mororke's reviews
733 reviews

This book begins with Clara, a high school student with a famous ballerina mother at school. Clara has been called to the office to discuss her “eating habits” or lack thereof. The beginning of the story is interesting enough, but drags trying to build up to the main storyline. Once a social media incident occurs, Clara heads to Paris to spend her summer her father, stepmother, and half-brother Alastair, who is on the spectrum.

Once in Paris, Clara learns a lot, not only about herself, but the father she doesn’t know and her half brother. I personally loved the relationship between Clara and Alastair, and it’s development.

The characters in this book are well written, and seem realistic and for the most part likable. I actually felt disdain for Clara and her mother’s relationship, which I’m sure was how the story is supposed to make you feel about their relationship. Clara’s avoidance of her mother once in Paris seems a bit odd, even if they are not in the best place. If I was sixteen and shipped across the world to stay with people I really didn’t know, I probably would have wanted to
speak to my mother just to have some sense of normalcy, even if the relationship was strained overall.

Alastair is well written, but many aspects of his Autism seem generic. I have a son who is “on the spectrum” and while there are a lot of similarities, some times Alastair seems to be extremely high functioning, and then drops to very low functioning. I tried to take into account that the is only six, but at times I felt like the author was just checking off symptoms she wanted to make sure were included. Overall I loved the development of Clara and Alastair’s relationship.

I feel like the story ended on a high note, but wish that there was a more definitive ending, or even an epilogue. I feel like the ending came up quickly and didn’t really address a lot of the issues. The open ending lets the reader come up with their own ending, in which I feel that perhaps Clara has restored her relationships with her family and food. That being said, what if her eating disorder continues, and like her mother, she works herself into horrible health before she’s even twenty.

Questions I would like to have answered are:
1. Did Clara receive professional help for her eating disorder, or did she just “wing it” like she seemed to do throughout the book.
2. Did her mother become a teacher, and recover completely? After a lifetime of dancing, how does she move on?
3. Did Clara and Michel try the long distance thing or just leave as friends?
4. Did Clara move to France for college? Does she see Alastair and her father on a regular basis?

I also feel like Mag (which maybe is a nickname, but seems odd) didn’t really add to the story other than being a “crunchy mom” forcing Alastair to continue to be different even though he was being bullied. She left for long amounts of time and seemed sprinkled into the story as an after thought only to antagonize Clara.

Overall, great story, nice quick read and enjoyable characters.

I’m a horse person. Since I was young, I’d pick up anything that seemed remotely horse related and would tear through it. I was overjoyed when I was approved for Faults, even though I took my time starting it.

The story follows Austen, a very reliable equestrian, and Rand. Rand, like all boys in this kind of book, has been in trouble and has been sent to The Island to stay with his uncle.

Rand and Austen meet by coincidence and their heart warming story begins. I enjoyed the pace of the book. It was easy to be pulled in, but light enough that I felt okay when I needed to set it aside to do other things. I haven’t read any of the other books in the series, but felt like the characters were well established, and easy not only to relate to, but understand.

Austen is a genuinely good person. Her character has a lot of dimension and her selflessness makes her easy to like. Rand is equally interesting. Even though he’s been in trouble, it is easy to feel like he’s been given a raw deal because deep down, he really cares about those around him as much as Austen does.

While the book is a bit predictable, it’s an enjoyable and quick read.

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This book was a lot cuter than I thought it would be. The story follows Mireille, Astrid and Hakima, voted the ugliest girls in their school and their road trip to find happiness, and to learn to be comfortable in their own skin.

The unlikely friendship between the three girls takes them on a road trip by bike through France. I don’t want to give away their misadventures along the route, but I found the story heartwarming and brilliantly written. Instead of feeling poorly about themselves, the girls learn that it’s truly what is on the inside that counts, and that with good friends, anything is possible.

This was a quick and light hearted read that had me laughing out loud and excited to see how the story finished. It was a nice break from some of the heavier stuff I’ve been reading and was easy for me to get excited about and finish.

