Review: The Summer Wives

The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It took forever for the story to start. I couldn't get into the story.
It was boring. The characters are not very likeable or relatable.
The story was beyond predictable which was annoying. It is a story about rich, privileged
kids doing whatever they want, acting how they want. Superficial issues.

The only good part of the story was I enjoyed how the characters lives intertwined, tangled, untangled, and then intertwined again.

I struggled to finish the book. Just as I read the last page it got good and the story ended. I wanted to read the story after the last page of the book; that story seemed more interesting. Sort of ends on a major cliffhanger.

I would not read it again.

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READING PROGRESS 

November 10, 2020 – Started Reading

November 16, 2020 – Finished Reading

Review: Magic Lessons

Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The story was well written. There are basically 3 sections to the story: When Maria was a little girl, when she was on her own/teenager, and then when she is older. Each part draws you in and you don't want to put the book down. I finished reading this in three days it was so good. As I was reading the book I kept getting this feeling that I knew this story somewhere - there were parts that were familiar. And then I looked it up and it hit me "Practical Magic." This book is apparently the prequel to that. It tells the beginning of the Owens women's story.

I was angry at times with this story - why do all books have the woman be stupid and do things for love even if they know how dumb they are? Why do they chase a guy that wasn't good to them? Just once I want a book where the woman knows how stupid the guy is and doesn't chase him. Just once I want that woman to pick the good guy, the right guy.

Regardless, this is a story about smart women that do stupid things because of their emotions. It pulls you into the story and you will be sad when the book ends. Some parts are a little wordy, and some parts could do with more explanation. Overall, a really good book.

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 READING PROGRESS 

October 20, 2020 – Started Reading 

October 23, 2020 – Finished Reading

Review: Where the Lost Wander

Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rarely is a book 5 stars to me. This book was an excellent read with many feels throughout it.

I wish the prologue wasn't there. After reading it, the immense sorrow I felt, made the rest of the book feel different. The prologue tells of a very important event in the story about 3/4 the way through. Then the book starts at the beginning and leads you up to that prologue and after. So the whole time I'm reading the book I am filled with sadness and dread because I already know what is going to happen 3/4 the way in. This doesn't take away from the book's greatness. I was still sucked into the lives of these people emigrating across the Oregon Trail.

Part of the fun of this book was reading about the travel across the Oregon Trail. Like any kid that grew up in the 80s and 90s I played "the Oregon Trail" game on the computer for school. It was fun to read about the places I had already been aware of from the game. It was like putting the game to life with real people. I knew where they were on their journey, I knew where they were going, and I remember the hardships my "settlers" faced at certain parts so I sort of knew what was yet to come.

I wish there was a sequel, the book was that good. I didn't skim any pages, I was thoroughly engrossed in the story the entire time. It took me 2 days to read but only because I had other things to do too. Nothing was predictable or stale, the story was awesome. 

READING PROGRESS

September 14, 2020 – Started Reading

September 14, 2020 – Shelved

September 16, 2020 – Finished Reading

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Review: Waiting for Hope

Waiting for Hope by Karen J. Hasley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The second book in the series started out great. The first half kept me interested and I enjoyed the story of Hope's journey. About halfway through is when the book became super predictable and not as fun to read. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't exciting or new either. It was the same old "broken girl from wrong side of the tracks meets handsome rich guy; they fall in love but don't want to acknowledge it; tragedy happens and they realize they can't live without each other." This type of story has been written time and time again. If I hadn't wanted to read book 3, I probably wouldn't have finished book 2. It was nice to learn some of the things that happened between book 1 and 2 though; I enjoy reading about Lou's family.

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READING PROGRESS

July 13, 2020 – Started Reading
July 22, 2020 – Finished Reading

Review: Lily's Sister

Lily's Sister by Karen J. Hasley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first book in the series was a good read. I enjoyed it and skimmed only a few passages that became too wordy.

The story progressed nicely and kept me interested the whole book. A few times I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what happened next; a few times I was sad with the events that happened and close to tears; and a few times I was so frustrated with the naivety of the character; and one time I gasped at the events. All together it was a good story and I'm glad I took the time to read it.

The ending is what I didn't enjoy. Not the words or even the events, but how they were portrayed. The entire story is about a short time in Lou's life and then the last chapter speeds through about 25 years of her life all at once. I would have loved another book instead that went more slowly and in detail through their lives.

I did purchase the second book in the series and am interested to see what happens. I know that it can be stand alone from the first book but also has some entanglement with the original characters.


READING PROGRESS
June 18, 2020 – Started Reading
July 13, 2020 – Finished Reading

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Review: Thorn in My Heart

Thorn in My Heart by Liz Curtis Higgs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am not sure what I think about this book. At first I was interested but then it became dreadfully boring and I was just plodding though to get to the end. Did I love the book? no. It didn't have any exciting parts, no parts where I felt any particular emotion. Nothing was surprising. It was just dull and very long. Did I enjoy the book? not really, but I didn't hate the book either.

I didn't like the younger sister. The older sister was constantly seeking pity. They were both selfish. The cousin was an idiot and his flip flopping feelings annoying.

I decided to finish the 1st book but not continue the series. It just wasn't enjoyable and there are more than enough other books out there to read.


READING PROGRESS
March 16, 2020 – Started Reading
April 28, 2020 – Finished Reading

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Review: The Legacy of Armstrong House

The Legacy of Armstrong House by A. O'Connor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this series. I loved each family's era and lives. It was fascinating to read how older generations impacted the current generations. The secrets and lives of the family were so fun to untangle. Everything all came full circle in this final book.
This book jumps a lot between past and present but it makes for an interesting read. Kate is annoying in her pursuit of unraveling all the secrets of the family. The ending of the book was a little shocking, I"ll admit. I didn't see that coming. And I'm glad a certain secret was not unveiled in the end.
Great series, Great book. Worth the time.

READING PROGRESS
December 17, 2019 – Started Reading
March 20, 2020 – Finished Reading

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