NetGalley Archives

September 17, 2018September 18, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: Consumed

38622279 — J.R. Ward
Release Date
10/02/2018

This was a really good book. It could have been set in a police station, because first-responder attitudes are very similar, but then the title wouldn’t have made any sense. And the title is very cleverly chosen in this case. Fire, passion, life…how easy it to be consumed by any or all of these things? Even the heroine’s name (Ashburn) is a nod to the fire theme of the story. This is not your typical romance, but it is one heckuva story. Below is my Goodreads review.

At times haunting and poetic, this book is a masterful crime story wrapped in a tale of loss, sorrow, and renewal. It opens with a tragic fire, and this event drives all facets of the plot. When it comes to the lives of firefighters, the author writes with precision. From the descriptions of the gear and machinery, to the procedures, and even the thoughts and attitudes, everything is accurate. I especially appreciated the voice in which the author wrote. No matter what the character, the “inner thoughts” matched the “outer voices.” There are several moments of dark and/or sarcastic humor, which is how first responders often cope with the issues they face. (One passage about “non-conforming conformists” was especially funny). The characters are real; their motivations and reactions are organic and not contrived for dramatic effect. I actually felt like I was reading a story that could have been told about any real-life firehouse and the members who inhabit it. I was slightly disappointed in the heroine at one point, because she veered into a stereotypical reaction that seemed out of character. But that moment was actually small enough that it didn’t affect her overall character. All in all, this was an excellent story and I would definitely recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and the author for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

September 10, 2018September 10, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: “Petals and Stones”

Guys, this is one you don’t want to miss! The catalysts for the story are two things a woman hopes to never have to deal with in her marriage, and the main character, Uma, has to deal with them both in a short amount of time. Her journey as she deals with the emotions brought about by the events, while trying to recover and rediscover herself, is poignant but also thought-provoking. I know that it made me take a step back and answer some of the same questions Uma asked herself. Fortunately for me, my answers were different…but it definitely made me recognize some important things I had overlooked. My Goodreads review is below.

This exploration of what happens when two different life-changing events collide into one big maelstrom of emotion is hauntingly beautiful. Joanne Burn has created a story that is both reflective and thought-provoking. As Uma recovers from the one-two punch of events, she is forced to re-evaluate her life choices. Through Uma’s journey, the author explores issues such as the emphasis on image over truth in a marriage, whether something built on a lie is sustainable, and why it sometimes takes a tragedy to recognize the reality of a situation. The author also uses symbolism effectively, specifically the lighting of fires (for cooking or warmth) to illustrate Uma’s inner fire being relit. I especially liked that she used the four elements (air, fire, water, earth) as a basis for Uma’s healing: the way Uma was swept along by the breeze of her marriage (and the winds that signify change as she comes to her realizations), the previously mentioned fires, the ocean that calls to Uma and invigorates her, and the spices, stones, and flower petals that finally give her the answers she has been looking for. An excellent book that should be at the top of anyone’s TBR list! Thank you to NetGalley, Legend Press, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

September 7, 2018September 7, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: “All That Was Lost”

If you have a secret, do you have to lie in order to keep it a secret? Or is it possible to be truthful and still keep your secret? Can keeping a secret and lying about it negatively impact your well-being?

This was a fantastic book that explores these questions in an approachable and thought-provoking manner. Patrice is a well-known psychic who hires Leo to ghostwrite her autobiography. Through Patrice’s flashbacks to 1967, the reader gains insight as to her motivations. Leo has his own story that intertwines with Patrice’s, as does Louise. These three main characters’ points of view intertwine nicely without the reader feeling jarred when a perspective changes. There are a couple of minor twists, and a few major ones, but this isn’t a thriller. It’s more of a reflection on how life can throw us curveballs, how we deal with those curveballs, and how our actions can affect others. A really great read from Alison May.

(For more on this book, see my review on Goodreads!)

