mommabygrace's reviews
934 reviews

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.

I had been avoiding this book due to its popularity. And I also don’t read historical romances often.
It’s been over a week since I touched this book. I haven’t cared to.
There are so. SO. Many story breaks in this book, it’s honestly off-putting. It feels like it’s going off on a tangent every other paragraph or so. It’s making the story feel jumpy and I can’t get in to that.
DNF 35%

A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford
Did not finish book. Stopped at 38%.

It’s been 5 days since I’ve even thought about or picked up this book. It’s time to dnf. Which is a bummer because I had been looking forward to this book. It’s just not what I was expecting it to be and not for me. 
DNF at 40%

A Burden of Ice and Bone by Kyra Whitton

adventurous slow-paced

4.0

This was an intriguing and quick read. By the time I started this, I didn’t remember much from the blurb, so it was enjoyable to discover the story as I went. 

We get fantasy, sprinkled with an ancient curse, survival, post apocalyptic events, and even a hint of Beauty and the Beast. All wrapped up in one novel.

There isn’t much character growth, and I did feel the pacing of the last 10% was a bit rushed, especially after the unexpected twist. I think it could have benefited from being a duology and actually taking the time the story needs at the end, but I still enjoyed the story.

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

5.0

It took a month to read and listen to, but I finished it! After originally trying to read a few years ago, but stopped, probably due to the sheer width of this tiny book. I had actually meant to finally knock this off my tbr last year but hadn’t gotten to it. Regardless, I did enjoy the book, even though some chapters are so stinking long.

I’ve watched season 2 of the show, so I could see it playing out as I read the book. Honestly, I think that helped with the enjoyment of this book. The length of some chapters and the amount of descriptions can get tedious at times. Despite the wordiness, it’s such a deep and complex storyline. Claire and Jamie have a timeless love story. I’m looking forward to finding out what comes next. 

Ledge by Stacey McEwan
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.

The writing style is off-putting. I was excited to read this, but the tone of the book just sounds weird to me. 

Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

Grey is back in her tiny little hometown for the summer, a place she dreams of being able to return to for good once she turns 18. But this summer is different… her best friend, her twin flame, is missing. Gone without a trace. In a place full of psychics, you would think that someone would have answers.

It’s also almost 13 years since the murder of twin girls in the same tiny town. So many secrets buried in the bayou. Grey feels she has to figure out what happened to Elora before she heads back to Arkansas for the school year. While searching for those answers, she may also find some for the twins’ murder. Accusations fly left and right, and in the end, it’s not who I expected. Secrets are discovered, and the town is left in ruins.

I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed as everything is explained in the last two (not terribly long) chapters. It was a good read, though. 

Keeping 13 by Chloe Walsh

dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Johnny is dealing the aftermath of his surgery, having to truly take the time to heal. This also happens to give him a taste of what actual teenage life can mean. He’s also learning more and more each day how much he loves Shannon and wants to keep her in his life.

Shannon’s home life isn’t any better, and it’s hard on her. She does slowly start to stand on her own two feet, surprising herself but also realizing it felt good to not let others control her.

They navigated their relationship slowly, something I as a reader was grateful for given their age haha.

There are some really emotional moments, even more so than in the first book.

Shannon and Johnny’s story does end well, although there were a few confusing things leading up to the end. It would have been cool seeing an epilogue set in the future but as it’s part of a whole connected series, I understand the reason not to.

Binding 13 by Chloe Walsh

4.0

I’ve been seeing this series everywhere lately and decided to give it a try. 

This is definitely not a YA book even though it is marketed that way. And in the YA section in the library. The main characters may be young, but the content is not.

Regardless, I did find it entertaining, especially Johnny’s behavior towards Shannon. Big, tough guy all soft for the heroine, would protect her from the world. I love those kinds of MMC’s. He’s completely different around her in his actions and words, and she gets to see the real person underneath the rugby star. 

This is also the youngest FMC in a book that I have read for a long time. Just pretend their older until age is brought up again. Which was unfortunately often, ha. 

The toxic relationship Sharron has with her parents made my heart hurt. No child should live like that. She got a reprieve at Tommen. Something she desperately needed. Her relationship with Johnny develops slowly and both of them fight it hard along the way. After how this book ended, I’m curious to see how their story part 2 goes.

A Book Club's Guide to Murder and Mayham by Bethany Barker

fast-paced

3.0

Super quick read but not surprising, most cozy mysteries normally are. 

Suzie comes in to an unexpected inheritance, the fact it came from an estranged ex-boyfriend made the situation even more boggling for her. In the midst of sorting out her new property, a murder investigation is underway - as she had found the body of the lawyer who had been on his way to inform Suzie of her ex’s will and what he had bequeathed her.

Several people involved with her ex start popping up out of the woodwork, trying to intimate Suzie and get her to give up what was given to her. She finds herself working with her book club as amateur sleuths, even though a handsome detective tells her to stay out of the investigation.

While the mystery was intriguing and I wanted to find out whodunnit, I didn’t feel as if this was written in the best way. Several chapters ended incredibly abruptly. It felt stopped in the middle of a thought. I also felt the whole inheritance thing wasn’t resolved fully. Was it really willed to Suzie because he regretted his past actions towards her, or did he do it to keep the property and its contents out of his greedy girlfriends’ hands? I feel as if Suzie could have found a hidden letter from her ex explaining everything and it would have helped wrap things up nicely. 

Plot Twist by Carmen Sereno

2.0

I was iffy about this book at first. Marcel’s character is a real turn off in the beginning. They way he treated Siobhan and how much he dissed her work and romance novels as a whole, saying it’s not true literature, really made me dislike him and I wasn’t sure I would finish reading this. 

I did, though. Over time, Marcel slowly changes. He’s still a jerk to Siobhan on occasion, but out of the two of them, he’s got the subtle character growth throughout the book. He goes from saying love is despicable to wanting everything with her.

There are several things about this book that I was annoyed with or felt wasn’t necessary. I’m not sure if it’s just the nature of the book, or because it’s a translated version. There were a lot of long descriptions for places and events that could have easily been shortened and still gotten the point across. It doesn’t happen incredibly often, but it’s also something I’ve noticed in several books I’ve read in the past year - I find it annoying when authors emphasize the color of one’s skin. I don’t feel it necessary to capitalize black, when describing people of color. To me, it just feels like putting unnecessary attention to it. You can write inclusive content without making it look like you’re blatantly saying, “look! Look what I did!” 

I also felt like Marcel needed more of an epiphany and or panic when he realized he was in love with Siobhan. For someone completely against love and love stories, the conflict didn’t hold much oomph.

In the end, I did finish the book, it was just not a wow story for me, or one I have a desire to maybe read again one day.