How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks | Book Review #103

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks

Are there spoilers?

I don't think there are any.

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This is one of the books I read after the passing of Hurricane Maria here in Puerto Rico. With no water, electricity or internet I took to reading my books. I decided to not do this for the books I've read on 2018. But it has been 8 months since Hurricane Maria. And I'm happy to announce that now we have water, and electricity.

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Title: How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days

Author: Kerrelyn Sparks

Series: The Embraced #1  

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Pages: 396

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

Published: 20l7

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Historical

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Source: Goodreads Giveaway win.

Date Read: Oct. 16, 2017

Rating: ★★★★☆

Luciana grew up on the Isle of Moon, hidden away because of her magical powers. But when her father arrives, he offers her a choice: remain on the island or return with him and marry the Beast of Benwick in order to save their legacy—and her father's life.

Lord Leofric, the Beast of Benwick, has not been touched since he was a child. Born with the power to harness lightning, he is a danger to everyone he touches. When he meets his betrothed, he expects a loveless, lonely marriage...until he discovers she's vastly more powerful than he realized. But is she strong enough to withstand his touch?

If they can survive, their love will alter the future of the kingdom. But will their extraordinary powers cost them everything?

The Rating:

My Review:

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

This is also one of the books I managed to read all in one day. And I loved the story. It just has the right mix of drama, romance, fantasy and steamy sex scenes. But despite this being the first book of this kind that I've read, I didn't mind it at all. It was beyond what I thought it would be like. Yes, there was a few clichés; insta-love, easy resolutions, etc... But I didn't mind that. In fact, I finished the book wanting there to be a sequel. And there is.

As for what I thought about, in regards to the character. Luciana our heroine wasn't always in distress, and she managed to not act like a baby for most of the book like I thought a character in this kind of book would act like. So I didn't hate her. Is she my favorite? No. But maybe her ghost/twin sister, Tatiana is. Not only did she help spy for her sister, but she had sass. And just the perfect amount.

There's also the world. The map at the beginning which is cool. Elves, dragons, curses, shapeshifters, and royalty along with magic and our male lead is a cursed weather controller who just so happens to be hot. What's not to love about all of that.

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Blooming at the Texas Sunrise Motel by Kimberly Willis Holt | Book Review #102

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Blooming at the Texas Sunrise Motel by Kimberly Willis Holt

Are there spoilers?

A few ones may have escaped me.

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Title: Blooming at the Texas Sunrise Motel

Author: Kimberly Willis Holt

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Pages: 336

Publisher:  Henry Holt

Published: 20l7

Genre: Middle Grade, Fiction, Family, Childrens

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Source: Borrowed.

Date Read: Nov. 21, 2017

Rating: ★★★★★

Twelve-year-old Stevie's world changes drastically when her parents are tragically killed and she is forced to live with her estranged grandfather at his run-down motel. After failed attempts to connect with her grandfather, Stevie befriends the colorful motel tenants and neighbors. Together, they decide to bring some color and life to the motel by planting a flower garden, against Stevie's grandfather's wishes. It will take Stevie's departure before her grandfather realizes just how needed she is by everyone.

The Rating:

My Review:

Stevie lost both her parents when car hits their produce stand. Leaving her alone, till she finds out she will be sent to live with her grandfather. Someone she knows little about. He lives in Texas where he lives in and runs a small motel. There she meets Mrs. Crump her elderly tutor, and fellow tutoree, Frida. Violet, the head house keeper, Roy, the handyman's son And long term residents, Horace and Ida. Then she gets to visit her fathers sister and her family. Finding out somethings about her parents that her grandfather wouldn't tell her.

I loved the characters. All of them seemed to stand on their own and in their own way they influenced Stevie's life in a good way. Of course Roy was very adorable as a character. And throughout the book Stevie grieves by gardening and wanting to help those around her. Finding out things about her parents along the way and getting along with her grumpy quiet grandfather.

This is a well written book with great characters and although its slow I enjoyed every page.

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The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester | Book Review #81

The Bookish Island's Book Review for:
The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester

Will there be spoilers?

Only a little.
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This is one of the books I read after the passing of Hurricane Maria here in Puerto Rico. With no water, electricity or internet I took to reading my books.
I read this one on September 21. 1 days after.

Title - The Girl Who Could Fly 
By - Victoria Forester
Publication - October 27th 2015 by Square Fish
Copy - Paperback, 352 pages


Genre - Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Fiction, Science Fiction, Children's Books

You just can't keep a good girl down . . . unless you use the proper methods.
Piper McCloud can fly. Just like that. Easy as pie.

