Maria

A book hasn't touched me this deeply in so long that I don't think I will have the right words to describe just how amazing this book was, in every sense of the word. It was extraordinary.

At first I was reluctant to read this once I found out that it wasn't about Sarai and Victor anymore because their story mesmerized me to my core and I was sad to have to switch to Fredrik's story. But I am so glad that I gave this book a chance because I think I loved his story more than I loved Victor's and Sarai's.

First of, Redmerski will forever be one of my favorite writers because it seems that each book of hers I read is better than the one before it. It's astonishing how she manages to weave a very complex story flawlessly infused with heart and feeling and everything else. This book took me on a very emotional roller coaster ride and I had a lot of what the fuck just happened moments as well. I don't think I have ever been as blindsided by any book like I was by this one. I just didn't see any of that coming, any of it. Totally took me by surprise.

And the writing I can describe in one word: flawless. It flawed perfectly and wasn't overly simplistic and this made for a fast paced read that I couldn't put down for the life of me.

And the characters? I think Fredrik is now my favorite “book boyfriend”. He's just so mysterious and dark and tortured, such a complex character as he jumped out at me from the pages of my Nook and made my heart literally ache for him with everything that he went through in his story. And Cassia as well, a character with so many layers and complexities and it was just perfect, so perfect. I'm so sad that Fredrik didn't get the happy ending he deserved but that made the book that much more real and meaningful because in real life we often don't always get the happy ending we want. I loved that sadness and truthfulness of the book.

And the smut was also phenomenal. It didn't even feel like I was reading smut, it was so masterfully woven into the whole story and felt like it belonged there. Vocabulary was perfect and not too forward without being too vague either. Perfection, as with everyone else about this book.

I doubt any book I read after this will move me as much as this book has and for that reason I am entirely very sad that it ended but I will carry Fredrik's story with me forever. It was that meaningful and deep to me. I think if anyone hasn't read this book before they are missing out because it's the kind of book that has the potential to change our perception and to stay with us long after we finished reading it.

And how astonishing was the plot? Very, I'd say. It had a lot of ups and downs and ups and downs, just the way I love it. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I needed to keep reading to find out what would happen next. And the climax, there are no words. All I can say is that everyone should read this astonishing book and that I will probably read all of Redmerski's books soon because she is a phenomenal writer and knows exactly what I love in the books I read. I just loved every single part of this book and I'm even happier to know that the next installment in the series is also about Fredrik and Seraphina. Such a beautiful yet heartbreaking story, it surpassed my expectations by far.

I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who wants a touching and heartfelt read. So much meaning and depth and emotion can be derived from this book that I think it should be a must-read for anyone who loves suspense and romance in their books.

I reallyyyy liked this book. It was gripping, exhilarating and even had some meaningful commentary on certain aspects of life. It wasn't the most twisty thriller I've ever read and it took a while to get to the exciting parts but the ending definitely made up for that. The only reason I took a star off is because I had a feeling who the bad guy was from very early on and that NEVER happens to me. Even with that though, this book was truly special and I would recommend to people who don't mind a bit of a slower pace in the middle.

So many feels! I can't even start to try to communicate all the things that this book made me feel. It was a roller coaster from beginning to end and I couldn't put it down. Anyone who hasn't read this series is missing out, big time. I was reluctant to try a book so out of my comfort zone and by an author I've never heard of before but I am so glad that I have. I can't wait to pick up the next one, probably later on today actually.

To begin with, I love how the author writes with so much emotion and depth- in this book especially. Although I loved the first book in the series to pieces, this one topped it for me. I honestly felt like I was Sarai, feeling everything and experiencing everything just as she was, from the beginning to the end of the novel. The story alone was gripping and breathtaking but everything else was top notch as well.

In this book, the main characters are all established for the most part and I loved seeing the progression of Victor's and Sarai's relationship- with both the good and the bad. Their relationship is far from perfect, in any sense of the word and that's just the way I like it. And then there's a twist after twist that just comes at you from every direction and you do not see it coming whatsoever. At least, I definitely didn't. I love those mind-fucks for sure, they make the book so much more exciting. This book is making me emotional just writing about it.

I really liked the way the book wasn't too fast paced but it didn't drag either. It gave just enough, enough emotions and action and it was just perfect in its writing style. I honestly want to read all of Redmerski's books now, and I can't wait.

Also this book ended in a very good place in a way that didn't make me frustrated with a huge cliffhanger but also made me very eager to read the next one to find out how the new story line progresses as it developed after Sarai proved herself . I love that Sarai had to prove herself because it made her a stronger heroine and she developed a better sense of herself now that she has found out what the life she wants actually entails. And I adored being able to follow that progression myself. I loved that she wasn't just a master killer in no time at all and that she still has a lot to learn, although she has managed to prove herself loyal and cut out for the path still ahead of her. It was just more realistic this way than her just placed on killing missions straight away and succeeding in them. Also, this way her relationship with all the other characters has become stronger as she has bonded with them through all her experiences. It made me want to be a part of their little “tight-knit-killing-family.” Where do I apply?

It also had smut, but the smut wasn't overpowering and didn't take away from the plot in any way. If anything, it just gave it a little something extra. It seemed like the author knew exactly how much smut and romance/love to give us and when to move on to something else, before we got too overwhelmed by it or got bored. Action and romance, I now understand how much I love both of these in a book and she wove them both beautifully throughout the story.

I just hope that the next book will either be as equally amazing or even more so. I am not a big fan of reading all the books in a series right after each other but for this book I will make an exception, especially because I'm dying to know what happens next and I can't contain my anticipation at how the story progresses further. Everyone should check out this story, anyone mature enough for graphic scenes and some smut anyways.

Believe it or not, I actually thought I was going to give this book only four stars until about the very end of the book, where it became so much more meaningful and everything made perfect sense and I wasn't conflicted anymore about how I feel about this novel and all the characters in it. So, for anyone reading this book keep that in mind, because it will keep you guessing and in the dark until the very end. For some readers that might be something they don't necessarily like but for me- I FREAKING LOVED IT! This whole book was so refreshing and different from what I have been reading lately and I absolutely loved every single part of it. It is definitely going down as one of my favorite books of all time, glad I brought the book because it was worth every penny.

To start of, the plot was twisty to say the least. It started off as a whirlwind and then settled into a comfortable, albeit slow pace that frustrated me only slightly. At that point I thought that was all there was to it but boy was I wrong. Little did I know that the most shocking revelations were yet to come. So, it's safe to say that I have never been taken so much by surprise in a plot twist within a book, ever. At first, I didn't know how I felt about it but upon further pondering I decided that it made sense in this book and that it truly tied everything together and brought the whole thing safe to home. Usually, I like when a book's pace is consistent and doesn't speed up or down too much but there was a beauty in this novel's slow pace areas that were agonizingly beautiful to witness as a reader. Hands down one of the best plots I have seen in a book yet.

