Review: A Different Kind of Normal

A Different Kind of Normal by Cathy Lamb
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow. Such a beautiful story of love, family, and finding yourself. I loved it.
Make sure you have lots of tea handy as you will want to drink some while reading it...and maybe some whiskey too.

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Review: The Fate of the Tearling

The Fate of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, I can safely say I didn't see that ending coming but what a great finish to the series.

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Review: Sisters One, Two, Three

Sisters One, Two, Three by Nancy Star
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was my December Kindle first pick. It’s a very sad story that sort of has a happy ending. But it really makes you stop and think about family secrets. I’m still trying to process this one, not really sure if I liked it or not.
You have an overbearing mother with children who have to learn to watch her moods and are basically afraid of her. The father tries, but you can tell it’s never enough. It’s a family that wants to be happy but somehow always falls short.


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Review: Crooked Kingdom

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Let me start this with Kaz Brekker is a genius criminal mastermind. You never know what that scheming face is going to come up with.
This was such an extremely well done sequel. I may actually like it better than Six of Crows. Just as you think the story has shifted one way out of the blue comes something else. Most people compare books to roller coaster rides, but I’ve yet to be on a coaster than made me feel like this book did.
Read it.


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Review: Order to Kill

Order to Kill by Kyle Mills
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kyle Mills does an excellent job in writing in the style of Vince Flynn. If you were a fan before then you should definitely read Survivor and then this one. I don't think you will be disappointed, I haven't been.

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Review: Six of Crows

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an excellent read. It started off a bit slow but once it hit pace I had a hard time putting it down. I usually get thrown off by multiple POV books but I believe in this case it made the story that much better. There’s a lot going on in this one and you want to know what’s coming next….and then you get to the end and it’s not really over. Argh. But I want to know what happens next and how it will be finished. So now to get the sequel.

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#BannedBooksWeek is winding down. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't still seek out challenged books and read them. Or even better fight the people trying to ban books and ideas because they disagree with what they believe.

Wireless Device

Banned Books Week

It's that time of year again, one of my favorite weeks! Banned Books Week!
Be rebel read a banned\challenged book this week.
http://www.ala.org/bbooks/
Frequently Challenged Books

Review: Beyond the Highland Mist

Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Maybe because I loved Outlander so much I just couldn’t get into this one. I kept pressing on hoping it would get better, but no luck. When I hit 75% read I was ready for this to be done, but she drug the story out a little bit more and I think I actually said out loud “oh come on already”. I doubt I will read any others in this series. I’ve heard really good things about her Fever series, I might give that one a shot.

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Wedding Bells

Recently I had the pleasure of photographing this beautiful couple and their wedding.
Congratulations Megan & Lane!

As I See It Photography

Review: Who We Were Before

Who We Were Before by Leah Mercer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was my Kindle First choice for October. Edward and Zoe a couple whose marriage is hanging by a tiny thread two years after the devastating loss of their son. The story takes place on a trip they take to Paris and is told in alternating viewpoints with flashbacks of their meeting and marriage. It’s an extremely sad story but hard to put down as you want to find out if they do make it. There are times you get annoyed with both characters, but it was a good read.

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Quote

“Our individuality is all, all, that we have. There are those who barter it for security, those who repress it for what they believe is the betterment of the whole society, but blessed in the twinkle of the morning star is the one who nurtures it and rides it in, in grace and love and wit, from peculiar station to peculiar station along life's bittersweet route.” ― Tom Robbins, Jitterbug Perfume

Review: There Are No Men

There Are No Men by Carol Maloney Scott
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I tried to start this a couple of times and couldn't get past the first date first chapter. Finally I made myself sit down to read it as I hate an unfinished book.
This one was just ok, that’s about as good as I can give it. Claire got on my nerves a lot and I really wanted to slap her something fierce at times. The male interest characters were decent, but not really enough to make you want them.
Two stars is the best I can do on this one. I was hoping for a laugh out loud chick lit book and got a meh one instead.


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Review: The Couple Next Door

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This one started off strong but made me lose interest about 60% into it, it seemed to drag too much for me. The twists were good, but I really didn’t care for the ending.

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Review: You

You by Caroline Kepnes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow. This book left me feeling creepy, not just because of the story but because I ended up rooting for Joe. He’s a killer and a stalker and you can’t help but like him and want him to get the girl and then you have to stop yourself and say….WAIT! He’s a killer and a stalker! You want them to get together you want him to be happy, and you start to really not like her and wish he would get over her.
It’s a crazy ride.


