homeschooling with loving adoptive parents, Mallory must face a new milestone—spending her senior year at public high school. But of all the terrifying and exhilarating scenarios she’s imagined, there’s one she never dreamed of—that she’d run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn’t seen since childhood, on her very first day.

It doesn’t take long for Mallory to realize that the connection she shared with Rider never really faded. Yet the deeper their bond grows, the more it becomes apparent that she’s not the only one grappling with the lingering scars from the past. And as she watches Rider’s life spiral out of control, Mallory faces a choice between staying silent and speaking out—for the people she loves, the life she wants, and the truths that need to be heard.]]> Jennifer L. Armentrout Ann 3 It wasn’t bad though and I thought the narrator did a good job.]]> 3.56 2016 The Problem with Forever
author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
name: Ann
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2018/01/23
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: my-signed-books, dtb-i-own, audiobooks, hoopla-books, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, read-in-2018
review:
This book was just okay for me. I liked the story but I feel like I’ve read it before. There was a lot of cliche and I didn’t really care about the characters. But I liked that it did show the complexities of foster homes and that not all are terrible.
It wasn’t bad though and I thought the narrator did a good job.
]]> It's Kind of a Funny Story 248704
Craig's suicidal episode gets him checked into a mental hospital, where his new neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio. There, Craig is finally able to confront the sources of his anxiety.

Ned Vizzini, who himself spent time in a psychiatric hospital, has created a remarkably moving tale about the sometimes unexpected road to happiness.]]> 444 Ned Vizzini 078685197X Ann 4 There was one major thing that bugged me and that was the particular wording of dialogue that he used frequently (example: “Dinner is almost ready,� mom was like.
But I got passed that every time it came up because the story was so good.
Then I read on after the novel was over and found
out that the story was semi-autobiographical. And then I found out the Ned eventually succumbed to his mental illness and took his own life and I was struck hard by this. I was so saddened. My heart really goes out there to anybody that deals with mental health issues and I wish there were more options for people that do.]]> 4.08 2006 It's Kind of a Funny Story
author: Ned Vizzini
name: Ann
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at: 2018/01/22
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, overdrive-books, read-in-2018
review:
What to say about this book. I thought it was heartwarming and cringe-worthy at the same time on subject matter alone. It’s so real! It gives such a realistic depiction of depression and mental health issues.
There was one major thing that bugged me and that was the particular wording of dialogue that he used frequently (example: “Dinner is almost ready,� mom was like.
But I got passed that every time it came up because the story was so good.
Then I read on after the novel was over and found
out that the story was semi-autobiographical. And then I found out the Ned eventually succumbed to his mental illness and took his own life and I was struck hard by this. I was so saddened. My heart really goes out there to anybody that deals with mental health issues and I wish there were more options for people that do.
]]> <![CDATA[Flame in the Mist (Flame in the Mist, #1)]]> 31393403 This is a previously published edition of ASIN B01K1AU0GW. An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.


From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Wrath and the Dawn, comes a sweeping, action-packed YA adventure set against the backdrop of Feudal Japan where Mulan meets Tamora Pierce.

The daughter of a prominent samurai, Mariko has long known her place—she may be an accomplished alchemist, whose cunning rivals that of her brother Kenshin, but because she is not a boy, her future has always been out of her hands. At just seventeen years old, Mariko is promised to Minamoto Raiden, the son of the emperor's favorite consort—a political marriage that will elevate her family's standing. But en route to the imperial city of Inako, Mariko narrowly escapes a bloody ambush by a dangerous gang of bandits known as the Black Clan, who she learns has been hired to kill her before she reaches the palace.
Dressed as a peasant boy, Mariko sets out to infiltrate the ranks of the Black Clan, determined to track down the person responsible for the target on her back. But she's quickly captured and taken to the Black Clan’s secret hideout, where she meets their leader, the rebel ronin Takeda Ranmaru, and his second-in-command, his best friend Okami. Still believing her to be a boy, Ranmaru and Okami eventually warm to Mariko, impressed by her intellect and ingenuity. As Mariko gets closer to the Black Clan, she uncovers a dark history of secrets, of betrayal and murder, which will force her to question everything she's ever known.]]> 416 Renée Ahdieh Ann 4 The story / world building was a little slow in the beginning, but it started really picking up half way through. And what an ending!
I hope that some of the unanswered questions get answers in the next one.]]> 3.97 2017 Flame in the Mist (Flame in the Mist, #1)
author: Renée Ahdieh
name: Ann
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2018/01/20
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: dtb-i-own, i-really-want-to-read, overdrive-books, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, read-in-2018
review:
I’m really liking this story and I can’t wait for the next one.
The story / world building was a little slow in the beginning, but it started really picking up half way through. And what an ending!
I hope that some of the unanswered questions get answers in the next one.
]]> <![CDATA[The Beautiful Ashes (Broken Destiny, #1)]]> 22079488
Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse - her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. And the one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who's bound by an ancient legacy to betray her.

Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn't mean he can change his fate, no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy. Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn't: That every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny and a war that could doom the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side and Adrian on the other - and nothing but ashes in between.

8 hours, 21 minutes]]> 9 Jeaniene Frost Ann 4 I didn’t care as much about the characters as I have other JF characters in the past and that is the only thing that held back that 5th star.
I really liked the narrator.]]> 3.52 2014 The Beautiful Ashes (Broken Destiny, #1)
author: Jeaniene Frost
name: Ann
average rating: 3.52
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2018/01/19
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: dtb-i-own, my-signed-books, i-really-want-to-read, audiobooks, hoopla-books, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, read-in-2018
review:
This is a good start to a new JF series (new for me). I’m excited to see where it goes.
I didn’t care as much about the characters as I have other JF characters in the past and that is the only thing that held back that 5th star.
I really liked the narrator.
]]> <![CDATA[The Edge of Everything (The Edge of Everything, #1)]]> 22296822 --James Dashner, #1 "New York Times "bestselling author of "The Maze Runner"

When their worlds collide, X and Zoe are pushed to the edge of everything in this tour de force from "Entertainment Weekly "veteran Jeff Giles.

For the perfect love, what would you be willing to lose?

It's been a shattering year for seventeen-year-old Zoe, who's still reeling from her father's shocking death in a caving accident and her neighbors' mysterious disappearance from their own home. Then on a terrifying subzero, blizzardy night in Montana, she and her brother are brutally attacked in the woods--only to be rescued by a mysterious bounty hunter they call X.

X is no ordinary bounty hunter. He is from a hell called the Lowlands, sent to claim the soul of Zoe's evil attacker and others like him. X is forbidden from revealing himself to anyone other than his prey, but he casts aside the Lowlands' rules for Zoe. As they learn more about their colliding worlds, they begin to question the past, their fate, and their future. But escaping the Lowlands and the ties that bind X might mean the ultimate sacrifice for them both.

Gripping and full of heart, this epic start to a new series will bring readers right to the edge of everything.

"Utterly original. Beautifully written. At turns poignant and funny, the story of Zoe and her fight to save her family and the strange young man known only as 'X' will stay with you long after you finish this extraordinary book."
--Peter Jackson, Oscar-winning director of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies

"Utterly fantastic. Dark, funny, exciting, a unique clashing of worlds. Every human alive should read this book."
--James Dashner, #1 "New York Times "bestselling author of "The Maze Runner"

"A fresh and addictive read that grabbed me from the first page and still hasn't let me go. Jeff Giles led me into the darkness--ultimately reminding me why we should never stop searching for the light."
--Kami Garcia, #1 "New York Times" bestselling coauthor of "Beautiful Creatures" and author of "The Lovely Reckless"

"Sharp, dark, thoughtful and romantic, readers will thrill to the start of this exciting new series."
--Cassandra Clare, #1 "New York Times "bestselling author of The Mortal Instruments series

"A dark and suspenseful supernatural thriller that kept me up all night."
--Melissa de la Cruz, #1 "New York Times" bestselling author of "The Isle of the Lost"]]> 368 Jeff Giles 1619637529 Ann 3 3.52 2017 The Edge of Everything (The Edge of Everything, #1)
author: Jeff Giles
name: Ann
average rating: 3.52
book published: 2017
rating: 3
read at: 2018/01/14
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: overdrive-books, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, read-in-2018
review:
This started out strong then fell a little flat for me. Ended up being pretty predictable.
]]> Rusty Nailed (Cocktail, #2) 18775203 Wallbanger, the second book in the Cocktail series, fan favorites Caroline and Simon negotiate the rollercoaster of their new relationship while house-sitting in San Francisco.