Further on, the characters came alive to me and stopped being characters very early on in the book. They had whole histories that were revealed in components throughout the entirety of the book and each part made me realize more and more why the character did what he did and what motivated him to act a certain way in the story. Even the “villain” of the story was hard not to relate to and by the end of the book I found myself sharing in his pain and all his thoughts and dreams. These characters will stay with me for a long time after this book, they just felt so real, almost like good friends at this point. Kubica definitely knows how to do characterization and it goes without saying that I will be an avid fan of hers from this point forward and will read all her past and future releases.

The style of the writing was phenomenal as well, I liked how the book was divided into the characters story before and after the incident took place and then was resolved (for lack of a better way to put it without spoiling the book). It flowed effortlessly and I couldn't slow down for the life of me, I had to keep going because it intrigued my very soul and the story seeped into me and now will stay with me for the rest of my life.

In conclusion, I recommend this book to EVERYONE! It's profound and mesmerizing and genius and I can't contain my own elation at it while writing this review. It definitely has a little bit of something for everyone and a lot of truths contained in it about the human world and humanity as it is lived. I have read a lot of good books this year but this is one of the best books I have EVER read in my whole entire life, that's how much it has touched my very soul and made me ponder my very existence.

And Gillian Flynn delivers once again! I have been meaning to read all her other works after having read Gone Girl years ago and loving it immensely but I have not been able to get to it until now and I can say that Gillian remains one of my favorite quality thriller writers for sure. She definitely has no problem going to the darkest recesses of human nature and does it unapologetically, which is an absolute must in my favorite thrillers. I now can't wait to read Dark Places and it will be picked up sooner rather than later even though it's buried in the back of my TBR shelf, I'll just have to dig it out.

First of all, Sharp Objects is a story about a journalist, Camille, who is fresh out of a psychiatric hospital, who gets an assignment to do a piece on an unsolved murder and a missing girl but the assignment is back in her little hometown, from which she desperately wanted to escape her whole life. What she uncovers is a lot more than she had originally bargained for and it might even affect her in ways she never could have imagined. I just love Gillian Flynn's story plots! They are brilliant and have so many layers to them which definitely makes for a very well developed story. This one is so different from her other novel that I have read before and yet it's almost just as good in my opinion, even though Gone Girl will forever hold a special place in my heart. The only reason that it's not a five star for me is because there was a brief section of the book where I felt the story dragged a little bit and I wanted to get to the good stuff but it was very short lived and then the rest of the story delivered and packed quite a punch. I mean, talk about dark and twisted tales!

Second of all, the characters are remarkable and as dark and twisted as come. The characterization was very thorough and I really got a good sense into who these messed up people are and also what drives them to act this way. I think people in general are very complicated individuals and they had so many layers to them in this book which made them so much more real and terrifying to me. It made the reveal at the end so believable because the picture we got of them all throughout the book was entirely complete and showed them for who they really were, underneath any facades or roles that they were playing in their daily lives. It wasn't a long book but the plot and the characters were extremely well developed and kept me interested to keep going.

Third of all, the writing style in this novel was a good one. It's just a tiny bit short of being my favorite straight forward style but it's unique and gets the story across beautifully, showing Gillian Flynn has definitely perfected her skill at this point. It wasn't hard to understand but took a little bit to flow as I was reading it in my own head. However, after a few pages I was hooked and the words flowed effortlessly off the page and into my mind.

In conclusion, I am glad I finally got to Gillian Flynn's other works because this was a terrific thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat and only dragged a very minimal amount. I would recommend it to to all my thriller lovers because even though it's quite short, it is packed to the brim with things that you never saw coming. Highly recommend!

I have mixed feelings about this book but more of the feelings are definitely positive. I will definitely be picking up the next book in the trilogy soon, probably after I read a few different books after this one. And what's up with the cliffhanger at the end? Ah, it infuriated me so.

To begin with, the writing style of this book is not my favorite but it's not that bad either. It's mediocre for me. After reading two books before this that I absolutely loved, this one fell a bit short. The writing was mediocre because it was a bit choppy for me at some parts. I found there were moments when I had to reread sentences or sections over again because I felt like I read them wrong the first time. It just didn't flow naturally for me, the writing. Although this didn't happen too often, it did take away a little from the book in my opinion.

Also, I would have liked there to be a bit more feeling and emotion in the writing but it seems the author gave just enough, the bare minimum. Being a highly emotional person myself, I thrive on raw emotion in my books and this one didn't have nearly enough. Also, even though the book was written from the perspective of Ellie Watt, I felt like I didn't get quite as deep of a look into her mind as I wanted to. A deeper connection between the heroine and the reader was missing for me. And for this reason I wasn't as on the edge of my seat as I could have been.

In addition, the smut was good but it wasn't great. I liked that it didn't overwhelm the book in any way but the writing itself in these parts could have been a bit classier and done a little more tastefully. I guess it was a little too straightforward for me. I like when there's a bigger array of different words used in a scene like that. It seemed a little redundant to me and the different sex scenes kind of blended together in my mind.

With that being said, there were also things that I loved about this book, hence why I gave it 4 stars and not 3. For example, the plot was fantastic. I thought it was very wisely done and there were a lot of surprises in this book or moments that made me go “What the actual fuck?”. Aside from all the negative stuff that I mentioned before, the plot definitely redeemed the book for me and for this reason I kept reading. Also, at first I didn't like how we kept going back between present day and the past, through Ellie's eyes but I got used to it and then I actually began to like it. It was just something different that I haven't seen in many books before, even though I haven't read nearly that many books whatsoever.

Yes, the cover was pretty too but it still didn't do the story line justice. I think the going back and forth between her past and present made the most significance when we started to see the relationship develop between Ellie and Camden (present day) and before that it wasn't necessary, although it was interesting to see how she was forced into this life as a con-artist and couldn't stop being one even when she tried. Although, it was weird that when we read about her in the past, she was referred to as “her” and not by name. I understand the significance of her being different back than and still morphing into the person that she was today but I didn't think that was necessary. It actually made it a little impersonal to me at those parts, for that reason and I felt detached from her.

Finally, I love the dark/complicated, “bad guy” characters and for this reason I love Camden. He was just the right amount of dark and light to me that I found him to be realistic and not two-dimensional. I loved how him and Ellie had history already because I haven't read too many books with some background already between the characters in the beginning of the book. And the development of their present day relationship was going at just the perfect pace, not making them fall madly in love with each other right off the bat. I love that both of them are bitter and resentful towards each other in the beginning but then gradually the love outweighs all the negative feelings they harbor towards each other and it makes for a beautiful yet messed-up relationship. Those are the best.

All in all, this book is for anyone who wants a good story to read- full of excitement, romance and a bit of smut. I think teenagers would enjoy this book and people older as well. It was good although it did miss the “wow” factor for me by a bit.

