book_rascal's reviews
90 reviews

From Below by Darcy Coates

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

 
This story is about a hundred-year-old ship wreck and is told from multiple points of view and two timelines. The Arcadia disappeared in 1928 under suspicious circumstances and was just discovered so no one has been down to it. Cove is being paid to make a documentary about it and assembles a team to dive down with her to explore it. They have to make three dives to get enough footage to get paid from the film company and it gets weirder with every dive. 
I got a creepy feeling right from the start and it definitely builds as the story moves along. I love that it takes place on a ship wreck and made me feel claustrophobic with them. This was a very enjoyable book and I have decided that I never want to go diving!!! 
Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

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funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 
This is Colin and Penelope’s story. I haven’t read the preceding books but I have seen the show. It made me curious if Penelope was the gossip columnist in the books.  She is and it’s so funny. This book had me laughing my butt off. Her and Colin are so cute together and had so much chemistry together. This has convinced that I should read more of the Bridgerton series.  
 
 Colin comes home from another trip and starts to see his longtime friend Penelope in a different light. It didn’t take long for him to decide to marry her. When he found out her secret, he became scared of what would happen to her if it ever came out. Of course, it came out after they were married and he had to get out in front of it. So much happens in between all of this that was funny and sweet. Definitely worth reading. 
Lake Silence by Anne Bishop

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adventurous funny relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

 
This book is set in the world of the Others but not with the same characters as the original series and I’m here for it. This is a series that has a lot of potential to do that and keep it fresh. It’s become a comfort read for me and that’s not a regular thing for me.  
 
Vicki takes over The Jumble after receiving it in her divorce from her abusive ex-husband. The Jumble is a small resort in an Others settlement near the human town of Spoing with a human population of three hundred. It’s on the Others land so there are rules about what can be done with it. Vicki follows those rules when renovating the place and makes friends with some of the Others and they like her and approve of her and what she has done. After she opens it up to visitors, she makes friends with some of the Others and they become protective of her. When her ex comes back into the picture trying to take it away from her the Elders get involved and things don’t go his way.  
 
Comfort read!!! 
Crowbones by Anne Bishop

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

 
This takes place in Sproing a small village with humans, Intuits and Others. The Others are in charge and thing can get dangerous if the humans act stupid. It is told in multiple points of view, which makes it a fuller story. On trickster night things start to go wrong and the bodies start piling up. It takes a lot of cooperation between the different groups to keep everyone from being wiped out by the Elders.  
I enjoyed this book that takes place in the world of the Others. I am crazy about this series and sad that I’m already done with it. 
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 
This book is told from multiple points of view and I think that is a plus. Without getting all those views you wouldn’t understand the reasons and feelings about all these characters. Defiantly makes it better.  
Ben goes to Paris and stays in an old friend's family's large old home. He agrees to have his sister, Jess come to stay with him after she gets into trouble in England. Ben disappears before Jess arrives and she has to try and find him. The family in the house are creepy and obviously have secrets they are trying to hide.  
There are a lot of twists and the last one was a doozy! It’s not my favorite but is worth reading. 
The Aristocracy of Norman England by Judith A. Green

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challenging informative

3.5

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

 
In this world there is the Emperor, the Nobles and the Skaa. You really don’t want to be a skaa, they are slaves to the Nobles!  There are some people born with the ability to burn metals for special abilities and they are the Mistborn. Each metal does something different like make them stronger, faster with better sight as well as other talents.  
 
Kelsier is a survivor that is trying to get the skaa to rise up and rebel and inspires them. Vin is a criminal girl that has mistborn abilities. Kelsier recruits her to help him and his crew to overthrow the emperor. This is dangerous work but they are good with it even when there are setbacks. 
 
This book was simply written. The language is basic which is a good thing in my opinion, the reading just flowed. I loved it and am anxious to read the rest of the series. This is a good book for old and new fantasy readers. 
Like a Sister by Kellye Garrett

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emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 
Lena Scott has been estranged from her sister for two years. When she finds out her sister had died and it was being dismissed as an overdose, she questions that. She starts investigating her sister's life and more than her death appears wrong. While her famous father seems eager to get it settled Lena can’t let it go. Lena is the only one tenacious enough to get to the bottom of it.  
 
This was a great book and I loved it!!!  There are a few twists that threw me for a bit. I usually take some notes with my books but I was sucked into this story from the beginning and forgot.  Definitely read this book! 
The Life of Henrietta Anne: Daughter of Charles I by Melanie Clegg

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emotional informative slow-paced

5.0

 
I have read several books where Henrietta Anne Stuart was a supporting character. She was always presented in a favorable light. In this book she is presented the same way. She was born to King Charles I and his French wife Henrietta Maria. Born during the English Civil War she started out in a precarious position. Eventually smuggled out of England and taken to France where her mother had already escaped to, she would live out her life in the French court. Described as charming, charismatic and delightful she was considered the darling of the French court she was also politically savvy and the King counted on her for help dealing with her brother the King of England who loved her very much. Prince Philippe who was King Louis XIV younger brother fell in love with her and they were eventually married. He was emotionally abusive towards her and it was a very chaotic marriage but did produce several children. 
I enjoyed reading about her life in this very well researched and written book. I have no doubts that anyone interested in this time in history would enjoy learning about this woman's life. 
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

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dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 
Lily Bloom grew up in an abusive home, her father beat her mother and she hated him. Then she met a homeless boy who had been forced to live in the same situation. They fell for each other. He went away to Boston to live and she went on to college. Many years later Lily meets Ryle and falls in love with and marries him. His sister becomes Lily’s best friend and they all become a happy family, or are they? She finds out that anyone can end up in a bad relationship and that doesn’t make them weak. Choices have to be made that are going to hurt. 
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it lived up to the hype for me. I’ll definitely be reading more of her work.