Reading Challenged: 2016

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Rebecca

Title: Rebecca
Author: Daphne Du Maurier
Publisher: Hachette

ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: This started off slowly, but the end was intense with an interesting twist. Made me want to listen again.

Rating: 4/5

Stacking the Shelves: 12/18-12/24

First Reads from Goodreads:

In the Red by Jessica Pishko

Received in January's Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss:

To Find a Viking Treasure by Gina Conkle

Royal Scandal by Marquita Valentine

Dying Breath by Kory M. Shrum

The Hero by Donna Grant

Kill Without Shame by Alexandra Ivy

His Ballerina Bride by Teri Wilson

The Trouble with Dukes by Grace Burrowes

The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Teased to Death

Title: Teased to Death
Author: Gina LaManna
Publisher: Gemma Halliday

ISBN: 9781943587100

Why Read?: Fresh Fiction

Thoughts: A fun cozy with a surprising theme. I also greatly enjoyed the "secret society" parts.

Rating: 4/5

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Stacking the Shelves: 12/11-12/17

For review:

The Penitent by A. Keith Carreiro

First Reads from Goodreads:

Married at Midnight by Gerri Russell

The Sound of Rain by Gregg Olson

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Dragon Fall

Title: Dragon Fall
Author: Katie MacAlister
Publisher: Forever

ISBN: 978-1-4555-5921-3

Why Read?: Fresh Fiction

Thoughts: MacAlister writes the best dragon-shifter novels. Like all books in her Dragon Sept series, this is humorous, adventurous, and sexy.

Rating: 4/5

Following Disasters

Following Disasters

by Nancy McCabe

published by Outpost19

2016

ISBN 9781944853037

Following Disasters by Nancy McCabe has the feel of the gothic novels its heroine reads. There is an old house, a ghost, and lots of personal realization in this atmospheric novel.

At 21, Maggie-Kate Owen is living a nomadic life "following disasters" for an insurance company. All that changes, though, when her Aunt Beth dies and leaves her the old Victorian. Maggie-Kate moves in and begins to think back on the disasters that have befallen her own life so far. She comes to realize that her life has parallels to her aunt's but, unlike her aunt, she has time to change her fate if she can learn from the relationship mistakes of her elders.

Following Disasters starts a little slow, but the atmosphere is there from the get-go. McCabe starts with what feels like a simple coming-of-age story, but things become deeper and more complex as the story moves along. The switching between Maggie-Kate's past and present is just as easy to follow as the switches to Beth's journal, which helps keep the pace moving as the plot picks up speed.

Following Disasters is a deep work that will appeal to those who like gothic-esque novels. Nancy McCabe's first foray into fiction is a success that begs for more.

Rating: 4/5

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Stacking the Shelves: 12/4-12/10

For review:

Twisted by Bonnie M. Hennessy

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Special Dead

Title: Special Dead
Author: Patrick Frievald
Publisher: Journal Stone

ISBN: 978-1-936564-93-4

Why Read?: Early Review

Thoughts: Although a sequel, this was easy to pick and read almost as a standalone. However, there were plenty of parts that just dragged, which somehow hurt the reader's empathy towards the characters.

Rating: 3 stars

Saturday, December 3, 2016

The Business of Love

Title: The Business of Love
Author: Anna James
Publisher: Samhain

ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: Fresh Fiction

Thoughts: Parts were good (such as the vandalism and burglary); parts were not (such as the pregnancy scare). This lead to a very uneven read.

Rating: 3 stars

Stacking the Shelves: 11/27-12/3

Won:

Dark Hope by Monica McGurk

Dark Before Dawn by Monica McGurk

Received in Novembers's Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss:

Sexiest Man Alive by M. Clarke

A Stroke of Luck by Audra North

Highway Thirteen to Manhattan by Kourtney Heintz

Tree of Life and Death by Elizabeth Ashby & Gin Jones

Maid Under the Mistletoe by Mauren Child

Size Matters by Alison Bliss

Where Two Hearts Meet by Liz Johnson

Victoria by Daisy Goodwin

Received in Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss's LE Christmas Box:

His Jingle Bell Princess by Barbara Dunlop

The Omen Days by J. T. Ellison

Christmas in Eternity Springs by Emily March

A Christmas Bride by Hope Ramsay

Mistletoe Between Friends/The Snowflake Inn by Samantha Chase

Mistletoe Cottage by Debbie Mason

Christmas Joy by Nancy Naigle

Monday, November 28, 2016

Unconscious Knowledge

Title: Unconscious Knowledge
Author: Beaird Glover
Publisher: Open

ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: Early Review

Thoughts: Just not my cup of tea. Too much bizarre and senseless violence.

Rating: 2 stars

The Salvation of Gabriel Adam

Title: The Salvation of Gabriel Adam
Author: S. L. Duncan
Publisher: Medallion

ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: Early Review

Thoughts: While this is the middle of a trilogy and not a stand alone, it was pretty easy to figure out the story and become engaged.

Rating: 3 stars

Conquistador of the Night Lands

Title: Conquistador of the Night Lands
Author: Robin Wyatt Dunn
Publisher: John Ott

ISBN: 978-1-940830-10-0

Why Read?: Early Review

Thoughts: Just as slipstream as the other novels I have read by Dunn, but this was a little more sci-fi instead of fantasy.

Rating: 2 stars

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Holiday Mystery Short Story Bundle

Title: Holiday Mystery Short Story Bundle
Author: Gemma Halliday, Leslie Langtry, Gin Jones, Janel Gradowski, Jennifer L. Hart, Kelly Rey, Kerri Nelson, Traci Andrighetti, & Jennifer Fischetto
Publisher: Gemma Halliday

ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: Fresh Fiction

Thoughts: This collection contains short stories/novellas from nine cozy mystery series. All but the first story were cozies (the first was just plain romantic comedy), but I enjoyed some better than others.

Rating: 3 stars