readerlatte's reviews
236 reviews

This is the first title that I have read that was being turned into a Hallmark movie. (As far as I remember anyway). This one was very cute. I am going to somewhat take apart the characters and story but I do want you to know that this was a light story made for Hallmark. So these we know were going to end up with a HEA ending and its not going to have any sex in it or bad language and it might be a little religious sometimes (this one wasn't though like at all) . So if you kind of go into it knowing those things you will be bettered prepared. I loved this book and it was so cute!! So here is my breakdown of the story and its characters.

So lets start this one out by talking about the characters. Them together was ok, some of their interactions seemed very well weird if you ask me. But for the most part I fell in love with both of them. I kind of wished that this wouldn't have been a Hallmark movie title because it self like this could have been much better if the romance could have gone further within the story. So in some aspects it felt stilted.

I will say that there were parts of it where Abby's internal monologue really irritated me. She came off as a whinny at times. For the most part I really did feel for her. The situation of her boyfriend leaving her with a child sucks and she had a hard life getting her degree for nursing and providing for her son. As a low income parent I felt for her. I really wouldn't call Abby poor as all her bills were paid, it didn't seem like she was on welfare and although she couldn't buy her son everything on his Christmas list I think they were doing better than my family is right now. Abby had a heart of gold and I really enjoyed the parts of where she thought Nick was freaking CRAZY for spending so much money on stupid things. As well as the humor she had with her gramps and mom. I can not wait to see how that all plays out on screen on the 26th.

As for Nick, I have to say that he was a workaholic and spend far to much money on stupid crap. I felt like I really wanted to scream at him during a lot of this title. I hope that this year we have a hundred dollars to spend for presents for my girls this year. So that kind of made me not like him just a smidge. He was so focused on keeping his father's business afloat and profitable that he was missing out on life. I have to say that he reminded me a little of Christian Gray from 50 Shades but just a tad, a pinch, a dash. Overall, as the story progressed I found myself both loving and hating him. I am interested in finding out how the actor will portray him when the show comes out.

Abby's son Max was adorable, her gramps was freaking awesome and I hope we get to see him a lot in the movie! Her mom was there but not and really felt like a side character in the background much like Richard (Nicks houseman, house person? he was the one that answered the door). That is pretty much all of the characters that we really get to see. Other characters include Nick's sister whom I freaking loved. I loved how although she was rich she wasn't snooty rich. She loved Abby and Max and she was just so bright like her own sun.

The story itself was one that was great for the holidays. I loved all the snow and the setting of Richmond. What Abby did to transform the house was perfect and I loved that when things didn't work out she got to work to do it on her own. We don't really leave the small town where this story takes place. Like most Hallmark movies/stories you stay where you start.

Overall, if you are addicted to Hallmark Movies like I am then this one will work for you. If your looking for a Christmas story to get into the holidays then check this one out. It will open your heart to this family and not let you go until the page!

Go Into This One Knowing: No mentions of God, Cinderella Story, Single Mom, No Deaths

Emily has done it again. This time with one goat, a girl with an axe, and a boy with no memory and we can’t for the walking dead! This was a hit out of the park from the very first page. I was drawn in and I didn’t stop for almost 4 hours reading. Nope no bathroom brakes for this book!

The world in this title was fabulously done! I loved the concept of the bone houses and the mystery surrounding what was really going on. Emily weaved a story and world that came to life on the page and now I really want a movie. She has a way to make you fall for the most out of this world characters. This one of course being goat and later on bone goat! She was adorable and just when you think they have left her behind there she pops up to greet you and try to eat your food.

The rest of the cast was mainly just Ellis whom was so cute and I really loved his part of the story. This being kind of an overall POV at times it rounded out the story well and made it very well paced. Rhy in this one was great. She was strong and didn’t wait for others to help her. She did what needed to be done. Be it foraging for food, digging a grave, or of course beheading and burning one of the undead. She was a force of nature and I loved her for it!! (Sorry if I got her nick name wrong with the spelling it’s currently 1am).

And of course my favorite character is the goat I was talking about. She steals the show right from the time she shows up in the story. I couldn’t get enough of this girl.

The ending to this as well as the overall story is one that I really don’t know what to say about it. Other than to go buy it and read it then come find me and talking about! I read this in one sitting and I couldn’t put it down. I love how Emily can do so much in a story. This being 355 pages. And being a stand alone. I’ve never read anyone else’s stories that work so well in so few pages. Without being a series. This is one title I won’t forget anytime soon. And now I really need to find a plush of a bone goat!!

This was such an amazing story!! I fell in love with Jenn Bennett's writing when I read Starry Eyes!! The Lady Rogue brings the wonderful contemporary stories I have come to love from Bennett and blends it with aspects of historical themes, and a dash of paranormal aspects. I could not put this book down!! I do think that parts of it were a little slower than I would have liked and in those part it dragged just a little. But overall this is one story that I could see myself coming back to later. I loved Theo and Huck and their romance. It was already going so no insta-love to speak of in this one which was a nice break from the norm. This book is pegged as The Last Magician meets A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue and I have to say that I totally agree with this one. Although there are no LGBT themes in this one like A Gentleman's Guide. The travel parts and money issues that is in Gentleman's Guide are spot on this title as well. As for The Last Magician I have to say other than the aspects of stolen artifacts and magic I can't say that this one has a lot in common. However, The Last Magician is one of my favorite stories!!