Playing house was never so much fun—or so confusing. With her boss on her honeymoon, Caroline’s working crazy long hours to keep the interior design company running—especially since she’s also the lead designer for the renovation of a gorgeous old hotel on Sausalito. So with her hotshot photographer boyfriend gallivanting all over the world for his job, she and Simon are heavy-duty into “absence makes the heart grow fonder� mode. Neither has any complaints about the great reunion sex, though! Then Simon decides he’s tired of so much travelling, and he’s suddenly home more. A lot more. And wanting Caroline home more, too. Though their friends� romantic lives provide plenty of welcome distraction, eventually Caroline and Simon have to sort their relationship out. Neither wants “out of sight, out of mind,� but can they create their own happy mid-ground cliché?]]> 288 Alice Clayton 1476766665 Ann 3 The narrator was pretty good.
]]> 3.91 2014 Rusty Nailed (Cocktail, #2)
author: Alice Clayton
name: Ann
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2014
rating: 3
read at: 2018/01/12
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: dtb-i-own, my-signed-books, shameless-2017, audiobooks, hoopla-books, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, read-in-2018
review:
This was just okay for me. I really loved Wallbanger but I found myself caring more about the side characters in this story than the main characters.
The narrator was pretty good.

]]> <![CDATA[Drive (The Bittersweet Symphony Duet #1)]]> 36413250 Nominee for Best Contemporary Romance-GOODREADS. Named one of the Top 10 hottest romance reads of 2017 by Huffington Post and New York Daily News!From the bestselling author of The Ravenhood Trilogy, comes an angsty, steamy, white-knuckle ride full of love, loss, and self-discovery. Music . . . the heart’s greatest librarian.The average song is three and a half minutes long; those three and a half minutes could lead to a slow blink, a glimpse of the past, or catapult the soul into heart-shattering nostalgia.At the height of my career, I had the life I wanted, the life I’d always envisioned. I’d found my tempo, my rhythm. Then I received a phone call that left me off key. You see, my favorite songs had a way of playing simultaneously. I was in love with one man’s beats and another’s lyrics. But when it came to the soundtrack of a life, how could anyone choose a favorite song? So, to erase any doubt, I ditched my first-class ticket and decided to take a drive, fixed on the rearview.Two days.One playlist.And the long road home to the man who was waiting for me.Drive is BOOK #1 in The Bittersweet Symphony duet.The Bittersweet Symphony Duet#1 Drive#2 Reverse#2.5 Bittersweet Melody (A Bittersweet Novella)*Both books in the duet must be read in order. ]]> 412 Kate Stewart Ann 4 I thought this was a cute story. Not too much angst, which was a relief. There were a few inconsistencies towards the beginning and parts that lagged, but overall, I liked it.]]> 4.53 2017 Drive (The Bittersweet Symphony Duet #1)
author: Kate Stewart
name: Ann
average rating: 4.53
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2018/01/09
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: i-really-want-to-read, ku, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, read-in-2018
review:
3.5/5 stars
I thought this was a cute story. Not too much angst, which was a relief. There were a few inconsistencies towards the beginning and parts that lagged, but overall, I liked it.
]]> <![CDATA[The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (Montague Siblings, #1)]]> 29283884
But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.]]> 528 Mackenzi Lee 0062382802 Ann 5 This book was fun, sweet, well written, and relevant. The storyline is woven together with equality issues that still plague our society while adventure and high jinx ensue. ]]> 4.03 2017 The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (Montague Siblings, #1)
author: Mackenzi Lee
name: Ann
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2018/01/04
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: overdrive-books, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, favorites-of-2018, own-on-audible, read-in-2018
review:
4.5/5 stars
This book was fun, sweet, well written, and relevant. The storyline is woven together with equality issues that still plague our society while adventure and high jinx ensue.
]]> <![CDATA[Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened]]> 17571564
Pictures
Words
Stories about things that happened to me
Stories about things that happened to other people because of me
Eight billion dollars*
Stories about dogs
The secret to eternal happiness*

*These are lies. Perhaps I have underestimated my sneakiness!]]> 371 Allie Brosh 1451666179 Ann 5 4.16 2013 Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened
author: Allie Brosh
name: Ann
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2013
rating: 5
read at: 2018/01/02
date added: 2019/05/31
shelves: i-really-want-to-read, scribd, favorites-of-2018, 2018-bnb-reading-challenge, read-in-2018
review:
This book was fantastic! Funny and truthy and real. I just loved it and plan to recommend it to everybody that will listen to me.
]]>