Category: Reviews

Just Us

June 30, 2025
Young Love, Coming of Age, and Past vs. Present are the themes that came to my mind after reading “Just Us,” written by Heather White Driscoll. When a freshman and a very popular senior get together, it doesn’t just change their lives, but it changes the whole high school at the same time.

Harper Whitemoore was a type A type of girl with her whole freshman year planned out before she stepped out of her mother’s car on the first day of freshman year. This including getting good grades, join the varsity soccer team as a freshman, and unlike her best friend Leigh she wanted to wait until her college years to find the right guy to settle down with and get serious with. Well life had different plans starting on the first day, when she ran into the popular senior Scott Peirce. Everything change and nothing was ever the same after that.

“Just Us” follows Harper and Scott has they navigate this young love and all the challenges that go along with it. For one the age gap and the fact that Scott was a senior with a questionable past that at times got in the way of the true love in front of them.

I absolutely loved this young love story from the beginning to the very end. However, there were times when I wanted to yell at both of these teenagers at the different points throughout the story. This story was very necessary to show that even though there was an age gap and challenges that Harper and Scott both face, if there is honesty, loyalty and empathy love should win out above all.

Winners

May 12, 2025

Two towns, two hockey teams, one tragic story. This is my review of “The Winners” by Fredrik Backman. The third and final book in the “Beartown” series.

When a reporter swoops in on Beartown at the same time a storm tears through both Hed and Beartown. It is just a matter of time one town is about to be taken down once and for all. It’s about what shoe is going to drop first.

This book truly really had me going through all the emotions from smiling, laughing, angry and crying, starting from the first page, all the way through to every last page. Fredrik Backman has a way of taking a book about hockey and turning it into a masterpiece of emotions, hidden meanings and heartwarming, and tear-jerking moments. As a reader, who read the other two books “Beartown” and “Us Against You” I have been rooting for these characters from the very beginning.

The Beartown series was not just a hockey series. It is a series of hardships, friendships, and relationships. A series of political wars, wars against towns, and a lesson of resilience above all. 

I would highly recommend this series for anyone who loves taking a journey through a series, appreciates drama, and enjoys good characters.

Onyx Storm

March 17, 2025

War, Dragons, and Relationships are the three words that came to my mind after reading “Onyx Storm” the third book in the Empyrean series written by Rebecca Yarros. Where Violet, Xaden and the crew are back at it defending their land!

To be brutally honest certain parts particularly the war aspects kind of go over my head in fantasy books. I enjoy these books for the character and world building that takes place. In Onyx Storm, the main focus is on Violet’s baby dragon Andarna, nicknamed “The Golden One” due to her golden scales at birth.

I felt a special connection to Andarna, simply due to the fact that she always felt misunderstood and undervalued due to her size and other difficulties. I have often felt like that whether that be because of my size or being the baby of the family.

A famous William Shakespeare “though she be little she is fierce “ and this is a quote that I have lived by ever since I heard it in high school. This is the first thing that came to my mind when Rebecca first mentioned Andarna. And I believe that through the series but particularly this particularly Onyx Storm the Golden One has proven not only herself but everyone around her that she is capable of doing anything and everything she puts her mind too even saving the damn the world.

Just like Andarna’s mission in life is to help and protect the people around her. I hope to start up my own tech company that will help p and own a home one day and just like Andarna I might have some set backs and need some assistance but once I have a goal in mind nothing is going to stop me! Then I’ll get to enjoy it with the rest of my family! ❤️

Haunting Adeline

January 20, 2025
Disturbing, Haunting and captivating are three things that came to my mind after reading “Haunting Adeline” by H.D Carlton. A Haunting tale of a victim falling in love with her hypocrite of a stalker.

 Zade Meadows saves victims of human trafficking. All the while stalking Adeline. Adeline has inherited her Great-Grandmother haunted house. And is on a mission to solve the murder on her great-grandmother that had occurred in that house decades earlier.

This book takes you on a journey of having empathy for victims, hatred for the criminals and confusion towards the love story.

This book comes packed with triggers warnings and I am typically a reader who ignores trigger warning, I would highly recommend you read and investigate the warnings before dividing into this book. Even though this book has important aspects to discuss and a captivating, compelling story. This story isn’t for everyone and the topic and several scene can be hard to read about and take in.

There are just those authors out there that make me wonder what is going through their heads while writing. I am 100% adding H.D Carlton to that list.

The Women

January 3, 2025
War, remembrance and women empowerment are just 3 themes that come to my mind after reading “The Women” written by Kristin Hannah. When Frankie McGrath made the decision to join the war, her mission was to make her father proud and remember her brother. She couldn’t imagine what this decision would actually mean for Frankie’s life.

“The Women” was an eye-opening novel honoring the women of the Vietnam war and their sacrifices that they made during and even after the war. The book featured the story of Frankie McGrath who joined the war to gain respect from her father but at the same time honoring her brother who was killed in the war. She joined the war as a army nurse who took care of the injured soldiers and saved their lives.

Kristin Hannah does an amazing job doing what American failed to do during that time. We all know the stories of the men in the war and the affects that the war had on them. However, the women of the war was forgotten about and even were denied that they were even overseas in the first place.

However, there were thousands of women that were impacted by the war and they deserved just as much respect of the men that fought in the war. The story of struggle, heartbreak suffered and the preservice of these women deserve to be heard and honored and I am so glad that Kristin Hannah did a profound job with starting with this mission. I would highly recommend this story and then find some true stories of women from the war where the women were forgotten about.

Kill for Me, Kill for You

November 21, 2024

When two strangers are united in their grief and creates a plan for revenge anything can happen. “Kill for me, I’ll Kill for You” written by Steve Cavenagh, takes the reader on a wild ride of heartbreak, revenge and betrayal, and roller-coaster of twist and turns.