I can honestly say I didn't know I could love this book as much as I did. Yes, this book contained loads of smut and very sexually graphic scenes but it didn't take away from the fact that this book was written from the heart, to illustrate a beautiful, yet heart-breaking story. I don't remember the last time I was so enveloped in a story. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about how intense this book was and gripping.

I think that any book that can bring forth so much raw emotion and feelings is one of a kind. And this book did just that, for me. I felt one with Angela, write of the bat and it felt like I was feeling exactly what she was feeling at each moment. This was in part because of how good the writing was. I still can't get over the emotional roller coaster that this book took me on.

I loved that Angela was written so realistically, all her actions stemming from who she was as a person, deep inside. Her reaction to being abducted and the rather fast adaptation she made into the life of “luxurious slavery” depicted the realistic ways in which humans adapt to real life situations, especially when they involve life and death aspects to them or need-for-survival aspects. In order to survive, Angela had to adapt to her life as a slave and she did, even gaining something out of it, her self confidence. It was as if she found herself through the whole experience and realized who she was as a person, at her very core. It was extremely painful to read some parts, especially those that showed her being forced to mature into a woman sexually but it was also an eye-opener because it depicted something that goes on in real life, even today. Although this book was a work of fiction, it's not as far of from the truth as we would like to believe.

This book definitely had the “anti-hero” in the form of Colin and he came to life before my eyes. So complicated, and full of demons, Colin was perfect for the story. The author also touched upon his humanity, or what makes us humans, because she showed Colin also adapting to his circumstances, particularly when he enters Paradise in order to try to find Angela. At the core all human beings have desires, even if those desires are so dark and almost inhuman in every sense of the word. I loved how he was torn between knowing what was right but also giving into what he knew was wrong but felt so right and good. During his experience at Paradise, he battled a lot of inner turmoil and demons that prompted him to act on his instincts and to forget that this place was actually as bad as he knew deep down it was. He definitely enjoyed many aspects of this evil place.

And the dynamic between him and Angela, my gosh- no words can describe the chemistry I felt between these two characters. Each an individual but deeply affected by the other. So much raw passion, I'm not a big fan of a book having so much smut all throughout but this smut I couldn't get enough of. It was like one of those guilty pleasures you know you shouldn't be doing but you can't help yourself because the pleasure that it brings is worth it. This was how this book was to me.

And for the first time, I can say that the ending was perfect, even if it did end up on a pretty positive note. All I can say is that the two characters deserved it, especially after the emotional roller coaster they sent me on for most of this book and what they'd gone through. Field is my new favorite author now because this book has turned me into a believer and made me fall in love with something completely new and alien to me.

I just need to say, this book blew my socks off. There is nothing I dislike about this book and I am very sad that it's the only book about Colin and Angela, although I'll be glad to take the happy ending and run with it. I think if it didn't end well I'd be depressed for days. Ain't that the truth. This book is for anyone who is open to something new, a new experience and isn't uncomfortable with venturing out of their comfort zone, into new territory. It definitely was out of my comfort zone but I'm so glad I decided to give it a try. Definitely one of those books that will leave an everlasting impression on me. Without any doubt.

I have watched the show based on this book so long ago and then rewatched it because it's one of my all-time favorites that I almost forgot that it's based on a book. I accidentally spotted the first in the series at the Half-Priced Books store and decided to finally pick it up. Even though I knew it would be hard to compete with the show because it was just amazingly done and I loved every second of it, I still had high hopes going into it. And I can say, I definitely felt good about it. Even though it didn't “wow” me or blow me away, I still thoroughly enjoyed my time reading it and will be continuing with the rest of the series for sure.

To begin with, Darkly Dreaming Dexter, which is the first book in a series about a serial killer with a weird twist to him, introduces us to Dexter Morgan, a model citizen by day and serial killer by night. However, there's one major difference that makes his stand out from all the other killers out there, he only kills people who deserve to die. I think that this unique take on something that's been done so many times before is absolutely genius. This book probably has one of my all-time favorite premises, which is why I just can't get enough. The novel moved at just the right pace and I lived for those short chapters, all of them ending with a cliffhanger. I almost wish I would have read the books first because I know I would have given this one five stars instead of four. The show just really hit a note for me and the plot differences that made it into the show, in my opinion, made the story even more intriguing and memorable.

Secondly, the characterization I would say is even better than the plot, although it definitely stems from it and the author masterfully brought this complex, albeit ordinary character to life. I love how we really get to see the inner depths of Dexter's very soul and we get to experience life through him. Even though he is far from perfect and has many faults considering who he is, there is just something so human about a being trying to blend in and not stand out as the black sheep of society. He is so relatable and lovable and one of those main characters that you can't help but root for, regardless of what's right. And let's just say that I am beyond happy that they are bringing the show back too, I can't wait to watch it!

Finally, I don't really have anything bad to say about the writing style either. It was precise and to the point and not one bit choppy. Even though it was a little on the simplistic side, it really talks to the way Dexter is, logical and extremely rational in the way that he approaches life and things that come his way. Also, the writer did a good job of diving into his psyche and the writing definitely gets his complex mind across and paints him as a living, breathing human being, which obviously he is not.

In conclusion, I really liked this first book in the Dexter series and will be reading the rest of them as well. Even though it wasn't as good as the show, I think that fans of serial killer thrillers will really enjoy this one. It's definitely great and did not disappoint!

Although I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it wasn't as good as the previous two, at least in my opinion. My favorite was the story of Ellie and Javier, even though I despise Javier immensely. This book just didn't have as much raw emotion as the other one did and maybe there was just a little too much action in it for me and not enough romance.

First of all, let me begin by stating that I love the story that Halle has created and although I love some characters more than others, they are all beautifully brought to life and always stay true to who they are, in every situation. I think this is part of the reason I hate Javier so much, because of how incredibly realistic she made him and how nonredeemable he has become, up to this point in the book.

The development of all the characters were epic, especially in this book, and it was amazing to see how all their different journeys changed who they were on the inside as well. However, I would have liked to see a little more romance in this one, even though I know it was more so because of the story line, I just felt like that was missing a little.

Again, the is writing flawless ,as always and super easy to read and I found myself getting into the book and not noticing how fast the pages flew by. Because I work now, I am not able to read as much as I'd like but reading on the train is a big help, as long as I make sure not to miss my stop.

I can't wait to read the next book, now, because again Ellie and Camden are together and I always loved them. I definitely ship them more than Javier and Ellie, especially because Camden and Ellie bring out the best in each other and Javier just drags Ellie down, making her believe that she can't be good even if she tried. I am excited to see the dynamic of all three of them in the next book though, and how their relationships progress.

What I didn't like in this book was that even though it was mostly action, the book felt slow at parts and was lagging. And even when it was a bit slow, it seemed the romance wasn't there to fill the slow pace. Or maybe it's just because I despise Javier so much and want him gone, so I didn't enjoy his private moments with Ellie. Also, what was up with that cliffhanger at the end? It made me a little bitter, not going to lie. And even though I do want to read the next book, it didn't really make me all the more eager to start it right away. In some books I really don't mind cliffhangers but in that one I did, not entirely sure why.