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I began this book on my first break from work, around 9:45am this morning. It is now 2:40pm and I have been drug through the emotional wringer. I suppose I should begin at the beginning.

When the book begins we’re introduced to Ryan. We learn that he’s in a wheelchair and a great swimmer, it isn’t until later in the story that we learn that Ryan has cerebral palsy. On this particular day that the book begins, Ryan has decided to take a stroll before school to watch the river and sees a boy from school, Jack. Ryan rescues Jack from the river, and a bond forged by a secret begins.

Ryan has promised to keep Jack’s secret, it is after all, Jack’s secret to tell. What begins as a very awkward relationship in the beginning, becomes a very real friendship, with both boys supporting each other throughout most of the book.

Ryan’s best friend Cody, also a member of the Swim Team, and Ryan have been planning a trip to ComiCon for almost a year. Despite Cody’s opinion of Jack, Ryan invites Jack along. Jack begrudgingly agrees and what seems should be a trip to hell for all of the boys turns out to be a pretty incredible weekend.

During ComiCon, Ryan, who struggles to talk to girls, meets a really great girl who doesn’t notice his wheelchair and genuinely cares about getting to know him. Jack, terrified of people finding out who he really is, finds friends that he never expected.

After their trip, Jack decides that it is time to tell his mom his secret, she has a less than stellar reaction, and Ryan and Cody help to save Jack for a second time.

There is so much about this book that I love. The characters are well developed, and while they all have moments of self pity and doubt, they are all stronger than they believe they are. Ryan tries to be the friend that his friends need and while most people in Ryan’s position may have chosen to ignore Jack, Ryan embraces him and helps him to become himself.

I really enjoyed the book, as the five stars probably suggests, and look forward to reading more of Liane Shaw’s books. I was impressed with the depth of story, and especially with the characters and their interactions. The struggles that Ryan and Jack encounter make them more likable. While I do wish the book had an epilogue, or a couple more chapters to give us a bit more closure, such as Jack and Ryan being roommates at college, the ending was satisfying, even though it had me in tears.

Set in the 1970s, in the midst of the Watergate scandal, Joe’s best friend Brian goes missing. Is it considered kidnapping if the kid is taken by his father? Joe isn’t sure, but he’s determined to find out where Brian is and what happened.

The book is written very well, with a great storyline constantly moving forward, even when Joe is looking back. Brian’s story, and all that he has been through is often a part of life that is not talked about, especially in the 70s. The brilliance of the boys, and how Brian leaves hints that only Joe would understand.

Throughout the story, even though Joe is always wondering about Brian, and what’s happening, his own home life is beginning to fall apart. While it seems that Joe cannot see the forest for the trees, the glimpses of his home life let us know that even Joe’s life isn’t perfect.

The relationships between the characters are well developed, even between Joe and The Newtons, which seemed to be a very one sided relationship in the beginning of the book. I especially loved Karl and Joe’s dynamic as not only brothers, but friends.

Overall, I highly recommend this book, but know that it gets a bit out there. While there is quite a bit of foreshadowing, a lot of things didn’t “click” until Joe had discovered the truth as well.

I was excited to jump into this book. From the description it sounded very interesting and I expected it to be a quick read. Within a few chapters I was having a difficult time following the multiple story lines even though it was clear that they would tie up nicely further into the story.

I didn’t connect with any of the characters, and Dale’s constant testicle pain made it difficult for me to want to continue to read. After struggling for four days to make progress in the book, I gave up at 50%. This is my first DNF (did not finish) in years.

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I honestly don’t know how to begin. This single chapter book has rocked me. The heartbreakingly beautiful book is told by JC, who is talking to his dog, Boy.

JC’s story is beautiful, even though there is no real dialogue, the story moves quickly as the reader is pulled into this story of desperation, fear, love, and hope. You quickly realize that there is a very good chance that JC’s story will not have a happy ending.

From the disastrous streets of his home country to the terrifying parts of his new father, JC’s story will grab you and not let go.