Ever since Amanda had suffered the tragic deaths of both her daughter and her husband, she had been on the track of revenge on the person who she believe was the person behind her grief. Then during one of her courts appointed counseling secession she meets a woman, Wendy who had the same goal of seeking revenge on the person that caused her pain years back as well. These two women than create a pact to help each other seek revenge.

This story is not only action packed but there is a deeper meaning hidden with the pages of this novel. The journey of grieving and the length in which loved ones would go to get peace and closure. It all takes us on an unexpected journey. However, if we don’t receive support and guidence, you might go down a dark path and wind up making decisions like the characters in this story. Yes, this story was entertaining entertainment comes a message that we should all hear.

We all grieve in our own ways and no one can tell us what is and what isn’t the right way to grief. There are good days and bad days but if you surround yourself with the support of people that love and support you, you can create a new normal.

Swan Song

July 12, 2024

Do enjoy reading about a missing person mystery thriller? Would you like to read about a drama on the island of Nantucket? Well, do I have a story for you? “Swan Song” It was the finale to her well know Nantucket Series.

When the Richards landed on the island of Nantucket for the summer, they took the island by storm. They quickly became the “It” couple of the island, befriending the island natives, and being invited to all of the big events on top of throwing major rager of parties, at their multi-million dollar coast-side home and on their boat. One party in particular ended in a house fire and their house-helper disappearing.

Honestly, this has been my least favorite of Elin Hilderbrand books and for a book that has been hyped up so much over the last few weeks, I was less than impressed. I believe this has to do with my expectations of the book and the book not fulfilling those expectations. This book is a duel timeline of an investigation of the house assistant going missing during a party on the Richards boat and the backstory and buildup to the party itself. It was the lack of investigation care for the house assistant and all of the hype that was surrounding the Richards in general that got me. Also, the end was rushed, and it felt as though Elin was just trying to wrap things up as quickly as possible without much meaning behind things.

Overall, this story was fine, it was a good summer read that would put the reader in the summer elements of Cape Cod. But it certainly lacked the shocking elements that some of her other books contained.

The Kiss Quotient

June 17, 2024

Have you never had trouble admitting you needed assistance with something, have you ever tried online dating before? Well do I have a story for you. When Stella needs help in the bedroom, she turns to online dating apps for assistance and what could possibly go wrong with that.

Stella who has Asperger’s and has never really dated anyone and had slept with 3 men in her past. Really only for them and never to her satisfaction. So she figured that she turned to online dating/escorting sites for guidance. She made it quite clear she only wanted practice and never a relationship. That’s because she already had someone in mind. She just needed to build confidence. That’s was of course she met Michael. The escort from online.

Michael it turns out was the most down-to-earth patient man for the job. He accepted the fact that Stella had a checklist and that this was only going to be a one time thing. However, he shortly realized that things were going to go slow and that Stella was going to need more than one night to be comfortable.

Like I said in the past, it is the characters that make a story for me and it was no different with this one. Truthfully I wasn’t totally sold on the plot of the story at first. However, once I was introduced to Stella and Michael and got to learn more and more about them, I was sold!

One thing I truly appreciate about Helen Hoang is that she writes about characters with neurological disorders in such a bright light. So many times we read about these people in a bad light. And in Helen Hoang stories they get to shine and I absolutely love that! In this story both Michael and Stella had flaws and stars and they were treated all the same!!

Us Against You

May 27, 2024

Have you heard about Beartown? A town dedicated to their towns hockey team! Do you enjoy reading about a town divided but all the while the town is trying to pick themselves up from a terrible situation and they just are struggling to do so! Well do I have a book for you! It is called “Us Against You” by Fredrik Backman. A story of a small towns trials and tribulations!

Beartown has never been the same after their star hockey player is accused of attacking the coach’s daughter and is forced out of town. Leaving the town and the girl Mia to pick up the pieces of what he destroyed. The town is now divided like never before. The once popular hockey is dismantled and half the team goes to the next town over to play. While the loyal players stay and try to create a team with what is left.

My favorite aspect of Fredrik Backmans stories of his characters. The characters make the stories what they are. His characters have backstories, strengths, weaknesses and depth to them. These are characters that you fall in love with, cry for and root for from beginning to end. Mia, Anna, Benji, and their families really made the town of Beartown what it is. A town is just a town. But a town is a home with the people who live in it!

From the every first book that I’ve read from Fredrik “A Man Called Ove” to this one, I have fallen in love with all of his characters! That is why I will always read a book by Fredrik Backman.

Iron Flame

May 6, 2024

Are you a big fan of Iron Fame? Have you been wondering what Violet and Xaden have been up to since we last left them? Well do I have a book for you! “Iron Flame” written by Rebecca Yarros Iron Flame is a continuation of the Fourth Wring Saga.

 

In the 2nd installment of the series, Violet is now in her second year at the war college of Basgiath War College and is now is charge of watching the first years. When she comes across the younger sister of one of friends that passed away the previous year, she now has to earn her trust with the sister who blames Violet for her brothers death.

 

Never mind trying to get through school at Basgiath, she also has to go against her mother wishes and goes to the front line of the war to defend her homeland.

 

Even though I enjoyed Fourth Wing more for the world building and character building, I did enjoy Iron Flame as well. I appreciated the family dynamics between Violet and her siblings. My other favorite part was that she was finally able to stand up for herself against her mother.

I must say that I did get lost at some points throughout the story with everything that was going on. However, I believe at Rebecca Yarros has hit gold with these characters, plot lines and world building. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!