Tag Archive for: 3 Stars

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Deep End

Deep EndTitle: Deep End
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Genre: Romance
Format: Audio
Pages: 446
Length: 13h 45m
Narrator: Thérèse Plummer, Ben Holtzmuller
Source: Library
Reason: Just Because
Rating:
Romance Rating: 4.5 Flames

My Thoughts

There’s a lot to unpack with Deep End and I don’t quite know how to do it in review form. I liked the story and the characters, but Deep End is the spiciest book I’ve ever read and I reached my limit after the fourth or fifth very detailed sexual encounter. I love spice, but I want more than just graphic sex. It might have been the BDSM. aspect of it that had me past my limit, but I also want connection, romance, character development, and plot in my spicy books. I don’t feel like a story focused mainly on the sex gives me what I’m looking for in a story. It’s the main reason I don’t really read erotica. Despite the overabundant graphic content and that I have no inclination toward BDSM. style relationships, I did appreciate the look into what a healthy and consensual BDSM. relationship could look like. Although, I do feel like Scarlett and Lukas using the word “deviant” to each other because of their inclinations wasn’t necessary.

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The Spectacular

The SpectacularTitle: The Spectacular
Author: Fiona Davis
Genre: Historical Fiction, Thriller
Format: Audio
Pages: 368
Length: 12h 20m
Narrator: Kimberly Farr, Rachel L. Jacobs
Source: Owned
Reason: Book Club
Rating:
Romance Rating: 0.5 Flames

My Thoughts

I really love the historical aspects of Fiona Davis’ novels. In The Spectacular, I loved the setting of the mid 1950s and early 1990s, and I loved learning the history of the Rockettes and Radio City Music Hall. I had no idea about the Mad Bomber (or Big Apple Bomber in the novel) and I had no idea it was the case that put criminal profiling on the map. That was all fascinating. I thought the mystery aspect of the book was a bit far-fetched, but it kept me interested and reading. The romance disappointed me as it was a little lacking.

There’s Someone Inside Your House

There’s Someone Inside Your HouseTitle: There's Someone Inside Your House
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Genre: Horror
Format: Audio
Pages: 304
Length: 9h 26m
Narrator: Bahni Turpin
Source: Owned
Reason: Just Because
Rating:
Romance Rating: 1.5 Flames

My Thoughts

While I thought There’s Someone Inside Your House was a fun slasher story, I’ve decided that I like this genre better in movie form. The story definitely felt reminiscent of some of my favorite slasher movies (Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, etc.), but I feel like the written aspect of the story slowed the slasher aspect down. Also, since I watched the Netflix adaptation last year, I thought the reason for the killing spree was more interesting than what happened in the book.

Tress of the Emerald Sea

Tress of the Emerald SeaTitle: Tress of the Emerald Sea
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Audio
Pages: 369
Length: 12h 27m
Narrator: Michael Kramer
Source: Owned
Reason: Recommended
Rating:
Romance Rating: 0 Flames

My Thoughts

I’m glad I had a chance to read Tress of the Emerald Sea. It wasn’t what I was expecting, though. I enjoyed the book, but I didn’t love it. Part of the issue for me was Hoid, the narrator (not audio). I didn’t like his way of telling the story. I’m not a huge fan of 4th-wall-breaking, unless it’s in movies or TV shows, because it usually takes me out of the story and I want to be immersed.

I did like Tress and most of the other characters. I also liked the overall story of her defying the king’s order of leaving her little island in search of her lost love while traveling through dangerous spore oceans. I also liked the ending and the fact that Sanderson left it open so he can write more stories in this universe.

After doing some research, I’ve now realized that this book is part of Sanderson’s Cosmere universe. While Tress of the Emerald Sea is a standalone novel, it has connections and some shared characters to other series and books.

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The Last Word

The Last WordTitle: The Last Word
Author: Taylor Adams
Genre: Thriller
Format: Audio
Pages: 352
Length: 9:57
Narrator: Carlotta Brentan, Jim Meskimen
Source: Owned
Reason: BotM Backlist
Rating:
Romance Rating: 0.5 Flames

My Thoughts

I read The Last Word pretty quickly. The suspense kept me reading, but I figured a lot of it out by the end. The author going crazy because of a 1-star review on Amazon was a fun premise, but I didn’t like the “book within a book” idea. Every time the narrative switched over to horror novel Deek was writing, I just kept waiting for that part to end. I especially hated the ending of his novel and gritted my teeth during his acknowledgments. I wish he had gotten what he deserved. I also disliked the male narrator during those parts.

The Last Word dealt with some pretty heave topics–death of a child, death of a parent, grief, and suicidal ideation. I actually preferred the non-thriller part of the story more than the actual thriller. I liked Emma and Laika a lot. I liked her story with Shawn, and I would’ve much preferred reading a whole story about them.