All in all, this book was terrific and although it missed the mark at some points, for me, I still had a great time reading it and enjoyed it very much. I recommend this book and series to anyone who likes adventure, enjoys the occasional love triangle and isn't uncomfortable with some smut now and then.

I thought that the second installment in The Selection series was more of the same. It didn't offer that much more than the first one did, except that now America wasn't just focused on her “maybe” feelings for Prince Maxon but also whether or not she would be good at leading the country.

However, I was confused because in a part of the book it seemed that American's indecisiveness, which I found extremely irritating after a while, now not only extended into her feelings for Maxon but also into her feelings about being a princess. At one point her judgement clouded her emotions so badly that she was more focused on the ruling aspect of The Selection as opposed to the being married to a prince part. It was as if all her priorities shifted and she no longer even cared about the way she felt about Maxon in the first place or what had made her stay there so long after she'd thought it would be best for her to leave.

I think in this book my opinion of America changed, from someone who took control of her own life and didn't let anyone walk over her to someone who was very indecisive and it seemed that she lost some of her backbone in this one as well.

Although we finally are introduced to a more serious and pressing issue in this book, towards the end, I felt that this wasn't really fit smoothly into the story and because of this it made it quite choppy. It went from a fairy tale type of Romance novel to a darker/abusive one. It seemed that the three books could have been compacted into two which would have made for a smoother and more intense read in the long run. The first one was fluff and the second book had much worse things happening so it felt out of balance.

I was actually kind of rooting for America to be sent home, just because she was getting on my nerves with the whole indecisiveness and stuff so when that almost happened, I was kind of excited and thought that something exciting would take place but alas, no such luck. Of course, she was asked to stay by Maxon himself and then it made her realize that she can definitely rule alongside him, especially because Maxon believes in her, even though Aspen doesn't. Aspen wasn't very prominent in this book and it seemed to me that she had already distanced herself from him at that point, which didn't sit very well with me, especially since I've always wanted her to end up with him.

I did think that it was good that America finally pissed Maxon of in one way or another because he just always seemed so overly in love with her from the beginning that he didn't find any fault in her whatsoever, although she has a lot. Finally, he realized that she was a human being with faults of her own and not just a girl he was blinded who couldn't do anything wrong.

Again, this book is for the younger generation, in my opinion, and also those people who are really into fairy tales and “happily ever after”. I myself prefer darker and more twisted plots. I might read the next book in the series but it's definitely not up there on my “to read” list whatsoever.

This was my first Nora Roberts novel and although I came in with no expectations whatsoever, I have to say- I was a bit disappointed. I thought that the smut aspect of it would exceed most other books but I was wrong.

To begin with, the story itself wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. Maybe it's because I don't care much for fixing houses but I found myself feeling distant and withdrawn from the main story line. For this reason it didn't maintain my attention whatsoever and I found myself putting this book down many, many times. I even waited months to finish the last chapter, just because I didn't care that much what happened to the main characters or how the story ended for that matter.

Further on, the pace of the story was a bit too drawn out for my liking. I wanted more action but instead things happened way too slowly and we only got further into solving the mystery towards the end of the book. That's not to say that I don't like romance, I love romance, I would have just liked to see a more equal amount of romance to mystery. Instead, the real action began way too far into the book and before that all we got was romance between the main two characters.

Also, the smut was adequate, that is all. It didn't blow me away or make me want to keep reading, it was just....eh. The reason for this was because it seemed a little too vague, even to the point where I had to reread certain parts because I had a hard time understanding what exactly was going on at some points. I like when smut is not too vulgar and not too vague either and this book just didn't do it for me in that aspect. I don't know whether or not I will try another Nora Roberts novel in the future, we will have to see.

The only redeeming quality I found in this book was the character development and how real the characters themselves seemed. I especially liked that the two main characters had little quirks and hobbies and everything else that actual people have. Cilla was the handyman, the one who's passion was to remake houses, while Ford's was to create comics. It was also unique because the stereotypical traits of a woman and a man were reversed in this case. This made for an interesting dynamic between them and it made the book more enjoyable.

All in all, this novel was okay. However, I would not recommend it to anyone because I think there are many other books out there that are much more worth your time.

It's been a long while since I have read an Agatha Christie novel, last one was And There Were None back in grade school, and ultimately I have mixed opinions about. I think because of the novel having been written so long ago and set in a different world from the one we live in today, it was a bit harder to get through this novel than I was anticipating. Still, I am glad that I ventured outside of my comfort zone and gave a good classic mystery a shot because I do not regret reading this one. It had it's pluses and minuses but ultimately it's a story that transcended time and made history so I am working on expanding my horizons a bit.

A Mysterious Affair at Styles is the first novel in the Hercule Poirot series and it's an old fashioned “who-dunn-it”, where a wealthy woman gets poisoned at her estate and the rest of the book is spent trying to figure out what exactly occured and who did the deed. The plot was interesting enough and I enjoyed experiencing something that happened during a different time. A lot of things were a bit confusing to me because the language used was fitting for the times but ultimately I was able to get the gist. It wasn't the most exciting and exhilarating plot but it was nice to take a step back and try to think like detective Hercule Poirot.

Further on, the characterization specifically of Hercule Poirot is astounding. He is a very complex character and that is very evident from the novel. All his intricacies are laid out for us and I grew in awe of him and his brilliance. The other characters weren't as closely observed or delved into but they did show somewhat of themselves and we got a brief look into who they were. All in all, not bad in that area.

Thirdly, the writing is where I struggled the most with this novel. It was rather long winded and drawn out and I was sad to discover that I couldn't get through this novel as quickly as I wanted to because I had to take my time when reading it for fear of misunderstanding something. I understand that this book was written long ago but I don't think I will be venturing into another novel by Christie for a while since this one was just too much for me in regards to the writing style. I want to get to all of her novels eventually but I am in no hurry to do so and will be taking my time.

In conclusion, I think that this classic mystery novel is definitely worth a read but even though the plot and mystery is rather light, the writing makes it feel very heavy and a lot of the information gets repeated many times throughout the book. Also, be prepared not to have any clue as to who the culprit is until the last few pages because even though the information is given to us all throughout the novel, the answers are not revealed until the very end. That frustrated me a little bit but not enough to deter me from her books forever. It was not bad.

I wasn't sure how I would feel about this book because it has very mixed opinions and reviews but in all honesty- I really loved it! I have been legit in a reading slump since my kids started school last year and this is the first book in a long time that I couldn't put down. I read this book in a record time for me and had already ordered the second book in the series, when I was only halfway done with the first one. It will definitely not be everyone's cup of tea but it's important to keep an open mind when going into this book.

