Showing posts with label Mystery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mystery. Show all posts

Monday, March 10, 2014

Ridley House by Willa Jemhart Book Review

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Ridley House
by Willa Jemhart
ASIN: B00BLYB81O
Paperback: 149 Pages
Genre:  Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Mystery Thriller,
Publication: February 27th, 2013
Source: Author


Goodreads Synopsis:
For as long as she can remember, nineteen-year-old Kay has been unable to stay in one place for long. With no recollection of who she is or where she came from, plagued by nightmares she doesn't remember upon waking, and the torturous feeling that her one true love was lost to her, she is searching for or fleeing from something.

When she accepts a summer job at the Ridley House Inn, it feels like a nice change of pace. The country setting and old-fashioned feel are comfortable, homey, and even familiar.

Shortly after her arrival, she finds a wall filled with Ridley family portraits, where one picture in particular grabs her attention - a late 1930s photograph of a young woman with a face identical to her own.

Between the warning of a scary old man telling her she should not have returned, and the magnetic pull towards a familiar and handsome young man, Kay is determined to find some answers. Is Ridley House the place she has been searching for, is it the place she has been running from, or is all of the familiarity simply contrived by her desperation to finally belong somewhere?

My Impression
Ridley House is a story about a girl named Kay, who mysteriously have no recollection of her past and had an 'On the Run' habit and never stayed in one place. Until she got accepted on a summer job at Ridley House. The place instantly feels like home to her and after seeing a painting of a girl who looks exactly like her, she knew, that even if the scary old gardener told her that she should have not returned, she needs to know the answers that the Ridley House have for her.

First few chapters got me hooked. Mystery behind Kay's past got my attention and was very eager to know what happened and what links to her to the Ridley House. The author did a very good job creating a very enigmatic plot which would make the readers cling on to the book.

I relate much to Kay's attitude, since I am so much like her in a way. She is held back, patient and she controls her emotion well. Other supporting characters were okay too, they are well-developed and the author gave a very great job giving them distinctive personalities.

There were parts where I did predict how the story will unfold, but aside from that I find this book a good read. Though there aren't any heart pumping actions here, the story is a good slow paced one, created in proficiency.  


Rating:  3 Stars 
Plot: Slow Paced.
Page Turner: A bit.
Continued?: No
Recommended: Yes.
Book Boyfriend: No.

About the Author
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Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Juniper's Princess Chelsea O'Neal Book Review

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Juniper's Princess
by Chelsea O'Neal
ISBN: 1909220493 (ISBN13: 9781909220492)
Paperback: 246 Pages
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal Romance, Mystery
Publication: August 24th, 2013
Source: Author


Daniah has a plain simple and happy life. Aside from being an adopted child, she knows that she is different. She mostly dream about people she never met before asking for help and sometimes she dreams about a not so distant future. And meeting Jaiden, triggers her mysterious dreams to increase and her life to drastically change. 

Caught up between the truth about half human, half angel race, Daniah need to trust Jaiden, who actually lied to her. She now needs to face a war that's been raging on between the half-breed angles, fighting an evil who feeds from the human soul. And Jaiden must convince Daniah that she is more than different. She is their savior, their princess and that she needs to help them before they all die.
My Impression
This book had me feel like I'm watching a TV series. The book is in a multiple POV format, and it's one of the things would make you hold on and want to know more about the story.

Although I'm a bit confused about where the setting of the story is, I just took it as... in another world where half angels and humans co-exist together, without the human knowledge about the half-angels, of course. And aside from the most confusing part where Zach explained everything about all kinds of half-breeds angels in one go. The story is very entertaining. 

I like Daniah being a family centered person. Even if she is adopted in a human family. I like how her family shows closeness and love. But I liked Cordelia more... Maybe because she has a very strong personality, and I'm a sucker for women who kick butts and all. And I don't like girls who falls overly in love with someone just because they're like heaven sent hunks.

The story was very well thought of and I love the way the author intertwine each character's story. How they all hold a certain pieces of the story.  I think this multiple POV format did made this book full of suspense and not to mention... sizzling sex. (You've been warned young fellows below 18... not for you!)





Rating:  3 Stars 
Plot: Good pace from scene to scene
Page Turner: On Cordelia's scene
Continued?: Yes.
Recommended: Yes.
Book Boyfriend: Not for me.

About the Author
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Monday, February 17, 2014

18 Truths Jamie Ayres Book Review

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18 Truths
by Jamie Ayres
ISBN: 1620074478 (ISBN13: 9781620074473)
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Mystery
Publication: January 24th, 2014
Source: Net Galley

From Goodreads Synopsis:
Lying is unbearable, betrayal is inevitable, and choosing which path to take is impossible.

Olga Gay Worontzoff ended her senior year as an eighteen-year-old girl totally in love with Nate, enjoying their new romance and about to attend the university of her dreams. Now she's spending her summer in the weird subculture of the Underworld, with charmingly witty and powerful angels, and problematic demons, trying to rescue Conner, the best friend and secret crush she was unable to save during a freak accident.

