A wonderful, straightforward kids’ tale of a boy and his horse overcoming incredible odds. The conflicts are minimal and the writing isn’t flowery, buA wonderful, straightforward kids’ tale of a boy and his horse overcoming incredible odds. The conflicts are minimal and the writing isn’t flowery, but this is a good book and I would definitely recommend it to any child interested in stories about animals and endurance....more
I’ve definitely read this AC story before! But I misremembered the murderer, so it was nice to refresh my memory. I think this is a unique tale from tI’ve definitely read this AC story before! But I misremembered the murderer, so it was nice to refresh my memory. I think this is a unique tale from the Dame and perfect for spooky season....more
This was beautifully written, thoroughly enjoyable to read, and perfectly suitable to read in the autumnal season. I really liked how clearly the storThis was beautifully written, thoroughly enjoyable to read, and perfectly suitable to read in the autumnal season. I really liked how clearly the story was told and also how well the twist was handled (no annoying deus ex machina!). Notes regarding its intended audience: some profanity and make-out scenes (clothes stay on!) so I’d say it’s appropriate for upper YA....more
Assuming this is a completed trilogy, Ms. Hoyle absolutely saved the best for last in “Son of Gold and Sorrow.” I felt great indifference* story to thAssuming this is a completed trilogy, Ms. Hoyle absolutely saved the best for last in “Son of Gold and Sorrow.” I felt great indifference* story to this story and would unequivocally recommend it to teenagers everywhere. The plot is straightforward and the solution uncomplicated; but it’s about teenagers in love who suffer greatly and sacrifice much in the quest for freedom and happily ever after, and I am here for a story with sweet pining, some sassy moments, and a bit with the foxy sidekick (his name is Frisk and he’s adorable). Add this to your TBR posthaste!
I received an ARC from Owl’s Nest Publishers and am delighted to share my unadulterated opinion! “Son of Gold and Sorrow” comes out this October!
*You’ll understand this once you read the book!...more
Me: “Are you saying the overload of rom-coms I’ve been reading wouldn’t be your first pick?” Friend: “Se[actual conversation that took place yesterday]
Me: “Are you saying the overload of rom-coms I’ve been reading wouldn’t be your first pick?” Friend: “Seriously. What happened?? It’s like a deluge!” Me: “KU and a lot of booksta recs from people I trust– I don’t read just anything! The stories take me 2-3 hours to finish which is an endorphin rush in and of itself. It’s happy bedtime reading. Honestly, I like knowing what’s going to happen and not having to worry about content that I find uncomfortable.” Friend: “I can see that appeal!” Me: “For the record, they’re not all created equal– I don’t hand out 5 stars for every little happy feeling I get!”
BUT Y’ALL. Madison Wright’s “Just Friends” had me laughing and swooning and relating so hard– I have so many highlights in my Kindle! This whole Nashville series has had its good moments (“Just Go With It” gets 4 stars and “Just Between Us” receives 3 stars); but this last one made me smile SO BIG that it gets a very happy, sparkly five stars for sheer enjoyment. ...more
Second read-through: My brain has been so mushy the last couple of weeks and I have had a hard time focusing on reading. So I picked this story up agaSecond read-through: My brain has been so mushy the last couple of weeks and I have had a hard time focusing on reading. So I picked this story up again, and luckily found it just as charming the second time around.
First read-through: Look, some books give you all the gooey feelings and you can’t find anything negative to say, and “My Lucky Charm” did that for me.