This story is both heartwarming and devastating. Beautiful and horrible. I honestly can’t think of more to say about it, so I feel like I’m babbling. Pick up the book, grab a good snack, and get ready to be pulled through the emotional roller-coaster this book will take you down.

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I was excited to dig into Girl Without a Face after being intrigued by it’s description. I began the book and was quickly hooked, as anxious as Destiny to recover her memories and find out what happened.

The first twist of the book, which I don’t want to give away, I had figured out pretty early on, but the second twist was one I didn’t see coming. The storyline moves quickly and keeps you interested without dragging through all the mundane details. The flashbacks provide a great bit of foreshadowing to what comes later in the story.

The characters are well developed and easy to like. I know this review is shorter than most, but Girl Without a Face isn’t a long story, I finished in about three hours. It’s a great quick read with good characters and plot.

Curses and Warfare was different than I was expecting. When I requested the book, I didn’t realize it was part of a series, much less book two. There was a lot of references to the first book, but not so much that I didn’t enjoy this one.

Alexa and Zander are twins fated to save their village. Zander using brute strength and Alexa using her magic, must find a way to work together and save all of those they love. As with all wars, loved ones will be lost, and the battle will be hard fought.

The first half of the book is a bit slow. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to force myself through it, but once I was halfway through it picked up and I finished it quickly.

Perhaps some of the plot development began in the first book, but there was not much in this one. Zander trains the warriors, Alexa is shunned by the fortune teller, mother bakes and father drinks. The first half of the book is almost the same thing, day in and day out.

The characters weren’t horrible but were a bit underwhelming. Zander, who is supposed to be a leader has little self confidence. Alexa and her “magical mishaps” were laughable for some one determined to use magic with the oncoming war.

Zephyr was my favorite character but seemed untrustworthy throughout most of the book. I understand that the untrustworthy narrator tends to be popular, but I never knew if Zephyr was a good guy or bad guy until near the end.

My long time readers know that I enjoy horse books very much. There was some incorrect terminology for horse equipment throughout the book that was more of an annoyance than anything. I feel like if you’re not 100% sure what the item is called, probably ten minutes research online can get you the proper words so that the characters do not come off as not knowing something that would be common knowledge in the time the book is set in.

Overall, I didn’t mind the book, I did finish it. I won’t be continuing the series, or picking up the first book, it’s just not this Moose’s cup of tea.

As any frequent reader of The Pink Moose should know, I love fairy tale retellings. I had heard a lot of buzz around this book and was overjoyed when I received my ARC.

The book begins as expected, a princess and a stepmother. Unlike most stories, it's not the evil stepmother, but the fathers who are horrible in this story. Mina and Lynet both have secrets, but have been terrified to share them. In this twisted Snow White story, the answers you're expecting aren't the ones you'll receive.

The writing is a bit simple, with lots of descriptions of snow and the cold, but overall it's easy to read, and work through the story line. The men in book were awful, and while I'm all for feminism, I was appalled by the behavior of both fathers in the book. Overall the story was interesting enough to keep me moving forward, it was slow, and all the real resolutions happen in the last 15% of the book, making me worry that this would be some kind of series. Ultimately, I'm glad that it finished as it did, with all conflicts resolved.

While we see both the North and the South, other than "it's very cold" or "it's very hot" we don't really learn about this kingdom or how the world works because the present focuses on Lynet who seems to have no real curiosity.

The characters in the book were pretty one dimensional, but it didn't keep me from enjoying them. Lynet seems very naive, even though her father has protected her from pretty much everything, she never tried to find answers for herself. She never questions anything that she has been told until Nadia accidentally on purpose reveals Lynet's secret.

Mina, as expected of a stepmother, begins as cold and calculating, but we see sides of her that show us how warm she truly is. I wish that we got to learn more about her, and not her issues or demented relationship with those around her.

Overall I enjoyed the book, and would recommend it for others that enjoy fairytale retellings. While it's not my favorite retelling, I did finish the book, and enjoyed the story overall.