Review: Real Murders

Real Murders by Charlaine Harris
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not a huge cozy fan, but I like Charlaine Harris and it was a decently clever mystery. I had wondered about the murderer(s) but wasn't sure overall until the end.

I'll probably pick up the next one eventually. :)

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Review: Ink and Bone

Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well that was a really cool book. I love the concept. :)

Now, let's see if my suspicions are correct and Rachel Caine has tried to pull one over on me.

*picks up book two*

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Review: Choose Wonder Over Worry: Move Beyond Fear and Doubt to Unlock Your Full Potential

Choose Wonder Over Worry: Move Beyond Fear and Doubt to Unlock Your Full Potential by Amber Rae
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

So, thanks to some personal stuff in my life lately, I've been on a self-help kick, so when I saw this one and read the blurb (and saw that it wasn't too long), I asked for an ARC. And I'm glad I did. While this book isn't extremely life-changing or chock full of advice, it was engaging and thought-provoking and really drives home the point that our perspective drives our happiness, our success, our lives. She uses personal stories to let the reader know she's been there, done that, got the tee shirt. She aims not to preach, but to connect.

All in all, a fun read that'll make you think and tweak the way you process and see the world/others. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to make some changes in how they live, as it's an easy read and brimming with encouragement.

3.5 stars rounded up. :)

Review to come at release date... initial thoughts: very engaging writing style, lots of things to think about. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

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Review: Roped In

Roped In by A.M. Arthur
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Carina Press for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love Clean Slate Ranch - the ranch atmosphere, the west, the ghost town nearby, the cabins and horses and cowboys!

Unfortunately for me, this installment didn't live up to the first. It was still good, but the plot felt a little forced, Avery felt a little one note, and there was a lot of overly lovey dovey cliches that made it less believable. The first story had more of a narrative force driving the story, while this one really just seemed like a bunch of interactions between Avery and Colt and occasionally other characters but without an over-arching story or point to the novel. It also felt like a lot of stuff was repeated over and over, and probably could have been edited out. For example, Avery's wondering if Colt wanted HIM or just him as Sir was brought up time after time, and then a few more times just for good measure. It was distracting from the scenes and made it harder to keep an interest.

Also, I know that with an ARC, final formatting isn't always in place, but there were quite a few places where formatting and lack of proofreading left some glaring errors that pulled me out of the story in my head - the proofreading needed being mostly a lot of places where hyphens should have been used and weren't (example: on-the-go would be written as on-thego).

Overall, I really fell in love with Colt, and kinda want a Colt to myself (though I wouldn't be his sir... he'd be my sexy versatile cowboy!). I liked getting to see Mack and Wes again, and really can't wait to read Reyes' story. Hopefully he's up next.





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Review: The Death of Mrs. Westaway

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery/Scout Press for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I finally understand why they are calling Ruth Ware the "Agatha Christie" of our day. I've previously only read one of her three published books (this one will make four total), that being The Woman in Cabin 10. It had a Christie vibe to it, but I wouldn't have called it particularly reminiscent of her besides the locked room feeling and the cast of potential suspects.

This one though... it really felt like a Christie book. Small cast of characters, dark and gloomy old mansion atmosphere, weather that cuts people off and leaves them stuck together... these are some of the fun classic Christie tricks of the trade, and Ware used them effectively for sure.

While I kind of figured out the who/the what long before the protagonist did, I had a blast following the story to its clash of an ending.

Now I feel like I need to go read The Lying Game and In a Dark, Dark Wood.

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