ETA: I have been saying I'll finish this series for years. Since I pre-ordered the Aussie version of the final book. And Amazing sequel! Just amazing!
ETA: I have been saying I'll finish this series for years. Since I pre-ordered the Aussie version of the final book. And I am finally doing it. I even created a shelf on Goodreads called "so I can finish the series" because this phenomenon is not restricted to this series. :P I loved it every bit as much upon my re-read and now I'm wondering why I've been putting this off......more
I love a good mystery as much as the next girl, but I'm not surprised by them much these days. Too often I find the mystery to be entirely too predictable and that aspect alone makes it hard to hold my interest. And I'll admit that in Every Breath, I did suspect the culprit early on, but there were just so many other elements that kept me captivated by this story. With stories like this, I'm usually looking at the bigger picture, trying to determine how everything's going to pan out, but with Every Breath, I was living in the moment, eager to spend each page with the characters as they worked the mystery out themselves. In short, I was happy to let Mycroft and Watts handle the investigating while I followed their shenanigans.
And a lot of that has to do with the characters Ellie Marney has created. Mycroft is eccentric and has few meaningful relationships though he knows everyone he bumps into around the city, while Watts is close to her family and obsessed with returning to the countryside and the life she was forced to leave four short months ago. And yet, they work so well together despite all of their many differences. The best way I can describe James Mycroft and Rachel Watts is this: teenaged Mulder and Sculley. Their dynamic is just so ON. Mycroft is willing to believe that there is more to the story than a senseless killing and Watts isn't ready to jump on board with one of Mycroft's crazy theories. But she's still up for a bit of amateur sleuthing, regardless. This makes them the perfect investigative team: one of them thirsty for the truth and willing to risk much in the search for it and the other to balance things out with reason and logic. Also, the chemistry between these two is off the charts, much as it was with Mulder and Scully, though it takes much less time for Mycroft and Watts to embrace it.
Thank goodness! The frustration from watching these two hem and haw around each other nearly did me in. Just about the time the sexual tension reaches a fever pitch, the dam finally breaks and we get one spectacular show. Once they do finally get to the point that they can openly admit their feelings for each other, it is the sweetest kind of romance. The slow-burn was well worth it, but by the point that they realized how they each felt, we already knew they'd each go to extraordinary lengths to protect one another and in support of each other.
"Mycroft and I are on a strictly last-name basis, but he's on a last-name basis with everybody. He pointed out it was perfectly appropriate in our case, anyway. He said if Sherlock had Watson, it was only fair that Mycroft should have Watts."
I love the homage Marney's Every Breath pays to the original story, too: numerous mentions of Mycroft being "Sherlock's much-smarter brother", Homeless Dave being "Mycroft's very own Baker Street Irregular", etc. I've not read many Sherlock Holmes mysteries, but I've always loved how clever they were. Every Breath was no less clever but it was just such a refreshing spin on the old Sherlockian murder mystery.
Setting this novel in Melbourne, a city that's already a mystery to me, makes this story that much more captivating, too. Watts is practically an outsider herself, having grown up in the countryside of Australia, not a big city like Melbourne, and as she got to know the city better, so did I. It was kind of the perfect setup to draw a reader like myself in. And by that, I mean a reader who prefers when the setting feels like a character itself, the way that it's explored in the story. Also, I love Aussie slang...the fact that this wasn't changed in the US version endears the story to me that much more, makes it feel even more authentic.
Honestly, I think I've found my new favorite mystery series. The fact that it's written by yet another awesome Aussie is just a bonus. Another bonus: while some people are satisfied waiting for the next book to come out here in the States, impatient people like myself can order the UK/Aussie versions and get the rest of the story that much quicker. Which I will most definitely be doing with this series. =) This was such a fantastic debut and I can't wait for all of you to get a chance to meet Mycroft and Watts for yourselves!
Continuing my re-read/listen in anticipation of Winter. Original review here.