Sure, she hasn't mastered reverse propulsion and her turns are kind of sloppy, but she's real good at loop-the-loops.

Problem is, the good folk of Lowland County are afraid of Piper. And her ma's at her wit's end. So it seems only fitting that she leave her parents' farm to attend a top-secret, maximum-security school for kids with exceptional abilities.

School is great at first with a bunch of new friends whose skills range from super-strength to super-genius. (Plus all the homemade apple pie she can eat!) But Piper is special, even among the special. And there are consequences.

Consequences too dire to talk about. Too crazy to consider. And too dangerous to ignore.

At turns exhilarating and terrifying, Victoria Forester's debut novel has been praised by Stephenie Meyer, author of the Twilight saga, as "the oddest/sweetest mix of Little House on the Prairie and X-Men...Prepare to have your heart warmed." The Girl Who Could Fly is an unforgettable story of defiance and courage about an irrepressible heroine who can, who will, who must . . . fly.

The Rating:

My Review:

The Cover:

Although they say never judge a book by it's cover I believe the cover should represent what the book is going to be like or at least some aspect of it.

The cover is beautiful. ❤

With Piper flying in the clouds over the icy mountains on the cover. Helping make a visual of what she looks like as a character. Which is always good. Its also a scene from the book too. Then there's the title which is on a badge type. And it's so cool. 😀

And to be honest it was the whole reason I got it in the first place. 😜

The Story:

Piper McCloud has always been different. From the day she was born she's had an ability to float. Despite her parents telling her not to float or levitate she just cant help it. Its who she is. Till one day she learns to fly and everything changes in her life from there. 


Relationships:

Piper x Conrad
Piper and Conrad have such an interesting relationship in this book.  They each don't know the other and yet Piper wants to be friends with him and Conrad just wants to use her abilities. So you get to see their progress as they get to see the strengths and stubbornness they both have. 

Piper x the McClouds

Their relationship is very much what your expect from a family that grew up on a farm they are hardworking people a that truly cared about each other and it showed. 

But with Piper's powers there was a fear her parents had of what people would think. Which is to be expected since they've never heard of a girl who could fly. But they get better at understanding her and her abilities which is very important because if her parents don't believe in her then she'd be alone. Even if there are others. You know?

Overall:

The characters in this book were insanely good. 

Each great in their own way. Well written and fully their own person. I was impressed by how amazing they all were. All that made me adore Piper even more because it felt like I was cheering for someone real. I wanted her to get her happy ending. 

Then there was the world. 

The world in this story was super. Not only did it smoothly transition from a quaint southern town to secret underground government but it was done in such away that I never questioned what was happening. 

As for the fantasy element in this story. 

It was well done mostly because it wasn't done in such a way that it made you question it. Like does every kid have powers and they just suppressed them or what? No, you quickly learn what the situation is with the powers the children have and what is being done with and about them. 
And as the blurb Stepahanie Meyer wrote for this said. I did get that X-Men vibe from this story as well. 

I truly wish I could talk more about this book but I really don't want to spoil it.

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The Body Reader by Anne Frasier | Book Review #80

Book Review:
The Body Reader by Anne Frasier

Spoilers?

A smidge.
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This is one of the books I read after the passing of Hurricane Maria here in Puerto Rico. With no water, electricity or internet I took to reading my books.

I read this one on October 23.
33 days after.

Title - The Body Reader
By - Anne Frasier
Publication - June 21st 2016 by Thomas & Mercer

Copy - Paperback, 302 pages

Genre - Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

For three years, Detective Jude Fontaine was kept from the outside world. Held in an underground cell, her only contact was with her sadistic captor, and reading his face was her entire existence. Learning his every line, every movement, and every flicker of thought is what kept her alive.

After her experience with isolation and torture, she is left with a fierce desire for justice—and a heightened ability to interpret the body language of both the living and the dead. Despite colleagues’ doubts about her mental state, she resumes her role at Homicide. Her new partner, Detective Uriah Ashby, doesn’t trust her sanity, and he has a story of his own he’d rather keep hidden. But a killer is on the loose, murdering young women, so the detectives have no choice: they must work together to catch the madman before he strikes again. And no one knows madmen like Jude Fontaine.

The Rating:

My Review:

The Cover:

Although they say never judge a book by it's cover I believe the cover should represent what the book is going to be like or at least some aspect of it.

