Review: The Chemist

Title The Chemist
By Stephanie Meyer
Genre Adult Suspense
Rating ⭐⭐

Synopsis
She used to work for the government until they wanted her dead. On the run years, always looking over her shoulder, she has one more chance to get her old life back. But things are about to go from bad to worse.

First Sentence
Today's errand had become routine for the women who was currently calling herself Chris Taylor.





For those of you who know me, you know I really hated the Twilight series. I gave up on the series and never read the last book. I have a myriad of reasons for my dislike but won't go into that here. Yet, despite my dislike of those books I read The Host by the same author and chose to read this one.

Despite how cringe worthy I find her romance and insta-attraction/love there is something about Meyer's writing that sort of sucks you in and holds you down while the story licks your face like a cutesie wittle puppy dog. So annoying.

That being said, this one didn't suck me in at all. I read it with a couple of good friends and we had a fun Twitter chat about it midway through so that kept me reading but about half way through I just wanted to be done so I could read something else.

It felt like the author had done her best to research it but it ended up being overly detailed and then, of course, she just couldn't help herself; she threw in a completely unnecessary and unbelievable romance. The characters just felt too young and naive for the kinds of people they were supposed to be.

Filled with convenience and predictability the rushed ending just didn't do it for me and I wished it had ended another way. Oh well.

Should you read it?
If you're a Twilight fan I think you'll find this one lacking in that Meyer strong hold style but it's got the romance so give it a whirl.    

Read-a-thon Time!

via GIPHY

It seems like the last few read-a-thons fell by the wayside for me so this time I'm participating!

I've got my books which consist of two graphic novels a chick lit and a non fiction I'll be reading a chapter or two from.

I've got waaaaaaay too many snacks....

I've got my kitties....

I'm ready! I'll probably do most of my updating on Twitter and Instagram so feel free to follow me there. I'll be using #readathon.

Will you be joining? If not, you should. It's so fun!

Review: With Malice

Title With Malice
By Eileen Cook
Genre YA Suspense
Rating ⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis
When Jill wakes up in a the hospital she's shocked to learn she was in an accident in Italy and that her best friend was killed. The media is in a frenzy, Jill is being blamed for her friend's death and the Italian government wants her extradited back to Italy. But Jill's biggest problem is she has absolutely no memory of  the event. She doesn't even remember going to Italy.

First Sentence
I'm not a morning person.




I've been hearing great things about this book and it sounded pretty exciting so I bought it when it was released and decided I better read it sooner rather than later.

I inhaled this book in two sittings. I challenge you not to do the same. The story jumps from following Jill in the hospital after the accident to rehab to police interviews, emails, witness accounts and incident reports. It drags you in and won't let you go. That cliche "compulsively readable" comes to mind again.

That being said, and I did end up giving it 3 stars, I had quite a few problems with the book.

First off was I saw the mystery coming a mile away. I really hate when it's so obvious. Still, the book was hard to put down and I just wanted to know how it all turned out.

And that leads me to another problem with the book. I don't know what I think of these endings. I've read a few books now that are trying this twist ending and I'm not sure how I feel about them. I can't say much or I'd give it away so this review is turning out rather dull, I'm afraid. It's just that most of what I liked and disliked has so much to do with the plot that I'd ruin it if I said anything. Sigh! Oh well. Just know that I thought it was suspenseful and fun to read but I didn't think it was perfect.

Should you read it?
If you like suspense, I'd highly recommend it.  

Review: The Mothers

Title The Mothers
By Brit Bennett
Genre Adult Fiction
Rating ⭐

Synopsis
A study on why religion, gossip, and old biddies ruin peoples lives.

First Sentence
We didn't believe when we first heard because you know how church folk can gossip.







Once more a Tournament of Books book. The tournament is over and I totally called it. The Underground Railroad won. I didn't even read that one so I guess I can't be too judgey (I didn't want it to win) but I will anyway. Any who. I read this one after the tournament was over because I had in on hold at the library and it came in.

I should have skipped it. This book was the stupidest book I've read in a long time. Read my synopsis and you'll know what I thought of it.  But let me elaborate.

First of all the writing was not beautiful and lyrical, it was disjointed and confusing and more than once I had to reread a paragraph or sentence just to determine what was going on. There was little to no point to the story. All I could see was that a girl made a decision that never really did make her happy and then a bunch of old church gossips wagged their tongues and destroyed the only thing they had going for them in their pathetic lives. Idiots!

It's all well and good to write a book as depressing and maddening as this one was to maybe point out that things like this are stupid and need to change but I felt like the author loved the lifestyle and was fondly reminiscing. What the hell? This was a horrible story with stupid characters that were so damned determined to be miserable. Not one character wanted happiness! Ugh!  I can't even talk about it anymore. I just don't ever want to think about it again. It makes me that mad.

Should you.....you know what? NO! 

Review: The One and Only

Title The One & Only
By Emily Giffin
Genre Adult Contemporary Chick lit
Rating ⭐⭐

Synopsis
Shea Rigsby has always been a Walker fan. Fan of the town she grew up in and fan of the college football team. Her whole life has centered around the football and her best friend's dad the coach of her beloved team. Despite her comfortable life, Shea soon realizes it's not going anywhere. She's in a rut. When a new job and a new relationship blossom it looks as though things couldn't be better but Shea's heart longs for something different. Something that might ruffle too many feathers. Can she have the life she truly wants or will a small town's watchful eye keep her away from what she wants most?

First Sentence
I should have been thinking about God.

I'm a sucker for Emily Giffin's books. They're so overly dramatic and kind of silly but I can't help it, I love them. I decided to give this one a go even though the subject matter was football. Like... a lot. Seriously. I expected some football talk but wow! It was almost not about anything else. It was so bad I almost gave up.

That and Shea's passive attitude really annoyed me. I knew where things were heading the moment the book started and I really didn't want the ending it was leading too.

So many times I almost put the book down...but I didn't. I probably should have. I didn't end up hating the book but it really wasn't worth my time. It wasn't just the football talk either. There was some possible rape stuff that got covered up that I didn't approve of and I really hated the love interest. It just didn't work for me.

***Spoilery***
It wasn't the age thing that bugged be but the fact that she worshiped this man. I'm not sure she really ever loved him. I think she loved the idea of him.
***End of Spoiler***

Usually her books are so readable. It's one of the reason's I love them so much. Even if you're not totally in love with her story you just can't put it down. This one didn't even have that going for it and I felt like I had to force my way through it. I guess my like for the author is why I'm giving it two stars. Otherwise it would be a one star for sure.

Should you read it?
No. Go ahead and read her others. They're worth a read but not this one. Just no.

March Wrap Up 2017

Yay! March is over. Sorry, March and July are my least favorite months of the year.  I only read five books but now-a-days that's not bad.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, A Madness so Discreet by Mindy McGinnis, Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, Version Control by Dexter Palmer and The One and Only by Emily Giffin

I didn't have any favorites this month; nothing got more than three stars. Hmmm, that's not so good. I don't think I really had a least favorite either.

Ugh! See why I hate March? Everything, including my reading, is so bland! Good riddance it's over! Hopefully I read some 4 and 5 star books in April!