lacisrambo's reviews
39 reviews

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

3.5

Prologues get me man… if you have a good prologue, you’ve got me hooked. The Paris Apartment has a good one. This reads from multiple POV’s and it’s very quick in the beginning and then begins to slow down throughout the middle just to pick back up towards the end. We start with short chapters with quick tidbits of information from different people. They’re short enough to gain interest, but hold just enough information to already have you guessing if that person is good or bad. The FMC gets on my nerves a little bit because of how socially unaware she is as well as just plain rude and imposing. I guess that’s how it’s supposed to be though considering her upbringing and background. At about 70% through, I started to get a little bored because not much was happening and questions weren’t being answered. It was just a lot of assumptions and theories and suspicious people. I guess we’re using this time to really find out who Ben was and what he was doing and also who he was to everyone else. The spice level would probably be at a 🌶️🌶️. There’s a lot of talk about it from different people in regard to relationships, but nothing is described and there’s certainly not whole chapters dedicated to diving into every detail. I was expecting the end, but it was still a good finish. 

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

“I want a pain I understand instead of the one I don’t.” 

 

I know I’m going to be put through an emotional roller coaster reading this book. The dedication alone was enough to warrant that. The prologue solidified it.  This is a Historical Fiction novel based on the real life, Tennessee Children’s Home Society, and the child trafficker who ran it, named Georgia Tann. This is a powerful, dual POV that switches between a girl named Rill (in the past) and a woman named Avery (present day). I also learned that Ric Flair (the wrestler) was a victim of Georgia Tann and was adopted out of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. That tidbit is completely unrelated to the book. Historical Fiction books like this aren’t binge reads for me, simply because the topic is too deep and I need to pause and process a lot. It’s challenging to say the least. This was such a great read though. It was emotional for sure, and a few tears were shed, but nonetheless, a read that everyone needs to absorb every now and then. I never would have known about the Tennessee Children’s Home Society if it weren’t for this book. 

Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match by Sally Thorne

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is a morbid, slow-burn, romance. I’m used to fast or medium paced books, but I did enjoy this read. Some might consider this boring, so I wouldn’t suggest picking this up if you’re in a reading slump. The characters are very likable though. I’d give it a 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5 spice rating because it’s a closed door romance up until almost 80% through. Like I said, slow-burn. I’d also rate it at a 4. I originally had it at a 3.5, but the end solidified a 4 from me. I almost cried tears of joy because *spoiler*, they all lived happily ever after. 🥹 I absolutely LOVED the authors letter to Mary Shelley at the end AND how she wrapped up the ending of the book. 😉 This was such a fun ending to a real slow-burn.

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

“If a villain can be made, then he can be unmade. Two teenagers were murdered in Fairview five and a half years ago, and Ravi and I hold the clues to finding the real killer.”

 

I haven’t binged a book like this in forever!!This is a YA Mystery/Thriller, something I don’t typically dabble in. It’s really well written and the investigation is really well organized, but not overwhelming with information. It has what’s really important and that’s what matters. This kind of reminds me a little bit of Pretty Little Liars and how everyone wanted to know who “A” was and how Allison died and who killed her. I’m over here thinking, “I could totally solve a murder.” This girl made it all look so easy. Just ask the right people and the right questions. My gears were really turning over this. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be telling everyone to read it!

Falling in Reverse by Hazel Grace

This was a DNF for me. I’m not going to say much besides it just didn’t do anything for me. I held out until 65% and then just lost all interest. I was totally all about finishing and powering through, but I just can’t. Nothing makes sense and there’s so many confusing things happening and so many people. I will say, this author is extremely nice and very good at communicating and making sure the ARC got to me because we were having some problems making that happen. I do appreciate that.

Her Favorite Jack-O-Lantern by Rebecca Rennick

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is all cozy Fall and Halloween vibes. An eclectic goth girl meets boy next door, Army man that turns out to be her old HS crush!! Right off the bat, I LOVE the FMC and where she lives and how she dresses and her obsession with Fall/Halloween. There’s some spelling errors, but it doesn’t bother me as much because it’s easy to just put in what the word was supposed to be and go on with the story. I am so happy reading this story though. It’s super cute. I mean, I am screaming internally at how freaking cute these people are!! Ugh… I can’t handle it! The spice is spicing around 45-50% through at a solid 3.5 or 4 and turning into a full blown 5 after that. He is really falling in love with every part of her and who she is. She so totally deserves this and I am so happy for her! They both get their well-deserved happily ever after in the end and now this is one of my favorite books. I will be recommending this book to everyone. 

Dark Things Crawl Out by

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Immediately upon starting, I thought this was going to be a Vampire book, but boy was I wrong. It’s a book about worm things and I was severely grossed out. I can’t do worms and I blame Stephen King’s Dreamcatcher, Blade, and Tremors for that fear. Super gross. I powered through though. This book is (IMO) slow-paced. It took a while to get to the point. I could give Cliff Notes in about 2 sentences, but I’m not gonna do that because I’ll spoil everything. The ending reminded me of how Pennywise was defeated at the end of IT. I don’t know what to think of this book. I didn’t enjoy it, but I didn’t hate it either. I’m still up for recommending it though. 

Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization by Neil deGrasse Tyson

informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

I took away A LOT of information from this book. Mainly tidbits from here and there. But it is a very interesting book and leads you to think with an open mind. Neil did a great job at being unbiased and speaking on a plethora of topics from all viewpoints. I really like his idea of “Rationalia”. I may have spelled that wrong. Where all policies are based on the weight of evidence or A country founded on evidence and rational thinking. Over all, this was a quick, educational read that I think everyone should partake in from time to time. I enjoyed it. 

Twisted Game by Eva Ashwood

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The beginning of the book was cringe worthy. I hated how the guys described themselves, I feel like if anyone is going to accurately describe someone like these men, it should be someone else who isn’t trying to over inflate their own ego. They all have this Alpha-Male, Hard-Ass attitude and it makes me roll my eyes so freaking hard. The FMC in question is also a damsel in distress. 🙄 As the story goes on though, I’m really enjoying it. I’m not getting the guys mixed up a lot anymore and their real personalities are showing through. I thought this was going to be a bully romance, which I can’t deal with, but it’s not (to me anyways). Very heavy on, “Who did this to you.” “You’re ours.” “If anyone hurts you, we hurt them.” In the end, I did enjoy this book a lot, just not the first 3 chapters. I will probably be reading the second book in the series. 

 

“Because you’re our responsibility. And we don’t let people hurt what’s ours.” - Ransom

The Devil Came Down the Mountain by Christopher Bond

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This story starts off with the very cliche, group of old friends meeting up after a long time to go explore some place they probably shouldn’t. Cliche isn’t a bad thing though, a lot of great horror movies start out this way. This book reminds me a lot of IT and The Decent in regard to the group of friends and the underground tunnels. I’m reading it and picturing this amazing horror movie in my mind. The plot is *chef’s kiss. The end reminded me so much of something Stephen King would write. The real world blended seamlessly into a freaky and morbid sci-fi world. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend to the right readers.