I actually really love the cover. The photo of who is supposed to be Jude with a photo of who I think is her partner, Uriah inside. I liked it.

The Story:

Detective Jude Fontaine was held captive for years in an underground cell with no hope of leaving. She could only distract herself by learning her captors every move, expression, and words. Until the day she gets out.


Overall:

I loved it. I knew I would love it, too.
It was such a good book with a good unpredictable twist at the end. Which is why I recommend it so much.

I actually tried to start this book back in April.

April 28, 2017 – page 39 

"I started this the other day, mostly because we were stuck on the side of the highway, just got out of school, cause the car broke down. It was just me and mom. She was super worried and scared it would get dark before we got home. While I was in the back reading this book while we waited for help. It was a weird moment and a made a weird decision to read a thriller mystery in that kind of situation. 😕"

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Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch | Book Review #79

Book Review:
Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

Spoilers?

A smidge.
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This is one of the books I read after the passing of Hurricane Maria here in Puerto Rico. With no water, electricity or internet I took to reading my books.

I read this one on October 24. 34 days after.

Title - Love & Gelato 
By - Jenna Evans Welch
Publication - May 3rd 2016 by Simon Pulse

Copy - Hardcover, 389 pages

Genre - Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary

“I made the wrong choice.”

Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is get back home.

But then she is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires Lina, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. It’s a secret that will change everything she knew about her mother, her father—and even herself.

People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more.

The Rating:

My Review:

The Cover:

Although they say never judge a book by it's cover I believe the cover should represent what the book is going to be like or at least some aspect of it.

Love the cover to bits. Its definitely the reason I got it.
 But I do love the UK edition more.
The Story:

Lina's mom dies and leaves her with a question and a problem. She gets sent to Italy to live with a man her mom talked about in her last days who may or may not be her father.


Overall:

From the beginning I didn't think she would go anywhere with Thomas because it was so obvious that she was going to end up liking Ren.

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Bad Girl Gone by Temple Mathews | Book Review #78

Book Review:
Bad Girl Gone by Temple Mathews

Spoilers?

None.
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Disclaimer:
This book was sent to me by the publishing company in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of the books I read after the passing of Hurricane Maria here in Puerto Rico. With no water, electricity or internet I took to reading my books.

I read this one on September 25. 5 days after.

Title - Bad Girl Gone 
By -Temple Mathews
Publication - August 8th 2017 by A Thomas Dunne Book for St. Martin's Griffin      
Copy - Hardcover, 261 pages

Genre - Young Adult, Mystery, Paranormal, Ghost

Sixteen-year-old Echo Stone awakens in a cold sweat in a dark room, having no idea where she is or how she got there. But she soon finds out she's in Middle House, an orphanage filled with mysteriously troubled kids.

There is just one problem: she is not an orphan. Her parents are very much alive.

She explains this to everyone, but no one will listen. After befriending a sympathetic (and handsome) boy, Echo is able to escape Middle House and rush home, only to discover it sealed off by crime scene tape and covered in the evidence of a terrible and violent crime. As Echo grapples with this world-shattering information, she spots her parents driving by and rushes to flag them down. Standing in the middle of the street, waving her arms to get their attention, her parents' car drives right through her.

She was right. Her parents are alive but she's not.

She's a ghost, just like all the other denizens of Middle House. Desperate to somehow get her life back and reconnect with her still-alive boyfriend, Echo embarks on a quest to solve her own murder. As the list of suspects grows, the quest evolves into a journey of self-discovery in which she learns she wasn't quite the girl she thought she was. In a twist of fate, she s presented with one last chance to reclaim her life and must make a decision which will either haunt her or bless her forever.

The Rating:

My Review:

The Cover:

Although they say never judge a book by it's cover I believe the cover should represent what the book is going to be like or at least some aspect of it.

Simple cover. Bright red color which is rare in my collection. But I just don't like the design even if in person it looks better than the image.


The Story:

Echo is dead but she doesn't immediately realize that. Not until she finds herself surrounded by ghosts in a strange mansion who constantly scare her whenever they can.

Echo joins up with the other dead kids and goes off to figure out what happened to her and get revenge.


Overall:

In this story I found myself liking some of the side characters more than Echo and the boy. Their stories were better than hers. Although her story was great.

I mean I read it in one day so I must have enjoyed it.

I wish I remembered more, but I can't. I might later go back and remember what my thoughts were.

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The Prettiest One by James Hankins | Book Review

Book Review:
The Prettiest One by James Hankins

Spoilers?

