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emileereadsbooks's reviews
1120 reviews
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Reading more like a fiction novel than a nonfiction true crime tale, this book tells the story of one of Savannah's most polarizing residents and the events that made him that way. I read this book just after my trip to Savannah where I toured the house this murder took place in and I enjoyed how it immediately took me back to the sights, sounds, and smells of that great city. Brimming with fascinating characters and interesting situations, this book will have you intrigued from cover to cover.
Content warning: This books does contain cursing as well as descriptions of sexual acts, drug and alcohol use, racism, and murder.
Eloise and the Grump Next Door by Jenny Proctor, Emma St. Clair
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to Jenny Proctor and Emma St. Clair for a free copy of this book!
Eloise was headed to an uncertain future post college, then her grandmother passed away and now she's stuck on an island renovating her grandmother's home as a condition of her inheritance and stuck next door to her grandmother's very attractive and very grumpy lawyer.
I loved the influencer angle in this one as well as the grumpy sunshine dynamic. The chemistry in this one was so fun. One thing that both of these authors do well aside from greeting great chemistry is writing great side characters (the nephew was so good!) and really preparing you for further books in a series without being too heavy handed. I can't wait to see what happens next on Oakley Island!
This is a closed door, kisses only romance.
I loved the influencer angle in this one as well as the grumpy sunshine dynamic. The chemistry in this one was so fun. One thing that both of these authors do well aside from greeting great chemistry is writing great side characters (the nephew was so good!) and really preparing you for further books in a series without being too heavy handed. I can't wait to see what happens next on Oakley Island!
This is a closed door, kisses only romance.
The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
We constantly find ourselves in gatherings. Dinner parties, business meetings, weddings, church small groups, book clubs, and more. And we know when we've been to a good gathering and when we haven't, but we don't necessarily know what makes a gathering good or bad. Until now. Priya Parker has studied the art of gathering and she shares all the tips in tricks from how to set up a space to conversation dos and don'ts.
I listened to this book on audio and 30% in I ordered a physical copy to own. It's that good. I knew that I needed to reread this immediately and highlight and mark passages and pages and tables. This book is the guidance you didn't know you needed to host the best gatherings. Parker shared applicable knowledge that can be applied from small dinner parties to large conferences and every where in between. I think that everyone could benefit from reading this book.
Let It Be Me by Becky Wade
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Sebastian has overcome a lot to become the renowned surgeon that he is, and he doesn't let any of his circumstances define him. But when the brilliant mathematician Leah crosses his path, he has to reconsider what his priorities are, especially when he realizes this is the girl his best friend has been mooning over for quite some time. Leah has been dealt a hard hand of her own, having to put her pursuit of a PhD on hold when pressed by circumstances to raise her brother. But now her brother is on the cusp of graduating high school, and her circumstances may allow romance to become part of her story after all this time.
I loved this story and the push and pull of these characters as they deal with their pasts as they consider what they want the future to hold. The chemistry of these two was so good, and their banter was fantastic. Plus their faith journeys were so well done and not over wrought like some Christian fiction can be.
This is a closed door, kisses only romance.
I loved this story and the push and pull of these characters as they deal with their pasts as they consider what they want the future to hold. The chemistry of these two was so good, and their banter was fantastic. Plus their faith journeys were so well done and not over wrought like some Christian fiction can be.
This is a closed door, kisses only romance.
Stay with Me by Becky Wade
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Genevieve is a popular author and Bible teacher, but she has retreated to her hometown to face her secrets and confront her parents about theirs. She unwittingly reveals her secret to the oh so very attractive Sam and now he also is forced to face his past and the secrets he carries.
A great introduction to the series. Genevieve and Sam are well rounded and flawed characters and their chemistry is palpable. I love the interwoven narrative of the defining moment from Genevieve's adolescence, surviving an earthquake while on a mission trip, woven throughout that will tie this whole series together.
This is a closed door, kisses only romance.
A great introduction to the series. Genevieve and Sam are well rounded and flawed characters and their chemistry is palpable. I love the interwoven narrative of the defining moment from Genevieve's adolescence, surviving an earthquake while on a mission trip, woven throughout that will tie this whole series together.
This is a closed door, kisses only romance.
Turn to Me by Becky Wade
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you Netgalley and Bethany House Fiction for the gifted book that I read along with the library audio!
Luke has let the tragedy of the earthquake he survived and his brother did not define his life. Newly released from prison, he is making good on his promise to a fellow, now deceased, inmate to protect his daughter as she hunts down the clues in the treasure hunt he left for her. Finley is a big fan of lost causes and Luke is a great target for her ministrations. But they both aren't fans of letting people in, except now it seems they are each going to have to let down their walls to get what they want.