To begin with, The Girl in 6E is about a woman named Deanna, who keeps herself locked inside her apartment because of her strong urge to kill. This urge developed in her childhood and in order to support herself she works as a cam girl, working remotely from home. When she suspects that one of her clients might commit a crime, she has to decide if she will risk everything in order to save an innocent. I thought this was one of the most unique premises I have ever seen in a book and even though it contains a lot of sexual talk and topics, I found it didn't take away from the main storyline and I didn't mind it one bit. I thought the plot moved at a pretty fast pace and the chapters were short and to the point and I couldn't get enough. I would say that the first half of this book is mainly character driven and the last half is plot driven but I really liked the main heroine so I didn't mind that first half one bit.

Further on, the characterization in this book was superb. We really got to see into Deanna's psyche and I was able to fully understand why she is the complicated individual that she is. I was afraid I wouldn't buy the psychological reason for why she keeps herself locked in her apartment and never comes out but I really found the reason believable and it made me feel sympathy for her that much more. I also loved the character development that Deanna undergoes through the whole book and the romance in this book I couldn't get enough of, even though romance isn't a favorite genre of mine by any means. I loved how many layers the main character had and I can't wait to dive back into her story really soon!

Finally, the writing style contributed greatly to the reason why this book was so hard for me to put down. Even with a really early wakeup time, I found I couldn't stop reading the book and even though it's on the bigger side, the pages flipped by. I love when the author is able to affect me so deeply with precise sentences to the point writing style. I am not obsessed with her as an author and she is definitely now an auto buy author for me.

In conclusion, I would recommend this book to thriller/suspense lovers that are open to cringy topics such as weird sexual premises and sexual cam girl stuff. It didn't bother me but it's definitely not for the faint of heart, so look up the trigger warnings before diving into this novel. It will not be everyone's cup of tea but I think that the right audience will really enjoy it and take away a lot of good things from it as well.

As I delved into Dare Me by Megan Abbott, it was almost like I was transformed back to my highschool days, one of the worst times of my entire life. I had a very hard time in high school and got bullied and picked on alot. So, right of the bat, this book was about a topic that hit really close to home for me. It was almost like a nightmare but at the same time I couldn't stop reading it because it was exhilirating and had many twists and turns I really didn't see coming at all.

One of the things that drew me in most about this book, was that it approached the high school topic from a different angle, a different perspective. Instead of being from the side of the “good girl”, who gets picked on and made fun of, we get a glimpse into the world of the “bad girl”, or the one who does the making fun. I got a very good look into the downside of being the popular girl and all the negatives that come with that. Nice to know that everybody has their challenges in high school and that I was not alone.

Megan Abbott writes in a very unique style, that is a little harder to get used to but is very addictive once you get used to it. For a little while, I actually thought that I would be giving this book four stars and not five, for this exact reason. However, after a few chapters, the writing style didn't bother me at all and the rest of the book flowed smoothly and effortlessly. I also loved the shortness of the chapters, because this kept the book moving and prevented it from dragging. I think most of the action actually happens towards the end of the book, but because the chapters were so short and the topic was one I was really interested in getting a better understanding of, I didn't mind this one bit.

Characterization speaks for itself here because any author that manages to get the reader to sympathize with a “bad” character is a master in that area. I didn't want to like Addy, or even Beth, but I couldn't help but feel for them or even with them. And Coach, I could never forget Coach, a prime example of money not being able to buy happiness. I understood all of them, even when I didn't want to admit it and this made them all the more realistic.

Another amazing thing is how this book had a little bit of everything. It had romance, mystery, crime, drama and many other genre categories, all packed into one terrific book. For this reason, I think anybody would enjoy this book, because they would never get bored.

All in all, even though I originally expected to be disappointed in this book because it seemed to me like something that you would read in a Middle School literature class, I was highly impressed. Not only does this book have a very intense and exhilirating plot, but it is also packed with larger-than-life characters, all of whom are flowed in many ways. For this reason, I recommend this book to anyone who can appreciate a good novel.

Although I read “Six Years” in a few days, it definitely was not one of the best books I've ever read. Not as exciting as it could be, we follow Jake's journey as he tries to uncover the truth about his long-lost love and realizes that he doesn't know himself as well as he thinks.

Coben's writing style is very unique in the way his sentences are structured and we get a good sense of what the character is thinking, especially through the dialogue. Although the dialogue wasn't one-hundred percent realistic, there were a few quotes that Jake has which shows us exactly who he is at the core of himself. Some things that he thinks are also eye-opening to him as the main character.

I wasn't a fan of how slow the book started but once it picked up it almost made up for the slow start. Also, it wasn't nearly as suspenseful as the synopsis and the book cover made it out to be and I wasn't hanging onto my seat, dying to find out what will happen next.

With that being said, it was a cute mystery and there were some really good themes and motifs in the story which I could relate to. One of the those was the idea of hope, or rather of not losing hope. Being from Russia, we have a saying, “hope dies last”, and this is a prominent message in the book. Another one is how “things aren't always as they seem.” I think this book had a lot of really good ideas and messages that readers had a chance to take away from it but it lacked in the actual thrill within the story itself. This is not one of those books that will stay with you long after you finish reading it, you are likely to forget it very quickly because the plot isn't a particularly memorable one.

I think I should have started with Coben's bestseller first and then worked my way to this one but I was bored and randomly took this book. It didn't keep me on the edge of my seat but it did entertain me somewhat and I had some pleasure in reading it. With that being said, I am willing to give Coben another chance in the future, especially because I did enjoy his writing style immensely.

This book is for anyone who isn't a big fan of extreme suspense but still likes a bit of mystery here and there.

I remember going to Half Priced Books and whilst looking through the clearance section I spotted this book for next to nothing. I am not exactly sure what prompted me to pick this book up, it's just that I've heard the author mentioned in the past and was merely curious. I haven't read historical fiction in a very long time and was wondering if I would like it these days, if I gave it a chance. Well, the verdict is in, historical fiction as a genre is really just not for me. That's not to say that this book wasn't good, it really was, it just wasn't my cup of tea and I will not be continuing with the series, nor will I be picking up anymore historical fiction in the near future. However, if you are a fan of historical fiction you might really enjoy this so give it a chance.

To begin with, Life After Life is about a girl named Ursula and her life, from birth and all the way through World War II. However, what's unique about Ursula is that she can get as many chances at life as she needs to finally get it right. I wasn't sure what I felt about this plot and since I am a person who doesn't like fantasy all that much, I wasn't the most excited about the fantastical part of her dying and coming back to the same life over and over again. However, I thought it was done well, even if it got a little redundant and I never really found out what happened in the end. I am not a fan of open-ended endings in books and this one had exactly that. The middle dragged on a bit and I felt miserable reading about all the horrors of war because it affects me a lot deeper than most. If you enjoy reading about all the terrors of war, you will probably like this book.

