Review: To Marry a Scottish Laird

To Marry a Scottish Laird by Lynsay Sands

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I'm a sucker for a romance. I've always been that way. And this book is no exception for me. A strong Highlander tends to make my knees go a little weak and Cam is certainly a strong man. I very much enjoyed the story woven by he and his lovely little Joan. I especially liked that the story also referred back to an older story that I ready a while before. I got so excited when I started to recognize the other story as it was mentioned. The building of that kind of world is fascinating to me.

Yes, it's a romance novel and a lot of people would mock that as escapism, but isn't that what all fiction is when you think of it that way? Reading is simply a way to build another world. It's no different from watching television or listening to music except I'd like to think that it compliments music wonderfully and is far more stimulating than watching TV (though I do love me some science fiction and fantasy shows).

I loved being so bound to these characters though. Giggling at their little moments of silliness and wanting them so much to just sit down and work things out. I loved the way that you got to watch them, at least for a little while, start to build a life together. One full of love and hope and family and friends. I guess that's what I really love about reading. Yes sometimes you don't always have a happy ending, and sometimes we wish that characters would do what we want them to rather than what they want to, but I don't think that really matters in the end.

Reading this little romance novel reminded me of why I love to read in the first place. It doesn't have anything to do with learning (though it's a useful way to do it) or escaping (but that is a wonderful byproduct). It is about meeting these new characters and making these friends that I can share with my other friends. I can read these books and it doesn't matter how strange I am, I am not judged and in so doing, I can also connect to people who I would have never thought to approach. I guess I kind of got off topic. I'm supposed to be reviewing this book, not telling you why I love to read.

But I guess, they're kind of the same thing. This book has it's corny moments. Yes it is predictable and that might annoy some people, but I'd like to think that we read not for the ending, but for the journey that it takes us on. And this story is quite a journey.



View all my reviews

Review: Four: A Divergent Collection

Four: A Divergent Collection by Veronica Roth

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



So I actually finished this around three something this morning, but I thought I would behave and go to sleep and wait until this morning to write my feelings up. And even after a few hours of sleep, I absolutely loved this book. Just like her previous books, I finished Four in less than two days. It makes me want to read Divergent all over again. Reading so much of their world from Four's point of view makes me crave more of this world. It makes me crave more of the characters and the lives that they have begun to mold for themselves. It reminds me of how much I love the world that Ms. Roth has created. I really think it is a beautiful place, very intricate and always changing. I truly hope she does continue to build in it one day. And even more than that, I truly hope that she continues to write more no matter what world it is in.

As it stands, I highly recommend Four and the entire Divergent world to anyone who has not yet had the opportunity to explore it. It is well worth the read.



View all my reviews

Exciting News!

As a warning I will be posting this on both Life of a Book Addict and Writing is Life for those of you who meander between both of my blogs.  I have some very exciting news though!  Starting the 21st and possibly for a few days after, I shall be moving!  Not cities or anything big like that.  Just apartments, but I am very excited for it.  It'll be a better living condition, a better neighborhood, more space.  And honestly, it's the little things I'm excited for.

• Having a in-complex laundry mat.
• Having a swimming pool (alright, not so little, especially in this drought)
• Having more than one set of house keys.
• Having an oven I don't think will short-circuit and burn my living space down.
• Having a fire alarm that works.

See, the little things boys and girls that make life worth living.  And the fact it is a lot closer to my job, also makes things really awesome.  Speaking of, I have to buy a bike.  Anyone know of any cheap ones that function?  I'm going to be looking around, of course, but i I figure, it never hurts to ask around.  Especially since I've been told that getting a steady ride to work means promotion opportunities.  Exciting and terrifying at the same time!

Review: The Emperor's Soul

The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I have to thank my friend Korey for this one. He not only recommended Brandon Sanderson to me, but also lent me this particular story which I enjoyed very much. I love the way that Sanderson presented the story. It is very rich and involving. I loved learning about the characters and about this world that they're a part of. And now I find, I want to read more. I want to read more of his work and hopefully more of these characters though I'll definitely have to see if that is possible or not. I certainly plan to read and review more of his work in the future. For those lovers of fantasy, I highly recommend this particular short story. It is exciting, thrilling and there is a sense of awe it leaves you with that is hard to ignore. And in the end, you want to keep reading which, I believe, is the best part about it all.



