Linda

I didn't find it interesting enough to finish.

Another winner by Mary Higgins Clark. Very fast paced and engaging with some interesting characters. An easy relaxing read.

I wasn't really sure what to expect with this book and I'm always put off a little when I realize it's one of a series. I was pleasantly surprised for the most part though. The characters were engaging and the story was interesting. My only complaint is that it didn't have an ending satisfying enough that I don't HAVE to read book two. I didn't feel as though anything was really wrapped up at the end of book one. So although I understand that logic in an author when they do a series; I would have liked a little more resolution. Will I read the second book in the series? I haven't decided yet. I probably will, but I didn't find it so compelling that I'm racing for it.

I know Isaac Asimov is known as a genius in the field of Sci Fi, but for me, I found this book dull. I felt as though it dragged on and on. There was no action in the book at all, just endless dialogue. Perhaps this was the wrong Isaac Asimov book to start with, however, I won't be reading another.

This was not a book I could finish. I found it very convoluted and hard to read. The characters was stiff and wooden and I didn't feel a connection to anyone.

Interesting read. It covered the plague and how it was dealt with including implementing “pest houses” where they would send everyone that had the plague and the fact that when the rich left the cities most of the Doctors went with them. So that left the people who weren't well off to deal with this largely on their own.

It also covered the war between England and Holland and the massive London fire of the time. The author did a good job of presenting the historical facts while still making it interesting. There were times when I thought it droned on a bit (thus the 3 star rating) but some of the other areas were interesting enough to make it worth a read.

It was well written, but frankly I couldn't finish it as I found the content too disturbing.

I started this book on vacation and the characters were so engaging I barely noticed Flight delays and turbulence.

It is a coming of age story set mostly in Britain during WW2. The main character is a young girl who is forced to leave home to escape the Nazis and adjust to life without her family in a place where she knows no one and doesn't speak the language. It's the plight of many children, even today and the author tells it with a lot of insight and compassion.

Lexy comes to live in her grandmother's home after her grandmother goes into assisted living. She meets her handsome next door neighbour Jack. When her ex-boyfriend Kevin is killed with one of her baked goods, she discovers that the handsome neighbour is a police detective.

It felt a little shorter than I would have liked, but I did enjoy when the main character Lexy went to visit her grandmother and discovered that she and her friends had formed the Ladies' Detective Agency and liked to solve mysteries. They each had an ipad and used it to check into various crimes. They decided to help Lexy solve the murder.

It was cute and the slow burn romance between Lexy and Jack was well done. I'm interested to read where the series goes.

This was the first in the Noodle Shop Mysteries and I really enjoyed it. The characters were interesting, there were lots of twists, red herrings and secrets. The Plaza where it all takes place is quirky and like many good cozies; there is a lovable best friend, a pet and a potential love interest.

Vivien Chien started out strong and I think she is now on her 9th Noodle Shop Mystery. I would definitely read more of them.

This one involves Lana Lee who has come home to her parents noodle shop after a bad break up. She settles into a routine and is working, hanging out with her dog, chatting with her roommate and watching too much Netflix.

When a murder happens in the Plaza she is determined to find out who's behind it and begins to uncover the many secrets that have been hidden by the owners of the local shops. Any one of them could be the murderer.

This is the second Diney Costeloe book I've read and I thoroughly enjoy her characters. They are always engaging and relatable and I find myself wondering what I would do in their circumstances. It was an easy, enjoyable summer read and I'm sure I'll look for more of her books in the future.

This is a story about Karen, Elliot and their family and friends. Karen was married before and has two children. Her husband Ray ran out on her and later she met and fell in love with Elliot and married him.

Elliot decides to buy a gym with some other guys from their small town and Karen is worried about the money he is spending and the fact that he didn't talk to her about a lot of it because he knew how she was about money and he was trying not worry her. Most of the book is taken up with Karen's fears and insecurities about money and the love of her husband.

The secondary characters are interesting and the whole small town atmosphere is lovely. I did find the book dragged in parts though and I was very tired of reading about their marital problems by the end of it. They both could have used counseling.

I received this book free in a Goodreads giveaway but the review I'm giving is not influenced by that. I started this book unsure whether or not I would like it because of the “interview style” used throughout the novel. As I became more immersed in the story, however, that fell away and I was more interested in the characters and what was going on, than the style of writing.

Kara Resnick reminded me of Kara Thrace from Battlestar Galactica, and I can't help but wonder if the author didn't model her from that character. She was opinionated, feisty and confident; definitely my favourite character.

The story itself was interested and although it didn't always lead me where I wanted to go, it still managed to keep me engaged. If you are interested in Sci-Fi, or even the politics behind it all, I believe you will enjoy this book.

I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway, but the opinions in my review are my own and not based on that.

I wasn't entirely sure I would enjoy this book since it is the story of a scientist and her work in a lab studying trees and plants. But I was very wrong. This was a wonderful read. I learned many things along the way that fascinated me about nature and the world around me and I will never look at a tree the same way. For instance, did you know the seed of a hackberry tree is surrounded by a white lattice work to protect it, and is made of opal?

