The Saint of Wolves and Butchers by Alex Grecian

The Saint of Wolves and Butchers by Alex Grecian

Published April 17, 2018

I received a free ebook from Penguin First to Read.

I was expecting to like this book, that it would be interesting enough but I really enjoyed it! Told in past and present we follow "Rudy Goodman", Skottie and Travis Roan and his big dog Bear. I quickly got caught up in their individual stories as they were revealed and needed to know more! As you progress from history to present the book gets more sinister. It was really interesting to watch how someone's individual ideals can poison an entire town. An intense read, not for overly sensitive readers.

Travis Roan has the unusual, and niche, job of hunting down evil doers, in specific Nazi’s. After wrapping up a case in Africa he is called back to find out where his father disappeared to. Right away he is pegged as an outsider in the small town and the people are not happy to have him around. As he starts his investigation more sinister details of the town start surfacing. Festering evil with no repercussions has taken over.

A very easy read it packs a punch. I cannot wait to follow Travis Roan and his dog Bear into their next adventure.

Instagram: @shelf.loving

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June Quick Shot Reviews

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

I LOVED Simon versus the Homo Sapiens Agenda and I found this book a little bit of a letdown. It wasn’t bad, just didn’t hit me as hard as Simon’s book did.

There was a huge variety in characters, from race to sexuality. The drama was over the top but it still felt plausible. My problem was just connecting to the characters in this story. Again, not a bad story just not as good of a reading match for me.

Warcross by Marie Lu

I really enjoyed this book! I listened to it on audio and I found every excuse I could to pick my headphones back up and continue to listen. Similar premise to Ready Player One, I think this one was executed better for the masses though. Where RP1 was geared all around the 80s had had references out the wazoo, Warcross allowed anyone to easily slip into the world. I absolutely cannot wait for book two to come out!

  

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

Book one in a series I received this copy from my book group for our “books around the world” challenge.

A slow start but gripping story. This was everything I wanted from a Russian story. I was born in Russia and even though I was in a Catholic orphanage the ladies that worked there believed in the fairytales and whispered their stories to us at night. I cannot wait to pick up The Girl in the Tower!

Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich

I love the Plum series, I did not really like this novella though. It just felt so odd compared to the rest of the series. Had fantastical elements that are not in the other books. It could have been normal every day but then it was throwing in supernatural elements. In this series, it did not work for me.

Just One Drop by Quinn Loftis

This is book two in the series and it continues to entertain me. Lots of teenage drama, terrible relationships (in treatment of each other) and not the best writing but I am entertained! I will continue with this series.

Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille

My default genre so of course I was entertained! I LOVE John Corey and his adventures through this series keep me highly entertained. I cannot wait to keep going with them!

Crossed by Ally Condie

The first book was a huge prologue to this one. Questions were answered and you get to see who is picked by the protagonist but this book is only a smidge better than the first. Since it is a trilogy I think I will just finish up the third but this is just a so- so series and probably can be skipped for better works.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

A classic, so not too much to say. Taking into account the differences in today’s culture versus then it was an interesting read and I can see why it was so popular and remains a classic today.

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

I loved this book. I have seen the movie, Christmas with the Kranks, many times and this book was pretty much word for word the screenplay. It is highly entertaining and worth the quick read!

Instagram: @shelf.loving

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/shelfloving

History Is All You Left Me - Adam Silvera

History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

Published January 2017

This was a book club read with #readyourfaceoff and one of the books I have seen on BookTube and have been wanting to pick up. I really enjoyed the discussion board on GoodReads, giving my thoughts as I went.

History Is All You Left Me has trigger warnings. So sensitive readers beware.

Told in past and present we find out about Theo, Griffin’s ex-boyfriend, who has died by drowning. The last sentence on the first page gutted me. Immediately this book promises to be an emotional ride and it does not disappoint. I really loved how supportive and amazing all the relationships are. I am not sure how realistic it is, but it was nice to read, and I would hope that I would be the same way for any of my friends or possibly children. I loved how the best friend and parents are being portrayed as happy and supportive and that the dad goes to the extent of researching what his son will need to know for sexual encounters.

The friendship with Wade especially seems so real. I can totally imagine this as being a real friend group between Theo, Griffin and Wade and I love that while Wade is supportive of his friends he is worried about being the odd man out in the group.

It literally made me laugh out loud when the boys got caught in the grocery store buying the condoms. Then I wanted to sob for days reading about Theo's death, how Jackson was there. I hate "what ifs" and the whole situation is a big what if. Then I was gutted when the kisses were shared… I want my own kiss made just for me.

Instagram: @shelf.loving

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/shelfloving

Read Your Face Off Book Club
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/545840-read-your-face-off-book-club

The House on Harbor Hill by Shelly Stratton

The House on Harbor Hill by Shelly Stratton

Published March 27, 2018

This was my second box from Once Upon a Book Club book subscription box. Another book where the cover, the title, even the synopsis would not automatically draw me in. The experience of the box though and the book itself was 4 stars!

So downside to the box, it is a small company that has their issues with vendors. The box per their site should have shipped out by the 17^th but several days later they were still waiting on the last gift to arrive. So if it was my first box, and due to the high price, this would have been nerve wracking and a little upsetting. That set aside though, the gift was worth the wait.

