Book Reviews

An Excuse for Poor Conduct by Kate Dolan

Title: An Excuse for Poor Conduct Author: Kate Dolan Series: n/a good story, skilled writing I would like to thank Kate Dolan and Author’s Den for allowing me to read a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This was a nice short story. Dolan’s writing, mechanically, is more skillful than I expected. Quite professional, actually. The setting of the almshouse and the indigent circumstances of the characters were interesting, a welcome change from the privileged doves and roosters …

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Year One by Nora Roberts

Title: Year One Author: Nora Roberts Series: Chronicles of The One #1 a dark, magickal mix of Zombieland and Heroes I was thoroughly impressed with the ingenuity and world-building in this novel. It’s probably been done before, but I’ve never seen the end of the world caused by dark magic. A deadly virus spread with crazy ease and speed, killing billions of people—but also unlocking supernatural abilities in others. And there were also ordinary humans who just seemed to be …

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Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella

Title: Surprise Me Author: Sophie Kinsella Series: n/a heartfelt but unimpressive I would like to thank Sophie Kinsella, The Dial Press/Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. After speaking with their doctor, Sylvie and Dan Winter are daunted by the prospect of sixty-eight more years of marriage. Realizing they know each other too well, Sylvie starts Project Surprise Me in an effort to keep them interested in one another. …

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Hardcore Twenty-Four by Janet Evanovich

Title: Hardcore Twenty-Four Author: Janet Evanovich Series: Plum #24 Boring, sick of Evanovich formula, disgusted with Stephanie One of your friends makes an unexpectedly hilarious joke at just the right moment, and everyone laughs until they’re leaking bodily fluids. Then the moment passes and everyone gets over it, but the friend liked the attention and keeps trying to tell the joke over and over again or reference it or try to tell similar jokes to the point of seeming desperate …

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Twisted Truths by Rebecca Zanetti

Title: Twisted Truths Author: Rebecca Zanetti Series: Blood Brothers #3 Plot-driven with somewhat undeveloped characters I would like to thank Rebecca Zanetti, Forever/Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Desperate to find the baby who suddenly became her daughter, Noni Yuka tracks down the man who a year ago left in the dark of night without so much as a word, shattering her heart. If anyone can …

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Lies Jane Austen Told Me by Julie Wright

Title: Lies Jane Austen Told Me Author: Julie Wright Series: n/a Has its charms but is rather ridiculous I would like to thank Julie Wright, Shadow Mountain, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book had its moments but overall wasn’t impressive or unique. I did like that Blake wasn’t a superficial cookie-cutter villain. Well, not cookie-cutter, anyway. We didn’t get to know him much at all, so as a character …

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The Christmas Room by Catherine Anderson

Title: The Christmas Room Author: Catherine Anderson Series: n/a Heartwarming but boring Kirstin Conacher is sick and tired of being pinned under her father’s thumb. Ever since her mother died six years ago, her once loving, thoughtful father has become bitter, angry, mean, and extremely protective. She can’t go to town without him being suspicious; she can’t look twice at a man without him flying into a rage. She rebels, naturally, and one day she manages to meet Cam McLendon. …

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A Christmas Affair by Jodi Thomas

Title: A Christmas Affair Author: Jodi Thomas Series: Ransom Canyon #6.5 Rushed but well-meaning This was cute, if you don’t mind some cheese and purple prose. It’s so strange; I don’t remember associating Thomas with such fanciful dialogue before this year. Maybe my taste or perception has changed recently. I just couldn’t imagine real people saying some of those lines, and that sense of absurdity distances me from the story. Which might sound like an ironic paradox considering it’s fiction, …

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The Trouble with Twelfth Grave by Darynda Jones

Title: The Trouble with Twelfth Grave Author: Darynda Jones Series: Charley Davidson #12 supernatural Stephanie Plum at first, now so much more I would like to thank Darynda Jones, St. Martin’s Press/Macmillan, and NetGalley for enticing me to check out this series by offering a free copy of First Grave on the Right and allowing me to read an ARC of The Trouble with Twelfth Grave in exchange for an honest review. Here’s a spoiler alert, though I imagine most …

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The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

Title: The Broken Girls Author: Simone St. James Series: n/a A spooky, intelligent, character-driven thriller I would like to thank Simone St. James, Berkley/Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Idlewild Hall is a girls’ boarding school where the illegitimate, the mentally ill, and the troublemakers are swept under the rug. In 1950, four girls band together to survive the cold, dreadful place—and the ghost that uses their darkest …

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