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

Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen

Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen

Published March 20, 2018

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

This was a quick book, but not an easy read in terms of the topics brought up. Sarah is struggling to survive as a blonde haired blue eyed Jewish girl in a Nazi Germany. As her mother and her flee from one town to the next to escape the Nazi parties her luck starts to slowly run out. Sarah's mother is killed and she is forced to survive on her own, with the help of another mysterious character. As the mysterious man spies on the German's she makes her way into his care and becomes one of the little "monsters" in order to get into the good graces of elite German families building bombs. I enjoyed the characters, the fast pace of the books. You are right there in the action. I did not overly care for the constant bad words, even if they were in German. I do not think the extent they are used was totally necessary? Maybe it was. The struggles feel real, the plot seemed plausible. Overall, an easy quick read that keeps you entertained and on the edge of your seat.

Instagram: @shelf.loving

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

This Love Story Will Self Destruct by Leslie Cohen

This Love Story Will Self Destruct by Leslie Cohen

Published January 23,2018

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This story was really hard to get into and not for me. As we meet the two characters that are in their angst filled 20s, I cannot like either one of them. Halfway through the book there is a little plot twist that proves to be interesting and the relationships start to gather my interest. I did enjoy the last half of the book.

Instagram: @shelf.loving

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

April Quick Shot Reviews

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

I listened to this on audio book. I think I prefer the movie version better. (Did I just say that?!!?) The book just seemed to drag and I did not get as much of an emotional punch like I do from the movie.

Prince of Wolves and Blood Rites by Quinn Loftis

Both were audio books. I am really enjoying this series! It is super easy read/listen. Its pretty generic in what is happening but I am fully entertained and can’t wait to see where everything goes for each of the characters.

The Girl Before by JP Delaney

Apparently I went on an audio book binge! This was another good one though. A highly entertaining domestic thriller and the twist at the end left me surprised.

The Taster by VS Alexander

My hubby bought me a three month subscription to Once Upon a Book Club and this was the March Box, April Read. Set with the rise of Hitler the main character finds her way in the service of Hitler as his food taster. This was a unique point of view for this type of story and I thoroughly enjoyed the reading. I also enjoyed the experience with the box! You open a gift as you read the story. You can check out my Instagram for the unboxing photos!

Waking Gods by Sylvain Neuvel

This is another book two and an audio. I cannot say enough how much I love these audio books. It just really brings the narration to life. It is full cast and the voices are just perfect! I cannot wait for Only Human to come out!

Code Black by Philip Donlay

Book two in the series this one was just as much fun as the first. It was another audio book and it kept me at attention to the very end. I cannot wait to continue with this series!

Roomies by Christina Lauren
Another audio and another quick easy read/listen.

Dead Letters edited by Conrad Williams
This was not what I expected. That being said. It also took me forever to get through all the stories. There were a couple stand outs and I mention the authors in my GoodReads page. I was thinking the letters would be more of a focal point then they were.


We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Mgozi Adiche
This is about 50 pages and punches you in the face. I highly recommend this book for everyone. Young girls especially. Young boys, men should read this too.

Full Moon Rising by Keri Author
Another in the series, I am still liking it. It is a supernatural erotic version of the Stephanie Plum series. I am listening to these on audio and they go quickly and are entertaining.

Bakuman Vol 10.
I am still thoroughly enjoying this series!

Instagram: @shelf.loving

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