The House on Harbor Hill is told in present and past. It has a love story, murder mystery, racial prejudice and domestic abuse. Delilah Grey is an outcast in her small town, she takes in abused woman that are down on their luck and shelters them until they can get back on their feet. Tracey is invited to be one of those women. She is trying to escape a desperate situation with her two young children in tow. As Delilah learns more about Tracey’s struggle, Tracey learns more about Delilah and her dark past.

This book flew past. I was interested and wanting to know both ladies stories and wishing that they had happy endings. Reading as part of the Once Upon a Book Club box just adds that extra special touch as you open the gifts. Check out my Instagram for photos reveals!

Instagram: @shelf.loving

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/shelfloving

May Quick Shot Reviews

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

I LOVED this book. I was a little hesitant to read this after Dating You/Hating You by Christina Lauren since they sound exactly alike. The Hating Game though is a million times better and that is saying a lot since I gave Dating You/Hating You a 4 star rating.

The Hating Game is about two co-workers that are from two companies that merged together. They work for their respective heads from their previous company and they are the only two in a room. They play little mind games with each other to make the work day more bearable but at the same time it makes it harder on each other. Their story was just so freaking cute. I had borrowed this from the library but it is one that I will need to buy to keep on my shelves!

Hard Eight, Seven Up, To The Nines by Janet Evanovich

Still loving this series. I listened to it on audio and it just makes my commute so much fun!

The Son by Jo Nesbo

I listened to this on audio. I loved the protagonist, Sonny Lofthus. He is a convicted murderer and a heroin addict. Sonny may be convicted but we quickly learn that he has not committed the crimes that he is in jail for. His confessions are all based on getting a steady stream of heroin while he wastes his days locked up. Through the narrative we learn why Sonny is in the position he is. Sonny then receives information that changes his whole view on his life, and his fathers. The rest of the narrative follows Sonny has he tries to get justice for past wrongs.

The point of view switches between Sonny and Simon Kefas. Simon is an aging police detective with his own set of character flaws. As the two hunt their own end game the tension mounts and keeps you as the reader hooked.

Kissing Sin by Keri Arthur

Book 2 in the Riley Jenson Guardian series. I will give this series one more book but not too sure if I will keep on after that.

Matched by Ally Condine

I was disappointed with this book. The entire 369 pages was just a long intro into the series. Literally all world building and character development. Along with it being so slow, the writing was very stilted. If it was done on purpose, I get why. If this is just the author’s writing style… yikes. I want to pick up book two, I feel like I need to get some answers and I am already this invested. I will be picking it up as an audio though so that it forces me to keep moving right along.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling

I always thought that Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was my favorite in the series but after this re-read I want to say this is in the running for the favorite position. Knowing how the series progresses my heart aches for Harry and Sirius. Though I know all the excitement that happens I was still cheering and booing and crying out in fear in all the same places.

The Freedom Broker by KJ Howe

This was a great fast paced interesting read. There are some areas that are unbelievable, okay a lot, but that didn’t damper the excitement as you follow Thea Paris through her kidnap rescues. I received book two, Skyjack, for free so of course I needed to pick up book one first. Happy I did and I cannot wait to pick up Skyjack now!

Instagram: @shelf.loving

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/shelfloving

Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeny

Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeny

Published 03/23/2017

1. I’m in a coma. 

2. My husband doesn’t love me anymore. 

3. Sometimes I lie.

A free e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, this book takes you on a ride. I do not want to say much, go into it blind. This was a book that I wanted to read just one more chapter so that my latest question could be answered only to find myself 5 more in.

Amber Reynolds is in a coma after an accident. The timeline hops back and forth as she tries to remember how she ended up in the hospital. Amber is not a character that is easily liked. I found her very whiny and annoying in general. I saw some of the things coming but I was pleasantly surprised at the way that everything unfolded.

Instagram: @shelf.loving

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/shelfloving

I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman

I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman

Published April 1, 2018

Thank you Bookish First for the free ARC to this book!

I enjoyed the If I Stay books and when I saw this one available for raffle I knew I just had to have it. I was not disappointed! I Have Lost My Way was a super quick read, I could have read it in one sitting if adulting did not get in the way. That being said, it was not an "easy" read when it came to the emotions and subject manner.

Diversity in this book was a little bit of everything. You got to see different races, religions, sexual identities, mental states and the list just goes on from there.

This was not a classic happy ending story and it tore my heart out at the end. I cannot recommend this book highly enough and cannot wait to share it with my book loving peeps!

I do not feel like any part of the story dragged, there was nothing that stood out as being too extra and not necessary. Though the story threatened to be cliché and have a stereotypical happy ending it strayed from the beaten path and though it was not satisfying in “happily ever after” it made me appreciate the story for being more real if that makes sense?

As you followed the three stories from individuals, how they met and how they moved forward, it all felt natural. It was a slow build to a climatic end but that pacing never seemed slow or too rushed. Everything flowed naturally from scene to scene and it all wrapped up at the end as I sat on the edge of my seat urging the characters on.

You could clearly picture New York. Beautiful, wonderful, too big, too small and romantic New York. As we followed the characters through their day the dialogue flowed smoothly, the relationships between strangers, friends and family felt dynamic and real. I seriously cannot praise this book enough.

Instagram: @shelf.loving

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/shelfloving