Secondly, the characterization is where this book shined. The main character, Ursula, it was a treat reading from her point of view because she always had that naive, creatively wondrous outlook on life and it added the much needed humor to an otherwise very serious and depressing story. The other characters got a bit mixed up for me because there were tons but a few did stand out and had their own little quirks and ways of looking at the world. If you want intense character development in your novels, you should definitely pick up this book.

Finally, the writing was beautiful, albeit a bit too drawn out for my liking. I thought that the book could have been reduced down to three hundred pages and that would have been a lot easier to stomach in my opinion. However, because the book is very atmospheric and paints a very vivid picture in my mind, I fell into a deep depression whilst reading this book and the ending didn't snap me out of it whatsoever. In all, if you like a very high amount of description in your books and like to see everything, exactly as it's happening at every moment, then you will really enjoy this.

In conclusion, even though I kind of enjoyed my time reading this book, I also felt extremely depressed and down for the duration of it. I was hoping the ending would lift my spirits back up but it didn't really succeed in doing that since it was so open-ended and I didn't get the answers I was so desperately hoping for. Fans of historical fiction who are not affected by human suffering and horrors of war deeply in their books, give this one a shot, I think you will really enjoy it!

What a great way to end the series! Usually I'm so disappointed by most series' endings, but this one was great. It tied everything together and it just made sense, in a good way. I think I actually like this book better then the second one and I am pretty happy with how things ended. Hopefully there will be a continuation from these series, I want to know what happens to all the characters after their adventures in this book.

Let me begin by praising the plot. Outstanding- throughout the whole book really. But in this one, it once again moved at the perfect pace. I did not get bored whatsoever and the only reason I took a break was because life got hectic and then I was trying to get into a roleplay on Tumblr that didn't work out.

Further on, I have never been a fan of the “friends-to-lovers” scenario but here I was glad for it. I liked Maya with Rafe but it just felt right, when she started seeing Daniel in a whole new light and started distancing herself from Rafe. Honestly, I was cheering them on the whole time and I couldn't get enough of their interactions with each other. This book showed me that some relationships burn out, even in books and I'm glad she didn't keep forcing Rafe and Maya's relationship. And the characterization? Top notch, as always. Although I did like the focus on Maya and Daniel. What a great pair.

Usually, I would say that such a basic writing style takes away from the whole book but not in this case. I like how it was precise and to the point, without adding anything extra. It was easy to get into the action and to picture the scenes in my head as they unfolded in the book. I loved Armstrong's writing style and will definitely pick up all the rest of her books sometime in the future.

Now, let's get to the reason why I loved this book immensely more than the previous one in the series. First of, I can now see how The Calling was dragging a little, especially with them being stranded and trying to find their way home. The plane crash was definitely necessary to the plot, but the plot seemed to drag without any significant characterization happening or anything else for that matter. With that said, it was still a great book and for that reason I am not changing my rating on it. However, this book was much better and more diverse and exciting.

I was mostly satisfied with the ending, although I would have liked to see Armstrong take a little more time in letting us know what happened after their adventure ended. I mean, I was looking forward so much to the epilogue and was a little disappointed with how short it was. Maybe this means there will be a continuation of Maya's story in the future? I certainly hope so. But still, it could have been a little longer and I would have felt much more satisfied. Also, why couldn't we get a little more of Daniel and Maya at the end too? I wanted to see their blossoming romance more than what was offered to us at the end of the book.

All in all, the third book in the Darkness Rising trilogy blew me away. The previous books were good as well, although the second one was worse for me than the other two. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick read and also wants an adventure-packed story with a bit of a supernatural twist. Oh, and the romance doesn't lack there either.

The story of Nick and his wife, Amy, truly captivated me from the very beginning. I only heard of it from seeing the movie trailer on TV and felt a strong desire to read it afterwards. And am I truly grateful that I did.

As I've mentioned before, I like messed up plots and twisted story lines- the more messed up, the better. At least in my opinion. And boy did this book not disappoint and satisfied my sick craving for what-the-fuck-just-happened moments. It also delivered these moments again and again.

It started out innocently enough, I began and was enveloped into Amy's diary and then Nick's thoughts as he was going through the whole beginning of this ordeal. I loved how they used a combination of Amy's diary followed by Nick, as he was in present day. I actually found myself looking forward to Amy's witty, little journal entries that made me giggle and also gave me a keen insight into her mind, or so I thought. Also, her being a psychology major who's job was to write personality quizzes really gave her a nice little touch of something extra. I loved those personality quizzes coming through in her journal entries. Those journal entries were so believable, that I could actually imagine myself writing a journal entry of that nature. They was so real and down-to-earth, without trying to hide anything or make the person seem fake in any way. Here, it seemed, she was baring her soul to us. But little did we know.....

When I came to the part where I realized she was fooling us all along, I honestly had to reread that part a few times to make sure I didn't read that wrong. I must have asked myself WHAT IN THE FUCKING HELL like 30 times. It came out of nowhere and left me breathless with a newborn need to find out what happens next, since at this point I had no fucking idea what to expect from this book anymore. It's like the book did a complete 180 and I loved that. Something might seriously be wrong with me but oh well.

This book kept me guessing until the very end, but even then it managed to fool me completely and it left me feeling like a complete and utter idiot for thinking something that was so far of from what really happened in the book. I honestly couldn't breathe at some points, it was so intense.

I am truly glad that I read this book before watching the movie because I don't think I would have gotten this complete “mind-fuck” of an experience if I had. It was just so raw, us being able to venture inside the heads of these two flawed people as they laid themselves out to us and the whole world to see. In addition, I absolutely loved the fact that we (the reader), found out new information as Nick found it appropriate to reveal to us. This made me feel at Nick's mercy and made the book that much more suspenseful.

Flynn's writing style is flawless and yet it's almost as if there is a personal style of each character's own way of thinking and the personal depth of them, who they are at their very core. It was a sophisticated read and yet it also felt very personal and unique to each character.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a book with depth, one that will keep you guessing and thinking about it long after you've put it down. I think mature audiences, who like a good surprise will love this book. Man, did I love this book, definitely one of the best I've read this year and ever in my life. Hands down.

Can't believe it took me so long to finish another book and write a review for it but life is crazy with a nine month old and on top of that I've been working really hard on my fitness so bare with me.

I actually picked up this book because I thought it would be a light read with a mystery to solve in the middle of it but I was somewhat wrong. Yes, the book itself is pretty light and reads very fast but there's no real mystery in the foundation of this book. I guess it's my fault for not reading the synopsis too carefully. What I got instead was a murder/action book. Don't get me wrong, this book wasn't bad by any means but it failed to blow me away nevertheless.

The mediocrity of this book begins with the way that it's laid out. Point of view goes from the main “hero” character to the main bad guy and switches with every chapter. At first, this annoyed me immensely but after a while I got used to it especially after getting acquainted with the characters. While this is a unique way to keep the reader on their toes, I prefer not knowing who the bad guy is until the very end. I guess it's my fault for picking a book that wasn't completely the genre I was looking for at the moment. I did, however, enjoy getting into the mind of a crazy, deranged serial killer.

