book review – Page 3

Tag: book review

My Review of Thief of Shadows

Posted on October 22, 2014February 10, 2015 by Anna Abner

Or, I Gush Over Elizabeth Hoyt’s Regency Romance

Back Cover Blurb:

A MASKED MAN . . .

Winter Makepeace lives a double life. By day he’s the stoic headmaster of a home for foundling children. But the night brings out a darker side of Winter. As the moon rises, so does the Ghost of St. Giles-protector, judge, fugitive. When the Ghost, beaten and wounded, is rescued by a beautiful aristocrat, Winter has no idea that his two worlds are about to collide.

A DANGEROUS WOMAN . . .

Lady Isabel Beckinhall enjoys nothing more than a challenge. Yet when she’s asked to tutor the Home’s dour manager in the ways of society-flirtation, double-entendres, and scandalous liaisons-Isabel can’t help wondering why his eyes seem so familiar-and his lips so tempting.

A PASSION NEITHER COULD DENY

During the day Isabel and Winter engage in a battle of wills. At night their passions are revealed . . . But when little girls start disappearing from St. Giles, Winter must avenge them. For that he might have to sacrifice everything-the Home, Isabel . . . and his life.

My Thoughts:

I have a secret to confess. Though I write paranormals, I adore regency romances. The dresses, the balls, the afternoon teas. The polished manners concealing roiling passion. I can’t get enough!

Thief of Shadows has it all. From the first line — “The body in the road was the absolute cap to the day” — to the last, it’s a sexy and thrilling adventure.

My favorite part has to be Isabel’s tutoring Winter in not only good manners and ballroom dancing, but in the bedroom, as well.

<3 Anna

Review of Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols

Posted on May 13, 2014April 27, 2014 by Anna Abner

Or, My Thoughts On One Of My Fave YA Novels

I love everything Jennifer Echols writes, but this story rings the most honest and realistic of the bunch. My grandmother grew up in a series of low-rent trailer parks, was raised by a negligent out-of-work waitress mother, and had sex early. Just like Leah, the heroine of Such a Rush. Echols got the feelings and insecurities perfectly, in my opinion.

Leah learns to fly, which gives her a path out of trailers and debt collectors and loser boyfriends, but only if she fights to stay on that path. There are a lot of setbacks along the way, and just when it seems all is lost for poor Leah, she figures out how to be happy and secure in her life.

I highly recommend!

<3 Anna

Review of Texas Rain by Jodi Thomas

Posted on April 23, 2014October 29, 2014 by Anna Abner

Or, Why More Subplots Aren’t Always Better

The main romantic plot is great and worth reading. The writing is solid, the characters are layered, but the subplots just aren’t that interesting. Specifically, the subplots are snoozers. I skimmed A LOT of stuff that was just happening. It felt to me like the author padded a good romantic plot with a bunch of stuff because she had to make her word count, but if she’d cut all the subplots about pies and whores and kooky boarding house customers, the story would have made a fantastic novella.

My favorite part was the section where the hero and heroine open up to each other through letters, writing personal things they never would have said out loud to each other in person.

<3 Anna

Review of Jennifer Echols’ Major Crush

Posted on April 16, 2014March 18, 2014 by Anna Abner

Or, A Re-Reading Of One Of My All-Time Faves

Reading Major Crush, or reading it for the third time, is such an unexpected pleasure. It’s a sparkly, hilarious, witty, frothy YA delight from beginning to end.

Virginia has a lot of problems. Her best friend is in love with her. The boy she crushes on doesn’t know she exists. She’s not getting along with her dad. And she has to share being drum major of her high school band, even though she deserves to be the one-and-only girl in charge.

If you love funny, sweet, smart YA then you won’t go wrong with Major Crush. Or anything Jennifer Echols writes, to be honest.

<3 Anna

A New 5-Star Review for Elixir

Posted on April 8, 2014October 29, 2014 by Anna Abner

Or, Pretty Little Pages Reviewed The 1st Volume In The Red Plague Trilogy

You can visit the site here or read the review below.

I cannot get enough of zombies stories lately, and Elixir delivered my next fix perfectly! Anna Abner penned a unique story that left me wanting more of this series. Her writing flows so well, and this story pulled me in immediately.

The characters in Elixir were a very dynamic bunch. Ben was my favorite one, because I was so intrigued by him. I’m dying to know what happens to him during the rest of this series! Maya is a great main character. I very much enjoyed following her journey and learning about her life and the world around her. Hunny did get annoying, though. At first, I thought she’d be endearing but she quickly got on my nerves.

The detail in this book is amazing. I’ve been all over North Carolina except the Raleigh-Durham area, but I still felt like I was there. I was never left wondering how, and what, things were happening because Anna Abner did an excellent job at keeping the reader informed and invested.

If you’re a fan of zombies books, I would recommend Elixir to you in a heartbeat. Fans of Tracey Ward and her kick-ass heroines will enjoy this quick and inviting read, too!

5 out of 5 stars

–Kristen

<3 Anna