September 5, 2018

About the Fiction…one last thing

This blog was almost called “Fireflies, Fiction, and Free Kicks.” Fortunately one of my best friends talked me down from making it too obnoxiously long. But there will be an important aspect to this blog, and that will be book reviews. I have been an avid reader since…well, since I could first read. In second grade, I won a reading competition. Big deal, right? It was one that was held at the junior high school where my mom was an English teacher. That’s right, little 2nd grade me beat a bunch of 8th graders.

My love for books has never diminished. This past May, I became a member of #NetGalley. I receive Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) from publishers in exchange for honest reviews. It’s exciting on so many levels, because I get to read buzz-worthy books, but I also get insight into an author’s thought process. Hey, maybe someday I’ll have courage to write that book that’s been kicking around in my head….

Anyway, you’ll see my reviews on this page. I hope that people grab recommendations from them. Nothing would make me happier than to know that people read and spread the word on a book that I recommended.

June 9, 2018September 7, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: “Lies”

WOW! It’s not often that a book leaves me speechless, but Lies certainly did. By the time the big reveal occurred (as it always does in psych thrillers) my jaw was hanging open and I couldn’t read fast enough! I really cannot say enough good things about this book. I loved that it was told from a male point of view, which is very different from many other psychological thrillers these days. I thought the plot was tightly written and there were no questions left unanswered; everything was “resolved” in the end. I especially liked the way the author wove a commentary about technology into the story, without preaching to the reader. Through Joe, the main character, we see how reliant we have become on the tech around us, and how that reliance can enable both good and bad events. A stand-out among psychological thrillers, and I can’t wait to read more from this author! Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

June 5, 2018September 7, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: “The Other Woman”

It’s so difficult to review a psychological thriller without giving away important plot points. I’m going to give it a try without giving too much away. This was one of the better books that I have read lately, but it had a few flaws. The author does a good job of making the primary villain extremely unlikable, almost too much so. At some points, I wondered why anyone would put up with someone so horrible, and not just walk away. However, I will say that that question does eventually get answered. Emily, the main character, goes through an awful lot, which is par for the course in a psychological thriller. I found her to be a little weak, but there was no particular reason given for her to be that way. In addition, the other antagonist (no name, don’t want to give it away) wasn’t fleshed out enough. I wanted more reasons for and/or examples of why and how that person was the way they were. The end reveal didn’t answer enough of those questions for me. All of that being said, it was still an enjoyable read, with a fairly tight plot. I would definitely recommend it to someone who likes the genre. I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

June 3, 2018September 7, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: “Down With Love”

She had me at “Ramen. Freakin’. Noodles.”

I LOVED this book! At first glance, it seemed like it would be just another “Alpha male player finds the one woman who changes his ways” book. While that is an underlying theme, to reduce it to something that simple would be a great disservice. Max has so many more layers, as does Charlie. The journey that they take as they war with each other is both heartwarming and hugely entertaining (the quotes at the beginning of each chapter help guide the reader; I’d suggest maybe citing them if possible). Kate Meader has a way of writing that doesn’t seem as stilted as many other authors in this genre. Her characters are likable and they “spoke” in a way that was very natural; Charlie, especially, reminded me of how my friends and I talk. Meader also writes descriptively. I never highlight passages in books, but I highlighted more than a few in this one. My favorite was “…familiar doubts have a habit of dropping acid into the crevices in my self-assurance.” By using her words beautifully, (Max would be proud), she gives more life to her characters’ feelings. I will be putting Meader in my “favorite authors” list, and look forward to reading more books by her!

May 29, 2018September 25, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: “Mr. Nice Guy”

I was honestly confused by this book. From the description, I expected a more straightforward “he said/she said” story told through the competing magazine columns. That part of the story was interesting, and I think the book would have been fine if that had been it. But there was more to the story; a secondary plot about the main character, Lucas, trying to find his way in the publishing business. This became very convoluted. His boss’ backroom dealings, an odd financial benefactor and various other characters seemed to be filler. That being said, the “magazine job” angle would have been an interesting story on its own as well. What it all boils down to is that this book seemed to be a mash up of two separate books that never seemed to really entirely gel. It tried to do too much, and as a result, nothing was as gripping as it could have been.