1 to 9 of 9
Bravo Family Ties: The Nine-Month Marriage / Marriage By Necessity / Practically Married (Bravo Family Ties, Bks 1-3)
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
27
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
27
Review Date: 2/28/2014
Weak writing, weak sex scenes ....
I had read the good reviews and was sorely disappointed. The characters have little dimensionality and the dialogue is quite flat. Rimmer describes the characters one way, then has them go along acting another way to propel the plot. Plenty of instances of characters making stupid decisions just for the sake of having some plot. I couldn't get through the first book.
I had read the good reviews and was sorely disappointed. The characters have little dimensionality and the dialogue is quite flat. Rimmer describes the characters one way, then has them go along acting another way to propel the plot. Plenty of instances of characters making stupid decisions just for the sake of having some plot. I couldn't get through the first book.
Review Date: 6/27/2014
Maybe it's just a matter of personal taste, but these stories seemed stilted in how sparse they were. They read more like half-stories, like the might be leading up to an actual plot. I don't get much emotion from the characters or the narration.
Fruits Basket Uncovered 10: The Secrets of the Sohmas (Mysteries and Secrets Revealed)
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
8
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
8
Review Date: 9/13/2014
This book has an unfortunate number of inaccuracies, but an avid Furuba reader should be able to pick them out.
Review Date: 2/20/2014
Excellent, excellent, excellent book. Very creative and unique take on the old "mysterious immortal boy meets teenage girl" business. The mystical world that Mangum builds for us and all the detail it contains is incredibly interesting.
I love seeing that Abby's life goes on outside of the paranormal world as well as in it. I love that she is a strong character, and though she's "special" she's not suddenly and magically the most powerful person ever in the whole world. The fact that we only find things out as the characters do can be frustrating, but also intensifies your desire to keep reading.
There are a few flaws, like the fact that the book starts with Abby not being the spontaneous, adventurous girl she "used to be". Since we don't know anything about her character yet, it was kind of a surprise for me to hear that. By the end of the book we see that Abby much more clearly. There are also a few aspects of the "time" business and some powers that aren't explained very much, but I'm hoping it'll be expanded upon in the future books.
I love seeing that Abby's life goes on outside of the paranormal world as well as in it. I love that she is a strong character, and though she's "special" she's not suddenly and magically the most powerful person ever in the whole world. The fact that we only find things out as the characters do can be frustrating, but also intensifies your desire to keep reading.
There are a few flaws, like the fact that the book starts with Abby not being the spontaneous, adventurous girl she "used to be". Since we don't know anything about her character yet, it was kind of a surprise for me to hear that. By the end of the book we see that Abby much more clearly. There are also a few aspects of the "time" business and some powers that aren't explained very much, but I'm hoping it'll be expanded upon in the future books.
Review Date: 9/15/2014
Helpful Score: 3
As a character, Craig falls rather flat for me. The depiction of his depression falls even flatter. We might get a paragraph about his "Cycling" every so often, some parts of his depression that he's named in capital letters so we know it's serious business, but there's really so little insight into it and so little emotional description. I've dealt with depression since I was a teen, and there's so much that goes into it. This book barely scratches the surface, it's just something that's periodically mentioned. If Craig didn't keep saying "I'm depressed, I'm depressed" I wouldn't have guessed it. It reads a lot more like someone talked to a depressed teenager, picked out a few key phrases, and recycled them throughout the book.
So Craig goes into treatment, makes a ton of friends, and in the span of 5 days suddenly GETS everything. And hooks up with a girl in his room. Brilliant.
Beyond that, several characters (including Craig) don't have a very consistent voice throughout the story. The stuff about pot seems like it was thrown in randomly as a way to try to connect to teens. And dude, being depressed does not make you cool. People don't like or connect to you more. You mostly get pity, and people you aren't even that close to letting you know they're "there for you". Yeah, depression's really common in teens. It's not some big bonding experience, and with that teenager mindset it's often a game of "my ish sucks worse than your ish".
The last page was the one I liked. "Live, live, live." There's the message, there's the real hope that comes with actually moving forward in treatment and clinging to life.
So Craig goes into treatment, makes a ton of friends, and in the span of 5 days suddenly GETS everything. And hooks up with a girl in his room. Brilliant.
Beyond that, several characters (including Craig) don't have a very consistent voice throughout the story. The stuff about pot seems like it was thrown in randomly as a way to try to connect to teens. And dude, being depressed does not make you cool. People don't like or connect to you more. You mostly get pity, and people you aren't even that close to letting you know they're "there for you". Yeah, depression's really common in teens. It's not some big bonding experience, and with that teenager mindset it's often a game of "my ish sucks worse than your ish".
The last page was the one I liked. "Live, live, live." There's the message, there's the real hope that comes with actually moving forward in treatment and clinging to life.
Review Date: 4/13/2014
Helpful Score: 1
Lisa Kleypas is one of my favorite romance authors.
That said, I'm glad that I started with books later in this series because I was quite underwhelmed by this one. The story ran a bit flat for me, the romance wasn't overly convincing or romantic, and some of the characters hadn't been completely balanced yet. I was also surprised by the mention ghosts, as none of the other books dabble in the paranormal at all.
It's nice to see Amelia, a beloved presence in the other books, find her happiness. I didn't love this one, but I liked it enough.
That said, I'm glad that I started with books later in this series because I was quite underwhelmed by this one. The story ran a bit flat for me, the romance wasn't overly convincing or romantic, and some of the characters hadn't been completely balanced yet. I was also surprised by the mention ghosts, as none of the other books dabble in the paranormal at all.
It's nice to see Amelia, a beloved presence in the other books, find her happiness. I didn't love this one, but I liked it enough.
Review Date: 1/4/2014
A very quick read (less than 2 hours for me), but also very compelling. The chapters are short and move the plot along quickly.
Review Date: 3/12/2014
A few weak spots, such as Charlotte's constant dithering between complete opposite mindsets and a rather rapid wrap-up of the emotional issues put out near the end of the book. Overall though, it was a great read and a solid story. A nice bit of action at the end.
I actually haven't read any of the other books in this series, and I still thoroughly enjoyed this one.
I actually haven't read any of the other books in this series, and I still thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Review Date: 11/2/2013
I'd hoped for something like Georgia Nicholson for the older crowd. I really only got the latter. The book has it's amusing moments, but Emily just doesn't seem to be as clever as Georgia. In fact, she spends quite a bit of the book being what can only be described as determinedly clueless.
The writing itself, however, was not bad at all. I could have done with more of the minor but hilarious little goings on that we found in Georgia's life.
The writing itself, however, was not bad at all. I could have done with more of the minor but hilarious little goings on that we found in Georgia's life.
1 to 9 of 9