In addition, the plot itself was good. I haven't read many books with the same direction but then again I haven't read many books at all. However, good is all it was. Nothing more, nothing less. I was curious to know what would happen next but not curious enough to keep reading all night long. Also, the chapters overlapped here and there and we often read the same scene twice from two different perspectives. Although in certain other instances this adds something special to a book, in this instance it seems unnecessary and rather redundant.

Another thing to point out is that the characterization of the book was on the higher level of the mediocrity scale. I enjoyed getting to know the characters but they are not going to stay with me long after I finish this book. I don't even know if I'm all that eager to read the second book in this series. I might read it one day, but probably not in the near future.

In conclusion, NYPD Red is a letdown for a book, especially one that has been so widely publicized and spread throughout the media channels. I was expecting more from such a renowned author. With that said, it's not a bad book by far and is perfect for anyone looking for a fast paced and easy read that has a lot of action in it.

Not bad but not great either. The second book in the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a slight improvement from the first one but it still fails to deliver anything more than a slightly cheesy rendition of two people addicted to each other in rather odd circumstances.

The second book, while a tad better than the first one, lacked any real conflicts and events. It actually took a while for me to even get through it because I did not feel like I had to keep reading to find out what happens next. And on top of that, nothing of great importance happened until about half-way through the book. The first half consisted of the two main characters, Anna and Christian, trying to figure out their rather obsessive relationship with each other. It rarely happens that I don't feel jealous of the main heroine's romantic relationship with her significant other in the book and that's what happened here. Christian actually rubbed me the wrong way, his possessiveness and rather overly emotional nature repelled me.

On that note, the book became a little bit better once we started finding out why Christian is the way that he is. However, in my opinion, I found that this took a little too long to happen and everything before that wasn't that exciting. And I am the epitome of hopeless romantic, but all the relationship stuff was too much, even for me. I would have liked to see a better balance of both romance and action because the romance was trying a bit too hard for me and it completely overwhelmed any of the action that occurred.

Moving on, the dialogue was also on the cheesy side and for this reason hard to read at times. I mean, who talks like that? I get that these two people are madly in love with each other but in reality, people who are romantically involved don't talk like that to each other. However, at least the writing style was okay because it made for a smooth and quick read.

In addition, the smut was mediocre at best. The variety of the sexual scenes was good but that didn't make up for the lack of variety in the word usage. It would have been nice to see a broader range of appropriate vocabulary, which would have made for a more exciting read.

One thing that saved this book for me, was the character development. While the characters might not have talked realistically to one another, they were three dimensional and I could picture them being a real person as I was reading. Even though Anastasia Steele really didn't capture my interest as a person and I couldn't relate to her whatsoever, I can't deny that there were many layers to her and we got to see more and more as the book progressed. There wasn't just one side to her. Christian as well, we were able to see the depths of him and get a glimpse into his soul.

All in all, Fifty Shades Darker delivers a rather mediocre portrayal of two people obsessively in love with each other. And although the plot drags and disappoints, the characters manage to stand out as individual personas. With all the media attention this book has gotten over the last few years, it still leaves a lot to be desired. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick read and doesn't care about a lack of a real plot or the amount of cheesiness that can be packed into 500 pages.

Oh. Em. Gee. What did I just read? I think this book has made me realize that I have officially outgrown heavily erotic romances with toxic relationships at the forefront. The book itself wasn't bad, it's just that the erotica genre and the characters in this novel were really not my cup of tea. I remember when I read 50 Shades of Grey, back a long while ago, I enjoyed it somewhat more but in general I wasn't as psyched about it as many others were. It could be because after being in a long term relationship for almost 8 years, this relationship is just not the basis for a strong bond in my opinion. It was just too much and man was it laid on thick. Again, this is just my opinion.

To begin with, the plot had a lot to be desired. There wasn't much going on besides seemingly unimportant relationship drama and I prefer books with some more excitement and twists then that. And even after the relationship drama, the resolution wasn't really a resolution, it was just roll in the sack and not much more than that. Now, that's a sure way to just put a temporary band-aid on the situation and you couldn't never realistically convince me that a relationship like that will work for the long haul, so I will not be reading the rest of the books in the series. It was just a book about a lot of nothing. It's probably the cynic in me or the realist but I couldn't get on board with this or any other aspect of this novel.

In continuation, the characterization rubbed me the wrong way. The characters were mediocre but Gideon, in particular really didn't sit well with me. Some of the dialogue that was spoken by him just didn't fit with the situation at hand and was rather majorly on the cheesy side. The heroine, Eva, didn't annoy me as much but she also wasn't anything special and I had a hard time seeing what Gideon found so irreplaceable about her. I also can't believe how similar this novel and 50 Shades are, I mean maybe if I would've read this one before 50 Shades, I would have liked it more but I just felt like I was rereading 50 Shades. Although truth be told, if I would've read 50 Shades nowadays, I am certain I would have hated it just as much.

Further on, the writing style is the only thing that I found likeable about this novel. It was easy to read and even though I made myself finish this novel, the writing style helped get through it faster. I am usually not one to give books two stars but this book just had way too much nonsense for one book and I couldn't stomach it. I need an aspect of reality in my novels and this one had none whatsoever.

In conclusion, this was probably the worst book I have read all year and I will be staying away from heavy erotica that's too much like 50 Shades of Grey. This book might be suitable for readers who love an unrealistic and barely believable romance full of smutty scenes and nothing else. Guess I'll stick with my other beloved genres.

I am happy to say that even though the previous book in this series hugely disappointed me, this one was another touchdown! Rarely does the final book in a series leave me satisfied and content and this one did just that. I am extremely happy that I kept reading, even though the second book in the Unearthly series was so extremely disappointing.

For one, the finale had a satisfying amount of action and adventure which in turn catapulted the plot into something extraordinary. From beginning to end, this book was a non-stop roller coaster of emotions and it had me addicted to all the highs and lows that came with it. Amazing. I loved and at the same time hated not being able to predict what was going to happen next. Usually, I can guess slightly what will occur in the book that I am reading but that was not the case here. I was kept guessing and this made for a much more refreshing read than usual.

And again, the extraordinary heroine, Clara, with whom I fell in love with in the first book is back and once again true to herself. I love that she doesn't do what is expected of her, even though her purpose on earth is supposedly preordained. It's great to see a heroine who doesn't apologize for being who she is. And a bad ass one at that! She also makes a huge transformation in this book, from a questioning/curious girl to an adult comfortable in her own skin, who knows what she wants and is done denying herself that.

