Here are my book reviews for my 2019 Reading Challenge.
I will be continually adding reviews to this page, whenever I finish a book.
Stay tuned! 😉
( 1 )
📖 Prompt: a book with a one-word title
So I will admit, I'm taking on a bit of a challenge with this book as my first of 2019, as it's over 1,000 pages long and I don't find myself with as much time to read as I used to. But the story looked interesting yet weird at the same time, so I'm telling myself that I'm up for the challenge!
Read from December 27, 2018 to [still reading]
( 2 )
Simply put, I can relate on a personal level to this book. I've always been self-conscious about weight and being a little on the curvy side of the spectrum, and even though Jennifer is portrayed as being significantly heavier than I have ever felt, I could still understand where she was coming from. I will say that she was not the nicest person and her attitude irked me from time to time, so that part of her I was less inclined to understand. But by the end of the book, she did end up straightening herself out to an acceptable degree.
I enjoyed reading about her struggle with fitness and how successful she was in her much-needed journey of transforming herself into a healthier version, and how she found success in actually maintaining her weight loss as well, even without the help of her cousin's boyfriend, who had been her personal trainer. (Which made things awkward for a majority of the book, as she developed a crush on him.) I found myself inspired by her journey as well, to try and get back to my own routine of taking control of my daily exercise and health.
Read from February 3, 2019 to February 9, 2019
( 3 )
First off, I love historical fictions. And this book has that in spades! The story originally starts with Lord Edward Armstrong and his love interest Anna (who later becomes his wife, of course) in the 1840s. Throughout the book, it also skips to the 1910s and present day, telling the story of another generation of Armstrongs, and the whole book is filled with betrayal, deceit, and revenge among the different family members.
You might expect the stories to be told in a rather choppy and disjointed fashion, but it's actually very easy to follow and it kept me intrigued the whole time. I loved reading about how very different the times were throughout this house, and what happened within its walls. I found myself growing attached to the characters, enough so that I had to buy the following two 'sequels' in the series to find out what happens next and to who! I'm excited to be introduced to even more of this family and find out how events in this book caused such potential ripples in their history.
Read from February 17, 2019 to February 24, 2019
( 4 )
This second book in the series focuses on Jennifer's cousin, Autumn, who we meet in the first book (#2 on this list). At the end of that book, she had just married the love of her life, Matt, and she was looking forward to their life together. What she didn't expect was for her life to drastically change in the worst way imaginable...
At first, it was difficult for me to truly get lost in this sequel. It begins with a devastating tragedy that comes out of nowhere. I was heartbroken for Autumn and what she had to endure, and the memories and opportunities that were ripped away from her so early in her life. But she also frustrated the hell out of me, at times. Her process of dealing with the grief was dysfunctional and flawed, and the story explores that extensively. She runs away to Europe, with the intention of 'finding herself' again, and fortunately, she encounters an Italian family that ends up changing her perspective in the best possible way.
And yet, sometimes, there were moments where I completely related to Autumn on a personal level, such as in the quote above. While I have never experienced such a devastating loss as hers, my nightmare is a traumatic situation that left me feeling emotionally damaged and broken for the last decade and more. It was difficult to read at times, because of how close to home that particular aspect of the book hit for me. But I did enjoy seeing how she finally overcomes her grief and chooses to move on with her life, in the right way."This whole being alone thing doesn’t seem to be working for me. With people, I have someone to hold up the facade for—pretending I’m alright. And I even believe it a lot of the time." -pg 150
Read from February 9, 2019 to May 4, 2019
( 5 )
Here we get an even deeper look at the Armstrong family's history, via a discovery to the possibility of a crime that was covered up back in the early 1900s. We are introduced to a new set of family members who will most definitely have some secrets to unfold.
This book revolves primarily around the life of Charles Armstrong, the eldest son of Lawrence and Margaret. It was interesting to see where his son Pierce inherits his mean streak later in life, from the role model he had for a father. We see this in full force throughout the first book, in how he treats Clara, and after getting to know his father during the course of this story, it becomes clear that Pierce paid close attention to Charles’s mannerisms and attitude.