That's not the only gem in this book, however, Hope Jahren weaves a fascinating story of her relationship with her lab partner Bill and her life coping with her own Bi-Polar disorder. Her description of a manic episode is the best I have ever read! Her entire book is laced with humour and is very readable and easy to relate to.

I'm usually not a fan of Autobiographies, but this one is different. It's full of interesting stories and great tips on how to live to 90 and beyond. Dick Van Dyke has led a full life so far and has such a wonderful positive attitude.

Dick Van Dyke is so charming and down to earth that he is always a joy to listen to and “spend time with”.

I really enjoyed these books and was able to get lost in the story. Often with a series, there is at least one book that is inferior to the others. These, however, were all engaging and the characters were likable and the plots were entertaining. Don't read it expecting Dragons, however, as that's not what it's about.

This book brings to light the injustices faced in North Korea by it's citizens. Eunsun Kim shares her long journey to freedom with eloquence. You feel the terrors she faced as a small child and her mother's struggle to do the “right” thing for her and her sister. My heart goes out to all those facing a similar fate. This is a terrific book to help explain some of the shrouded mystery that is North Korea.

This is the first James Patterson book I have read for adults. I did read one of his children's books. My thought when I was finished, was, “What took me so long?”

It was a terrific book. Very well written and engaging. It details the fascinating life of Brigid Fitzgerald, a doctor who spends her life helping people and seeking God; first in South Sudan as a Doctor and later, when she must move forward from that experience. In spite of that, it's not a preachy book and Brigid's life is far from calm or ordinary. James Patterson weaves the right amount of drama and emotional turmoil into his novel to have you empathizing with Brigid long after the book is finished.

I tried, but I just couldn't finish it. I thought the premise for the series was imaginative, but I found the characters language to be stilted and the backstory took up a lot of time. I didn't find it that interesting. I wanted to get back to Maia and her sisters. Anyway, eventually when I found myself skipping chapters, I just gave up.

It's a very popular series, so I expect I'm in the minority here, but it just wasn't for me.

I really enjoyed this novel and the time went by so quickly as I was listening to it. I was swept up in the drama of the two sisters and unlike some novels with dual storylines, I was equally interested in both. I found a rich depth to nearly all the characters and I appreciated how well the narration was done, drawing me into their struggles and heartaches. If you enjoy historical fiction, this book is a must read.

If you are reading this, you are probably already a Black Dagger Brotherhood fan and are familiar with Trez and iAm. If not, start with the first book in the series, not the 13th. :)

The Shadows follows Trez and iAm as they deal with their lives on the run from the s'Hisbe. They have as much brotherly devotion to each other as the Brotherhood does and bringing them more into that fold makes total sense. We have caught glimpses of their lives during the other books, but it was nice to have it all fleshed out in this one.

As they find love amidst many obstacles and subplots, we really get to understand their characters more and root for a happy ending. J.R. Ward doesn't always give us the happy ending we expect though and it's not something you can count on in her books, so we are left in suspense until the final chapter.

I'm a big fan of all the BDB books, but some I like more than others. I have to say I found this one really engaging and it holds it's own in the Brothers Universe.

This is the second time I read this book. I read it once many years ago. It provides an interesting back story to the Deanna Troi and William Riker relationship and explains the bond they have. It stays true to the characters and there way of speaking and acting. It holds up just as well now, as it did in the 1990's.

The author Peter David has written other Star Trek books. He has also written for Marvel Comics, various tv shows and mini-series, and received numerous awards for his work.

If you are a Star Trek fan (and why wouldn't you be? ) this is a terrific novel for your collection.

I first read this book about 1o years ago and remember enjoying it. For the most part, it has withstood the test of time. It's a Young Adult book and is a little simplistic in parts as it's told from the point of view of Miranda, a young girl. I do like the post apocalyptic storyline, however, and although the characters could be fleshed out a little more, I still found it an enjoyable read.

Forgetting to Remember was a fantastic time-travel magical romance. I feel like this book had everything I needed in a novel. The characters were interesting and complex, it was set just after WW2, it had magic, it had romance...Oh my goodness, what a ride. I hadn't read anything by M.J. Rose before (that I know of), but now I want to check out everything else they wrote.

I was happy that the plot was laid out so well and it was really clear when our main character Jeannine ends up back in the past. She is the Keeper of Metal Works at an art museum and when she enters a contest to create a special exhibit for Valentine's Day she remember some “lovers' eyes” in the basement. Artists would paint a picture of a person's eye and then put it in a brooch or ring. It was a good way to keep the person close to you without anyone knowing he they were. It turns out Jeannine discovers more than she ever expected.

It was definitely a 5 star read for me. I couldn't put it down and it led me to an interesting part of art history that I had never heard about before. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read it. This was my honest review.

I didn't get past the first book in the series as I found it long and ponderous. The novel goes between two worlds; one that appears to be in the present day and a fantastical world with colored trees and flying bats. I found myself anxiously waiting to get to the present day each time I was left in the fantasy world, where I thought the novel dragged.

I realized quickly that it was supposed to be a Christian allegory, but I felt it had been done many times before, and more interestingly.