People pleasing word tornado + taciturn hockey player + precocious child + fun side characters + ASL rep = a sweet grumpyXsunshine love story
And heck, even the awkward 3rd act breakup (which is a given when one character is so determined not to fall in love!) didn’t seem so terrible because I actually bought the parameters of the story in the first place (hockey boy had some legit reasons to slam on the brakes and he had to work through them or otherwise the relationship was not going to work out, y’all). This was my first Courtney Walsh book and I honestly couldn’t put it down until I read the happily ever after....more
Story time! When I was 19, I met a young man with shaggy hair (apparently college boys can’t afford haircuts), oversized clothes, a Circle trilogy necStory time! When I was 19, I met a young man with shaggy hair (apparently college boys can’t afford haircuts), oversized clothes, a Circle trilogy necklace (shout-out to any OG Dekker fans!), and red Crocs (I know, I know). We had the nicest conversation but he had a gf back home so the connection was nice but meaningless since I was on a quest to find a husband (I can’t be shy about that when I tell college stories now because it’s just true). “So many handsome guys with longing in their eyes / And all you had to do was pick the age, the weight, the size!” Fast forward a bit and we now have a bowling class (very athletic of us!) which requires a twice-a-week gym time; during which, despite having other friends in the class, just ended up being me and him every week for a month, talking as we panted our way through the treadmill and weight machines. Somewhere along the way of our forced proximity, he broke up with his gf (unrelated to me!) and I fell so hard that I awkwardly flirted with him for a week, before blurting out, “I really, really like you.” Turns out, he liked me too and seventeen years and three kids later, the rest is history.
But THAT story is why “Love and Other Goals” hit me so hard in the feels. Sure, our college didn’t have fraternities and sororities; and I fell hard for a nerd not an athlete. But I know very, very well what it’s like to do the Christian dating thing in college: to juggle classes, want love, follow Jesus, mess up all of it at one point or another. And Tracy Baack’s debut novel does a good job of capturing those elements but also smoothing them out just enough to make it a truly sweet rom-com. I mean, Mateo is top-notch book boyfriend material; his thoughtfulness and directness are *chef’s kiss*. And I relate to Lana so much; my dreams and ambitions were smaller than hers but I was so tightly wound in college that, despite almost 3 years together, I almost broke up with the aforementioned boyfriend over an extremely small, comprisable matter just because I was so overwrought– sometimes, no matter how smart or invested you are, it’s possible to not see something clearly. Watching Lana kind of collapse in on herself during her own crisis but then get turned around by good friends and supportive family was done so well.
Anyway. This is a good one. Tracy can only go up from here and I hope people buy her book....more
Rollicking good fun. If you love Robin Hood at all, this new iteration of his legend is well-worth reading.
Content warnings (since this is YA): slow bRollicking good fun. If you love Robin Hood at all, this new iteration of his legend is well-worth reading.
Content warnings (since this is YA): slow burn tension that ends in a tackle and a kiss but doesn’t get racy, some mildly crude humor that’s time period appropriate (depending on the kid, might even go over their head), and a few instances of hell and bastard (no worse than most classic novels)....more
I mentioned to a friend that what I love about the "reformed playboy" trope is that it CAN be done in a way where it's clear that the man in question I mentioned to a friend that what I love about the "reformed playboy" trope is that it CAN be done in a way where it's clear that the man in question really does want to change his bad habits and become a better man 1) because it's just a better way to live and 2) because a good woman made him realize that there's more to life than running around and kissing girls (hey, this one is regency era, he's not hooking up!). Acting like we don't evolve for the people we care about is absurd. I have been married almost 14 years and I can truly say that I am a better woman, wife, and mother because of my husband– I want to become better for him *and* because of him. Anyway, this romance was sweet, believable, and recommendation worthy....more
I stayed up late last night to finish this book. And once I hit the end, I checked the time in the top left corner of my kindle: it was 1:30 in the moI stayed up late last night to finish this book. And once I hit the end, I checked the time in the top left corner of my kindle: it was 1:30 in the morning. That’s the kind of book it is. Every time I hit a chapter end, I would say to myself, “Oh just one more.” The ladies of A. D. Rhine have crafted a compelling, heartrending rendition of the tale of The Trojan War and I would highly recommend it. I barely prevented myself from sobbing so take that into consideration; I’m doing that “this book broke me, you should totally read it” thing. #noregrets
I got an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and here it is: preorder this book stat, it comes out November 26. ...more
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