View all my reviews

Oops

I am so terribly sorry boys and girls.  I have not done an update in a little while now.  What?  Two weeks?  I think, I'm not really sure, I lost count so it might have been that long or it might have been less.  Who's to say.  Anyway, I will try not to take up too much of your time.  I was just thinking about how proud of myself I am.  I know, I'm sitting here with an update to toot my own horn.  Shame, shame woman.

But, that's not the point.  I have trouble sticking to things.  Sometimes I forget.  Or I put them off.  Or I get busy.  Whatever the excuse, it's very easy for me to get distracted and simply let things slide.  But in this case, I am proud to say that I have been doing at least one review a week for the past six weeks.  It's progress.  A start.  One that I am very much hoping that I can continue and build on.  Sure, most people probably don't really take the time to look at this or read what I'm writing, but that's okay.

In a way, I'm not doing any of this for you guys.  Which really isn't nice to say, I'm sorry guys, but let's face it, I'm not.  If anyone even reads this blog, they never comment.  I have had one comment since starting it and I'd like to think I have some very solid things I've written and some legitimate questions that I have posed.  But it is okay.  I know not everyone will want to take the time.  I'm thrilled anyone even vitryws my blog.

But it's kind of clear that I'm not doing this for the attention.  I'm doing this for myself.  I'm doing this to focus my mind.  To try and create something.  And I think that I'm managing it very nice.  Let's just hope that I can keep it up.

And so no one can say that I forgot!

Review: The Selection

The Selection by Kiera Cass

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I honestly wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book. When I first read the back I thought that it was an interesting premise. A mix between an arranged marriage and The Bachelor. And I have to say that I enjoyed myself very much reading it. Though I won't lie and say it was an easy read. Very well written, America comes to life. And with that in mind, she's very much a teenager. There are times I wanted to strangle her. There were times when I was seriously questioning her sanity and reason. And, of course, there were times when I really wished she would just open her eyes and grow up (still waiting on that so we'll see).

But I think that those little flaws in her, are what I like. She's not some perfect little grown up. In some ways she is still a child which is very appropriate for her age. And yet she also has those moments that, as a big sister, I can empathize with. The worry. The command. The simply wanting time alone or with friends who don't mind you being yourself. I've already decided I'm reading the second book as soon as I can get my hands on it. Kiera Cass has certainly brought this world to life.

With an interesting view for a future world, The Selection has this feeling of being both distopic and elegant at the same time. It is not the dark hardships of The Hunger Games or Divergent, but at the same time it is not some sweeping romance like Pride and Prejudice or Austenland. It is somewhere in the middle. Now some might question my choice of comparisons, but I feel that is the best way to describe the rich world that Miss Cass has begun to build. A world that I eagerly hope to return to very soon.



View all my reviews

Review: Lover Unleashed

Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



So I'm crying a little inside right now. I started writing a review and somehow clicked out of the box, pressed backspace and lost the whole thing. So, I'm definitely in deep mourning right now. And I'm also trying to remember what all I was saying and what I was thinking. It's a very complicated process.

But enough about that, I am supposed to be talking about the book, not my failings with my mouse pad. Alright, so I love the Black Dagger Brotherhood books. And after a little while of reading things that I do not typically read, I was very glad to get back to something that is within my genre spectrum. (The last book that could have counted before this being The Inventor's Secret by Andrea Cremer also recommended).

So we have this, book number nine of the series and I find that I feel it is very disloyal really to try to review this book without mentioning any of the others. For those of you who have read any part of the series, the story builds on itself in such a way that it becomes almost a requirement to read the other books int he series before you even consider trying to read the later stories.

But, I will try to do just that. As much as I love this book and this series, I found myself a little disappointed. I wanted a little more. Maybe I'm just an action and adventure junkie. There was a little in the book, but it felt a little slower in its pace than some of the others. Mind it had its own surprises and I still love it, but I guess I just wanted a little bit more. even as the book was coming in the last few pages I found myself thinking: Well this can't be right, there has to be more to the story, doesn't there? As I have found, in this book there is not. Which means it is off to book number 10 where there must be more to come. Always more that I shall eagerly read.



View all my reviews