April 2019 Reads

1) Red Velvet Cupcake Murder // Joanne Fluke \\ 2 Stars
Ever since watching Murder She Baked on the Hallmark Channel, I've been wanting to read & get through at least one of the books the TV series is based on. So...I listened to this one as an audiobook while working out, and while I didn't necessarily hate it, I really didn't love it. 

On top of this book having a pretty small-town vibe with seemingly all fluff-headed gossipy characters (they didn't seem that way on the TV show and this book was a major let-down for me in the character department), the plot felt incredibly tedious. And slow. And tedious. 
And that love triangle! It wasn't even romantic. Seriously, Hannah stringing along TWO boyfriends for several years but never actually making up her mind to stick with one or the other...ugh. She didn't even seem to have any romantic feelings for either of them. While I haven't read the other books in this series, Mike & Norman almost seemed like unnecessary secondary characters. Certainly not love interests.

Also, speaking of love interests--shoutout to the awkward scene near the beginning of the book where Hannah has a guy in her room and goes on to describe just how great he is without naming him...until we get to the end of the scene and discover it's Moisha. 
Her cat. 
*facepalms for days* 
I don't find that amusing. On so many levels. I love me a good animal companion, but honestly, I don't much care to hear from pets in novels. Nor have the adoration for Moisha at level 500, and have Mike/Norman adoration toned down to...I don't know...3.5? 

It's possible the narrator's bad narrating made the characters seem way more dumb and air-headed than they actually were, but...combine that with a pretty trivial and slow-moving plot and...you have a book that I passed the time working out with and didn't quite dislike--I did like a few parts or phrases, but...let's just say it was far from riveting.  

2) Verity \\ Lisa Bergren \\ 4 Stars

Verity--ah yes, what a lovely tale. So heartwarming and well-paced, with colourful characters and an intriguing plotline. And that tropical atmosphere! It was nice to have a bit of a break from the typical London or New York city vibes for at least part of the book, and get to spend it on the tropical island of Nevis. 
I was so sad to start by hearing of Duncan's demise--he was one of my favourite characters in the previous book, however, meeting and getting to know his brother was fabulous. I felt like the romance was...not rushed, but...just, kinda different, with Verity and Ian. Not nonexistent, but, not as prevalent as I might have hoped. However, I still enjoyed their relationship.

So far, I'm loving this fresh, adventurous series and look forward to reading Selah's book! 

*free ebook copy was given to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

3) Thief's Mark \\ Carla Neggers \\ 3 Stars

Set in a charming, small town in the UK, Thief's Mark had all the proper British, murder-mystery vibes to it. It wasn't quite "my thing" which I'm sure was due, in part, to the fact that I came crashing into the series, at book 7. The characters were a pretty surface-y, and the plot a bit too meandering and slow for my tastes. However, it was a well-crafted plot, and the UK countryside vibe was a good one!

4) Defy Me \\ Taherah Mafi \\ 3 Stars

Fast-paced with some good plot ground covered. I felt Defy Me was a bit...short--almost like a novella--which was kinda disappointing after waiting for so long. It also seemed like Juliette & Warner's romance was fairly nonexistent, until it was just...sex. So yeah. That wasn't my thing, but I still enjoyed reading Defy Me.

5) Unite Me \\ Taherah Mafi \\ 2 Stars

Maybe I'm just not a novella person...but I always feel like there isn't enough actual content to make them count. They feel like they're mostly filler scenes. That was the case with Unite Me. Yes, we got a few insights into Warner and Adam, but...not really enough to make it worth it, in my estimation--but that's just me.

6) Double Blind \\ Iris Johansen \\ 3 Stars

A good change of pace compared to the slower books I've been working through of late. I liked Kendra & Lynch's chemistry. The plot held its own. And while I wasn't over the top in love with Double Blind, I did thoroughly enjoy it!

7) Believe Me \\ JP Delaney \\ 1 Star

What the heck was this sadistic perv trip about?! Yikes! I wish the description was actually accurate--because I would've never picked Believe Me up if I knew the plot would be focused on an uber creepy, sadistic, sexually violent crime spree. Delaney lost me at the part he dropped a serial killer who's into BDSM--into my lap. *raises hands in a placative manner* let's back up, and let me run in the opposite direction, screaming bloody, psychopathic murder.

I was quite intrigued by the concept of this book and knew that, if executed correctly, it would be a real stunner of a thriller. However, in the space of ONE CHAPTER, it took a turn for the MAJOR CREEPS, ya'll. For reference, we got like five, uber descriptive, macabre murders (that were also pretty sexually messed up, just to make it weirder) recapped for us in one chapter, when things started getting weird, and this was only at about 150 pages into the book. I cannot stress enough on the chilly willies I got in that chapter or two--and I've read a lot of crime/suspense books. Add to that a serial killer who's into BDSM & all kinds of pervy crap--and I tossed this book faster than you can say goodbye.

8) The Noble Guardian \\ Michelle Griep \\ 4 Stars 

Such a delightful tale, featuring one of my favourite characters of the series--Thatcher! The Noble Guardian has all the high and low points that will make a reader sing, and is straight up--a robust, well-paced, heart-warming & colourful historical read.

*I was given a free ebook copy on Netgalley via the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion*

Favourite of the month: 

It's a tossup between Verity & The Noble Guardian. Both were so beautiful and entertaining. 

What was your favourite read of the month? 

BeoWulf by Ronie Kendig | Books She Loves

Book 3 in the Breed Apart 

series by Ronie Kendig, doesn't disappoint!!

