Why I have this book: I bought the paperback edition six years ago and never read it. I suggested it for book club (so I would be more motivated to read it), and then I ended up buying the Kindle version for $1.99. I just like reading on my Kindle better! (I gave the print edition to a friend in my book club.)
I liked this book. As an adoptive mom, I was interested in the emotions of the characters. I actually think it tied up too neatly without a full resolution, but adoption is like that more often than not, I think.
The cultural descriptions of India were interesting to me. I've read several books set in India, and it's a fascinating country. I don't think I would do well there, though.
This book is pretty clean. There are a few swear words and a mention of rape.
Friday, September 29, 2017
Sunday, September 24, 2017
The Selection Series Books 1-3 (Kiera Cass)
The Selection
The Elite
The One
Why I have these books. I bought the first one when it was on sale for Kindle. I borrowed the rest.
I loved these books. If love was the only criteria, I would give them 5 stars on Goodreads, but I have to reserve that for books that are amazing, like Unbroken and such. But if I could, I would give this 4.8 stars. Sadly, it just goes from 4 to 5, so I gave them 4 stars each.
I could hardly get my nose out of these books, and I started the next just as soon as I finished one. There are two more books in the series, which I have on hold at the library, but I'm at a good stopping point, so I'm being patient. I was really tempted to buy the fourth one!
Anyway, this is geared toward young adults. (Although the world would maybe say it's fine for high-schoolers, I'd say young adult.) Great writing, great story... and it's easy to get absorbed into the world Kiera Cass created in this series.
There is some occasional swearing in this series (including using the name of God as an exclamation of expression) and some mildly suggestive situations. Nothing graphic and nothing goes "too far." There is some violence (like in a war or rebellion), but not graphic.
The Elite
The One
Why I have these books. I bought the first one when it was on sale for Kindle. I borrowed the rest.
I loved these books. If love was the only criteria, I would give them 5 stars on Goodreads, but I have to reserve that for books that are amazing, like Unbroken and such. But if I could, I would give this 4.8 stars. Sadly, it just goes from 4 to 5, so I gave them 4 stars each.
I could hardly get my nose out of these books, and I started the next just as soon as I finished one. There are two more books in the series, which I have on hold at the library, but I'm at a good stopping point, so I'm being patient. I was really tempted to buy the fourth one!
Anyway, this is geared toward young adults. (Although the world would maybe say it's fine for high-schoolers, I'd say young adult.) Great writing, great story... and it's easy to get absorbed into the world Kiera Cass created in this series.
There is some occasional swearing in this series (including using the name of God as an exclamation of expression) and some mildly suggestive situations. Nothing graphic and nothing goes "too far." There is some violence (like in a war or rebellion), but not graphic.
Monday, September 18, 2017
Missing Lily (Annette K. Larsen)
Why I have this book: I bought it a couple of years ago after reading the first book in the series. I only discovered I had it when the rest of the books in the series came up on sale. (.99 each!) I had enjoyed the first one, so I thought, "Why not?" on the rest of them.
Sadly, I didn't enjoy this one near as much as the first one. The writing seemed very "tell me" instead of "show me" (something I learned about in my recent writing class - haha). It's odd, because I've read books by this author that I really like, and then there are others that just don't have a smooth feel to them. This one was also a little far-fetched for me.
I'll finish the other books in the series over time.
Clean.
Sadly, I didn't enjoy this one near as much as the first one. The writing seemed very "tell me" instead of "show me" (something I learned about in my recent writing class - haha). It's odd, because I've read books by this author that I really like, and then there are others that just don't have a smooth feel to them. This one was also a little far-fetched for me.
I'll finish the other books in the series over time.
Clean.
Saturday, September 9, 2017
Strings Attached (Judy Blundell)
Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the ebook library after reading another of the author's books and having them both recommended to me by a friend.
Okay...
I felt like the first part of the book was really slow and a little all-over-the-place. Then it became super intriguing and attention-grabbing, and then it ended in a way that I didn't expect.
I think I'm mostly annoyed that it didn't end the way I thought it would. The book was good enough that I'm actually bothered about it still. It's not like I'm saying, "Well, that was lame," and then moving right along. I was invested enough that I'm still just bothered!
This book was mostly clean, although there was one instance I remember where the Lord's name was taken in vain and there were mobster-type situations with a bit of moral scandal. Nothing was graphically described.
Okay...
I felt like the first part of the book was really slow and a little all-over-the-place. Then it became super intriguing and attention-grabbing, and then it ended in a way that I didn't expect.