When I started this book I thought I was getting your every day average contemporary story. But, what I found in these pages was one story I will not forget anytime soon. This story follows the main character Lia after her father was murdered by a mob of people called the swarm. I have to say that is my first story about a mob of people killing someone but man this could be a series that I would totally devour!

I loved Lia and her determination to find out who killed her dad and why. She was strong and empowering and she is who I would love to be when I grow up. She didn't stop and she went head first into the situation to get justice for those who couldn't get it for themselves.

The pacing in this one done very well. The story was smooth sailing in its showing/telling and I wouldn't have changed anything!! It ended on a great note and although I would have loved to see an Epilogue set maybe a year in the future but other than that I loved the ending. The romance in this one worked very well and I would love another story set in the past before this one to learn more about Ryan and those who were forced into the Swarm.

I also just realized that this was a debut title which I have to say that this doesn't feel like a debut at all!! It felt like it was from a seasoned author that knew what they were doing and now that I know that I will be auto buying stories from Gabriel from now on because WOW!!


Go Into This One Knowing: Light Romance, Murder by Mob group of people, Death of a Parent

I would say that if you haven't read the synopsis then don't!! It gives away SO MUCH!!!

OMG Guys if you don't have this book on your TBR you are MISSING OUT!! This book blew me away, first with this gorgeous cover and then with an amazing story.

The story opened with us learning a little about twin sisters Nor and Zadie as well as about their world. The author did this amazing job creating a world of sea fairing people as well as the cold world around them. I was drawn in from the very first page and didn't let go until the end. It was well paced and the writing style was pretty straight forward. I was never lost and could not put this one down!! The pacing was spot on and it was never slow. I thought that as the story unfolded it was done step by step in this beautiful and terrifying world that Rutherford has created.

The characters were freaking amazing. I do think that the author could do a novella about what was going on with Zadie as the story is told from Nor's POV. It would be interesting to know what she was going through as Nor's eyes were opened to the adventure she was hoping for. We do get to know a little about this towards the end of the story but its from another character and not straight on. So this would totally hold me over until book two comes out.

The characters were fabulous I loved Nor and her determination to keep her family safe. Even her mother who at times I really wondered if she even loved her children. Being a mom myself I wonder what was really going through her mind as she got her children ready over the years to be chosen. What kind of life did she really think her children if chosen would go too? This is another wonderful novella that I would love to read about.

When Nor meets Talin you could tell that they were drawn to each other but to really call this insta-love I just don't see it. This book happens over the course of a few months. So it's not very quick, their romance does take time. Ceren is one of the most frighting characters that I have read in sometime. He is brutal and freaking crazy if you ask me. And I am pretty sure that there will be some major twists when it comes to him in the following books. At least I really hope so. He is one of those evil characters that you love to hate.

Trying to review this book is so hard!! I loved every second of it and I can not wait for book two. It is one that I will not soon forget and one that everyone needs to read!!

Overall, I loved the beginning, middle, and end of this one. The ending was very satisfying and even though I know this is a series I think this ending works well. It does leave some loose ends such as what is going on with Zadie and wither or not a certain character is dead but it does a really great job to be a full novel in its own right. It was full of twists and turns and I hope you love it as much as I did!!

Favorite Quotes: Please note that these quotes are from the ARC, also these apparently are backwards in reading order.

"As I walked away, I realized the part of me that wanted to stay was the part I would never be able to listen to again."

"But he was right. I wanted to dance with him. And I may never get the chance to be held by someone I desired again."

"Mother had given us one gift, at least, that no amount of time or distance could erase, each other."

"Just as beauty cannot disguise who we really are beneath the surface."

"I'll go. But it will be my body that leaves, and nothing more. Samiel has my heart, and you dear sister, my soul."

"Varenia is my home. You and Samiel are my home. What more can the world possibly have to offer?" "Roses, I thought. And horses and castles and all manner of things I hadn't dared to imagine, surely. What didn't the world have to offer?"

When I received this book in my Fairyloot forever ago I knew it was coming. it was one of those months when I had both Fairyloot and Owlcrate and well me and Holly Black's writing just weren't meshing well. So I skipped my Owlcrate that month and just got my Fairyloot and man let me tell you how much I wished I wouldn't have done that!! Because this was the first book from Black that I fell in love with!!

This is one of those titles that you will either love it or hate it. There is no in-between!! It is a story about a girl trying to find her way in a world that she was never supposed to be in and how far she is willing to go to get what she wants. I really loved Jude and what she was trying to do. The enemies to lovers trope works well in the world of the Fat and it worked well in this story. The pacing was well done and the characters were just so amazing. The world that Black has created in this title was breathtaking and I loved her imagination of the world of the Fair Folk. They are both cruel and beautiful and I loved every second of it. This book is not for the faint of heart in any way!! It has adventure, a little gore, love, romance, and a lot of family. The ending to this one ends on a massive to me cliffhanger and I am so glad that I am reading this again when all of the books are out.



Go Into This One Knowing: Hate to Love Romance, Cliffhanger