I enjoyed the twists throughout the story and totally did not expect how the crime played out in the end, as a result of multiple misunderstandings and assumptions. I can understand why the family deliberately covered up what happened though.
The audacity and arrogance that surrounded Charles was difficult to turn a blind eye to, at times. In a way, I feel he definitely got everything he deserved in the end. His wife Arabella was the epitome of bitter jealousy, and it was hard to empathize with her, since she caused much of her unhappiness by her own actions. I ended up just feeling sympathy for anyone having to deal with the two of them.
Read from March 24, 2019 to May 18, 2019
( 6 )
📚 This was the first B&N Readouts selection that I actually thought I would enjoy. It involves a serial killer's girlfriend being pulled back into a past that she's tried so hard to forget. I am looking forward to seeing how she copes with this unexpected turn of events in her life.
So I was right, I really enjoyed this selection of B&N's Readouts! The perspective of going back and forth from the present to the past kept me intrigued, as more of the story was revealed, and provided great character development in the process. I really felt like I got to know Alison and Will and the rest of their friends and acquaintances whom they interacted with throughout the different time periods. The story also digs into the injustice of certain law enforcement officials who bully a confession out of someone who may not have even done the crime, simply by badgering them until they are too exhausted to fight back. There was a surprising twist in the end though, which helped in understanding Will's actions and the underlying reason behind them.
I could really relate to Alison's thoughts and emotions on a personal level as well, which only enhanced the reading experience for me. It almost felt like the author had some insight into my mind or something, which was both perplexing and intriguing. :) The way the events in her life transpired was heartbreaking to read, but at least she did get some closure in the end, albeit having to wait a decade to find it.
Read from April 1, 2019 to April 27, 2019
( 7 )
Kilts And Catnip by Zoe Tasia📑 First off, the title of this story is what initially caught my eye. It sounded like an odd combination and it piqued my interest in wanting to know how exactly these two things collided with the other. And even from the first chapter, it's easy to see that things are not quite what they seem in this sleepy wee village. I enjoyed finding out the mystery of the island, which had a unique way of unraveling itself, layer by layer. Some aspects I was able to figure out ahead of time and some still came as a surprise. I loved that the story awakened that sort of subconscious detective inside me.
The characters were well-developed, although some were understandably not so detailed, at least until it was necessary to reveal everything, but they got there eventually. I enjoyed getting to know each of them, in a way that opened up another aspect of this tight-knit community. The budding romance between Becca and Greg was sweet and realistic, and I loved watching the two of them find themselves again, in the midst of dealing with the pain of their tragic pasts.
Other than some small instances where the choice of wording didn't seem to mesh quite as well with the flow of the writing, I thought the story was intelligent and compelling, with just the right mix of mystery, adventure and a hint of romance.
One thing I didn't like was that the ending came entirely too abruptly. I wasn't expecting it at all, but I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next for these lovable characters and what new endeavors they find themselves facing... together!
Read from April 12, 2019 to April 19, 2019
( 8 )
📚 Here we have B&N Readouts' selection for June. After reading the first few chapters, I am hooked! I love the style in which the author writes this story, the wording is unique and spunky and fun. The story revolves around Catrina 'Cat' Kinsella, a detective within the London Metropolitan Police Force. After suffering from a horrific case that we only get glimpses of through her memories and personal flashbacks, she is faced with yet another difficult case that brings her to the doorstep of her estranged father. And while she wants to unravel the mystery, she's hesitant at what she will find.
The character development for Cat was amazingly well-done and I found myself wanting to know even more about this fierce, brave woman. She has to face her own demons every day of her job and I greatly admired that determination and courageous aspect of her personality. I can honestly say that I have never read a book where I loved the phrasing and sentence structure as much as this one. It definitely made for an easy-to-read, flowing storyline that I did not want to end.