Merged review:
Re-read/listen as part of Fairest prep. Original review herContinuing my re-read/listen in anticipation of Winter. Original review here.
Merged review:
Re-read/listen as part of Fairest prep. Original review here.
I'll be sharing all my thoughts on my re-read/listen of Cinder, Scarlet & Cress next Monday on the blog as part of the Fairest blog tour...and I'll be giving away a set of paperbacks of the first three books, too, thanks to Macmillan!
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ETA: It's amazing how much I love these books and yet how easily I've forgotten so many details, even though I just re-read it right before Cress came out. I'm really glad I'm re-reading all these again before Fairest releases so I have it fresh on my mind. Plus, these audiobooks are soooo good. I can't imagine a better narrator....more
Re-read/listen as part of Fairest prep. Original review here.
I'll be sharing all my thoughts on my re-read/listen of Cinder, Scarlet & Cress next MondRe-read/listen as part of Fairest prep. Original review here.
I'll be sharing all my thoughts on my re-read/listen of Cinder, Scarlet & Cress next Monday on the blog as part of the Fairest blog tour...and I'll be giving away a set of paperbacks of the first three books, too, thanks to Macmillan!
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ETA: I think this is my third re-read/listen of this book and it only gets better each time. I love the parallels between this retelling and the original story but I love even more how the author made this story her own and created these characters that you just love...or love to hate. On to Scarlet!!! :D
Side note: Why did I think Captain Carswell Thorne was introduced in this book? Maybe I just miss him that much. :) Oh, well. At least I know he's on his way. ;0)...more
I've been wanting to re-read this book for awhile, and about the only way for me to do that these days is by listRe-read/listen. Original review here.
I've been wanting to re-read this book for awhile, and about the only way for me to do that these days is by listening to the audiobook. So, I waited and waited for it to come available at my library. And now it has, and I actually kind of forgot just how much I loved this adorable book. Also, the MC's sarcasm. I speak sarcasm, so I love it when characters do, too. :)...more
I know I just read this, but I was perusing my library's website for my next listen and this was available and I Re-read/listen. Original review here.
I know I just read this, but I was perusing my library's website for my next listen and this was available and I already missed Blue and the gang, so I thought why not. Plus, Will Patton WINS at narrating this series...I can't believe I ever doubted him. I mean, he was in a movie about fast cars...Maggie enjoys cars and driving fast...it just doesn't get more perfect than that. =)
ETA: This book was phenomenal the first time I read it, but the audio is even more so....more
First, I thought we'd start with Katie's thoughts on this book:
I think that they were really, really, really good friends. They liked sending letters because they liked each other and had to be far away from each other.
When asked what she liked best about Herman's Letter, she had this to say:
It was kind of funny that he got mailed. I liked the pictures and that I could read most of it. I liked when they started sending letters to each other, and I also liked the post cards they did.
Herman's Letter is a charming little tale of an adorable friendship between a bear and a raccoon and their dedication to each other, even in the face of adversity. They're separated from each other for the first time in their lives, and they're learning that while absence does make the heart grow fonder, it also makes it that much more difficult to maintain a friendship.
This book was the perfect read for a cold winter night, cuddled up with my Katiebug and some hot chocolate. Katie read the story to me and graciously allowed me to read all of the letters between Herman and Henry. There were only a couple of words she stumbled over, but with a little help, she was able to figure those out herself. Katie will be seven in a few months, and I think this book was spot-on for her reading level, though she is reading two levels above her classmates at school. Even so, it's a sweet story to read to your own little one, even if they're not ready to read it yet themselves.
Tom Percival is best known for his illustrations in the Skullduggery Pleasant series -- which sounds awesome now that I've taken the time to look it up -- but I really enjoyed his fanciful and endearing drawings in Herman's Letter. And the inclusion of those fun little lift-the-flap letters made the story just that much more lovable. Katie loved flipping them up to see the contents as much as I enjoyed reading them to her. It was just lovely and such a colorful and vibrantly illustrated story.