But Nate has other things on his mind, mainly Grace. She's their first assignment as joint guides, and Olga's feeling hurt and jealous. His mysterious behavior has Olga questioning everything she believed about him and now she must decide whether to stick to their plan, or follow her heart. Unfortunately, a series of mistakes threatens everyone around her and plants Olga in the center of cosmic events much larger than she ever imagined.

Only one thing is certain: the chilling truths uncovered during her journey will leave no one untouched.
My Impression
I was totally dumbfounded by this book. First and foremost, the cover. It was really enticing and mystifying. My first impression was, "Okay, book under a teen & young adult genre, possibly has to do with paranormal alien or magic stuffs.". Uh-uh... how wrong I was. The title is quite catchy too. I haven't read the first book though, but I wasn't lost while reading this one. 

While I was reading it, I eventually realized that this book would offer me such an inspiring story and it did! I actually highlighted several quotes that I would that would be a perfect share to my love ones and friends. There were those scenes, (as simple as it is...) that will touch your heart deep because you know that it happen in real life and would basically be the exact thing you'd say if it did happen to yours.

"Well, first of all, every child deserve a grandma to spoil them, and mine won't have one. You know what? Bump all of that,  every child deserves a mother to love them. I can't even love myself."

The originality of the book blew me away. Never did I thought of anything like this, I mean NEVER! I did knew the saying "Life after death" but I haven't really thought about living it as the author visualize it in the book. I could only say one thing... COOL! How would you like to live the "same" way as you did here in earth while under the angel supervision and knowing... Literally knowing, that you're just one step closer to either heaven and hell. I super loved the world building in this one, it seems logical and believable. Well, perhaps except for this one... 

Ash handed Nate and me a backpack.
"School supplies?" Nate asked, shaking the bag, his eyes wide.
.
.
"And, not exactly. You don't need to worry about graduating. You nee to worry about warfare. You'll find binoculars,  a Bible, a crucifix necklace to wear that's been anointed with oil, Grace's case file, the roles you're playing in this after-death purification process, a copy of your Spirit Guide Insurance Policy, your daily meditation guide, cell phones, a tranq gun, an Angel Phonebook with who to call for specific problems, your Limbo passports in case someone needs to see your ID, Spirit Guide For Dummies 101, etc. --"
And the humor! Geez, I think I caught myself smiling like a hundred times while reading this. 
Before I died, the only religion I knew had been Star Wars. ~Conner
Do you want to go straight to H-E-double hockey sticks? ~Nate 
Okay, I know that's not the best funny verse in this book but really, it made me smile. Olga is all so human with all her imperfections. There were times that I'd like to smack her head for wanting everything and not being contented with what she has. She is selfish that way and I find her so unfair. It was like reading a "reverse harem manga" [when a lead girl is being liked by most of the the boy character in the story] which is cute if it is a manga, but not that cute when it comes to novels.

Nate or Conner? Nate showed his dark side only to protect Olga which means he's do everything for her and would fight for her no matter what. While, Conner would do too. Wait, looking at this point of view I could understand Olga now. I can't possibly choose between the two of them.   Okay, maybe I'll choose Riel instead.

Rating:  4 Stars 
Plot: Slow paced. Dragging in most chapters
Page Turner: Not really.
Continued?: Yes.
Recommended: Yes.
Book Boyfriend: Still confused.. but yes, there are three possible candidates here.  

About the Author
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Tuesday, February 11, 2014

The False Prince Book Review

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The False Prince
by Jennifer Nielsen
ISBN: 0545284139 (ISBN13: 97805484134)
Genre: Children Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Mystery
Publication: April 1st, 2012

From Goodreads Synopsis:
In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. but Sage's rival have their own agendas as well. 

My Impression
This was the first book I read which got a male protagonist POV. What amazes me the most is how I often flip the cover to check if the author is "really" a female. The way I visualize Sage, he is a 100% male. The author did bring out her masculine side in the form of Sage. 

Sage is an awesome character, I liked him very much. He is a good sort of rebellious teen, doing what he like, not letting other manhandled him. He is very intelligent. I admire him for being a quick thinker and a thorough planner. Like he's always 10 step ahead of the other characters. Though I already got a hint about the "truth" in the earlier chapters, I think it's his attitude that gave him away. 
A person can be educated and still be stupid, and a wise man can have no education at all.
I wasn't really impress by the book cover though, it looks boring for me. But all in all I like the story, though it was a very slow paced. I enjoyed how Sage outwit every character in the story. 
Conner answered, "Mrs. Turbeldy warned me that you have a history of running away. Where did you go?" 
To church of course. To confess my sins."
Though I "DID" like the story... I don't think anticipation is high enough for me, to read it's other sequels. There's no loose ending to hang into, no romance ( well, there are two possibilities, but I didn't find it interesting enough  )  to watch out for. So... there you go....

Rating:  4 Stars 
Plot: VERY slow paced. Detailed
Page Turner: Not really.
Continued?: Yes.
Recommended: Yes. I think... ✖‿✖ 
Book Boyfriend: 15 years old is tooo young for me.  

About the Author
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