a bit late
ooops! this week has gotten away from me:S but now i have a day off and can catch up on quite a few things:)
19 Stella Bain by Anita Shreve
This was so powerful and drew me in right from the beginning (i in fact stayed up and read it all in about 3 hours, when I should've been sleeping!). It's very strong and vivid, had me gasping or crying or smiling throughout. There's so much nuance and complexity and it takes on very real, important issues, as well as being an incredible story.
20 The Twelve Clues of Christmas by Rhys Bowen
fun and clever and sweet. made me feel very "cozy" indeed:) I like the believable way the murders seem to be accidents. I like the portrayal of people in the '30s and how the Depression affects them. and i really like the progression in Georgie and Darcy's relationship, and also how that romance doesn't take over from the mysteries but does add to it:)
21 Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
I really liked this fun, sweet, creative story. I'm kinda in love with Sunday's family, esp. Trix, and i enjoy most of the other characters too. I really like how the many different fairy tales are woven in or alluded to:)
22/07 Ruby by Francesca Lia BLock
This was too close to home and yet just different enough to mostly just leave me confused as to what to say or even feel about it. Not fair as a review, I know, but i can't help it.
23 Escape From Mr Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein
this was great! Think Charlie and the chocolate factory meets the mysterious benedict society, only updated to have email and touch screens and set in a super-awesome library! With all kinds of book references and silly jokes and tongue-in-cheek, self-aware humour:D I want to own it, and gift it, and host silly reading parties of it:D
24 The Bride Wore Size 12 by Meg Cabot
This was fun fluff, with a decent mystery. I don't know what it is, but Meg Cabot always charms me. (odd note: i realized after i finished that I hadn't read the 3rd & 4th in this series, but I wasn't lost at all)
25/08 The Wand in the Word: Conversations with Writers of Fantasy by Leonard S Marcus
i loved the stories and insights into and from each of these authors. even though a lot of the same questions were asked, i never found it repetitious or boring. I was already familiar with a lot of the authors' works, but this did introduce me to a couple of new authors, and makes me enjoy the others more.
26 Death Loves a Messy Desk by Mary Jane Maffini
entertaining, twisty mystery. I also enjoyed the stories and interactions among Charlotte and her friends, although I feel there's more to the Blair thing than is explored here.
27 Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms: Magic, Mystery, & a Very Strange Adventure by Lissa Evans
Quirky, entertaining adventure with some humour and heart thrown in. I'm interested in the sequel, but tbh i think i read it too close to Escape from Mr Lemoncello's Library, and this isn't as good in comparison.
28/09 Checking it Twice by Jodi Redford
won from GoodReads FristReads giveaway
Was certainly steamy, and had some really good things to say about not judging others' sexuality, but was also cheesy and cliched, and Jana became a wimp and a pushover through the story, rather than the saucy, self-confident woman she was at the beginning. Also, not enough Christmas for me:P
19 Stella Bain by Anita Shreve
This was so powerful and drew me in right from the beginning (i in fact stayed up and read it all in about 3 hours, when I should've been sleeping!). It's very strong and vivid, had me gasping or crying or smiling throughout. There's so much nuance and complexity and it takes on very real, important issues, as well as being an incredible story.
20 The Twelve Clues of Christmas by Rhys Bowen
fun and clever and sweet. made me feel very "cozy" indeed:) I like the believable way the murders seem to be accidents. I like the portrayal of people in the '30s and how the Depression affects them. and i really like the progression in Georgie and Darcy's relationship, and also how that romance doesn't take over from the mysteries but does add to it:)
21 Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
I really liked this fun, sweet, creative story. I'm kinda in love with Sunday's family, esp. Trix, and i enjoy most of the other characters too. I really like how the many different fairy tales are woven in or alluded to:)
22/07 Ruby by Francesca Lia BLock
This was too close to home and yet just different enough to mostly just leave me confused as to what to say or even feel about it. Not fair as a review, I know, but i can't help it.
23 Escape From Mr Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein
this was great! Think Charlie and the chocolate factory meets the mysterious benedict society, only updated to have email and touch screens and set in a super-awesome library! With all kinds of book references and silly jokes and tongue-in-cheek, self-aware humour:D I want to own it, and gift it, and host silly reading parties of it:D
24 The Bride Wore Size 12 by Meg Cabot
This was fun fluff, with a decent mystery. I don't know what it is, but Meg Cabot always charms me. (odd note: i realized after i finished that I hadn't read the 3rd & 4th in this series, but I wasn't lost at all)
25/08 The Wand in the Word: Conversations with Writers of Fantasy by Leonard S Marcus
i loved the stories and insights into and from each of these authors. even though a lot of the same questions were asked, i never found it repetitious or boring. I was already familiar with a lot of the authors' works, but this did introduce me to a couple of new authors, and makes me enjoy the others more.
26 Death Loves a Messy Desk by Mary Jane Maffini
entertaining, twisty mystery. I also enjoyed the stories and interactions among Charlotte and her friends, although I feel there's more to the Blair thing than is explored here.
27 Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms: Magic, Mystery, & a Very Strange Adventure by Lissa Evans
Quirky, entertaining adventure with some humour and heart thrown in. I'm interested in the sequel, but tbh i think i read it too close to Escape from Mr Lemoncello's Library, and this isn't as good in comparison.
28/09 Checking it Twice by Jodi Redford
won from GoodReads FristReads giveaway
Was certainly steamy, and had some really good things to say about not judging others' sexuality, but was also cheesy and cliched, and Jana became a wimp and a pushover through the story, rather than the saucy, self-confident woman she was at the beginning. Also, not enough Christmas for me:P