Unraveled

Unraveled by C.J. Barry

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Another winner.

A fun, delightful steamy romping adventure through space. With a black lab. Named Elvis.



View all my reviews

All Nighter

Unearthed by C.J. Barry

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Super fun read. Hitchhikers Guide meets Indiana Jones, meets... Star Wars? Spaceballs?



Funny, entertaining, kept me up all night reading.



It was like hanging out with a bunch of really awesome people for a weekend. You know you can't make a life out of it, but it sure is fun and leaves you smiling.



I never rolled my eyes once. Lusty Quest-y Adventure.



Pick this one up, relax and enjoy it.



View all my reviews

Molly Molly

Molly Fyde and the Fight for Peace by Hugh Howey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I've been wandering around in a funk all week. I completely devoured this series of books in the space of about a week, and now that it's over, it's like I fell in love, had a whirlwind romance, and then I woke up and it was all a dream.



I was completely swept away by the story, the characters, I laughed, I cried, I laughed again, and when I reached the last page, I desperately tried to get my Kindle to turn just one more.





View all my reviews

More Molly

Molly Fyde and the Land of Light by Hugh Howey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I think the most endearing and moving undercurrent in this series is how the characters all endure such trials, challenges, even horrors and torture, and emerge without being irreparably scarred, even still with this cloak of innocence. They are courageous, even when they feel paralyzed with fear, and never quit even when it seems they are trapped and there is no way out.

It is this lingering innocence that seemed to lend them their strength and moved them forward with hope, even as they faced the impossible. *I* about gave in to my despair more than once, while these brave ones soldiered on.

Awesome.



View all my reviews

MOLLY

Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue by Hugh Howey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


If Hugh Howey's Wool are like crack, then surely Molly Fyde is the gateway drug. Fortunately, I didn't need a Medical Molly card to get me some.

I haven't been really swept off the planet by a story like this since I was 12 and read A Wrinkle in Time



View all my reviews

WOOL 4

Wool 4 - The Unraveling by Hugh Howey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


With the unraveling, you would think it meant things were coming apart, but it's really just starting to come together.



LOVE. THIS. SERIES.



Can't hardly wait for Wool 5. But, you know, I will.



View all my reviews

WOOL 2

Wool 2: Proper Gauge by Hugh Howey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I can't wait to get into Wool 3!

Hugh Howey is my favorite discovery of 2012! More! More!

(Did find it funny that the one instance of actual knitting and she's using cotton.)



View all my reviews

WOOL 3

Wool 3: Casting Off by Hugh Howey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Love the knitting metaphors in the titles, by the way. In knitting, you really don't know how a project has turned out until you cast off and can hold it up free of the needles.



With each installment of Wool, a character (or two) are cast off, and a character or two are picked up and carried along. It's taking shape, the patterns are flowing. Even though it seems a short distance between a character's introduction and their eventual demise, I feel a pang of grief at their passing. And move on to begin a relationship with the next.



View all my reviews

WOOL

Wool by Hugh Howey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I stumbled and tripped over this story while looking for knitting/spinning books for my new Kindle. Finished reading it in about an hour, and eagerly purchased the next of 4 pieces (of the eventual 5). This story literally takes you down rabbit hole and even when you reach the end of this one, you still don't know what happened. The last few pages, let you think you have it figured out at least four times and then leave you dizzy with your brain spinning about what the heck just happened. And knowing that you have only just scratched the surface.

The series is like those potato chips, no way you can read just one...




View all my reviews

More Reading

My Lord Viking by Jo Ann Ferguson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I liked this one. It wasn't as saucy as I usually expect and enjoy in a romance novel, but what it lacked in explicit sex, it more than made up for with the appearance of several well described and researched Norse gods throughout the story. I was especially surprised and pleased to see Frigg make an appearance. We all expect to see Loki and Odin around every corner (though I was surprised by the glaring absence of Thor), but having Frigg be the couple's cheerleader and champion felt very true to her strong, wise character. And Loki's character as the half-mad trixter was equally masterfully crafted.

The only thing that felt awkward and halting to the flow and really unnecessary was the whole bit of our hero being blinded, and then a rushed scene where this mysterious "blood enemy" happens to come into the room and is slain by our heroine. All described by a blind man who can't see what's going on. Seems to me, this blood enemy didn't even need to follow him to this time, it wasn't critical to the story at all and just seemed like it was pasted in there to fill space or something.

Otherwise, fun story, strong and honorable hero. Though I couldn't help but imagine him as a Disney cartoon guy, like in Beauty and the Beast, about 7 feet tall, crazy huge shoulders and chest, hands that could wrap a fist around your head, and tiny feet.



View all my reviews

Fires of Winter

Fires of Winter by Johanna Lindsey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Delicious and tawdry. I still read romance novels for the same reason I still watch Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless. Impossibly pretty people, manipulating and scheming their way through the predictable and repetitive storylines. It's comforting in its familiarity, if not it's depth of plot or character development. But I don't care. I'm here to get swept away by something sexy and that's what I get.

A "respectable" romance novel generally earns 3 stars for delivering what I expect, but I always appreciate the hearty and lusty Viking elements, so that in itself elevates this one to 4 stars.




View all my reviews