I think I'm mostly annoyed that it didn't end the way I thought it would. The book was good enough that I'm actually bothered about it still. It's not like I'm saying, "Well, that was lame," and then moving right along. I was invested enough that I'm still just bothered!
This book was mostly clean, although there was one instance I remember where the Lord's name was taken in vain and there were mobster-type situations with a bit of moral scandal. Nothing was graphically described.
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Though Waters Roar (Lynn Austin)
Why I have this book: I've had it for a long time (about 5 years!) on my Kindle. I've always like the author's books, so I'm sure that's why I bought it at some point. It was also only $2.99, so that's always a motivation.
So... I'm sad to say that I didn't love this book. That was a surprise, because Lynn Austin is usually a really great writer. I only gave it 2 stars on Goodreads.
The storyline could have been fleshed out to make it so much better, but it mostly felt like even the characters weren't developed very well. I was thinking it might have been her first book, but it wasn't even close.
I'm still a fan, but this one wasn't great for me.
This Christian novel is clean.
So... I'm sad to say that I didn't love this book. That was a surprise, because Lynn Austin is usually a really great writer. I only gave it 2 stars on Goodreads.
The storyline could have been fleshed out to make it so much better, but it mostly felt like even the characters weren't developed very well. I was thinking it might have been her first book, but it wasn't even close.
I'm still a fan, but this one wasn't great for me.
This Christian novel is clean.
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Before We Were Yours (Lisa Wingate)
Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the ebook library.
I loved this book. I'm not gonna lie... it's a tough read in parts, but it grabbed onto me and I was stuck in it every free moment. (I made extra free moments so I could stay stuck.)
I had never heard of the Tennessee Children's Home Society before reading this book. What a dark part of US adoption, and I can't help but wonder how much of this adoption "black market" still exists. I have no doubt that it does happen in places around the world, but I hope and pray that the majority of adoptions are on the up and up. As an adoptive mom, that certainly is my prayer. It helps me to understand the stricter requirements that have been put in place in my daughter's birth country. Even though I think it has complicated the process too much (and to the point of hurting the children as far as the waiting times and the chance to bond at a younger age), I can see why agencies and countries need to be very careful.
This book involves some tough subjects, including abuse of every kind. However, I was impressed that there was not one swear word in the entire book. Considering the evil of some of the characters, I was surprised that the author didn't have them using coarse language. I'm very happy about that.
I loved this book. I'm not gonna lie... it's a tough read in parts, but it grabbed onto me and I was stuck in it every free moment. (I made extra free moments so I could stay stuck.)
I had never heard of the Tennessee Children's Home Society before reading this book. What a dark part of US adoption, and I can't help but wonder how much of this adoption "black market" still exists. I have no doubt that it does happen in places around the world, but I hope and pray that the majority of adoptions are on the up and up. As an adoptive mom, that certainly is my prayer. It helps me to understand the stricter requirements that have been put in place in my daughter's birth country. Even though I think it has complicated the process too much (and to the point of hurting the children as far as the waiting times and the chance to bond at a younger age), I can see why agencies and countries need to be very careful.
This book involves some tough subjects, including abuse of every kind. However, I was impressed that there was not one swear word in the entire book. Considering the evil of some of the characters, I was surprised that the author didn't have them using coarse language. I'm very happy about that.
Monday, August 14, 2017
The Underside of Joy (Seré Prince Halverson)
Why I have this book: I had it on my Amazon Wish List for a long time, and when the price dropped enough, I bought it.
I really liked this book. Could have done without the swearing, although it didn't seem as glaring as in a lot of other books. Maybe because I could picture my own Italian great-grandparents speaking the same way, although I don't remember them swearing quite so much. ;)
The ending could have been drawn out a little more for me. The Epilogue tied things up, but I would have preferred to see it happen. Still, it was good. I probably just wasn't ready for it to end.
The writing really drew me in and I still am thinking about it a few days after finishing. I'm glad I read it.
There is quite a bit of swearing in this book, including the F-word. (Although the author doesn't write out the whole word. There's more the "F---" type thing going on.) There is some sexuality, but not really graphic in description.
I really liked this book. Could have done without the swearing, although it didn't seem as glaring as in a lot of other books. Maybe because I could picture my own Italian great-grandparents speaking the same way, although I don't remember them swearing quite so much. ;)
The ending could have been drawn out a little more for me. The Epilogue tied things up, but I would have preferred to see it happen. Still, it was good. I probably just wasn't ready for it to end.
The writing really drew me in and I still am thinking about it a few days after finishing. I'm glad I read it.
There is quite a bit of swearing in this book, including the F-word. (Although the author doesn't write out the whole word. There's more the "F---" type thing going on.) There is some sexuality, but not really graphic in description.
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