Herman's Letter is such a touching story about the great lengths friends go to for each other. It's full of heart and meaning, and it's such a great story for a child to experience at this age, when they're starting to make lasting friendships and learn the true value of friendship for themselves.
Mistletoe and Mr. Right was just the fun holiday read I needed on a Friday night after a rough week at work. It had everything I want in a holiday story: romance, family togetherness, and adventures in the snow...not mention private sleigh rides. And for the first time in what feels like forever, I was able to finish the book in one sitting, since it only came in at 150 pages.
Jessica is a planner. In fact, she's got a ten year plan that starts as soon as she graduates college. And her plan includes marrying Brennan, her boyfriend of four months, who Jessica believes would be the perfect man to spend the rest of her life with. He just doesn't know it yet. Which is why she takes it upon herself to jet across the sea to visit him and his family in Ireland over Christmas break. Obviously this was a bad idea, but it becomes even more apparent once Jessica arrives.
Brennan is rather distant and short with Jessica during her entire trip. It doesn't help matters that his beautiful ex-girlfriend is spending Christmas with the family. Or that Jessica can't get the handsome farmhand out of her head. I think it's glaringly obvious from nearly the beginning of the story -- and even before that, if you read the summary -- that a love triangle (square?) is at the heart of this story but it becomes about so much more than that.
Jessica has some deep-seated issues that even Brennan doesn't know about. In fact, those issues are pretty much the catalyst for her ten year plan and everything that led up to it. The handsome farmhand Grady has just as many issues, and they have this immediate connection, one that leads them to disclose their histories to each other without reservations. Well, after they got past their initial loathing. :) Even Brennan's former flame has a tragedy in her past that gave me pause. I found it impressive that the author could flesh out her characters in only 150 pages and provide them with enough backstory so as not to feel like throwaway characters, despite the shortness of the novel.
I loved reading about Jessica's blundering experiences as she tried to fit in and garner favor with Brennan's family. Some moments were cringe-inducing in their awkwardness, but it felt genuine. (I should know...I had a somewhat similar experience the first time I met my husband's family.) Still, Lyla Payne brought the swoons in the end, and she made herself a new fan in the process. I will definitely be checking out more of her work now.
Re-read/listen as a refresher before picking up The Mime Order. Original review here.Re-read/listen as a refresher before picking up The Mime Order. Original review here....more
A ranty, snarky, SPOILERY review follows. Read at your own peril.
I wasn't interested in reading this writing duo's Beautiful Bastard series because erotica really isn't my thing, so I don't honestly know what made me think I'd like their foray into young adult. Well, besides the fact that I do have a lot of Goodreads friends who seem to like this pair's work, so I thought, Maybe this will be more my speed, and I can still see what all the fuss is about without venturing into that territory.
And it starts off fine, with a character that doesn't know who or what she is, only that once she sees Colin, she knows she's here for him. Their romance went from 0-to-90 in no time, and that's with Lucy revealing that she's a ghost and Colin discovering that he couldn't physically touch her without causing her some discomfort. Insta-love: boo. Romantic complications: intriguing.
Here's where things getinteresting weird. Completely by accident, they discover that putting Colin at the brink of death lets him hover between this world and...well, whatever lies after. While he's in the in-between, he and Lucy can make physical contact. The places there "relationship" couldn't go before are suddenly possible and they're ready to explore them. Even though they've known each other mere weeks and she's a freaking ghost. Whatever, teenagers have done crazier things, right? /sarcasm
So, the pair calls on Colin's best bud to help them continually test the limits and leave Colin in this in-between state for as long as possible before true death sets in. They do so by recreating the same circumstances under which they discovered this miracle that very first time: dropping Colin into a frozen-over lake -- the very lake Lucy actually haunts -- and inducing hypothermia. Oh, they take precautions to make sure Colin always returns, but really, this is just about the dumbest idea I've ever heard. I get that both Colin and Jay are adrenaline junkies, but realistically, who would go to such lengths just to be able to touch his girlfriend? Move on, buddy.
