Kari

This format wasn't quite what I expected. While I knew they were diary entries, I wasn't expecting quick one or two line entries. Sometimes I felt like much of the context is missing to fully understand what is happening so you're just kind of fumbling around most of the time. There is also a bit of controversy regarding whether Rickman actually intended for these to be published. Since his widow is involved it seems fine, but who knows for sure.

That being said, I did enjoy the glimpses of a sarcastic and quick wit. His opinions about other actors or celebrities was also interesting (it was some of these that made me think maybe he didn't want these diaries published). The doodling and artwork was beautiful. All in all, I enjoyed it, but I felt like we only really got a quarter of the story.

I had a hard time getting into this one. I think because I've already invested myself in the characters in Legends and Lattes and then we went back in time and had to meet all new characters. Why wasn't this just the first book and we go from there? I think a prequel is fun when you're several books into a series, but when it's only the second book it doesn't really make sense.

You know that there is something hunting the contestants, but you're not quite sure. I was pretty sure it wasn't human, but that's pretty much all I knew. I spent the rest of the book surprised at every choice Mack makes until the final moment. Fantastic.

I really, really liked this. It was dark, yet still lighthearted. It's weird to imagine a book that focuses so much on IPV to be “lighthearted” but Popp does a good job of balancing and adding humor here and there without diminishing it. The book kept me quite engaged and obviously, craving pies the whole time!

Not a big fan. There was a little too much of a history lesson to this book than the usual murder and mayhem I enjoy. I did find bits and pieces interesting but I felt like it took away from the whole mystery, as if the crime was a side quest. However, the fact that Lara didn't see who the murderer was right from the start was wild to me.

I've never felt so sad after finishing a Hamish book. This was just so, so sad! And can we just get rid of Blair please?

Creepy sanatorium, creepy masks, avalanches and a family death mystery. What else could you ask for in a mystery??

It took Grady 187 days to get to the compound and then after sitting there watching FOREVER it's just done. What. And then four more chapters about birds. I don't know what I just read.

This could have been better.....

There were so many characters, but we barely got to know any of them. There wasn't a murder that we knew about until the end and the last few chapters before the epilogue seemed so confusing!

I liked the whole idea of a Great British Bake Off murder mystery, but this wasn't quite it.

My head was spinning! I didn't know what I should hope for. Jail? Ruin? Exoneration? Love those morally grey characters, though maybe she was a bit darker than grey. I think what I liked most about Ruby was that she was basically honest with herself. When she was confronted by people how thought of her as a murderer she couldn't fault them because she was a murderer. I liked how she cared about her patients and wanted to be the best person SHE could be. I didn't think I would enjoy this as much as I did. Would read a series with Ruby!

I don't know if maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention or what, but that twist got me. I knew there was something and I was confused about some details, but I wasn't thinking the twist was what it ended up being! LOVED the ending. LOVED.

Very fast-paced, but also felt like it was just a bridge to the next installment. Still, Murderbot is delightful as usual. Can't wait to see what happens next.

Strong debut! There were a few things I found odd, but I was really into the story. I couldn't wait to see where everything was going.

This book is heartbreaking. A companion novel to Wish it's easily a stand alone since there's no character cross over except for Posey (I wish Alexandra Bullen would give us a book just about Posey!).

Hazel has spent her whole life feeling unwanted. Adopted as a baby then shuffled around from foster family to foster family the only thing Hazel's ever wanted is to know where she came from. Enter Posey. But does getting what you want necessarily equal happiness?

I've read a lot of reviews calling the book bittersweet and that's probably the best word to sum up this one. Hazel is instantly likeable. Not afraid to speak her mind and desperately just wanted to belong to someone. She's forced to make decisions that really, no one should ever have to make. I cried a bit ... but I loved Hazel and really can't wait to see if anyone else picks up the dress!

Fun, but it was hard to reconcile Chan's Odd Thomas to the one I had in my mind. I felt like they were too young, but I guess it's really not that different from the books. The story here was good. I love Odd & Stormy! There was a bit of humor, a bit of suspense and the love story that Koontz started.

My heart broke for Daelyn, especially near the end as she starts feeling things she didn't think were possible for her. Engaging writing and with heartbreaking truth.

It's finally happened. I skimmed over giant parts of this book.

First, it had to do with finance. When anyone starts talking about finance my eyes glaze over and my mind wanders. Of course, there wasn't tons of detail to bore me to tears, but it wasn't a motive that interested me. And it dragged on for sooooo long. Dallas kept going over the details of the case to everyone and there was very little deviation. Even her psych consults were useless. Mira was there just to confirm what Dallas had already come up with.

For once, the happenings apart from the investigation were more interesting, but we didn't get to dig too deep into those.

I'm sad that I didn't get into this book. I hope this isn't a sign of times to come.

Didn't care for the first volume so much, but since I already had the second I figured I might as well read it. It was okay. Nothing spectacular.

You can read my full review here: http://knowitnotsomuch.blogspot.com/2012/01/lost-books.html

This made me imagine this is what men were reading while women were reading the sweeping romances back in the 50s. It had action! And romance! (but forceful romance - the cowboy telling the woman to get ready cause he's going to marry her whether she likes it or not ) And mystery! And duels! So many of the things!

It was short and fun, but really not my thing.

What to say....what to say.....

I didn't love this book, but then I didn't hate it either. It was just....there. Rosie wasn't that bad of a character, but I never really got a sense of who she really was. I definitely got a sense of other characters. Like Samantha and Mark. Awful, awful people. I don't understand at all why we were stuck in Samantha's head at all. I kept waiting for the moment when something changes for Samantha, when she realizes she's a horrible person, but that never comes. From the synopsis I was expecting a much different couple. The story would have been just fine if she was never in it, albeit much shorter.

Everything kind of dragged on and then suddenly took this sharp turn and as the pages flipped away with very little pages left to read I wondered how things were going to get wrapped up. Holden wrapped everything up in about 7 pages. It was kind of disappointing. And predictable.

I still have two other books by Wendy Holden to read for the off the shelf challenges. Hopefully they'll be a little better than this one. I'm generally a sucker for brit chick lit, but this one didn't thrill me.

While it took me a bit of time to get into this book, once I did I found myself unexpectedly delighted. Amy and Effy were quite funny and Felicity was sweet. I found myself chuckling out loud a couple of times!

You can read my full review here: http://knowitnotsomuch.blogspot.com/2012/01/circle-series.html

You can read my full review here: http://knowitnotsomuch.blogspot.com/2012/01/circle-series.html

Creepy, funny, sad and hopeful are the words I would use to describe this series of books. I picked them up at the library when I was waiting for Emma the other day thinking she would like them, but the cover for The Parting was slightly creepy so I decided to read them first. Good thing I did!

I've seen the books recommended for ages 7+ and also 9+ and I think the 9+ is more accurate. The books deal with some heavy issues, like death, child abuse and terminal illness. Nothing too graphic, but heavy nonetheless. While I'm sure Emma could ‘handle' it, I think we can wait a couple of years first.

But I did enjoy them! The art is reminiscent of Calvin and Hobbes, especially Max. The full color books lend to the richness of the Elsewhere world that the kids find themselves in. Despite their issues the kids are bonded and only want to look out for each other and help keep everyone safe. While they are certainly brave and courageous, there are always moments of showing their age so that it's clear that these are still, despite their adventures, children.

There are still many questions left unanswered and things begin to get a little confusing near the end of The Parting, ending with a ‘To be continued' cliffhanger. And yet, I can't find anything about another volume coming out anytime soon. Hopefully, that's change soon!