In addition, the rest of the characterization was also great, although I would have liked to see Tucker more throughout the book, instead of just in the end. And I feel bad saying this, but I actually got a little sick of Christian. I mean, I get that he's an important part of the story but at times he was just a lovesick puppy in my eyes and nothing more. I think I would have liked to see a possible romantic interest for him besides Clara because it seemed that his whole existence was Clara and nothing/no one else. For this reason, he seemed like the least three-dimensional character of the book.

The writing was flawless as it had been in the previous books. I just love her simple yet elegant style, which gets everything necessary across and even more at that.

I recommend this book to everyone, even if you have read the previous books in the series and have given up after the second one was such a let down. I think it was the perfect ending to a great trilogy and did not disappoint. Packed with adventure and romance, Boundless is a story worth venturing into.

Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. I am............speechless. After reading this book most of the books I have read in the past that I gave five stars to, seem to pale in comparison to this masterpiece. What a breathtaking journey Hosseini has brought to life in the pages of this book. It was definitely not an easy read, far from it, but what I got in the end was more valuable than gold. This book has taught me so many things and I will carry it with me for as long as I live, that's how deeply profound and meaningful it truly is.

This story centers around two girls, Mariam and Laila and how their lives intertwine and leave permanent marks on the other. There was a heavy historical component to this book and even though I'm not usually crazy into those, in this case I loved every moment of it and it taught me many things I did not know and opened my eyes to a lot. I feel like this book should be a requirement to read because even though it ripped my heart wide open and made my cry like I've never cried for a book before, it left me a better person and made me ponder.....everything I've ever known or believed about life.

To begin with, the way this story is told, it is easily the best written book I have ever read in my whole life. The way that Hosseini is able to paint a scene so vividly, take us straight into the middle of the action, make us feel and see exactly what the character is seeing, that's an experience like no other. I will definitely be reading the other books by this author, if only just for the writing because it was something on a whole other level that I've never come across before in my life.

Secondly, the characters are vivid and real and will live on in my heart and soul for the rest of my life, of that I am sure. I seriously feel as though I have taken this heartbreaking and breathtaking journey along with them and they are now forever part of me. They are some of the most complex, intricate beings I have encountered, even in real life, and we get a complete picture of them, right down to the very deepest parts of their soul.

Further on, the plot, going along with the mesmerizing writing is something out of this world. It's so intricate, intimate, winding and gives us a full journey into the lives of these two amazing heroines. Even if their lives weren't full of fancy things and materialistic aspects, that's what made them even more breathtaking, their trials and tribulations are beyond anything I can even fathom and it really reminded me not to take anything for granted. All of the obstacles they had to overcome, it really puts everything into perspective and makes it clear that the most important things we need in life are within us.

In conclusion, this book would easily make it into the top five best books I have ever read in my whole entire life, if not the best. I would recommend it to EVERYONE and I will, especially those readers who want to be moved and transformed from their reading experience. It is definitely not an easy read, in terms of the topics that are covered but the writing is beyond flawless and there are vital truths in this book that we often forget or completely lose sight of today's world. Please, just read this book.

The second book of the Unearthly series was a bit of a let down for me, not going to lie. And don't get me wrong, it was still a great book and I had no problem getting through it, it just didn't mesmerize me like the first one did. With that being said, I would still recommend this book and I enjoyed reading the continuation of Clara Gardner's life. And what a life it is.

I actually think it would have been close to impossible to make a more compelling book then the first one was. In the first one, there was just so much defiance and surprises from Clara and the book didn't end at all how I was expecting. As I've mentioned in my previous review, it went from zero to one hundred in a matter of seconds. Now, this one was much more predictable and there weren't a lot of moments that stood out to me. It's almost as though the book slowed down a bit, again. It actually reminds me of the pace that the first one started off with before picking up.

I guess, what I'm really trying to say is that the plot didn't keep me on the edge of my seat and even though it wasn't bad, it also wasn't particularly good and unique. And on top of that, nothing that exciting really happened. I was yearning for more excitement and was a bit disappointed that it didn't really feel as though there was a real climax in this one. The book just steadily progressed and focused more on the character's relationships with each other than on any huge events. For me, there needs to be a good mix of the two in order to make it into my favorites list and this book failed to do that.

With that being said, the characterization remained superb and even progressed somewhat, with the characters changing right along with the circumstances surrounding them and the events as they unfolded in the story. However, while before I was mesmerized by Clara, in this book I simply wasn't. I understand that her relationship with Tucker has changed and just because he was her first love doesn't mean he is her true love, I still felt a little betrayed when Tucker was pushed to the back in this whole story. I would have liked to see a more gradual transition from their relationship at its peak to the way it was left at the end of this book.

However, the writing and grammar in this book were just as impressive and top-notch as in the previous one. I enjoy reading her writing style because it's direct and to the point without being too simplistic.

All in all, the sequel to Unearthly failed to live up to the first book's standards but it did stand up as a good book all on its own. I would still recommend it to anyone who read the first book, because even though it pails in comparison, it still has a lot to offer. I just hope the third book picks up a little because I need some more adventure from this series to end with a bang.

I wasn't really sure at all what to expect with this book. To begin with, it has been one of the most talked about books for a long while and since I've had so much success with Twilight in the past, I thought I'd take my chances with this book as well. Although, for me, nothing can replace Twilight because that book and movie will forever have a special place in my heart. I gotta say, I liked it. That's it- nothing more, nothing less.

For beginners, this book has a lot of raw and deep emotions, especially between the two main characters, Anastasia and Christian. For this reason alone, I gave the book four stars and not three. I could feel the chemistry between them and I loved how intensely protective Christian was of Anastasia, even if he particularly wasn't attractive or alluring to me as a man. The book went into depth to describe what each person was feeling and that made it much more interesting to read overall. Also, the little parts about her inner goddess and the other thing going on in her head were really interesting and unique to this book.

However, the plot definitely wasn't one of my favorites. In my opinion, it lacked any real conflict except for the relationship drama that went on between the two main characters all throughout the book. It missed any real central conflict. I mean, it did have a central conflict that ran a good length of the book but in my eyes it wasn't an actual conflict where something bad happens or some kind of obstacle occurs. Instead, the events failed to keep me on the edge of my seat. This book can be summarized in one phrase- a steamy story about two people obsessed with each other- that is all. And this makes for a rather disappointing plot. Don't get me wrong, I love romance and undying love between two characters but even for me- I would have liked to see some other things happen as well.

The vocabulary and grammar of this book were on the easy side and it made for an overall smooth, quick and easy read. The sentences although simple, flowed nicely and weren't choppy either. The smut was nice as well, although it wasn't fantastic because words tended to be repeated in different sex scenes. And there were A LOT of sex scenes. In my opinion, this made for a steamy book without any real meat in it.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants an easy and quick read that is full of steamy scenes but doesn't want to go through the roller-coaster of reading about any real tragedies or turn of events. Also, if anyone is expecting (like I am) and is feeling particularly horny lately, this book is for you- trust me. You'll thank me later.