Disturbing as it was, I did not expect the twists and turns that the plot took throughout its pages as well. Once the mystery was solved, it left me with a feeling of intense bleakness and despair, not to say that that had any influence on how much I enjoyed the book, though."Fevered and ghoulish, like Satan's little imps, we sit and wait in darkened rooms, aching for death to bring us to life."
Read from June 2, 2019 to June 26, 2019
( 9 )
This installment of the lives at Armstrong House focuses once more on the original inhabitants, Edward and Anna. Only this time we delve into the childhood and adolescent years of Lawrence Armstrong, their only child. And the consequences that result in a difficult decision Anna has had to live with throughout the entirety of his upbringing.
Read from May 19, 2019 to June 10, 2019
( 10 )
📖 Prompt: a book with an animal on the cover
This book piqued my interest because it involves a reporter who spends her time hiking in the woods, capturing photos of cougars in their natural habitat, and she gets paid for it! I would have loved to find that type of career, although I have to admit that it scares me slightly, in being that close to those dangerous (yet beautiful) big cats. It also pulls at my emotional heartstrings in being an animal lover and seeing how these cougars are being misconstrued as killers. I'm looking forward to seeing how the story turns out!
Read from June 30, 2019 to September 23, 2019
( 11 )
📚 This charming selection from B&N Readouts for August is reminiscent of everything having to do with summer and sweet romances of the past, with some old friends mixed in. There's also a hint of tragedy, and how this little beach town can heal the deepest of hurts.
Personally, I have never been able to relate to the healing qualities that a small beach town can provide, but the concept has always been inspiring. And I ended up growing attached to these characters that I met in this book. I felt the emotion in each of their friendships with the other, and the intensity of their shared past. It was wonderful to dive deeper into the history of their lives, and see how events unraveled to influence everything that surrounds them.
I was definitely rooting for Maris and Jason, right from the first glimpse at something more happening between them once again. I know how difficult it can be to completely let go of a past love, it was sweet how the two of them came together and helped each other to heal and endure such a tragic period in their lives. Some of the friends' relationships surprised me and some frustrated the hell out of me, but in the end, I came to grow fond of each one, in their own way. I enjoyed living vicariously through these people and will remember the way this sweet beach town affected each of them.
Read from August 1, 2019 to August 23, 2019
( 12 )
📚 September's monthly B&N Readouts selection caught my interest from the author alone. I'd read a previous book of hers from another monthly offer and I remembered enjoying it a lot! This one starts out with a woman who is suffering from amnesia after a surviving a dangerous car accident, and the confusion that follows as she attempts to remember who she is and why her life seems to be crumbling at her feet. Add into the mix a resentful ex-boyfriend who can't forgive her for leaving him without so much as a goodbye and taking their two-year-old daughter with her, who is now missing, increasing the tension between the two.
Read from September 2, 2019 to September 23, 2019
( 13 )
This selection did not come from Readouts or any book prompt, but simply from the fact that it has been sitting in my NOOK library (along with its two sequels) for a long time. It's a utopian style novel, which the author states is a difficult genre to write, but it's a nice change from all of those dystopian, zombie apocalypse, plague-taking-over-the-human-race kinds of stories. Though I am curious to see how exactly he will carry this on over not one but three books! It's supposed to be about the world finally getting things right, but if you know anything about stories, you have to have a good conflict in there somewhere to make it interesting. So we'll see!
Read from September 24, 2019 to [still reading]
( 14 )
📚 My first impression of October's B&N Readouts selection reminds me of a mixture between the movies Pearl Harbor and The Notebook, in that it's about a woman who is torn between two men, though not in the usual way. She is waiting to hear the fate of one who has been deployed to the war efforts, after a terrorist attack has rendered him unreachable, and meets another in the meantime, and she has to make a decision to move on or stay stuck in the past. Seeing as I love both of those movies, I'm pretty sure I will enjoy this selection!
Read from October 1, 2019 to [still reading]
Legend: 📖 = reading prompts 📚 = B&N Readouts 📑 = Goodreads book club
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