Not really.
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This is one of the books I read after the passing of Hurricane Maria here in Puerto Rico. With no water, electricity or internet I took to reading my books.

I read this one from Nov 22 - Nov 25. 62 days after.

Title - The Prettiest One
By - James Hankins  
Publication - October 1st 2015 by Thomas & Mercer
Copy - Paperback, 399 pages

Genre - Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Suspense

When Caitlin Sommers finds herself alone in a deserted parking lot with blood on her clothes and no memory of the past few months, it seems like one of the nightmares that have tormented her for years…but it’s all too real. Desperate to learn the truth about where she’s been and what has happened to her but terrified of what she may find, Caitlin embarks on a search for answers. Her journey takes her from the safe suburban world she knows to a seedy town she’s never heard of, where a terrible truth from her past lies hidden—a truth she can’t quite remember yet can’t completely forget.

The Rating:

My Review:

The Cover:

Although they say never judge a book by it's cover I believe the cover should represent what the book is going to be like or at least some aspect of it.

I didn't get much from the cover itself but it does have a tiny bit of a mysterious look to it. With the two side profiles looing like orange smoke it is a bit creepy and you think that it somehow is involved in the story inside.


Story:

Caitlin has vanished for 7 months and now she's at the door to her house with her husband confused by her sudden appearance and the fact that he's acting like she was never away.


Relationships:

Caitlin x Josh
I thought their relationship was weird from the start. Like there was something Josh was keeping from Caitlin. So I didn't really like him for her despite him being her husband.
Katie x Bix
I did like these two so much more and cheered for them when ever Bix talked about her or to her like he loved her still.



Overall:

This book was a wild ride.
No. Seriously it was so good.

I was expecting one thing before I started reading it and then the first few pages I expected something else. Then that happened three more times. It was like this book had too much to offer but in a good way.
It is one of the more stronger books I've read so far. I don't want to spoil it but I will warn you that it is not just a story about a wife who disappears and loses all memory if the even. It's about so much more.

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Boo by Neil Smith | Book Review

Book Review:
Boo by Neil Smith

Spoilers?

None.

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This is one of the books I read after the passing of Hurricane Maria here in Puerto Rico. With no water, electricity or internet I took to reading my books.
I read this one on November 28, 2017. 70 days after.

Title - Boo
By - Neil Smith
Publication - May 12th 2015  by Vintage   
Copy - ARC Copy, 310 pages   

Genre - Young Adult, Fantasy, Mystery

* Winner of the Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction.
* Nominated for the Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book Award.
* Nominated for the Sunburst Award.
* Nominated for the Alex Award.
* Longlisted for the Prix des libraires du Québec.

From Neil Smith, author of the award-winning, internationally acclaimed story collection Bang Crunch, comes a dark but whimsical debut novel about starting over in the afterlife in the vein of Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones.

When Oliver "Boo" Dalrymple wakes up in heaven, the eighth-grade science geek thinks he died of a heart defect at his school. But soon after arriving in this hereafter reserved for dead thirteen-year-olds, Boo discovers he’s a 'gommer', a kid who was murdered. What’s more, his killer may also be in heaven. With help from the volatile Johnny, a classmate killed at the same school, Boo sets out to track down the mysterious Gunboy who cut short both their lives.

In a heartrending story written to his beloved parents, the odd but endearing Boo relates his astonishing heavenly adventures as he tests the limits of friendship, learns about forgiveness and, finally, makes peace with the boy he once was and the boy he can now be. 

The Rating:

My Review:

My review in a gif. Which equals 2 stars.
[need to add the gif later]

The Cover:

Although they say never judge a book by it's cover I believe the cover should represent what the book is going to be like or at least some aspect of it.

The cover of the green chalkboard locker  and the chalk lettering is very distinct and very reminiscent of school. But what does stand out is the pair of eyes on the locker vents.


The Story:

After a school shooting Boo wakes up in a new place where he is among other children who have died and woken up there too. Now he has to live there with the possibility that the other kid who shoot him was there too.
 

Overall:

I got this book a long time ago and I really thought I was going to enjoy reading it too. But even though trough the first reading I went to 100 pages, I didn't like it. I don't know if it was the characters I couldn't relate too, or the story I couldn't follow but after those 100 pages I stopped reading.
Since Hurricane Maria I decided to read all those books I had been holding up on reading  so I took this book and picked it up to finish up. Now that I have I can say that I didn't like it. It just wasn't my type of book.
The story of Boo was an interesting one but I can't say I liked it all.

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