These two are polar opposites drawn together through being attracted to each other's character as much or more so than by their looks. I love how they slowly reform each other to be better people and draw each other to Christ, Finley meaning to and Luke not realizing he is doing so. And once again in this series, the chemistry is quite nice.
This is a closed door, kisses only romance.
Luke has let the tragedy of the earthquake he survived and his brother did not define his life. Newly released from prison, he is making good on his promise to a fellow, now deceased, inmate to protect his daughter as she hunts down the clues in the treasure hunt he left for her. Finley is a big fan of lost causes and Luke is a great target for her ministrations. But they both aren't fans of letting people in, except now it seems they are each going to have to let down their walls to get what they want.
These two are polar opposites drawn together through being attracted to each other's character as much or more so than by their looks. I love how they slowly reform each other to be better people and draw each other to Christ, Finley meaning to and Luke not realizing he is doing so. And once again in this series, the chemistry is quite nice.
This is a closed door, kisses only romance.
Talk Santa to Me by Linda Urban
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook.
Francie's family is in the business of Christmas. They run Hollydale Holiday Shop as well as a Santa school, started by Francie's beloved late grandfather. And Francie loves being a part of the family business, or she did until Aunt Carole started changing everything. Now Francie's goal of saving for her first car is in jeopardy as she battles Aunt Carole's new fangled ideas and her crush on the boy who works on the Christmas tree lot next door.
I thought this was a fun and cute YA Christmas book. It is kitschy to the max, but that's part of its allure. It's definitely a YA book though, full of feelings and a bit of teen angst. So, if that's not your jam, this book won't be for you. There are a lot of plots happening in this book, which could have been scaled down to make it not be as extra, but overall it was an enjoyable and quick holiday read.
Francie's family is in the business of Christmas. They run Hollydale Holiday Shop as well as a Santa school, started by Francie's beloved late grandfather. And Francie loves being a part of the family business, or she did until Aunt Carole started changing everything. Now Francie's goal of saving for her first car is in jeopardy as she battles Aunt Carole's new fangled ideas and her crush on the boy who works on the Christmas tree lot next door.
I thought this was a fun and cute YA Christmas book. It is kitschy to the max, but that's part of its allure. It's definitely a YA book though, full of feelings and a bit of teen angst. So, if that's not your jam, this book won't be for you. There are a lot of plots happening in this book, which could have been scaled down to make it not be as extra, but overall it was an enjoyable and quick holiday read.
The Witness Wore Red: The 19th Wife Who Brought Polygamous Cult Leaders to Justice by Rebecca Musser, M. Bridget Cook
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Rebecca grew up believing what she was told to believe. Polygamy was the correct way of life. Modesty was connected to your morality. The outside world was dangerous. And the Prophet knew best. But when as a teenager she became the 19th wife of the 85 year old FLDS prophet, Rulon Jeff's, her eyes began to be opened to the suffering and lies all around her. Although she escaped, she was pulled back into the church's orbit to protect other girls from the witness stand against Warren Jeffs. Then she was instrumental in helping Texas authorities shut down the Yearning for Zion Ranch and the stronghold the FLDS had built there.
This is BY FAR the best escape memoir I have ever read and I have read quite a few. Not only because Rebecca's story is so intense, but the way she is willing to share intimate parts of her pain with the reader is so tender and also so eye opening. She does not make her life a spectacle for entertainment, rather she uses her life experiences and the beliefs she has held at different points to illustrate how this abuse in the FLDS church has been allowed to be perpetuated and how she then was able to use her experiences and knowledge to fight against it.
If you have any interest at all in this kind of book and you haven't read it yet, I encourage you to pick it up. I don't think you will regret it.
Dead Fall by Nancy Mehl
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Alex is ready to move on from her last case that got a bit too personal, but when a renowned profiler and BAU co-founder is found dead under very weird circumstances, the BAU team is going to have to get creative to solve perhaps their most perplexing case yet.
I loved the development of Alex's character in this book. She really learns who she is as a person and as a profiler and who she wants to be. There is depth added to this series though through the exploration of secondary characters much more than the first book. And the twist in this one is even bigger and better.
Night Fall by Nancy Mehl
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Alex Donovan had a hard childhood, but she has ended up in her dream job working as a member of the FBI's elite BAU. Never expecting her past would overlap with her work, she is surprised to find she recognizes the graffiti being used by a serial killer in Missouri. This takes her to her aunt's home in Wichita, Kansas to confront the memories she had long ago buried.
This book so interestingly weaves Alex's story with the story of the killer and the cult that they both have ties to. I loved getting to know Alex and the rest of the BAU team and I was so glad that this was only the first in a series.
This book so interestingly weaves Alex's story with the story of the killer and the cult that they both have ties to. I loved getting to know Alex and the rest of the BAU team and I was so glad that this was only the first in a series.