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Review: Interference

Interference by Amélie Antoine
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was my kindle first choice for August. The story is told from three different viewpoints – Chloe. Gabriel, and Emma. It’s a pretty fast easy read, but there are some twists in the story that I have to admit I didn’t see coming.

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Review: The Taming of the Bastard

The Taming of the Bastard by L.A. Dale
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A cute quick read, it had some little parts that made me giggle. Not sure if i actually care about either of the main characters- she seemed a bit uppity to me at times and he well, he was just a guy. But it wasn't enough to make me put it down.

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Pictures

Trying to get back in the photography game a little. My camera was stolen a couple of months ago and I just recently got a new one.

As I See It Photography

Journaling

My sister got me this journal last year and it’s been sitting on my bedside table gathering dust. This year I’ve decided to start using it. I started Tuesday since it was my birthday. I’m hoping it will motivate me to get out and do more, and get out of the rut that I feel like I’ve been in forever. Hopefully it will help me shine brightly through this birthday year. I’m wanting to keep myself motivated as far as getting into shape as well as sparking some creativity. Wish me luck!

Review: Where Darkness Dwells

Where Darkness Dwells by Glen R. Krisch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Where Darkness Dwells was definitely titled well, it is indeed a very dark story. I’m having a hard time finding words to describe this one, it was very well done and complex but not overly so.
The story takes place in a depression era coal town that’s struggling to survive, but it’s a town with secrets. We are introduced to many of the townspeople and also a tramp who is trying to find himself after learning a secret in his own family.
I can’t say more without giving anything away but you will find yourself rooting for certain characters and hating others. Krisch did an excellent job and I will definitely be reading more of his work.


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Review: Everything We Keep

Everything We Keep by Kerry Lonsdale
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I chose this as my July kindle First book.
This was a quick read, I thought reasonably well written with a good story line…until you get to the end. I’m hoping that it’s being set up for a sequel but we will have to wait and see. You just feel left a little dissatisfied. It leaves many questions.
It was a bit of an emotional book as it does make you stop and think about what you would do if you lost someone you loved.
As far as the characters go, I liked them but at times wanted to slap them as well. I can’t decide if that’s good or bad yet.
All in all I give it three stars.


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Review: Kushiel's Chosen

Kushiel's Chosen by Jacqueline Carey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kushiel's Chosen (Phèdre's Trilogy #2)
I’ve had a lot going on lately so this one took me a while but I finally finished it! I read Kushiel’s Dart the first time in 2007 and again a couple of months ago to refresh myself with the story as I decided to finish the trilogy. I loved it, and this one was just as good. It picks up exactly where Dart leaves off and offers just as much. There were not as many patron scenes (which suited me fine) and more political intrigue….and of course Joscelin (not enough if you ask me).
There isn’t much I can say about this one without giving away too many spoilers. It’s a very interesting world and time that Jacqueline Carey has placed this story in. Now on to Kushiels’ Avatar!


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Review: Rain Girl

Rain Girl by Gabi Kreslehner
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received this as a Goodreads kindle giveaway. It was in my want to read list as a friend had recommended this to me a while back.
I’m not really sure what to say about it. I liked the premise of the story but wasn’t all that into the writing style. It held my interest but I’m glad it was a shorter book as I’m not sure I would have finished it if it had been any longer.


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Review: The Accidental Demon Slayer

The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A cute quick read.
This would be a good one for a day at the beach as it's light and fun.

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Review: The Butterfly Garden

The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I picked this as my Kindle First Pick for May because it looked intriguing; I was not wrong.
It is a suspense, thriller, and horror novel all in one. I’m having a hard time putting into words how I feel about this book, it was disturbing but I couldn’t put it down.
The story is told from the two point of views, it switches between the victim and the FBI agent interrogating her. Even though you know she survives you are still drawn in to the story to find out exactly what happened. There is a lot of back story that some people may find a little superfluous, but I think truly did add to the story.
This is one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a long time.


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Raindrops On Roses

As I See It Photography

Review: A Court of Mist and Fury

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I picked up the first book in this series last Sunday and finished it on Monday. Hopped onto amazon and ordered this one so that I could have it by Wednesday. Took me a little longer to read this one as I didn't have as much free time....but I devoured it when I could. I hated having to put it down.
Now I'm just sad that I will have to wait a while for the next one to come out.

I'm very much enjoying how much growth the main character is experiencing, even though at times I did want to reach through the pages to slap her. But she comes around.



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Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cruising through the internet and I came across a link for 20 books if you like Game of Thrones. This book was in that list and I am really glad I picked it up. I finished it in a day and a half and that says a lot for me, as I don't usually read that fast.

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