With all the attention on these two gettin' it on -- and the fact that the authors write erotica for a living -- you'd have thought that when it finally does happen, it'd be more than just a fade-to-black sex scene. I don't have a problem with sex in YA, as long as it's not gratuitous and it's portrayed realistically. Nothing about this story was realistic, though, so I guess I should have expected this.
Going into this story, I knew it was unlikely I'd get a HEA. A ghost and a real, live boy, falling in love? Yeah, that's never going to work out. Not in any good way, anyway. Since everything else in this book was so utterly wrong, it shouldn't have surprised me that Colin made one final, stupid last-ditch attempt to be with his ghost girl by throwing himself back into that frozen lake. Without anyone knowing. And without any aide. This boy's survival instincts are seriously on the fritz. But the "walkers" like Lucy were known to take people with them, so maybe it was more Lucy's influence than the fault of Colin and all his risk-taking. It was clear to me that Lucy was draining a bit of Colin's life force each time they met in that overlap between their worlds, and so maybe some of his sanity left with it. I don't think it went to Lucy, though, because I'm pretty sure she was convinced that she was becoming less of a ghost because of Colin's presence in her afterlife, not because of anything she might be doing to him, whether intentional or not.
Pretty much, this book is only getting a star because I listened to the audio, and it features the voice of Elizabeth Louise for Lucy's chapters and Cal Wembley for Colin's. Louise has repeatedly lent her voice to one of my favorite new adult series, and considering what she had to work with, I thought she did a fair job on this audiobook. Cal Wembly sounded an awful lot like Kirby Heyborne, and when I did some research, I found both names listed as narrators for this book-- somewhere, but I can't find the link now that I'm trying to write up my review. Either way, I wouldn't be surprised if he were one and the same, as a lot of narrators have pseudonyms they record under based on the genre or type of book they're recording. When I first started listening to audiobooks, I couldn't stand Cal/Kirby, but his voice has really grown on me. But maybe it's those first stories that I initially disliked because I discovered that, as Colin, I found Cal's narration a bit annoying. That's a good sign that Cal becomes the character, but it doesn't bode well for the overall experience. Still, I probably wouldn't have even finished this book had I been reading a physical copy, so there's that.
I've read a story like this before, and I had a much better experience with that one than I did here. If you're curious, it's Hereafter by Tara Hudson. Mind you, that link takes you to my review, one of the very first ones I ever wrote here on the blog, and by my reviewing standards now, I'd probably only rate the book three stars. That's still much better than Sublime rates, though. And Hereafter's premise revolves around more than endangering one's life for sex -- like, saving a boy's life. Imagine that.
GIF it to me straight:
[image]
I don't even...what the...what the hell did I just read?!?...more
When Sarah sent this to me, there was a warning not to view the two post-Chaos scenes until I'd actually read the final book because they were very spoilerish. So, I'm warning you now. I waited and read this collection of journal entries and short stories last, and I think that's the best order, especially when it comes to the short stories themselves.
I'd read some of Malachi's journal entries here and there over the years, but never have I sat down and read them all back-to-back. It was insightful, to say the least. Also, there are entries that have never been shared before, from during the time period that Fractured covers, and those are well worth reading, especially if you know what transpires in that book. Very entertaining and very enlightening.
I knew there was so much more of Jim's story that we weren't getting in Fractured, and I'm glad that Sarah decided to write it and share it with all of us, especially since she fed us more of Henry's story in Chaos. As both were part of Lela's team of Guards in the Land of the Living, it's only fitting that both of their stories be told.
I am so thankful for this bonus content because after I finished Chaos, I was kind of a pile of goo and yet still wasn't ready for the final goodbye. It was nice to get even more from Malachi and Ana's perspectives, though I think my favorite part of this book was having all of Malachi's journal entries in one place finally. This collection is a must-have for any fan of the Guards of the Shadowlands series....more
starryeyedjen
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