VIOLENCE: 

Military suspense type stuff. Hand to hand combat. People get beat up, shot down, blown up, and there's blood. Nothing terribly up-close gory. There is one scene where an explosion rocks a team, and a soldier's leg is almost blown off. He nearly bleeds out, there's a lot of blood and he's pretty traumatized when he comes to in the middle of it- clearly in a lot of pain.  

SEXUAL CONTENT: 

Timbrel has a few painful flashbacks from being raped- not really descriptive, more just the pain that she felt in the moment, or the breath of her abuser etc. 

Our two MC's fall in love. There's attraction between the two (duh, lol) several kisses, some more passionate than others. Nothing very steamy. 

CONCLUSION: 

Adrenaline, suspense, romance, conflict, cat and mouse, solving the mystery- this book has it all.
I loved Candyman & Timbrel as characters. They were relatable, lovable, colourful and unique. I found myself laughing over their blunders, and my heart cried when they weren't doing so hot. These characters are keepers that I will never forget, and will come back to re-read again and again! 

5 Stars, and I'd recommend it for readers 18+ 

Firewall by DiAnn Mills

The synopsis intrigued me immediately with this book...when catastrophe strikes a newlywed (mainly, an airport terminal blowing up enroute to their honeymoon) woman, and her husband may not be who is claimed to be...honestly- this it brought me in immediately. Right from the first chapter- action, intrigue- questions!!! So awesome. 

Forgive the fact that I don't have a nice photo of this book- I read it on my phone, so I grabbed an image off of google! 

PLOT:

Started intense straight from chapter 1, and always kept a good pace and flow throughout the book. This plot was multilayered and COMPLEX, people. There were so many plot strains and levels going on...as each one was presented and uncovered, I was like, whet?!! So impressed. People. This plot was GOLDEN. 

SEXUAL CONTENT: 

Some kissing, attraction, falling in love- that kinda stuff. This book is a romance! As our MC is a newlywed, the first chapter beginning the morning after Taryn and Shep are married, she remembers how passionate their wedding night was, etc etc. but nothing is explained or expanded on. Mentions made to Shep always wondering why she waited for marriage...that kinda thing. 

VIOLENCE: 

There's an explosion in an airport terminal. Lot's of people end up dead, or injured. Hand to hand combat. Someone is taken out via a long distance sniper shot, shot at close range, drugged, etc. A character finds someone murdered in their house, their throat having been slashed and a pool of blood surrounding them. 

CONCLUSION: 

I loved this book. The suspense kept me turning the pages in rapid fire, waiting to see what would happen next, how everything would work itself out- it was marvellous. So many plot twists. So many turns and unexpected events. I enjoyed the characters, the slight romance, the plot, everything. I loved this book, and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys the suspense genre. 

5 Stars & recommend this book for ages 17+. Again, some 16 year olds would dig this one, but for some, 18 would be better. It's different for every reader. 

Eye For An Eye by Irene Hannon

PLOT: 

Kept a steady flow throughout the book. 

However, I will say upfront that if the idea of a psychotic killer who thinks he's doing God's work by murdering an innocent person, is not your jam, don't read this book. On the flip side, if you enjoy villains who are mentally askance and think they're doing God a favour and following 'The Good Book' by killing innocents, you'll be having a field day with this book. Just a heads up. It seems Hannon has a thing for creating psychotic religious villains. 

SEXUAL CONTENT: 

Our two MC's used to know each other in high school- dated, in fact, so they have memories of their time together. During the course of the book, they kiss many times, appreciate the way the other person's body is built or how attractive they are, a few times (this is clothed appreciation ;) kissing, being attacted to each other, etc. etc. this is a romantic suspense- so romance is definitely on the menu, but nothing is really steamy. 

There is reference made to someone purchasing a drug with street names like 'Easy Lay, Liquid Ecstasy' and other names- it keeps the body's muscles from responding to the brain's commands (basically paralyzing the user) and muddles the brain whilst keeping the user (or victim) conscious but not thinking entirely straight. While it is not used as it is intended, mention is made that it is a date-rape drug that predators use on unsuspecting women. 

VIOLENCE: 

This is a crime fiction novel, so with law enforcement, comes a certain level of violence. 

A teen commits suicide (we don't see it, but it is relayed by another character) by hanging himself in a barn. Another character is on a murdering rampage. Some typical crime fiction type guns/fighting whatnot. 

CONCLUSION: 

For me, the only thing I really enjoyed about this book was the romance between our two MC's. I enjoyed them together and would have read a book just about them falling in love, outside a suspense environment. 

I'm a huge suspense fiction fan, but honestly, Hannon's psychotic killers who think they are doing God a favor- I've had enough of them. It's gotten old, and it takes suspense fiction to a different level, that I just don't jive with. To me, it's annoying and not at all amusing, entertaining or complex. I realize sick people like the villains in her books exist, but I almost feel that creating a psychotic killer who is beyond insanity- is a very poor writing crutch, and apart from that- grotesque on multiple levels. 

However, that is just my personal opinion. I know a lot of people love psychotic killer villains. I'm just not one of them. 

I keep coming back to Hannon's fiction, somehow forgetting that after every book I read, I feel gross and disturbed and like I wasted several hours on a majorly warped villain. I think I might have set sail from the Irene Hannon fiction-dom. Who knows. 

I just don't appreciate it when the story almost feels like it's more centred around the villain, than it is the MC's. I'm reading the book for the MC's, not the creepy villains that still disgust you long after you put the book down. 

2 Stars for my enjoyment of the MC's romance, and I'd recommend this book for at least 18+